YB's Nicholas at Sydney's Comic-Con

Our staff have always been fans of Pop Culture. There's great excitement whenever Supanova and Comic-Con is in town, with several staff requests to get the weekend off.

One of our Rhodes staff, Nicholas spent Saturday morning (September 19th) at the AIE's (Academy of Interactive Entertainment) stand where he's currently a second year student. After a fun morning green-screening participants, he spent the rest of the afternoon exploring other exhibitions at Comic-Con,

The following is a visual diary of his day and the new friends he met along the way...

Shaynna Blaze @ Rhodes Waterside

On Saturday, August 1st, award wining Interior designer and co-presenter of Selling Houses Australia and The Block, Shaynna Blaze, visited Rhodes Waterside for styling sessions, followed by meet and greet.

Your Bookshop was there with copies of Shaynna's books for sale and signing.

The following are some of the highlights of the two hour session with thanks to Rhodes Waterside.

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Sydney Writers' Festival 2015 - Banafsheh Serov

Sydney Writers' Festival

I love writers' festivals. It's the coming together of like-minded people; a chance for writers - a solitary profession - to meet readers and others in the publishing world. 

SWF - Walsh Bay

Sydney Writers' Festival is no different. With an array of authors and events, the hardest part is deciding which event to go to. More than once this year, I wished I owned Hermione's Time Turner (or Dr Who's Tardis), so I could attend simultaneous talks.

For me, the Writers' Festival have the additional bonus of adding to my collection of 'signed copy' books. There's something magical in meeting the authors of books I've read and loved, and having them sign my copy. The highlight this year was meeting, David Mitchell (the author, not the comedian) whose latest book, The Bone Clocks, was one of my faves of 2014.

Meeting David Mitchell - SWF 2015

Your Bookshop has always been committed to bringing authors and readers together, whether at our monthly library talks, school events, or our conferences or Expos. 2015 was no exception. This year we were asked to be the booksellers for the combined Random House and Sydney Writers' Festival "James Patterson Live" school event. Best-selling author James Patterson took the stage with Aussie compatriots Tristan Bancks and Martin Chatterton at Parramatta's Riverside Theater. 

It was wonderful seeing the kids enjoy the interactive event. Afterwards, everyone had the chance to meet the authors and have their books signed.

Your Bookshop's stand at "James Patterson Live" school event,
Parramatta Riverside Theatre

Middle School books

Fans meeting Tristan Bancks

School kids meeting Martin Chatterton

Our second event with Sydney Writers' Festival was with author David Hill at Ryde Library.
Over 100 people gathered to hear David's fascinating talk on his book, The Making of Australia.

Setting up for David Hill's event at Ryde Library

David Hill on The Making of Australia

Full house at Ryde Library - SWF 2015                                                              

Our final event was another kids' one, this time with Oliver Phommevanh. Oliver wowed the children at Sydney's Haymarket Library with his workshop, "How to Write Funny Stuff". The kids got first-hand experience on writing funny stories and finding comedy in any situation.

All in all, 2015 Sydney Writers' Festival was the best one yet, with record ticket sales and attendance. I'm already impatient for next year's lineup.

Happy reading,

Banafsheh Serov