Fairfieldbooks On Station

The One Hundred Year Old Man who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared.

fairfieldbooksonstation — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:00:51 +0000

Larger format $ 30.00

Set in Sweden, this is a really funny novel; intriguing, warm and a bit whimsical and with oblique references to history and politics.

Allan Karlsson is in a nursing home in his old age and wants it to be his last stop – he’s bored in his hundredth year of life.
For his 100th birthday, a big celebration is planned with the mayor, the press, TV and all the nursing home staff. But Allan, wanting more freedom and more grog, climbs out of the window in his slippers without a plan and accidentally starts out on an hilarious and unexpected journey.

While waiting at a bus station, on a whim, he steals a suitcase which surprisingly is stuffed with cash! So the story unfolds with a few thugs, some deaths, a very friendly hot-dog stand operator and an elephant!
This would be the adventure of a lifetime for anyone else, but not for Allan. During his long life, he has been part and parcel of some of the most important events of the twentieth century. As an explosives expert, he was involved in the development of the atom bomb, and has travelled throughout the world, rubbing shoulders with VIPs including Stalin, Churchill, Truman and Mao, Franco, and De Gaulle.

The deaths excite the interest of the local police and a care worn investigator chases Allen and friends across the countryside, adding tension to the humour and culminating in a funny confrontation in a remote farmhouse.

Highly Recommended

The Australian Publishers Association 2013 Book Design Awards

fairfieldbooksonstation — Fri, 24 May 2013 05:19:01 +0000

We’re all familiar with the saying never judge a book by its cover, but what about judging the covers? The APA Book Design Awards were announced last night and here are a few of the winners …

For best designed children’s fiction book: Marina Messiha

For the best designed children’s non-fiction book: Tony Palmer

For the best designed young adult book: Kirby Armstrong

For the best designed fiction book: Lisa White

And joint winners of the best designed literary fiction book are:

W.H Chong and Allison Colpoys

You can see the complete list of award winners at http://www.publishers.asn.au/awards.cfm?doc_id=24 and check out the shortlist at http://www.fancygoods.com.au/fancy-goods/2013/03/07/apa-book-design-awards-2013/

Which is your favourite?

Meet a Local Author: Nick Place

fairfieldbooksonstation — Thu, 23 May 2013 22:20:08 +0000

Sadly, it’s the final week of our Meet a Local Author month here at Fairfield Books. Our lucky last visitor is Nick Place, who is the author of popular kids series The OK Team, and has just released his first book for adults. It’s called Roll With It, and is an immensely enjoyable crime caper set in and around Fairfield – if you scroll down, you can read Heather’s review. Nick will be in the store to have a chat and sign books this Saturday 25 May between 11am and 12.30pm, so do drop by and say hello!

NSW Premier’s Literary Awards 2013

fairfieldbooksonstation — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:48:50 +0000

Well, Carrie Tiffany has done it again! Her novel Mateship with Birds has won another award – this time the Christina Stead Prize for Fiction at this year’s NSW Premier’s Literary Awards, which were announced over the weekend. Go Carrie! The category winners were:

Christina Stead Prize (Fiction, $40,000)

Mateship with Birds, Carrie Tiffany (Pan Macmillan Australia)

UTS Glenda Adams Award for New Writing ($5,000)

The Last Thread, Michael Sala (Affirm Press)

Douglas Stewart Prize (Non‐fiction, $40,000)

The Office: A Hardworking History, Gideon Haigh (Melbourne University Publishing)

Kenneth Slessor Prize (Poetry, $30,000)

Ruby Moonlight, Ali Cobby‐Eckermann (Magabala Books)

Patricia Wrightson Prize (Children’s Literature, $30,000)

The Ghost of Miss Annabel Spoon, Aaron Blabey (Penguin Group Australia)

Ethel Turner Prize (Young People’s Literature, $30,000)

A Corner of White, Jaclyn Moriarty (Pan Macmillan Australia)

Nick Enright Prize (Playwriting, $30,000)

The Damned, Reg Cribb (Black Swan State Theatre Company)

Betty Roland Prize (Scriptwriting, $30,000)

Dead Europe, Louise Fox (See‐saw films)

Community Relations Commission for a multicultural NSW Award ($20,000)

Don’t Go Back to Where You Came From, Tim Soutphommasane (New South Publishing)

NSW Premier’s Translation Prize ($30,000)

Peter Boyle

Book of the Year ($10,000)

Ruby Moonlight, Ali Cobby‐Eckermann (Magabala Books)

People’s Choice

Animal People, Charlotte Wood (Allen & Unwin)

Special Award ($10,000):

David Ireland AM

Congratulations, all!

