Danielle Binks - I write books for children and young adults and short stories for grown-ups.

The Monster of Her Age

The Year the Maps Changed (US Edition)

The Year the Maps Changed

Last Night At The Mount Solemn Observatory

Begin, End, Begin: A #LoveOzYA Anthology Summer Edition

Begin, End, Begin: A #LoveOzYA Anthology

Follow @DBNKS

May I please present to you —Maxfield Parrish. A

May I please present to you —Maxfield Parrish. An #artist whose command of light & colour was absolutely breathtaking.

From Wikipedia; ‘American #painter and #illustrator active in the first half of the 20th century. He is known for his distinctive saturated hues & idealized neo-classical imagery. His career spanned fifty years and was wildly successful: the National Museum of American Illustration deemed his painting “Daybreak” to be the most successful art print of the 20th century’ (based on prints made - like, now it’s so many college girl dorms with a Matisse blue nude print, it once was a Parrish)

Specifically this #painting of #Daybreak (the last in the slides here) was; “inspired by the landscape of Vermont and New Hampshire to create lush and romantic tones …” neo-classical almost to look Grecian of two girls (one lying flat on her back, the other bent double looking down at her) situated between two massive white columns, hues of soft pink, green, blue and purple.

Parrish loved the Vermont and New Hampshire #landscapes - like the first 4 slides:
— ‘Hill Top Farm, Winter’ full of purple and blue
— ‘At Close of Day’ in green and blue
— ‘Birches in Winter’ showing white, peach and blue
— ‘Afterglow’ showing a white-roofed house sitting in snow, snow-covered mountains nestled into a turning-green sky.

He managed to capture the moment of colour that transforms a sky and landscape so as to make the ordinary world seem magical.

And you can kinda tell his background was as a children’s illustrator from this whimsy … and also some pieces like ‘The Lantern Bearers’. I love the Google Arts & Culture description; ‘This lively nocturne combines all the elements of the artist’s most successful works: fantastical characters, luminous color, and a sense of mystery. A tightly clustered group of clowns pose on a stage-like setting of wide stone steps, hanging glowing yellow lanterns against a silhouetted tree and a “Parrish Blue” sky. In the background hover four more golden orbs, leaving the viewer to wonder which, if any, is the moon.’ 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕

#MaxfieldParrish #TheLanternBearers #Daybreak #Afterglow #HillTopFarmWinter #BirchesInWinter #art

Why’d it take me so long to watch #WarriorNun? S

Why’d it take me so long to watch #WarriorNun? Sapphic sisters - I should have known, I’ve had success with these stories before! 🤣

#LaurenGroff’s #Matrix — “Born from a long line of female warriors and crusaders, yet too coarse for courtly life, Marie de France is cast from the royal court and sent to Angleterre to take up her new duty as the prioress of an impoverished abbey. Lauren Groff's modern masterpiece is about the establishment of a female utopia.”

And then as soon as I heard about ‘Scorched Grace: A Sister Holiday Mystery’ by Margot Douaihy I snapped up a copy from @readingsbooks!

Here’s the blurb;

When Saint Sebastian's School becomes the target of a shocking arson spree, the Sisters of the Sublime Blood and their surrounding community are thrust into chaos.

Unsatisfied with the officials' response, sardonic and headstrong Sister Holiday becomes determined to unveil the mysterious attacker herself and return her home and sanctuary to its former peace. Her investigation leads down a twisty path of suspicion and secrets in the sticky, oppressive New Orleans heat, turning her against colleagues, students, and even fellow Sisters along the way.Sister Holiday is more faithful than most, but she's no saint. To piece together the clues of this high-stakes mystery, she must first reckon with the sins of her chequered past - and neither task will be easy.An exciting start to Margot Douaihy's bold series that breathes new life into the hard-boiled genre, Scorched Grace is a fast-paced and punchy whodunnit that will keep readers guessing until the very end.

💜🩷💜🩷💜🩷

(I also loved Betty Gilpin’s TV series ‘Mrs. Davis’ which has Gilpin playing a kick-ass nun … I mean!)

‘Nuff said.

