We Who Are Forged In Fire has been shortlisted for the British Science Fiction Association Awards in the Best Fiction for Younger Readers category! As mentioned in earlier posts, I am a huge sci fi & fantasy nerd, so to be nominated for this award is really exciting.
We Who Are Forged In Fire is sitting alongside some wonderful company – click here for the full shortlist of all categories.
Thank you so much to everyone who nominated and voted!
It’s here! We Who Are Forged In Fire, the sequel to We Who Hunt The Hollow, is out today.
It really doesn’t feel that long ago I was celebrating the launch of We Who Hunt The Hollow, and now here we are: book two is out, and the duology is complete. I’m officially the author of TWO whole books, wow.
Book two picks up where book one left off. Priscilla is embarking on her monster-hunter apprenticeship with her mentor — leaving the comfort of home, struggling to control her wild superpower, trying to find time to see her girlfriend… and dealing with the Renegades. There are more monsters, more battles, a fancy ball, bad dreams that might be coming true… and an ex-boyfriend with A Plan. I’m so excited for you to read it!
If you loved We Who Are Forged In Fire, let me know or leave a review here. And if you see it out in the wild in your local bookseller, feel free to tag me in photos too! I love that stuff.
Masses of thank yous to the luffly team at Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing, my amaze team of critique partners & beta readers, fellow writers, my friends and family, and all you wonderful readers out there.
We Who Hunt The Hollow has been shortlisted for the Aurealis Award for best young adult novel! The Aurealis Awards are Australia’s premier speculative fiction awards. As I am a massive sci fi and fantasy nerd, I am absolutely thrilled to be nominated.
We Who Hunt The Hollow is sitting alongside some of my favourite reads of the last year too – click here for the full shortlist.
Thank you so much to the judges and congrats to all shortlisted authors!
We Who Hunt The Hollow has popped up on the Notables list for the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Book of the Year award for older readers! The Notables are the longlisting for the awards, which are announced later in the year. We Who Hunt The Hollow is in some great company with many wonderful books I’ve enjoyed reading in the last year. Congratulations to all the longlisted authors, and thank you to the CBCA!
Established with the first awards in 1946, the annual CBCA Book of the Year Awards aim to:
For the full list of Notables across all categories, please see the CBCA website
We Who Hunt The Hollow has won the 2023 Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Young Adults! I’m blown away. It is a huge honour, and I’m so very grateful.
The Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards were inaugurated by the Victorian Government in 1985 to honour literary achievement by Australian writers. The awards are administered by the Wheeler Centre on behalf of the Premier of Victoria.
A big congrats to all the authors, and a big thank you to the Premier, the Wheeler Centre, Creative Victoria, Melbourne City of Literature, and the judges.
This is a big-hearted portrayal of a fantastical future-Melbourne where monsters from another universe pour in through cracks in our world. Priscilla comes from a powerful matriarchal family, destined to protect the world from the Hollow, though her own power may put those she loves in danger. Murray deftly weaves in real-life teen concerns while crafting an expansive world that is wholly believable and thrilling. At the heart of this story is a diverse and complex family driven by loyalty and love, set against the backdrop of a struggle for power as the old monster hunters are challenged by rebellion.
The full list of winners, shortlisted and highly commended works can be found here.
Read more:
Watch the award ceremony hosted by The Wheeler Centre (including my speech!)
Creative Victoria article about the 2023 awards
ABC article about the 2023 awards
Thrilled to share the news that We Who Hunt The Hollow has been shortlisted in the 2023 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards. It’s an absolute honour to be on this list alongside some truly fabulous books!
The Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards were inaugurated by the Victorian Government in 1985 to honour literary achievement by Australian writers. The awards are administered by the Wheeler Centre on behalf of the Premier of Victoria.
We Who Hunt The Hollow has been shortlisted in the Young Adult category, along with The Tree of Ecstasy and Unbearable Sadness by Matt Ottley, and Where You Left Us by Rhiannon Wilde.
