Category Archives for "Reading"

Top Reads of 2020 To Help While Under Lockdown

Read a Book

Here at the Author Academy Bookstore we are pleased to share with you the top reads of 2020 as selected by our readers.


Unveiled
By J.B May

More than four centuries have passed since the fae drew a line in the sand. The Seelie and Unseelie have managed to uphold the treaty but an ancient prophecy threatens to break the fragile alliance.


Hidden in the shadows on the fringe of humanity Seth has lived more than one lifetime shrouded in darkness. A willing participant in iniquity he has everything he could ever have wanted. Bloodlust and depravity comforts his immortal existence and he answers to no one, but one girl is going to challenge everything he thought he knew…


Adaline Thomas has lived an uneventful human life, at seventeen the unthinkable happens and she loses the only parent she has ever known. If only her crippling grief was her sole concern. With her mother dead, the cloaking spell has been broken and the secrets of Adaline’s past are coming back to haunt her. Thrust into a mysterious world of magic, monarchs and murder, will she be strong enough to embrace the life she’s destined for or the monsters who live within it?


The future of the fae hangs in the balance, there will be losses and betrayals, can a forbidden love save them both?


Riding the Rainbow
By Jennifer Navin

My story of Danica’s six years of life is based purely on our personal experiences and in no way reflect the experiences of other persons.


In reflection, I hope that this book will help those families of newly diagnosed children who have a disability. Your world will feel as though it has collapsed and will wonder; Why me? Why us? Is it worth it?


Believe me, it is worth it and then some. The journey does take time, love and a lot of patience to make it through each day but with the dawn there is always a new day.


Gerome the Great!
By Joesy Knibbs

When it comes to playing Rugby League, Gerome is a great team member. He is tough and ready to tackle. He plays the game showing his sportsmanship and courage. Learning to be fair at all times. It is important for Gerome and his teammates to play the game with fairness while encouraging other teams to do the same.

It is game day! Gerome and his teammates are looking forward to play their game of Rugby league. Gerome’s running, tackling and kicking skills demonstrate how tough he really is. Come and have fun with Gerome and his teammates.


My Poetic Journey
By Sonia Young

Be inspired by first time writer Sonia Young as she takes you through her inspirational journey of grief, love and humor.

In the beginning her pain and grief can be felt in the poems “My Son Alistair James Young” and “It’s the first ANZAC day”. Poems written about the loss of her first born baby and her father.

By the end of the book your spirits will be uplifted and a smile will emerge.

Reading these poems, hopefully you can relate to the poet and be inspired to let your emotions flow as she has done through her writings.


Hidden Treasures
By Sonia Young

Come on a playful day out as two children go on a hunt to find the hidden treasures that God has placed inside of them.

They could be from the heart - love kindness and respect or from the mind - learning how to play cricket or dancing.

When they find them, they have fun sharing them with somebody new, helping them to see that they too have hidden treasures in them that they can discover.


A North Shore Buddhist
By Millie Jackson

Jacquie knows all about challenges. The young country girl living in the 'red brick house' in the far west of NSW, turns away from the notion that God will fix everything. She then moves on to boys as her next possible fix.

After a devastating loss, as a young adult she moves to Sydney or 'the big smoke' as her father calls it. She develops a passion for money and men, whilst a spiritual quest for the meaning of life sits in the back of her mind occasionally making its presence known.

The right guy seems to be an illusion, as she battles through relationships and life altering traumas. Her friends and family together with her irrepressible sense of humour, keep her moving forward, even amongst the darkness threatening to unravel her world.

Walk with Jacquie as she experiences a myriad of emotions, from the joyous heights of happiness to the depths of sadness testing her will to battle on.

Why not grab one or all of these top reads for 2020 and relax with an enjoyable read, especially in these uncertain times it’s important to keep positive and treat yourself.

