Earlier in the year I signed up for the Australian Women Writers Challenge, with the goal to read at least 10 books by Australian female authors this year. By mid-Feb, when I did my last update, I’d read four. Ten was looking easy. Then I managed to get a bit distracted and didn’t read any for a few months, but lately I’ve been back on the job, reading some wonderful Aussie authors, and discovering some great new voices.

Added to my read list are:

• These Haunted Hearts by Anna Campbell (novella)
• Saving Grace by Fiona McCallum
• Sealed With A Kiss by Eleni Konstantine (short story)
• The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton
• Ask Me To Stay by Elise Ackers (novella)

The stand-outs were The Secret Keeper (Kate Morton is such a wonderful storyteller), These Haunted Hearts (I adore Anna’s lush historical romances and this one, with a bonus ghost story, was gorgeous!), and Ask Me To Stay (Elise Ackers is a new author to me and one I’ll be reading again. I loved this story and she has an unique voice that I really warmed to).

I’ve been a bit naughty-good on the book buying front lately and have plenty more books by Australian authors loaded in my e-reader. I haven’t reached my goal yet (and do novellas and short stories count?) but I’m confident I will. Mind you, a nice long lazy holiday with plenty of reading time wouldn’t go astray, and it’d rather help if I could finish my own book, but that (I hope) is for later in the year. Anyway, this is meant to be a challenge!

How about you? Read any wonderful Australian female authors lately that you want to tell everyone about?