Better Words

Welcome to The Re-Read: bonus episodes where we chat with previous Better Words guests and catch up on what's happened since they joined us on the pod.

Lauren Draper is a Melbourne-based writer and marketing professional. She is a graduate of RMIT's Professional Writing and Editing program and now works in publishing - she loves nothing more than a story infused with magic, hijinks and a touch of nostalgia. Her debut novel, The Museum of Broken Things, was acquired after it was shortlisted in the 2020 Text Prize, and went on to be shortlisted for The Readings Prize and Indie Book Awards, and longlisted for the CBCA Book of the Year (Older Readers). She grew up in Western Australia, mostly on land but often in water. She now lives in Melbourne, where she can be found almost exclusively complaining about the weather.

Listen to our previous chat with Lauren here.

You can follow @laurendraperwrites on Instagram

In this interview, we chat about:

• Dead letter offices, abandoned buildings and the inspiration for Return to Sender
• Dual timelines and choosing to keep technology to a minimum
• Lauren on skipping 'second book syndrome' by starting to write Return to Sender before the publication of her debut
• The effect of critical acclaim on Lauren as a writer
• Different covers in different markets and prepping for a US release

Books and other things mentioned:

• Feed by Mira Grant
• 10 Things I Hate About You (film)

Return to Sender is available now in Australia and from August 13 in the US and UK. Thank you to the publishers for providing copies of the book in preparation for the interview.

Connect with us on Instagram: @betterwordspod

Welcome to The Re-Read: bonus episodes where we chat with previous Better Words guests and catch up on what's happened since they joined us on the pod.

Bri Lee is a writer, journalist and activist. Her debut book Eggshell Skull was a multi-award winner. She followed this with Beauty and Who Gets to Be Smart. She is working on a PhD in law at the University of Sydney where she also lectures in media law. The Work is her first novel.

Listen to our previous chat with Bri here.

You can follow Bri @bri.e.lee on Instagram and check out News & Reviews.

*There's a little bit of background noise in this episode, sorry! Unfortunately, it's a hazard for us all recording remotely from home.

In this interview, we chat about:

• Why Bri feels more comfortable and excited about discussing The Work, in comparison to her previous non-fiction novels
• Why polarisation is a crucial part of any art (and why it means aggregating star reviews on platforms like Goodreads doesn't really work)
• Bri's writing process for this dual-perspective story
• The various selves needed to craft and then promote your work
• Why Bri views fiction and non-fiction as a spectrum rather than a binary
• Privilege, hard work and our obsession with the next young 'it' writers
• The work Bri does in creating News & Reviews

Books and other things mentioned:

• Good Material by Dolly Alderton
• Cool Story with Bri and Bridie
• Sally Rooney

The Work is available in Australia now.

Connect with us on Instagram: @betterwordspod

Liam Pieper is an author and ABIA-winning ghostwriter. The first was a memoir, The Feel-Good Hit of the Year, shortlisted for the National Biography Award and the Ned Kelly Best True Crime award. His second was the Penguin Special Mistakes Were Made, a collection of funny true stories. He was co-recipient of the 2014 M Literary Award, winner of the 2015 Geoff Dean Short Story Prize, the inaugural creative resident of the UNESCO City of Literature of Prague, and the 2018 National Library of Australia Creative Arts Fellow for Australian Writing. His novels are The Toymaker, Sweetness and Light and Appreciation, which is the book we're chatting about today.

Our interview begins at  22.00

We've got a Substack publication now! On the last day of the month, we share recommendations for two things we reckon you should read/watch/listen to. The beauty of Substack is you can revisit all our old editions and comment on our episode updates to share your thoughts. Come say hi!

Mini book club: Grown Ups and My Favourite Mistake by Marian Keyes

Well, there's been a huge gap in our reading: we've not read much/any Marian Keyes. So we thought we'd tackle some recent releases. Caitlin discusses Grown Ups (the only MK Michelle has read) while Michelle chats about the brand new My Favourite Mistake. Our overall verdict: Marian Keyes undoubtedly has it, the knack for writing genuinely funny, compelling and yet emotional novels. And we can't wait to read more!

