Hi. I’m Australian.
I’m like 78% sure most of you knew that already because, well, THERE ARE CLUES. Like the fact I use “ou” when I spell colour, how I occasionally say “mate” instead of dude, promote Aussie books, spend all of December whingeing about summer, AND OH I CAN’T FORGET — am fuelled solely by the phenomenon that is vegemite which I sacrifice to the wallabies in my yard. Obviously. You all knew this.
But considering I’m also a book blogger, I thought it’d be handy to reveal some of the Aussie book bloggers’ deepest secrets. These are all 100% true and legit and trustworthy, as am I. And you can find any Aussie book blogger anywhere and THEY WILL CONFIRM. I’m just saying.
1. WE DO A LOT OF AUTOMATIC TRANSLATIONS.
There is no deny that a lot of book bloggers are American. Like a lot. And after a while we Aussies get tired of being asked IF WE SPELT THAT RIGHT (we did) or WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY CELSIUS (what did they teach you about temperatures in school) and WHY ARE YOU DOING YOUR BOOK MONTH WRAP UP A DAY EARLY (dude, have you heard of different hemispheres) and HOW COME YOU SPEAK ENGLISH IN AUSTRALIA (actual question I have been asked). So I just start translating ahead of time to avoid streams of tedious questions.
I even avoid talking about the weather because there’s only so many times I can mention there are TWO HEMISPHERE’S ON GOD’S GREEN EARTH before wanting to stab myself in the eye with a snag on the barbie after I have smoko in the arvo. *
My English friend read one of my books once and kept asking “Cait, is this actually a word?” when I’d say something like “Ute” or “bitumen”.
* NO I SHAN’T TRANSLATE THAT. GOOD LUCK FIGURING IT OUT.
2. IT’S HARD TO RECOMMEND AUSSIE BOOKS.
It is! It’s like the greatest disappointment of my life that I can flail and flail and FLAIL over glorious Aussie YA lit…but…most other countries can’t buy it???? They can’t FIND IT. Because Australia is not good at getting their books overseas. * And if you want to purchase something from Australia well, be prepared to sell an organ, because the Australian post office is literally an evil force out to ruin the lives of many.
So here I am, shoving Aussie books in your face, and all you can say is “That’s nice dear, never heard of it and can’t find it.”
Whyyyyy. My heart is BROKEN. See those little pieces of devastation and misfortune on the floor? THAT’S ME.
* I used to think this meant Aussie publishers were bad at promotion, but I think it’s actually a territory rights thing?? If they don’t sell the book overseas then it has to be exported and that’s expensive and doesn’t happen often? I DON’T KNOW. I’M ACTUALLY SURMISING HERE. I KNOW NOTHING, JON SNOW.
3. IF WE GET TOO TIRED, WE ACTUALLY HIRE KOALAS AND WALLABIES TO BLOG FOR US.
We don’t ride them to work, don’t be bizarre. But there’s no laws against enlisting a bit of help for maintaining our blogs. Plus, #diversity when the koala is typing. * I mean, it’s actually a ridiculous stereotype to assume all Aussies have koalas and wallabies in their backyards because most don’t because actually —
WAIT, EXCUSE ME, I JUST HAVE WALLABIES AND KOALAS IN MY BACK YARD AND I GOTTA GO ASK THEIR OPINION ON THIS BLOG POST.
They said my post was awesome, by the way.
Yes that’s my backyard. ** THAT’S MY BACKYARD!!!! I have a delightful view out of my window when I’m writing and my psychotic dog has a great view of all the wildlife he wants to KILL WITH HIS TEETH but I won’t let him because I’m mean.
Oh and it’s not a kangaroo. IT’S NOT A KANGAROO. IT’S NOT A KOALA BEAR EITHER.
* Now you know how I get so much done.
** The koala photo actually dates back to when my blog was Notebook Sisters, if you can see the watermark there. That’s because taking photos of them is DARN HARD and I can’t be bothered. Plus they come and go. I haven’t seen one in a few weeks. The last one tried to climb a pawpaw tree instead of a gumtree because apparently it was dumb and I think it got offended after it fell off. It hasn’t been back. Maybe because I laughed at it? I am a brute.
4. WE GET VERY VERY FURIOUS ABOUT SHIPPING.
Why do you think I called my blog Paper FURY???? It’s because of postage and shipping.
You think we’re a super laid back people who are totally chill and friendly and say “G’day mate” whilst lying on the back of a platypus in a pool. BUT NO. You even whisper the word “shipping” and you will have a line of Australian book bloggers ready to shout. Because it’s not fair, okay???
Actual Conversation Aussie Bloggers Have:
Book Merch: I am $30.
Aussies: Ooh, that is SUCH A COOL piece of book fandom merchandise!
Aussies: And affordable?! I can do this.
Book Merch: Also shipping is $93802953
Aussies: *SCREAMING*
Universe: *SCREAMING*
Bank Account: *SCREAMING*
Book Merch: lol
5. WE ARE USED TO BE EXCLUDED FROM GIVEAWAYS AND BOOK EVENTS AND AUTHOR TOURS.
If I had a dollar for every time a giveaway was “US only” I would have enough money to buy Jupiter, rename it after myself, and build a nice house there too. I’M JUST SAYIN’, NO ONE CARES ABOUT INTERNATIONAL BOOKWORMS. (A lot of non-American bloggers will hear me with this one too.) And book events? Book expos? Author signings? HAHAHHAHA.
Actual Places Authors Go To Sign Books:
- everywhere in the USA
- London
- Nice small European country
- Strange tiny island in the middle of nowhere
- Intergalactic space shuttle
- Not Australia no pfft why would you think they’d come here
6. COMPLAINING ABOUT COVERS IS A NICE HOBBY OF OURS.
For some bizarre reason, Australian books often have different covers to the US ones. Actually it’s like US vs AUS and UK. (We like to stick near our mother country in case she feeds us scones.) But half the time the UK/AUS covers are horrendous and absolutely break my HEART because I’m stuck with this ugly cover while the Americans get pretty ones AND hardcovers. Oh yes, did I mention that?? Australians basically never produce hardcovers. Ever. I’m dying over here.
And while we’re at it: LET’S CHANGE THE TITLES TOO! Because that’s not confusing at all.
And well, YES, some of this is just my personal taste and not the fact that I represent all Australians and their cover preferences here. But, I mean, most people agree with me. Purely because I have cake, but whatever.
7. WE RARELY SEE OURSELVES IN NON-AUSTRALIAN BOOKS.
AUSTRALIANS TRYING TO CATCH BOOKS WITH AUSTRALIANS IN THEM.
It’s a sad fact! I have read like…two…books with Aussie characters by a non-Australians-authors…and it was basically awkward stereotypes because, no, we do not punctuate each sentence with “mate” just so you remember what country we’re from. MASSIVE FAIL.
We clearly end every sentence with “oi, vegemite.”
#legit
Australia is an awesome diverse and fabulous country and WE DESERVE TO BE IN THE BOOKS TOO. Especially fantasy ones. I’d sell my sister for more fantasy books with Aussie culture.
8. OUR WIFI IS FUELLED BY THE BLOOD OF THE GUMTREES.
Ask anyone you know who is Australian. They will confirm. And if they don’t confirm they obviously haven’t had their morning vegemite tea or something and they’re just being cranky and you should ignore them. Listen to me instead.
9. WE AUSSIE BOOK BLOGGERS HAVE STRANGE SENSES OF HUMOUR.
I mean, we don’t think we’re strange. But after I emerge myself in a lot of American and UK books (which I do because I really like them) and then bop back to an Aussie book…I do notice how weird we are. It’s beautiful. It’s amazing. We are pure creatures of bizarreness.
And if you want proof, you should watch Young Einstein which is basically Australian humour in a nutshell.
I don’t know what’s wrong with us either, to be honest. It is what it is.
10. WE ARE REQUIRED TO TELL MANY WILD WILD LIES OR ELSE THE DROP BEARS WILL KILL US.
Basically if you ask an Australian anything at all about any topic at all: we are required to tell you 3% truth and 97% not. Good luck figuring out which part of what we’re saying is real. It’s a requirement. By law. And Australians can actually look at you and smell the fact you’re not Australian and then this little red-flag comes up in our brain saying “DROP BEARS ARE WATCHING WITH BLOODTHIRSTY EYES, DON’T LET THIS LITTLE INTERNATIONAL TWERP KNOW TOO MUCH.”
So we just gotta tell you wild things.
Except for this post, of course, which is entirely full of truths because I’m here to PROTECT and BE NICE to you. I wouldn’t lead you astray.
Now excuse me, I have to go put vegemite around the doors to keep out the bunyips.
Also here are some of my favourite Aussie Bloggers you should follow immediately:
They will all confirm the truths of today’s post. (C’mon guys, please? Don’t let me drown here.)
Now before we go, let’s have a country roll call!
Because I’m curious. I’ve pulled the top countries from my stats and I apologise in advance to anyone who has to fit into “other”. YOU’RE STILL IMPORTANT TO ME. EVEN IF YOU ARE FROM JUPITER. (Or tell me where you’re from in the comments!)
CAIT SPEAKS THE TRUTH!! We have to watch out for storms, otherwise our wifi drops out because the gum trees have fallen! AHHHHHHHH our coversssssssss why can’t we have a universal cover? PLEASE? Also we basically have to sell our entire belongings just to fund shipping to our country. (This comment is Koala approved by the way)
SAVE ALL GUM TREES. SAVE OUR WIFI!! *flings gum leaves in the air in triumph* And omg it’d be so nice if there was just ONE kind of cover. It would save a life. Mine, basically. And my life is obviously very important. #legit And duuuude, WHAT IS UP WITH SHIPPING. The post office needs to stop raising prices too it’s KILLING US.😭😂😭😂
I hope you know that at some points I was literally rolling on the floor laughing! It is so accurate and honest that if I talked about each and everything I loved in this post I would literally take forever, because I too, am Australian, and I too, am sick of expensive shipping, ugly covers (ummm the thousandth floor anyone???), being asked if i ride a wallaby to school and MOST OF ALL US ONLY GIVEAWAYS!
As an Australian, I couldn’t have written this better myself!
WELL I AM MONSTROUSLY PLEASED. MY WORK HERE IS DONE.😂 And omg Australian HI FIVE because I think we must band together in our awesome absolute bizarreness. And I think the Thousandth Floor needs to…just nope. I can’t believe I forgot to put it on this list, but that’s possibly because I’m so traumatised by the horrendous tragedy that is the UK cover. *shudders*
Hi Cait!! I’m from India but I’ve been living in Dubai ever since I grew an Ashoka Tree on my head (as is normal for every Indian)
I agree with you on the giveaways and the shipping prices! They hurt my soul every time. Once I won an international giveaway and I received the bookmarks 4 weeks later (eternal sigh) and if I had a dollar for every time authors have said, “if you live in US/Canada/UK I could send you a copy” in their emails, I would be able to afford the shipping prices for everything I want in my life.
I’ve hardly seen Indian characters in books represented outside of their stereotypes and I’ve never met an Indian with the accent I see on Western television.
And one of the worst things about India is that 95% of the authors either write about politics or romance… none of which I’m interested in. So few of them write sci-fi or fantasy and it’s almost impossible for me to find their books here in Dubai T_T
I’m SURE that’s normal for ever Indian. *nods sagely* Every Indian I’ve met has also had a tree on their head. Probably like we Australians have koalas on our heads, right? And omg I can imagine the shipping/giveaways would be even more mean to you right?? Life is unfaaaair. I don’t even bother clicking on giveaways anymore because they’re never for me. *wails* And it’s so hard to get on booktours and things unless you do eARCs which are fine but not like holding a nice pretty book. <3 WE HAVE NEEDS. THEY MUST BE MET.
And it's really annoying how the stereotypes are the only things we see right!?? Our countries aren't that weird or small or unknowable!! SOMEONE FIX THIS.
I do in fact confirm everything in this blog post. VERY LEGITIMATE. Especially “oi, Vegemite” #favouritephrase
It will always be the bane of my existence that we don’t have hardcovers. It’s a hard knock life.
Everyone says “oi, Vegemite” right?!? It’s like the only phrase used in my house. We just all stand around saying that to each other and it’s perfect communication.
Aww smushter you lovely little pocket pineapple <3 <3 <3
I can confirm that this entire post is true, apart from that one little minor detail which isn't even worth mentioning. I think the drop bars are a major concern though, visitors need to be taught how to repel them from ripping them apart in a blood bath. Vegemite. Just a little dab behind the ears and you shall live to see another day.
We're so stereotyped at all talking like Steve Irwin. Which is a bloody travesty maaaaaate. International shipping is not only two bobs short of a second mortgage, but it's on a slow donkey who can't swim. I buy all my reads in Australia now and have done so I think for almost three years. I love Aussie YA. It's you, it's me, it's all our weirdness and slang. It makes me sad when we see non Aussies reviewing our books and downrating them because they don't understand our humour or slang. We're such an awesome culture of a bit of everyone and they can shove off. SHOVE OFF I TELL YOU.
Also, how bout that Vegemite.
Viva la stick
(thought I was going to go there didn't you) <3
THIS IS WHY I NEEDED YOUR BLOG BUTTON SEE? 😉 MY FAVOURITE LITTLE AUSSIE BLOGGER. (Well, actually you’re not little. You’re like my big sister Aussie blogger. <3)
omg did I not mention drop bears? SOMEONE FIRE ME. Clearly my koala proof checkers are disgustingly slack and I shall be retracting their pay immediately and setting my dog on them.
And bahaha, YES. It's like I don't even know anyone who talks with an accent like the movies give us.😂 Although when I went to China for a month and then came home it was like "Woah, everyone talks really Australian here". We're so awesome, tbh. Someone put Australians in all the books. Just think how MUCH MORE SENSE half the books would make if the characters were Australian, right???
But geregerghggh no one can downrate our books because they can't understand the slang/humour. GO LEARN IT, PEOPLES. Hopefully it's not the same people that always rant about lack of diversity and stuff.😂
THAT STICK IS NOT COMING BACK, KELLY. IT'S DEAD. I KILLED IT. DEEEEAD.
1. I actually did try to Google that slang & I think I got it? lol Then again, Urban Dictionary is a fickle thing and could be totally messing with my head.
3. Is there a reason climbing a pawpaw tree would be a bad thing? I don’t think I’ve ever seen one in real life, so I have no knowledge of whether or not they’re sturdy or koala friendly, so any info would be appreciative.
5. I didn’t realize until I looked just how long a plane ride from my nearest airport to, say, Sydney would be. I am so sorry that you guys get left out, that’s silly and sad. 🙁
6. I’ve noticed that, the paperback vs. hardcover thing, especially when I worked in a bookshop and people asked why a new release wasn’t in paperback yet. It’s frustrating for people here that don’t want to cough up the money, but I know it sucks because books must cost an arm and a leg in Australia. I wonder what the inner workings of the cover art industry is, though? Is there some big reason why they can’t use them among the different countries? Or, is it sold to one publishing company and that company is based only in the UK for example so only they get to use it?
I am putting way too much thought into this at 3:37 AM.
8. Um, is vegemite tea a thing? O.O I’ve tasted it once, but…tea?
9. What in the name of all that is blessed in this bookish world of ours did I just watch? O.o
lol
10. Ok, I really do appreciate Google because otherwise I would be a horrible American tourist and actually have had to ask what a dropbear was. Please don’t think badly off me! Consider only that I am somewhat sleep deprived at the moment and should’ve nodded off awhile ago. 😉
Thanks for the links to the other Aussie bloggers. How did I miss that Aentee is Australian? 😮
And now, for your questions:
I’m from the US (god help us all – hoping to immigrate to England at some point tbh). Aussie characters…I feel like I have but I can’t think of any off the top of my head at the moment. I don’t think I’ve read of very many, to be honest. There was The Rosie Project, but that takes place mostly in Australia and I think they only go to the US in the sequel. Yes, your backyard is amazing but I do have a colony of wild cats that pop out from time to time (they’re not really around at the moment as it is quite cold) so that is something! I don’t think Aussies are sarcastic or make fun any more than anyone else, but that’s not saying much, so this is a 50/50? I’m terrible at figuring out sarcasm; can I have Sheldon Cooper’s little sarcasm sign? As for covers, I couldn’t really say honestly because I don’t see that many Australian covers, but of the ones you shared I liked The Graces and My Sister Rose better in their Aussie jackets than their US ones.
