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I was beyond excited to chat this week with A. Rushby (aka Allison Rushby), author of Slashed Beauties as I had the pleasure of receiving an early copy to review. Sold into mutliple markets and eagerly awaited, Allison's book was pitched as gothic feminist body horror. The concept itself was intriguing (but I'll let you hear directly from Allison about the genisis of the concept) and I was even more keen to dive into things with her about how she balances her disparate writerly projects.
As an author of more than 30 books, Allison's used mutliple pseudonyms and writes for every age and stage, from junior through adult fiction. She shared some absolute gold in terms of staying the writerly path, what to prioritise as a working author, how she manages her plotter process and so much more! If I could bold-type audio, I would in several sections of our convo as we are in staunch agreement about so many aspects of the creative and practical parts of the publishing journey. Please, if you're an author at any stage, this is the episode to listen to: for inspiration or motivation!!
Grab your copy of Slashed Beauties (in Australia, the US, UK and India) now!
Find out more about and connect with Allison here:
https://www.allisonrushby.com/
https://www.instagram.com/allisonrushbyauthor/
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This week's convo with Alina Bellchambers was fascinating! If you've been on social media or in bookshops in the past year (or more!), you'll KNOW that the love for Fantasty & Romantasy books has reached peak levels and I was lucky enough to be introduced to this bright new voice in the Australian market.
A prolific writer who was raised in her family's bookshop, Alina has had a connection to story for a long time and it shows! In our conversation, she shares her path from writing for herself and for escape to writing for an audience. As a self-confessed plotter, she talked about the balance of planning with creative discovery, how she immerses herself in story to stay connected to her characters and the worlds she builds in her fantasy series as well as the other genres that she loves.
If you've not yet picked up a copy of the first book in her compelling fantasy duology, The Order of Masks, get to it! And then grab the second book, The Weight of Crowns, that starts off with a bang and doesn't slow down.
Find out more about Alina here:
https://www.alinabellchambers.com/
https://www.instagram.com/alinabellwrites/
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Are you an author who struggles to pinpoint your genre? Or maybe a reader who loves stories that blend genres in unexpected ways? You'll love this week's episode where I chat with Dmetri Kakmi about his compelling new book, The Woman in the Well.
Having written in different genres, Dmetri shares about how he leaves the genre designation to the publishers and the importance of bringing truth to every project, fiction or non. I was so impressed with the way he managed to weave the atmosphere of several different genres into a compelling narrative that reflected what he personally enjoys reading and watching. I appreciated hearing about how he worked with his characters in this novel and the ways it morphed and deepened as part of the editorial process. We also spoke about ways to bring the concept of 'own voices' to stories where the character/s are not a like-for-like expression of the writer and more.
A bit more about The Woman in the Well:
This is a brilliant work of gothic literary fiction set against the stark backdrop of the Central Australian desert and has been described by one editor as ‘an astonishing mix of literary horror and folklore.’ Themes among others include: identity, diversity, cross culture, sexual orientation, Australian immigrants, Indigenous Australians.
IFWG Publishing says:
“This is a special work. It is among the select few of our novels that beautifully bridges between literary and speculative fiction. Kakmi is an insightful artist and his eyes catch images and concepts and relates them to his life’s experiences. This work draws from his childhood, finding meaning in life, the place where he can feel comfortable, as does the protagonist of The Woman in the Well. Most notably – and certainly what initially drew us to the book in the first place – is the superimposition of his multicultural background (a ‘stranger in a strange land’) with many of the characters in his work. It’s about fitting, in every sense of the word. This is a novel that we are proud of publishing and we believe it will be critically and commercially successful. I certainly hope that you, the reader, will join in on the celebration of Kakmi’s masterpiece by reading it.”
Find the book and follow Dmetri here:
https://ifwgpublishing.com/2025/04/15/new-release-the-woman-in-the-well-by-dmetri-kakmi/
https://www.instagram.com/dmetrikakmi/
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I was SO excited to read this thrilling debut from the moment I heard it was being published June 2025!! Angie Faye Martin was kind enough to join me on the podcast to share all about her debut novel. She opens up about how long she worked on the manuscript, what her plotting approach looks like, the best advice she got from early industry mentoring and so much more.
