Many avid readers and authors both here and abroad are familiar with Australia’s largest online reading community - Better Reading.

Launched by Cheryl Akle back in 2014, Better Reading has become a staple feature of the Australian literary landscape - reaching over 1 million readers each month. 

A testament to Cheryl’s passion and dedication to reading and her standing in   the Australian book industry. 

This year, Cheryl has capitalised on that passion and dedication by launching an Australian reading app. 

Described as ‘if Goodreads and Storygraph had a baby, but the baby was raised in Australia’ . 

An app that is focussed on Australian titles for Australian readers with a whole lot of brilliant features to help readers find their next book, connect with other readers and learn more about the authors they’re interested in.  

And it’s called ‘What Are You Reading’ the App.  

I was amongst some of the first in Australia to get a look at the app at an exclusive launch party earlier this year and in this episode I welcome Cheryl to the podcast to talk about the app and how this fantastic development all came about. 

Happy listening!

In part 2 of this special collaboration episode, Nick Wasiliev and I chat about challenges for the Australian publishing industry and what challenges in particular writers themselves are facing and what the future holds. We also discuss some of the trends we're seeing (and loving) especially relation to debut novels

We wrap up the conversation with a quick fire round of questions for each of us - the answers to which you may find surprising!

Such a joy to work with Nick on these episodes .

If you want to learn more about Nick and the podcast, check out the Date with a Debut website at:

https://datewithadebutpodcast.podbean.com

Or find Nick on Instagram at:

https://www.instagram.com/nickwasiliev/

Happy listening!

Tune into this special episode with Talking Aussie Books friend Nick Wasiliev and host of the wonderful podcast Date with a Debut.

Like me, Nick is a seasoned podcaster as well as an author and facilitator. 

Date with a Debut is currently in it’s fourth season of production and in it, you may know, Nick interviews debut authors, shining a light on their books and journey to publication. 

And in Part 1 of this special episode, I get the lowdown on Nick's decision to start up a new book podcast and his own writing before we discuss some of the brilliant debuts we've been reading recently.

So whether you’re an avid reader or just want to get the lowdown on what’s new and hot in publishing, then this is the episode for you. 

Lawyer-turned author Sarah Clutton was last on the podcast back in 2020 when we were discussing her second novel ‘The Daughter’s Promise’ - a thrilling drama dealing with a deep family secret set in the rugged wilds of Tasmania. 

Since that episode was recorded, Sarah’s star has blazed even brighter with the publication of two further novels with Allen & Unwin.

The first, published in early 2025 was called ‘The Remarkable Truths of Alfie Bains’ and the second published a mere year later and currently gracing bookshelves around the country is called ‘The Bookshop of Buried Pasts’. 

A beautiful, quiet novel about a woman and her antiquarian bookshop in the southern highlands of NSW and the secret past she has kept hidden for over 50 years. 

**Discussion of mature/explicit themes.**

The idea that we should grow old gracefully - particularly that women should grow old gracefully - is a theme that often appears in contemporary fiction. A theme which -  now that I’m in my mid-fifties - I’m more and more intrigued by. 

It's also something Rachel Fox McLeod has explored to great effect with her brilliant, insightful and highly entertaining debut novel ‘Disgraceful’.

Published by Simon & Schuster, ‘Disgraceful’ is the story of devoted wife and mother 49 year-old Grace Miller whose marriage unexpectedly implodes and the unorthodox manner in which she chooses to reclaim herself in the days, weeks and months that follow. 

It’s messy, funny, complicated, raw, unflinching and a bloody good read. 

And I was thrilled to have the opportunity to chat with Rachel about it on the podcast recently. 

The last time Dianne Yarwood was on the podcast, we chatted about her then debut - the tender-hearted, funny, life-affirming novel 'The Wakes' - published in 2023.

This year Dianne has released a second novel, 'Margaret, Are You Leaving' (Hachette). Another warm and witty read that celebrates the messiness and beauty of life.