1. But you didn’t tell me what you thought it said!! I’m dying to know!!😂
3. Well, pawpaw trees are not very climbable because..PAW PAWS! And koalas need actually big trees to climb, mostly gums, but they do go up other kinds (I don’t know what they’re called…I mean, sheesh, I barely even remember my own nieces’ names let alone tree names.)
I did read somewhere that the cover thing is about rights. Like the publisher has to buy that photo/art specifically. So it might be too expensive for their budget? But I don’t GET IT because like Splintered and The Lunar Chronicles are the same in every country??? So like why not all the books?? WHY IS LIFE SO CONFUSING.
*whispers* I miiiight be pulling your leg with the vegemite tea. Maybe. Won’t confirm.
I haven’t read The Rosie Project yet BUT I SHOULD. I just get scared of Adult books because I am such a young small fragile child at heart. Sarcasm is life though.😂 Although my family never can tell when I’m being sarcastic because apparently they think I am mean all the time. What’s up with that sheesh.😂
1. Something to do with getting a snack?
Have you ever seen The Big Bang Theory? The Rosie Project has a similarly minded character to Sheldon Cooper, though I don’t recall him being as pop culture interested. He’s more scholastically inclined (he’s a geneticist if I remember correctly).
I haven’t actually seen the Big Bang Theory but I’ve like seen a lot of gifs and I know all about Sheldon. I’m like a second-hand fan.😂 And Sheldon Cooper has Aspergers/Autism I believe, same as in The Rosie Project guy.
Your post speaks to me on many levels. I relate so much about shipping cost and US only part. I am from Indonesia,btw,in case you forget 🙂 Thank you for sharing! 😀 it is fun to know about your experience as Ausie book blogger. Oh I love the Aus cover. I don’t think it is bad. Yes, I have followed four of them. 😀
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I didn’t forget you were from Indonesia!! I can imagine half of these problems would be way worse for you too, right?! 😂 And YAYY for these epic Aussie book bloggers. <3 They are the best.
Oh Thanks God you remember.. I feel honored :”) You often mention that you often forget things in your review so I thought maybe you forget about me too. Yeah, they are amazing blogger. I knew them because of you. Thanks for recommendation 🙂
Hana Bilqisthi recently posted…HBR’s 1st Blogversary Winner is…
I’m half Canadian and half French! Your backyard is amazing! Like a jungle! It’s true I like the US version of covers more usually, except for the Emmy and Oliver one. I think the Aussie one for that one is cute. WHY CAN’T THINGS BE FAIR?! All those book contests and shipping and signings; I feel the pain, it’s awful! (Also, sarcasm? You Australian bloggers? I’ve never felt it.) Someone’s actually asked you why you speak English? Well people have often asked me, quite shocked, why I don’t speek lyke zees like in the movies, when I’m French. Now I’m just going to have some baguettes drowned in maple syrup with my pet moose (or beaver or goose as well I suppose).
YES ALL WE ASK FOR HERE IS A LITTLE FAIRNESS. *stamps foot* I just wish there were only one covers to choose from…my life would be 1000% simpler then.😭😂
And pfft, of course not. You’ll never see a sarcastic Australian. We are nice. So chill. So polite.
An yES I can’t even with the people who are like “so why do you speak English?” And I’m like “HEY YOU KNOW WHAT YOU AND I BOTH CAME FROM THE SAME PLACE: GOOD OL’ MOTHER ENGLAND.”
You have fun with those baguettes and frog legs in maple syrup while you ride a moose. Good times.
I am a New Zealand Indian so I escape categories and I”m divergent and can’t be controlled. My backyard hosts various dogs in different dgeres between owned, stray and feral, as well as the odd pine marten and two different monkey species, so I would say it’s pretty cool Also it has a rock called ‘Council Rock’ in it because the jungle book, so I would say it’s pretty cool. It honestly depends on the cover: like the Sabriel covers in the US and Au and bot lovely, and then the UK one sucks imo. I get the impression that I’m laughing at the Australians (and the Americans and Britishers…) so no. Also this post was A++
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Darn, I should’ve had “Divergent Country” in the poll shouldn’t I? FAIL TO ME. Actually blame the stats because they don’t account for divergent readers. Sheesh, stats, get your act together.
The dogs sound almost nice….except for the feral ones.😂 But then, well, I’m not exactly cuddling my koalas. And that wallaby was so offended that I tried to take a photo of it. It ran away #rude.
I’M GLAD YOU LIKED THE POST. MY WORK HERE IS DONE.
I VOTED. But, ummm… I am American BIT I LIVE IN GERMANY soooo yeah I put Germany. Anyways if it makes you feel any better I pretty much have to but EVERY SINGLE BOOK at full price because, though the library DOES have an English section it is very sad 🙁 also never heard of a library sale!
Also I find myself being rather pleased with the covers I get (udually come from UK).
I FEEL FOR YOU THOUGH YOU BRAVE SOUL.
Esther @ Queen of Fantasy recently posted…Book Review: A Gathering of Shadows / AKA the book that destroyed me
Oooh, you live in Germany?! YAYY. THAT IS AWESOME. I LOVE GERMANY. My last name is actually German and my great-grandparents were German. 😂 *self five* Which is like a weird random tangent to suddenly be gushing BUT WHATEVER. THIS POST IS FOR WEIRD RANDOM ME. But wut wut…no library sales? Germany needs to get its act together.
So basically you are LEGIT GERMAN. COOL BEANS. I am NOT German but UM I’VE LIVED HERE FOR LIKE FIVE YEARS SO SAME DIFFERENCE IF YOU ASK ME. Yay for us!!! NO library sales *cries*. Plus, if there WERE library sales, ALL THE BOOKS ARE IN GERMAN. I mean, my German is fluent and all…but no. I ONLY READ ENGLISH BECAUSE I AM A STUBBORN MUFFIN. Luckily the UK is close by so Amazon gives me ALL THE BOOKS.
Esther @ Queen of Fantasy recently posted…Book Review: A Gathering of Shadows / AKA the book that destroyed me
YOU ARE FLUENT IN GERMAN?!? THAT IS SOOOOOO COOOOOOOOL THOUGH. I can’t imagine speaking a different language let alone reading it. But that is probably also because I’m really bad at English. And it’s my only language. Like what is grammar?? Wut r werds??? Who can know.
WELL. Not to brag or anything…. but yes I am 😄 still stubbornly reading in English though. ALSO COMPLETELY OFF TOPIC: Germans are sneaky and will do everything in their power to keep you from learning by always speaking get English to you. Scolding were necessary.
Don’t worry. Since learning a second language I can now speak neither language fluently (sometimes I have to ask my German boyfriend what words are in English 😅 true story)
WHO CARES ANYWAY?
As you can see in my grammarless post above *disappears from shame*
Esther @ Queen of Fantasy recently posted…Book Review: A Gathering of Shadows / AKA the book that destroyed me
IT HAS FINALLY BEEN SPOKEN! As an Indian, this post is super relatable, the prices are crazy and finding books is even worse. That and every Indian character is so sterotyped it is frustrating! That and no one wants to read Indian books since 70% is romance or politics
WE CAN CRY TOGETHER, YES? And I can imagine the character-representation would be even more frustrating for you with all the Indian stereotypes. 😭 THAT’S IT, RAYAN. YOU AND I SHALL TAKE OVER THE WORLD AND WRITE ALL THE BOOKS. #SolidPlan
You think being an Australian book blogger is hard? Try being from New Zealand hahahahahaha *cries*
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I FEEL THE PAIN, MY FRIEND. I can only imagine the trauma for you too. *pats shoulder comfortingly and screams in unison with you*
I snorted my tea exactly twice whilst reading this. Beautiful 😂 I particularly liked (and agreed with): “I’d sell my sister for more fantasy books with Aussie culture.”
And also the 3% for telling the truth for foreigners is 100% true. There may or may not be a group of Americans girls I once stayed with in Utah who believe I have a pet koala called Blinky and my friend has one called Bill. Also that the rich kids ride Emus to school – only poor kids ride kangaroos. Just you wait until I go to the states in Jan, Cait, imma do you proud.
My number one goal is to convince Non-aussies that we all say, Fair shake of the sauce bottle mate. (Gotta love Rudd (…nah)).
THE COVER THING THOUGH. I think most times we just get the UK cover but sometimes it’s different – but apparently only US and UK things are important. Just to make sure you’re properly mad, have you seen the Aus version of Heartless’ cover? I cried too. And with that I shall bid Ye goodday.
I mean, I’d sell my sister for just about anything. A single piece of cake too, probably. (What? She’s useless. I make brownie, she eats it all. I mean, wut even with sisters.) And like OF COURSE if we even hear the words “I’m American” then we just start spinning lies. It’s in our blood. It is our calling in life. I have American relatives so you can imagine how fun that is.
I’ve convinced many people right now that we drink vegemite tea. 😂 I’m so happy.
WHAT. I SHALL GO SEE THE HEARTLESS COVER PRONTO.
I’d really like to see more books set in Australia/with Australian characters, because I feel like I know absolutely nothing about Australia! I’m from U.S, so I don’t have to deal with the struggles of shipping/covers/giveaways not being accessible, but I definitely pity Australia’s cover changes 🙁
Great post!
Eeep, so glad you liked it! *tosses confetti on self* And I know right?!? Like how are we supposed to educate you Americans when you don’t get our books?! WHAT IS GOING ON, AUSSIE PUBLISHERS. FIX THIS MESS.
I LOVE AUSTRALIA!! WHICH IS WHY I LOVE YOUR BLOG!!
CAIT, YOU ARE SO LUCKY!! You have animals in your ahem, garden! I only get to see animals when I visit London Zoo 🙁
But then your covers and shipping… That isn’t that good. I always wondered why your name was PAPER FURY!! Everything has been explained!
And only like 5 UK people!! COME ON UK! COME ON!!
Also, I write COLOURS too!
Book Merch: I am $30.
Aussies: Ooh, that is SUCH A COOL piece of book fandom merchandise!
Aussies: And affordable?! I can do this.
Book Merch: Also shipping is $93802953
Aussies: *SCREAMING*
Universe: *SCREAMING*
Bank Account: *SCREAMING*
Book Merch: lol
ME THE READER: LAUGHING TILL I DIE
GO AUSSIE BLOGGERS!
P.S checking out those Aussie bloggers ASAP!
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I’M SO GLAD YOU LIKED THIS POST. I mean, well, the koala police and I are thrilled. We worked hard together on this. *nods sagely* And yessss, this is the sole reason I’m Paper Fury.😂
And yes I have such a nice backyard. SO NICE. So nice to stare at. :’)
WELL NOW I KNOW ALL THE SECRETS I SHALL RUN OFF WITH THEM AND CACKLE IN MY DEN. Although seriously vegemite is from New Zealand and so is pavlova get with the times honestly 😛 Also USA only giveaways make me sad. Those wallabies and koalas in your backyard look really chill. When I was in australia last year, there were like cockatoos everywhere? It was cool. India has the same thing with paperback covers/changed covers. WHY? Is there some way changing the covers increases the sales? It seems like more work to me… Also that einstien movie looks hilarious. *nods*
shar@Virtually Read recently posted…The Serpent King and my tears
YES NOW YOU KNOW EVERYTHING THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT AUSTRALIA. YOU’RE WELCOME. I don’t even know where pavlova comes from but Vegemite is NOT from NZ…is it?!? Omg I have to go google now. If you’ve ruined my Australian childhood I’ll cry.😂😂
Ugh cockatoos are so noisy though.😂 We get them too…gawsh, we get ALL the birdlife but I hate birds so I am in denial. But so many kookaburras, plovers, owls, lorikeets, Apostle birds, karrawongs, magpies….yes okay, stahp listing the names of all the birds on the Ark, Cait. NO ONE CARES. (Oh and finches. Yes I’m done.)
Duuuude, I want the answer to the covers issue because sit makes no sense.😭
Oh god yes. MORE AUSSIES IN BOOKS BY NON-AUSSIE WRITERS! We really are hilarious. Why wouldn’t you want to write about us?
I never even knew American covers were different to ours. WHY ARE THEIRS SO MUCH BETTER? I need answers. If not I believe it’s time we release the drop bears. (Also did you know, until recently majority of my friends thought drop bears were real. As in my AUSTRALIAN friends! *face palms*
Also, screw shipping prices. They truly do suck. All I wanted was to buy this nice book-related thing that turned out to be a) priced in USD so it’s even more expensive than I though b) not even shipping to Australia or c) what you mentioned in your post, the cost of shipping being a TRILLION dollars. *sigh*
Anyway, brilliant post!
I KNOW RIGHT?!? We are downright darn hilarious and we have great senses of humour at totally inappropriate times. Love it. I put Aussie characters all of my fantasy books and just enjoy watching worlds burn. #goodtimes
Bahahahaha….omg, I think most Americans don’t realise we are absolutely MESSING BIG TIME with them.😂 It’s wonderful. I love it. We must continue forever because Americans are so easy to teas.
I wanted to buy a book signed by my favourite author the other month and like…the book was an okay price??? And the shipping was like 3 x the price of the book?!? WHERE IS THE FAIRNESS HERE. Least to say I did not get it.😂
OH MY GOODNESS I completely feel you on the book covers. I live in the UK and so I get the sucky covers too 🙁
If there’s one thing I hate, it’s giveaways. They just really annoy me because I’ll be reading through and it’ll say “oh my gosh, look at this beautiful marvellous signed book you can get free from one of your favourite authors ever!!” and I promptly begin freaking out because I WANT THIS BOOK and then it’s like “oh, by the way, it’s only open to US residents. Totally not sorry for hyping you up just to crush your dreams” *sighs* truly I ask, what has this world come to?
Simi
It’s just totally unfair, right?! *stamps foot* why can’t all the covers be the saaaaame. It’d save so much heartache.😭😂
I don’t even click on giveaway posts anymore. WHAT IS THE POINT. THEY’RE JUST BEING MEAN TO US. *shares cake with you for our damaged souls*
nope. no idea what you were saying.
number 9.. heeheeheeheehee!!! that cracked me up. XD
my backyard goes back like, an acre, and deer wander out of it to eat our grass in the front yard, we have an insane amount of birds, a few hawks, (dumb hawks! stop eating our chickens!) two squirrles for every bird, copperheads, and anything else in thare doesn’t show it self. it’s also a forest in thare, with a walk over stream that veries from two inches deep to twelve, and once when we were exploring we found a fawn! it was so cute! we looked at it for a long time and then left, and it was REALLY hard to keep from touching it, it looked so soft! and when we came back the next day, it was gone, but it’s moms trackes were going away in the sand by the stream, and the fawns tracks were following, they were such small tracks! wow, i got carried away. 😛
Most crazily, ~Olive
Olive recently posted…craft fair on Saturday!!
Awk, hawks eat your chickens?!? We have butcher birds that eat baby chicks here too. One totally killed one of my sister’s chickens earlier this year….very sad. 😭 But that’s so amazing you have a forest!! THAT SOUNDS SO PICTURESQUE AND BEAUTIFUL.😍 And a fawn?!? jfakdlfasd😍😍😍
yeah, we’ve lost two or three to hawks. very sad. 🙁
It’s so fun! but we keep finding crushed soda cans…..uhg. AND THE FAWN WAS SO CUTE!!!! <3 <3 <3 <3
Most crazily, ~Olive
This was awesome! Vegemite it a fun word…vegemite…AND SOME OF THOSE COVERS ARE GORGEOUS!
Vegemite is a fun thing to say. *shouts it from the rooftops* VEGEMIIIIIIITE.
