We often talk about persistence in the journey of an aspiring author, and for podcaster Sam Elliott, his 20 years of working towards publication had many twists and turns. Now finally with his debut crime/thriller novel Haze under his belt, in this episode Sam shares the turning points that got him to this stage – including completing a particular AWC course – and the inspiration for telling this particular story. He also shares advice for other aspiring writers and the importance of a writing community.

00:00 Welcome
03:45 Writing tip: Check your Notes app
07:41 WIN!: The Violin Maker’s Secret by Evie Woods
09:07 Word of the week: ‘Ditheism’
10:41 Writer in residence: Sam Elliott
11:55 Sam describes his debut crime thriller, Haze
14:00 Sam’s history of writing
16:45 The inspirations for the bushfire storyline
18:03 Creating and developing characters
19:02 Writing about cults
20:55 The experience of completing the AWC course
22:20 Finding a last writing community
24:29 Advice for aspiring writers
25:54 Making peace with the publishing journey
27:40 Writing the book and securing an agent
30:30 Getting the offer and how surreal it was
32:53 Research for this book
36:44 The best and worst part of writing the book
38:10 Being on the other side of interviews
39:55 Balancing writing with life
41:37 Final thoughts

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The cosy crime genre has exploded in recent years, with older protagonists featuring heavily (they tend to have more time on their hands for solving mysteries, you see). But what happens when your older protagonist has a murderous past? That’s the hilarious set up for British actor, comedian and author Fergus Craig’s new ‘cracked cosy’ whodunnit I’m Not the Only Murderer in my Retirement Home. In this episode, Fergus talks about how he started writing crime books, the joys and challenges of bringing his latest novel to life, its international bidding war, and why he decided to walk from the UK to New Zealand.

00:00 Welcome
03:59 Writing tip: Keep track of your stories
07:29 WIN!: On the Edge by Kate Horan
09:47 Word of the week: ‘Infuscate’
12:05 Writer in residence: Fergus Craig
13:00 Fergus explains I’m Not the Only Murderer in my Retirement Home
15:30 The attraction of cosy crime
16:55 Getting a book deal via social media
17:54 The appeal of a whodunnit plot
22:42 The writing process: Planning vs. improvisation
24:27 Challenges and joys of writing the book
26:04 Differences between writing for TV and books
28:02 Fergus’s daily writing routine
29:49 Publishing journey and success
32:59 Advice on writing comedy
35:32 Promoting the book and social media success
39:20 Extra tips about writing
40:46 Final thoughts

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Two thousand years ago in Britain, the historical figure of Boudicca famously revolted against the Roman Empire and carved a path across the land. This later sparked many myths and stories – including the new historical fantasy novel Nightshade and Oak by author Molly O’Neill. In this episode, Molly discusses her inspirations for telling this story and the experience of writing and editing it. She also shares her take on blending science and creativity and the joys of writing under contract. 

00:00 Welcome
06:18 Writing tip: Block in time for your writing
08:12 WIN!: The Ironbark Promise by Léonie Kelsall
9:56 Word of the week: ‘Parvenu’
10:22 Writer in residence: Molly O’Neill
10:57 Molly explains her new book, Nightshade and Oak
12:42 Landing on the point of view character
18:08 How Molly fits writing into her geologist life
21:53 Balancing science and creativity
23:04 The importance of accurate physics in writing
23:53 Molly’s prolific reading and reviewing pastime
25:44 Backing yourself as an author
26:40 Landing her first publishing deal
28:10 The pressure of writing under contract
30:19 Engaging with readers and book clubs
31:34 Upcoming projects and genre exploration
33:23 A writing tip on editing
34:26 Final thoughts

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There are three short words you’re often told when you first walk into a nail salon – and they form the title of award-winning Laotian Canadian poet and author Souvankham Thammavongsa’s new novel Pick a Colour. In this episode, Souvankham explains how the novel came about, its unusual inspiration and timeframe as well as the cultural and power dynamics it explores.

00:00 Welcome
06:03 Writing tip: Dealing with rejection|
08:58 WIN!: Staged by John M. Green
10:44 Word of the week: ‘Lactometer’
13:19 Writer in residence: Souvankham Thammavongsa
14:33 Explaining the story of Pick a Colour
15:25 The Seinfeld episode inspiration!
18:10 How her characters see the world
19:40 The boxing inspiration
21:41 Setting limitations on the story
23:26 Language and cultural identity
25:07 From short stories to the novel
27:31 Writing techniques and influences
29:41 Character dynamics and power themes
33:14 The writing process and Souvankham’s backstory
37:00 Awards and recognition
40:55 Discussing the work done in the margins
43:47 Advice for aspiring writers
45:11 Final thoughts

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War stories are often famously told by the victors. But what of the stories of civilians caught up in the conflict? These themes intersect in World-War-II-era Hong Kong in AWC graduate Emma Pei Yin’s debut historical novel, When Sleeping Women Wake – and in this episode she shares her inspirations, the book’s themes and the publishing process, including a fascinating connection with the cover designer.

00:00 Welcome
03:41 Writing tip: Avoiding info dumping
07:05 WIN!: The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave
08:39 Word of the week: ‘Gimcrack’
12:03 Writer in residence: Emma Pei Yin
13:05 Emma explains When Sleeping Women Wake
13:53 Why this story?
16:20 Influences and inspirations for the book
17:35 Balancing historical fiction and fact
19:10 The research process
21:20 The note collection process
22:27 Telling the authentic voices of Chinese people
23:39 Character development and their unique resistance
25:55 Class structure and historical contexts
27:35 Language and authenticity in this story
29:03 Morally ambiguous choices in war
30:49 The publishing process
34:51 Cover designs and market differences
38:04 Promoting the book and meeting readers
39:44 The importance of solidarity in telling niche stories
40:52 Emma’s advice for writers
42:03 Final thoughts

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A lot of old bands these days seem to be reforming for reunion tours – allowing older fans to reminisce (usually while sipping wine and sitting in a comfy picnic chair). This idea fascinated author Rebecca Heath, so in her new book The Last Encore, she decided to not only get a fictional old-school band back together but add a documentary crew and a dead body into the mix! In this episode, Rebecca shares the real-life music inspirations for the book, her editing insights and much more!

