Holy Days Winners Announced

Thanks to everyone who entered my giveaway to win 1 of 2 double passes to see Holy Days. The movie opens in cinemas this week and everyone correctly identified that Holy Days is a comedy set in New Zealand.

The giveaway closed at midnight last night and I drew the two lucky winners today. Congratulations go to:

Thomas & Diana

Congratulations Thomas and Diana, you're both off to the cinema thanks to Kismet Movies. But don't worry, you don't have to go together, you've each won a double pass to see Holy Days valued at $40 so you can go with a friend or family member. I'll be emailing your tickets shortly and hope you enjoy the film.

Carpe Librum!

WIN 1 of 2 Double Passes to see Holy Days

* Giveaway courtesy of Kismet Movies *

Intro

Can you smell popcorn? That's because I'm back again with more movie tickets up for grabs for lucky Carpe Librum readers. Holy Days is a comedy set in New Zealand starring Miriam Margolyes, Judy Davis and Jacki Weaver based on the book by the same name written by Kiwi author Dame Joy Cowley.

Holy Days is in cinemas from 6 August 2026 and I've teamed up with Kismet Movies to give away 2 double passes for the film valued at $40 per double pass. Enter below and you could be off to the movies!

Synopsis

In 1970s New Zealand, young Brian is devastated by the loss of his mother and determined to stop his dad from marrying the woman he sees as her replacement. Convinced he can reach his mother through prayer and penance, Brian finds refuge at a run-down convent with three delightfully eccentric elderly nuns. But when he overhears plans to shut the convent down and split the sisters apart, sending the most vulnerable to a terrifying institution, Brian sparks an unlikely mission: escape to the Southern Alps to find a former nun-turned-lawyer who might just save them all. For Brian, it’s more than a legal battle—he believes this is the miracle he’s been praying for, a chance to reunite with his mother atop the sacred mountain, Aoraki.

What follows is a wild, hilarious, and heartwarming road trip as a boy and three nuns face down their fears, outwit crooked officials, lose a sister to fishmongers, and even cash a bet shop win, all while racing against time to save their beloved convent. With its soul firmly planted in faith, family, and fierce loyalty, Holy Days is a joyful comedy packed with heart, humour, and high-speed hijinks. It’s a story about letting go, holding on, and finding home in the most unexpected places.

You can check out the trailer here and find out more details about the movie including which cinemas will be playing the film here.

Giveaway

This giveaway has now closed. It was open to entrants in Australia and entries closed at midnight AEST Sunday 2 August 2026. The double passes will be emailed, enabling the lucky winners to plan and attend the screening from the opening day onwards. Thanks to Kismet Movies for the giveaway and good luck!

Carpe Librum!

The Utility Belt Series Winners Announced

Thanks to everyone who entered my prize pack giveaway for The Utility Belt series by Sharon Giltrow. The two main characters in the series are Samara Rubin and Toby King, but there were a few incorrect answers and subsequent disqualifications so perhaps I made the question too difficult. I'll keep that in mind for next time.

The giveaway closed at midnight last night and the winners were drawn today. The two lucky winners are (drum roll):

Giovanna & Sharah

Congratulations! You've each won a prize pack valued at $35AUD containing a signed copy of Samara Rubin and The Utility Belt (Book 1), signed copy of Toby King and The Utility Belt (Book 2) and bookmarks thanks to the author, Sharon Giltrow.

You'll each receive an email from me shortly so that you can provide your postal address so start thinking about any inscriptions you might want inside your books and congratulations on your win. I hope your junior readers enjoy the series.

Carpe Librum!

Middle Grade Giveaway: The Utility Belt Series by Sharon Giltrow

Intro

I promised another giveaway and this time I've teamed up with Romi from Books On Tour PR & Marketing to bring you not one but two middle grade prize packs! Enter below for your chance to win.

The Utility Belt series is written by Sharon Giltrow and illustrated by Thu Vu and it's a speculative junior fiction series with magical tools, cute sidekicks and a 'super' family.

Recommended for readers aged 6-12, each prize pack includes:

• Signed copy of Samara Rubin and The Utility Belt (Book 1)
• Signed copy of Toby King and The Utility Belt (Book 2)
• Bookmarks

Giveaway

This Carpe Librum giveaway has now closed. Thanks to the author Sharon Giltrow for providing these prize packs valued at $35 AUD each. The giveaway was open internationally and entries closed midnight AEST on Sunday 12 July 2026.

Carpe Librum!

H is for Hawk Winners Announced

Thanks to everyone who entered my giveaway to win 1 of 3 double passes to see H is for Hawk. The movie is out this week and everyone correctly identified that the film is based on the memoir of the same name by Helen Macdonald.

