My Auto-Buy Authors

I have a LOT of auto-buy authors — you know, those writers whose books you must own, no matter what. And although this week’s Top Ten Tuesday (an awesome bookish list-making meme) asks me to list ten, that’s in no way possible. The size of this list is a pretty clear indicator of why my TBR pile is so huge. Just so you know.

Also, these are in no particular order.

Lauren K. McKellar Stacey Nash K. A. Last
Jay Kristoff Paula Weston Chuck Wendig
Delilah S. Dawson Kevin Hearne Jacqueline Carey
Marissa Meyer Kim Harrison A. G. Howard

And there are other authors whose books I will own one day, but guilt over the current size of my TBR pile is staying my hand … for now. Sometimes the only difference between the two piles is the fact that these guys have a huger backlist or I’ve just discovered them, and I need to nibble away at it. (I’m trying to teach myself restraint, you guys!)

Maggie Stiefvater Kasie West Melissa Keil
Terry Pratchett Dahlia Adler Holly Black
John Green Neil Gaiman J. K. Rowling
Cassandra Clare Kate Forsyth
Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

Who are your auto-buy authors? Do we have any in common? 🙂

My Top Ten Winter Reads

Before I start, a small plug: this week you can find me over at Jennifer Anderson’s blog, where I’m talking about J.K. Rowling, surviving Australian wildlife, and my love of urban fantasy. Drop by and say hello!

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday (a bookish blog hop organised by the Broke and the Bookish) is “Ten Books I Plan To Have In My Beach Bag This Summer”. Of course, it’s the last month of autumn here and thanks, tBatB, for the reminder of beaches when there’s already frost on the ground! *sob*

Still, since summer is so far away and I can barely plan three months ahead, here are the books I’ve got on my TBR pile as winter reads. These are in no particular order, because I am fickle!

I’ve also been reading quite slowly lately, distracted by book releases, edits, and drafting my latest WIP. So the astute will notice that six of these ten books were on my autumn TBR as well.

Awkward.

From top to bottom:

Darkness Unbound by Keri Arthur

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Fairytales for Wilde Girls by Allyse Near

The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller

Hit by Delilah S. Dawson

The Dream Hunter by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Autumn Bones by Jacqueline Carey

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Every Breath by Ellie Marnie

Three of the ten are by Australian women writers I’ve never tried before; three are by writers people have raved about to me; and the rest are by authors whose other works I love and who I’m keen to read more by.

It’s going to be a good winter.

What are the books on your TBR for the next three months, whatever the season?

PS. I haven’t included them because photos of my iPhone aren’t that sexy, but I’ve been listening to Kim Harrison’s The Hollows series on audiobook on my commute. I can guarantee I’ll get through at least three more of those over winter. 🙂

Seven Books on My TBR That I Will Probably Never Read

Before I start, just a reminder that I am giving away a paperback of Isla’s Inheritance to celebrate the release of the third book in the series, Melpomene’s Daughter. Get you some!

I haven’t done a Top Ten Tuesday in a while, and I kinda missed it. So even though it’s not Tuesday here for much longer, I’m jumping on this bandwagon! Yeah!

This weeks theme is “Ten Books I Will Probably Never Read”. I’ve decided to copy Emily Mead and limit it to books on my TBR, because let’s face it, there are a TON of books I’ll never read, and I wouldn’t even know where to start!

None of these books would’ve made it onto my TBR in the first place if I hadn’t thought they were worthwhile. I’ve also done a couple of TBR culls (driven by moving house), and these ones survived the cut. But there are almost 100 books in that pile, both paper and digital, which means lots of stories clamouring for my attention.

Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman. I started this one, but life-stealing plots give me the heebie jeebies. And this has one. I should probably get over it — because Neil Gaiman — but I’m not sure I ever will.

