In episode #164 Veronica and Laurie share writing and self-publishing tips, ISBNs, industry news, literary grants, quotes, new segment stings and more. Laurie catches up with thriller author Naomi Shippen about her latest book Before She Killed Him. Plus seven spectacular book spotlights. 

Book spotlights:
1. All we need by Magdalena McGuire – contemporary
2. Songs of Shadow, Words of Woe by Matthew R. Davis – horror
3. Stormy Normy Goes Reining by Leisa Fail - middle grade
4. The Sky’s Edge by Clare Anne McGrory – thriller
5. A Child Called Faye by Jess Senff – fantasy
6. Billion Dollar Blindspot: What is Your Workplace Culture Costing You? By Hacia Atherton – non-fiction
7. Bird Deity by John Morrissey – science fiction

Intro - 00:57
Publishing tips - 4:20
Industry news - 17:35
Book spotlights - 22:43
Author interview - 41:40
Post interview chat - 1:24:26
Quotes - 1:26:27

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In episode #163 we're getting down onto the little chairs and exploring the outside world with Australian picture book authors Annie Kwan and Tania Moloney. They share their unique inspiration and writing process, the delights of working with an illustrator and which of their characters would make the best podcast guest.

Intro - 0:57
Bio Tania Moloney - 2:38
Book Spotlight - Nature Ninja Saves The Natural World - 3:26
Bio Annie Kwan - 5:06
Book Spotlight - The Finch Who Lost Her Wing - 05:57
Using Aussie fauna to tell powerful stories - 11:27
Using characters teaching children about emotions and the world - 21:44
Working with illustrators - 31:38
Which of your characters would make the best podcast guest? - 42:21
What surprised you about publishing your book? - 47:23
Advice for new picture book writers - 53:41

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In episode #162 Veronica and Laurie have industry news, literary events, book spotlights and more. The Furphy Literary Awards 2026 are open and we chat with Robyn J Black, coordinator of the award and previous winner who shares the history of the competition, short story writing tips and so much more.

Book spotlights:
1. Lee Gordon Present by Jeff Apter - biography
2. Love Beyond Borders by Joshua Campbell - historical
3. Wending by Bel Hawley - contemporary
4. Soul Comfort by Alistair Conwell - non-fiction
5. The Maskeys by Stuart Everly-Wilson - contemporary
6. Confessions of a Minor Poet by Phil Brown - memoir

Intro - 00:57
Industry news - 16:04
Book spotlights - 21:33
Author interview - 35:54
Post interview chat - 1:07:57
Quotes - 1:09:07

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In episode 161 we're riding the coattails of three historical fiction writers into the past. We chat with authors Duncan Graham, Anne Vines and Paul Rushworth-Brown about their story inspiration, their writing process and what period in history they'd love to go back to.

Intro - 0:57
Bio Duncan Graham - 3:36
Book Spotlight - Where the Dust Settles by Duncan Graham - 4:33
Bio Anne Vines - 8:54
Book Spotlight - Flight by Anne Vines - 10:59
Bio Paul Rushworth-Brown - 16:15
Book Spotlight - Outback Odyssey by Paul Rushworth-Brown - 17:46
Research, fact and fiction - 21:54
Writing relatable characters - 33:05
Individual writing process - 45:38
Which historical period would you like to go back to? - 54:51
Advice for new writers - 1:01:05

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And we're back! Ep160 has Veronica and Laurie chatting author incomes, getting teens to read, Anna Featherstone's List of Australian Writers Festivals, and K.M. Allan's Writing Habits Checklist to get you into the New Year groove. So many lovely book spotlights, plus a wonderful chat with January Gilchrist about 'The Final Chapter' and a reading from The Serpent's Kiss from our very own Laurie Bell. And so much more...

Book spotlights:
1. The Serpent’s Kiss: Stones of Power Book 4 by Laurie Bell – YA Fantasy
2. Before She Killed Him by Naomi Shippen – mystery, thriller, domestic suspense
3. The Finch who lost her wing by Annie Kwan – picture book
4. The Wildflower of Asam by Gayatri Sarkar – historical
5. Moor to Sea: A journey along the Cleveland Way by Vicki Foote – memoir 
6. The Tyranny of Tomorrow by Magda Mizzi – dystopian scifi
7. Grayson’s Magical Mishaps by Kevin Klehr – fantasy

Intro - 00:57
Industry news - 8:10
Book spotlights - 18:06
Author interview - 38:00
Post interview chat - 1:26:53
Quotes - 1:29:11
Author reading - 1:32:17

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Episode 159 has Christmas written all over it. Veronica and Laurie chat rituals, folklore, food and book stocking fillers with six Australian authors whose work is set in the festive season: Madeleine D'Este, Sandy Barker, Lisa Heidke, Kevin Klehr, BG Hilton & Kay Kerr. Plus we share seasons greetings from 30 Australian Book Lovers authors - a little about their books and a little festive cheer.

