Writer, editor and now novelist, Lyn Yeowart, joined me on the program to discuss her debut novel, ‘The Silent Listener’. TRIGGER WARNING: The chat included lengthy discussions of child abuse, domestic violence, partner/spousal abuse, etc. If these subjects or their offshoots might trigger you, I do not recommend listening to this episode.

Topics discussed include:

- How the novel came to be, arising from a collection of creative non-fiction writings, along with a Masterclass and everything in between, ultimately forming into ‘The Silent Listener’.

- How items, seemingly innocuous ones, can be imbued with such power. How our empirical experience with them defines/denotes their importance and meaning to us. How a writer can be good at articulating to a reader the power of an item that might previously not have any sort of significance to them in their lives.

- Terror. How terror can subside, but never completely go away, for those living in such a setting. Lyn’s use of ‘eels’ – a fine description to capture such a sensation. How this terror is lifelong, including even when visiting an enfeebled abuser on their deathbed.

- Joy’s love of words, married with her imagination and synesthesia – the infinity library, what a good afterlife that would be.

- Reading. The bliss of reading. How it is Lyn’s form of meditation (mine too).

- And seriously so much more!

Thanks so much to Lyn for appearing on the program and discussing her incredible novel with me. You can pick up your copy from PRH here:

https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-silent-listener-9781760895730