If I Tell You, Alicia Tuckerman (2018) Note: We don't give star-ratings. We review in order to encourage the development of AusQueerYA, by deconstructing the good and the bad bits, to learn and grow as writers. *mega spoilers* The Blurb: ‘The second our eyes lock in the dark is all the time I need to … Continue reading Review: If I Tell You, Alicia Tuckerman
Love, Actually, isn’t just Romantic.
Re-imagining romance and sex in YA fiction, inclusive of asexual/aromantic identities. It was Valentine’s Day recently (in case you didn’t realise). What’s this got to do with AusQueerYA? Not a lot, really. But Valentine’s Day, and in particular the weeks of lead up to this day, have inspired a thought train. There is an invisibility … Continue reading Love, Actually, isn’t just Romantic.
In Solidarity With Alison Evans
We stand by, beside and behind Alison Evans and all non-binary, genderqueer, gender neutral and gender non-conforming persons in the LoveOzYA community and beyond. Last week, Alison Evans was awarded the People’s Choice Award at the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards 2018 for their YA fiction novel Ida. An incredible and well deserved achievement. Then some … Continue reading In Solidarity With Alison Evans
Saying Goodbye: The Place of Death in Queer YA
CW: Death, grief, mention of suicide. Extra warning: spoilers ahead, avert your gaze if you do not want spoilers to Alicia Tuckerman's, If I Tell You, or Adam Silvera's, They Both Die at the End. I read two YA books over the Christmas break, and both of them involved the death of a Queer main … Continue reading Saying Goodbye: The Place of Death in Queer YA
Year in Review
Well, we certainly got our words out this year. First up, a huge and heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported us, followed us, boosted us and reached out to us this year. Without you, none of the following would have been achieved. So go on, give yourself a big hug. A bigger one … Continue reading Year in Review
Increasing Queer Representation in YA through Genre Fiction
Where are all my space gays at? There has been some discussion lately about the lack of perceived marketability of Queer YA novels featuring f/f (female/female) relationships, particularly in the American market. This post will discuss how that affects us here in Australia, how our own Australian authors/publishers have a slightly different trend than our … Continue reading Increasing Queer Representation in YA through Genre Fiction
Review: The Sidekicks, Will Kostakis
The Sidekicks, Will Kostakis (2016) Note: We don't give star-ratings. We review in order to encourage the development of AusQueerYA, by deconstructing the good and the bad bits, to learn and grow as writers. *mega spoilers* The Blurb: 'The Swimmer. The Rebel. The Nerd. All Ryan, Harley and Miles had in common was Isaac. They … Continue reading Review: The Sidekicks, Will Kostakis
You Are Not Alone: Why Queer YA Matters
The Australian Queer community is facing a tough battle right now. Our identity, lifestyle and basic human rights are being publicly debated, as though we are a new species of cane toad, rather than human beings. Many people in the Queer community have logged off, powered down and are patiently waiting out the storm. This … Continue reading You Are Not Alone: Why Queer YA Matters
How Do I Get a Book Published?
Start Here. You've done the hard yards and finished a manuscript. Way to go! You're feeling good about it. This could be a best-seller. This could win all the literary awards. This could at least get a few 3 star reviews on Goodreads. You decide you want to publish your novel. But how? There are … Continue reading How Do I Get a Book Published?
Interview with Alicia Tuckerman
One of the hardest parts of being a writer is playing the waiting game. As writers, whether emerging or established, we spend a lot of time waiting. We wait for inspiration. We wait to hear back from publishers. We wait for edits. We wait for feedback. We wait to be published. We wait to be … Continue reading Interview with Alicia Tuckerman