Marianne de Pierres Where better to start than with this boundary-crossing writer who has graced Australian publishing over and over again. Since 2003, Pierres has made a name for herself as the award-winning author of the Parrish Plessis, Sentients of Orion, and Peacemaker series. Also publishing under the pseudonym Marianne Delacourt, she has multiple Aurealis Award nominations and…
Category: Listicles
6 Australian Book Awards to Follow if You’re Not a Literary Fiction Reader, by Jess Gately
Book awards are a great way to find new reads from authors you may not have heard about, and also provide an easy way to distinguish, with so many new books coming out all the time, which books you might choose over others. The longlists, shortlists and eventual winners of these awards provide booklovers with…
Six Historical Fiction Books by Aussie Authors, by Shelley Carter
When I’m in a reading slump, or feel as though I need an escape from the world, I tend to gravitate towards historical fiction. There’s something about diving back into a different era that makes me forget about what is happening in the real world, and helps bring back my passion for reading. I have…
How To Support Yourself and Other Authors While Self-Isolating by Jess Rae
Image from Pixabay free images We’re in an unprecedented time. Stores, restaurants and entertainment venues are closed; people have lost their jobs; we can’t see more then one person without being fined. It is a truly scary and lonely time. I don’t know about you but I’m attempting to use this extended ‘me-time’ as a…
Bookish Bullet Journal Spreads by Jemimah Halbert Brewster
Image from Canva free stock images Bullet Journaling has been around for a while now, and there are many niche areas you can delve into if bullet journaling is your jam: mood tracking; activity and exercise mapping; garden journaling; cooking journals; art journals; heck, even witchy journaling in a Book of Spells! But my absolute favourite spreads…
Bookish bucket list: 6 book-inspired experiences across the globe, by Shelley Carter
Image by Free Photos from Pixabay Alice’s Tea Cup, New York City, United States Inspired by the Mad Hatter’s tea party, Alice’s Tea Cup in New York City offers patrons a whimsical high tea complete with finger sandwiches, scones, cakes and, of course, a full menu of different teas! There are three different locations throughout the…
5 Books for Getting the Facts in Fiction Right, by Jess Gately
The art of fiction is making it believable. Whether you’re writing a crime thriller, historical fiction, or science fiction, the realistic details are what allow your readers to suspend their disbelief and follow you into your ‘make-believe’ world. While there are many ways to research for your story, including interviews with experts and using historical…
2020 Australian Women Writers Challenge at Underground, by Jemimah Brewster
Here at Underground we’re always looking for ways to support Australian writers, particularly authors from marginalised and underrepresented groups. With that in mind, in 2020 the UW team will be undertaking the Australian Women Writers Challenge. The AWWC was started in 2012 by Elizabeth Lhuede, an Australian writer and reader. From the Challenge’s Background page:…
Rejections Letters and You: A learning curve in disguise, by Kate Lomas Glendenning
Image from Canva free stock images After discovering one of your favourite authors received a rejection letter, do you feel better about your own? If you put your hand up, I might be inclined to call you a liar, because no one feels good about rejection. Unfortunately, however, rejection is a large part of a writer’s life….
