Backstory

Sophie Hardcastle talks about her novel Below The Deck, and writer Jane Rawson from Read Tasmania talks about the #LockdownReadingGroup. Jane also shares her 'Comfort Reads.' 'Meet Us for Launch' celebrates Thrill Me: Suspenseful stories, edited by Lynette Washington, out now through Glimmer Press. With presenter Mel Cranenburgh.

Mel catches up with Anna Blackie, author of How to Adult: A Guide To Not Being A Trash Human And Other Life Lessons and chats to singer-songwriter Nicola Watson, whose album Welcome to the Bunker, Baby is out now on Bandcamp.

This week’s Comfort Read comes from Donna Ward and Meet Me for Launch celebrates the release of Laura Jean McKay’s The Animals in That Country, out now through Scribe.

Literary critic turned poet Thuy On talks about her debut, Turbulence, a collection of poetry that explores loss, separation, renewal; and writer Wayne Marshall talks about Shirl, his collection of stories.  Plus new segments 'Comfort Read' and 'Join Us For Lunch' feature contributions from Jo Case and Poppy Nwosu. With presenter Mel Cranenburgh.

Author and journalist Liam Pieper chats about his latest book, Sweetness and Light. Set in India, Liam says he wanted to tell a modern, subversive story about a vast and varied country with more nuance than the fetishised view of some other Western writers. Liam's first book, The Toymaker, was long-listed for best debut fiction by the Indie Book Awards and won the Fellowship of Australian Writers Christina Stead Fiction Award.

Backstory host Mel Cranenburgh and author Donna Ward share an extended chat about Donna's memoir, She I Dare Not Name: A spinster's meditations on life, 'a compelling collection of fiercely intelligent, deeply intimate, lyrical reflections on the life of a woman who stands on the threshold between two millennia'.

Mel Cranenburgh is joined by Mandy Beaumont, author of Wild, Fearless Chests (published by Hatchette), 'a timely debut short story collection that breaks open the idea of women from a powerful new Australian literary voice'. Freya Howarth then talks to Mel about literary awards and why they matter to up and coming writers.

Mel catches up with J.P. Pomare, author of In The Clearing, a taut and unpredictable thriller, out now through Hatchette Australia.

Dr. Lucy Buzacott and Associate Professor Larissa McLean Davies then join Mel to discuss the cultural cringe and the current teaching of literature in our educational institutions.

Mel talks to author Laura McPhee-Browne about her debut book, Cherry Beach, described by one critic as 'an acute and gripping novel about being made and unmade by first love'. Mel's then joined by Simon Conlon and Meadows Primary School students Cleo and Tana to chat about 100 Story Building's Story Hubs project.

Host Mel Cranenburgh returns for 2020 and her first guest is Ursula Dubosarsky, children’s author and recently annointed 2020–21 Australian Children’s Laureate.

Mel is then joined by Kamilaroi water scientist, Bradley Moggridge and, author of The Glad Shout, Alice Robinson to talk about Bush Nights: Stories from the Water hosted by Bush Heritage Australia. They will both be appearing at the first of this three part series at the Mechanics Institute in Brunswick on Thursday 13 February. More details here.

Mel Cranenburgh and Beth AQ team up for this special Backstory/Glasshouse extravaganza marking the final show for each program in 2019. They are joined by author Favel Parrett to discuss her latest book, There Was Still Love and Angela Meyer comes in to chat about her novella, Joan Smokes.

Beth and Mel talk about their highlight ‘reads of the year’ and tell us what they hope to be reading over the summer break.