Getting to the Office was a big journey, because I had to travel from Melbourne! On the 19^th, I headed up to Sydney and stayed the night. After meeting the lovey Shelleyrae, Deb and Susan in the lobby of our hotel, we headed over to the Random Offices. As we arrived early, we sat outside in the lovely weather and talked about …? You guessed it! Books!

Just before 9.30, we headed inside the building and up to the office. We were greeted by the lovely Kristy who organised this amazing event. She gave us our cute name tags and amazing (and I mean amazing!) goodie bags, which came with 6-7 books! I know right?! At about 9.30 we headed into the room where we were going to spend most of the day.

We then had a lovely introduction speech from Random House Australia Director of Marketing and Publicity Brett Osmond. He spoke on a whole range of ideas, from how he doesn’t get books with spines, or read finished books. He told us a little about himself and how he wasn’t always a reader – he was in fact a farmer! – but when he discovered reading it was a ‘way out.’

When you connect books with readers, magical things happen, it can change lives – Brett Osmond

He also talked about how readers are harder to reach, but Australia in fact has the highest number of readers in the world! Also mentioning how vast changes in publication of books have occurred, where 3 years ago there was no ebooks in Australia, and now ebooks make up 20% of business. Did you know that 88% of the Random House community are women? Brett also mentioned how great the team at Penguin Random House is, that they are all passionate and highly skilled.

Then Random House’s digital gurus, Eva and Ellie, spoke to us about how to get the most out of being online for us bloggers and writers out there. They also spoke about how Google Trends is also a good insight on what is trending not only in your own country but around the world.

Ellie also talked about the strong call to action through social media and how planning content is effective, as well as interacting with your readers and other pages. How having a facebook page is not about the likes, but about the engagement.

Up next was our first author to speak, Sneh Roy. This lovely lady was the winner of the 2013 Best Australian Blog Competition for her blog Cook Republic.

Sneh has been blogging for 10 years, and after 4, she created a blog that show cases healthy recipes and ideas.  She said that blogging is creative, do it for yourself. Content, Content, Content! Express yourself.

Find your voice – Sneh Roy

Sneh spoke a lot on blogging and had some very inspirational words. She said don’t lose your voice over all the ‘noise.’ Organic growth is the best because of the connections you make with your followers. Follow your follower and show your appreciation.

Sneh Roy also gave us a few tips about posting! She said she likes to make a list of 5 things that she would do that week, or for the next 2 weeks. Not only what she would post, but what she would do to promote, and focus on, for her blog.

Sneh talked as well, about her blog-to-book experience and how after winning the 2013 Best Australian Blog Competition she was able to publish her book Taste Express. That even though she does have a published book, she isn’t complete without blogging and will never stop.

After Sneh’s lovely talk, we had morning tea (which she was nice enough to have made some sweet treats). At morning tea I met some other YA bloggers, including Sunny from A Super Sunny Spot, Francoise from My Crazy Bookish World, as well as Felicity from Penguin Teen Australia.

Following morning tea, Penguin Random House publishers talked about the books that they are most excited to publish this year. A few of the books mentioned are from Australian authors, which is really exciting. A lot of these were also adult novels but there were some Young Adult novels that did pop up.

Random House Fiction: A Fatal Tide by Steve Sailah and Eden by Candice Fox

Random House Non-Fiction: The Writing Life by David Malouf, My Story by Julia Gillard, and He who much be Obeid: The Untold Story by Kate McClymont and Linton Bessen

Other Adult books that were talked about: Seven Letter from Paris by Samantha Verant, Who knows Tomorrow by Lisa Lovatt-Smith, Air Wars: The war to control our skies by Doug Nancarrow. Hooked by Samantha X and Austrlian’s Hardest Prison by James Phelps.

Children and YA books that will be published by Random House: Skyfireby Skye Melki-Wegner, Intruder by Christine Bongers and Are you seeing Me? By Darren Groth

Then the lovely Felicity took to the mic to talk about upcoming books from Penguin Teen which I am super excited about! Silver Shadows by Richelle Mead (OMG), Masquerade by Kylie Fornasier and Afterworlds by Scott Westerfeld.

After that, we had a fabulous lunch and I got to talk with many other bloggers and writers. But I found my ground with other YA bloggers, where we talked outside, and talked… you guessed it! Books (again), with the lovely Felicity joining us.

From Left to Right: Me, Laura, Sunny, Estelle, Francoise and Felicity 

Then it was time for the surprise author! Even though I haven’t read her books, or heard of her (this is showing how young I am), Judy Nunn was the surprise author. Judy was absolutely lovely and so outgoing. Judy talked about her new book Elianne as well as talking about her process in writing Elianne – how she found an inspiring location and started from there.

Seek inspiration; places, events, historical – Judy Nunn

She took us through how she came to be inspired to write Elianne, and the adventures she had. It took her 1 year to write it, but months of planning and researching beforehand. She also talked about how she heavily edits as she writes. Judy was amazing to listen to on her adventures with writing, it was really inspiring.

Then debut Australian author Bruce McCabe talked to us about his new and every exciting techno-thriller Skinjob. As Bruce McCabe, first self-published Skinjob,he talked about his experience in self-publishing and then finally being published by Random House.

Bruce talked about how there was only slight changes from the self-published version to the Random House version, such as going from US English to UK English and a cover change. Hearing Bruce Speak was such a pleasure as he gave not only me but others an insight on both sides of self-publishing and being published by a publisher.

Fiction is writing – Bruce McCabe

We then had an afternoon break, which allowed me to talk again to so many different people, it was really enjoyable.

After that, Random House’s Managing Editor Brandon VanOver shared some inside information on how to get published. He talked about how they go to bloggers for a voice and how we do well for them. To be confident, stay true to your voice, and don’t stop being who you are. It was really great hearing Brandon talk.

A Truly great idea will always find its voice and an audience   – Brandon VanOver

Then came such an exciting part of the day! Penguin and Random House publicity team talk about international books that they are most excited for this year. There were so many books, it was crazy! And some that I was more excited for than I could imagine! I think you will be able to guess which, when you see them. Haha!

• Cop Town by Karin Slaughter coming out in July
• Courting Trouble by Kathy Lette
• Bones Never Lie by Katy Rerchs
• Personal by Lee Childs

• Time and Time Again by Ben Elton
• Sapiens: A brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari
• Plenty More by Yotam Ottolenghi
• So anyway by John Clesse

• Messiah Complex by Russel Brand
• Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and his years of pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami
• Perfidia by James Ellroy
• The Children Act by Ian McEwan

• The Iron Trail: Magisterium by Cassandra Clare and Holly Black
• If I Stay by Gayle Forman (The Upcoming Movie)

After hearing about all these amazing books and having a good laugh, it was time for the open forum. Where all of us bloggers could talk about all we want. We also asked a lot of questions to the publishers, including what is the right time to write a review for a book – they said it was never too late.

We then had the wrap up drinks, where we could talk some more – it was such a good experience! After an interesting and exhausting day, my mum and I made our way back to the airport to head back to Melbourne.

This forum was such an amazing experience, I cannot explain it in the right words! Not only was I able to speak to other bloggers, but publishers, authors, everyone. Thank you so much to Penguin Random House for such an amazing day, and to Kristy whom organised the event. Also thank you to Penguin, Random House, and Bookworld, for all the amazing books in our goodies bags, as well as the few extras I scored!