My publisher just did a giveaway and it was US only. I didn’t understand it, because I was like, “Hey, I’ll ship my books anywhere!” I had no idea the conspiracy with the Australian post office was real, or that it reached other hemispheres. I mean, I’ve heard rumors, we all have. But your blog just confirmed my worst fears. What has the world come to when the postal system hates books? Is Donald Trump’s Presidency part of their evil scheme? I feel awful that we’ve all been duped by postal workers, and grateful that you made it known to the world. If you’d like, I’ll send you both of my books. Through the mail. Using the enemy against themselves. It’s a teen crimefighter series. Who doesn’t love a girl making a fashion statement by wearing a mask and creating weapons from her emotions? Oh, yeah, and kicking bad guy butt with a flair that no guy is capable of. I want to do my part in the battle against the evil post office. I’m finishing the manuscript for the third book in the series, and you’ve just inspired me to change the identity of the supervillain. He’s now the Postmaster General.
Love your blog, BTW!
The post is just downright EVIL, particularly in Australia. Like they send letters via “express” and won’t even give you an estimated day of arrival! What is this nonsense. Plus sending something to Western Australia if you live on the East coast is basically like asking them to post something to the moon. IT TAKES SO LONG TO GET THERE IT’S JUST NONSENSE. I shall just cry, basically.
I’m glad your villain is going to be a postmaster though. *nods* That is truly the scariest and most villainous occupation.
Brilliant! Totes relatable.. Aussie Aussie Aussie __ __ __ (sorry for that)
OI OI OI. 😂😂 I’m glad you liked the post!
I’m a smol Canadian blogger. I feel you pain when it comes to the ‘USA only’. Publishers and giveaways in the USA seem to think Canada doesn’t exist. ‘Yeah sorry we don’t ship internationally.’ OKAY FIRST OF ALL: We are hardly INTERNATIONAL. It’s not like I’m living in Russia or something. The package doesn’t even need to get on a plane or a boat.
TBH I’ve never seen an Aussie character in North American lit. There’s this one Aussie author I ADORE, called Jen Marie Wilde, and her books are fantastic. I’d recommend her Eva trilogy, which is zombies and stuff. It’s amazing. ALL her books are amazing.
Your Aussie backyard is way cooler than my own, although I have had porcupines and bears in my backyard before. Oh and that time when I was super little, and I was outside by myself, and this coyote was stalking me.
I prefer the North American covers, EXCEPT for those rare occasions the UK/AUS covers are nicer.
Mironiel Blokzyl recently posted…October 2016 Wrap Up || In which I’m totally behind on all things fandom.
Dude, I hear the pain for that. Like Canada is just sitting on top of America’s head there?!? Like why are they excluding you? THIS IS RUDE. WE SHALL STAGE A PROTEST.
I haven’t even heard of Jen Marie Wilde! *gasps* I shall look her up immediately! And basically the only times I’ve seen Aussie characters in non-Aussie-authored books is the really teeny tiny brief mention of an Aussie official in the Lunar Chronicles (does that even count? they said like two sentences!) and there was an Aussie secondary character in the Half Bad by Sally Green trilogy. But the stereotypes were awful.😭
Ooh porcupines!! I also have seen echidnas in my neighbourhood! Which is basically our equivalent to porcupines. You can keep yuor coyotes though THAT’S SCARY.
Oh my word, this is hilarious!!! AND OH MY GOODNESS YOU HAVE ACTUAL KOALA BEARS IN YOUR YARD!!!! AND KANGAROOS!!!!!
(I am American, as you can probably tell by my refusal to listen to clear-cut instructions.)
Anyway, I absolutely loved this post! I can never get through a single one of your posts without laughing, haha! You’re awesome, you’re blog is awesome, and OH MY WORD WHAT DOES THE SMOKO ARVO BARBIE THING MEAN,I AM LITERALLY DYING TRYING TO UNDERSTAND…
OH YES I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE YOU CANTANKEROUS AMERICAN. GO THROW SOME TEA IN A RIVER WHY DON’T YOU, LITTLE REBEL.😉😂
And omg I’m so glad you like my posts and they make you laugh! MY JOB HERE IS DONE THEN. I AM HAPPY.
Okay and quick translations:
arvo = afternoon
smoko = afternoon tea
barbie = barbecue
*throws buckets of tea in the river*
THE DEED IS DONE, MWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
(I literally typed ‘THE DEAD IS DONE’ because I forgot how to spell deed…)
And oh my word everything is beginning to make sense now!!! Bless you and your wonderful translation, you kind soul!
And oh!!! Sorry for commenting again, but do you have cockatiels around where you live??? I own a very pesky cockatiel, and I THINK (not 100% positive here) that they are native to Australia???
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Yes we have cockatiels in Australia! And I had to google, but it seems like they’re native to Australia? I DID NOT KNOW THAT.
Haha!! Awww!!! I’d love to have cockatiel s native to my area!! Except, I think my little bird would probably go haywire, so…yeah, maybe it’s a good thing they’re not around here…
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Not gonna lie, I’m slightly jealous of the koalas and wallabies in your backyard lol. The most exciting thing that’s in mine is a kookaburra. I sometimes forget that people don’t always know what we mean with Aussie slang lol. Forever crying at the shipping costs. THANK YOU so much for linking to my blog! you are the best <3
Jeann @ Happy Indulgence recently posted…When the Moon Was Ours Review: Took My Heart and Squeezed it While Reading
I make so many Aussie slang slipups and then people are like “what?” and I’m like “BUT DON’T YOU SAY THAT?? ISN’T THAT NORMAL??” 😂 Ah, fun times on the internet. Although it annoys me how we Aussies constantly have to translate but the Americans don’t do it for us! WE NEED EDUCATE THESE AMERICANS.😂
(Omg and we have hordes of kookaburras. And rainbow lorikeets and eastern rosellas, finches, and currawongs on our verandah ALL THE TIME. It’s basically a bird menagerie over here and my dad feeds them and destroys nature’s ecosystem but pfft, whatever. We humans are here to destroy kindly.)
YOUR BLOG IS THE BEST, JEANN. <33
I prefer some of the overseas covers for certain books, actually!
And, yes, there is a definite thing about especially North Americans stereotyping Australians. The time I spent in England showed me just how little – read NOTHING – most Americans know about Australia.
And go ahead and laugh at the koala if it falls out of the wrong tree. 😉 I’ll join you. 🙂
We shall laugh uproariously at the poor little koala together.😂
And omg yes, why don’t Americans know very much about Australia?! We’re not exactly a tiny nation!! I feel like we get left out of so many things though… like even just with movies, they’re way more likely to have British characters in an American movie than include any Aussie ones. *sigh* My goal in life shall be to put Aussie books ALL OVER THE WORLD. Even if I have to write them myself.😂
Omg US covers are the best. Like yesterday remember I told you of the Graces one? #throwbacksaturday
Also, it really sucks when we have to WAIT ONE EXTRA DAY for a cover reveal or sometimes a book release. NOOOO
Plus, you have koalas in your backyard? Cool. Is your dog friends with them? They can make a book club. THAT WOULD BE COOLER . (I am going a little insane here)
Prabhleen recently posted…TOP TEN TUESDAY- FT. 10 BOOKS I WANT TO READ IN A BOOK CLUB 🙂
YES YES SO MUCH PAIN FOR US ALL. AGHHHHH. And I hate when the releases are different!! like the Americans got Gemina waaaay before us and it WAS NASTY TORTURE. *stamps foot*
Omg no my dog HATES everything and everyone. And he especially hates wallabies. He barks his little head off.😂 He must be so small and pathetic that they don’t even care though. heh.
I’m from Ireland. I did the poll and it said there was ONE OTHER IRISH PERSON. Where are they? I’m a very lonely Irish person. I hate UK only giveaways. Seriously. I live right beside you on the LEFT HAND SIDE. I can travel from here to London in an hour. How selfish is that?!
Also, I am so flipping lonely on the blogosphere *cries*
I don’t feel that Aussies ever make fun of me. .. but the humour… I don’t get it at all. I watched the Sleepover Club and loved it but I didn’t see any similar humour to the Einstein movie? Maybe it’s because the Sleepover Club is for a younger audience?
I dunno…
Honestly, I might feel less lonely if I could find fellow Nigerians at least. British, American, I don’t mind! :(( I’d like to include some Nigerian humour but literally no one would get me :((
I’m sorry my smol lonely Irish friend. *sends you Australian lamingtons to make up for your loneliness on my blog* Obviously you can fix this by converting your ENTIRE COUNTRY to reading my blog. So there you go. A little homework.
I haven’t ever even heard of the Sleepover club.😂
Haven’t heard of the SLEEPOVER CLUB? WHAAAT?
Haha. I love this post. My best friend is Aussie and one of us is always complaining about it being too cold. Winter is always coming.
If you had to recommend one (okay so a couple as I know picking one of anything is way too difficult) fantasy/sci fi Aussie book for me to read what would it be?
I think the only real Aussie book I’ve read was tomorrow when the war began and that was on rec from my friend.
ohh SO TRUE. Winter is always coming.😂 Someone is always complaining about it anyway haha. (And being sour when the other starts rejoicing about summer.😂) #InternationalFriendProblems
OKAY SO OMG I HAVE SO MANY RECS. I should’ve put this in the post actually….but try anything by Cath Crowley and Jay Kristoff!! And also Melissa Keil and Step Bowe are incredible.😍 I should do a whole post on Aussie recs!
GIRRLLLLLLL….
and I thought you were the lucky ones!!!!
I’m from AFRICA and not even the known parts where authors come.
Malawi, honey, MALAWI.
(Think fast, find it on the map in 6 seconds without Google)
*yes I can see you cheering that your blog for this global*
But I totally feel you!
I’m not a book blogger (yet!)
On account of waiting for human WIFI
But ohhhhh the horrors of trying to find a book!!!!
Me: oooh $25 book
*converts*
Me: faints
Being a bookaholic is expensive!!!!
As of now I order at the US embassy’s library
(Thank you Americans)
Let’s see, I like Aussies mostly cause I lived there for like 4 years when I was ittty bitty small, soooo yes I think I like Aussie covers but sometimes American covers are GAWGEOUS.
OKAY I’LL STOP COMPLAINING NOW.🙈🙊😂 But ooh, you should be proud to know that I memorised all the countries in Africa as a kid so I know where Malawi is. I mean, clearly I had awesome priorities as a kid. Who doesn’t want to name every country in the world without looking at a map?? *blinks innocently*
But the bookworm struggles ARE REAL. And definitely not as bad for me as for other countries!! OH and that’s awesome you lived in Australia for a while. We’re basically neighbours now. Basically relatives. #legit
Hahahaha, I recognize soooo many of these things as a European too!
By the way Cat, you have these lines on the background of your blog and every time I freak out a little bit because I think my laptop screen has cracked.. Hahahahaha.
Eeeep, I know! Those lines are part of the template? So I can’t get rid of them, but haha, I’ve had a few people say that!🙈🙊
PLIS CAITH….. MY POOR COUNTRY IS ALSO EXCLUDED BY AUTHOR TOURS AND GIVEAWAYS. DID YOU KNOW THAT EVEN FREAKING BOOK DEPOSITORY does NOT ship to my country (Colombia btw besides Venezuela jajajajaja) omg IT’S SO FRUSTRATING. But well I do get the feel.
that koalas ARE SOOOO LOVELY
OMG YOU HAVE IT MUCH WORSE THAN ME THEN CLEARLY AND I WEEP FOR YOU AND OUR BOOKWORM TROUBLES.😭😭
I knew you were an Aussie! I am Canadian and spell things like “colour” and “favourite” too.
I visited Australia in 2004 for three weeks and loved it. One day I hope to go back for another visit.
Recommend and Aussie book for me to read. I’d love to pick up a new author to read.
And I agree – the USA has way more opportunities for giveaways and author signings. Canada does get some, but not nearly as many. 😉
HI FIVE FOR OUR SPELLINGS SKILLS! Because we’re right and the USA is….omg what is even going on with their spelling.😂 And yay that you’ve been to Australia! I have not been to Canada. I’m 87% sure I would actually freeze to death? Even in your summer??😂 And omg if you want Aussie recommendations…try anything by Cath Crowley, Melissa Keil, Jay Kristoff, Amie Kaufman, Steph Bowe, or Shirley Marr!! SO MUCH AWESOME.
You won’t freeze to death – come during our summer which is your winter?!? We;ve had an unusually warm fall so far.
Thank you for the recommendations, I’ll have to check them out.
Chrystal recently posted…Ten Books I’ve Added To My Must-Get-My-Hands-On List Lately
This was very interesting to read! Now, I’ve loved all things Australian since I was 7, and it’s been my dream to go to Australia ever since. What exactly is vegemite? I’m curious. And even though I live in the U.S, I don’t think it’s fair that people in Canada, Australia, the UK and so on don’t get to participate in givaways. WAIT!!! YOU HAVE WALLABYS IN YOUR BACKYARD AND KOALAS TOO!!?!!?!??? AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ahem.
C.
SO MANY WALLABIES AND KOALAS. Wallabies more often than koalas, but I hear the koalas growling at night and haha…they’re kind of terrifying.😂 And just google vegemite. 😉 Just don’t google “americans eating vegemite” because they eat it aLL WRONG. It’s supposed to be a little smear. You don’t lather it on bread like nutella.😂 Anyway, it really is delicious!
*whispers “shipping” because I want to see the line of Aussie book bloggers shouting*
OOH. I WANT TO WRITE AUSSIE FANTASY.
except i know nothing about australia except that aznac biscuits are fabulous (and i make them and they are divine!) and vegemite is strange and there was an emu war and a rabbit population problem and there are weird animals and austrailia started as a prison colony and there are lamingtons and also boomerangs…
Okay, I know more than I thought. But I don’t know what’s a stereotype and what’s truth? And things are obviously missing from these knowledges. I don’t know that I can write a book about emus and convict rabbits fighting over the last of the anzac biscuits. XD #justsaying #honestlyveryscaredofaccidentallybeingoffensive
Katie Nichols recently posted…NaNoWriMo Update: This… Isn’t Going to Work
*LINES UP ALL MY CLONES SO THEY CAN START SHOUTING AT YOU* 😂 Also: yES write more Aussie flavoured books!! Just don’t do stereotypes!! Or I’ll send my koalas after you with their disapproving little squishable faces!! And I’ll try not to be worried about your two phrases of “I want to write Aussie fantasy” with “I know nothing about Australia except ANZAC biscuits”…😂 😂 YOU WORRY ME, KATIE BUT GOOD LUCK NOW. Also I remember you making the ANZAC biscuits on twitter that time!! Wait till you get started on pavalova and lamingtons and eat your first piece of kangaroo. *nods*
Basically, if an Australian tells you something, you can 89% be certain it’s not true. That’s just how we roll.😂
Cookies are a good place to start at least? Gotta feed the characters, you know…
And I have made lamingtons. I prefer the Anzac biscuits, admittedly.
Don’t be too worried. Until I have an actual idea for a story, this will go nowhere.
I’m italian and I cant totally feel most of your points XD That hurts.
First of all the translation! It’s true that most of italian people don’t know english , and I seriously don’t know how they can think to live day afte day like this. And also they don’t read often… and they’re so full of themself when someone start to have a bookish success….
Okay, I was just criticizing my country because it really deserve it… sometimes.
Anyway, I started only recently to interact with other bookworms from the world using english. So sometimes I need to translate, sometimes I made terribile grammatical errors and write a mix of english and american english XD
It’s probably impossibile to reccomend an italian author, since all the books made at least to Spain, France, sometimes German and few other nation, but never ever a country that speaks english. And even if it happens, the books are destroyed by reviews. We only have a fantasy author that in Italy is both loved and hated and even if her books are translated, the italian fantasy side is still invisibile.
Can we also talk about shipping?! I wanted to buy some bookish candle form me and for my friends – Christmas presents – and then here it came: the shipping. I can’t. I simply can’t. So I will make a crappy handmade one for my lovely friends.
Plus:
– only during this year, ya books started to be translated and in Italy people don’t even have the slightly idea of what ya genre is. In bookshops, the books under the ya shelves are crappy romance novels, Shadowhunters, italian youtubers’ books and… stop. Nearly same thing for the fantasy: it seems like Martin’s books are the only fantasy novels in the world.
