Talking Aussie Books

"The Understudy" (Simon & Schuster) by Sydney-based author Julie Bennett is a brilliant new debut novel inspired by the Sydney Opera House and Julie's own childhood.

A fascinating, page-turning glimpse into the underbelly of the theatre world, along with the rivalries, politics and machinations behind a history-making opera performance in 1973 Sydney.

I am in complete awe of Julie's achievement with this magnificent novel and was delighted to have the chance to speak with her recently for the podcast.

'Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter' (Penguin) is a brilliant debut novel from Lizzie Pook, an award-winning travel writer and journalist.

Spending time in north-western Australia researching the south-sea pearling industry was Lizzie's inspiration for this novel - which not only explores the origin of this treacherous industry, but deals with themes of family, loss, redemption and the lengths a woman will go to to save someone she loves.

A truly beautiful novel that explores the history of a remarkable part of this vast country of ours.

I had the pleasure of chatting with Lizzie on the podcast recently.

Aoife Clifford is an award-winning, bestselling Australian crime writer of three novels including "All These Perfect Strangers", "Second Sight" and now her brand new novel "When We Fall".

Published by Ultimo Press, "When We Fall" is a tense, gripping and propulsive novel with a racing plot that will leave you breathless til the very end.

If you're a fan of crime fiction, you will love Aoife's work.

Aoife and I had wide-ranging and insightful chat for the podcast recently.

Ali Lowe is a Sydney-based author who works as a journalist. I had the great pleasure of meeting Ali at a book launch back in December 2020 and was delighted to learn of her then upcoming debut novel.

The book is now out in the world. Called "The Trivia Night" (published by Hodder & Stoughton) it's a page-turning, rip snorting read that will shock, delight and have you turning pages til the wee hours!

A novel about 4 couples, one reckless night and the aftermath that threatens to rip their seemingly perfect lives apart.

I had the best fun chatting with Ali recently about her book.

Jill Staunton is a North Queensland-based author of two novels, "Reiver's Moon" and "All That He Is". Both published by Boolarong Press.

"All That He Is" was released late last year and boy oh boy, what a terrific read!

This novel grabbed me from its opening pages and didn't let go until the very end.

It had everything you want in a book: a cast of wonderfully depicted, strong and relatable characters, a rich plot, an incredible setting and vivid sense of place; mystery, suspense and a heart-wrenching love story to boot. It's a book that offers an enthralling glimpse into life in the outback, the impact of loss and trauma on our war veterans and hidden threats to our natural environment.

I was absolutely delighted to have the opportunity to chat with Jill about "All That He Is" recently for the podcast.

When an author tells you she was married to a career criminal and that this inspired her debut novel, it cannot fail to pique your interest.

Listening to Loraine Peck talk about her inspiration for her novel, "The Second Son" (Text Publishing) at a writers festival late last year, I knew I had to speak with her on the podcast to learn more.

What followed was a fascinating chat about her life and how she came to write this gripping novel. A novel that has been described as "the modern Godfather".

I had a blast chatting to Loraine about this fascinating and compelling book earlier this year.

Dinuka McKenzie is a crime writer who debuted onto the Australian literary scene with an almighty bang.

Winning the Banjo Prize in 2020, Dinuka secured her place in literary history and scored herself a book deal with publishing giant, HarperCollins Australia.

More than a year down the track and her debut novel, "The Torrent" has finally hit the shelves. And what a cracker of a story it is.

I was thrilled to welcome Dinuka as my first guest for 2022.

Dinuka McKenzie is a crime writer who debuted on the Australian literary scene with an almighty bang. Wining the Banjo Prize in 2020, Dinuka secured her spot in literary history and scored a book deal with publishing giant, HarperCollins Australia.

More than a year on from that win, Dinuka's debut novel "The Torrent" hit shelves.

I was thrilled to welcome Dinuka as my first guest for 2022.

Nore Hoogstad is a Sydney-based author and former diplomat to Australia and the UN who held a diplomatic posting to Jakarta and Dili in a time of great political upheaval for Indonesia and East Timor.

Now a writer as well as a nutritional therapist, Nore has just published her first book. Called "Gunfire Lullabies", Nore plunges us into a gut-wrenching, dangerous world where two women must navigate widespread destruction and chaos in their individual and collective struggle for truth and freedom.

A riveting book that takes us deep into the world of a diplomat in a country on the brink of war.

I enjoyed a riveting chat with Nore for the podcast a little while ago.

Discussion around consent and sexual violence experienced by girls and women in educational institutions and the toxic culture engendered by these institutions has been a topic that has dominated headlines in recent years.

It's a discussion that is slowly filtering its way into high school curriculums and hopefully leading to a change in what young women and men think of as healthy, respectful sexual encounters and relationships.

And in a critically acclaimed debut novel called "Love & Virtue" (Ultimo Press), Diana Reid is contributing to that ongoing discussion with a fascinating work that explores this and other issues in the context of a contemporary university setting.

A book that will challenge our notions of material wealth and morality, consent and context along with how we decide what is right or wrong in any particular situation.

A fascinating read.

I was delighted to have the chance to speak with Diana on the podcast recently.