This year, the world was turned upside down as a pandemic hurtled across borders. Very quickly, Australia shut down, and many events and festivals were cancelled, hitting the arts industry hard. All sectors of the arts were hit, with some finding new and innovative ways to keep going, and others finding ways to reschedule things. But many authors did not have this luxury – and had to cancel, postpone or alter launches, celebrations, and events across the board. Some were able to take events and launches online, others in small windows of opportunity as restrictions eased and those with events in the last few months of the year may not have had to cancel at all.
As part of this, I invited several authors and illustrators to participate in a series of interviews on my blog called Isolation Publicity. All were Australian, and all had books being released, or had just released a book – new or anniversary editions amidst a pandemic. It was one small way I could help them get the word out about their books and work as a whole.
In putting these interviews together, I tailored them to each individual author – not just about their book, but about other experiences, their interests, and little things about them that make them who they are, and that might have found a place in their books. Some are longer interviews, others are shorter. And for some, I also reviewed some of the books – whether I bought them, they were sent to me by the publisher for review, or the author gifted a copy as a thank you. For those books that have reviews, I have put the review under the interview link, so all efforts are collated in a single post – one of my many wrap up posts for 2020.
Of the other books I was sent, I was unable to read one (time constraints). No Small Shame by Christine Bell was the only one I was unable to read and review it, but will endeavour to get to it next year, as I begin to work through my 2021 books and aim to keep on top of reviewing in 2021.
Isolation Publicity with Danielle Binks
Book reviewed: The Year the Maps Changed
Isolation Publicity with Kirsty Manning
Book Reviewed: The Lost Jewels
Isolation Publicity with Suzanne Leal
Book Reviewed: The Deceptions
Isolation Publicity with Jenna Guillaume
Book Reviewed: You Were Made for Me
Isolation Publicity with Tanya Bretherton
Book Reviewed: The Killing Streets – Uncovering Australia’s First Serial Murderer
Isolation Publicity with Hazel Edwards
Isolation Publicity with Victoria McKinlay
Book Reviewed: Ribbit, Rabbit, Robot
Isolation Publicity with Middle Grade Mavens (podcast)
Isolation Publicity with Kerri Turner
Book Reviewed: Daughter of Victory Lights
Isolation Publicity with Kate Forsyth and Lorena Carrington
Book Reviewed: Snow White and Rose Red and Other Tales of Kind Young Women
Isolation Publicity with Dr Anna Whateley
Book Reviewed: Peta Lyre’s Rating Normal
Isolation Publicity with Sonya Bates
Book Reviewed: Inheritance of Secrets
Isolation Publicity with Jennifer MacKenzie
Isolation Publicity with Alison Booth
Book Reviewed: The Philosopher’s Daughters
Isolation Publicity with Madelaine Dickie
Isolation Publicity with James Foley, author and illustrator
Book Reviewed: Toffle Towers: Fully Booked
Toffle Towers: The Great River Race
Toffle Towers: Order in the Court
Isolation Publicity with Josephine Moon
Isolation Publicity with Monique Mulligan
Book(s) Reviewed:
Alexandra-Rose and Her Icy Cold Toes
Isolation Publicity with Kylie Howarth
Isolation Publicity with Nat Amoore
Book Reviewed: The Power of Positive Pranking
Isolation Publicity with Oliver Phommavanh
Book Reviewed: Brain Freeze
Isolation Publicity with Maya Linnell
Isolation Publicity with K.M. Kruimink
Book Reviewed: A Treacherous Country
Isolation Publicity with Dee White
Book Reviewed: Beyond Belief
Isolation Publicity with Petra James
Book Reviewed: Henrie’s Hero Hunt
Isolation Publicity with Sherryl Clark
Isolation Publicity with Wendy Orr
Book Reviewed: The Complete Adventures on Nim’s Island
Isolation Publicity with Christine Bell
Isolation Publicity with Allison (A.L.) Tait
Book Reviewed: The Firestar (A Maven ad Reeve Mystery)
Isolation Publicity with Zana Fraillon
Book Reviewed: Lost Soul Atlas
Isolation Publicity with Aleesah Darlison
Books Reviewed: League of Llamas: Undercover Llama,
Isolation Publicity with Nova Weetman
Book Reviewed: Sick Bay
Isolation Publicity with Kate and Jol Temple
Book Reviewed: The Battle of Book Week
Isolation Publicity with Tim Cope
Isolation Publicity with Andrew MacDonald
Isolation Publicity with Deb Abela
Isolation Publicity with George Ivanoff
Isolation Publicity with Karen Turner
Isolation Publicity with Jacqueline Harvey:
Books Reviewed:
Isolation Publicity with Angela Savage
Isolation Publicity with Tanya Heaslip
Book Reviewed: An Alice Girl
Isolation Publicity with Caz Goodwin
Book Reviewed: Daisy Runs Wild
Isolation Publicity with Candice Lemon-Scott
Books Reviewed:
Here’s hoping that next year, authors can participate in virtual and physical events and reach their readers. After the year we have had, picking up a good book has been something to treasure, and thank you to all these authors for their books and participating in this venture.
The Book Muse 
Well done Ashleigh! Thank you for all your hard work in featuring Australian reads.
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Thank you Shelley!
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I replay enjoyed this series. It was a great initiative.
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