MacLean's Booksellers

Who makes maths & science fun 🤩?
Author R. A. Stephens, that’s who! Middle Grade character, Riz Chester, has a passion for forensic science which plays out over a series of mysteries to solve. Thanks for visiting MacLean’s Rochelle. Signed copies in the shop now with their own very cool bookmarks.

Celebrate Sci-Fi month at MacLean's with our October book club picks - 'Station Eleven' by Emily St. John Mandel (as seen on NY Times best books of 21st century list) and/or 'A Psalm For the Wild-Built' by Becky Chambers 🤖📚🦠.

Join us in store on Tuesday the 15th of October at 7pm.

Thank you to the wonderful .draws for visiting us yesterday and signing copies of her books! 🧡

Please join us for a wonderful evening with Larry Buttrose to discuss his new short story collection, "Everyone On Mars." 6pm Thursday 26th September at MacLean's.

📚✨ Dive into the extraordinary with Matt Haig's latest masterpiece, "The Life Impossible"!

"Filled with wonder and wild adventure, this is a story of hope and the life-changing power of a new beginning."

You're invited to the BOOK LAUNCH of C.A. Wright's debut novel, SKYSONG.

Join us at 6pm Thursday 17th October at the bookshop, for a magical evening to celebrate this wonderful local writer.

RSVP by commenting on this post, sending us a DM, or emailing [email protected]

SKYSONG is a beautiful lyrical retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's The Nightingale about what some will do for power … and what others will do for love.

📚🔍 New releases alert! These ladies are killing it with their latest novels. We have crime, we have intrigue, we have...death predictions on a plane?

Talking this morning about what kind of society we want to be, with Australia’s leading social psychologist, Hugh Mackay, at the Anglicare Australia National Conference. Thanks for having MacLean’s as the bookseller.

📚✨ Celebrating Women in Translation Month a bit late, but the passion never fades! Check out these incredible reads by remarkable female authors who bring diverse voices to life:

"The Full Moon Coffee Shop" by Mai Mochizuki, translated by Jesse Kirkwood, and "Yeonnam-dong's Smiley Laundromat" by Kim Jiyun, translated by Shanna Tan.

Exciting news for all our writing enthusiasts! 🖋️📓 We’ve just received a fresh stock of Moleskine notebooks. Perfect for jotting down your thoughts, sketching, or planning your next big idea.

Celebrate Dad with a great book! 📚❤️ Father's Day is just around the corner and if you are looking for inspiration for the perfect gift, look no further. We've got you covered with a range of recommendations that dads will love!

‘Among the Grey Gums’ is a rollicking and entertaining historical mystery, vividly bringing to life early days of the Hunter Valley and its bushrangers, by Paula J. Beavan. Good fun had by all exploring local history stories with Paula in conversation with Tea Cooper this morning at Lake Mac Libraries.

Enjoyed the sunshiny sustainable living festival at the innovative Narara Eco Village, selling copies of My Efficient Electric Home Handbook : How to slash your energy bills, protect your health & save the planet, by Tim Forcey. Good luck for the rest of your book tour Tim!

Just a couple of the stunning new covers in this week!
Abi Daré's 'And So I Roar' - The new novel from the author of the word of mouth hit 'The Girl with the Louding Voice'.
'Dare has proved, once again, that she is a masterful storyteller to be reckoned with'
TARA M. STRINGFELLOW, author of Memphis.
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S. A. Maclean's 'The Phoenix Kepper' - Against an epic fantasy backdrop teeming with all your favourite mythical beasts from dragons and unicorns to kelpies and krakens, The Phoenix Keeper combines the cozy fantasy stakes of TJ Klune and Travis Baldree with the heartwarming contemporary romance of Alice Oseman and Casey McQuiston.

💧 'There are Rivers in the Sky' - the new novel from powerhouse Elif Shafak

'A storm is approaching Nineveh, the sky swollen with impending rain. One of the clouds approaching the world's largest and wealthiest city, built on the banks of the river Tigris, is bigger and darker than the others-and more impatient. It floats suspended above a majestic building adorned with marble columns, pillared porticos and monumental statues. This is the North Palace, where the king resides in all his might and glory. The cloud casts a shadow over the imperial residence. For unlike humans, water has no regard for social status or royal titles.

Dangling from the edge of the cloud is a single drop of rain - no bigger than a bean and lighter than a chickpea. For a while it quivers precariously - small, spherical and scared. How frightening it is to observe the earth open down below like a lonely lotus flower.

Remember that raindrop, inconsequential though it may be compared to the magnitude of the universe. Inside, it holds a miniature world, a story of its own...'

The lovely Rod Henderson came in this weekend to sign copies of his memoir 'Stop Screaming, I'm Scared Too'.

‘Stop screaming, I’m Scared Too!’ is not what you’d expect to see on the back of a loadmaster’s helmet in a Chinook helicopter flying over southern Afghanistan, but for Rod Henderson it sums up his 22 years of service as a soldier in the Australian Army.

During the busiest period in the Army’s history, Rod was deployed to East Timor, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan and Afghanistan. In Australia, he was involved in counter terrorism operations and disaster recovery. From an infantry paratrooper, to Chinook loadmaster and Black Hawk door gunner, Rod reveals an enthralling and unique perspective of service.

Whether it is ‘right place wrong time’ or just unlucky, he found himself in a series of life threatening and traumatic events. Each one took a toll. Accepting the physical injuries and mental health challenges from his service, Rod found healing in the hallowed halls of the Australian War Memorial.

This is not the story of a general or a Special Forces hero. It is the extraordinary memoir of a regular Australian soldier. Like so many others who have served their country with honour and distinction, the little-known stories of ordinary soldiers deserve to be told.

Book Week 2024 🥳 MacLean’s celebrated by dressing up (thanks to Lydia as Friday Barnes and to Alice as Detective Beans 🐱) in the shop and attending the CBCA Newcastle’s Family Fun Day at the University of Newcastle ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ever wanted to have mind-bending existential conversations with your kids? Well, now you can! This brilliant picture book from .bunting will get big and little people pondering life's most complex questions.

Local history bestsellers…
Mighty Mayfield, books 1 and 2, are back! Stock is limited so please pass the news on to any local history buffs in your life.

🍷 For the connoisseur in your life - the 2025 Halliday Wine Companion is now available! A fab Father's Day gift for the man who has everything. (Pairs perfectly with our neighbour )

🐱🐶 It's raining cats and dogs! Why not stay inside and do a puzzle? Tons of kids and adult puzzles available in store 🧩

Looking for your next fantasy obsession? Look no further than ‘The North Wind’! Perfect for fans of ACOTAR and ‘Fourth Wing’ it’s a lush and enchanting fantasy romance, inspired by Beauty and the Beast and the myth of Hades and Persephone.
(Plus, if you love it, you can pre-order the sequel 'The West Wind'!)

Join us on Wednesday 28th August (6pm) to see an author talk with Scott Ryder! He'll be talking about his experiences written in 'Forged in Fire' at Newcastle City Library.

How cute is this?? We’ve got big city dreams, dogs, and cutest cover of the year! Love Unleashed by Melaine Saward – reviewed by Anita Heiss as 'The romcom the Australian literary landscape has been waiting for.'

The brilliant Anita Heiss is back with Dirrayawadha – a groundbreaking historical novel about resistance, resilience and love during the frontier wars.
Dirrayawadha (Rise Up) shows the resistance leader Windradyne as the remarkable figure he was and surrounds him with fascinating figures otherwise lost to history. With irresistible imagination and verve, as well as a deep desire for truth telling, Anita Heiss’s novels are re-peopling our past.