🩷💜🩷💜🩷💜🩷

#ScorchedGrace #ASisterHolidayMystery #MargotDouaihy #SisterHolidayMystery #SisterHoliday #WarriorNunNetflix #bookish #bookme #books #instabooks #instabook #reading #totalbooknerd #reading #read #bibliophile #bookworm #bookstagram #book #bookblogger #book #bookphotography

“Live so that if your life was a book, Florida w

“Live so that if your life was a book, Florida would ban it” 🤘

Don’t know where this original quote or pic of it on a billboard came from - but it’s too good not to share.

#BookBans #BookBan #BookBanning #BanBookBans #FightEvilReadBooks #Books #Book #bookstagram #Quote #Read

My podiatrist had beautiful purple wisteria in ful

My podiatrist had beautiful purple wisteria in full bloom on their property and it truly got me so excited for *real* spring (not this cold Melbourne version of!) it’s also very Bridgerton which I am also looking forward to! 💜🐝

#Wisteria #PurpleWisteria #Flowers

Can’t wait to read ‘This Camp is Doomed: A Den

Can’t wait to read ‘This Camp is Doomed: A Dennith Grange Misadventure’ by Anna Zobel

New middle grade out with @penguinkidsaustralia

Here’s the blurb;

🔥🌳⛺️🌲🏕️👻🔥

A run-down camp in the woods.

No phone reception.

Ten students with untested powers . . .

Céline is seeing conspiracies everywhere. Fionn has a bad premonition about the colour blue. Mr Berg is horrified at the camp’s questionable safety standards. Something is definitely not right at Camp Buttress.

This hilarious and quirky new novel by Anna Zobel will keep you guessing as the students and their teachers try to solve the mystery – and survive.

🔥🌳⛺️🌲🏕️👻🔥

@readingsbooks recommends this as “A fun, spooky story for middle grade readers aged 9+.” And I just love that it’s an illustrated MG novel with Zobel’s gorgeous signature style of wonderfully diverse and detailed drawings.

Even the cover-art is gorgeous with that orange typography of ‘This Camp is Doomed’ made to look like a clouding puff of campfire smoke on a light blue night. Stunning!

I reckon this one is perfect for October Halloween-ish reads, and to give to kids who say they want “horror” stories but still need to test waters with “spooky” stories first.

👻👻👻 #AnnaZobel #ThisCampIsDoomed #MiddleGrade #MiddleGradeBook #MiddleGradeBooks #MG #MGbook #MGbooks #LoveOzMG #MGlit #LoveOzKidLit #AussieReaders #AussieAuthors #AusLit #AustralianAuthor #DanielleBinks #WritingLife #AusBookstagram #book #bookstagram #AustraliaReads #LoveOzKidLit

Had a lovely birthday weekend ☺️ thank you for

Had a lovely birthday weekend ☺️ thank you for the birthday well-wishes!

I was particularly chuffed with another box from the @t2tea X @penguinbooksaus #T2XPenguinBooks range, this time #MysteryAndThriller + #ArthurConanDoyle’s #SherlockHolmes 🧐💼🎻🗡️ “It is more than possible; it is probable.”

Here’s the website description ☕️📕🫖

‘Books and brews – it’s a perfect pairing. So, we’ve joined forces with none other than Penguin Books Australia to match our teas with classic stories.

A limited edition gift pack featuring a T2 exclusive designed book, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, fine bone china mug and 30x teabags.
Teabag flavours – 10x French Earl Grey, 10x The Quiet Mind, and 10x Green Rose.
Packed into a colourful, recyclable cardboard box, perfect for storing your tea.
It makes the perfect gift for a book and tea lover (or better, for yourself!).

From fruits to spices, tea leaves to herb bushes, 100% of our tea is sustainably sourced.’

🕵️‍♂️💼🗡️🎻🪈

#PenguinBooks #PenguinBooksAus #PenguinBooksAustralia #T2TeaCup #BooksAndTea #book #books #bookstagram #bookworm #bookish

Not sponsored or anything - but this is 36 today 🥳🎂 and I’m mostly excited that I picked up new reading glasses … this truly *is* 36. Wooooo! 👓

These are my @specsaversaustralia new readers, X2 pair - part of their @fredhollows Foundation range with beautiful artwork by Warnman woman #HelenDaleSamson from @martumiliartists!