Commonwealth Book Prize 2013

fairfieldbooksonstation — Sun, 19 May 2013 00:23:45 +0000

Congratulations to the five talented Australian writers who made it on to the shortlist for the Commonwealth Book Prize 2013: Romy Ash for Floundering, Dylan Coleman for Mazin Grace, Chris Flynn for Tiger in Eden, Michael Sala for The Last Thread and Majok Tulba for Beneath the Darkening Sky. The regional winners have just been announced – they are:

Africa: Sterile Sky by E E Sule
Asia: Island of a Thousand Mirrors by Nayomi Munaweera
Canada and Europe: The Death of Bees by Lisa O’Donnell
Caribbean: Disposable People: Inspired by True Events by Ezekel Alan
Pacific: The Last Thread by Michael Sala

Well done Michael Sala! The overall winner of the Commonwealth Book Prize 2013 will be announced on 31st May.

Meet a Local Author: Michael Pryor

fairfieldbooksonstation — Thu, 16 May 2013 00:08:46 +0000

It’s week three of our Meet a Local Author Month and this Saturday 18th May we have writer extraordinaire Michael Pryor (yes, corny I know, but I couldn’t resist!) coming along to the store for a visit. Michael is the author of several fantastic series for kids of all ages including The Chronicles of Krangor, The Laws of Magic and The Extraordinaires. The second book in The Extraordinaires series, The Subterranean Stratagem, has recently been released, so it’s a perfect opportunity to get a copy signed and have a chat. Michael will be here in the store between 11am and 12.30pm.

Real Police don’t wear lycra! Or do they?

fairfieldbooksonstation — Sat, 11 May 2013 23:37:28 +0000

Nick Place is a former resident of Fairfield and he still lives not too far away from us. His first novel for adults is a bit of a crime caper featuring policeman Tony Laver, whose shooting of a criminal came at a bad time in the history of Victoria Police. As a result, he has been shunted out of Major Crime and off into a cycling police patrol. To say that he isn’t happy is something of an understatement. But he dons the lycra and after some time of screaming thigh and sore bum syndrome, he gradually starts to see some value in what he is doing, and is soon solving crime with the best of them. The setting will be known to locals, as Fairfield, Alphington, High Street and Heidelberg all feature. It’s a hoot, and I hope there are more Tony Laver adventures to come. $24.95

As part of our “Meet the author in May” Nick Place will be here in the shop on Saturday May 25th from 11-12.30. Come along, buy a book, meet Nick and get your book signed. It should be fun.

Author visits and signed books.

fairfieldbooksonstation — Sat, 11 May 2013 03:32:31 +0000

After various author visits and events we have some books signed by the authors:

Kylie Ladd has signed copies of her latest book, Into My Arms as well as her previous books, After the Fall, Last Summer & Naked

Graeme Simsion has signed copies of The Rosie Project and they will go fast so don’t wait too long to buy that one.

Jen Storer has signed copies of Truly Tan, Truly Tan Jinxed, Tensy Farlow & Accidental Princess

Michael Pryor has signed copies of The Extraordinaires books 1 & 2. Michael will be here on Saturday 18th May at 11-12.30 so he could sign books personally for you as a gift.

We are very lucky so have so many authors who give up their time to come and visit us. Take advantage of their efforts. Signed books make terrific gifts, or just spoil yourself.

Meet a Local Author: Kylie Ladd

fairfieldbooksonstation — Thu, 09 May 2013 22:05:38 +0000

The next local author we are lucky enough to have visiting our store is the talented Kylie Ladd. She will be here tomorrow, Saturday 11th May, between 11am and 12.30pm. Kylie is the author of a number of novels, including After the Fall and Last Summer. Her latest novel, Into My Arms, has just been released and it’s a cracker of a read, deservedly chosen as the Get Reading! May Book of the Month. Why not come in and meet Kylie – a signed copy of one of her novels would make a splendid Mother’s Day present!

Our latest newsletter about books for children and young adults. You can subscribe to it

fairfieldbooksonstation — Wed, 08 May 2013 06:25:59 +0000

With our latest review and news about books for children and young adults. Enjoy

Fairfieldbooks May Email newsletter – http://eepurl.com/whRvb