Seasons Greetings from James Ynson, Nicole Kelly & Lisa Kenway - 0:57
Intro - 2:18
Seasons Greetings from Faye Hall, DT Bella, Max Jeffries - 5:11
Chat with Madeleine D'Este author of A Very Evangeline Christmas & Black Soil, White Bread - 7:27
Seasons Greetings from Leisa Fail, Verity Croker, Simon Higgins - 17:44
Chat with Sandy Barker author of The Christmas Swap & The Christmas Trip - 19:06
Seasons Greetings from Susan Rogers & John Roosen, Damien Linnane, Gabiann Marin - 28:34
Chat with Lisa Heidke author of Christmas Actually - 30:26
Seasons Greetings from Vanessa Bedford, Scott Leckie, Rowena Mabbott -39:37
Chat with Kevin Klehr author of Midnight Angel & Grayson's Magical Mishaps - 41:18
Seasons Greetings from Maria P Frino, Sandy Barker, George Ivanoff - 49:50
Chat with BG Hilton author of The Grimsdale Claimant - 51:14
Seasons Greetings from Tina Strachan, Heather Ewings, Michele Layet - 1:01:39
Seasons Greetings from Susannah Hardy, Holly Cardamone, Andrea Putting - 1:06:40
Chat with Kay Kerr author of Might Cry Later - 1:08:16
Seasons Greetings from Donna Cameron, Monika Schott, Madeleine D'Este - 1:14:36
More chat with Kay Kerr 1:16:23
Seasons Greetings from Amra Pajalic, David Cairns & SF Sowter - 1:28:05
Post chat - 1:30:12

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Episode 158 is up and humming. We chat book covers, Laurie's BookBub experience for White Fire, and tips for writing flash fiction. Veronica chats with contemporary author Johan du Toit about his stories in 'When Only Today Matters' and Johan reads an excerpt from the title story. Plus we have news, quotes, K.M. Allan's Unpredictability Checklist and so much more... 

Book spotlights:

1. Matter of Time by Daniel Caine – science fiction
2. No Dancing in the Lift by Mandy Sayer - memoir
3. Stormy Normy Finds His Forever Home by Leisa Fail– middle grade
4. Stormy Normy and the Tom Quilty Gold Cup by Leisa Fail – middle grade 
5. Fly Boy, Ace Pilot, A life cut short by Peter Hodge - non-fiction
6. Exuberance by Bel Vidal – contemporary 
7. Dreamy Days and Random Naps by Mawson - picture book

Intro - 00:57
Industry news - 17:25
Book spotlights - 28:15
Author interview - 46:32
Post interview chat - 1:29:12
Quotes - 1:33:36
Author reading - 1:35:52

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In episode #157, Veronica & Laurie explore fantasy in many forms with authors Maria Linwood, Dmetri Kakmi, Heather Ewings & Maxx Victor. Why does fantasy speak to so many readers? How do you keep a fantasy story relatable for modern readers? And so much more...

Intro - 0:57
Maria Linwood Bio - 4:37
Book Spotlight - Mistress of Amber and Flame by Maria Linwood - 5:25
Demetri Kakmi Bio - 6:52
Book Spotlight - The Woman in the Well by Dmetri Kakmi - 8:42
Heather Ewings Bio - 10:21
Book Spotlight - Klaria's Battle by Heather Ewings - 11:28
Maxx Victor Bio - 12:29
Book Spotlight - Cinder and Black by Maxx Victor - 14:19
Why does fantasy speak to so many readers? - 28:15
Where is your favourite fantasy world? - 48:31
Advice for emerging fantasy authors - 54:24

Book spotlights:
- Mistress of Amber and Flame by Maria Linwood - epic fantasy
- The Woman in the Well by Dmetri Kakmi - dark fantasy, horror
- Klaria's Battle by Heather Ewings - historical fantasy, folklore
- Cinder and Black by Maxx Victor - paranormal, fairytale retelling, YA

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Episode #156 is packed full of writer's resources. Veronica and Laurie have industry news and discussions (congrats to Holden Sheppard for making the WA Local Hero shortlist), K.M. Allan's Reverse Outlining checklist from her book Writing and Editing Checklist, plus book spotlights and quotes. We chat with Dr Alexandra Dane about Community Publishing in Regional Australia and the DIY Publishing Toolkit (by Beth Driscoll, Kim Wilkins, Sandra Phillips and Alexandra Dane).

Book spotlights:
1. Dear Little One: You're Perfect, Just As You Are by Christina Giuffré - children's 
2. Authorpreneurship: The Business of Creativity by Hazel Edwards – non-fiction
3. Writing for Young People by Hazel Edwards – non-fiction
4. Kaleidoscope of Ideas: Hands On Activities for Gifted Minds by Hazel Edwards – non-fiction
5. Dying to Tell Me by Sherryl Clark – YA
6. There is Always Love by Vanessa Maiorano - children's
7. You Choose MEGA: Prehistoric Peril by George Ivanoff – Middle Grade

Intro - 00:57
Industry news - 7:51
Book spotlights - 24:47
Author Interview - 40:14
Post interview chat - 1:36:14
Quotes - 1:38:49

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In episode #155, Veronica & Laurie are chasing adventure across the country and diving into dark alleys with mystery, crime and thriller authors Susan Rogers, John Roosen & Sean Gorman. What makes a great Aussie crime? What twists keeps readers turning the page? Have a listen and hear what these story tellers have discovered.

Intro - 0:57
Susan Rogers and John Roosen Bio - 3:31
Book Spotlight - Cobra Pose by Susan Rogers and John Roosen - 4:58
Sean Gorman Bio - 8:07
Book Spotlight - Shootin' Through by Sean Gorman - 8:56
What makes a good twist for a story? - 22:14
How do you balance realism in your story with our social climate? - 27:55
What makes a great Aussie crime? - 45:55 
What's the most thrilling thing you've ever done? - 53:09
Advice for new writers - 1:00:01

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Visit australianbooklovers.com to learn more.