Book Matters

On the podcast today Sam speaks with debut Australian author Michael Thompson about his novel How to be Remembered which is a heartwarming, poignant and ultimately inspiring novel about the important things in life.

Then Kate talks to Tara Calaby about her debut Australian historical fiction novel House of Longing which is set in 1895 and takes place largely in Kew Asylum. It explores loss, grief and the building of community, with a touch of romance on the side.

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On Book Matters this month Janine chats to Sydney based crime writer Rae Cairns about her heart stopping thriller Dying to Know which is a page turning novel about A desperate phone call. A decade of questions and A deadly race to find the truth.

Then we go across the world to New York City where Sam speaks with debut novelist Mikki Brammer about her book The Collected Regrets of Clover, which reminds us all to live our best life with fewer regrets.

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This month on Book Matters we have a Historical Fiction episode.  First up Janine talks to South Australian author Victoria Purman, where we find out all about her new novel “A Woman’s Work’’ which takes us back to Australia in the 1950’s and the Australian Women’s Weekly cooking competition, where two women have the possibility of a new kind of future.

Then Carol speaks with well-known author Jackie French about her new novel "Becoming Mrs Mulberry" which is about the secrets we carry, those that we unearth - and those that are too dangerous to tell.

And of course we have some more great book reviews from our staff here at the library.  

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Today on the podcast Janine speaks with Sydney Author Genevieve Gannon who is an award-winning Sydney-based journalist and author of four novels. Her new book The Gifted Son, explores the subject of “one punch” when a talented student is a victim and the consequences of everyone around him.   Genevieve is fast becoming the Australian version of Jodi Picoult  where she writes about moral dilemmas in her novels. 

Then Courtney speaks with Aussie writer Simon Rowell about his crime thriller series. His latest novel is a fast-paced crime story, vividly set in the towns along the Murray River. Wild Card is a gripping new mystery about gang warfare and small-town corruption, featuring a crime-fighting duo like no other. 

We hope you enjoy! 

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In our first episode for 2023 we celebrate Library Lovers Day!

 Courtney speaks with Nina Kenwood about her new novel Unnecessary Drama which is a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers story. And a coming-of-age story, and a moving-out-of-home story, and a making-new-friends story, and a dealing-with-anxiety story. And according to the author it’s funny!

Then Carol speaks to Canberra author Emma Grey about her new novel The Last Love Note, which she wrote in the wake of her husband’s death. It’s a fictional tribute to their love, an attempt to articulate the magnitude of her loss and a life-affirming commitment to hope.

We hope you enjoy!

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Back in lockdown during 2021 we had the pleasure of speaking with historical fiction writer Fiona McIntosh.   She was just launching her new novel ‘The Spy’s Wife’ which takes us from the windswept moors of the Yorkshire dales, to the noisy beer halls of Munich, and grand country estates in the picture-book Bavarian mountains.   This is a lively and high-stakes thriller that will keep you second-guessing until the very end.   She also briefly spoke about her writing process and research for her books as well as hinting at a new Jack Hawksworth novel to be released in 2023.

We hope you enjoy!

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Sue shares an interview with author Heather Morris who tells us about her global bestselling novel "Three Sisters" which is based on the incredible true story of the Meller sisters - a beautiful story of hope in the hardest of times and of finding love after loss.    Three Sisters is her third novel, and the final piece in the phenomenon that is the Tattooist of Auschwitz series.   We hope you enjoy

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Back in February last year we had the pleasure of speaking with Sydney author Mary-Anne O’Connor for Library Lovers Day.   She spoke about her writing process and told us all about her inspiration for her new novel “Dressed by Iris”, which is a vivid, romantic story of Sydney in the 1930s Depression - the heartbreak, the glamour, the dark underbelly, the struggle towards a better day - and one young woman's dream of designing her way from rags to riches.

She also speaks about her work with the Hornsby Ku-ring-ai Women’s Shelter which offers safe emergency accommodation and support services to women facing domestic violence and homelessness.

We hope you enjoy.

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Welcome to our Summer Series where we look back at some of the In-Conversation online events over the previous year. 

Back in lockdown we had the utmost pleasure in speaking with Australian Author Judy Nunn via Zoom who told us all about her new novel Showtime,  which will take you from the cotton mills of England to the magnificent theatres of Melbourne, on a scintillating journey through the golden age of Australian showbusiness.   Judy also tells us about her transition from Actor to Author and what goes on behind the scenes in the theatre world as well as what inspired her other novels. 

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 In our final episode for 2022 Carol has a wonderful chat with Christine Courtenay who has written a memoir about her late husband Bryce Courtenay. From his humble beginnings in Africa to his dazzling success in advertising and as a bestselling author, Bryce’s extraordinary, rags-to-riches life story reads like one of his epic novels. It was a life marked by all the big themes – overcoming adversity, love, loss, hard-won success, fame and fortune, and holding tight to a dream. Christine uncovers the events that shaped the man behind the stories – a man complex, driven and unfailingly positive, who never lost sight of his childhood dream to be a writer. Then to round off the year Janine speaks with Melbourne author of over 80 novels Nicola Marsh about her writing life and her new novel The Promise of Home - a rural fiction novel set in Victoria which would make an ideal book to take away for your summer holidays.

Lastly from all the team here at Book Matters we hope you all have a great festive season and we will be back in 2023 with more reading recommendations and interviews with a whole new group of writers

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