News & Events

Event: Women Write History
on 23rd March, 2024

I am thrilled to be taking part in the 2024 Women Write History event at Eltham Library, Melbourne. Details below.

Event Date:  23 March 2024
Author / Presenters: Alison Goodman, Robyn Cadwallader, Leah Kaminsky, Christine Bell, Marion Taffe, Wendy J. Dunn, Keren Heenan.
Ticket Price: Free but bookings essential: Call Cathy Hart, Coordinator 03 9439 9266

Event link: https://cityofliterature.com.au/explore/libraries/women-write-history/

Eltham Library proudly presents its annual Women Write History on Saturday 23rd of March. Perfect for fans of historical fiction, book lovers and writers alike, this all-day event includes four panels when award-winning authors will discuss the art of writing and telling stories. There is even a short story workshop with award-winning writer Keren Heenan. This writing workshop is limited to only 10 participants, so hurry!

Amazon Editor’s Best Books of 2023

18th, November, 2023.

Hold on to your bonnets! The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies is an Amazon Editor’s Best Books of 2023 in the Continuing Mystery and Suspense Series category. Huzzah!

Not only that, it also appeared on the Washington Post’s Best Mystery Books of 2023. Double Huzzah!

Fabulous review in Jane Austen’s Regency World magazine (UK)
4th November, 2023

‘Mysteries with Histories’ Sisters In Crime Event – 13th October in South Melbourne

2nd October, 2023

I’m looking forward to chatting about all things mystery and history history with Nilima Rao, Margaret Hickey and host Dr Kelly Gardiner at this fab Sisters in Crime event at the Rising Sun Hotel on Friday 13th October in South Melbourne. Starts at 7.30pm and bookings can be made at https://sistersincrime.org.au/event/killing-time-mysteries-with-history/ Books will be sold at the event and I will be very happy to sign!

The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies longlisted for the ARA Historical Novel Award!
14th September, 2023

The Historical Novel Society Australasia has announced the Longlists for the 2023 ARA Historical Novel Prize. I am beyond thrilled to announce that my historical novel, The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies, is on the Adult Category longlist. Huzzah!

Worth $100,000 in prize monies, the ARA Historical Novel Prize is the richest genre-based literary award in Australasia. It incorporates both an Adult category and a Children and Young Adult (CYA) category.

The Prize is a true celebration of historical fiction, and a real opportunity to foster the genre on a grander scale.

For more information, visit the HNSA site.

Read for Pixels online panel event 22nd September 2023

31st July 2023

It is my absolute honour to be taking part in the 10th anniversary events for Read for PIxels, part of the Pixel Project to raise awareness and funds for the cause to end violence against women. I will be taking part in this panel on 22nd September via livestream and various other live platforms. I hope you can join us. There will also be a chance to bid on some fabulous goodies from great authors to raise funds.

In the Top 10, Who magazine and New Idea!

The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies was Book of the Month for the Sunday Herald Bookclub, has appeared as a featured book in Who magazine and New Idea, and galloped up the charts into the Top 10 titles at Dymocks Booksellers and indie bookshops. Huzzah!

You are invited to the Melbourne Launch of The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies

Are you in Melbourne? If so, you are invited to the pre-launch of The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies at 6pm on Tuesday 23rd May at Readings Emporium. The book is not officially on-shelf until June 7, but this is an exclusive pre-launch event where you can get your hands on early copies before everyone else. The launch is free to attend but bookings are essential via the Readings event page. I hope to see you there!

Australian Cover Reveal!

12th February, 2023


Book Giveaways!

Here it is, the stunning Australian cover of The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies! Out early June 2023.

Preorder via Booktopia is available here now.

Preorders really help authors by creating buzz about a book which helps build marketing momentum and the all important discoverability. So if you do decided to preorder, thank you very much–it is greatly appreciated!

30th January, 2023

USA readers can enter the Berkley Spring Thrills sweepstakes and win all the books pictured (including The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies). It will run from February 1 – 12 and have one winner. No Purchase necessary. Link to enter is here: https://bit.ly/3IJFAID.

Five USA readers will also have a chance to win a copy of The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies on a Goodreads Giveaway which will run from February 1 – February 28.  https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/359291-the-benevolent-society-of-ill-mannered-ladies.

USA Cover Reveal of my New Book!

21st November, 2022

Take at look at this beauty – the stunning and witty USA cover for the first book in my new Regency mystery adventure series, The Benevolent Society of Ill-mannered Ladies. It is out May 2023 with Berkley and pre-order for USA readers is now available!

I hope to be able to reveal the UK and Australian covers soon too. Huzzah!

New Two Book Deal!

30th May, 2022

I am super thrilled to announce that I have sold my Regency mid-aged amateur detective adventure series The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies to Berkley US in a two-book deal. More publishing deals will soon be announced for this series, so stay tuned! Below is the official Publishers Weekly announcement. Snazzy, huh?

Aurealis Award Win!

29th May, 2022

My Science Fiction short story Relict: (noun) A Widow; a Thing Remaining From the Past has won the 2021 Aurealis Award for Best Science Fiction Short Story. Huzzah! This is a particularly precious win because I wrote the story for the Relics, Wrecks and Ruins anthology edited by the late and very much missed Aiki Flinthart. It was her final collection.

The thrilled author and the award

Appearances Sept/October 2021

Heyercon 1: Soiree
Friday September 19 online at 11.45am to 12.15pm

I’ll be appearing at the HeyerCon 1: Soiree at 11.45am, ready to chat and answer questions about writing historical fiction, research and mashing together historical fiction with other genres. I’ll also be reading from my Regency in Space short story Relict: (noun) a widow; something remaining from the past. Click here to buy your day pass to the online conference.

HNSA Conference
October 22nd online from 11.30am-1.30pm.

I’ll be teaching my Writing Historical Fantasy Workshop at the HNSA conference on Friday 22nd October, 2021.

Here’s the blurb:

Longing to add a touch of magic to your historical fiction? New York Times Bestseller Alison Goodman will guide you through the joys and jeopardies of mashing two popular genres together: historical fiction and fantasy. What are the genre conventions? Do you have to follow them? Why is it so important to keep track of your own magic system? This hands-on workshop will build on the basics of scene-driven storytelling to help you create your fantastic world.

Hope to see you there!

Click here to buy your ticket for this online workshop.

New Regency short story
(think Bridgerton meets spaceships)
out now!

24th February, 2021

I am thrilled to say that my short story
Relict
(noun) a widow; something remaining from the past

is in the recently released speculative fiction anthology Relics, Wrecks, and Ruins. My story is a Regency Space Opera and follows the adventures of Lady Mathilda Grayle who is a kickass Countess with a very cool alien weapon. The anthology has a great line up of authors including: Neil Gamin, Juliet Marillier, Garth Nix, Jasper Fforde, Mary Robinette Kowal, Angela Slatter, Ken Liu, and Robert Silverberg. By buying it you will be supporting a mentorship program in memory of the anthology’s wonderful editor and contributor, Aiki Flinthart. Order here.