Let me know... would you love a panel interview with Angie and a couple of other authors who write with dual timelines and highlight cultural dynamics that aren't explored often enough? Personally, I find it so amazing to see how these writers manage their research to ensure they weave underrepresented facts into an authentic and moving narrative!
In the meantime, get your hands on this bestseller and find out more about Angie here:
https://angiefaye.net/
https://www.instagram.com/angie_faye_martin/
'A page-turner with purpose. Refreshing, surprising, and propulsive. Angie Faye Martin is a name to watch.' Tracey Lien, author of All That's Left Unsaid
'Melaleuca is rich with authenticity and heart. Angie Faye Martin skillfully paints a picture of outback Queensland so that the scents, sounds and heat become a physical experience for the reader.' Laura McCluskey, author of The Wolf Tree
'Atmospheric and blistering. Melaleuca will leave you wanting more. What a remarkable debut.' Fleur McDonald, author of The Prospect
'A fresh, authentic perspective to the much-loved genre of the Australian outback thriller. Compelling, thought-provoking and twisty, Melaleuca is both a gripping, tightly plotted mystery and an unflinching exploration of the dark underbelly of institutionalised racism and corruption in Australia.' Kate Horan, author of The Inheritance
'This intense, heart-wrenching and beautifully written novel introduces a bold, and important voice in Australian crime fiction. Set in a small, outback Queensland town, it features the resilient, courageous, and marvelously flawed Aboriginal detective, Renee Taylor. An atmospheric, compulsive read that I defy you to put down.' Karen Brooks, author of The Good Wife of Bath
'Powerful First Nations crime noir that interrogates law enforcement and how it intersects with Indigenous victims. Melaleuca is a compelling exploration of a police officer caught between two worlds, small-town complicity and justice long overdue.' Dinuka McKenzie, author of The Torrent
'Angie Faye Martin brings an important new voice to Australia's rich rural crime tradition. With a gutsy First Nations heroine, an atmospheric setting and a shocking crime that exposes a small town's prejudices, this is a book that deserves a large and enthusiastic audience.' Cassie Hamer, author of The Stranger at the Table
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Welcome to a check-in episode with the inimitable Emma Grey where she shares what she's been up to amidst book 3 edits and screen adaptation learnings. It was fascinating! And then we both get vulnerable talking about what book promotion looks like (and costs) authors. I am so appreciative of how open and honest Emma always gets and we each got to share our awkward feelings about balancing gratitude and enjoyment with boundaries around different sorts of industry events.
Haven't read The Last Love Note or Pictures of You yet? Get onto it! And find out more about Emma Grey here:
https://www.emmagrey.com.au/
https://www.instagram.com/emmagreyauthor
https://www.facebook.com/emmagreyauthor
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Our latest convo with the delightful Sara Foster won't disappoint!
Sara is shifting back from book promotion mode (for her latest twisty thriller, When She Was Gone) to writing as she's focussed on finishing her 10th novel. We chat about the challenge (and the solutions) of writing in multiple POV, the passion she has for writing more stories centring mothers as well as getting clear about where we stand (and what we expect from) AI in our creative endeavours. Such a comprehensive conversation!
Find out more and follow Sara:
Wensite - www.sarafoster.com.au
Substack for readers - Story Matters
Substack for writers - The Resilient Author
Facebook - (/sarafosterauthor)
Instagram - (@sarafosterauthor)
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I had such a brilliant time this week *finally* talking to Jane Costello (as you'll hear, I've been waiting months to have this chat!) who is not only incredibly experienced as an author of 15 novels, but she is so warm and generous with her stories...which is no surprise if you've read her latest fabulous novel, It's Getting Hot in Here!
In this episode, Jane tells us about her experience writing with a pseudonym, we share our love for (and exasperation at the derision for) commercial women's fiction and the ways she's changed (or not!) her approach to writing novels, twenty years on... and so much more.
Find out more about Jane here (as well as catch her latest exciting news!):
https://www.instagram.com/janecostellobooks/
https://janecostello.com/
Don't forget to get your hands on her latest novel, It's Getting Hot in Here!
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This week's chat with Andrew Matthews is masterclass in validation and motivation for writers everywhere. We chatted about his own writerly journey as well as the biggest takeaways that are important for all writers around perserverance and promotion.
Andrew Matthews’ books have sold over 8 million copies in 48 languages and today we're taling about his latest, BOUNCING BACK.