Here’s the description on #SpecSavers website:

‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are three times more likely to go blind from treatable causes than other Australians. That’s why, we donate $25 from each pair of limited-edition frames to The Fred Hollows Foundation. Helen Dale Samson’s artwork, ’Puntawarri’ features on the new limited-edition frames which are exclusive to Specsavers. Shop the range today, to help end avoidable blindness.’

So they’re snazzy, for a good cause 👏

#Martumili #MartumiliArtist #Puntawarri #ReadingGlasses #Glasses #SpecSaversStyle #FredHollows #FresHollowsFoundation

I’m no Drew Barrymore 😒 so I won’t be teach

I’m no Drew Barrymore 😒 so I won’t be teaching today. Because RMIT staff are on 24-hour strike this Wednesday 13th September.

I haven’t been teaching for that long - only since 2021 - but I love it! Means a lot to me that I am back teaching creative writing at the same place that taught me. I am so invigorated by getting to work with a new generation of emerging Australian creatives, but passion is not enough …

If you’d like to know more, check out my union @nteu_rmitbranch. But to break it down for you;

RMIT staff are drowning in unmanageable workloads. We are understaffed, and thousand of us have no job security or even paid sick days.

Like you, we face massive rent and mortgage increases and a cost of living crisis.

But for over two years RMIT senior management have refused our requests for a real pay-rise and for relief in our working conditions.

We have no choice but to take strike action, and we hope you will support us.

♾️ Staff working conditions are student learning conditions ♾️

If you’re a student - past or present! - and you’d like to actively support us there is a strike fund. Also;

📣 Contacting the Vice-Chancellor
Email: vc@rmit.edu.au

📣 Vice-President
Ms Mish Eastman is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Vocational Education and Vice-President.
Contact:
Office of DVC Vocational Education
Email: DVCVE@rmit.edu.au

#NTEU #RMITstrike #RMITstrikes #RMITAllDayStrike #RMIT #RMITStopWork #RMITuniversity @nteu_au

If you are craving a new short-story collection, I

If you are craving a new short-story collection, I borrowed this one from @frankstoncitylibraries and I’m making my way through it;

‘I Am the Mau and other stories’ by Chemutai Glasheen from @fremantlepress

Here’s the blurb; 🔅🔅🔅🔅

This enticing collection of contemporary fiction is a celebration of our ubuntu: the invisible ties that bind us all together.

From ancient forest guardians to modern cultural warriors, from grappling with age-old traditions to championing hair identity, these evocative stories explore the duality of Kenyan life and how to find a way between two cultures, both of which are yours.

Chemutai Glasheen’s unforgettable characters are drawn from her early life in Africa with all its richness, diversity and complexity.

🔆🔆🔆🔆🔆 it’s beautiful so far! Clear-eyed and punchy, a tightly-woven patchwork of story. Second story ‘One Last Breakfast’ is particularly tightly-wound and poignant, reading like a play-script. In fact, there’s a couple of these that I’d love to see adapted somehow - they’re begging for the stage especially.

#IAmTheMau #ChemutaiGlasheen #bookish #bookme #books #instabooks #instabook #reading #totalbooknerd #reading #read #bibliophile #bookworm #bookstagram #book #bookblogger #book #bookphotography #ShortStory #ShortStories #FremantlePress

Been a while since I posted a #Murray pic - so her

Been a while since I posted a #Murray pic - so here he is, after I’d knocked on the doona cover and he popped his head out to see who was disturbing his slumber 🤎 #Jackshund (Jack Russell X dachshund) #Dog #Doggo #dogsofinstagram

This will just *never* get old! #TheYearTheMapsCha

This will just *never* get old! #TheYearTheMapsChanged in Polish! 🇵🇱❤️🤍! Published by and out now with @wydawnictwo_widnokrag!

And if you’re in Australia and would like a copy — @thepolishbookstore have it in stock 👍🇵🇱🤍❤️

#Repost @wydawnictwo_widnokrag with @use.repost
・・・
Czytaliście już naszą nowość? 📖

Rok 1999, Sorrento w Australii.

