The Equen Queen is the second book in the highly successful series: Quentaris — Quest of the Lost City and is the sequel to The Spell of Undoing by Paul Collins. While moored to a new world Quentaris is approached by another sky-city. The sky-traders on board seem friendly and generous, offering the Quentarans food and gems, but are in fact setting a trap for Quentaris.

What are the equens and can they really heal the sick? Despite losing her special powers Tab Vidler must find some answers fast, before all is lost.

About the Author:
Alyssa Brugman's books have been short-listed for numerous literature and children's choice awards in Australia and overseas, and have been translated into seven languages. A new novel, Solo, was released mid 2007. A fifth instalment in the Shelby pony series will be released in 2008. The Equen Queen is her first venture into fantasy writing.

Alyssa lives in the Hunter Valley with her partner and son and their horses, and is a full time writer. You can find more information at www.alyssabrugman.com.au.

Much has changed in the sky-city of Quentaris. With the Archon dead, dark forces have come into play. New faces are appearing, familiar ones vanishing, and the horrid Florian has claimed the throne. Then, as Quentaris slips quietly through a vortex into the watery world of the Yarka, Tab Vidler and her friends suddenly realise they are the city's only hope.

Plots, intrigue, magic, mystery, high adventure and more — everything that you've come to expect from the Quentaris series.

About the Author:
James Roy was born in Trundle, NSW and spent much of his life as a missionary child in Papua New Guinea and Fiji. His books have garnered many awards over the years including various Premier's awards, CBCA, IBBY and Royal Blind Society Talking Book of the Year Awards. He currently lives in the Blue Mountains with his wife Vicki, daughters April and Holly and dogs Otto and Rosie.

Tark and Zyra are teenaged thieves on a quest. In a world of magic and science, where dragons and mages exist alongside drones and lasers, they endeavour to reach the haven of Designers' Paradise. But their world is not what it appears to be and their haven is about to come under threat of destruction. Can Tark and Zyra save Designers' Paradise ... and their own world?

About the Author:
George Ivanoff is an author and stay-at-home dad residing in Melbourne. He has written over 30 books for children and teenagers, two of which are on the Victorian Premier's Reading Challenge booklist. George has also written for numerous magazines and anthologies, including Trust Me! and Doctor Who, Short Trips: Defining Patterns.

'There's something different about my body. It's like the missing piece of a jigsaw you can't take your eyes off. If I were to take off my shirt you wouldn't see my face, freckles or ratty hair. All you'd see is the hole in the middle of my chest.'

A story about footy, cars, and a young man who discovers that revealing his greatest secret is the only way to hold on to the people he loves.

About the Author:
Shane Thamm wrote My Private Pectus while studying masculinities at Queensland University of Technology. After six years working in high school outdoor education and the masculinised outdoor adventure industry, he became interested in what makes young men tick and the emotional challenges they negotiate each day, often in silence. He likes to give these boys a voice.

Solace Morgan was born a vampire. Raised in foster care, she has always tried to keep her abilities secret, until an eerie encounter with a faceless man prompts her to run away. Finding others with similar gifts, Solace soon becomes caught up in a strange, more vibrant world than she ever knew existed. But when the mysterious Professor Lukin takes an interest in her friends, she is forced to start asking questions of her own. What happened to her parents? Who is Sharpsoft? And since when has there been a medieval dungeon under Hyde Park?

About the Author:
Foz Meadows learned to read at three, fell in love with fantasy at four, and decided she wanted to be an author at twelve. She’s grown up since then, but still retains a fondness for silly hats. She currently lives in Melbourne.

Jack, Ben, Lachlan and Mimi discover a dead shark washed up on Hazard River. The shark has no fins. When another shark washes up without fins, the friends decide to investigate. Their attempt to uncover what is killing the sharks leads them to a marine park. They discover fishermen killing endangered grey nurse sharks and taking their fins for shark fin soup in Asia.

The Hazard River crew must stop them at all costs!

About the Author:
J.E. Fison is a television reporter turned children's author. Her work has been short-listed for the Raspberry and Vine Short Story Competition 2009 and long-listed for The Times (London) Children's Fiction Competition 2009. Prior to writing the Hazard River series, she spent 20 years in news and features in Australia, Asia and the UK. Julie was a television news reporter and anchor for Asia Television in Hong Kong, covering the rise and fall of the student movement in Beijing, the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe and the developments that led up to the handover of Hong Kong to China. She spends as much time as possible on the Noosa River, the inspiration for the Hazard River series.

It's a boring wet day on Hazard River until Jack Wilde and his friends find a note on an abandoned boat. The message is damaged but they can all read the words HELP ME. The gang must find out who needs help and why. But as they get closer to the answer will they be the ones who need help?

About the Author:
J.E. Fison is a television reporter turned children's author. Her work has been short-listed for the Raspberry and Vine Short Story Competition 2009 and long-listed for The Times (London) Children's Fiction Competition 2009. Prior to writing the Hazard River series, she spent 20 years in news and features in Australia, Asia and the UK. Julie was a television news reporter and anchor for Asia Television in Hong Kong, covering the rise and fall of the student movement in Beijing, the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe and the developments that led up to the handover of Hong Kong to China. She spends as much time as possible on the Noosa River, the inspiration for the Hazard River series.

School-leaver Skye plays guitar in her all-female Chronic Cramps band. Making her name in the punk/indie scene is easier than FTM (female to male) transitioning: from Skye to Finn, from girl to man. Uncovering genetic mysteries about family heritage tear the family apart. Trans gender identity is more than injections and surgery, it's about acceptance. Going public, Finn sings ftm lyrics on TV. With a little help from bemused mates and family who don't want to lose a daughter, but who love their teenager, Finn is transitioning.

About the Authors:
Best known for There's a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake, Melbourne based Hazel Edwards www.hazeledwards. com has also written YA novels & adult non-fiction including Difficult Personalities. Family friends, they co-wrote online and via webcam.

New Zealand-based Ryan Kennedy lived as female until his transition to male at twenty-seven. Ryan works in IT and is a passionate environmentalist and musician.

So much reading, so little time ...

Horror or romance, sci-fi or master spy - a world full of fiction but how to decide?

Fifty Australian authors, poets and illustrators have joined forces to give you a selection of their latest work. From thrillers to chillers, from historical to hysterical, there's something here for everyone!

About the Editor:
Paul Collins co-edited with Meredith Costain four boxed sets of fiction (Spinouts) for which they won the Aurealis Award. He edited The Encyclopaedia of Australian Science Fiction & Fantasy and received the William Atheling Award. He also won the inaugural Peter McNamara Award. Paul himself is an accomplished writer, having published over 120 books including The Jelindel Chronicles, The Earthborn Wars and seven titles in The Quentaris Chronicles.