A lot can change in 22 months. A.J. Finn, aka Daniel Mallory, had worked for over a decade in publishing as an editor with no plans to become an international bestselling author. However, when inspiration struck, he wrote a book which has now smashed sales records and taken the world by storm. The Woman in the Window, soon to be adapted as a film staring Amy Adams, is a complex, atmospheric psychological thriller with an homage to noir film. French bulldogs, murderous plots and plans for his next book are just some of the things we discussed with him during his visit to Booktopia.

Books mentioned in this podcast:

The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn —> https://bit.ly/2PR6zE2

Hosts: Sarah McDuling and John Purcell

Guest: A.J. Finn

With Australian Reading Hour coming up on the 20th of September, we discuss the importance of reading. Why is reading good for us? What are the benefits of instilling a love of books in your children from a young age? Can reading affect your mental health, empathy and general wellbeing? That and more in this week's episode of Booktopia On.

Click here to explore your love of reading: https://bit.ly/2wox389

Host: Bronwyn Eley

Guests: Sarah McDuling and John Purcell

We chat to award-winning journalist, commentator and author Madonna King on the struggles fathers face when it comes to parenting daughters. During her research for her book Fathers and Daughters, she interviewed 1300 girls, 400 dads and 60 mums, asking them set questions to discover the trends and tips for strengthening father-daughter relationships.

Books mentioned in this podcast:

Fathers and Daughters by Madonna King —> https://bit.ly/2MBHwaj

Hosts: Sarah McDuling and John Purcell

Guest: Madonna King

Jamila Rizvi called Women Kind “an impeccably researched love letter to those who hold up half the sky” and we couldn’t agree more! We chat with Dr Kirstin Ferguson and Catherine Fox about how women with clout are transforming the workplace, as well as what we can do to make sure #CelebratingWomen is not just a moment, but a movement that continues.

Books mentioned in this podcast:

Women Kind by Dr Kirstin Ferguson and Catherine Fox —> https://bit.ly/2MAjSej

Host: Sarah McDuling

Guests: Dr Kirstin Ferguson and Catherine Fox

Adam Liaw finds he can’t really complain about his job. After all, travelling to different countries and eating some of the best food in the world doesn’t sound too bad, does it? After winning MasterChef in 2010, Adam has gone on to author a number of extremely successful cookbooks. His latest, Destination Flavour, ties in with his award-winning SBS television series of the same name. He now knows how to herd and cook Reindeer, has made connections with fascinating people all over the world and talks with us about Australia’s hangups when it comes to cuisine.

Books mentioned in this podcast:

Destination Flavour by Adam Liaw —> https://bit.ly/2PyrkEL

Hosts: John Purcell and Robert O’Hearn

Guest: Adam Liaw

"It was phenomenally difficult to write but, to be honest, I’m not interested in things that aren’t phenomenally difficult. I get bored.” - Stephanie Bishop, award-winning and critically acclaimed author of The Other Side of the World

Books mentioned in this podcast:

Man Out of Time by Stephanie Bishop —> https://bit.ly/2ORWllJ

The Other Side of the World by Stephanie Bishop —> https://bit.ly/2NavErR

Hosts: Sarah McDuling and John Purcell

Guest: Stephanie Bishop

Have you ever tried explaining a book plot to someone and have them just stare at you like you’re crazy? What is it about these ‘crazy concepts’ that we love? We discuss some of the best crazy concepts that work in this week’s episode of Booktopia On. Don’t forget to tune in every Wednesday at 11am.

Some of the books mentioned in this podcast:

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon —> https://bit.ly/2w29xgI

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton —> https://bit.ly/2PsFNSn

The Tempest by William Shakespeare —> https://bit.ly/2MpniQi

The Starbound Trilogy by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner —> https://bit.ly/2Bd1nHw

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger —> https://bit.ly/2OBzqLb

Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf —> https://bit.ly/2Bc7oUW

To The Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf —> https://bit.ly/2MMKGEj

Orlando by Virginia Woolf —> https://bit.ly/2MralVR

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F Scott Fitzgerald —> https://bit.ly/2MgAmbh

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley —> https://bit.ly/2w9bJ5h

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold —> https://bit.ly/2w50NWD

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak —> https://bit.ly/2nFFk2o

Breaks of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut —> https://bit.ly/2P9pRUU

If On A Winter’s Night A Traveller by Italo Calvino —> https://bit.ly/2KYtiuA

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor —> https://bit.ly/2Ms30W0

Sleeping Beauties by Stephen King and Owen King —> https://bit.ly/2MlLyCP

The Once and Future King by TH White —> https://bit.ly/2nC8akr

The Princess Bride by S. Morgenstern —> https://bit.ly/2nAMWn4

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown —> https://bit.ly/2P9RnBD

The French Lieutenant’s Woman by John Fowles —> https://bit.ly/2w3JqFy

Host: Bronwyn Eley

Guests: Sarah McDuling and John Purcell

Australian Children’s Laureate Morris Gleitzman is a renowned and bestselling children’s author beloved by many Australians. We chat with Morris about his new book Help Around the House, the vital importance of reading for children and adults, and the the anxiety around reading creating by standardised tests.

Books mentioned in this podcast:

Help Around the House by Morris Gleitzman —> https://bit.ly/2LeeRT1

Hosts: Sarah McDuling and Ben Hunter

Guest: Morris Gleitzman

Osher Günsberg is one of Australia’s most well-known and most loved celebrities. What few may realise is that behind that charming smile he has long struggled with complex mental illness. What does it take to have a career in television? How do you deal with complex mental illness? How do you fight your way back to health? We chat with Osher about that and more, which can all be found in his new memoir Back, After the Break.

Some books mentioned in this podcast:

Back, After the Break by Osher Günsberg —> https://bit.ly/2Po5Av1

The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster —> https://bit.ly/2BrAujd

Host: Sarah McDuling and John Purcell

Guest: Osher Günsberg

Osher Günsberg is one of Australia’s most well-known and most loved celebrities. What few may realise is that behind that charming smile he has long struggled with complex mental illness. What does it take to have a career in television? How do you deal with complex mental illness? How do you fight your way back to health? We chat with Osher about that and more, which can all be found in his new memoir Back, After the Break.

Some books mentioned in this podcast:

Back, After the Break by Osher Günsberg —> https://bit.ly/2Po5Av1

The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster —> https://bit.ly/2BrAujd

Host: Sarah McDuling and John Purcell

Guest: Osher Günsberg