In this interview, we chat about:

• Art as a commodity and the way this is explored in the book
• The ideas and events in Liam's own life that culminated in Appreciation
• Turning a critical eye on the publishing industry as part of Ollie's redemption arc
• Inside the world of a ghostwriter
• How Liam became a ghostwriter and his publishing journey

Books and other things mentioned:

• Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
• Yellowface by Rebecca Kuang
• Keanu and co: how celebrities became bestselling novelists
• 'Zoella and the ghostwriter' on Shameless Book Club Podcast
• Spare by Prince Harry
• Goosebumps books
• Sophie Hannah's Poiroit novels

Follow @liampieperwrites on Instagram

Appreciation is available in Australia now.

Connect with us on Instagram: @betterwordspod

Brydie Lee-Kennedy is an Australian TV writer. She has written on shows for Netflix, Apple TV and Disney. In a former life, she was a cabaret performer, kid's party entertainer and sex columnist. Today, we're discussing her debut novel Go Lightly.

Our interview begins at  26.00

We've got a Substack publication now! On the last day of the month, we share recommendations for two things we reckon you should read/watch/listen to. The beauty of Substack is you can revisit all our old editions and comment on our episode updates to share your thoughts. Come say hi!

Bit of a different intro this week. Caitlin has had a huge week at work and what she's been reading is still secret. But Michelle has been on an exciting trip to Berlin. So, we decided to discuss some of the content related to that trip. Here's what she shared:

• Berlin Game by Len Deighton
• Alone in Berlin by Hans Fallada
• In Search of Berlin by John Kampfner
• Marzahn, Mon Amour by Katja Oskamp
• The Berliners by Emma Harding
• Stasiland by Anna Funder
• Turning Point: The Bomb and the Cold War (Netflix documentary)
• 'Nudism in East Germany' by We Are History podcast

In this interview, we chat about:

• Why we don't see much of the Aussie in the UK experience in books or on TV
• What it's like being a TV writer in Australia and the US
• The different versions of ourselves we present in relationships
• Writing about digital life and the effects it has on Ada's relationships in the book
• Why Brydie would never want to adapt her own book for the screen

Books and other things mentioned:

• The Rest is Entertainment (podcast)

Follow @brydieleekennedy on Instagram

Go Lightly is available in Australia and the UK now. Thank you to the publishers for providing copies of the book in preparation for the interview.

Connect with us on Instagram: @betterwordspod

Welcome to The Re-Read: bonus episodes where we chat with previous Better Words guests and catch up on what's happened since they joined us on the pod.

Dr Jodi McAlister is a romance author and romance scholar. Her latest novel is Not Here To Make Friends.

Listen to our previous chat with Jodi here.

You can follow @jodimcalister on Instagram

In this interview, we chat about:

• The complex reality TV world Jodi created across her rom-com trilogy, including exploring the series 'villains' in the final book
• Writing the third book in dual perspective and why this took Jodi by surprise (and why it was 'harder than all six of my previous books combined')
• Could Love Island inspire another series in the future?
• How Jodi planned the series, including plotting a season of a fictional dating show
• Jodi's next romance series and upcoming academic projects

Not Here to Make Friends is available now in Australia, along with Jodi's other books.

Connect with us on Instagram: @betterwordspod

Emma Darragh spends most of her time on Gadigal and Dharawal Lands. She holds a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Wollongong, where she works as a sessional academic. Her writing has appeared in numerous Australian publications, including Cordite, Westerly, Meniscus, TEXT, and The Big Issue Fiction Edition. Emma’s debut novel-in-stories, Thanks for Having Me, is published by JOAN.

Our interview begins at  25:00

We've got a Substack publication now! On the last day of the month, we share recommendations for two things we reckon you should read/watch/listen to. The beauty of Substack is you can revisit all our old editions and comment on our episode updates to share your thoughts. Come say hi!

