Book Matters

Janine speaks with Sydney writer Tania Blanchard about her new Australian historical fiction novel The Paris Prize.

We chat about all things Australian wool growing, the use of our wool in Paris, haute couture, Christian Dior and women living, growing and running sheep properties in Australia back in the day.

The perfect book for History month.

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Courtney speaks with Australian crime writer Vikki Petraitis and delves into her new novel The Reckoning which is the third in a series featuring Detective Antigone Pollard and her partner, Wozza.

They talk about her writing and her true crime works of non-fiction as well as a screen adaptation of her first novel The Unbelieved.

We hope you enjoy.

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Janine speaks with Victorian writer Jock Serong in a Back to Chat episode where we talk about his biography 'A Suitable Man - the eccentric life of Fletcher Jones'

We talk about how Fletcher transformed Australian menswear through manufacturing high-quality, ready-made clothing using Australian wool and pioneered employee ownership, by giving staff a significant share in the company. 

It was a fascinating look into his life and times and the perfect book to celebrate History month.   I hope you enjoy!

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On this episode of Book Matters, Sam speaks with Ilka Tampke, an Australian award-winning author, academic and teacher about her latest novel "How to Love the World"

How To Love the World is a story about the forest. But more than that, it is a story about motherhood, family, and generational trauma. How the lives of our ancestors continue to shape our own lives, and how our childhood impacts us in ways we couldn't have predicted.

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Janine speaks with Melbourne writer Victoria Hannan about her new novel - 'I Love The Whole World'  which is a celebration of life and self.   Hilarious, joyous and beautifully observed, it is a novel about friendship, ageing and the extra/ordinary act of deciding to begin again.

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Courtney speaks with Margaret Hickey who is an award-winning author and playwright from North East Victoria.  Margaret won the Ned Kelly Award for Best Fiction in 2025 for The Creeper.

They chat about her new novel Cold River - a thought-provoking crime mystery set in Victoria's High Country.

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Janine chats with Australian writer Anna Johnston about her new novel 'When Lemons give you Life' - An enchanting, heart-stirring novel about rediscovering joy when life has lost its flavour, from the author of the bestselling novel 'The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife'.

We hope you enjoy. 

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In this episode Janine speaks with Perth writer Holly Craig about her new thriller Find Me, a terrifying survivalist thriller as two sisters navigate the eerie Tasmanian wilderness, in search of their missing brother.

An emotionally charged and vividly written novel that is an exploration of complex family dynamics. Utterly chilling (in both its terror and temperature definitions) and tense, this is a perfect winter thriller.

We  hope you enjoy!

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Tim speaks with writer and illustrator Rebecca Lim based in Melbourne, Australia. She worked as a commercial lawyer for several years before leaving to write full time. 

They chat about her new novel The Graduate - a tense and compelling legal thriller examining the lasting impact of historical wrongs and the courage required to confront them.

We hope you enjoy.

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In this episode Janine speaks to Petronella McGovern about her new novel 'Every Time She Wakes', a taut, time-bending thriller about family, identity and defying fate.

We last spoke to her back in 2022, and if you want to know more about Petronella you can find this in our episode library.

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