Backstory

Robbie Arnott joins Backstory to discuss his second novel, The Rain Heron, an allegorical, cautionary tale which has been described as “a journey into a perilous world where the horror of human greed collides with the eloquence of nature”; and Elizabeth Flux talks about 'This is not a Eulogy for Hong Kong', an essay in the latest issue of Kill Your Darlings, where she reflects on her rage, despair and helplessness while watching the crisis unfold in her homeland from afar.

With presenter Mel Cranenburgh.
Website: https://www.rrr.org.au/explore/programs/backstory

Mia Walsch’s new book, Something For Nothing, has been described as a ‘captivatingly honest memoir about surviving, sex work, friendships, drugs, mental illness and need’. In this long form interview, Mia discusses the challenging process of writing a memoir, the necessity of focussing on your own lived experiences, and how to remain considerate of others who have shared those experiences with you but may have chosen to not make them public. With presenter Mel Cranenburgh.
Website: https://www.rrr.org.au/explore/programs/backstory

Author Kate Grenville talks about her latest book, A Room Made of Leaves, a work of historical fiction that questions how and by whom our histories get constructed and reconstructed; and poet, educator and researcher, Evelyn Araluen Corr chats about the latest issue of Overland, which she co-edited with Jonathan Dunk. The new issue focuses on themes of Resistance. With presenter Mel Cranenburgh.

Website: https://www.rrr.org.au/explore/programs/backstory

Author K.M. Kruimink talks about winning the Vogel Award for her debut novel, A Treacherous Country, and Caro Llewellyn, the newly appointed CEO of Melbourne’s The Wheeler Centre, discusses what she hopes to bring to the role. With presenter Mel Cranenburgh.

Website: https://www.rrr.org.au/explore/programs/backstory

Novelist Chris Flynn talks about his new novel Mammoth, which is narrated by a 13,000-year-old extinct mammoth; and Sarah Walker speaks about her essay on the loss of a parent, in the latest issue of the Australian Book Review, ‘Contested breath: The ethics of assembly in an age of absurdity’. With presenter Mel Cranenburgh.

Website: https://www.rrr.org.au/explore/programs/backstory

Author James Bradley talks about his new novel Ghost Stories, and librarian and author Sarah Schmidt tells us about Yarra Plenty Regional library’s book valet service, matching readers of all ages to books that they’ll love.

This week’s Comfort Read is ‘Love in The Time of Cholera’ and Mel shares her thoughts on re-reading the classic novel.

With presenter Mel Cranenburgh.

Editors Evelyn Araluen and Jonathan Dunk discuss the upcoming issue of Overland literary journal which aims to bring the focus of the journal back to its radical roots while engaging with contemporary provocations, and author Laura Jean McKay tells us about her new book, The Animals in That Country.

This week’s Comfort Read is ‘Love in The Time of Cholera’ and Mel asks listeners to share their thoughts on the classic novel using the hashtag #loveinthetimeofbackstory on Insta.

With presenter Mel Cranenburgh.

Author Pip Williams chats about her new novel ‘The Dictionary of Lost Words’; and Matilda Dixon-Smith talks about her serialised rom-com ‘The Broken Heart Brigade’.

This week’s Comfort Read is ‘Love in The Time of Cholera’ and Mel asks listeners to share their thoughts on the classic novel using the hashtag #loveinthetimeofbackstory on Insta. Meet Me For Launch features Karen Turner’s ‘Stormbird’, out now through Fisher King.

With presenter Mel Cranenburgh.

Author Alice Williams chats about her self-help memoir 'Bad Yogi'; and playwright Hannie Rayson talks about being the Festival Programmer for this weekend’s Yarra Valley Writers Festival.

This week’s Comfort Read is ‘Love in The Time of Cholera’ and Mel asks listeners to share their thoughts on the classic novel using the hashtag #loveinthetimeofbackstory on Insta. Meet Me For Launch features Chris Flynn’s ‘Mammoth’ out now through UQP.

With presenter Mel Cranenburgh.

Ronnie Scott talks about his new novel The Adversary, and Anna Spargo-Ryan discusses what led to the publication of her essay A Conspiracy of Witches, out now in the latest issue of Meanjin. ‘Comfort Reads’ features the classic Gabriel Garcia Márquez novel Love In The Time of Cholera and ‘Meet Me for Launch’ gives a shout-out to speaker agency Booked Out’s new initiative Reaching Out Online. With presenter Mel Cranenburgh.