Mini book club: Prima Facie by Suzie Miller

Tessa has built a prestigious career as a barrister, a world away from her working-class roots. But when she is raped on a date with a colleague, she must reckon with everything she's believed about the law and justice. This is a stunning, thought-provoking and emotional novel.

Michelle received a copy for review from the publisher in the UK.

In this interview, we chat about:

• The story cycle format of Thanks for Having Me
• How the character of Vivienne inspired the novel
• How you structure a novel that's intentionally meant to be read out of order and the way Emma approached the writing process
• Emma's journey to publication

Books and other things mentioned:

• The Work by Bri Lee
• RBG (play by Suzi Miller)
• Eggshell Skull by Bri Lee
• Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
• A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
• Dubliners by James Joyce
• Alice Munro (author)
• Rubik by Elizabeth Tan
• The Flight of Birds by Joshua Lobb

Follow @emmaldarragh on Instagram.

Thanks for Having Me is available in Australia now. Thank you to the publisher for providing copies in preparation for the interview.

Connect with us on Instagram: @betterwordspod

Lottie Hazell is a contemporary literary scholar, board game designer and writer in Warwickshire. She holds a PhD in Creative Writing and her research considers food-writing in 21st Century fiction. Today, we’re discussing her debut novel Piglet.

Our interview begins at  16:00

We've got a Substack publication now! On the last day of the month, we share recommendations for two things we reckon you should read/watch/listen to. The beauty of Substack is you can revisit all our old editions and comment on our episode updates to share your thoughts. Come say hi!

Caitlin recommends: So Fetch: The Making of Mean Girls by Jennifer Keishin Armstrong*

A fascinating look behind the scenes of the iconic movie with so many interesting tidbits from those involved.

Michelle recommends: The Whalebone Theatre by Julia Quinn

A beautiful family saga following three children growing up in a crumbling English manor house by the sea, spanning from 1919 to the end of World War Two.

In this interview, we chat about:

• Family, aspiration and why perception is so vital to Piglet
• The 'contract' between the author and the reader and why Lottie wanted to play with that in revealing aspects of Piglet's story
• Food, desire and the connection with family
• Lottie's academic focus on food-centred fiction and how this led to writing Piglet
• Lottie's venture into boardgame designing with her partner

Books and other things mentioned:

• Sex and the City and Us by Jennifer Keishin Armstrong
• Simple Comforts by Mary Berry
• Ramsey in Ten by Gordon Ramsey
• The Roasting Tin series by Rukmini Iyer
• The Farm Tabel by Julius Roberts
• League of Lexicon (game)

Follow Lottie on Instagram @LDHazell

Piglet is available in the UK, US and Australia now! Thank you to the publisher for providing us with copies in preparation for the interview.

Connect with us on Instagram: @betterwordspod

Madeleine Gray is a writer and critic from Sydney. She was a 2021 Finalist for the Walkley Pascall Prize for Arts Criticism and has written for many publications. She also lived in the UK for several years, has an MSt in English Literature from the University of Oxford and is a current (remote) doctoral candidate at the University of Manchester. Green Dot is her debut novel.

Our interview begins at  20.00

We've got a Substack publication now! On the last day of the month, we share recommendations for two things we reckon you should read/watch/listen to. The beauty of Substack is you can revisit all our old editions and comment on our episode updates to share your thoughts. Come say hi!

Mini book club: Reputation by Lex Croucher

Mean Girls meets Bridgerton in this Regency-era romance. Add in a queer focus and we're absolutely here for it. Reputation is a delightful read, perfect for a holiday or devouring over a weekend. We can't wait to read Lex's other romance novels.