Na mapie życia jedenastoletniej Fred pojawiają się smoki – jak te, które kiedyś kartografowie malowali w miejscach nieodkrytych i niebezpiecznych.

Mała rodzina Winifred – lub Fred, jak wszyscy ją nazywają – która składa się z ojczyma, Luki, i dziadka powiększa się o Anikę, nową partnerkę Luki, oraz jej syna. Na dodatek Anika spodziewa się dziecka, a Fred obawia się, że Luca będzie kochał ich dziecko bardziej niż ją. Tymczasem do Sorrento, gdzie mieszkają, przybywa duża grupa albańskich uchodźców z Kosowa, w którym trwa wojna. To dzieli lokalną społeczność. Rodzina Fred zgłasza się do pomocy w ośrodku i dzięki temu zyska nową perspektywę.

Ten rok zmieni wszystkich, a Fred dowie się, co oznacza wyjście poza własny zakątek mapy.

Powieść jest oparta na prawdziwych wydarzeniach, które autorka pamięta ze swojego dzieciństwa, ale w fabule jest też wiele wymyślonych. Główna bohaterka, Fred, jest w tym samym wieku, co autorka w 1999 roku. Jej tata był policjantem, podobnie jak ojciec Fred. 🗺️

✍️Tekst: @dbinks
📜Przekład: @anna.klingofer.szostakowska
Wiek: 10+

#wydawnictwowidnokrąg #ksiazkadladzieci #książkadladzieci #ksiazkadladziecka #książkadlamłodzieży #książka #ksiazka #książkanadziś #książkadobranawszystko #czytam #czytamybolubimy #czytamksiążki #czytambolubię #czytambolubie #czytambochcę #czytamksiążkidladzieci #czytambokocham #czytamdziecku #bookstagrampl #booksbooksbooks #book #booklover #ksiazkadnia #booklover #DanielleBinks #kochampapier #dladzieci #dlamłodzieży #rokwktórymzmieniłysięmapy

#Tweet from history author #JenniferWright —

“If everything you're taught about your country's history makes you feel proud, you're not learning history. You're absorbing propaganda.”

(in response to a Tweet from 54th Governor of Alabama declaring; “We have permanently BANNED Critical Race Theory in Alabama. We’re focused on teaching our children how to read and write, not HATE.”)

Also brings to mind that those who do not learn from #History, are doomed to repeat it (Churchill)

Read a great article on the weekend - ‘Like mill

Read a great article on the weekend - ‘Like millions of Australians, I’ve fallen back in love with my local library’ - and the logline; “As a child Bec Zhuang spent many happy days at her local library. Returning as a cash-strapped adult, she’s rediscovered a space that can still meet her needs.”
Via @guardianaustralia

It goes through how libraries are more like community hubs (always have been) but they’re bouncing back in big ways and recording outstanding patronage like never before. The closing para sums it up nicely; “In an era marked by cost-of-living pressures, public libraries offer financial and emotional refuge: a place where time does not have to mean money.”

I’ve always been a library fan (ever since a visit there was a treat, going with my dad) but I must admit my love and enthusiasm has grown exponentially in recent months.

Even today when out doing errands, I picked up my latest tasty borrows from @frankstoncitylibraries;

— #GirlGoddessQueen by #BeaFitzgerald
— #TalkingAtNight by #ClaireDaverley
— #Pageboy by #ElliotPage
— #IAmTheMauAndOtherStories
by #ChemutaiGlasheen

And then of course I’ve become addicted to my #BorrowBox app via my library - in particular, I’m making my way through Ben Aaronovitch’s ‘Peter Grant / Rivers of London’ series on audiobook, read magnificently by Ghanaian-British actor, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith.

And as I wait in digital queue for those e-audiobook instalments, I’ve just discovered a new audio series to get stuck into - Lindsey Davis’s incredible hard-boiled crime noir set in Rome & Britannia AD-70, ‘Marcus Didius Falco.’

Honestly. I do love my #Library. I’m totally hooked on it ☺️

#Libraries #LibraryLove #LibraryLoans #Book #Books #bookstagram #Read #Reading #LoveYourLibrary #LoveLibraries

Well this was a very special read indeed - as it a

Well this was a very special read indeed - as it always is! #TheBigIssue #FictionEdition!