This is a big-hearted portrayal of a fantastical future-Melbourne where monsters from another universe pour in through cracks in our world. Priscilla comes from a powerful matriarchal family, destined to protect the world from the Hollow, though her own power may put those she loves in danger. Murray deftly weaves in real-life teen concerns while crafting an expansive world that is wholly believable and thrilling. At the heart of this story is a diverse and complex family driven by loyalty and love, set against the backdrop of a struggle for power as the old monster hunters are challenged by rebellion.
The full shortlist and highly commended works can be found here.
Big congrats to all the authors, and a big thank you to the judges, the Wheeler Centre, Creative Victoria, and Melbourne City of Literature.
I’m so excited to share that We Who Hunt The Hollow is on The Readings Young Adult Prize shortlist for 2022, alongside these amazing books. It’s such an honour to be included with this talent! The six shortlisted titles are:
Read more about all the books (and pick up the complete bundle) at Readings.
Thank you to Readings Books and congratulations to the shortlisted authors!
Fleeing the final days of the generations-long war with the alien Felen, smuggler Jereth Keeven’s freighter the Jonah breaks down in a strange rift in deep space, with little chance of rescue—until they encounter the research vessel Gallion, which claims to be from 152 years in the future.
The Gallion’s chief engineer Uma Ozakka has always been fascinated with the past, especially the tale of the Fortunate Five, who ended the war with the Felen. When the Gallion rescues a run-down junk freighter, Ozakka is shocked to recognize the Five’s legendary ship—and the Five’s famed leader, Eldric Leesongronski, among the crew.
But nothing else about Leesongronski and his crewmates seems to match up with the historical record. With their ships running out of power in the rift, more than the lives of both crews may be at stake.
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My worrrrd, I love this book so much. Accidental time travel, a twisty plot which had me going OMG REN YOU MASTERMIND as all its pieces fell together, and best of all, a wonderful cast of characters who grabbed my heart and still haven’t let go. I dare you to try and pick a favourite because I sure can’t, although Jereth is coughing *v loudly* at me right now but that’s only because he’s trying to distract me from Leeg.
I may have cried (every time) I finished this book.
Ren is one of my critique partners and I feel so lucky that I got to see this story evolve into the very amazing book it is today. A clever, intricate space opera full of mystery and hope and heart, Under Fortunate Stars will appeal to sci fi diehards and newbies alike. It’s pacy, it’s thoughtful, it’s compelling. Highly recommended!
More about Under Fortunate Stars:
It’s April, which means We Who Hunt The Hollow is now officially out in the world! There she goes, my little book baby – she’s all yours now!
“Priscilla is a young monster hunter desperate to live up to her family legacy. But when a secret ritual to enhance her superpowers goes wrong, she might have to save everyone not just from the monsters but also from herself…”
If you love it, let me know, or leave a review in the usual places. I will also never not be stoked to receive a snap of it out in the wild, like on the shelf at your local bookseller!
Last week, we had the launch celebration, and it was so amazing. It certainly made everything feel very real – woah my debut book is actually out?! and now also, woah I talked about it on a stage and answered questions and signed copies!? The evening absolutely flew past, and I’m so thankful for everyone who came along to help cheer on this little book baby of mine, who chuckled when I made semi-funny comments (honestly, phew), and bought a copy and had a chat!
A wonderful local bookshop The Little Bookroom (oldest childrens bookshop in the world!) and Yarra Libraries were our hosts, with the lovely Sarah Robinson-Hatch (from The Little Bookroom & The YA Room) as interviewer.
Good luck & bon voyage, We Who Hunt The Hollow!
I’m so happy to announce that I will be appearing in this year’s line up for the Sydney Writer’s Festival! What a pinch-me moment. I’ll be appearing with legends Amie Kaufman and Malla Nunn during All Day YA on Saturday, May 21st, chatting to Maya Le Her about our strong teen characters!
History would have us believe that masculinity and strength are entwined, while femininity is inherently weak. Three authors whose work celebrates the dynamic fierceness of teenage girls come together to discuss their books’ protagonists and their differing depictions of courage. From finding power in friendship and family to the steel that is found within, Amie Kaufman (Aurora’s End), Kate Murray (We Who Hunt the Hollow) and Malla Nunn (Sugar Town Queens) join Sydney Writers’ Festival Youth Curator Maya Le Her to delve into the characters redefining strength for this generation of readers.
