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All About Australian Women’s Fiction
Curious about what you can expect from Australian Women's Fiction? Well, look no further because this blog post is just what you need to learn all about Australian Women's Fiction. Read on to find out more. Is Australian women’s fiction written by Australian women or about Australian women? Some Aussie Women's Fiction authors Australian Women's Fiction is written about Australian women, but it does not necessarily have to be written BY an Australian woman. Though it would hel
Marley Betts
May 272 min read


Help For a Burnt-Out Mum (in a fiction book)
Parenting is hard. You know that feeling you get when you’re thinking, ‘I just can’t do this anymore,’ but you know you’ve got no choice, so you feel stuck, overwhelmed, broken, and helpless? I’ve been there… and I’ve written about it. Do you ever feel like this? It’s Not Just You Let me say it again: Parenting IS hard. Such a big part of the lowest moments of parenthood is when you feel alone. When you feel like the situation and the feelings are unique, just for you, someth
Marley Betts
May 147 min read


Celebrating 100 Blog Posts! A Place For Creative Bookish People Desiring Connection
Welcome to my 100th blog post! To celebrate, let's dive into some of the juicy content I've created in the last 100 posts over the last three years, and find out what people have (and haven't) enjoyed. Over the last 365 days Blog Views: 1,838 Most popular day: Thursday March 12th 2026 - 51 blog views Most Popular Blog: Traditional and Self-Published Author Incomes - Only 10% of Authors Can Make a Living Over Blog Lifetime Blog Start Date: March 27th 2023. My blog has just had
Marley Betts
May 93 min read


What Makes a Book Emotionally Rich?
I recently updated my bio to say: 'Marley writes emotionally rich women's fiction books about dysfunctional families and personal growth'. "Cool," you say, "What the heck does 'emotionally rich' mean?" Good question! Let's find out... Okay, yes, I confess... The term 'emotionally rich' is just book jargon, but it does create some expectations about a book. If a book cover says that it's 'packed with adventure,' then you're going to expect an exciting journey; If it says that
Marley Betts
May 42 min read


Being an Indie Author Stallholder at Clunes Booktown Festival
My second stallholding experience was at Clunes Booktown Festival last weekend. Discover how it was for me as an indie author stallholder, look at the pros and cons, and contrast it with my first stallholding experience at a small, local farmer's market. Just one of the many marquees at Clunes Booktown (just before opening time) Clunes Booktown is a festival just for bibliophiles; It is ALL books. Hundreds of trestle tables set up in large marquees all the way down the main
Marley Betts
Mar 2310 min read


Rapid Release Books: What is it and Why it Could be the Key to Self-Publishing Success
Ask 10 different people, "What is the key to self-publishing success?" and you're likely to get a few different suggestions, but I assure you that rapid release will be at least one of those suggestions. Rapid release is not a guaranteed success strategy, but it could help. Let's discuss what it is and how it works. This is me rapidly releasing books (in case you were wondering) What is rapid release? Rapid release is when an author releases their books quickly, one after ano
Marley Betts
Feb 254 min read


Death is Not Taboo: Talking and Reading About Death
I went to a funeral the other day, so allow me to get dark for a few minutes. Let's spend some time thinking, talking, and reading about death... I love you, but you’re going to die, and so am I. Yep Western culture wants us to preface that by saying “but not for a long time yet,” or “we don’t need to worry about that”. I'm not worried, and I don’t know when and that’s okay ... but death is still coming for us. I’m not being morbid or tactless, I’m being real. Death is uncomf
Marley Betts
Feb 173 min read


How to Become a Bookish Billionaire: 12 Get Rich Ideas for BookLovers
Do you love books and money? Want to find a way to combine your two loves so you can get rich while being bookish? I've got you covered. Read on for your chance to become a bookish billionaire! This could be you! 12 Get Rich Ideas for Booklovers Rent yourself out as a Bedtime Story Reader for exhausted parents that have nothing left to give at their kids' bedtime (or adults who need a little help falling asleep). Sell subscriptions to a book streaming service on the televis
Marley Betts
Feb 52 min read


How to Find Books I Will Like
Reading not your thing? Or perhaps you feel as if you've been picking lots of duds lately? Here's a blog post just for you! A foolproof guide on how to find books that you will love to read. It's worth persisting to find books you love Let's get straight to it. To find a book that you will enjoy, you will need to answer the following questions: What interests you? Do you love crystals? Animals? Are you interested in cars or the latest research on Alzheimer's treatments? Fill
Marley Betts
Jan 194 min read


Anne of Green Gables: A Book Review
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery was one of my 5-star reads of 2025. Here's why. Miss 13 in my Anniest Anne hat 👒 My first time reading Anne of Green Gables was in 2025 as a 41-year-old woman, reading aloud a little each night to my 13-year-old daughter. We've done this before with Harry Potter, The Thirteenth Home of Noah Bradley, and the Wundersmith Series by Jessica Townsend, but Anne of Green Gables has been my favourite so far. We both enjoyed this book so muc
Marley Betts
Jan 73 min read


