We ask how the wheatbelt has been imagined and depicted in the literature of Australia, investigate a new exhibition that charts the controversial history of the Orange People or Sannyasins in Fremantle, talk to Sarah Schmidt about her novel based on a 19th century mystery and look at the Top Shelf of visual artist Brook Andrew.

We start with Looking for Rose Paterson which uncovers the family life that created one of Australia's most prolific early balladeers, Banjo Paterson; then we meet John Darnielle, the man behind the American band The Mountain Goats, whose second novel is a troubling tale set in the seemingly calm cornfields of small town Iowa, and we end by examining the origins of Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes.

Charm of Finches + Heath Cullen at the National Folk Festival; artistic responses to the Stations of the Cross; photographs of Sydney's 1930s Razor Gangs with colour; remembering John Clarke; Colson Whitehead wins the Pulitzer

Australian author Lia Hills on her novel The Crying Place, Chloe Hooper's Hear This, Thought of You letter to composer Andrea Keller, Brentley Frazer's memoir Scoundrel Days, Claudia Lawson reviews Australian Ballet, Faster.

First, we follow our nose to find out how Charles Dickens used scents and smells to evoke class, social injustice, despair and hope; then we meet Rob Broderick and Sam Wilson, an Irish freestyle rap musical comedy duo; and finally, we learn about the history of female detectives, real and imagined.

Today some fascinating revelations from the letters of much lauded writer Christina Stead, Jess Ribeiro and Mike Noga share their thoughts on the art of song writing ahead of the Melbourne Rock and Roll Writers Festival, we assess the impact of Cyclone Debbie on the arts community in Northern NSW and spoken word performers Miles Merrill and Sara Mansour discuss the growth of poetry slam events in Australia.

We take an olfactory tour of the novels of Charles Dickens, discover the art of Nathan Beard, which combines dusty old family photos and Swarovski crystals, and journey beyond the vinyl frontier with songs that feature laughter.

Pistols and Petticoats documents a history of female detectives, both real and imagined; we speak to Stephen Greenall about his Sydney crime novel, Winter Traffic,and a new book looks at the story behind one of Australia's most important novels Joan Lindsay's Picnic at Hanging Rock.

Stories from detention; Lord of the Flies onstage; Kate Cherry new CEO of NIDA

The Untold Story of Bertha and Henry Lawson with Kerrie Davies, Bill Hayes on his relationship with Oliver Sacks, Irish duo Abandoman here for Melbourne International Comedy Festival