Bestselling author Dervla McTiernan joined me to discuss her latest Cormac Reilly novel, 'The Unquiet Grave'.

We talked about:

- Origins of ‘The Unquiet Grave’ and bog bodies!

- Returning to writing Cormac Reilly. Is it harder to write with an entirely new protagonist, or a recurring one beloved by fans?

- The different examples of familial obligations found throughout the novel.

- How is it that we always see the best, or best version in those close to us, even when there’s mounting evidence contradicting that?

- And so much more!

Thanks muchly to Dervla for chatting with me on the show, be sure to get your copy of ‘The Unquiet Grave’ now!

The first (and likely only) guest for 2025 is novelist Alicia Thompson!

She joined me to discuss her second published novel, ‘Ex’.

Topics we covered include:

- The origins of ‘Ex’.

- The freedoms and limitations imposed by writing such a unique novel.

- Alicia’s exhaustive research process and how it informs her writing.

- Memories, how they can change over time and how they can shape our life.

- And plenty more!

Huge thanks to Alicia for talking with me on the show. Get your copy of ‘Ex’ now!

Musician, writer and author, Jack Ellis, joined me to talk about his 2nd novel, ‘Home And Other Hiding Places.’

Topics discussed include:

- What inspired ‘Home And Other Hiding Places’.

- How children's lives are shaped by what they are/aren’t told and how their imagination fills out the rest.

- Children taking on the roles of protector and provider for parents.

- Writing from a child’s perspective - how it isn’t innately optimistic, but more a story told from someone that hasn’t yet ‘soaked in expectations’.

- And so much more!

Big thanks to Jack for discussing ‘Home And Other Hiding Places’ with me on the show. Be sure to check out his next EP dropping very soon too!

Writer and novelist, Hayley Scrivenor, dropped in to chat about her second novel, ‘Girl Falling’.

Topics include:

- The genesis of ‘Girl Falling’ - including the idyllic setting of the Blue Mountains.

- The need (and total inability) to know what someone else - someone close to ourselves - is thinking.

- How others sometimes, seemingly, know us even better than we do.

- Book Two Syndrome - how did Hayley prevail over it?

- And so much more!

Thanks very much to Hayley for talking all about ‘Girl Falling’ with me on the program - get your copy from the good folks at Pan Macmillan now!!

Writer, podcaster and novelist, Karen Viggers, joined me to discuss her latest novel, ‘Sidelines’.

Topics include:

- The origins of ‘Sidelines’.

- How ultra-competitive parents can be drawn to highly-ranked clubs.

- The insatiable at-all-costs need to win that drives some parents and (by extension) their children.

- Passion being used as an excuse for toxic behaviour and how some people aren’t even aware of their own behaviour.

- And so much more!

Thanks heaps to Karen for chatting with me about ‘Sidelines.’

Journalist and novelist, Ali Lowe, joined me to discuss her latest novel, ‘The School Run’.

Topics discussed include:

- The real-world inspo for ‘The School Run’.

- St Ignatius Boys’ School - what such an institution represents to these characters and how they can find themselves willing to do anything - anything at all - in order to secure a spot for their child in such a place.

- The similarities between parent and child - how parents can be hard and harsh on their child out of fear that they are seeing mini versions of themselves.

- Obligations. How promises and the keeping of them can define and drive characters.

- And a ton more!

Thanks very much to Ali for talking with me about ‘The School Run’ on the show.

Award-winning journalist and novelist, Michael Brissenden, joined me to talk about his latest crime novel, ‘Smoke’.

Topics discussed include:

- The origins of ‘Smoke’.

- Shifting writing stories set in Australia to the U.S. - the similarities and differences of the two countries and settings.

- Journalists - the individuals that frequently risk both life and limb in the pursuit of the truth.

- The power of loyalty - and the various versions of loyalty presented throughout the novel.

- And lots more!

Thank you Michael for chatting with me about all things ‘Smoke’.

Writer and author of 40+ books, Jack Heath, joined me to discuss his latest thriller, ‘Kill Your Husbands’.

Topics discussed include:

- The inspiration for ‘Kill Your Husbands’ - and its unique origins during the height of 50 Shades popularity.

- The endurance of unlikely friendships - how shared experiences can sustain them - i.e. memories turning from tragedy to comedy.

- Fear of losing a relationship as a driving force - the concept found in ‘I lost them because I tried so hard to keep them.’

- Overcoming self-doubt.

- And lots more!

Thanks very much to Jack for discussing ‘Kill Your Husbands’ on the show!

Writer and now novelist Maxine Fawcett joined me to talk about her debut novel, ‘Everything Is Perfect’.

Topics discussed include:

- What sparked ‘Everything Is Perfect’.

- Deconstructing a ‘perfect’ marriage - tracing the history of a lifetime spent together with a partner - how it can be less a love story and more a life story.

- The process (and importance) of ‘writing scared’.

- Obsession - how it can form and how social media can enable it.

- And heaps more!

Thanks heaps to Maxine for chatting all things ‘Everything Is Perfect’ with me on the program!

The first guest for 2024 is writer and novelist, Dinuka McKenzie!

She joined me to discuss her latest novel, the 3rd in the Detective Kate Miles series - ‘Tipping Point’.

Topics discussed include:

- The inspiration for Tipping Point - the brother and sister dynamic and the decision to open the novel with a chapter not from Kate’s perspective - a series first!

- The importance of family/the goings-on of a family in Kate’s life/this series.

How our understanding of others can be shaken/changed by certain events - contrasted with a family’s blind belief in one of their own. ‘They aren’t capable of this’ etc.

- Guilt as a driving force.

- Writing a series with a recurring central protagonist - the freedoms and restrictions it presents.

- And a whole ton more!

Thank you muchly to Dinuka for talking all things ‘Tipping Point’ and Kate Miles with me on the show!