– the cover are completly ruined by italian publishers, they change the title and add subtitles that make the book seems like bullshit ç_ç
– the authors, even if their books are translated, never step in Italy. We only had Cassandra Clare in Rome for one day and then stop. Italian reader have chance to ind them during book festivals and there aren’t many.
Hehe, I criticise my country all the time. GOOD TIME FOR US ALL. 😂 And honestly don’t feel bad about making errors in English! It’s my only language and I totally mangle it like a complete gumnut. 🙈🙊😂
I don’t think I’ve ever read an Italian author either! WHICH IS TRULY A SHAME. I wish it was easier to get translated books?! It’d be so much better for the world if we all shared our cultures more often, right?! (My mum is half Italian. Wooo!! I want to visit there someday.😂 )
And yES so much wails for shipping for basically the entire world. Why doesn’t someone start a shipping company with actual good prices someday?!? IT WOULD BE SO NICE. And I cry for you and your Italian bookworm struggles too. *pats shoulder* Cake for us both?
OKAY I AM GOING TO PROCEED TO ASK A BUNCH OF REALLY OFFENSIVE QUESTIONS PROBABLY BECAUSE I AM AMERICAN AND THEREFORE STUPID AND SLIGHTLY MISINFORMED ABOUT AUSTRALIANS.
Like: you don’t call them koala BEARS??? You don’t call them kangaroos??? What the heck is vegemite??? What’s a bunyip??? Do Aussies ever say “mate” because honestly that is the cutest thing in the world???
Also (like when you were saying about how you use “ou” in words when Americans just use “o”) “whingeing” is not a word we use in American (but I LOVE it – it has so much more personality than our word “whining”!!! I will now use ” whingeing” forever) and you use “s” sometimes when we use “z” – like in the word “realize/realise.”
And, oh my goodness, those animals are in your back yard??? I need to move to Australia…
Also THE AUSSIE GIFS!!!! So funny!
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Oh yes, hahha, well I mean, the UK is basically every western country’s motherland…but we’re still good and pay respects to our Mother and live in the commonwealth. You are all rebels. 😉
1. NO!! They’re not koala bears!! THEY’RE NOT BEARS.😂
2. And kangaroos and wallabies are different. It’d be like seeing a dog and saying “Ooh, Poodle!” when in fact it is a German shepherd. 😉
3. GOOGLE VEGEMITE. It’s delicious. Just don’t eat it by the spoonful omg.
4. BUNYIPS ARE DANGEROUS DARING CREATURES THAT LIVE IN SWAMPS AND FEED ON HUMAN BONES.
5. And yes we do say mate! I think guys say it more? My day definitely says “g’day” too…he is a walking stereotype.😂
And YES we do the “out” and “S” over “z”…which spellcheck loves to hassle me about.😂
1. Gotcha! I knew they aren’t bears (I think)… Marsupials, right? Because of the pouch thing… Guess that makes them related to platypuses and kangaroos (AND WALLABIES POSSIBLY???)
2. Who knew???
3. Will do, sir!
4. I think you are messing with me…
5. Good! I love the mate thing! Aw, hour dad sounds adorable! 😉
Kate Marie recently posted…The NaNo Diaries: A Million Ways To Procrastinate
Also I kind of think the Aussie covers are cuter than the U.S. ones??? Maybe just me, tho.
Isn’t the UK America’s mother country, too??? But I guess we didn’t parr on very good terms…
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OH I FEEL YOUR SHIPPING PAIN. You’d think that being in Ireland (RIGHT NEXT TO THE UK) we’d have the same shipping rates as them. NOOOOO. CHARGE US AN EXTRA €125858632 please.
And giveaways for “US only?” Mutual pain again.
We can CRY TOGETHER because there is just so much pain in the shipping. SO MUCH.
These types of post always make my day!! XD
Way to take down those stereotypes, by having actual kolas and wallabies in your backyard.
I know right?! I’m sitting here shouting about stereotypes … WHILE ACTUALLY BEING A STEREOTYPE.😂
I see deer a lot around where I live, which is kind of cool. haha But yeah, I’m from the U.S. and I do feel bad for all the U.S. only giveaways and how shipping is super expensive elsewhere. Stupid shipping. I want to shower love on everyone!
-Lauren
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I know right?!? And I wish I could open up more giveaways international too!! But shipping is THE WORST. Someone needs to start a cheap affordable shipping service that gives all these other super-expensive ones some competition.😂
I’m from America (a fact which is currently making me sad. :P) And I don’t even remember if I’ve read a book with Australian main characters, which is really sad. I’m going to have to look for something to change that. Yes your background is way cooler than man. My backyard is a brick wall because I live in an apartment complex lol.
America is making me sad too, tbh. *pats your shoulder and gives you Australian cake* I’d say “MOVE OVER HERE” except we’re pretty backwards in a lot of aspects still too.😭
And eep, if you want any grand Aussie book recommendations then I AM HERE TO THROW THEM AT YOU!
Sadness for your brick wall. 😂
Aww. Yeah well we’ll all get through somehow. This is why we’re writers. To inspire change! 🙂
Thanks! Yeah please throw some at me. Though I’m sure you have some blog posts on here, I’ll just have to look through the archives. 🙂
I’m from Canada, and a few of these things could apply to us, too. Having to translate certain terms (we use lots of the letter “u” in our words, and the Celsius scale, too), shipping (not as bad as to Australia, but still bad compared to the super deals Americans get), different covers (sometimes we get US covers, sometimes UK), and being left out of book tours/giveaways (boo!). Most of the rest of these things didn’t come as a surprise, though, since I have a quasi-Aussie sister (a Canadian who married an Aussie and is now living Down Under with the drop bears and Vegemite, and developing a weirdly morphing Canuck/Aussie accent).
I can’t say that I’ve seen that many Aussie characters in books set outside of Australia, which is kind of weird. There are lots of Australian people outside of Australia. In fact, I think like 90% of the workers on the local ski hills are Aussies (I don’t know if the snow attracts them like bees to pollen or what).
I don’t know if your backyard is cooler, but it’s probably more dangerous. Our backyard has squirrels, small birds, and the occasional rabbit or raccoon. Your backyard potentially has deadly snakes and spiders. Oh, and don’t forget the drop bears. Oh! And if you’ve got magpies… well, you win in the “most dangerous” category. 🙂
I don’t know which covers I prefer. I think it depends on the book. Sometimes the US versions are nicer, and sometimes the UK/AUS/CAN versions are more visually appealing. (Here in Canada, we got the UK covers for the Harry Potter series… which I always liked more; they weren’t so cartoonish.)
Someone needs to start a reasonable shipping service *nods* IT WOULD SAVE LIVES. Preferably call it “dragon shipping” and I will be the #1 customer. Or wait, maybe I shall get some dragons and actually run this operation. GOALS.😂 Ooh, and yay that you have a quasi-Aussie sister! I have a sister who married an American so my nieces/nephew that I sometimes talk about on the blog are half Americans. I’m always trying to correct their weirdly mixed up accents haha.😂
And YES like Australians migrate all over the world a lot actually!! So it’s weird that they’re literally never anywhere. Like I was really shocked when there was a semi-important secondary Australian character in the Half Bad by Sally Green series … but then he was just awkward stereotypes so it was also cringey.🙈🙊
oh yes, we have magpies. *gulps* And it is actually magpie swooping season right now SO THAT’S FUN. #not
First USA. Second maybe once or twice but, unfortunately, mostly no. Third way more cooler! Fourth often but that’s ok it’s pretty funny when y’all do and it’s usually deserved. Fifth I’m cover challenged. I like aspects of both and wish they could be combined but then those people who judge books by the cover would all be thinking wth??? And last your blog makes my day. I wait until the end of the day to read it because if it’s been a bad day your blog cheers me up! Thanks!
Bahaha. Okay I admit sometimes I want to own BOTH AUS and US covers because they’re pretty and I just want to collect all the things?!😂 When I’m rich and famous…it’ll be #goals. Awww, but that’s so nice to hear! THANK YOU. I’M SO GLAD YOU LIKE MY BLOG. <3
Okay, so Australians are not all the same.
But I do get the postage problem. (that’s why I ask the library to buy all the books I want.) Why not let other people’s taxes pay for my pleasure?
And automatic translation. Communicating with American friend I always used to bring up the differences. (kindly posting the temperature in Fahrenheit after the Celsius, so they’re aware of it.) Lately I’ve just been talking American in that situation. And remembering to say couch instead if lounge.
And then there’s the time issue. If I need to set up a time eith someone in the US I will look up their timezone and work in it. And being 3000 words ahead for NaNoWriMo isn’t a big deal because I live in the future.
And I do have kangaroos in by backyard.
Well of course Australians aren’t all the same!!😂 But oooh, libraries are wonderful for buying books. I put in so many requests for mine too hehe, except like…they take SO LONG to get them onto the shelves it’s kind of frustrating. And yes, I totally do the “oh forget it I’ll just talk in American” thing too.😂 Like I give up trying to expect them to translate for me. They never do!! Americans very easily forget there are other countries. 😉 😂 JUST TEASING!!
And I’ve got so good at timezones!! I know all the times to be online automatically now to chat with my American friends. heeh.
And for some reason I always forget you’re an Aussie?!? *shares lamingtons with you*
WALLABIES ARE CUTER THO.
Wallabies are slightly cuter. And we do have them sometimes. They used to be in the bushes a couple of streets away of rare occasions, but this year, maybe because of all the rain, they’ve been around the house. More kookaburras too. Kookaburras are great.
And books certainly do come slower with the library. And sometimes they unexplainably don’t get some books. At first they never got indie books, but to my delight that has changed. I love my indie authors
Do you ever feel especially responsible for books you suggest to the library? I always feel bad if I notice no one else is borrowing them. Because wonderful books, they must be read!
I probably should be working or writing, but don’t feel like it. I went to an outdoor wedding and got sunburnt so I’m feeling slightly miserable.
Bahaha, I noticed you changed your profile name there.😂 You’re wonderful.
And awk, I do actually feel bad if I request they purchase certain books and then they’re ALWAYS on the shelf. Like, I’ve basically asked them to spend money on just me?? Eeep. #mybad Although the other day I was going to borrow a book I’d asked them to buy a few years ago AND IT WASN’T THERE. THEY’D TOTALLY GOTTEN RID OF IT.😭 Cruel fiends. Apparently my tastes can be somewhat obscure? I’ve not noticed any indie authors on the shelves though! Although my town is kind of small and I feel like I’m the only one requesting purchases. Otherwise they only get the famous books in!!
SADNESS FOR SUNBURN. 😖😖 I hope you feel better soon!
Oh help I laughed so hard BUT CAIT OH MY WORD I AM SO SORRY. I’M SORRY FOR EVERYTHING. I didn’t realize you pre-translated so much for us stupid Americans (and yes we are stupid I will be the first to say).
And I had never heard that wallabies are the real name for that creatures. (I feel like if I even think the word ‘kangaroo’ you’ll breathe fire one me.) BUT THE WORD WALLABY IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN KANGAROO. Who even named them kangaroos? Why are they called something different outside of the Australia??? They will forever by wallabies to me because that name is SO MUCH BETTER and I want to respect that that’s what you Australians call them. If that’s what you call them, then that’s what they are. *snod*
” stab myself in the eye with a snag on the barbie after I have smoko in the arvo.” HELP I LAUGHED SO HARD AND I ONLY HAVE A SMIDGEN OF AN IDEA OF WHAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT i’m sorry but you are so hilariosu cait. Honestly I would love it if you talked like this in blog posts more often XD
I still can’t really wrap my mind around the fact that you have koalas and wallabies IN YOUR BACKYARD.
I just, I’m SO SORRY THE WORLD FORGETS ABOUT YOU and doesn’t give you the good covers or author tours. I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD JUST APOLOGIZE FOR EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW.
(what are drop bears ad bunyips?)
YOU’RE WELCOME FOR THE SACRIFICES WE AUSSIES MAKE.😂 It’s kind of hilarious?! Like I literally had to explain to someone that there were two hemispheres in the world the other day because they didn’t understand why I was starting NaNoWriMo “a day early”. *facepalm* It actually concerns me?!? Do they not teach geography to the smol American childrens?!
And haha, oh sorry for being confusing about the wallabies. So I’ll send you a photo of the difference, but they’re just DIFFERENT.😂 Also wallaby is very fun to say.
I should totally put in random Aussie slang in my posts. I SHALL EDUCATE YOU ALL.😂
Okay, to be totally honest, the US education system is //messed up// so I wouldn’t be surprised if they gloss over the two hemispheres part of the textbook XD
well.. I was laughed at by a friend because I forgot Chile is also on the same hemisphere =.=
annoying too is when I join book promo that has a time to post… like 9.00am EST..
what time is it here then?
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You have inspired us to do a sort of Irish version of this, so thank you very much for writing this wonderful post. Your back garden is definitely cooler than ours. That’s a problem, but we see no way to fix it.
The results of your poll were not at all surprising. Only seven Irish bloggers. So sad. So tragic. We wonder if our rarity counts us as an endangered species…We think we’ve only ever seen one Aussie character in all of the books we’ve read. There were no stereotypes. That will please you as it pleased us. IRISH CHARACTERS ARE ALWAYS STEREOTYPICAL AND THEY OFFEND US. Just putting that out there.
We don’t ever really feel like Australians are making fun of us because sarcasm is our friend. We love it. Sarcasm should be included more often in every day life.
We’ve totally turned this entire comment into a mini chat about us. The narcissism is real.
As for the cover thing, it depends on the book. Sometimes the UK cover which is the one we also get is far superior to the one gracing the bookshelves of readers in the United States.
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My backyard is just ruling. THAT’S THE HONEST TRUTH. (Although I didn’t say that when I saw a blue-tongued lizard out there and thought it was a snake and nearly died just looking at it. Ahem. But keep that to yourself. Can’t have anyone thinking I’m weak, obviously.)
Have you read the Skulduggery books?!? IRISH CHARACTERS BY AN IRISH AUTHOR AND IT’S REALLY AWESOME AND FUNNY AND PERFECT.
Dude, you are most welcome to be narcissistic in the comments. I mean look at me. Look at my blog. It is just a long list of adoration-to-me really, so clearly you’re amongst good company.
I think I prefer the ‘bears’ in your backyard. The bears in mine once tried to eat my chickens. I’m sure a koala wouldn’t try a thing like that. Maybe a drop bear would? I follow another Australian blogger, and she introduced me to drop bears. Not literally, though, and for that I’m thankful. I also liked the bunyip reference! (Bah, spellcheck is trying to tell me ‘bunyip’ isn’t a word!)
Woah, you can keep your chicken-eating-bears.😂 Although it’s literally bizarre that people call koalas “koala bears” because THEY AIN’T BEARS.😂 Drop bears on the other hand…ohhh, they eat everything. Small children too.
OMG YOU ACTUALLY HAVE KOALAS JUST WANDERING AROUND LIKE THAT?! *flails*
Also, you’ll always have Jay and Amie ^^ *hugs*
I know shipping to Australia is sooo expensive. You Aussie bloggers need to band together and start a new and cheaper shipping service. Like buy your own plane or something. That can’t be too hard, right? XD
Great post, as always!
Brittany @ Brittany’s Book Rambles
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YEP KOALAS IN MY YARD. IT’S REALLY QUITE UNBELIEVABLY COOL. There’s a koala reserve out the back too, which probably explains why they sometimes wander into the yard and try to climb the pawpaw trees. Adorable idiots.
Omg YES we have the amazing Jay and Amie but…the Aussie promotion budget for authors is TEENY TINY. They like barely do tours here. :'(
I think I should buy my own plane and get a really nice cheap and fast shipping service going. Dragon powered. It’ll be awesome.
I feel your pain Cait. I fell your pain.