Cardinal Sin by Allison Brennan. I bought this and the first book in the Seven Deadly Sins series at the same time, and although the first carried me along (enough so I haven’t given both of them away), I remember being a little put out at the depiction of witches as universally evil. Now it’s been so long I’d have to start from scratch, because I’ve forgotten almost everything.

Passion by Lauren Kate. This book falls into the same category as the previous one — I liked the first book in the series, Fallen, but I didn’t love it. In this case I was disappointed that all the action happened right at the end of the book. It did sorta make me want to know what happens next, but I also think maybe I’m not cut out for paranormal romance.

The Spider Goddess by Tara Moss. This is yet another second book in a series where the first didn’t grab me as much as I liked. (From memory, I found the plot a little transparent? It was years ago, though, so I may be thinking of something else!) Hmm, I’m starting to notice a theme here!

Diplomacy of Wolves by Holly Lisle. I picked this up on impulse years ago. I like Holly Lisle’s books, but I’ve gone a bit off fantasy lately in favour of its urban cousin. I’m sure I’ll love this if/when I read it, but… *shrug*

Mary Queen of Scots and the Isles by Margaret George. I read Margaret George’s historical fiction on Henry VIII and really enjoyed it, but I’m not sure I have the attention for historical fiction these days. Sad but true!

The Snow Queen by Mercedes Lackey. I used to love Mercedes Lackey’s books, and I was excited when I read the first book in the Five Hundred Kingdoms series. I bought a bunch of the books, but the second and third ones didn’t do it for me. This is the fourth in the series, and I just can’t face the heartbreak if I don’t like it either. (I also have the next two, The Sleeping Beauty and Beauty and the Werewolf, sitting there, but I decided not to name and shame the series three times.)

What books are on your TBR that you don’t think you’ll ever get to? Or are there books in my little stack of shame that you think I should give a chance?

Ten recent adds to my already teetering TBR pile

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme where I get to make lists. Lists about books. It’s an anal-retentive book nerd’s Best Day Ever. And it happens every week! This week’s theme is “Ten Books You Recently Added To Your To-Be-Read List”. I’ve gone with my Goodreads TBR rather than the crazy pile of paper sitting to my right (trust me), because it’s easy to sort through.

I picked these two up on sale at my local bookshop. I’ve heard good things about Eleanor & Park, and I love John Green’s dialogue so I’m keen to read Paper Towns too.

I love Chuck Wendig’s books, and I’m interested in seeing how his style translates to YA. And I’ve read a few glowing reveiws about The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making. That title alone would be enough to catch my eye! o.O

Someone told me about Scarlet in the Snow when I was looking for Australian fairytale retellings for my Australian Women Writers challenge for this year. And I was given an e-ARC of Storm in a Teacup for being part of a group that helped Emmie out of a bind last year — it’s come out now, and I’m ashamed I haven’t read the ARC yet. I’ll get there.

I’ve wanted to read Becomming Jinn since Lori and I were in the same pitching contest years ago. And I discovered Cornerstone, Death Whispers and Fragile Creatures via the e-ARC review I did of Losing It — each of those authors had a short story in the compilation, and I loved their stuff enough to add the books to my TBR pile. (Which is, of course, what a good anthology is all about!)

Now I just need to find time to read them all! 🙂

What is the last book you added to your TBR pile?

My Autumn TBR list

I haven’t done Top Ten Tuesday for a while, mostly due to my epic lack of forward planning. As it is, it’s almost 8.30pm on Tuesday here and I’m just sitting down to draft this post. Go, team me!

This week’s theme is: “Top Ten Books On My Spring TBR List”. But it’s autumn here. So autumn.

These books are in no particular order, because I’m fickle like that. I’ve got a selection of young adult, new adult and adult, and contemporary, mystery, urban fantasy, and dystopian. (They are all by women though. Interesting.)

I’m looking forward to all of these, although I have heard mixed things about Allegiant. But I really should find out for myself — and besides, a friend loaned me the book and I reeeeeeallly have to read and return it. She’s holding two of my Harry Potter books hostage for its safe return! :O