In this interview, we chat about:

• Hera's job as a comment moderator at a large news publication
• Exploring Hera's experience as a bi woman in her first straight-passing relationship
• Hera and her single dad's relationship (and why it's the best)
• Madeleine's unique journey to publication
• International cover (and name) changes
• The reception from readers and what that means to Madeleine

Books and other things mentioned:

• Listen to our interview with Lex Croucher
• Gentleman Jack (TV series)
• 'The first modern lesbian' Anne Lister
• We Had to Remove This Post by Hanna Bervoets
• In At the Deep End by Kate Davies
• Pride (film)
• Gay's The Word bookshop, London
• Neon Roses by Rachel Dawson
• Book Bar bookshop, London

Follow @gray_madeleine_ on Twitter or visit Madeleine's Website

Green Dot is available now in Australia and the UK. Thank you to the publishers for providing copies of the book in preparation for the interview.

Connect with us on Instagram: @betterwordspod

Kelly McCaughrain is a YA writer from Belfast, Northern Ireland. Her first book, Flying Tips for Flightless Birds won the Children's Books Ireland Book of the Year Award and NI Book Award. She was the Queens University Belfast Children's Writing Fellow 2019-2021. Her new YA, Little Bang, is about teen pregnancy and was published by Walker Books in January 2024. When she's not writing she's mentoring teen writers with Fighting Words NI or travelling in her ancient VW campervan, Gerda.

Our interview begins at  27.00

We've got a Substack publication now! On the last day of the month, we share recommendations for two things we reckon you should read/watch/listen to. The beauty of Substack is you can revisit all our old editions and comment on our episode updates to share your thoughts. Come say hi!

Caitlin recommends: Cherry Beach by Laura McPhee-Browne

Childhood best friends Hetty and Ness leave Melbourne to live abroad in Canada. This is a beautiful exploration of friendship and love, found through a library 'blind date with a book'. It felt like it took a while to read, but I really wanted to savour this writing.

Michelle recommends: Everyone On This Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson

This is a sequel, but you don't have to have read Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone to enjoy this witty and clever murder mystery. In this fiction disguised as a memoir, several mystery writers on a literary festival train journey must utilise their 'expertise' to investigate when one of their own is killed.

A copy was provided by the publisher for review.

In this interview, we chat about:

• The inequality of pregnancy and motherhood and how Kelly tackled this in a novel for teen readers
• Why a dual perspective was the best way to tell this story
• How to represent the nuance of the abortion debate and teen pregnancy through Mel and Sid
• The importance of exploring friendship dynamics alongside the pregnancy storyline
• How growing up in Northern Ireland during The Troubles impacted Kelly's writing
• The importance of humour in dealing with tough situations
• How a story competition helped Kelly score an agent
• The difference between writing her debut novel and this second novel
• Why it's so inspiring to teach creative writing to teens

Books and other things mentioned:

• I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara
• Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín
• Rebecca Kuang (author)
• The Afterparty (TV series)
• Shameless (podcast)
• Olive by Emma Gannon
• Derry Girls (TV series)
• Sinéad Morrissey (poet)

Follow @kmccaughrain on Instagram

Little Bang is available now. Thank you to Walker Books for sending copies of the books in preparation for the interview.

Connect with us on Instagram: @betterwordspod

Welcome to The Re-Read: bonus episodes where we chat with previous Better Words guests and catch up on what's happened since they joined us on the pod.

Libby Page became a Sunday Times bestselling author with her debut The Lido and has since become a staple of the 'up-lit' genre with her following novels The 24-Hour Cafe, The Island Home, and The Vintage Shop. Before becoming an author, Libby worked in journalism and marketing. She is a keen outdoor swimmer and lives in Somerset with her husband and young son. Today, we're discussing her upcoming novel, The Lifeline, which sees the return of a beloved character from The Lido.

You can follow Libby @libbypagewrite on Instagram and read more of her writing over on Substack – where you can also follow us for lots of extra book recommendations.

In this interview, we chat about:

• Why returning to the world of The Lido was never inevitable
• How becoming a mum influenced The Lifeline and why Libby wanted to explore the (still somewhat taboo) topic of post-partum mental health
• Keeping the love for something when it becomes your career
• What Libby's learned about the publishing process since her debut novel

The Lifeline is published on April 25 in Australia and the UK. Thanks to Orion for providing copies of the book in preparation for the interview.

Connect with us on Instagram: @betterwordspod