Talking Aussie Books

Best-selling author of "The Hating Game" and "99 Per Cent Mine" Sally Thorne has recently released her third novel - "Second First Impressions" (Hachette Australia). A deliciously charming, funny and oh-so-sexy book that I absolutely loved.

I was delighted to welcome Sally to the podcast earlier this year to chat about this funny love story, the upcoming movie adaptation of "The Hating Game", writing fan-fiction, tips for writers and so much more.

Josephine Taylor is a Perth-based writer and editor who worked as a psychotherapist and educator until a debilitating condition over took her life. In 2004, Josephine began writing about her experiences with this condition, later earning her PhD in writing from Edith Cowan University in 2011. She is now an Associate Editor at Westerly (the University of Western Australia), and an Adjunct Senior Lecturer in Writing at ECU.

This year, her debut novel, "Eye of a Rook" was published by Fremantle Press. It's a book that explores chronic illness in a heartbreaking, but insightful and intelligent manner.

I was delighted to have the opportunity to chat with Josephine about her book earlier this year.

'From Where I Fell' (Allen & Unwin) is Susan Johnson's eighth novel. A book that explores an unlikely friendship formed between two women on opposite sides of the world with different cultural backgrounds. Although I haven't read any of Susan's work before, this was one heck of an introduction. A book the explored grief, motherhood, the power of friendship as well as new beginnings. An incredibly powerful, witty and illuminating read that I absolutely loved.

I had the honour of speaking with Susan about her wonderful novel earlier this year.

Two years on from the release of her best-selling debut novel, "A Lifetime of Impossible Days", Tabitha Bird is back with another heart-wrenching, but no less captivating story about love, loss and grief. Called "The Emporium of Imagination", it's a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory meets Harry Potter type tale set in the tiny Queensland town of Boonah. A magnificent story that I absolutely loved.

Tabitha and I had a wonderful chat about her brilliant new book earlier this year.

Susan Midalia is an award-winning Perth-based novelists, freelance editor and former academic who has published three collections of short stories and two novels. Her first novel, "The Art of Persuasion" was published in 2018 and in March of this year, her new novel, "Everyday Madness" was published by Fremantle Press.

"Everyday Madness" was a poignant, hopeful story about marriage, family and new beginnings. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Bernard, Gloria, Meg and Ella and didn't want their story to end.

I was lucky to have the chance to chat with their creator Susan earlier this year.

Andrew Mackie is an Australian film distributor and producer whose debut novel is based on one of the biggest events in Australian history: newly-crowned Queen Elizabeth's royal tour of Australia in 1954.

As a fan of the British Royal Family, the "The Tour" (released by Penguin) was utterly fascinating to me.

It's got everything you love in a period drama: scandal, intrigue and characters you love to hate (not the Queen, of course!). A thoroughly delightful and somewhat wicked read.

I had the great pleasure of speaking with Andrew on the podcast earlier this year.

Emma Young is an award-winning journalist and former bookseller whose debut novel, "The Last Bookshop, was recently released by Fremantle Press.

It's a heart-warming story that delves into many of the hardships facing small business, the book-selling industry along with real-estate pressures in modern cities.

Such a timely, wonderful story that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I was delighted to have the chance to speak with Emma about her book on the podcast a little while ago.

Esther Campion is an Irish-Australian author of three novels - 'Leaving Ocean Road', 'The House of Second Chances' and most recently 'A Week to Remember'.

Released by Hachette Australia earlier this year, 'A Week to Remember' is a heartwarming story that has the warmth and satisfaction of a Maeve Binchy or Monica McInerney novel. Set between Ireland and Australia, it's a hopeful story about family, love and second chances that will delight readers and have them yearning to travel once more.

I was delighted to have the opportunity to chat with Esther on the podcast recently.

Jessica Dettmann is a Sydney-based writer, a blogger and former editor turned novelist.

Earlier this year her second novel "This Has Been Absolutely Lovely" (HarperCollins) was released.

A wonderfully charming multigenerational tale that takes a witty and relatable look at parenthood and families that will have you hooked from start to finish.

I was delighted to have the opportunity to speak with Jessica on the podcast recently.

'The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman' is Julietta Henderson's debut novel. It's an exquisite, tenderly written novel which slowly draws you in before delivering a well-placed kick in the guts and breaking your heart. A book that stimultaneously fills you with so much joy that you find yourself cheering triumphantly.

Heartwarming, poignant and incredibly funny, too. This book has it all.

I was delighted to speak with Julietta on the podcast not long after her book's release here in Australia.