7 Apps & Programs to Support Your Writing, by Jess Gately
Have you ever heard Underground’s motto? It was coined by one of our first editors, Mark Flower, back when we first started. It says ‘No war has ever been waged, like that between the pen and the page.’ Mark knew, as many of us do, that finding the right words, the right structure, the right…
7 Australian Literary Magazines You Should Read & Submit To, by Jess Gately
Publishing your writing in literary magazines is one way authors and poets give themselves credibility when submitting longer works to publishers. Having a publishing record means that you not only have experience working with editors and publishers but that you are likely to already have a following of readers who recognise your name. To give…
The Writer’s Reading List: Books to help you become a successful writer by Shelley Carter
Becoming a writer involves so much more than just having a talent for telling stories. There are so many aspects you must consider before stepping into a career as a writer (especially as a freelancer), that you may not be prepared for. In this listicle, I’m going to be suggesting some books that will not…
5 Books You Can Read in One Sitting by Shelley Carter
Life gets pretty hectic sometimes. There isn’t always time to dedicate to our hobbies or to relaxation. According to studies, reading can reduce stress up to 68%! That’s why events such as the Australian Reading Hour are so important; to remind us to take a step back from our busy schedules and indulge in some…
TBR: Train-Bound Reading by Kate Lomas Glendenning
A listicle by Kate Lomas Glendenning As a student, I spend countless hours commuting on the train. Over the years, the view of the slowly changing houses and indifferent passengers became boring, so lately I’ve decided to change things up! Despite a bag full of textbooks and folders, I am still able to squeeze a…
Growing up: A tale of books read, by Dylan Dartnell
Once upon a time, in an age few can recall, lived a boy who read books upside down sitting on his Nanna’s recliner chair; his feet dangling well above the carpet floor. The couch was warm and the house still. The midday movie had just finished and Gameboys had not yet been registered into existence…
The Right Way to Organise a Bookshelf by Jemimah Halbert Brewster
Part One of my 2019 TBR shelf, alphabetised by author’s first name One of the greatest joys in life is organising and re-organising one’s book collection. The heady rush of excitement when you think of a new system that you can spend a whole weekend applying to every book; the joy as you take each…
7 Indigenous Books that changed the way we think about Australian History, by Jess Gately
NAIDOC Week and Black History Month are a time for us to reflect on the achievements, contributions and history of the Australian Indigenous People and to consider how we move forward towards reconciliation. This year’s NAIDOC theme of Voice. Treaty. Truth. ties in with the United Nations International Year of Indigenous Languages and asks us…
Writing Advice from 7 Contemporary Australian Authors, by Jess Gately
Image from Canva Free Stock Images We’ve all seen those lists of lovely quotes from classic writers telling us all we need to know about writing. But what about writing in the modern world? What about the dangers of submitting too quickly and dealing with instant feedback? What about marketing yourself and building an author platform? What…
Kate & Jess Rae on Aussie Women Authors
Kate Lomas Glendenning and Jess Rae recently appeared on Six Minutes For Me’s #ReadingWomenMonth Camera Flip series to help viewers fill in the ‘Aussie Author’ section of their bingo cards. You can watch the full video below. The bingo board (pictured below) was provided by the Reading Women Podcast. You can play along on your…
Perth Independent Book Tour, by Jess Rae
When you don’t drink alcohol or coffee, what could possibly be your vice? Bookstores—duh! At least in my case that’s exactly what it is. It’s true, loyal Underground readers: I took one for the team, went on a bookstore tour and spent a lot of money, but shhh. Don’t tell anyone. It’s for research, I…
8 Aussie Podcasts for Writers, by Jess Gately
Image from Canva free stock images Writing is something you can learn in many different ways and while many will tell you to learn by reading, we can also learn by listening! The rise of the podcast means that speciality shows catering to all your passions, learning and entertainment needs, are just a click away. So, of…
8 BookTubers to Spice up Your Reading, by Shelley Carter
I discovered Booktube back in 2016. It was like a whole new world of literature had opened up to me. Books I had no idea even existed made their way onto my TBR list, and I even discovered Goodreads because of the people I was watching. I had found a community of people that were…
Illustrated Books aren’t just for Children, by Kate Lomas Glendenning
I find books memorable for different reasons. These reasons range from characters, to plot, or to setting; however, one endearing reason a book can be memorable to me is because of its illustrations. Illustrations are not just for children’s books. Drawings can not only aid imagery but also create a deeper meaning. Which books are…
The Big 5 I Need for a Successful Year of Reading, by Dylan Dartnell
Reading Goals It all starts here! Whether we are deciding to read more of a particular genre or to read more widely, to read more of the classics or to read more Australian works, we need to set the goal and keep accountable. Goodreads is good for tracking the number of books we’ve read and…