I’ll admit, living in Hawaii isn’t quite as bad because we are part of the USA. Then again, it also makes the issues even more frustrating because we’re often excluded even though we are part of the USA. (Although, some people *cough* airport security in NYC that demanded my passport *cough* apparently don’t know that…) There’s absolutely NO author events or signings here unless it’s a local author. (Typically, it’s a Hawaiian history/biography book or a picture book. Apparently, that’s all local authors write.) Shipping is almost always more expensive or takes much longer. (Amazon: 2 days to ship within the 48 states, 2 weeks to Hawaii….) & Don’t get me started on the giveaway’s that claim it’s open to all US citizens, but in the fine print says only residents of the 48 contiguous states and DC may enter.
Trust me, I understand the pain, and absolutely loved this post!
Awk, I could imagine the Hawaiian struggles would be tough too. *pats your shoulder* We may just cry together and eat consoling cake because WHAT IS LEFT FOR US TO DO. Although I beat you with the shipping because it’s like 4 weeks to get anything here from the US.😂
Hello Cait!
I’am from Germany, and I like your blog.
You think only you are excluded from giveaways and Auhors touring through your country? Well, I have to disappoint you. I have the feeling that a lot of Writers go anywhere in the world but Germany. Maybe it is because we are not a small island on the edge of the map… I don’t know. But if once in 5 years an interesting YA author decides to come to a german city, it will be Berlin, Franfurt or Munich – because these are the only 3 big cities we have, so it seems.
About your point 6 – We often get different covers too – and a bad translation – which is worse in my opinion. They even change the names sometimes. Some of it is about rights, But not only. Publishers think they need to customize covers toward the taste of the particular country.
And I love your point 7 hahaha … I never read a book about Germans written by someone foreign person. Who would do something like that anyway?!
And about your backyard pfft… mine is frozen now – we call that winter – beat that!
Greetings,
Annelie
Hello Annelie!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR VISITING MY BLOG! 🎉🎉 And I totally admit that my authors-not-visiting struggles would pale in comparison to yours. 😉 So we’ll just have to acknowledge each other’s pain and cry together, right?! 😂
And YES I do agree that publishers try to tailor things to their country’s tastes…it’s just they seem to get it weirdly wrong sometimes?!? Like They changeD “The Cresswell Plot” to “In the Dark In the Woods”!? I mean the second one is so generic! What were they thinking?!
I’ve actually read books about German characters written by non-Germans! They were pretty great. 🙂
I’VE NEVER EVEN SEEN SNOW.
I hail from California (that’s in the US. Sadly, we’re not our own country yet)! Your backyard is definitely cooler than mine since all mine looks out to is a parking lot. And not even an INTERESTING parking lot where there’s drug deals going down or street car racing. Mainly it just sits there and looks super out of place and boring.
I rarely see Australians in literature which is a shame since I love your accents and your sense of humor. I realize you’re vaguely making fun of us when speaking of course, but that’s fine because I have In-and-Out and Disneyland to comfort my hurt feelings. Also if I try hard enough to not notice it’ll be like you’re not making fun of me at all! 😉
And as a final nail in the coffin I like American Covers over Aussie ones. If that makes me American well then…….well I guess that makes me American then. Oh well!
Awk, a parking lot?! That is very unfun for you.😂
And hehe, I’d apologise for our nation but….I think it’s like ingrained in our DNA to make fun of EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING. So don’t take it personally. We’re all horrible. It’s the convict thing coming out I suppose.😂 But *whispers* considering I mostly prefer the American covers too, what does that make me??? *screams*
As I fellow Aussie book blogger I can relate to *most* of these.
The covers thing is annoying cos sometimes if I’m reviewing something via NG, I’ll be using the o/s cover when I know the cover here is different…. but if I haven’t gotten it from the Aussie publisher then I figure I don’t owe them anything. Although then I feel bad, so usually use both. *sigh*
And the tyranny of distance thing. Ugh. I’m also in regional Qld so even when authors do come here I rarely get to Brisbane to see / hear them.
And yes, we have some amazing Aussie authors the rest of the world are yet to discover. (I hope!)
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Oh I do the same thing with netgalley covers!! Like I feel slightly guilty if I don’t use the AUS ones but yet…I goeth where the pretty goeth.😂 I’m in regional NSW so I hear ya with the travelling pain. Like everyone goes to Sydney or Brisbane BUT THEY MIGHT AS WELL BE ON THE MOON HONESTLY.
I’ve always found it kind of fascinating how different countries use different words for the exact same things??? It even happens in the US…like down in California, it’s ‘pop”, but up here it’s “soda”, or even different pronounciations of the same word. Here’s it’s “cran” instead of “cray-yon,”, or “pea-con” instead of ‘pea-can”, stuff like that.
And even the humor thing! I’ve been told by several people that I have a very UK-sense of humor (very dry and sarcastic), while the US is a lot of more…crude stuff, I guess. Swearing.
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YES so true!! And like accents are my entire downfall when it comes to pronouncing book names too. I’ll say it with an Aussie accent and then listen to an audiobook use the American accent and…#confused.😂 (Also we call soda/pop = soft drink in Australia. Just to confuse things further.)
Also if you have a UK sense of humour, YOUR HUMOUR IS AWESOME CLEARLY. UK/AUS humour is a lot more dry? And I love that!
I think I’m going to have to check out that Young Einstein movie! 🙂
Of those book covers, I think I prefer the Australian cover of Emmy & Oliver to the US one.
The most I see in my backyard is deer, raccoons, possums, peasants, and occasionally an escaped cow from a neighboring farm…
Lauren @ Always Me.
Excuse me, *pheasants* – not peasants although that would be a little more interesting… Darn autocorrect!
Lauren @ Always Me.
I was going to say OH WOW YOU HAVE PEASANTS TO SERVE YOU …😂😂 That’s hilarious hehe. Oh but yes you should totally watch Young Einstein if you can! It’s so WEIRD. But yet hilarious.
“everywhere in the USA”
Not everywhere. Most of the time the middle of the country (unless you live in Chicago or MAYBE Minneapolis) gets ignored. 🙂 Because you know, there is NOTHING between LA and NYC. 😉
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I’m kind of laughing that you took that part seriously when on that list I also mentioned authors going to outerspace?! 😉
Hey Cait!
I am from Germany and can relate to sooo many of the points you make. Also, cannot stop the tears from running down my face. You are simply hilarious in the best possible way!
Back when I was in school I was so grateful for the American and British spelling differences because I could always bring up the argument that it was spelled correctly in at least one version. 😀
I think you should inconspicuously insert some aussie terms every now and then and let us guess what the words mean or even see if we detected them. Not sure if I pieced it together right but from what I remember from my 3 month in Australia I would say that “a snag on the Barbie” means a sausage cooked on a barbeque (though I have no idea why you would consider to stab yourself in the eye with that…) and translate “having smoko in the arvo” as afternoon tea since I do not peg you as someone who takes a smoking break in the afternoon…
Duh, try recommending a German book (that is really great but just not popular enough to be translated)… But I love me some Aussie lit and have read A-mazing ones.
Without a doubt: Best freaking backyard EVER!!!
Yeah, shipping costs are insane. I get your pain. I tried shipping a package to my exchange sister one time and shipping would have cost me way more than the actual worth of the gift…
I get your pain. All these “US only”, “US/Can only” “UK only” giveaways are painful to see. But you shouldn’t forget to mention all the pre-order campaigns we are excluded from (mainly for shipping reasons and because the publishers only send out nationwide…).
Some of the UK covers are seriously bad. Just thinking about some is painful the original divergent covers, the 1000th floor, etc. I guess one of the only perks about living in Germany that we actually get the choice on amazon whether or not to choose the US or UK cover (for the English books of course). German translations and covers are pretty awful most of the time. Plus we do not have a great variety of English YA Books in a local library or even in a bookstore (I counted an awe-inducing amount of 9 YA books in the nearest bookstore…) except for when you live in one of the big cities.
Maybe vegemite tea is the next big thing and you could sell it as a substitute for broth. 😉
Gotta go and check out these fabulous Aussie bloggers you mentioned. 😀
WELL THIS MAKES ME VERY HAPPY. I’M SO GLAD YOU LIKED THE POST!! *flails* 😂😂
And you did pretty good with that translation!! Why on EARTH do we call it “smoko”?? omg. We’re so weird. I assume it’s because, typically, a worker would have a snack-break and smoke? So they called it smoko? BUT YEAH IT’S WEIRD. Everything about our slang is weird.
Oh I can imagine shipping would be just as hard for you too!! Basically anyone not in the US gets to cry over shipping, right?! And omg yes to the pre-order campaigns. Or all the author-hosted ones…like “win a trip to see the author!” and I’m like “COOL” and then fineprint: USA only. Meanies.
I should’ve put the Thousandth Floor on this list because the UK cover is so awful.😭
I’ve realised I follow a possibly weird number of Aussie bloggers. You know, for someone who lives in Canada…
The spelling thing! Canada tends toward the UK spelling of words- but not always, it’s weird, and good luck knowing when to use which spelling. One finds oneself wondering is it grey or gray? Sometimes even our government-issued documents don’t seem totally sure… possibly it depends on the phase of the moon or the number of squirrels born that day? (Or maybe beavers? Beavers are Canadian, right?)
(In this very comment, Google is attempting to inform me that I ought to be spelling realise with a “Z.”) (I looked up the original spelling, and it is apparently with the “Z,” actually, but somewhere along the line half the world started spelling it with an “S” instead and now the original spelling is mostly just used in America.) (Sorry, random tangent.)
P.S. Celsius just makes so much more sense to me than Fahrenheit… stop making things weird, America, it confuses the rest of the planet.
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You mean you follow an AWESOME AMOUNT OF AUSSIE BLOGGERS. *flails wildly on the mountaintops* And I’m really glad Canada is logical and sensible with their spelling. I mean what is going on in the US there?!? How do we even SPELL Fahrenheit??! And I never know the difference between grey/gray. I just use them interchangeably. Sometimes in the same sentence. Hahah. #dead
I feel like Fahrenheit is one of those words that looks like it has not been written correctly, even if it is. (It’s the extra H, probably.)
Sensible, ha. Half the time I think we can’t figure out if our spelling is going to be like the US or like the UK. Grey or gray? Spelt or spelled? We just don’t know… (Though isn’t spelt a kind of pasta?)
I’m from the US! I am in Washington state. I don’t remember reading about any Australian’s in books. And yes, your backyard is cooler than mine:) I wish I had a big backyard where I could have a camel some goats and a tortoise. I don’t get that Aussies are sarcastic and making fun of me. I do feel like everything they say sounds like a question, but I’ve never known any Australian people personally. I prefer some AUS covers of US covers. Like the And I Darken book, you have such a beautiful cover of that book, and I want it. Also I can’t choose between the AUS and US covers of Throne of Glass series, I like them both so much. There is a balance I like about 50% of AUS covers over US covers, also sometimes I like the AUS or US covers for both books. Like The Graces AUS and US covers, I like them both equally.
You probably don’t notice Aussies are making fun of you because we’re so good at doing it most Americans don’t notice. 😉 Seriously, my sister married an American and HAHAHAHAHAAH. I’m pretty sure my family was agreeable just so we could torture him. Nicely. Of course. And now I spend a lot of time correcting my half-Aussie-half-American nieces and nephew’s crazy mixed up accents.😂
BUT ANYWAY. I’M RAMBLING.
Heyyyy but you know ME. :’) So you do know an Australian!!
And I agree, the US vs UK cover thing is hard because they both do score some beautiful ones! Like Nevernight, for instance, is beautiful and impressive in both.😍
What she said!
But seriously, the postage! The amount of times I have to abort purchasing amazing book nerd paraphernalia because the postage is more than the bloody item – good for the bank balance; bad for the soul.
Isn’t it the worst?! WE CAN CRY TOGETHER, LAURA.😭
OHHH I could definitely relate to some of these! I live in Indonesia, which is above Australia? Separated by some oceans, but still. AND YES we have different measurements here! Like we measure temperature in celcius, weight in kilograms, height in CM, etc and it was exhausting! Every time I read a book mentioning a character’s height, I have to mentally convert it to our measurements </3 also yes to not being able to recommend book, though I have to say my struggle is harder because ENGLISH ISN'T EVEN OUR NATIVE LANGUAGE. So whenever I want to recommend any books, I have to check whether said books have been translated to English or not :')
That koala is so so so cute!! We have cats in the backyard here :') and shipping! Shipping costs are way more expensive than the books so goodbye Amazon! I can't even with the cover… I prefer US all the way! US covers are always prettier!! #sorrynotsorry 😛 Bookstores usually sell both editions in here, but US editions are always way more expensive than the UK. ALSO WHAT'S WITH THE DIFFERENT TITLE?!!
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Yesss, we are practically neighbours. *hi fives* Actually I’ve been in Indonesia! For like…a few hours during a layover on my way to China. So I’m pretty sure it barely counts BUT HEY I DID VISIT BRIEFLY! *waves* 😂 But obviously your country is totally sensible with the measurements. I don’t even know what the US is doing with there’s but it’s bizarre.
I can imagine your shipping struggles would be even worse than mine. I CRY FOR US BOTH.
(And the differing titles are just out to confusing and destroy us, I just know it.😭)
I voted UK, since that’s my birth land, but I just moved to Taiwan where there’s barely any books in English anyway :L plus I promised myself ebooks forever (or at least until I settle down in a nice cabin in the mountains for the rest of my days). Books are HEAVY. Luggage fees are NO FUN. Choosing between babies is even less fun.
But when I get to Australia, I’m DEFINITELY checking out some Australian authors that I can’t read elsewhere so PLEASE SCREAM ABOUT THEM SO I KNOW THEY EXIST. kthxbye. 😀
Astrid
http://www.astridkaniele.com/
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Oh wow moving to Taiwan is awesome! And must be daunting moving countries?!? I freak out just moving across the same town. But agh, sadness to not enough English books for you to devour. :'( I ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PAIN.
OMG YOU MUST TRY ELLIE MARNEY’S SERIES CALLED EVERY BREATH. Also Jessica Shirvington’s Disruption and Corruption. And anything by Cath Crowley, Steph Bowe, and Melissa Keil. 😍
Haha, I love moving so I’ve been fine with it! But I understand why it can be daunting, I just don’t have the correct emotional response to anything. :L
I’ll check them out, but I’m sure there’ll be plenty more to that in a year or so! 🙂
Astrid
http://www.astridkaniele.com/
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Oh how I love reading your posts, Cait! I’ve been having such an awfully busy past two months because of my placement and I haven’t been able to blog hop AT ALL. I did so missed catching up with your posts!!!!!!
Anyway, I’m kind of miffed to not see Sri Lanka in your list, but then India is, and we’re oh so used to being overshadowed by her 😀
I totally agree with you about their being very, very few Aussie characters in books other than Australian ones. AND OF COURSE YOUR BACKYARD IS A MILLION TIMES COOLER THAN MINE! Can I put up a tent in yours and live there? I promise I won’t demand too much cake.
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Aww, that’s okay!! I DID MISS YOU but good luck on your placement!! 🎉 *throws encouraging cake at you*
I just picked out the top countries on my stats list! BLAME MY STATS. 😂 Or else not enough Sri Lankans read my blog!?!? So you must fix that and convert your nation to my blog. This will fix everything.
I will just say GOOD LUCK WITH THE TENT because my backyard is also a total hill. But like if you roll down into the koala reserve and fall in the creek, at least you won’t be lonely? THE BUNYIPS WILL KEEP YOU COMPANY.
AHA I KNEW YOU’D MISS ME 😉 Thanks for throwing that cake at me, I totally needed that. I do plan to get around to convert my nation into paperfury minions. I’ll get started on it very soon, mwahahahahaha.
Your backyard STILL sounds cooler than mine despite it being a total hill. Koala reserve and bunyips? No problem 😆
Literally everything you just said is the LITERAL TRUTH. (particularly no.10. what?)
BUT shipping, seriously. I swear we should start catching dropbears and getting them to terrorise the tycoons-who-make-shipping-so-expensive-for-us until they agree to make it cheaper. Really. I should start a petition, because it’s ridiculous. I mean, we have to deal with dropbears and snakes and crocs and spiders and weather-that-can’t-make-up-it’s-mind already, so we should automatically be given AFFORDABLE SHIPPING, dang it. (I mean, I know we get vegemite and timtams but we still have to deal with hardcover envy.)
