Not only do books help us escape our everyday lives, but enable us to see ourselves reflected in them.  Stories represent human experiences and showcase situations we are familiar with.  So when we read about characters we're familiar with or who may look and act the same way, it helps us understand how we fit in.

Reading Alex Sarkis's debut novel, "Something Blue" (Ultimo Press) did this for me.  

In it, I found characters who were familiar.  People I'd grown up around and people with whom I shared a similar heritage.  

A clever and entertaining book about going back to your cultural roots. 

I was thrilled to speak with Alex about her debut on the podcast a little while back. 

Many of you will know or have heard of Dani Vee through her prolific and energetic podcast, Words and Nerds.

Through this podcast, Dani has championed hundreds of authors and their work, interviewed other podcasters like me, supported festivals and garnered much respect and admiration from all who have had the very great fortune to find themselves in her orbit.

Earlier this month, Dani’s debut fiction title made its way into the world.

Published by Larrikin House, "My Extraordinary Mum" is a gorgeous children’s picture book - illustrated by the talented Alexandra Colombo - that celebrates mothers in all their different and unique forms.

The perfect book to share with kids and to remind everyone that mums are indeed extraordinary.

I was delighted to have the chance to chat with Dani on the podcast a while back. 

Jules Van Mil is a Sydney-based author with a long and varied career that, in 2020 finally culminated in her realising her dream to be a published author.

Her first book, a middle-grade story for 8-12 year olds was called “Gemma Riley and the Fashion Fiasco” - a delightful story that most certainly was spawned from Jules’s own experiences as a teacher and fashion designer.

Fast forward two years and Jules has dipped her toe in the world of adult fiction with her stunning book “A Remarkable Woman”.

Released by Pan Macmillan earlier this year, “A Remarkable Woman” is the story of Avril Montdidier - a young French woman who migrated to Australia following the end of WW2 determined to follow her dream of opening her own fashion business.

A truly delightful story that spans from postwar Paris to Australia - giving us a glimpse into what life was like for women in 1950s Australia and the barriers they faced forging their paths to a financial independence.

I was fortunate to have the chance to speak with Jules about this book a little while ago. 

**Trigger warning: this episode contains discussion of domestic abuse, family violence and coercive control and may be distressing to some listeners.**

After listening to Melbourne-based Lyn Yeowart read an extract from the Prologue of her debut novel. "The Silent Listener" (Penguin) at the BAD Sydney Crime Festival last year, I knew I just had to find out more about her inspiration for writing it. 

Set in rural Victoria and moving back and forwards between the 1940s, 1960s and 1980s, "The Silent Listener" is a brilliantly crafted story about secrets and lies and the lengths a small community will got to protect a monster - delivering a shocking twist I didn't see coming. 

I was thrilled to have the chance to speak with Lyn about it earlier this year. 

"Crime Writer" by Brisbane author Dime Sheppard is unlike any other book I have read.  

A gripping novel about an author suffering severe writer's block when faced with the task of writing her 16th novel. She doesn't quite know how to overcome this, but when the characters that usually live in her head start appearing in her apartment and voicing their own opinions about what she should do...well, things don't quite go how she would expect them to.

I was prepared for a "Castle" meets "Murder She Wrote" kind of experience. But it was nothing like it.  I absolutely loved this book and thoroughly enjoyed my chat with Dime earlier this year. 

Talking Aussie Books and Writes4Women have joined forces in a podcast collaboration.

Recorded at the recent Romance Writers of Australia Conference in Fremantle, the lovely Pamela Cook and I chatted to a bunch of fabulous Aussie authors about all things Romance writing.

Over 8 weeks this collaboration will uncover what various Australian authors think about writing Romance, their most memorable or embarrassing moments as an author, their secret (or not so secret) author crushes and their top writing tips.

In Episode 4 of this special series, I'm joined by best-selling rural fiction author, Maya Linnell and newbie author, Karina May in a wide-ranging and insightful chat about writing romance, who inspires us and so much more.

Australian women crime writers are some of the biggest names on the Australian literary scene at the moment.  And Sulari Gentill is one of them.

Former lawyer turned writer, Sulari is the author of 10 novels in the Rowland Sinclair Mysteries (a series of historical crime novels set in the 1930s) along with a fantasy series and a few stand-alone novels. 

Sulari's work has been shortlisted for a number of prestigious awards. Her novel 'A Decline in Prophets' (a Rowland Sinclair mystery) won the Davitt Award for Best Crime Fiction in 2012 and 'Crossing the Lines' (a stand alone) won a Ned Kelly in 2018.

This year Sulari is back with another stand alone. 'Woman in the Library' (published by Ultimo Press), is a clever, twisty and gripping novel that will have you glued to its pages.

I was thrilled to have the chance to speak with Sulari earlier this year. 

Carly Nugent is the author of two novels and numerous pieces of short fiction. 

Her first novel, "The Peacock Detectives" (2018) won the Readings Children's Book Prize and was shortlisted for the Text Prize, the Australian Book Design Awards along with the Sisters in Crime Davitt Awards.

Earlier this year, Carly's second book - her first YA title - was published by Text Publishing. 

"Sugar" is a novel inspired by Carly's own experience with Type 1 diabetes. 

A dark but ultimately hopeful tale, "Sugar" explores the effect of grief and trauma on the teenage psyche, the search for truth and making sense of tragedy.

A terrific read for young adults and adults alike. 

I was delighted to welcome Carly to the podcast a little while back. 

Zoë Coyle's debut novel "Where the Light Gets In" is a novel inspired by Zoe's advocacy for euthanasia law and the right to die with dignity, an issue that affected Zoë personally when her terminally ill mother decided to euthanise herself. 

Published by Ultimo Press earlier this year, Zoë's novel is a moving tribute to the inadequacies of a system which refuses to make room for a person's desire to die with dignity, the legacy of grief created by that injustice and a story which is testament to the enduring connection between mothers and daughters. 

A stunning debut. 

And what a conversation I enjoyed with the lovely Zoë (who, it turns out I had already been acquainted with through our own daughters). What a small world!

Happy listening!

Talking Aussie Books and Writes4Women have joined forces in a podcast collaboration. 

Recorded at the recent Romance Writers of Australia Conference in Fremantle, the lovely Pamela Cook and I chatted to a bunch of fabulous Aussie authors about all things Romance writing. 

Over 8 weeks this collaboration will uncover what various Australian authors think about writing Romance, their most memorable or embarrassing moments as an author, their secret (or not so secret) author crushes and their top writing tips. 

Episode 1 kicked off last week on the Writes4Women podcast.  And this week, I'm joined by Pamela Hart, Rachael Johns and Megan Mayfair in a fun and informative chat that had us in fits of laughter.

Happy listening!