How’s your 2025 been?
Personally this year has been a year of change, of letting go, of moving into new phases of life. These are not bad things, they just take some processing, and some gentleness with myself and others.
Professionally, I’ve had some ‘wins’ but, more than that, I’ve had fun writing stories and sharing these stories with others.
Here’s a quick update:
Odyssey House Short Story competition (announced December 2024 but the prizes kicked in at the beginning of 2025.
Membership to Writer’s Victoria thanks to the Odyssey House competition win
Story Clinic workshop with Rashida Murphy
Writing Ekphrastic Poetry with Emilie Collyer workshop
Short Story Writing with Cate Kennedy workshop
The Joy of the Short Story with Danielle Binks workshop
National Gallery of Victoria, Writing in Response to Art with Cate Kennedy online course
Peter Carey Short Story Award longlist
Hunter Writer’s Centre, Newcastle Short Story Award shortlist
Newcastle Short Story Award Anthology publication
In 2026, I’m excited to see where my writing goals take me…
Updates from the laptop of Jacqui
Today’s newsletter contains and will contain in future editions:
Summer holiday reading guide
New Instagram writer page
Monthly recommendation
For the authors amongst us
Artisan shops to visit
Writing update
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Feature Story
Your summer holiday reading guide
Long lazy days, warm weather, camping, beach, walks, and books! What could be more summery than these?
And when it comes to books, forgive me if I’m mistaken but I like to think the best summer reads are those that are pure escapism. Whether you enjoy crime or fantasy or cosy mysteries or family sagas, the joy of a good book can never be over-estimated.
I chose these books because I found them hard-to-put down and compelling, exactly the type of book you need for a summer break. I’ve read all of them but I’ve also included a ‘wish list’ book.
Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid. What a terrific author Taylor Jenkins Reid is, unique structures and stories but with a gripping narrative that makes her books hard to put down. I also read The Six Husbands of Evelyn Hugo but enjoyed Daisy Jones and the Six more, perhaps because I really enjoyed the revelations at the end and the depictions of the music scene. I would also love to read Atmosphere because the story of a woman in space really appeals.
Outback by Patricia Wolf. A friend recommended Patricia Wolf’s Australian crime novels and they are sensational. Gripping, exciting and quite different which makes them easy-to-read, just not late at night - make sure you’re on the beach in the middle of the day with bright blue sun overhead.
Yellowface by R. F. Kuang (also the author of Babel and Katabasis - both on my wish list). Yellowface has been the subject of some controversy which I won’t go into here because you might want to judge for yourself. The story follows Juniper Hayward, a rising literary star but who has not yet ‘made it’ when compared with her friend Athena Liu. When circumstances provide Juniper with an unexpected but grim opportunity to find success, she takes it, raising questions about what makes art and how far someone is willing to go to achieve their dreams. I found the story engaging and an un-put-downable read.
And, if these books aren’t enough to get you onto a beach towel for the day, here’s a quick list of some other books or authors worth considering:
Kristen Hannah (The Nightingale is a good place to start and will soon be made into a movie)
For the Teens &/or Young Adults, Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross or for more spicy stories, Rebecca Yarros’ Fourth Wing series.
Feel free to add your own book recommendations in the comments below
Here’s some more ideas:
Updates
New Instagram Writer Page
Instagram update:
I decided to create a separate writing account for Instagram updates. You can follow along at the link below.
The Movie Review
There are many exciting film releases coming in 2026 and many of them are adaptations based on books. Which ones are you looking forward to?
YOUR MONTHLY RECOMMENDATION
SONG SUNG BLUE starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson
Not a book adaptation but a documentary adaptation, this recent release is based on the true story of a Neil Diamond tribute band called ‘Lightning and Thunder’. Hugh Jackman plays ‘Lightning’ aka Mike Sardinia while Kate Hudson plays his wife, Claire (Thunder). The film has a big heart, especially when the story takes a dramatic turn about halfway through but the acting, the music and the story are compelling.
2026 films based on books
Hamnet based on the Maggie O’Farrell novel of the same name. A reimagining of Shakespeare’s life focusing on Anne (Agnes) Hathaway and the terrible, tragic loss the couple experience.
Sunrise on the Reaping based on the latest in the ‘Hunger Games’ collection by Suzanne Collins.
The Magic Farway Tree based on the treasured series by Enid Blyton.
Odyssey, a film by Christopher Nolan.
Wuthering Heights, a true gothic masterpiece based on the book by Charlotte Brontë and starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi.
And to see more films based on books in 2026, click on the link below.
FAVOURITE BOOK TO MOVIE ADAPATION?
I would put Dune or Ordinary People at the top of my list, what about you?
Spotlighting
FOR THE AUTHORS AMONG US
Check out this site for a comprehensive list of writing competitions
What I’m loving
ARTISAN STORES - Focus on Brunswick
Very Melbourne and very cute & stylish collection of cards, calendars and other merchandise
The delights of a stationery store are almost as huge as a bookshop. Here is a beautiful shop to roam within
A Final Note
IN OTHER NEWS
My short story ‘The Butterfly Effect’ is now published in the Hunter Writer’s Centre Anthology. You can purchase a copy here:-)
And now we welcome the new year, full of things that have never been. - Rainer Maria Rilke
Until next time,