And as for our sense of humour, it’s so true XD I have to admit I never noticed it until I started reading blogs, but the difference in humour is astounding! It’s actually funny in itself.
LOVED this post to pieces!! Made me laugh so hard I distracted my sister from her assignment and made her mad XD Totally worth it! (And we definitely need more Australian protagnists that aren’t just there for comic relief. I mean seriously. Some of us can actually hold intellectual conversations; please stop stereotyping. There I’m done.)
–Emmeline 🙂
THE POSTOFFICE IS JUST A CRIMINAL ORGANISATION. They keep raising prices and just watching Australia burn??? What is this life. 😭😭 And there aren’t enough timtams in the world to deal with my hardcover envy. Let’s be honest now. We need hardcovers. SOMEONE CROWN ME QUEEN SO I CAN FIX THIS.
And isn’t it great how weird our humour is?! I LOVE IT. And I’m so used to reading UK/US humour that when I actually read an Aussie book I end up cracking up all over the place. WE’RE GOLDEN.
(And omg yes YES. I’m so tired of the Aussies always being the comic relief with the dorky accent. Like, no? We can do more?? We survive all these darn drop bears, we are hardcore.)
Haha I WILL GLADLY MAKE YOU QUEEN IF YOU WILL DISTRIBUTE HARDCOVERS AND GOOD AUSTRALIAN CHARACTERS THROUGH THE STREETS OF THE WORLD.
(and oh dear me, our postal service is surely a joke at this point *weeps* Christmas is no longer a holiday. It’s a darn tax.)
I saw the word ‘shipping,’ and instantly thought you meant the other kind of shipping. I’m not sure if that says something about me, your blog, or both. 😉 😀 😉
Is it bad that I find British stereotypes funny? They all seem to be based on news broadcasters from the 1940s with their funny accents, and don’t even get me started on the tea obsession we’re all supposed to have! 😉
I totally hear you on the spelling thing. Like, I don’t correct YOUR spelling because I KNOW that there are differences between British English and American English. *Gnashes teeth* I assume that there are probably some differences between British and Australian English too. We definitely have different slang. 😀
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Hehe, I actually thought of that kind of shipping when I was writing the post. And I was like “should I change this to postage?…nah”.😂 ALL SHIPPING IS HARD. IT IS A KNOWN FACT.
And omg I think stereotypes of Australia are funny too, but it’s more funny if Australians are making fun of themselves than Americans thinking that the stereotypes are actually right. You know? And OMG AT LEAST YOU KNOW ABOUT THE SPELLING!! I’ve had critique partners be like “okay all this is spelled wrong” and I’m all “dude, no and stop.”😂 And like I don’t think there are spelling differences between UK and AUS? I think there are word differences for sure! But we follow after our mother for spelling.😂
Well hello Cait, GREETINGS FROM YOUR NEIGHBORING COUNTRY INDONESIA. I totally relate to all the things you listed above, especially about the shipping. The worst thing is, sometimes shop just DON’T ship to my country but they ship to other neighboring countries, like Singapore, Malaysia and Australia. I mean, ARE WE REALLY THAT NON EXISTENT? We’re practically conjoined with Singapore and Malaysia omg. Your backyard is definitely cooler than mine. I’d love to meet those animals but sadly THEY DON’T EXIST HERE. Idk really… But I think US? UK and AUS covers just tend to be horrible (sorry!!)
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HELLO INDONESIA, HOW ARE YOU, LET US SHARE CAKE AND TEA NOW. *flings confetti* And omg I can imagine everything would be a lot harder for you since Indonesia is so much smaller than Australia.😩 Life is unfaaaair. And no offense taken over the covers.😂 I AGREE WITH YOU. ahhaah.
I have actually read a fantasy trilogy with Australian characters, not sure if you know about it. They’re Inhale, Exhale and Just Breathe. I don’t know if the author is Australian though.
And guess what is worse that having books with worse covers than USA? NOT HAVING THEM AT ALL. About 40% (or less. Mostly less, I’m being optimistic here) books are not printed in India and they only are if it’s a very popular book or series. WHY. And shipping is so bad, ugh, especially when dollar-to-indian rupee conversion means that everything is six times expensive for me. Literally, every dollar is more than SIXTY Indian rupees, I believe it’s near 70 now.
And don’t even get me started on the fact that we don’t evEN GET MOST FANDOM MERCH HERE?! I legit have NEVER seen a Camp Half-Bloog tee in India unless someone for it from USA -_-
K bye.
Oh I haven’t heard of them! I looked them up just now, though, but the author is American. 🙈🙊😜
Agh I hear you though. *sad face* I mean, I get annoyed with my country’s lacking-ness but I can imagine it’d be MUCH more hard in other countries! And agh, making everything more expensive is not nice. And the USA to AUD dollar conversion is horrible here too.😩 We pay like $32 for a hardcover book and the Americans are paying like $15!! It’s ridiculous!
I HAVE NEVER SEEN A CAMP HALF BLOOD TEE IN AUSTRALIA EITHER. Let’s cry together.
Here in The Netherlands we are also sad that there are hardly any events 🙁 We finally had our first one last year and I hope that the publisher here can keep it up, because it was awesome 🙂 And shipping costs to us suck often too.
The cover from The Graces is also pretty in AUS version!
All countries need to try and up their author events, right?!? I guess the USA has a bigger budget for that kind of thing but stiiiill. I would love to meet Maggie Stiefvater. (I mean, I think she HAS come to Australia but a long time ago!)
I still have no idea what vegemite is. Haha. I feel like Aussies are always so far removed! You’re right, there are barely any Australians in books, and if they are, they’re like the host transfer student surfer boy.
Wasn’t there recently a Sydney YA book fest? I hope you guys have more awesome book festivals, because that’s half the fun of book blogging!
JUST GOOGLE.😂 Although don’t google “Americans eating vegemite” because they eat it so wrong it’s embarrassing. It’s not like nutella!! You just do a very thin scraping on bread with butter. Hot is good. Do not overload.😂
We used to have a bookfest (I think it was in Melbourne though? I’m not sure) but it just shut down this year. I kind of wanted to go one day but….no more I guess! 🙈🙊 (I live waaaaaay away from Melbourne/Sydney though. SAD FACE.)
Wohoo, I’m not the only German reader here!
I don’t remember many books in my life by Australian authors. One was “The Rapture” by Catherine Jinks, but it’s mainly about a group of Mormons going weird and crazy and settling out in Tasmanias wilderness, so it didn’t tell me a lot about Australia. Then there’s “Eon” by Alison Goodman which is Fantasy about Asian culture and the “Abby Lynn” series which is about a British girl who is brought to Australia on a prisoner boat, but it’s acutally written by a German author, so probably no one knows it, but at least I learned about Australian history that way.
What I remember indeed are actually a lot of Australian TV-Series. Because, as an interesting matter of fact, many Australian TV-Series run on one of the German children’s channels, so I grew up with stuff like “H2O -just add water”, “A gurlz life”, “Elephant Princess”, “Wicked Science” and mostly a lot of Jonathan M. Schiff Productions. And “Blue Water High” and “Mortified”. And “Young Einstein” made it to that Channel too (No German movie could do it the way Young Einstein is, without mentioning Einstein being a Jew from Germany. Seriously, Germans are generally too clinging on historical correctness to tell stories about history). So, I don’t know if you watched a lot of TV when you were younger, but I did and though I haven’t read a lot of books from Australia, I’m practically overloaded with Australian TV series, though I have no idea, how they are compared to the Australian TV-Series that I don’t know.
Well, contrary what Esther said, there actually are library sales in the library in my hometown. I live in a very small town and our library doesn’t have much money, so they have to do it. I don’t know how big cities handle it. But it’s just a small shelf with books in German that you can buy for 1€ and they have little quality. Oh well, surprise!
Australia is one of our big topics in our English school books, next after the US (it always goes like this: You start with Britain, somewhere in a southern town in England, the next year the characters in the school books will have cousins or grandparents from Wales and Scotland and in year three your English book does a complete tour with you around the British Isles. And Canada, for some reason. The next year of English learning is completely devoted to the USA (the don’t start earlier in the hope that we learn proper Oxford English instead of picking up American slang. It never works). And they deny the existence of Australia until the fifth year of learning English formally (in ninth grade. Sometimes there is formal English teaching in elementary and informal in kindergarten, but not everywhere), when you carefully learn a bit about rabbit fences and the Royal Flying Doctor service and that it’s allowed to burn the Australian flag contrary to the US flag.
Choosing Covers is absolutely the greatest pain and pleasure at the same time when you’re not American. You choose to read in English or your own language (like, German), you choose between American and British covers (seriously, it’s difficult to keep your books in your favorite series constantly with the same covers, when this day your retailer offers the American cover and that day it’s the British. Of course it’s easier to go and visit the Amazon homepage, but I’m an Anti-Amazon German real book store fanatic who goes to her book shop to order books.
It’s good to be able to order English books, because in general, German Fantasy sucks and I’ve only got a few exceptional favorite authors like Cornelia Funke and Michael Ende and I see why these two belong to the few who are translated and distributed across the world, because they clearly deserve it. One of my favorite publishers is Klett-Cotta, also known as Hobbit Presse, because they are the first publisher to translate and sell “The Lord of the Rings” by Tolkien and they have few Fantasy books actually, but the authors they have, except Tolkien actually only Patrick Rothfuss and Tad Williams are grand and top notch 🙂
I should really write a blog post about the German book blogging world, compared to the English. (Because the English is so big and confusing and the German so dang small and overseeable.
I actually haven’t watched barely ANY Australian TV. 😂 So you’re winning on me there! Although that is because I generally don’t watch any TV? And Young Einstein is a parody, so they weren’t exactly trying to be historically correct there hahah. I mean, he was splitting beer atoms.😂 IT’S A LOONY MOVIE.
I’m not surprised you learn about the USA before Australia though. It still surprises me how people seem to over forget/overlook Australia?! We’re kind of a huge nation down here! 😜 Although, I mean, our history is just as shady as any other country. Especially with those rabbit fences. *shudders*
And omg I hear you with the covers though!! Like if I start buying in Australian and then Australia will change the sizes or something? Or I accidentally buy American when I meant to buy Australian. LIFE IS HARD.😜 Hehe, just kidding. I’m sure it’d be harder to get all the books you want in the right sizes/covers in Germany? Oh! And I’m reading Patrick Rothfuss right now! I RECOGNISE THAT NAME! 🎉
Yes, Germans are rightous and sometimes annoyingly persistent to correctness when it doesn’t matter. I think, when I saw it, I was just too young to understand it, because I didn’t get what Einstein was doing in Australia. Yet, splitting Beer Atoms could possibly happen in a German parody too.
When we learn about other countries, no matter how much we believed to know, we come to realize that we just knew nothing, Jon Snow 😉
No, I think if I would just buy them at Amazon I think I’d have less problems, at least if I agreed to always pick the UK cover, because UK is actually surprisingly close to Germany… but usually I want to have consistent American covers, and that’s the problem, when they’re not available and I’m dying hard to read a book. Like, for Heroes of Olympus I actually read the first two books in German from our library, couldn’t wait for the third, so I bough Mark of Athena as the American Hardcover. After that, everything got messy, I’ve got House of Hades twice, once as the ugly big British Puffin Paperback and once as the American Hyperion Books Cover, and at last I have Blood of Olympus as a smaller Hardcover book, also Puffin. And the next thing is, it’s hard to explain generous relatives who buy you books for Christmas, why they should buy this issue from exactly that publisher, when you are already so happy that you’re going to have that book.
Are you reading the Name of the Wind? I’m so excited about the third book, and I’m still not sure, whether I should go for English or German. Klett-Cotta makes really beautiful book covers and additionally they tend to change a Names even in translations of Fantasy, so it could become confusing if I read in English.
Patrick Rothfuss is one of the many US authors I thought were German, because his surname sounded so German and his first name could be either English or German…
I’m in the U.S., and you’re right–the overseas marketing thing can be SO tough!!! People ask me if my books are available in their country and I have no idea. I know Kindle SHOULD make it easier to get whatever books we want, but I know not everyone uses a Kindle.
Agh, kindle is actually horrible. Every time I host a giveaway and send an ebook gift the person NEVER can receive it because of country availability. It’s crazy!! I wish someone could sort this out so it was easier to share books.😂
Everything I know about Australia I learned from you, the crocodile hunter, and my brother Patrick who served a mission in Melbourne for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints there for two years. This is what I know:
1) The wildlife. Huntsman spiders get really big and are fearless. The birds down under sound unearthly and gather in huge, noisy flocks. Kangaroos (wallabies?) are actually pretty intimidating.
2) The people. Aussies have an odd sense of humor (Patrick picked up on and understands this. They call their apartments flats, and they use American swear words as though they aren’t cuss words. Other than that and a few other minor differences, they’re pretty much like Americans.
3) Prices. Bananas cost a ridiculous amount, and so do many other foods. This is probably due to the costs of shipping.
4) Politics and sports. People always wanted to discuss American sports and politics with my brother. This always confused him because he figured it would make a lot more sense for them to discuss Aussie sports and politics? I’m confused about that one, too. Also, no ome had any guns, but the crime rate seemed to Patrick to be just the same. People are creative when they want to commit a crime.
4. The weather. In July, it’s deep winter, and in December, it’s deep summer. Also, it’s really easy to sunburn.
And that’s practically all that I know. What do you think? Did I get anything right? What are your thoughts on Americans?
Deepest respect to America, but when you commit a crime, it makes a difference if you give criminals the power to kill other people too easily or not. If Americans came to Germany, they’d experience the same, everybody would want to talk about American politics with them. And recently, you just couldn’t avoid it. I’m German, but I think it’s for Americans as if they had famous parents that put their own actions in their shadows, wherever they go, everybody will judge them as Americans. And I admit, it’s hard to not to.
Excellent points. I agree on your points, and actually hadn’t meant to bring up gun control–I stated that badly. I was just surprised that there were still the common, non mass-shooting type crimes commited even without guns. It struck me as somewhat shocking.
I guess it does make sense to ask about politics. In Germany, I would want to know about German politics…
As to the last point, I’m confused about the American fame shadow. I think Germany and Australia and Egypt and everywhere else should be just as famous. But then again, I’ve never been out of the country and am therefore ignorant about many things. Please teach me more!
It was an awkward assocation…
Well, even without guns there are enough people who don’t care about rules, whether it’s because they feel abandoned by society or because they are simply so stupid, there are still enough crimes you can do in a gunless society, after all you don’t need a gun to be a pickpocket, burglar or a fraud. Or to cause a car accident, which is counted as crime too.
There are actually crimes committed with illegally held weapons too, that’s something to add, but since the murder rate in Germany and Australia is about a fifth of Americas, even set in relationship to the smaller populations, I’d say gun control makes a difference. At it’s not a political issue in Germany, as far as I’m concerned, because most people take it for granted and normal.
Well, German politics currently, discussing who will be our next president. Which is a different issue than the American president. In Germany, the president has a symbolic character and has the same job as the Queen in the UK by signing passed laws, giving encouraging speeches to the people and living in a fancy big house without any political power, while our chancellor lives in a tiny flat somewhere in Berlin. The chancellor has the actual political meaning, so she’s the one who get’s the real attention, while people sometimes aren’t even sure who the current president is, if they’re not politically interested. She has a husband but nobody ever notices his existence, because hey, why should it politically matter what private issues a countries leader has?. Little children in Germany ask sweet questions, like: can boys even become chancellor too?!?