00:00 Welcome
04:09 Writing tip: Watch Shrek
07:39 WIN!: Kill Your Boss by Jack Heath
09:30 Word of the week: ‘Cucumiform’
13:59 Writer in residence: Rebecca Heath
14:34 Rebecca outlines The Last Encore
17:55 Music inspirations for the book
20:00 Defining what a ‘boy band’ is
22:28 Exploring the theme of secrets
23:55 Publishing journey insights
24:52 Writing process and routine
27:52 Balancing writing and editing
29:00 Deciding whodunnit
31:22 What to cut
34:21 The role of community in writing
37:23 Future projects and staying on brand
41:04 Rebecca’s tip for writers
43:00 Final thoughts

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It was a single photo of AWC graduate William J. Byrne’s grandmother standing outside a ramshackle home that formed the spark that inspired this self-confessed history buff to explore stories of his past and the experiences of Aboriginal people leading up to the 1960s. The result is his debut novel, The Warrumbar – spanning half a century and casting light on a lesser-told chapter of Australia. In this episode, William shares his inspirations and publishing journey, and the AWC course that made all the difference.

00:00 Welcome
04:03 Writing tip: Enter writing competitions
07:18 WIN!: What Happened That Night by Nicci French
09:55 Word of the week: ‘Puissance’
10:45 Writer in residence: William J. Byrne
11:05 What The Warrumbar is about
12:58 Why he wrote for this time frame
15:00 What inspired William to write the book
16:45 Stories from family members
18:00 Writing a teenage character
19:00 Balancing research with family stories
21:12 The note-taking process
22:23 Moses as a lens for the Aboriginal experience
23:38 Australia's historical awareness
25:44 The path to publication
29:11 Completing a writing course with AWC
30:50 The importance of writing communities
33:42 Major themes of the book
35:55 Advice for writers
36:34 Future writing projects
37:59 Final thoughts

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When was the last time you visited a zoo? Well, now imagine you’re visiting the last zoo on Earth and you have the premise for Emma Sloley’s new book, The Island of Last Things. In this episode, Emma shares the inspiration, research and publishing experience for this book and some of the larger themes this piece of fiction evokes.

00:00 Welcome
04:10 Writing tip: Aim for rejections!
08:30 WIN!: Tom Clancy Executive Power by Andrews & Wilson
11:22 Word of the week: ‘Pelf’
11:56 Writer in residence: Emma Sloley
13:03 What is The Island of Last Things about?
13:50 How Emma got the idea for the book
16:00 Discussing the term ‘climate fiction’
19:00 Researching Alcatraz for the book
21:37 Gathering insights from zookeepers
24:19 Transition to American characters
25:35 Publishing journey and agent experiences
28:34 Editing process with agents and editors
31:34 Balancing writing and travel
34:39 Current writing projects
38:40 Tips for aspiring writers
41:06 Final thoughts

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Are YOU ready to unlock your potential in 2026? Join us for a special ‘manifestation’ episode of the podcast, as Valerie is joined by Matt Cooke, author of Beyond Wanting: The Art of True Manifestation. Matt shares his personal story into manifestation – from skeptic to believer AND how he manifested his book deal – and some key ideas you can use immediately in taking actionable steps towards achieving goals. It’s a positive blend of inspiration and practical advice for anyone looking to make meaningful changes in the year ahead!

00:00 Welcome
03:25 Practical steps and skepticism
04:34 Valerie's personal connection to goal setting
07:53 Writer in residence: Matt Cooke
09:06 Understanding ‘Beyond Wanting’ and manifestation
13:35 Common manifestation mistakes
17:10 Matt’s own journey
17:50 Getting the book deal of his dreams – literally
26:01 How Matt got into manifestation
33:40 The power of gratitude for future events
34:20 The science of reality
39:23 Signs and synchronicities to look for
43:20 The numerical significance of 2026
48:18 Manifestation stories and lessons
57:07 Practical steps for the year ahead
1:03:01 Final thoughts

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We’ve all heard of the ‘muse’ but what about the ‘mewwwws’? That’s the sound of authors' cats, and in this episode, Susannah Fullerton discusses her wonderfully titled book, Great Writers and the Cats Who Owned Them – exploring the unique relationships between famous authors and their feline companions. Susannah shares how she researched the topic, choosing the authors and the magical publishing story, as well as offering tips to aspiring nonfiction writers.

00:00 Welcome
07:26 Writing tip: Follow the formatting guidelines
09:36 WIN!: Tailored Realities by Brandon Sanderson
12:24 Word of the week: ‘Clerisy’
12:59 Writer in residence: Susannah Fullerton
14:10 Explaining her book, Great Writers and the Cats Who Owned Them
14:45 The inspiration for the book
17:50 Choosing and placing authors in the book
19:30 Animal protection and authors
22:30 Research methods
24:40 Organising all her notes
26:41 The timeline of writing the book
27:35 The pitching process
30:01 The joy of getting published
32:22 Publicity and promotion of the book
36:34 Merchandising and collaborations
37:27 Balancing lecturing and writing
38:22 Where her ideas come from  
42:51 The timeless appeal of classics
46:32 Advice for aspiring nonfiction writers
48:58 Final thoughts

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