Di Morrissey is the out and out Queen of Australian popular fiction, with 3.5 million books sold and her latest, 28th novel - Before the Storm – recently debuting at number 1.br /

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She’s published one of her page-turners every October for 28 of the last 29 years, but she’s so much more than Australia’s top novelist. She’s a dedicated local newspaper editor and a committed environmentalist who in 2019 was awarded Australia’s top honor, made a Member of the Order of Australia for services to literature, conservation and the environment.br /

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Hi there, I’m your host Jenny Wheeler and in today’s episode Di talks about getting the last laugh on the critics who once described her books as “hair spray on a page,” and why she’s made it her life’s work to write books with an enduring sense of Australian location and identity.br /

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Bonuses include regular weekly Getting To Know you Five Quickfire Questions with authors, giving a fund candid snapshot of their likes and dislikes, as well as an exclusive monthly Behind the Scenes newsletter giving previews of upcoming books. You can join and get this bonus content and having the satisfaction of knowing you are helping pay some of the hosting and production costs for the show. The time I give to the show in sourcing guests and researching their books is still free. Become a Patreon supporter today by going to https://www.patreon.com/thejoysofbingereading/br /

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SUPPORT BINGE READING ON PATREONbr /

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Six things you’ll learn from this Joys of Binge Reading episode:br /

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How taking a gamble on her first book paid offWhy she's so passionate about local newspapersThe wise godfatherly advice that's guided her careerHow being popular also got her snubbedThe writers she admires mostHow a reader's dog ended up on her latest coverbr /

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Where to find Di Morrissey: br /

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Website: https://dimorrissey.com.au/br /

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Facebook: @Dimorrisseybr /

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Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/dimorrisseyauthor/br /

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What follows is a near as transcript of our conversation, not word for word but pretty close to it, with links to important mentions.br /

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Jenny Wheeler: But now, here’s Di. Hello there, Di, and welcome to the show. It's great to have you with us.br /

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Introducing Di Morrissey, authorbr /

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Di Morrissey: Thank you Jenny. It's fun to do this and catch up.br /

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Jenny Wheeler: It’s wonderful. You are out and out the queen of Aussie fiction. You're billed as Australia's favorite storyteller and the proof is in the pudding. Your latest book, Before the Storm, I believe it debuted at number one in the seller list, didn't it?br /

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Di Morrissey - authorbr /

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Di Morrissey: Australian fiction, yes. I'm still up there in the top five or something, but there are so many wonderful books coming out this year and all in October, so we all have to take our turn. I think Covid has been extraordinary for encouraging people to read books again. It's wonderful.br /

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Jenny Wheeler: That’s good news. Before the Storm is your 28th novel in 29 years – a remarkable record in itself – and you've clocked up something like 3.5 million book sales in the time you've been writing.German readers love Aussie storiesbr /

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German readers love Aussie storiesbr /

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Di Morrissey: In Australia, yes.br /

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Jenny Wheeler: Do you sell anywhere else?br /

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