That’s for the funny side of German politics. There are a lot of sad, serious and not so funny things about Germany, after all, Germany does produce a lot of weapons, and per capita we have worse climate figures than the Chinese, so I’m hoping this doesn’t sound all too romanticising. I’m a big political nerd and I was already starting to write a full fledged post about the German voting system, until I realized, that I’ve actually pulled my thoughts in a direction that’s waaay off international blogger pet peeves… So I probably, if you wanted to learn more, you could read the Wikipedia post “Electoral system of Germany”. I’ll keep it short and say for now, that in current politics, Germany has similar struggles to most countries in the Western world, immigration, identity and some right-wing movement, that wants to flip the country back to the fifties (or sometimes it seems like as to the thirties. No, it’s not really that bad, but still serious.). You should really shut my mouth when it comes to politics, it feels so dang hard, to just think it. All of this just because I misunderstood what you meant in your comment.
lg Mulan
Ooh, yay that your brother lived here for a while! My sister married an American actually and he’s lived here for like 5 years now. 😜
1. Hahahahah YES THE SPIDERS ARE GOOD FUN. Birds are terrifying. Although I did get a lorikeet eating out of my hand yesterday and I hate birds, so that was awesome! And wallabies are different to kangaroos. 😉 Non-Australians just go “oh it’s a kangaroo” but it’s generally a wallaby. Wallabies are a lot smaller.
2. DUDE YES. We have the weirdest sense of humour. Not sure what you mean about the cuss vs swearing though. Aren’t they the same thing?? Our sense of humour is more dry and self-depreciating than American.
3. Agh, bananas are weird. But like it probably depends on when your brother was here?? How long ago was it? We once had a cyclone that wiped out like the ENTIRE banana population so if he was there then that would explain it. Otherwise I don’t think bananas are that expensive?
4. Haha, that’s because your American politics are crazy.😜😂 Your brother is definitely wrong about the crime rate, however. We don’t have massacres or mass shootings…I think the statistic was not in the last 15 years? Of course there’s crime! But yeah, no mass deaths.
5. OF COURSE THE WEATHER IS OPPOSITE.😂 You’re hilarious! And sunburn depends on your skin type. I never sunburn haha.😂 My sister turns into a beetroot in like 5 minutes outside. Bless my nice tanned Italian skin. :’)
So you got some right! Some wrong.😂😂 But good job! All you need to do is read more Aussie lit. *piles recommendations on your head*
You got to feed a lorikeet? Sweet!! 😀
Swear words and cuss words /are/ the same…I dunno what I meant, I was tired this morning and I think I stated a whole lot of things that make zero sense. I’m sorry. XD
I think my brother was there during the cyclone, so yeah, that explains the bananas.
Before I forget, I love Aussie humor!
I’m really glad to hear there aren’t mass shootings there.
Also, I’m glad you don’t sunburn easily.
I will read more Aussie lit… Honestly, I’d love to be less ignorant. Thank you for sharing with me!
Don’t be sorry, Karissa!😂 Hehe, it’s totally fine!! And omg YES so that would make sense if your brother was here during that time *nods* so I promise our bananas aren’t always ridiculous. 😉 Although tbh, I don’t eat them that often so I shall probably shush now haha.🙈🙊😂 AND YAY FOR AUSSIE HUMOUR. We are weird little pecans but fun.😂
I love this post so, so, so much, also I might be having an emotional crisis over how you have KOALAS IN YOUR BACKYARD and like I am dreaming of ever seeing one of these beautiful creatures someday. THEY ARE JUST SO CUTE. Aem. Anyway, moving on from this craziness haha.
I love how you shared about Australian bloggers’ struggles with getting books, different covers and everything confusing about it. I’m from France (I voted other on the pool but I doubt there are many French bloggers, it’s indeed crazy how many people are from the US. But also it’s great to see how some people are from around the world it’s so fun and cool even if getting books is a struggle. Anyway). I’d also LOVE to read more books with Australian characters, or set in Australia. It’s too bad there aren’t so many, especially since it’s such a beautiful country – never been there, but I’m sure of it. And I want to know more about it. MORE australian books! With koalas! Or not, just set in Australia would be nice already haha 🙂
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KOALAS ARE SUPER CUTE!! Although, like, they’re wild so it’s not like we pat them.😂 Although I was pretty chuffed that I got a rainbow lorikeet eating out of my hand yesterday. #winning Honestly my backyard is amazing for wildlife!!
I just picked out the top countries that apparently read my blog from the stats. SORRY FRANCE WASN’T ON THE LIST.🙈🙊 Obviously you need to convert your country to my blog. 😉 And yes Australia is beautiful and diverse and interesting and ahhhhh!! I wish people would base fantasy books off us and put our characters all over the world, because honestly Australians migrate A LOT. And we have plenty of books set in Australia but it’s soooo hard to get them overseas.😭 LIFE IS UNFAIR.
This post makes me miss Australia SO MUCH! I lived there for half of 2015, and boy, do I miss it. I did get the vague feeling that they were making fun on occasion, but everyone I stayed with was friendly and family and drop bears, lol! vegemite tho..I do not understand xD
I am from Canada, and love to celebrate the differences in all our countries! Because the world is awesome.
and you have a super back yard. ^_^
Aww, you lived here?! THAT IS SO AWESOME!! *flings confetti* It is a wonderful country. I’d love to visit other places, but I honestly really love Australia and wouldn’t want to leave here. <3 And Australians are very friendly, I think.😂 We just like teasing.
YOU HAVE A KOALA IN YOUR BACKYARD. AND A WALLABY. WHAT. WAHHHT. *aggressively wants to move to Australia right now* ARE YOU LIKE, ALLOWED TO HOLD THEM? LIKE, ARE KOALAS FAST? CAN YOU CATCH AND HOLD THEM? OR … *does not know if that is a stupid question or not*
#forgivemycompletecluelessnesstoyouramazingaussieways
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OMG NO YOU CAN’T HOLD THEM, THEY’RE WILD AND HAVE YOU SEEN THOSE CLAWS?!? Seriously, google a koala’s claws.😂 You can only touch them if you go to a zoo that specifically does koala holding. They can be kinda dangerous otherwise. But like, I mean, what wild animal isn’t dangerous? I’m even dangerous if not fed cake regularly. #legit 😂😂
Hi Cait,
As a fellow Aussie book blogger and author, I hear you loud and clear. I’m happy that ebooks and Amazon have made our book availability a little easier, but the problem still remains. Affordability, availability, being assumed to be living in the sticks, face-palming when we come across the way Aussies are represented in books by international authors, they are all thorns in my side too.
I’ve found that on occasions when international readers have read my books, they’ve mentioned my ‘obscure Aussie slang and terminology’ when I haven’t even realised I added any 🙂
Thanks for the shout out for other Australian book bloggers, which I’ll look up.
It’d be a MIRACLE of Amazon decided to be nice. Ugh. I’m always fighting with it over ebooks that I’ve just quit.😂 And it’s horrible to try and host giveaways through Amazon with ebooks because no one can EVER redeem the books I give!!
And it’d be nice if authors didn’t just use the stereotypes, right?! Like it’s just ridiculous. We’re not all dorky “oi there mate” comic reliefs!! And omg, I wish people also wouldn’t mark our slang/terminology as “negatives”!!! I see that a lot in reviews on Aussie books and how is that fair?! That’s who we are!
Shipping overseas is the most sad thing that was sad. But do Aussie books sell in ebook internationally at least?
You can buy most ebooks on amazon.com.au but there are rights issues for them too so usually if there’s a “sale” on, we don’t get it!! I SHED TEARS.😂
I think it’s hard to find any books that take place outside the US. I’m in Canada and you’d think that since we’re BFFs with the states that we’d have basically just as many books that take place here. NOPE! It seems to be the most difficult thing in the world. The only reason I can think of for this is that the Canadians are too polite and step back and let the American’s write all the books. Only valid reason.
I honestly think I’ve only read one book set in Canada (Are You Seeing Me by Darren Groth) and they were Aussie characters in it so it wasn’t even that Canadian!!🙈🙊 You all clearly need to push the Americans aside and write some more books!!
I HAVE A FRONT YARD INSTEAD OF A BACKYARD AND MINE DOESN’T HAVE KOALAS OR WALLABIES IN IT SO YES YOURS IS MUCH COOLER. :””) Honestly that is amazing. AND THIS POST WAS SO MUCH FUNNNNN. I loved reading about your Australian life! AND I WAS LAUGHING SO HARD AT THE BOOK MERCH SKIT OMG. tbh other countries cultures are sooo fascinating to me especially if they are countries that seem similar to the USA (like speaking English and what-not) BECAUSE THEY REALLY AREN’T SIMILAR AT ALL AND PEOPLE GET SOOO ANNOYING WITH THEIR STEREOTYPES. ugh. Also I can’t imagine how confusing that would be to have different book covers?? LIKE HOW DO YOU RECOGNIZE THINGS. Also now I really want to include an Australian character in one of my books but obviOUSLY I WILL HAVE TO ASK YOU ALL THE QUESTIONS SO THAT IT IS ENTIRELY LEGIT. *nod nod*
This post is beautiful can I hug it plz <333333
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YEP I’M DEFINITELY WINNING FOR THE YARD QUALITIES THEN. Yaaas.😂 And ahhhh I’m glad you loved reading this! It was such a random bizarre post idea but then I was like “I must do this and see how confused I can make everyone”. So far my evil plans are working. NICE.😇😈
Dude, yes, please put Australian characters everywhere. IT WOULD BE SO NICE. And plus Australians actually seem to have very itchy feet and they migrate all the time?! Basically all of my Australian aunts live overseas. Maybe there’s something wrong with Australia.😂
Well, Cait, all I have to say is, if it makes you feel better, in my book I have one super main character who is an Aussie. And I actually researched Aussie stuff to write him, so down with stereotypes. 😉 And I have two other semi-main characters who are also Aussies (super tough, awesome ones, btw, who are special force people in a cool global service… uh, *clears throat* over-intense?). But, lol, hahaha, guess what the girl one’s name just happens to be, I realized. That’s funny. Her name is ‘Kate’. 😛
OH WOOOOO THAT MAKES ME VERY HAPPY.😂 And those sound like really epic Australian characters!! honestly I write a lot of fantasy so I don’t even write strictly Australian characters. haha. But I wrote a dystopian earlier this year and put an Aussie character in it AND IT WAS SO FUN. My people. <3
OKAY THAT IS WEIRD THAT HER NAME IS KATE.😂😂
I thought you were British, to be honest…. after the election my friend and I decided we were moving to Australia and I was just like “Yeah, people in Australia have hipster British accents”. XD
KOALA BEAR OH IT’S SO CUTE.
IT’S NOT A KOALA BEAR. JUST A KOALA.😂
Haha, yes come to Australia. I mean, our politics are insane too??? But not as bad as America.😂
Okay, you want to know something funny? (Of course you do – why am I even asking?). Most of my closest blogging friends (you, Jeann, Aentee, and Kelly) are Australian so I always feel like I’m the one who should be moving to Australia. Haha. I owe all of your for introducing me to the wonderfulness that is Aussie YA though because 😍.
Thanks for sharing this – I actually (*gasp*) learned a lot from this. It’s really interesting learning about different cultures. (And this has increased my desire to come to Australia one day).
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YES MOVE TO AUSTRALIA, ZOE. WE ARE THE BEST BOOK BLOGGERS HERE. #legit 😂 And I’m so glad you like Aussie lit!! I think our books are super different to American ones and they’re just afdjsalkfd brilliance and I wish I could throw them at all the Americans of ever. Hopefully Australia will sort itself out eventually and books will be easier to get overseas?! I CAN ONLY HOPE.
I, sadly, live in the USA where nohting exciting ever happens. :/
But oh! Oh!!! I did my writing process like you did, and I finished NaNo yesterday (the 13th, for me). I wrote over 15000 words in one day, which was a new record for me by 4+ thousand!!! Yay!!
(Oh, and you have a pawpaw tree?? We’re going to grow one soon…)
Omg are you kidding?! Your country has a LOT going on. Particularly right now.😂
OMG CONGRATS ON YOUR 15K DAY AND YOUR AMAZING SUCCESS!! AHHHH!!!! That actually makes me really excited that my process works for more than just me. EEEEEEP. LEMME FLAIL NOW.😂
SO FULL OF TRUTHS!
I’m a new Aussie blogger on the scene – although I move around a lot and I’ve been travelling home less and less. I’m ‘ex pat’-ing in Zimbabwe at the moment. You know what they say though – ‘I still call Australia home’. Plus the fact that I still have a home address, bank accounts, heck, even an AUSTRALIAN DAUGHTER – I still regionalise myself as an Aussie.
When I’ve been away too long i’m going to request regular care packages of Vegemite, Tim Tams, Cherry Ripes and Lamingtons please.
Re: Covers – SOMETIMES (sometimes!) I have to admit that the Aussie ones are better!
For example:
USA vs AUS
Personally I like the blue one with the crown better. I don’t really go for people on covers.
AND:
<img src="https://www.biblioimages.com/macmillanaus/getimage.aspx?class=books&assetversionid=382312&cat=default&size=large&id=31676"
AUS
vs.
USA
I prefer one pretty crown and what feels like to me a more balanced cover….
There’s more, but these are recent ones that I’ve come across that I actually did like better. What I hate is having to find our version on Goodreads so my page numbers aren’t a complete bugger up while I update my progress!
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Hmm. Thanks WP for not publishing my pics and thanks ME for not proof reading.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cfm7idAWsAEpf_X.jpg
A Promise of Fire Cover comparisons
https://i.harperapps.com/covers/9780062385437/y648.png
3 Dark Crowns USA
https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1465938685l/30240773.jpg
3 Dark Crowns Aus
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I actually prefer the Three Dark Crowns US cover!! I couldn’t find it in Australia and ended up getting the red UK one but gah, so mad.😂 I’m glad you like the UK one though! And I do think the UK/AUS sometimes has better covers. So it half balances out sometimes?!
But that’s awesome that you’re currently in Zimbabwe!! Are you over there for work? SO COOL THO. And yesss, it would be hard missing all the wonderful Aussie food that we have.😂
Yes – working here right now and although I finished out the previous contract that I had I think it might be a very permanent thing so I MAAAAAAAAYBE need to change my ‘home’ address. Just not willing to completely let go of Aussie yet. 😉
Foooood – I have a love hate relationship with food. I hate that I love it, I hate that I always seem to be needing it and since I’m apparently an adult I have to be able to get it for myself (and others even! 😱).
I think of all the 3DC covers I like the naturalist crown the best (the red roses). But, if I can only choose between UK/AUS/USA I’m still going the UK/AUS version. Contentious issue these covers! 😉
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Oh, yes. Shipping is a nightmare internationally. I have a handful of international bookish people I keep in contact with and shipping is that thing we don’t talk about for Reasons.
Though, I thought it was common knowledge that wallabies and koalas were regularly enlisted by bloggers for blogging tasks. I mean, that’s what we do with armadillos and longhorns here in Texas.
But it ISN’T JUST ME. You DO get the UK covers! I thought so. It always seemed odd to me. I mean, you guys are a continent, I’d think you could get your own, but if you’re hoping for scones from the mother country…well, then it’s worth it, I guess. 😛
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Yes, exactly, it should be common knowledge that we bloggers don’t do everything for ourselves. I mean, what is this?? We’re expected to work hard? PFFFFFT.
Haha, but yes we do get the UK covers! I guess because we us British English? So it’s just….attached somehow? I DON’T KNOW.🙈🙊
I LOVE THIS! I LOVE THIS SO HARD! I know what a ute is, it’s a truck/vehicle, CAN I GET A GOLD STAR because I am not even Australian.
It is to my eternal disappointment that there is not more Aussie YA fiction, and it always kinda seems like if a book *IS* set in Australia, they kinda do their best to hide it? It’s incredibly confusing? Because you’re like “WELL WHERE ARE YOU SET, DAMN IT” and it’s like a state bloody secret. I read Erin Gough’s new book (new to the US) Get It Together, Delilah! (aka The Flywheel) and it took ages to be up front about the fact IT’S SET IN AUSTRALIA. JUST TELL ME. I WANT TO KNOW. IT’S NOT A SECRET, BANNED COUNTRY NO ONE CAN EVER SPEAK OF. I love books set in Australia because they are so rare, and it’s SO nice to hear about the country, because I would love to visit. Do you have any round-ups of Aussie fiction? POINT ME IN THE DIRECTION, PLEASE..
