Shelley Burr is an award-winning Australian author whose debut novel ‘Wake’ was a top five bestseller.

Published in the US and the UK as well as here in Australia, 'Wake' won the CWA Debut Dagger Award in 2019 (a UK award for an unpublished writer), it was shortlisted for the Indie Book Awards Debut Novel Award, the Kill Your Darlings Unpublished Manuscript Award and the Bath Novel Award. 

And only last week ‘Wake’ won the 2023 Ned Kelley Award for best debut crime fiction!

Recently I had the chance to speak with Shelley about her brand new novel ‘Ripper’ - which was also released by Hachette Australia last week. 

A clever, twisty novel set in a tiny town between Sydney and Melbourne: a town long past its heyday and struggling under the weight of its dark history. 

As with all the very best crime novels,  I was hooked from its opening page.

If you loved Shelley’s first book ‘Wake’, then ‘Ripper’ is a MUST-read. 
Tune in to hear Shelley talk about her rapid rise to literary fame, her inspiration for her books, writing tips and much more.

Steph Vizard is a Melbourne-based writer who won the 2022 Banjo Prize with her then unpublished manuscript 'The Love Contract'.

Twelve months on and that book has now been published by HarperCollins.

I have no doubt that readers will fall in love with this charming story about enemy neighbours - Zoe and Will - who reluctantly come to the realisation that they each had the power to help the other one out of a difficult situation. 

The question is of course, will they?  And what are the consequences?

To find out if they do or don’t you’ll have to read the book. But in the meantime you can enjoy listening to the delightful Steph and I chat about her debut novel ‘The Love Contract'.  

This was SO much fun.

Jane Harrison is an award-winning playwright and novelist as well as Festival director whose work has been performed across Australia and internationally.

Jane is descended from the Muruwari people and believes stories have the power to strengthen cultural connection. 

Jane’s YA novel ‘Becoming Kirrali Lewis’ won the 2014 Black & Write Prize and that same novel was shortlisted for the 2014 Prime Ministers Literary Award and the Victorian Premiers Award. 

Jane’s stage play ‘The Visitors’ was performed to critical acclaim at the Sydney Festival back in 2020 and a Sydney Theatre Production of the 'The Visitors' is playing at the Sydney Opera House in September 2023.

If that wasn't enough, HarperCollins has recently published Jane’s debut adult novel inspired by her hit stage show - also called ‘The Visitors’.

This is a book that reimagines a crucial moment in Australia’s history from the point of view of our First Nations people.  A story that challenges our understanding of this event by revisiting the landing of the first fleet in 1788 from the perspective of seven Aboriginal men, all of whom represent nearby clans.

A stunning, evocative and thought-provoking novel which I loved. 

I was thrilled to have the opportunity to speak with Jane about her book on the podcast recently.

Memorable books are the ones that make me feel something. Books that make me laugh or hold my breath with anticipation; stories that make me feel hopeful and most of all... the books that make me cry. These are the ones that become indelibly printed on my heart.

‘Saving Charli’ (Scholastic Australia) written by Victorian-based author, Di Walker is a book that made me feel SO many of these things all at once.

Until ‘Saving Charli’ I hadn’t read any of Di’s work.  But that’s something I’m going to have to change in the near future. 

‘Saving Charli’ is a middle-grade novel about a set of twins and their friends as they finish primary school and begin their first year of high school, trying to navigate a momentous change in their collective lives at the same time. 

Exploring friendships, family, love and loss - it’s a tender, insightful, beautifully written book which can be enjoyed by adults and kids alike.

Highly recommended reading!

I was delighted to welcome Di to the podcast recently to chat about this wonderful book. 

Veronica Lando is a crime writer who burst onto the Australian literary scene a couple of years ago when her then unpublished manuscript won the 2021 Banjo Prize. That manuscript 'The Whispering' was published by HarperCollins in 2022 to widespread acclaim.

This year, Veronica's second book 'The Drowning Girls' was also published by HarperCollins. And if it's anything like 'The Whispering', I can see why Veronica's literary star is well and truly on the rise.

Dark, tense and twisty, 'The Drowning Girls' was a story about small-town secrets underscored by the ever-present menace of a hostile landscape.

Utterly captivating.

I was super excited to chat with Veronica recently about her books and meteoric writing career.

Philippa Kaye is a mother, educator, and now published novelist who lives on the Central Coast of NSW and was inspired to write her debut novel, 'Girl Detectives Just Wanna Have Fun' during COVID.

Set in 1984, 'Girl Detectives Just Wanna Have Fun' is a pacy mystery novel flavoured with lots of fun eighties nostalgia - big hair, short skirts and shoulder pads - not to mention a spicy romance for some extra fun!

I enjoyed this novel and welcomed the chance to speak with Philippa on the podcast recently about her novel and journey to publication.

Lucy Lever is a former social worker who lives in the bush on Sydney’s coastal fringe with her husband. 

As proof that it is never too late to follow your dreams, Lucy decided to give creative writing a go later in life.  The result is 'Mystic Ridge' published earlier this month by HQ Fiction.

It was on her frequent visits to family on the NSW North Coast that Lucy found inspiration for Mystic Ridge - a delightful, contemporary novel with a fun twist on the rural romance genre. 

I was delighted to have the chance to welcome Lucy to the podcast recently to chat about her debut novel.

Since first meeting Vanessa McCausland back in 2020,  I have marvelled at her gift for evocative and unforgettable story-telling. 

First through the Lost Summers of Driftwood, then The Valley of Lost Stories, again with the The Beautiful Words and now…Dreaming in French.  

Not only is Vanessa a warm, lovely person and supportive member of the Australian writing community, but Vanessa has come to be known for her beautiful words (perhaps its no coincidence that this is one of the titles of her books). 

Released last week by HarperCollins, Vanessa's new book 'Dreaming in French' is an evocative, achingly beautiful and gut-wrenching story that will not be easily forgotten; a book that has already received rave reviews and blurbs from the likes of literary giants such Natasha Lester and Hannah Richell.

I was thrilled to welcome Vanessa back to the podcast to chat about this stunning book.

Kelly Rimmer is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of 13 novels.  

Writing both historical and contemporary novels, Kelly’s titles include The German Wife, The Warsaw Orphan, The Things We Cannot Say and Truths I Never Told You.

Kelly has sold more than 2 million books to date. And her work has been translated into dozens of languages.

If that wasn’t impressive enough, in 2022, Kelly purchased the Collins Booksellers in Orange near where she lives with her human and furry families. 

And this year, Kelly is back with a brand new novel.  Called ‘The Paris Agent’ and set to be released by Hachette across Australia this week, this is a powerful, emotionally compelling novel that delivers everything you’d expect from one of Kelly’s novels and indeed more. 

I was super excited to welcome Kelly back to the podcast earlier this week.

Listeners, a couple of weeks ago I was at the annual Bellingen Readers and Writers Festival and had the joy of interviewing an author whose career I have been watching for a few years now.  

And recently, I got to do it all over again. 

Paul Dalgarno is a Melbourne-based author of two novels and two non-fiction titles.  

Born and raised in Scotland, Paul has lived in Australia since 2010 and has written for a variety of publications including The Guardian, Big Issue Scotland and Australian Book Review. 

Paul has worked as deputy editor of The Conversation Australia and features editor for The Herald Newspaper Group in the UK. 

Earlier this year, Paul’s second novel ‘A Country of Eternal Light’ was published by HarperCollins. And listeners, what a novel it is! 

A wonderfully perceptive, witty and brilliantly crafted examination of grief, which left me marvelling at Paul’s immense talent. 

A must-listen episode for writers and readers alike!