Kids' Book Review: #LoveOzYA May/June Update with Kylie Fornasier

To support the #LoveOzYA initiative, each month Kids' Book Review will ask an Australian YA author to share their favourite Australian young adult titles - what they are reading, what they've read and what books are on their TBR pile. We'll also include a list of Australian author YA new releases for the month. Our guest author for June is Kylie Fornasier, author of Masquerade and the newly released The Things I Didn't Say.

What are you currently reading?
The Light Between the Oceans by M.L.Stedman. This is the first book that is not YA that I’ve read in a while. I saw the movie trailer and was really intrigued. I love stories about moral dilemmas. The Australian backdrop of this book is so beautifully portrayed.

What are your recent OzYA favourites?
I’m still shouting my praise for the wonderful books of my fellow YASquad2016: Frankie by ShivaunPlozza, Yellow by Megan Jacobson and The Sidekicks by Will Kostakis. These moving, funny and brilliantly-crafted books will forever be among my favourite OzYA.

What 5 OzYA titles are currently in your TBR pile?
Summer Skin by Kirsty Eagar
My Sister Rosa by Justine Larbalestier
This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
The Other Side of Summer by Emily Gale
The Yearbook Committee by Sarah Ayoub

What advice would you give to aspiring YA authors?
Be brave. Writing a book can be a scary process, even if it’s your tenth book. Just typing the first sentence takes courage. Be brave to start. Have courage to keep going. Share your work and learn from feedback (this can be really scary). Believe in yourself and your story.

Can you tell us a little bit about your current writing project?
Having only finished The Things I Didn’t Say moments before it went to print and on tour in March, I’m still in the process of deciding what to write next. I don’t like to think about the next book until my last book is completely finished (otherwise I’ll get distracted). I have a few ideas for the new project but since writing a book is a huge time commitment, I have to make sure I choose the right idea. I’d love to write them all but that would take a lifetime. In general for my next book, I would love to write a story that is set in space with lots of action and kick-ass characters.

Visit Kylie Fornasier's website for more information about her books and author events. Kylie's latest novel, The Things I Didn't Say, is now available published by Penguin.

May YA New Releases