Kate’s Character List
Whilst I might splutter on about a book—attempting to justify my obsession with it—more often than not my intrigue lies with a particular character. These characters range from the sweet, innocent-minded to twisted, obsessive creatures. Who are these characters? Well… Ingrid, White Oleander, Janet Fitch Whilst the novel is not from Ingrid’s perspective, and she…
Dylan’s Character List
I am a jealous reader. Those characters we share an affinity with, you should know, are mine, mine alone, and, no, I will not negotiate. You might argue that these manifestations of thought and feeling are to be experienced by everyone with access to language but if I could, I would selfishly hoard those scripts…
Jemimah’s Character List
A Character List by Jemimah Halbert Brewster Warning: this post contains some spoilers of the books and series mentioned Tiffany Aching, from several Terry Pratchett books Picture from Terry Pratchett’s Discworld Imaginarium by Paul Kidby First introduced in The Wee Free Men, Tiffany Aching is a 9-year-old who has lived her whole life on the Chalk,…
Jess Rae’s Character List
A character list by Jess Rae Choosing literary characters that have impacted me is like trying to choose among friends, because that’s what they are to a lonely bookworm: friends. Some are powerful, some are quiet, and some are ruthless, but they’re all important and have all impacted me in some way. Rose Hathaway, Vampire…
Jess G.’s Character List
A Character List by Jess Gately Have you ever read a book and when the character died you cried, or when something good happened to them you smiled, and when they didn’t get the ending you thought they deserved you were angry? I love a character-driven novel, and I love to fall in love with…
Shelley’s Character List
A Character List by Shelley Timms Growing up, I had a hard time identifying with characters in the books I was reading. For me reading was, and still is, escapism. The worlds in which I delve into are often far removed from my own, the stories separated from my own life by fantasy, history, or…
Kate’s Character List
Welcome to our newest series: Character Lists! Each month one of our editors will explore the literary characters that have had an impact on them, good or bad, humorous or heartbreaking. We kick off with Kate Lomas Glendenning’s list, so read on! A Character List by Kate Lomas Glendenning I shall never forget some literary…
Dylan Dartnell’s TBR list – pt 2
Dylan Dartnell’s TBR list, part 2 You Belong Here, Laurie Steed I have seen this little number advertised quite a few times in the last couple of weeks, but what sealed the deal for me was when it appeared on Amanda Curtin’s blog, Looking Up/Looking Down. The story follows the lives of a couple who…
Jemimah Halbert’s TBR – round 2
In 2018 I’ve challenged myself to read further outside my usual habits, so this To Be Read list features two memoirs, a historical fiction work, a paranormal murder mystery, and a quintet of science fiction novels. A delectable selection of reading material! Honey Farm Dreaming by Anna Featherstone A memoir about a family who moved…
Jess Rae’s TBR – round 2
A new year and a new pile of books! Christmas and New Year’s made my bedside table look particularly healthy. Christmas brought me book subscription boxes and January brought me bookshop adventures in both Perth and Melbourne. Suffice to say I have quite a collection to talk about, but I’ll only mention the ones that…
Jess G.’s TBR list – round 2
The great thing about the New Year is that I get a chance to re-evaluate my reading goals. In 2017 I had two main goals: to read more and to read things outside of my usual genres. Whilst I accomplished my second goal, I did not accomplish my first. Looking back I realise that the…
Shelley’s TBR list – round 2
My TBR list seems to get more and more ambitious the more time I spend perusing Goodreads, and watching YouTube videos from avid readers like myself has definitely broadened my horizons when it comes to genre and theme. I’m also trying to explore more diverse literature and the online reading community is especially helpful when…
Kate’s TBR List – round 2
A post by Kate Lomas Glendenning Lord of the Flies, William Golding My first experience of Golding’s Lord of the Flies was a short film clip in my 8th grade Society and Environment class, and I found it extremely disturbing. Since then, I have never sought out Golding’s book; however, a couple of months ago a…
Dylan’s TBR List – round 2
A post by Dylan Dartnell A Kiss from Mr Fitzgerald, Natasha Lester A couple of months ago, Subiaco Library hosted a writer’s workshop on the power of setting. Like library books upon shelves, writers crammed shoulder-to-shoulder to glean whatever tips they could from Australian best-selling author, Natasha Lester, who is renowned for her ability…
Jemimah Halbert’s TBR list
I divide my To Be Read lists into roughly long-term and short-term lists. My long-term list is far too long to write about here, but I will say that it includes such titles as Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig, and Zen and Now: On the Trail of Robert Pirsig and…
Jess Rae’s TBR list
I feel like asking a writer and avid reader what they want to read next is like asking an artist what they want to paint next; the answer is everything. However due to the amount space I have allocated I can’t simply write a list of every book written in the fiction world so here…