Monday 7 May 2012

Introducing a reader.

Hi all. This is my first post here so I thought I would introduce myself. Around the online I use the nickname Ausjenny due to the very first board I was ever on having many Jenny's and one other using Jenny from Downunder. I started using Ausjenny as its so much easier to type and it wasn't taken at that stage. I am Ausjenny on most boards, forums etc and it distinguishes me. 


I started blogging just over 4 years ago answering a meme from Camy Tang. I started the blog in a simple way by adding a few reviews, then joined a blog alliance to help promote new books and gain free books to read and review. I then added interviews and still remember my first ever interview was with Mary Connealy. Since then I now do a regular getting to know you interview every Thursday where I introduce authors to readers. 


The past year I have been able to introduce Australian authors and books to my readers which has been a real joy. I have a reader friend in Canada who has loved being introduced to Australian fiction. I love learning more about authors and love being able introduce and promote authors and books.


One question I ask in my interviews is what were your favourite books when you were a child. I have been interested in the answers. As a child my first favourite book was a book of  fairytales. It had 3 stories with one being The Snow Queen which I feel in love with. My next favourite was The Magic Faraway Tree series by Enid Blyton. I loved these books and many of her other books. I reread them so many times. I so wanted a tree like that one in my back yard. I have found authors from the Commonwealth countries often mention Enid Blyton but so far no American authors have. I also loved Seven Little Australians and the Billabong books. 2 of my favourite books were Betsy, and the other book was Helen Keller's Teacher. I loved this book.


After school I didn't read a lot for many years until an older lady from church gave me the first book in Janette Oke's Canadian West series. I devoured this book and she gave me the second book early for  my birthday and I then bought the rest in the series. This gave me a love for Mounties, Canada and reading. I have watched the Christian fiction scene changed in the past 25 or so years from just a few novels to where it is today. I am also excited to see the Australian Christian Fiction growing also. I am loving the range we have and looking forward to more exciting things. I am on a few forums at Goodreads and many say they want to read books set in Australia and they want the Australian voice. I look forward to more exciting times.


Thanks for bearing with me for this post. I am not a writer and normally just post interviews and reviews. This has been an interesting experience. 

Jenny Blake aka Ausjenny has her own blog at http://ausjenny.blogspot.com where she posts reviews, interviews and information on new books. Jenny is always looking for authors to feature on her blog.
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35 comments:

  1. Peter McLennan7 May 2012 at 07:05

    I recognise your nick from somewhere; Twitter maybe?

    I never owned the Magic Faraway Tree books—but my sister did! 40 years later, I'll now confess that I used to secretly borrow them and read them.

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  2. Ausjenny7 May 2012 at 07:47

    Hi Peter, I am also on the facebook group Christian Writers Downunder, I am on twitter as Ausjenny too.

    I wont tell anyone you secretly borrowed these books. I loved so many of her books, loved the Circus series, naughtiest girl in school series, Secret Seven, Famous Five. She wrote books that engaged a child's imagination.

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    1. Adam David Collings7 May 2012 at 14:20

      Thanks for your article Jenny, and thanks for mentioning that Facebook group. I've actually been considering starting up a group like that so I can ask questions of the experts. I have just joined.

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    2. Ausjenny7 May 2012 at 18:03

      Your welcome Adam I am sure it will be of help. I enjoy seeing whats happening there.

      Delete
  3. Jennifer Delamere7 May 2012 at 08:33

    Hi all,
    I'm on Twitter as @JenDelamere . I have been fascinated by Australia's history for years, ever since I read "The Fatal Shore" years ago. My debut inspirational historical romance actually has a backstory set in colonial Australia, and I also plan to write a novella for release next year that is set in Melbourne during a huge fire in that area in 1851.
    I just bought an eReader and I'm actively searching for great romances set in Australia. I look forward to discovering more authors!

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    1. Amanda Deed7 May 2012 at 13:03

      Hi Jennifer. I write Australian historicals too. I will keep an eye out for your novel! :) The novella you plan for next year sounds good too - I am well aware of the Black Thursday fires from 1851. I live in Melbourne. Nice to see you here!