Dianne chatted with Cassie Hamer recently - giving us some remarkable insight into the real-life story that inspired her new novel and the important personal lessons she has learned from her own near-death experience and how these lessons found their way into her writing.

A wonderful interview well worth listening to.

Camille Booker is a Sydney-based award-winning author, an editor, teacher, literary judge and current PhD candidate. 

Her debut novel ‘What If you Fly’ was longlisted for the Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize in 2019 and published by Hawkeye Publishing in 2021. 

In an interesting twist, this novel underwent a revamp and was re-released this year by Haweye Publishing as ‘Code Name Funnel Web’.  A dark, twisty tale of a young Australian woman’s brave search for her missing brother during WW2 and the lengths she went to in aid of this mission.

Much like Camille’s second novel ‘The Woman in the Waves’, I absolutely devoured 'Code Name Funnel Web' and was more than a little delighted to have the chance to chat with Camille about it on the podcast recently. 

Kirsty Manning is a Melbourne based author who grew up in Northern NSW and who now has seven novels to her name. 

Her first novel 'The Midsummer Garden' was published back in 2017, followed by the 'The Jade Lily', then 'The Lost Jewels', 'The French Gift'  and 'The Hidden Book'.

In 2022, Kirsty’s writing took a slightly different direction when she launched a new crime series.  

'The Paris Mystery' - set in pre-WW2 Paris was the first book in this new series and features Australian journalist Charlotte (or Charlie) James whose work for The Times newspaper in Paris gets her caught up in crime reporting and trying to solve those same crimes. 

The second book, ‘Murder in Paris’ has just been released by Allen & Unwin.  A glamorous novel whose events are set off by a glitzy gala and the Texan heiress who goes missing shortly thereafter. 

The perfect case for the infallible Charlie James.

I was delighted to welcome Kirsty to the podcast recently to chat all about it. 

The last time I interviewed award-winning, international bestselling author Dervla McTiernan was in February 2024. 

Back then we were chatting about Dervla’s new release ‘What Happened to Nina’ which of course went on to win the General Fiction Book of the Year at the 2025 Australian Book Industry Awards. 

And that same book is now currently in development for a screen adaptation - which is super exciting news for all of us who devoured that book. 

But this year, Dervla has a brand new stand alone book:  'Three Reasons for Revenge'.  

It’s not only Dervla’s 7th full-length novel - but the first to be set in Australia and introduces us to a cast of new characters - including a gritty, determined new female detective.  

Published by HarperCollins Australia in late April , 'Three Reasons for Revenge' is an intense, fast-paced, high-stakes novel about three people who each receive a mystery package designed to tear their life apart. 

https://geni.us/ThreeReasons4R

To sign up to Dervla's newsletter, see:

https://dervlamctiernan.com/newsletter/

Belinda Alexandra is a much-loved international bestselling Australian author whose novels are steeped in history, intrigue and adventure. History with mystery at its finest.

Belinda is the daughter of a Russian mother and Australian father and describes herself as someone with passion for travel, culture, dancing as well as a lover of all creatures. 

She is the author of novels that include 'White Gardenia', 'Wild Lavender' and 'Tuscan Rose' as well as 'The Invitation', 'The Mystery Woman,' 'The Divine Feline' and 'Emboldened' amongst many others. 

Belinda’s latest fiction offering ‘The Italian Correspondent’ was released by HarperCollins at the end of March and listeners its an absolute delight. 

Set in 1951 Italy - in the years when that country was trying to shake off its fascist past. It’s a story that follows the life and loves of a female correspondent for Vogue magazine who is quickly drawn into a complicated web of deceit.  Her feelings for the three men in her life are complex, but with the world on the edge of a nuclear war, their lives become inextricably entwined and they must work together to prevent catastrophe. 

I adored this book and was excited to have the chance to speak with Belinda recently about it.