I also SO get you on the authors never come here thing. I live in the UK, it’s a big bloody country and London is, funnily enough, not just on my doorstep. In fact, I live miles and miles away – 267 according to Google, which is a 5 hr drive. AND YET. All the authors go to London and they think Manchester is as north as England goes – WRONG. And it peeves me every single time I see a new author’s book tour and hey, lookie, we’ve missed out the North East. It’s become so bad I don’t even eye-roll anymore because authors (or more likely publishers) literally couldn’t care less about their readers up in the North East. Here’s the thing: I work, I’m not able to just hop on a train to Manchester or Leeds at a whim to meet an author, because hello, I have to work and be an adult and make money? (It sucks, I don’t recommend it) and it just infuriates me all the time. *rages at the world*
I feel better now for getting that out.
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YES YOU GET A GOLD STAR. WELL DONE.😂 I always got so confused reading American books when they talked about driving around “trucks” because here…that’s like a huge industrial-size working-truck-vehicle and I was like “WHY ARE THEY DRIVING LIKE ROAD TRAINS AROUND TOWN WHAT IS THIS”.😂 Languages are fun.
So I think that happens (with the whole secretly-being-Australian-thing) because publishers are worried that Americans won’t like it if it’s in Australia? Or won’t “understand” it or something??? LIKE I HAVE NO IDEA. IT’S FULLY BIZARRE. AND KIND OF SAD! But it’s like Harry Potter and the Sorcerer vs Philosopher’s Stone all over again!😂 I do have a Goodreads shelf of Aussie recommendations if you’re interested! It’s right here.
Dubaiiii. Where summers are boiling and winters are also boiling. *Tears up a little*. That indeed means I can join you as you whine about your summers. I may, right? *Sweats*. Expecting authors for signings in Dubai is the equivalent of expecting winter in Dubai. (Do you see our struggles?) At least we are free of dark winter afternoons, so #Bookstagram is totally our forte. Yay! We don’t, unfortunately, get to say ‘G’day, mate!’. but we still cry over books. Book Bloggers in Dubai always cry over books. Especially is they glorify winter. *Sniff*. Maybe I’m throwing around to much winter talk. Just MAYBE.
But how are you, Cait? How was your day?
Happy reading!
Eeep, you definitely have bigger book struggles than me!! Although you’re totally missing out with not being able to say “g’day mate” because it is quite fun.😂 But omg I mean, I don’t have a really cold winter where I live BUT I STILL HAVE A BIT OF WINTER. I PITY YOUR WINTER-LESS-LIFE.
I love this post, Cait! It’s like you’re talking about me, even though I live in America (in the middle, not in the US) I’m from OTHER by the way.
I’ve read the loveliest books by Aussie author. You guys don’t speak in English, you speak in Magic!
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*hi fives for our bookworm problems* Basically anyone who doesn’t live in the USA misses out on a ton of things right?! THEY NEED TO SHARE THEIR AUTHORS MORE.😜
And omg yes I agree. We definitely speak magic.😂
Eyy Australian bloggers represent! This was highly entertaining for me to read as an Australian.
OH HELLO FELLOW AUSTRALIAN!! *waves wildly* At least we can comfort ourselves with, like, lamgingtons and petting bunyips.
1.. at least you are not parro right, sheila?
2. Pretty sure tim winton is aussie, even though he’s also famous overseas.. I think
3. a koala is writing this post now… no wait it’s outside doing a mating call
4. if you do ebooks you don’t pay shipping? plus sending things within australia is already costing arm and leg.
5. I learnt that because Australia does not allow books to be imported, they have to print the books in Australia to be able to sell. That’s why .
6. covers a different.
7. there are aussie author who are happy to give you an autograph.
8. NBN suxx
9. I get your humor..
10. I am born in Malaysia, but married an ABC born in Malaysia but bred in Adelaide. Go figure. Yes I am in Adelaide. Just to make u feel better.
11. Mattew reilly’s got a new book!
12. if you come visit me i promise no shrimp on the barbie
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Oh, #5 surprised me! I think bookstores do import books though? Because I buy international books through bookstores all the time.😳 And YES! There are great Aussie authors who do wonderful events. 🙂 All my top favourites are American authors though ahha.😂
hahaha book publishing rules are confusing I think
Okay, I just can’t focus on anything except for the fact that you have koalas and wallabies in your backyard. I know this is ridiculously American of me, but Australia’s animals are like the coolest things on the planet and I get super excited at the very thought of them! Oh, but didn’t you forget to mention the fact that Australians are upside down all the time? I mean, that’s true, right? See, I’m not just an ignorant American. I know a lot about you!
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OF COURSE HOW DID I FORGET THAT. *smacks head* We are definitely upside down, so it never rains here, because the rain would just pour out into space. *nods sagely* 😂
Haha oh my gosh, someone actually asked how come you speak English in Australia? *fail*
Ooh look my country was in the poll. It never usually is. And hey we are at 3% *waves*
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I KNOW RIGHT?!? I was like “how do I even answer this without being totally sarcastic” 😂😂
I’M SORRY YOU WEREN’T ON THE POLL!! Blame my stats! I only grabbed the top few countries from there. So clearly you need to convert more of your people to reading my blog. #sensible😂
Really enjoyed your post. We have similar ‘problems’ if blogging in New Zealand and I go mostly with the USA and UK because not a lot of book bloggers here in NZ. Although a few in Australia I follow. I like to read Australian authors – some great writers. At present I am listening to a book that has different cover and title to USA rendition. So there you go!
Oh hello NZ blogger!! I do know a few NZ bloggers but like, omg, it’s a tiny blogging circle over there, maybe?!? So I can understand your woes would be much like mine. 😜
Love this post! But I feel so bad for you to have to pay such high shipping costs 🙁
Also, is that the Netherlands you refer to as ‘Nice small European country’? XD
Greetings from the Netherlands <3
Agh yes, shipping is a weeping situation. And hehe, hello Netherlands!! I’m guessing you wouldn’t see many author events and such in your country either, right?
I am constantly liking UK covers better than the US covers. I guess I just automatically thought you got the UK covers on your books and was envying you for no reason! Ha ha.
I LOVE YOUR BACKYARD!
I don’t think I have read about any Aussie characters outside if Aussie books. Have you read The Thornbirds yet? Hmm…?
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Oooh, GREAT. We can swap publishers’ then.😂 hehe. I mean, I sometimes DO like the UK/AUS covers better…but mostly no. hehe.
AND NO I HAVEN’T READ THE THORNBIRDS.😳 Should I be looking it up in my library immediately!?
Love this post! I particularly like the conversation with the book merch. XD I’m sorry things are hard in AU. (It must be nice to have a mother country who might by chance give you scones. Usually when I talk about scones, I get funny looks and people are like “WHAT is a scone?” *headdesk* We disowned our mother country and she obliged to disown us. So now nobody knows what a scone is!)
It’s sad that it’s difficult for AU authors to take their books into the international market. It would mean more sales for them. Why does there have to be some weird rights thing?! (It’s quite unfair.) It’s strange that publishers change the covers on AU editions too. Wouldn’t that cost more to do that? Maybe it has to do with the rights thing too.
Omg you mean to tell me most Americans don’t even know what scones are??! THE HORROR. Your country threw out common sense with that tea omg, because scones are divine and fluffy and delicious especially with strawberry jam and cream and — yeah okay I’ve given myself a scone craving.😂
And I figure a lot of it is to do with international rights and stuff, with the book distribution?? IT’S SO ANNOYING. 🙁
I’M FROM SOUTH AFRICA.
*feeling excluded from the poll* *sigh*
But seriously, EVERYTHING you mentioned, just replace Australia with South Africa and this post describes my life perfectly…except the Koalas and the wifi (my wifi is pretty good).
Your backyard is 100% better than mine and your accent is probably a million times better – OMG.
CAIT.
You have an Aussie accent (so cool). I don’t know how I ONLY JUST realised this but in my head, even though I know you’re Australian you have an American accent. #Sorry
I’m also so used to translating so much of what I say and not talking about the weather and just letting people believe that I have lions or other wild animals in my backyard because hello, this is AFRICA.
And the language thing? I totally get it…although, I do know three languages. #ThankYouSouthAfricaAndYourManyCultures
Lovely post as always! So great reading about your Australian-ness.
of you??? OH AND LASTLY: do you prefer AUS vs US covers more?
I’M SORRY KAT. But clearly you need to get more of your country to read my splendid blog, because I just picked the top countries form my stats.😱 and basically these are just international bookworm problems, right?! Anyone who isn’t in America basically suffers most of them, hah. *weeps*
SHAME ON THEE GIVING ME A MENTAL-AMERICAN-ACCENT. I am most decidedly Australian.😂 Although I don’t have that thick kind of accent you see in the movies. Mine is pretty lowkey.
And sometimes it’s more fun to watch people struggle, right? Like sure you have lions in your backyard and I ride kangaroos instead of driving cars. It is how it is. *shrugs* Let’s watch the Americans suffer. (ZOMG THOUGH I ADMIRE YOU KNOWING SO MANY LANGUAGES YOU ARE THE SMARTEST BERRY.)
(I actually *coughs awkwardly* usually prefer the US covers…*stands quietly while own country smites me*)
I think I got introduced to Aussie books with Melina Marchetta which led to Elizabeth Knox and then…. yeah I couldn’t find many more Aussie books over here. But my sister is desperate to get a copy of Gorgon of the Gully and she can’t get it here in the US because it’s out of print and no one will ship to the US. So, if I am ever a wildly popular author I will TOTALLY tour all over Australia! To meet you in person. …And Melina Marchetta again (she came to Comic Con one year and it was awesome). …And get a copy of Gorgon of the Gully because if I didn’t my sister might disown me. oh wait, she’d just come on tour with me so we’re good.
Also, Amie Kaufman probably my second favorite Australian author. And you guys have Chris Hemsworth too. You have all the good stuff 😉
MELINA MARCHETTA IS AMAZING!! I love Finnikin of the Rock so much I cannot even. *flails* And I actually haven’t heard of Gorgon of the Gully!? I should look it up.😂 And yesss, we have the amazing authors. Jay Kristoff and Markus Zusak too!
(okay, i know i’m sooooo late to commenting but i related SO MUCH to this post, so i had to comment.)
look, do you know where i’m from? MOROCCO. people actually THINK this country means MARRAKESH and COUSCOUS and DESERT and CAMELS. *rolls eyes* honestly this is so wrong. okay, marrakesh is beautiful (i go there pretty often, most of my family lives there), it’s the 3rd most visited city in the world. but WE DON’T EVEN EAT COUSCOUS THAT OFTEN ANYMORE. and the desert? it’s only in south gosh. we aren’t some kind of nomads with camels and tents. my GOD.
as for books, we probably get them 235449 years after they’re released. and STILL. we only get them if they get translated to french or arabic. and we only get the translated version. there was a local online bookstore, and even though it takes LITTERALLY SIX WEEKS for shipping, i was still getting the books. so that was okay. BUT THEN, because we’re so lucky, that stores started increasing the prices of books to a point where I CAN’T GET THEM. *SCREAMS* *SHUT DOORS* *SUMMONS HADES*
now i don’t know if Book Depository ships to morocco? because in the “help” section it’s not mentioned, but in the check-out when you select morocco, they say FREE SHIPPING? i don’t know? HELP?!
AND YES. i agree with you: US COVERS ARE SOOOOOO MUCH BETTER THAT UK/AUS ONES. like…why can’t you just keep the same cover? i don’t understand?
okay okay, enough of my rambling, i really loved and related to this post. it was amazing.<3
OKAY SO MY LIFE IS NOT HARD COMPARED TO YOURS AT ALL.😂😂 *gives you Australian lamingtons so we can whinge together and have a nice picnic* I think the problem is geography and culture isn’t taught enough in schools right?!? Especially these Americans. They don’t seem to know much about any country outside America.😂 OKAY WE STIL LOVE ‘EM. Mostly. hehe.
Omg I don’t know about TBD. I guess try to order a book and see if the shipping cost comes up in the cost? So don’t like BUY the book…just wait till it shows you the final order summary and then you’ll see if they’re charging for shipping or not. I do that a lot because I never know if a place ships to Australia or not..or if I’m paying like $13 for a book and $948930 for postage. *dies*
WHY CAN’T EVERYONE HAVE THE SAME COVER. THIS IS THE REAL QUESTION.
I’m glad you liked the post eeep! Thanks, Maha!!
my sister was over in japan and she meet some europeans who were going to travel to australia in weeks to come. Ah, the amount of lies she told. I love the fact that as a nation we are all united in the sense we will never let other countries in on some of our secrets
IT’S TRUE. It’s like an unspoken pact for all Australians to tell lies to everyone else.😂😂
Im kiwi but i feel like if NZers or Australians are mentioned in books we’re always drunk backpackers in London mentioned once that has no relevance to the rest of the story. Also we are interchangable. Like in Me Before You the nurse was a Kiwi, but they cast Braxton from Home and Away in that role haha close enough mate.
It’s so true right?!?? And generally the comedic relief. Which I mean can be okay, but when are we going to get substantive rolls in everyday books!!
I KNOW I’M FREAKING LATE, BUT I KNOW YOUR FEELINGS MATE!
I’m in Vietnam, and everything just waits until I pull out my purse, so they can HAVE ALL OF THAT SALARY I EARN WITH MY OWN SWEAT!
Especially when I wanna get books! Like, bookstores proudly say “International Shipping”, and then BOOM! – YOUR COUNTRY IS IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE AND WE CAN’T SEE YOU ON THE MAP SO NOPE, WE AIN’T SHIPPING TO YOU. LIKE WHAAAAAAAAAAAAT
And there are other bookstores that:
Books: Look, I only cost 10$
Me: Cool, I wanna have you on my shelf!
Bookstore; Also shipping is 50$, and the more books you put into cart, the higher the shipping fee is!
ME: *LOTSOFCURSINGTHATSHOULDN’TBECENSOREDWHATSOEVER*
I once asked a local agent about the full price of getting TLC including shipping from US, and they said it’s 150$. I WAS LIKE, DUDE, I CAN FREAKING ORDER MYSELF FROM AMAZON AND IT WON’T COST ME MORE THAN 80$ INCLUDING SHIPPING!!!
My current fury is that I wanna order the whole paperback set of ADSOF series, but then boom! Amazon doesn’t have ACOL in stock, you have to buy from third-party seller. And then BOOM! – Sorry, we ain’t shipping to your nameless country! WHAT HAVE WE DONE TO BE TORTURED LIKE THIS.
Looks like I also need to write a similar post about Vietnamese book bloggers! But it seems like I’m the lone warrior in this blogosphere! T_T
To be a book blogger from anywhere else but US/UK/Europe is such a PAIN!
THAT. WAS. BRILLIANT.
I was laughing so much at this blog post. Beautiful.
I was actually eating a lamington as I read this.
I’m a crazy Aussie bookworm and writer too, actually.
Just wait a sec. Drop bears again…
“Oi! Watch it, mate! No! Don’t you dare fall on that car! Don’t need another dent on the boot!”
*ahem* Anyway, that was a great read. Still, you were far too kind putting so much truth in there.
Honestly, you’ll have the coppers after ya if you’re not careful. Don’t wanna be giving the foreigners to much info.
Have a nice day!
too*
DAMMIT
Whoops. Sorry, mate. Forgot to answer the questions.
*ahem*
1. I’m from Straya. Not Australia. Not Austria. S T R A Y A.
2. It’s very rare for me to see Aussie characters in fiction outside of Aussie lit. HOWEVER, THERE WAS THIS ONE COMPANION ON DOCTOR WHO (Old Who) AGES AGO.
3. Unfortunately, yes, your backyard is cooler than mine. We’ve got the drop bears. We’ve got the annoying kookaburras, minor birds, lorikeets, magpies, plubbers (don’t even get me started on these during swooping season. *shudders*)…. But no wallabies. Our friends up in Crow’s Nest have wallabies though.
4. Uh. No. I AM the sarcastic one making fun of everyone. XD
5. US covers are so much better than ours. :'(
Now, must be off. The bell’s gonna ring for school soon.