From @bigissueaustralia website; “The Fiction Edition is here! We received more than 900 original short stories from around the world and finally, you can now read 12 of the best. There’s murder mysteries by the sea, family secrets unfolding on a moonlight beach, unexpected love stories, and a child left behind at a birthday party. Happy reading!”

I had a few favourites in the bunch, but they’re honestly all spectacular and a little something for everyone. And with gorgeous accompanying illustrations by #LynnBremner too! We’re very lucky to have #TheBigIssueFictionEdition every year - that celebrates new, emerging, and established voices and puts a spotlight on the #ShortStory form, all while doing some social good in the world. Judges @clairecao & @melissajfulton did a wonderful job whittling the entries down, Amy Hetherington and @sineadstubbins + the whole #BigIssue editorial team deserve a rousing BRAVO!

Stories by:
A.R. Eldridge
Nina Wan
Amy St Lawrence
Paige Clark
Chris Ames
Robert J. Boland
Hannah Cockroft
Scott Limbrick
Josephine Sarvaas
Trent Dalton
Michelle See-Tho
Zoya Patel

I mean … just in case it wasn’t obvious. I’m

I mean … just in case it wasn’t obvious. I’m voting yes.

— #VoteYes first slide is some fave yellow wattle and “I’m voting Yes” statement

— cartoonist Fiona Katauskas released this great piece showing Dutton standing before a common “No” catchphrase sign; “If you don’t know, vote no” which is very “if the glove doesn’t fit, you must acquit” of them, but I prefer the alternative she illustrates - an Option B sign that says; “if you don’t know, find out! It’s not that hard.”

— Further proof of this is something I - and any of us eligible to vote! - can do. I reached out to read “Indigenous Voice Co-design Process Final Report”. Anyone can view, download, or (like I did) request to have this document sent out to you. Just visit — https://voice.gov.au/resources/indigenous-voice-co-design-process-final-report

— But if you really want cliff-notes, @wilstracke did this great summary about how we’ve had versions of The Voice via various governments and orgs in the past … but because they’ve never been enshrined, they’ve been subject to political machinations and cost-cuttings again and again. I think this is the best summary out there of why we need it once and for all, via our Constitution.

— There is a #WritersForTheVoice that I’ve added my name to (https://writersforthevoice.com.au/) but really definitively stating my position and commitment to this is just a very small act of solidarity. I want to do more and will be actively looking for how I can positively participate in this historic event for a better future for all First Nations people, and pulling Australia into a more progressive future.

— and then I think Adam Briggs said it best on Twitter: “When the referendum gets here the options won’t be…

YES
NO (Racist)
NO (Progressive)”

I appreciate some No viewpoints see the Voice as further folding into colonial ideals to heal wounds inflicted by colonisation. But majority of First Nations Australians want and support this. And I won’t stand in their way to a better future and listening to what they are telling us might help their communities in unprecedented ways.

#ImVotingYes 🖤💛❤️ #Yes23 @yes23au #HistoryIsCalling #VoteYes #Yes23 #AusPol

Thrilling day today for me as Literary Agent - dou

Thrilling day today for me as Literary Agent - double publications!
Both from Harper Australia, we have;

— ‘Millie Mak the Maker (first book in the #MillieMak series!) by Alice Pung, illustrated by JdM’s own Sher Rill Ng!

I think @jaclyncrupi from @hillofcontent Bookshop (she of the brilliant ‘The ABC Kids Guide to Loving the Planet’) gave such a generous review of this wonderful #MiddleGrade book; ‘A big-hearted book about transformation, creativity and discovery, and how we should start where we are and use what we have. It teaches us that we don't need to buy things to have things and that each of us is a maker. The potential of everything and everyone that surrounds us is unlocked in beautiful prose from Alice Pung and delightful illustrations by Sher Rill Ng. The power of kindness and kinship is at the heart of these stories.'