Andrew’s first book, BEING HAPPY! became a global bestseller. His other titles, including FOLLOW YOUR HEART, BEING A HAPPY TEEN and HAPPINESS IN HARD TIMES, are bestsellers in 70 countries. His gentle, common-sense philosophy has resonated with readers worldwide.
Find out more about Andrew here:
Website - https://andrewmatthews.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/andrewmatthews.author/
Videos by Andrew:
Acceptance is Power: Michael’s Story
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“You put yourself in those shoes as much as you can, in that body and that skin. And when I write scene by scene, at the top of each scene, I do write the emotion I am trying to convey.” - Nanda Reddy
During this week's writerly convo, I felt as if we just got started! Debut author Nanda Reddy has written a totally compelling, timely and heartwrenching-but-ultimately-hopeful story, A Girl Within a Girl Within a Girl. An instant USA Today bestseller and Apple Books Best Book of March, this is a novel that I can't recommend highly enough (and clearly I'm not alone)!!
She shared so much about her process... how she intentionally injects emotion into each scene, her appreciation of beautitful writing (and how it trumps spoilers), the way she used alpha and beta readers to help polish her manuscript before submission, the story of how she landed her agent and so much more!
Find out more about Nanda here:
https://www.nandareddy.com/
https://www.instagram.com/nandareddyauthor
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This week I had the pleasure of chatting with DG Rampton, the fabulous author of highly successful Regency romances (plus one contemporary rom-com!) which have hit a collective 100k+ sales!
"As soon as I started to take myself seriously and my job (as a writer) seriously, other people started doing the same!" - DG Rampton
That brilliant quote came early on in the conversation and is, I think, something that all writers should note, but we also dove into: how she creates her own writing deadlines, the things shes learnt about editing, the benefits of taking ownership of different aspects of the publishing process and how she keeps herself connected to the stories she wants to write.
You can follow DG Rampton on:
Website - https://www.dgrampton.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DGRampton
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/fortheloveofjaneausten
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Welcome to Season 4 of Writers Talking!!
We are starting this season chatting with the author of a debut novel that's getting a lot of buzz in Australia, Kate Horan...
Kate shares how she went from intriguing idea to pantsing her first draft, the (slightly) unexpected path her novel took from query to acquisition, her preferences around plotting during the editorial process and more. I absolutely loved this book AND our convo!!
Check out this fantastic book at your local retailer and find out more about Kate here:
https://www.instagram.com/stories/kate_horan_author/
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I loved having the chance to catch up with Lisa Darcy again after the release of her most recent book, Christmas Actually!! We dove into topics like bringing real-life anecdotes and experiences into your writing, how to manage a complete storyline pivot suggestion from your editors, staying true to the kind of story you love to write and so much more...
Looking for a festive last-minute gift? Buy Lisa's book now:
Connect with Lisa on her socials!
Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/lisadarcyauthor.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisadarcyauthor/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lisadarcyauthor4
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisa.darcy.author/
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@lisadarcyauthor?hl=en
(X)Twitter: https://twitter.com/lisadarcyauthor
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I had the pleasure of connecting with one of my favourite Aussie authors and writerly friend, Dr Anita Heiss...not only did we talk about the second of her fantastic Historical Fiction novels, DIRRAYAWADHA, but so much more!
Listen in as Anita chats about how she's surrounded herself with her passions, what she does on a daily basis to get so much done related to each of those passions, how she finds balance when writing (sometimes) heavy storylines, finding the right fit publisher (and recognising that not every project is best fit for every publisher), how important her relationship with her agent has been over many years and more insight into her personal writerly process.
Follow her in these places:
https://www.anitaheiss.com
https://anitaheiss.substack.com/
https://www.instagram.com/dranitaheiss
Photo credit: Morgan Roberts
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This week's talk is so important - not just for readers and writers, but for all of us, our friends, family, sisters, daughters, mums, neighbours...
Emma and Kat get into why bringing serious topics into pop culture is so vital, how the messaging is an important aspect of changing culture and what we might do if we recognise ourselves or our loved ones in the dynamic that is shared so truthfully in Emma's latest novel, Pictures of You!!
A review from IG (@karin.heartwell) of the book:
Pictures of You is the latest book by Canberra author @emmagreyauthor and it is a must-read.
