Unsurprisingly, I’m very much drawn to the work of debut Australian authors. And this year, I’m delighted to be interviewing a number of them, one of whom is my next guest.

Kate Horan is Sydney-based ex-English teacher who once taught at high schools in Western Sydney loving being able to inspire teenagers with a love of reading. 

For the last seventeen years, however, Kate has worked in corporate communications - helping executives pitch and present. 

Early last month her debut novel was released by HQ Fiction. 

Called ‘The Inheritance’ Kate’s story follows two women whose lives become inextricably entwined when they cross paths over a controversial property development in an exclusive historical enclave in the southern highlands of NSW.

A story about wealth, entitlement, corruption and what we inherit from our parents.

A gripping, sophisticated story by a talented writer. 

I was thrilled to welcome Kate to the podcast recently. 

Ella Ward is a Melbourne-based author of memoir '27 Letters to My Daughter' and a brilliant debut novel 'The Cicada House'.

Released by HarperCollins in January 2025, 'The Cicada House' is a gorgeously uplifting, magical coming of age story that starts out one way and takes readers on an unexpected but utterly delightful journey. Following 40-year-old protagonist Caitlin, we move from London to Arana Bay in Victoria, this story is beautifully written and heralds an exciting career for author, Ella.

A highly entertaining chat!

I couldn’t think of a better way to kick off a brand new season of Talking Aussie Books than with my next guest author, historical fantasy writer, Kell Woods. 

I've had the pleasure of interviewing Kell once before on the podcast - and that was for Kell’s debut novel ‘After the Forest’ back in 2023. 

I remember distinctly finishing that book and thinking I had just read something incredibly special. A perfect mix of history, fantasy, romance and fairytale, I was utterly captivated by Kell’s storytelling prowess. 

Luckily, this year, Kell is back with her second novel. And in my humble opinion, I think it’s even better than her first. 

Think adventures on the high seas, mermaid and fairytales, this is a book that will capture the imagination of even the most reluctant fantasy readers. Beautifully written, thoroughly researched and with a swoon worthy romantic thread, this was another truly special reading experience.

And I’m just so excited to have had the chance to speak with Kell about this stunning novel recently for the podcast.

Enjoy the listen! 

If you’re a fan of crime fiction, you may have noticed that cosy crime is making a come back in a big way of late - certainly in Australia in any event. 

A sub-genre of crime that many attribute to Agatha Christie has spawned many wonderful Australian novels that recently include 'The Tea Ladies' Mysteries by Amanda Hampson,  the Poppy McGowan Mysteries by Pamela Hart, Miss Fisher' Mysteries by Kerry Greenwood, the hugely successful Ernest Cunningham Mysteries written by Benjamin Stevenson and now Kate Solly’s ‘The Parade Heights Craft Store Stitch Up’ published by Affirm Press.

Kate Solly is a writer, mother of six and enjoys crochet.  In fact crochet and crafting are prominent themes in both her first novel, 'Tuesday Evenings with the Copeton Craft Resistance', and her most recent follow up, ‘The Paradise Heights Craft Store Stitch Up’  which I’m was simply delighted to have the chance to chat about with Kate for the podcast recently.

A fun, uplifting episode you won't want to miss!

My final published episode for 2024.

Alexandra Almond is a Melbourne-based author who, before turning her hand to writing, worked in a variety of roles - which included being a stable hand and a clown!

Her debut novel, 'Thoroughly Disenchanted', was recently published by HarperCollins Australia. And what a delightful, romantic - and despite its title - enchanting novel it is.

It’s about 4 friends, a cursed country house and a weekend away that stretched over a hundred years. An example of the romantasy genre (albeit cosy romantasy) that is currently taking the publishing world by storm.

I was delighted to have the chance to speak with Alexandra about her novel and journey to publication on the podcast earlier this month. 

'The Last Love Note' written by Canberra-based author Emma Grey was one of my most memorable reads for 2023 - a book that Emma wrote in the wake of her husband’s sudden death.

It’s been incredibly successful both in Australia and NZ (selling more than 100,000 copies so far) and it was also picked up in the US and was selected for Book of the Month and Target’s book club.  

Having said all that, it may surprise you to learn that this was Emma debut novel for adults. 

Earlier last month, Emma’s second adult novel ‘Pictures of You’ was published by Penguin Random House Australia and Zibby Owens Publishing in the US. 

And as a testament to the incredible readership Emma has garnered already both here and in the US, 'Pictures of You' has already gone into a second print run in Australia and it’s hit the USA Today bestseller’s list!

Now if that doesn’t make you want to run out and find yourself a copy, then perhaps listening to Emma herself talk about the book and her inspiration behind this incredible new story will. 

I was absolutely THRILLED to welcome Emma to the podcast recently.

'Immortal Dark' (Hachette Australia) by Tigest Girma heralds a new and exciting era of vampire fiction. As a debut it is a remarkable, fresh, rich and clever reimagining of a tale as old as time.

An Ethiopian writer based in Melbourne, Tigest is passionate about exploring East-African stories and myths - weaving them with dark and fantastical themes.

'Immortal Dark' is 'Twilight' meets older 'Harry Potter' and 'A Discovery of Witches' all rolled into one utterly compulsive read.

I was delighted to welcome Tigest to the podcast recently to chat about her sensational debut.

Sydney-based Joanne Fedler is an international bestselling author of 15 books.

A writing mentor, women's activist and keen ocean swimmer, Joanne's books have sold over 750,000 copies worldwide.

Earlier this year, Joanne's new novel 'The Whale's Last Song' was released by HarperCollins Australia. And what a beautiful, magical and portentous book it is.

So much so, I knew I had to speak with Joanne about it for the podcast.

Tune in to this wonderful, uplifting chat with a truly talented writer.

Brisbane-based author Christine Wells is the author of sixteen novels and is a powerhouse in the historical fiction space. 

Her new novel, ‘The Paris Gown’ (published by William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins) is about three women who meet at the Paris Cordon Blue cooking school in the 1950s and become firm friends, only to go their separate ways afterwards. 

Years later, they’re reunited in Paris by a Dior gown, but their lives are much changed. 

Think the Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, but with a Dior gown instead. 

A wonderfully entertaining novel about the bonds of friendship, love, romance, haute couture and…of course Paris. 

I enjoyed a delightful chat with Christine for the podcast recently. 

'Double Happiness' (Midnight Sun Publishing)  by Melbourne-based writer, editor and arts journalist Rochelle Siemienowicz is a work of auto fiction and explores the complexities of non-monogamy and what it’s like to love two or more people - equally but differently. 

Set in Melbourne, the book is told from three different perspectives and spans a seven-year period in which Anna, her husband Brendan and her lover Jeremy, try to navigate a polyamorous lifestyle.

Beautifully written, this book is raw, moving and heartfelt. A surprisingly delightful read.

I was thrilled to welcome Rochelle to the podcast recently to chat all things polyamory and this novel.