Francesca Haig's "The Cookbook of Common Prayer" (Allen & Unwin) is a book that will forever leave an indelible imprint on my heart. Set between Tasmania and London, this book explores themes of grief, food, mental health and hope in a thoroughly compelling and unique manner. Heartbreaking and somehow uplifting at the same time, I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

I was overjoyed to have the chance to speak with Francesca about her beautiful book earlier this year.

Paige Toon's latest book "Someone I Used To Know" (Penguin) was released here in Australia in June 2021. A tender, passionate and romantic story that was both heartbreaking and heartwarming at once. I absolutely loved it.

Set in North Yorkshire, this book captured my imagination and was everything you love in a contemporary romance.

I was thrilled to welcome Paige to the podcast earlier this year.

It's always a thrill for me to discover the work of authors I haven't read before. Especially crime writers. So, you can imagine how excited I was to find Tim Ayliffe's books.

Tim is a Sydney-based author and journalist who works as the Managing Editor of Television and Video for ABC News. A few years ago, he decided to try his hand at novel writing and has now penned three novels featuring former foreign correspondent, John Bailey.

In early August, his brand new novel "The Enemy Within" was released by Simon & Schuster. A gripping action-packed novel that highlighted a growing underbelly of global discontent. So topical and utterly compelling.

I was super excited to welcome Tim to the podcast earlier this year.

Sandie Docker is an author whose books are now highly anticipated amongst the band of loyal readers she has amassed over the last few years - characterised as they are by their idyllic settings, relatable characters and long-held mysteries. Titles which include "The Kookaburra Creek Cafe", "The Cottage at Rosella Cove" and "The Banksia Bay Beach Shack" demonstrate Sandie's knack for writing intriguing and emotional stories that often result in tears.

Her new book, "The Wattle Island Book Club" (Penguin) is out across Australia from 31 August 2021 and it's everything I love about Sandie's books and more.

I was delighted as always to speak with Sandie recently about this new book.

Rob McDonald also known as RWR McDonald is the award-winning author of the 2019 novel "The Nancys". A murder-mystery featuring 11 year-old Nancy Drew fan, Tippy Chan, who teams up with her babysitter uncle and his boyfriend to form their own amateur detective club to solve a high-profile murder case.

This year Rob released a follow-up called "Nancy Business" (Allen & Unwin). Tippy along with her Uncles Devon and Pike are back, reforming their detective club "The Nancys" to investigate an explosion which rocks the town of Riverstone.

A madcap, irreverent and often hilarious read that had me hooked from start to finish. A total must-read.

I was thrilled to welcome Rob to the podcast earlier this year.

Tania Farrelly's debut novel "The Eighth Wonder" (Penguin) is one of those books I found so brilliant it left me amazed and envious in equal measures! It was inspired, nuanced, thought-provoking and intelligent - so much so, it's difficult to fathom that it's a debut.

It's book that takes readers on a journey through New York in the early 20th century. A time of great contradictions and one that posed so many challenges for women.

I was thrilled to have the chance to speak with Tania about this divine book earlier this year.

Two years ago I had the great fortune to chat with Kaneana May on the release of her debut novel, "The One" (Harlequin, 2019). A story that took us behind the scenes of a popular reality dating show and the lengths someone will go to to find their one true love.

This year Kaneana is back with another fabulous novel. A beautiful and moving story about friendship, love and loss. Something that I know many of you out there will absolutely adore.

The novel is called "All We Have Is Now" (Harlequin) and I was so happy to welcome Kaneana back to the podcast in June of this year.

"Girl, 11" is the explosive, incredible debut novel written by Melbourne-based author, Amy Suiter Clarke. For lovers of true crime and the podcasts that shine a spotlight on cold cases, this book was a nail-biting page-turner that I devoured.

I had a terrific time chatting with Amy on the podcast a little while ago.

Rachel Givney is an international best-selling author and film-maker with a list of TV and film credits to her name. In 2020, Rachel added novel-writing to her impressive list of achievements with her runaway success break-out novel, 'Jane in Love '. A romantic comedy that fans will no doubt be delighted to learn has been optioned by Amazon Studios and Di Novi Pictures for a film adaptation.

This year, Rachel released her second novel. But this time we are transported back to Poland in the lead-up to WWII in a truly captivating novel about a young woman's quest to find the truth behind her mother's mysterious disappearance 15 years earlier.

Called "Secrets My Father Kept" (Penguin), this novel is a must read.

I was so thrilled to chat with Rachel about her book earlier this year.

Maya Linnell and I connected via social media when her first book, 'Wildflower Ridge' was about to be published back in 2019. Almost two years to the day, we had our first podcast chat.

In that time I have watched Maya's rising star with awe and amazement. She is a force to be reckoned with. A talented writer, home-baker, garden guru, social media and marketing whizz, avid reader, book reviewer and staunch supporter of her writing peers.

Maya's third book, "Magpie's Bend" was released by Allen & Unwin in June 2021 and I was delighted to welcome Maya back to the podcast for a fun and wide-ranging chat about writing inspiration, farm-life, marketing, baking and so much more!