The giveaway closed at midnight last night and I drew the lucky winners today, congratulations to:

Glen Donaldson, Liz H and Roberto Colombi

Congratulations Glen, Liz and Roberto, you're off to the movies! You've each won a double pass to see H is For Hawk valued at $40 thanks to Kismet Movies. I'll be emailing your tickets and hope you enjoy the film.

For those who missed out, I'm in the process of organising another giveaway so stay tuned.

Carpe Librum!

WIN 1 of 3 Double Passes to See H is For Hawk

* Giveaway courtesy of Kismet Movies *

Intro

Booklovers are often excited to see a beloved book being adapted for the big screen and H is For Hawk is in cinemas from 28 May 2026. H is For Hawk is a memoir by Helen Macdonald and was published in 2014 to great acclaim. The exciting news for Carpe Librum readers is that I've teamed up with Kismet Movies to give away 3 double passes for the film screening valued at $40 per double pass. Enter and you could be off to the movies!

Synopsis

When grief takes flight, so does hope. Claire Foy and Brendan Gleeson deliver a powerful, heartfelt performance in H Is For Hawk, the visually stunning cinematic adaptation of Helen Macdonald’s internationally bestselling memoir. Follow Helen’s journey as she navigates loss, forms a bond with the wild goshawk Mabel, and rediscovers herself through nature, courage, and love.

You can check out the trailer here and find out more details about the movie including which cinemas will be playing the film here.

Giveaway

This giveaway has now closed. It was open to entrants in Australia and entries closed at midnight AEST Sunday 24 May 2026. The double passes will be emailed, enabling the lucky winners to plan and attend the screening from the opening day onwards. Thanks to Kismet Movies for the giveaway and good luck!

Carpe Librum!

Kill Your Boss Winner Announced

Thanks to everyone who entered my giveaway to win a copy of Kill Your Boss by Jack Heath. I received 115 entries in total and everyone correctly identified that Kill Your Boss is set in a Public Library.

One entrant gave me their postal address instead of their email address so I'm unable to advise them of the outcome of the giveaway, sorry about that Suz!

The giveaway closed on Christmas Eve and the lucky winner was drawn today, congratulations:

Malvina!!

Congratulations Malvina! You've won a copy of Kill Your Boss by Jack Heath valued at $34.99 thanks to Allen & Unwin. I'll be sending your prize out to you directly along with a few bookmarks and you'll receive an email from me shortly so that you can provide your postal address. Congratulations and I hope you don't get any ideas to kill your boss after reading this clever Australian whodunnit.

Carpe Librum!

WIN a copy of Kill Your Boss by Jack Heath

Intro

Kill Your Boss by Australian author Jack Heath is the third book in the Kill Your series and features Detective Sergeant Kiara Lui who investigates a death at the local public library. Kill Your Boss can be read as a standalone and I gave it 5 stars in my recent review. Luckily for you, I received an additional copy from Allen & Unwin and am running a giveaway with permission from the publisher. I'll be sending the prize out to the lucky winner after Christmas so enter below and good luck!

Blurb

What would it take to turn you into a killer?

Detective Sergeant Kiara Lui has just broken up a loud brawl between two blokes in front of the Warrigal Public Library. But just as she's about to leave the scene, a man inexplicably plummets from the sky and slams into the bike rack right in front of her, dead.

Neville Adams was the head of library services, hated by staff, borrowers, and in fact anybody who had ever met him. Kiara quickly seals the building, trapping everyone who might have pushed him off the roof. She expects to have someone in custody within minutes.

Instead, the investigation becomes the most challenging and dangerous of her career as it spirals outward, ensnaring half the town. It seems that Neville was connected to the disappearance of Emmylou Chisholm - a case that Kiara could never solve, and that has haunted her ever since.

If the killer isn't found fast, the first two victims won't be the last ...

Giveaway

This Carpe Librum giveaway has now closed!

Shades of Yellow Winners Announced

Thanks to everyone who entered my recent international giveaway for 3 signed copies of Shades of Yellow by Australian author Wendy J. Dunn.

All entrants correctly identified that Lucy writes about the mysterious and historical death of Amy Robsart. Two entrants (Maddy and Karinap13) gave me their postal addresses instead of their email addresses making them ineligible for the giveaway as I'm unable to contact them. Sorry about that!

We received 97 entries in total and Wendy helped me to choose the first of the three winners. The remaining winners were drawn today, and congratulations go to... (drum roll):

Suzanne, Jeena Murphy* & Anna maree-m

Congratulations! You've each won a signed copy of Shades of Yellow by Wendy J. Dunn valued at $35.99 along with an accompanying bookmark hand painted and signed by the author. You'll receive an email from me shortly to organise your inscription and postage details, so congrats! *Jeena, your email has bounced back undeliverable, can you please contact me in the next 5 days to claim your prize or I'll need to choose another winner.