Natasha Lester on setting goals, the business behind a bestseller and her latest novel, The Mademoiselle Alliance

In this episode of The Book Deal Podcast, Madeleine Cleary chats with  international bestselling author Natasha Lester. They discuss Natasha's latest novel, The Mademoiselle Alliance (26 March 2025, Hachette Australia), inspired by Marie-Madeleine Fourcade, the only woman to lead a resistance movement in WWII France. But she was also a rally car driver, a pilot and a highly skilled concert pianist! The conversation delves into Natasha's writing journey from contemporary fiction to historical novels, what Penny from Costco did to help her career, her experiences in publishing, and her advice for writers on balancing creativity with the business side of writing. The episode also highlights the importance of remembering the crucial efforts of Marie-Madeleine Fourcade and her network of 3000 resistance agents to the success of the Allied invasion of France in WW2.

This week's Debut in the Spotlight is Angie Cui. Angie's debut book and picture book is My Mum is a Bird (1st April 2025, UQP).

00:00 Introduction to The Book Deal Podcast

00:43 Meet Natasha Lester: International Bestselling Author

03:26 Natasha's Latest Novel and Writing Journey

05:09 The Early Days: Natasha's First Book Deal

11:49 From Marketing to Writing: Natasha's Career Shift

15:21 The Business of Being a Writer

18:34 Writing Historical Fiction

24:14 The Journey to Becoming a New York Times Bestseller

26:04 The Impact of Penny's Pick at Costco

28:46 Introducing 'My Mum is a Bird' by Angie Cui

30:05 The Significance of the New York Times Bestsellers List

31:12 Discovering Marie-Madeleine Fourcade's Extraordinary Life

40:05 Researching Historical Fiction

41:33 Goals and Optimism for 2025

44:01 Advice for Emerging Writers

45:45 Final Thoughts and Farewell

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