That’s it *exactly*! #MillieMakTheMaker out ~today~ with @harperkidsau 🧡

— ‘The Visitors’ by Jane Harrison - adapted from Jane’s remarkable play (that’s also been adapted by @victorianopera for October performances this year!) This book is truly breathtaking and it’s been an honour to see Jane and @catherineishome work on it. I particularly love this endorsement from ‘You Daughters of Freedom’ author and historian, @clarewrighthistorian; ‘A work of soaring imagination and breathtaking ambition. Jane Harrison upends all our black-and-white assumptions about what happened on that fateful January day in 1788 when eleven tall ships sailed into a safe blue harbour that people already called home. Surprisingly funny, cheeky and tragic by turns, this remarkable novel is bold, brave and unforgettable.’

It’s honestly one of those books that I want to press into everyone’s hands 🖤 @harpercollinsaustralia

Phew 😅🥲 I am a very proud @jacintadimase agent today ❤️‍🔥

#AusBookstagram #JacintaDiMase #JacintaDiMaseAgency
#AgentLife #LiteraryAgent #LiteraryAgenting #LiteraryAgents #LitAgentLife #LitAgent #JaneHarrison #TheVisitors #SherRillNg #AlicePung #Book #Books #bookstagram #LoveOzKidLit #AussieReads #AustraliaReads

The last of the #Bali snaps. I promise. And do you

The last of the #Bali snaps. I promise. And do you think I had any chill when I found this beautiful pink #bougainvillea tree?! No. No I did not.

I needed that break, brief as it was. #Sanur was a good balm and I didn’t realise it had been so long since I’d chilled out.

#BougainvilleaTree #PinkBougainvillea #PurpleBougainvillea

Sorry; I just need to brag about this because it’s no small miracle that I managed to read THREE paperback books on my Bali holiday (plus kept listening to my ‘Peter Grant’ third book on audiobook BorrowBox)

But THREE books is solid! And I didn’t glance at the manuscripts on my devices that I have to read for work (sorry not sorry) I actually prioritised the stuff I’ve been desperate to get my hands on!

I also made multiple visits to @periplus_sanur and have no regrets!

Okay, so;

— Found these gorgeous #ElizabethLim #SixCrimsonCranes Book 1 and Book 2 (#TheDragonsPromise) which I have heard nothing but good things about, and these #TranNguyen covers sold me!

— #DaysAtTheMorisakiBookshop by #SatoshiYagisawa I also found at #PeriplusSanur and I’d never heard of it but instantly had to have it as soon as I read the blurb.

— #AfterThatNight by #KarinSlaughter - a new Will Trent and Sara Linton book when we haven’t had a new instalment since 2020, and this just hit the spot! I now feel like I can dive into her two stand-alones waiting for me because I think I just wanted a Will & Sara update first.

— #YouWithAView by #JessicaJoyce, quite possibly the best and fluffiest vacay read. It’s enemies-to-lovers and a side-story about lost love, very 2010 movie ‘Letters to Juliet’ but steamy and this was a perfect holiday read. No notes!

— not pictured (but in the TikTok vid) #LikeAHouseOnFire my first #CarolineHulse book and now I’m hooked. She’s like … a British Toni Jordan. Tightly-wound family chaos and romantic drama with heapings or comedy, brilliant!

😅 and that’s my holiday reads!

#Book #Books #Reading #bookstagram #HolidayReads #HolidayReading #Read

I’m semi-back. It’s still mid-semester break

I’m semi-back.

It’s still mid-semester break so I’m still somewhat out with those lanterns. But I managed to squeeze in a quick trip to #Bali. My first holiday-holiday since 2019 😱

So here’s a photo-dump (but not really; alt-captions are in)

And if I look very relaxed in that last photo with me in a bright-orange shawl cheers’ing a Long Island Ice-Tea at a restaurant on the beach … it’s because I was very content indeed ☺️

#Sanur, I’ve missed you!

Can’t believe I’m saying this, BUT - I’m goi

Can’t believe I’m saying this, BUT - I’m going to attempt somewhat of a break for myself.

Taking a page out of Emily Dickinson’s book - “I am out with lanterns, looking for myself.” - not going quite as far as David Rose from Schitt’s Creek (pictured) and full Amish farm, but trying to digital detox somewhat.

😎🏖️

#EmilyDickinson #IAmOutWithLanterns #DavidRose #SchittsCreek #Quote #SchittsCreekQuote

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