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  4. Ausjenny7 May 2012 at 08:40

    Hi Jennifer, I am now following you. Thanks for stopping by. Here you will find some really good authors and books. When will your book be out?

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  5. Cecelia7 May 2012 at 10:24

    Hi, Jennifer

    Nice interview. As a child, I enjoyed reading Laura Ingalls Wilder books. I also enjoyed The Secret Garden and the novel Heidi. I've been to your blog to visit many times.

    Cecelia Dowdy
    www.ceceliadowdy.blogspot.com

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  6. Ausjenny7 May 2012 at 10:31

    Hi Cecelia thanks for stopping by. I loved the Laura Ingalls Wilder books also. Oh and thanks for mentioning Heidi. I read that book many times too and Heidi grows up. Thanks also for visiting my blog.

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  7. Dorothy7 May 2012 at 11:22

    Hi Jenny, I remember crying myself silly when I read Helen Keller's Teacher. What a great story!
    Thanks for sharing your childhood favourites, and many thanks for everything you do to bring readers and writers together. :)

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    1. Ausjenny7 May 2012 at 18:10

      Dottie, Helen Keller's Teacher is a inspiring book and it tells it from Annie's side. Seeing how she grew up is so sad.

      Delete
  8. Meredith Resce7 May 2012 at 12:06

    Hi Jenny,
    Just want to say a big thank you firstly for joining in and reading Australian Christian Fiction, and secondly for promoting it so well for us. We all appreciate your reviews and endorsements.
    Loved Helen Keller's Teacher, when I was a kid, and Enid Blyton was of course a favourite. Keep up the good work

    Blessings
    Meredith

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    1. Ausjenny7 May 2012 at 18:13

      Thank Meredith, I was in the bookshop today and recommended one of your newer books.

      Delete
  9. Carol Preston 7 May 2012 at 12:51

    Hi Jenny. Good to see you blogging here. You are so obviously a book lover in the greatest sense of the word. You've been a great encouragement to those of us who are trying to get our work known. Thanks for the support.

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    1. Ausjenny7 May 2012 at 18:14

      Thanks Carol. I have loved books since I was little but for awhile I didn't read at all but got back into it as mentioned above. Now I devour books.

      Delete
  10. Amanda Deed7 May 2012 at 13:00

    Great job Jenny. Lovely to learn a little bit more about you and your journey too. Thanks for all you do for us Aussie authors. :)

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  11. Anusha Atukorala7 May 2012 at 14:47

    Hi Jenny,
    I agree with Meredith that you are doing a great job promoting us Aussie Authors. Thanks so much. It was good to read your blog too. Thanks for sharing with us.

    I loved all the Enid Blyton books as a kid and they set me on the path of a world where Books take centre stage. So I am with you there!
    Blessings and many thanks,
    Anusha

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    1. Ausjenny7 May 2012 at 18:20

      Thanks Anusha, Enid Blyton was special she wrote books that captured the imagination and made us use the imagination.

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  12. These thoughts lovingly crafted by me7 May 2012 at 15:37

    Hi Jenny,

    Great first intro, thanks for joining in. You do a super job of supporting everyone. Like you, I've also loved books from a young age and remember reading most of the same ones.

    Thanks again for letting us get to know you a little better!

    Lee

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    1. Ausjenny7 May 2012 at 18:23

      Thanks Lee, I remember lending some of the books to a friends child and they came back destroyed and it really upset me. They were like close friends and to see them wrecked make me want to cry.

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  13. Narelle7 May 2012 at 16:16

    Hi Jenny, great first post! A few years ago I blogged about the Faraway Tree books on a US blog & was stunned when virtually no one had heard of Enid Blyton. I also enjoyed Helen Keller, Laura Ingalls Wilder and many of the other books mentioned. I'm having a hard time convincing my kids that the classics are just as interesting as Diary of a Wimpy Kid, lol.

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  14. Ausjenny7 May 2012 at 18:27

    Hi Narelle, I was amazed how many Americans hadn't heard of or knew much of Enid Blyton. I could have mentioned The Lion the witch and the wardrobe. I tried to climb through mine after reading that book. It never worked.

