Charles Tan at Bibliophile Stalker reviews Lisa L Hannett's Bluegrass Symphony. We're really pleased to read him say:

Bluegrass Symphony is one of those collections that feels more like an anthology due to the author's wide range. This is easily a must-read book of 2011, doubly so since most of the stories aren't reprints.

You can read the full review at http://charles-tan.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/book-review-bluegrass-symphony-by-lisa.html

Katharine Stubbs reviews Sara Douglass' The Hall of Lost Footsteps at Shades of Sentience. We're really happy when she says:

These pieces are fantasy with a twinge of horror, a well-measured balance that keeps you unable to put the book down while transported to a completely different world.

You can read the full review at http://sentientonline.net/?p=3089

We're pleased to unveil the cover design for Lezli Robyn's collection, Bittersuite, due for release in August.

We're pleased to announce the following publications forthcoming in 2012.

April

Damnation and Dames, edited by Liz Grzyb and Amanda Pillar

June

Bread and Circuses, Felicity Dowker

The Year's Best Australian Fantasy & Horror 2011, edited by Liz Grzyb and Talie Helene

July

The 400-Million Year Itch (Silurian Tales Volume 1), Steven Utley

August

Bittersuite, Lezli Robyn

October

Wild Chrome, Greg Mellor

Bloodstones, edited by Amanda Pillar

November

Midnight and Moonshine, Lisa L Hannett and Angela Slatter

Ticonderoga Publications is delighted to announce the forthcoming publication of a short story collection by the multi award-winning writer Cat Sparks.

The collection, tentatively titled The Bride Price, is scheduled for publication and launch at Conflux - the Australian National Science Fiction Convention in April 2013.

“Cat Sparks has produced a large number of critically acclaimed stories in the last ten years. This collection will focus on bringing together the best of her short science fiction.” Ticonderoga Editor Russell B Farr said.

“As of one of the major Australian SF voices of the past decade, a collection is long overdue,” Russell B Farr added.

Cat Sparks first rose to prominence as the founder of the acclaimed Agog! Press, publishing ten titles from 2002 to 2008. As a writer, Sparks is a graduate of the inaugural Clarion South workshop, a Writers of the Future winner, a multiple Ditmar and Aurealis Award winner, and the author of close to 60 published stories.

The contents will include the award-winning titles “All the Love in the World”, “Seventeen”, “Hollywood Roadkill”, “Last Dance at the Sargeant Major’s Ball” and the acclaimed “Arctica”, and “Home by the Sea”.

The Bride Price is scheduled for publication in April 2013. The collection will be available in limited edition hardcover, trade hardcover and paperback, and ebook editions.

Juliet Marillier was born in Dunedin, New Zealand. Her family (Pringle, Greer and Johnston on her mother’s side, Scott and Flett on her father’s side) originally came from Scotland and Ireland. Juliet grew up in Dunedin and went to school at Arthur Street Primary and Otago Girls’ High School. She later attended Otago University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Music Degree with first class honours, and a Bachelor of Arts in languages. Juliet was a Canadian Commonwealth Scholar in 1971-2, studying music at the University of Toronto.

Juliet has taught music at high school and university level in both New Zealand and Australia. She has performed as a singer in opera and other fields, and has a background in choral conducting. She joined the Australian Commonwealth public service in 1989 and worked in various government jobs for thirteen years.

Juliet’s first novel, Daughter of the Forest, was completed while she was working full time in the public service, and was published in 1999 by Pan Macmillan Australia. It was well received by readers and critics, with US and UK editions and various translations being published in following years. The other two books in the Sevenwaters Trilogy, Son of the Shadows and Child of the Prophecy, were published in 2000 and 2001. The author then branched out into Norse history and folklore with Wolfskin and Foxmask. Juliet gave up her public service job to become a full time writer in 2003.

Juliet was formerly married to Glyn Marillier, an academic and musician. She has four adult children and four grandchildren. She lives in Western Australia, where she shares her home with three dogs.

Juliet’s novels combine historical fiction, folkloric fantasy, romance and family drama. The strong elements of history and folklore in her work reflect her lifelong interest in both fields. However, her stories focus strongly on human relationships and the personal journeys of the characters. Juliet is a member of the druid order OBOD (The Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids) and her spiritual values are often reflected in her storytelling – the human characters’ relationship with the natural world plays a significant part.

As well as her books for adult readers, Juliet has written two novels for young adults and has contributed short fiction to several anthologies. She is a regular contributor to genre writing blog Writer Unboxed, where she posts on the first Thursday of the month.

Her website can be found at http://www.julietmarillier.com/