21 of the Best Places to Read a Book
Sick of reading in bed or on the couch? I've got your back! Check out this blog post for 21 of the best places to read a book without a bed or couch in sight. Turn your reading into a fun mental and physical challenge ONE: In a car or on public transport This fills in time and helps you avoid eye contact and conversation. Don't do this if you're the one driving though (Sorry to all you train drivers out there; Eyes on the tracks). TWO: On a treadmill Many of us have tried t
Marley Betts
Dec 17, 20253 min read


Marley's Top 10 Books for 2025
The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth Can you believe that the year is nearly over? Although I'll probably squish a few more books in before the end of the year, find out what I have read so far and what I chose as my Top 10 Books for 2025 . At the end of 2024, I set myself the goal of reading 50 books in 2025. Assuming I don't manage to read 8 books in December (which is highly unlikely), I will not meet this goal. I read 42 books in 2025. That being said, I have spent a lot of ti
Marley Betts
Dec 13, 20254 min read


How to Turn Your Child into a Reader
Would you like your child to read more (or anything)? Surely there are ways to turn your book-averse wee one into a happy little super reader, right? Fear not! Read on for the ultimate list of ways to turn your child into a reader. Abracadabra! Reader now may you be… Abracadabra! - How to turn your child into a reader: I was initially going to say that there are no magic words you can say to turn your child into a reader, but there are. Here are some ways you can get these ma
Marley Betts
Dec 1, 20253 min read


Group free book promotions: What are they & why do indie authors participate in them?
Want to read an 89-page novella called The Silver Maid for FREE? Learn how you can read books for free through group free book promotions and discuss why indie authors participate in them.
Marley Betts
Nov 29, 20253 min read


What to expect from a book club
If you love to read, then book clubs are a great way to mingle with like-minded people and maximise your bookish enjoyment. If you're a bit nervous about showing up because you're unsure what to expect, then this blog is here to help you prepare and step confidently into book club life! Do you have questions about book clubs? Cost, commitment, preparation, time, focus, structure. What if I don't finish reading the book? Will I have to cook and entertain? Will the conversation
Marley Betts
Nov 24, 20257 min read


Discussing Laurie Gilmore's - Dream Harbor Series
How often do you pick up a book and think to yourself, " I'll just read 1 chapter, then I will go to sleep. " Before you know it, it's 3 hours later, and my goodness, how am I going to get up for work in the morning?! This is my life at the moment as I read Laurie Gilmore's Dream Harbor Series. Laurie Gilmore's Dream Harbor Series Book 1 We start at The Pumpkin Spice Cafe Jeanie was a city girl with a boring desk job until her Aunt gifted her the beloved Pumpkin Spice Cafe. T
Renee
Nov 18, 20253 min read


Fiction about Motherhood and identity
Some women dread motherhood while others feel it is their life's purpose. Some women love it... until they don't. Some women love it most days. Some women endure it. Some women share it. Some women lose it. Everybody's experiences of motherhood are different, and whether good, bad, or somewhere in between, those experiences are valid . Me and my best friends <3 No matter where you sit on the scale, as a mother, there are always going to be times when you feel like you have l
Marley Betts
Nov 11, 20253 min read


When to Stop Reading a Book (and HOW to Dispose of it)
How do we know when to stop reading a book? And when should you rehome or dispose of it? Let's explore our options —how to know when and which to select. Should I keep reading? It can sometimes be hard to know whether a book is worth your time and effort. If you keep reading, maybe it will tell you something amazing and change your life. If you stop, you might miss out on that life-changing moment! Or, perhaps it's the coolest book right now and you really want to fit in with
Marley Betts
Nov 8, 20253 min read


Other Than Mother: Relatable Family Life Fiction about motherhood, loss of identity, and the overwhelmingly suffocating moments
Motherhood is not all bedtime stories, bear hugs, picking flowers, and drawings on the fridge, right? It's freaking hard. Sometimes overwhelmingly, suffocatingly, identity-shatteringly, soul-destroyingly HARD . If you can relate and want to feel seen, then Other Than Mother is the book for you. Searching for relatable family life fiction about motherhood? This book is it. Becky Tenneree is a burned-out mother of four who needs to get some time away from the suffocating a
Marley Betts
Nov 1, 20252 min read


Why We Love To Read About Imperfect Families
Why is reading about imperfect families so appealing? What is it that makes us want to read about other family's troubles and misfortunes? Really. Some might say that people like to read about those wh o are worse off than they are because it makes them feel better. Then they can say, " At leas t I'm not like that ," and feel better about themselves. It is COMFORTING . Now, I agree that it is comforting to read about imperfect families, but it should definitely NOT be becaus
Marley Betts
Oct 28, 20253 min read
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