For more information about our online bookstore and other great reads, visit https://www.authoracademybookstore.com.au

If you are an author looking for a way to get you and your book marketed whilst making good returns on your sales then why not list your book with us? Check it out here!

The Benefits of Reading a Good Book

The benefits of reading a good book

Have you ever wondered why so many people read books? There are a significant number of benefits for reading a good book. These benefits range from improving your mental and physical health, to creating good healthy habits. Books have been around for so many years and they are not about to go away (thankfully).

Let’s take a look at the benefits of reading where you will definitely be inspired to pick up a book and start reading:

  1. Mental Stimulation and Brain Exercising

There have been countless studies done around this and it has shown that by staying mentally stimulated it can slow down the progress of (or maybe even prevent) Alzheimer’s and Dementia, the reason for this is that if you keep your brain active and engaged it prevents you from losing power.

Your brain, like any other muscle in your body requires exercise to keep it strong and healthy. As the saying goes “use it or lose it” is especially relevant when it comes to your mind.

  1. Knowledge

When you read a book, you are learning new pieces of information that your brain retains and you never know when this one piece of information will become handy! Knowledge can never be taken away from you.

Each time you read a book you will come across a word that you may have not heard of or perhaps you don’t quite understand what it means. Always keep a dictionary handy to look these words up. This will help your vocabulary expand over time, these words that you learn will begin to integrate themselves into your everyday vocabulary.

  1. Expanding your Vocabulary

The one way you can do this is by reading more, it will expose you to new words and these new words will end up in your everyday vocabulary. Being articulate and well-spoken is very helpful in any profession, and it will boost your confidence and self-esteem.

  1. Helpful for Depression and Dysthymia

Reading helps to lower your stress levels which also stimulates the part of your brain that deals with depression. By reading, you are actually focusing on the present story and not on the things that cause you to be depressed.

  1. Strengthens your Writing Ability

People that write understand how important it is to read. No matter what kind of writing you do, doing lots of reading will improve your writing skills and abilities. Many writers are big readers, when you concentrate on the way a book is written, you can take on these styles which will improve your writing skills.

  1. Sleep Boosting

Reading is a great way to help you have a good night’s sleep. You may not fall asleep instantly, however, it will improve your overall sleep pattern and restfulness. Reading is a great way to relax and unwind. Reading at the end of your day is a great way to relax and ensure that you will get a good night’s sleep. It will help you to de-stress from all the things that happened to you during the day, allowing for you to completely unwind and help you have a restful sleep.

  1. Improve your Memory and Focus

Reading a little bit each day will improve your focus and memory function. It allows you to stimulate your brain, especially the part of your brain that helps with memory and attention. When you are reading, your brain retains information about what you are reading about. This means that the part of your brain that controls your memory is being stimulated which results in improved memory.

Your focus improves because it is strengthened when you read as it requires focus. Each time to exercise this part of your brain you are improving the overall function of your memory and focus.

  1. Relieve Tension and Lower your Stress

As we know, reading can be a way to entertain yourself, however, it is also very good to help you lower your stress levels. The reason this happens is because you are focusing on the story and not what is going on around you. It immediately pulls you into another world and new characters. You are allowing yourself to be taken into their story where you can stop, breathe and relax. Reading will lower your stress levels and make you feel much better mentally as well as physically.

  1. Increase your Imagination and Empathy

Your imagination is a very powerful tool that can be helpful in all aspects of life. Having a good imagination allows us to be more empathetic to people. Reading often will increase your imagination, because when we get lost in a good book our imagination is stimulated by seeing all the places and people in the book just by reading the words.

  1. Broaden your Mind

Reading about different cultures will allow you to see how others live and differ from how you live. Books allow you to see life from a completely different perspective. Books can also give great ideas, and they are very educational on so many different levels.

The benefits of reading a good book is not just entertaining, it is also beneficial both mentally and physically. Reading is a tool towards a healthy lifestyle, so what are you waiting for?

What are you reading currently and how is it of benefit to you?

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