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  15. Julie Lessman7 May 2012 at 22:11

    JENNY!!! Soooo good to see you on this side of the blog, girl -- GREAT JOB!!

    Hugs,
    Julie

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    1. Ausjenny8 May 2012 at 09:00

      Thanks Julie and thanks for stopping by. It is different isn't it.

      Delete
  16. Sr Crystal Mary Lindsey8 May 2012 at 13:03

    Hello Jenny,
    For someone who is not a writer, you write very well.
    I grew up with books as I think most children did prior television. I think one of the first books I read was In His Steps, it was owned by my grandfather and was dated in the late 1800's. At the country school I attended there was not library, so when I commenced at a larger school who did have one, I couldn't believe the wonder of it. I ate all Enid Blytons books, from the Five Find Outers to the Secret Seven, and of course, The magic Faraway tree, The Wishing Chair and all of those..
    I feel children who don't read, miss out on so much.
    I love Janette Oke, and for all those aspiring writers out there, she was knocked back many times until she was finally accepted, it was a hard walk for her.
    Blessings to all. Crystal Mary.

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  17. Ausjenny8 May 2012 at 20:22

    Thanks Crystal Mary, I did Business English in High school and part of that was learning how to write business letters and I think thats what helps with writing. I have a friend who was at an area school and by about grade 4 or 5 had read all the books for primary school children.
    I was a slow reader as a child although I read alot. I wasn't good at spelling and use to get help with spelling and reading. I guess if it was today I would have had lap help possibly. I was good at maths but even today I have trouble with spelling.
    I also read below my age. Even in High School I was still reading the Enid Blyton books.
    I remember having to read Lord of the Flies in year eight and really struggled as it wasn't a book I liked.

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  18. Helen Wakefield9 May 2012 at 08:42

    Wonderful to see you posting here, Jenny! It's fantastic to hear you've seen the Christian fiction market growing over the years, and encouraging that many international people are interested in Australian setting and voice :)

    And I LOVED LOVED LOVED The Magic Faraway Tree!! I have the book with the exact same cover you've shown here :) I don't know how many times I read the three books, and I used to love pretending to have a faraway tree.

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    1. Ausjenny9 May 2012 at 10:44

      Thanks Helen, I think more are interested in our books than we realise we just need to let them know how to get them. I have had American authors asking me to keep letting them know of Aussie books cos they are interested.

      the cover of the book is the one I had (till the friend ruined it).

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  19. Rita Galieh9 May 2012 at 09:42

    I really enjoyed getting to know you better through this blog, Jenny. I've seen you around for ages and wondered who you were. NOW I know. I'd just like to add sincere thanks for your work of promoting Aussie authors. How generous of you. We're gradually growing in strength thanks to people like you doing such great PR work. Also have to mention Lee and Rochelle here, too!

    God bless

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    1. Ausjenny9 May 2012 at 10:46

      Hi Rita, Thanks for stopping by. I have one of your books which I will get to at some stage. It was given to me a couple years ago for Christmas. In fact was the last gift from the lady who gave me the Janette Oke book. I do enjoy promoting both aussie and other books.
      I am a little brain dead thanks to Rose Dee today read til 2am and am a little tired (bedtime is 10.30!)

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  20. Dale10 May 2012 at 09:25

    Good to learn more about you Jenny.I first met Jenny when she reviewed my novel, Streets on a Map, on her blog. Nice to meet up again here.Good for you and thanks for introducing Aussie writers to readers elsewhere. My gransdon has recently read The Magic Faraway Tree and enjoyed it.I tried to post this a few days ago but it wouldn't accept, so having another go.

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    1. Ausjenny11 May 2012 at 12:01

      Thanks Dale, I understand the issue with posting I had it for several days recently.

      Delete
  21. Rose Dee10 May 2012 at 19:53

    Hi Jenny, It is wonderful to have a blogger who loves Aussie literature, and is willing to promote our books. You are such an integral part of our industry. Thank you for what you do.

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    1. Ausjenny11 May 2012 at 12:02

      Thanks Rose, I do love the Aussie books as well as others.

      Delete

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