Ahhh…. The land down under. Who isn’t enchanted by Australia?
I am. Always have been. Which makes it especially amazing that UNDER THE NEVER SKY is now on Australian bookshelves. I’m only disappointed my book got there before I did.
I’ve “met” some of you via the nets. Tez, Brodie, Lisa, Kat, Amie and Rebecca (thanks for the photo!) to name just a few. And I have to know: Is there some national coolness test you guys have to pass? Are you a utopia, Australia? I’m beginning to wonder.
If you’ve come by and you’re from Oz as well, please leave a comment and say hello! Or G’ day? (I feel like a poser saying that. Did it sound ok?) I’d love to hear from you! Also, do any of you know Chris Hemsworth? I’m kidding… Sort of… Do you?
To you Aussies, I hope the Australian Never Sky treats you well. Cheers, mates!
And look at you. You’re beautiful.
Australia is NOT a utopia when it’s summer and you don’t have air-conditioning – that would be me, now
Actually, someone in my high school year was related to the Hemsworths – cousin or something. Can’t remember which of my classmates, though – wasn’t friends with him.
By the way, the city of Melbourne (my city) was once named Batmania – which is the most awesome name for a city! Unfortunately, it was renamed Melbourne after some Lord. We are not amused
Tez- How hot is it down there? And Batmania totally rocks. Maybe they’ll change it back someday….
You are just awesomesauce, Rossi!
It depends on where you live. In Sydney during the summer it will get to 40 degrees (I think that’s like 104 Fahrenheit or something.) But then Tasmania spends a fair bit of it’s time at about 75 degrees F with a minimum temperature of 8.6F .
Wait, I just checked. Perth can get up to 46 degrees in the Summer which is like 115F.
OK, 115F is blistering. *makes note not to visit during summer*
Hello! At Kat’s gentle encouragement I’m posting that I’m from Tasmania – it’s absolutely gorgeous and the smaller city life is wonderful.
I currently live in the United Kingdom but my fiancée recently got his visa so we are moving back home in February, which I am so incredibly happy about because I miss my homeland so much!
If you ever do get a chance to visit Australia, please make sure to jump the Bass Strait and stop by in Tassie – we have wonderful cherries, apples, cheese and salmon, and incredibly beautiful scenery. We have unique animals such as the Tasmanian Devil – they look ugly and sound even worse, but they are really awesome! The weather also is normally very nice – it doesn’t get TOO cold… OK I will stop trying to sell it to you now!
Lissa, you had me at Hello. (Sorry, but it’s true.) Tassie is on the itinerary. And I’m so happy you get to go home
And why is the phrase, “Kat’s gentle encouragement” suspicious? She didn’t blackmail you, did she? Kat, don’t make me bust out with the falcon punches….
No, Kat didn’t blackmail me! It’s just that I’m incredibly shy and even though you invited us Aussies specifically to comment, I still read the post and talked to Kat first before I came back and posted my comment… she said you were insanely nice. She was right!
Aw… I’m so glad you did comment! And your comment made me hungry for cherries, apples, cheese and salmon
How great are all those things?
& Kat. (hangs head.) I’d never falcon punch you. Ever.
Phew! Thank goodness! I was panicking there for a minute. After watching you uppercut a shark, I wasn’t sure I’d survive!
Awww, Veronica! <3 *waves hands* I'm from Perth! So yes, I have to live in that aforementioned sweltering heat LOL. If you come down in the spring or autumn though, it's lovely! Warm sun + breeze = heaven.
Super excited that UTNS’s in stores for everyone to enjoy! *bounces up and down* After INTL people catch up next year we can have a big squee-a-thon
Sorry, not all Australians are as cool as us but you’d definitely pass the test! *slaps cork hat on you*
I was an exchange student to South Australia in 1989. Does that count?
Have I mentioned I love you? Because I kinda really obsessively do. (But let’s not go into how much, a restraining order would hurt my feelings).
I am so so so honoured that I was among the lucky Aussies (and all those other peeps who had ARCs) to have read your book ahead of the rest of the world. Honestly, it’s in my all-time FAVOURITES list. You are so crazy talented. Plus… you know…. PERRY!! *hee*
And like others have said, Australia is a utopia when not in the months of December, January and February. Summer is a KILLER. We want you to come here, but we don’t want a melted Veronica, so come in Autumn! <3
I used to watch Chris whem he was on a local tv soap. And Liam. So they were kinda in my living room every weeknight. That counts for knowing them from a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend of a tv, right?
*nods along with Brodie* She’s right. We kind of crazy love you LOL.
I’m so desperate for the sequel, and the first one’s not even out everywhere yet! *wails* Oh how will we survive the whole year without more Perry, Roar and Aria?
*sniffles* I may or may not break into your computer which may or may not have snippets of the sequel…… =/
I never watched Liam & Chris – Home & Away just wasn’t my thing
Cannot wait for Snow White and The Hunger Games though! *squee*
I’m a sydney-sider, born and bred. How exciting that you’re down here! Not utopia, too hot to be utopia, too sticky and sweaty to be utopia. Hint: If all else fails, run to a cinema or a library. Unfailingly air-conditioned. At least, in Sydney they are.
I was shocked when I saw UNDER THE NEVER SKY in the shop the other day. And then I swept down on it like a crazy woman. (I may have cackled)
Chris Hemsworth? Uh, I wish. (I really really really wish) Ryan Kwanten, sure. He grew up down the street from me.
….jealous. Born in Sydney but moved to Perth a few years later. Never met a celebrity in my life (let alone have one live down the street!) LOL. *coughs* Ryan…Kwanten…? *pouts* Life isn’t fair
born in newcastle but moved perth. loved under the never sky one of my favourite novels of all time.
never seen Chris Hemsworth in person , to my endless disappointment.
*googles Ryan Kwanten* Whoa… There’s got to be something in the water down there. Caroline-what a great place to go on exchange! Brodie & Lisa – you guys…. thank you. Feeling’s so mutual <3 Nindogs – thanks for the cackle. People just don’t do that enough IMO. And I hope you like UtNS! Missymoo – That is just about the greatest thing to hear – ever. (I mean the part about UtNS, not Chris Hemsworth.) Kat, the shark uppercut is a highly advanced maneuver, used only in gravest situations. I’ve only done it twice. Very dangerous. This has now turned into my favorite blog post of all time bc of you all. See? I called it. Aussies are effin’ cool.
Yeah we do get lucky down here sometimes… All of them migrate over to the US though! *huffs* Hottie stealers, you lot are! Leave some for us, would you?
Aww, we feel loved! We’ll screenshot this momentous moment in history
hey im from sydney and i live near the harbour but right now am in france on exchange (home in one month woo!) and so homes been on my mind. although i havent seen any kangaroos in bondi…
cant wait to read your book though im so excited!
Maiawa – Thanks for coming by! I love that you miss your home. So much national pride in these comments. Seriously great. Hope you like Utns!
One of these days we’ll lure you down here! Can’t wait to host you in Melbourne one day. It will be a whirlwind of excellent food, wallabies, art, cheese (also a food but deserving of own category) and outrageously beautiful scenery. Google the Great Ocean Road — it’s our equivalent of the Pacific Coast Highway. And dare I say it’s even a little bit more beautiful? I think I do. It’s pretty awesome.