Emma has tackled and mastered the topic of coercive control and emotional abuse in relationships while also giving readers hope that healthy relationships are possible, not just toxic ones.
It is a difficult read for me as it is a bit too close to home, having escaped a toxic relationship full of domestic violence. I have yet to experience a healthy relationship and while that seems way out of reach at times, Emma's writing gives me (and others, too) hope.
We must talk about abuse, every day, especially to boys growing up right now.
Things are changing but only so slowly.
More than 80 women have been killed in Australia this year alone due to domestic violence.
Men are still in positions of power where they get to abuse, hate and kill us and apparently, no one ever saw it coming because he has always been 'such a good bloke’.
Enough with this truth avoidance!
We must bring on change, in big and small ways. One way is to read Emma's book and talk about it with the boys and men in your life.
Books have always had the power to change the world for the better, and Pictures of You is no different.
Thank you, Emma, for this book.
Looking for assistance? The following resources may help...
USA Resources
National Hotline and resources
Domestic Violence Support | National Domestic Violence Hotline (thehotline.org)
Homepage | National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC)
Start By Believing – Ending the Cycle of Silence in Sexual Assault
AUS Resources
National Hotline and Resources
Public Awareness free training AUS
Public awareness workshops (dvalert.org.au)
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What a fantastic, fun convo this week with the incredible Australian top 25 fiction author, Tricia Stringer!!
This week, we chat about her process, the difference between author-directed vs character-directed writing/plotting, as well as the joy of embracing the editorial process - such fabulous insights!!
Check out Tricia's extensive backlist and social media here:
https://www.triciastringer.com.au/
https://www.instagram.com/triciastringerauthor/
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This week's chat with Shelley Davidow, author of The Girl With the Violin, was full of insight about the creative process... We chatted about her substantial backlist, the differences in writing memoir vs fiction and how each of them dance with truth!
Get your hands on a copy of her beautiful novel, The Girl With the Violin, and find out more about Shelley here:
https://shelleydavidow.com/
https://www.instagram.com/shelleydavidow/
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What a fabulous conversation this week with Andrea Barton, editor and author of fun new mystery, The Godfather of Dance! We specifically chatted about how she approaches her work as an editor vs her creative work as an author as well as the importance of Point of View in novel writing.
Check out more of what Andrea is up to here:
Author website: https://andreabartonauthor.com/
Editing website: https://brightsidestorystudio.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andreabartonauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreabartonauthor/
X: https://twitter.com/AndreaBartonAu
#murder #ballroomdance
#familysecrets
#journalistinvestigation #betrayal
#loyalty #siblingrivalry #fictionbooks
#debutauthor #Intrigue #Secrets
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This week I got to talk with Jane Tara about her fantastic new book, TILDA IS VISIBLE (available now in Australia and soon-to-be released in the US)!
We chatted about Jane's process of writing a novel where she intentionally added more of herself to the fictional storyline, the beauty of making friends with that internal critic, what women deal with 'at a certain age', how meditation has been a game changer for her and so much more. Love, love, loved this chat!
Discover more about Jane Tara here:
https://www.janetara.com/
https://instagram.com/authorjanetara
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This week we talk to Writers Talking favourites, Lorissa Rinehart and Tracy Dawson, getting an update on book deals, TED talks and more!
Listen in as we chat about the differing paths to publication, how to build your writerly resilience, the way to embrace manifesting in your writing career (even if you hate the concept of 'manifesting') and why it's more important than ever to learn about (and share) the incredible stories of women in history.
Don't forget to check out the work both Lorissa and Tracy are doing by clicking the links to their websites and social pages:
https://www.lorissarinehart.com/
https://tracydawson.net/
https://instagram.com/lorissa_rinehart
https://instagram.com/dawsontracy
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Welcome back as we get started with Season 3 of Writers Talking!
In this episode, we chat with the ever-insightful Sara Foster, author of multiple books, including the upcoming thriller WHEN SHE WAS GONE. In our conversation, Sara shares what she's observed about the limits of verbal communication, how it affects our understanding of each other and the ways she has begun to explore the other kinds of communication between characters in her stories to show rather than tell. Really thought-provoking and undoubtedly only the start of a compelling and ongoing conversation!
Check out Sara's website here: https://www.sarafoster.com.au/
And keep your eye out for pre-orders to open on WHEN SHE WAS GONE, available everywhere April 2025!
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