Australian Women Writers Challenge 2013 (AWW2013) Complete

2013  was a year of firsts for me. It is not only the year that I started this blog, but the first year in which I seriously attempted The Australian Women Writer’s Challenge. I first became aware of this challenge in late 2012, but as I didn’t have a blog then, I thought I’d wait until the new year to try it out for size. I’m glad I did. Not only did the new year bring about a blog for me, but it meant that I embarked on a challenge that has largely changed my reading habits, potentially for the better too. Early 2011 I noticed I was reading a lot of overseas fiction, mostly written by male authors and barely anything by home grown talent. In 2012 I became aware of the challenge and the massive push to get Female Australian Authors equally recognised and promoted for their work.

In 2013 I challenged myself to the Franklin Challenge which required me to read at least ten books by Australian Women Writers and review at least 6. I’m happy to say, I went above and beyond in the completion of this challenge, with Fifty-Eight (58) of the Eighty-Five (85) books I read this year written by a Australian Women Writers. What’s more, of these Fifty-Eight (58) books, I managed to review at least Thirty (30)  of them throughout the year.  I’m not entirely happy with the number read versus the number reviewed, and I have decided to push myself to review many more next year as part of the 2014 Australian Women Writers Challenge.

UPDATE: As of 10.58 on December 31 2013, I snuck another book in for this challenge and thus brought the total of books read by Australian Women Writer’s up to a grand total of Fifty-Nine (59) and my total number of reviews to Thirty-one (31).

Below is the complete list of books I read for this challenge including a link to my review.

1. Dead Heat – Bronwyn Parry (REVIEWED)

2. Finnikin Of The Rock – Melina Marchetta (REVIEWED)

3. Baby Did A Bad Bad Thing – Gabrielle Lord (REVIEWED)

4. Man Drought – Rachael Johns (REVIEWED)

5. Bridie’s Choice – Karly Lane (REVIEWED)

6. As Darkness Falls – Bronwynn Parry

7. One Little White Lie – Loretta Hill (REVIEWED)

8. Just Breathe – Janette Paul (AKA Jaye Ford) (REVIEWED)

9. Hope’s Road – Margareta Osborn (REVIEWED)

10. Taming the Tycoon – Amy Andrews (REVIEWED)

11. The Venetian Affair – Dana Mitchell (REVIEWED)

12. The French Promise – Fiona McIntosh (REVIEWED)

13. Blackwattle Lake – Pamela Cook

14. Saving Grace – Fiona McCallum (REVIEWED)

15.  Song Of The Bellbirds – Anne McCullagh Rennie (REVIEWED)

16. Jillaroo by Rachael Treasure (REVIEWED)

17. Finding Trust – Natalie Gayle (REVIEWED)

18. Ryder’s Ridge – Charlotte Nash (REVIEWED)

19. Heart Of The Valley – Cathryn Hein

20. Beneath Outback Skies – Alissa Callen

21. The Famer’s Wife – Rachael Treasure

22. Dark Horse – Honey Brown (REVIEWED)

23. Enamoured – Shannon Curtis (REVIEWED)

24. The Rules of Conception – Angela Lawrence (REVIEWED)

25. Half Moon Bay – Helene Young (REVIEWED)

26. Black Diamonds – Eliza Redgold (REVIEWED)

27. Heartland – Cathryn Hein

28. Saving Wishes – G.J. Walker-Smith

29. Over The Edge – Suzanne Carroll (REVIEWED)

30. The Reluctant Wag – Mary Costello

31. On The Jellicoe Road – Melina Marchetta

32. Between The Lives – Jessica Shrivington (REVIEWED)

33. His Brand of Beautiful – Lily Malone

34. Wild Lavender – Belinda Alexander

35. Flame Tress Hill – Mandy Magro

36. Burnt – Karly Lane

37. Whiskey State of Mind – Karlene Blakemore-Mowle

38. Whiskey On My Mind –  Karlene Blakemore-Mowle

39. Dear Ruth – Bronwyn Parry (REVIEWED)

40. In Safe Hands – Lee Christine

41. Fractured – Dawn Barker

42. Darkening Skies – Brownyn Parry

43. Holding Out For A Hero – Amy Andrews

44. Outback Dreams – Rachael Johns

45. I dream of Johnny – Juliet Madison (REVIEWED)

46. Rousabout – Rachael Treasure

47. Embrace – Jessica Shirvington

48. Second Hearts – G. J. Walker-Smith

49. Sand Jewels – G. J. Walk- Smith

50. Storm Shells – G. J. Walker-Smith

51. The Kissing Season – Rachael Johns (REVIEWED)

52. December’s Wish – Karly Lane

53. Secret Santa – Rhian Cahill (REVIEWED)

54. Christmas Wishes – Rhian Cahill (REVIEWED)

55. The Christmas Gift – Monica McInerney (REVIEWED)

56. A Bush Christmas – Maragareta Osborn

57. Light Between The Oceans – M. L. Steadman

58. The Girl In The Yellow Vest – Loretta Hill (REVIEWED)

59. New Year’s Kisses – Rhian Cahill (REVIEWED)