Journalist and author Shannon Molloy joined the program to discuss his truly devastating memoir, ‘Fourteen’. Please be aware that this episode delved into some traumatic and confronting issues. TRIGGER WARNING: suicide, self-harm, homophobia, violence. Topics discussed include:

- Yeppoon – the town setting of the story – its masculine ecosystem, what can cause its young males to go angry and what can arise from this pervasive anger and aggression.

- The culture of homophobia, the lack of positive and realistic gay role models and the ubiquitous derision of gay people (i.e. offensive caricature characters in popular television shows/movies) and how this served to stoke up fear and hatred among young men.

- The institutionalised normalisation of homophobia and homophobic acts i.e. teachers not correcting the use of slurs and, conversely, the dedicated teachers and professionals who saved Shannon’s life with their kindness and devotion to him.

- The darkness and the light - the fashion show and Brooke Satchwell’s selfless instinctual act that had such a positive lifelong impact on Shannon.

- And so much more.

I have never had such an emotional interview before. This book, Shannon’s story and Shannon in general got me right in the feels and soul.

If this episode has affected you in any way, please contact: https://www.lifeline.org.au

Founder, producer, host and all-round brilliant human, Dani Vee, of the ‘Words And Nerds Podcast’ discussed with me her incredible, hundreds-episodes-strong program and related accomplishments.

Topics we delved into include:

- What drew us to podcasting and interviewing, what did we want to focus on, thematically, with our shows?

- Funny stories with guests/interviewees encountered along the way.

- Some book titles that have blown us away this year.

- Hopes/dreams/aspirations for the future of the shows.

- What we’re up to, chip-chipping away with our own big writing projects.

- One question of mine that I thought was a good one – but never expected to be directed back towards me!

- And much, much more.

Thanks so much to Dani for chatting with me on this epic mash-up episode. Be sure to get stuck into the Words And Nerds Podcast program available for your listening pleasure on Spotify and Soundcloud now!

Sydney Writers’ Festival’s new artistic director, Michael Williams, appeared on the program to discuss the upcoming 2021 Sydney Writers’ Festival, with its timely theme ‘Within Reach’.

Topics covered include:

- His appointment to the position in the midst of COV-19 lockdown, how that shaped his start to the role and ultimately the organising of the festival.

- This year’s theme, ‘Within Reach’ and how the festival is underpinned with a strong sense of hope and what that means moving forward.

- What is it about writing and writers that can unite a society and assist them in such dark, unprecedented times.

- What he hopes for festival-goers to take away from the festival.

- And much more!

Thank you to Michael for chatting on the show. Here’s the link to SWF’S 2021 Program line-up, get stuck in quick to not miss out:

https://www.swf.org.au/festivals/festival-2021/

Writer, editor and now novelist Seth Robinson joined the program to talk about his debut novel, ‘Welcome To Bellevue’. Topics touched on (among others) include:

- Creating the titular town – from the detailed geography to the prodigious cast of colourful characters and the challenge imposed with the weaving of the two.

- His broad and eclectic mix of influences – can Bellevue be interpreted as purgatory in the Christian sense? How ancient religious parables can serve as inspiration for contemporary stories.

- Inclusion of raw and poignant moments in such a surreal setting, how Seth went about including these without them seeing contrived or incongruous – the importance of getting a character ‘right’.

- ‘It takes a village to raise a novel’ – how the story was invaluably improved thanks to the committed efforts of other like-minded writerly souls at Grattan Street Press who shared his vision.

- How such a unique publishing house might be a promising sign of things to come for writers.

- And much more!

You can purchase Seth’s books and other titles from Grattan Street Press’s website, here:

https://grattanstreetpress.com/fiction/

Writer, editor, journalist, Mark Mordue appeared on the program to discuss his biography of iconic musician Nick Cave – The Young Nick Cave ‘Boy On Fire’. Topics discussed include:

- Mark’s original John Milton/Paradise Lost framework for the biography, what caused him to pare it back into a more conventional biography and how he went about doing so

- The decision to create the ‘immersive’ experience for the reader, while keeping himself out of the narrative.

- His staggering amount of research and how that was woven into the story in order to bring historic venues like St Kilda’s Crystal Ballroom to life – warts and heroin all.

- Cave’s influences beyond those of musical greats like Bowie and Iggy Pop.

- The inspiration of Ned Kelly and the ‘outlaw’, how Dostoevsky’s ‘Crime and Punishment’ has had a lasting impact on Cave and his work and might be related to connecting with his father.

- The loss of Nick Cave’s father, Colin and how that shaped much of his life and work and how Dawn Cave was equally crucial in the shaping of her son’s future career.

- And much more!

https://www.harpercollins.com.au/9781460713211/boy-on-fire/

Sydney-based film director Tom Danger joined the show today to discuss his 2nd (and latest) feature, ‘Sweethurt’.

Topics discussed include:

- His collaboration with fellow director Logan Webster and taking the plunge with a coming-of-age comedy after a horror debut.

- The hurdles and challenges faced during the making of this movie – including being denied essential lenses right before shooting.

- Working with people vs working with animals (Winston the goat!) and all the madness in between.

- Looking to the future – the current status of ‘Sweethurt’.

- And much more!

Huge thanks to Tom Danger for appearing on the show. You can learn more about ‘Sweethurt’ via their page:

https://www.facebook.com/SweethurtMovie

Canadian/Armenian/Australian writer, essayist and novelist, Ashley Kalagian Blunt joins the program to discuss her latest creative non-fiction book, ‘How To Be Australian: An Outsider’s View On Life & Love Down Under’.

Some topics we discussed include:

- Her original culture shock experience of living in Inner-West Sydney, from people walking around barefoot, to cockroaches, funny coffee names and weird-addresses, and how all this served to be a baptism by fire into the oft-bizarre way of life for the average inner-city-dwelling Aussie.

- Connecting with the Armenian community of Western Sydney – how much of an unexpected surprise and invaluable experience it turned out to be, not only then, but in the shaping of ‘My Name Is Revenge’.

- Including the trials and tribulations Ashley’s marriage faced by moving halfway across the world, and the decision to place these less bright moments in the book.

- The ineffability of an Australian identity and how there is no one Australian identity but countless ones, all existing together – how the more you engage, the more you become Australian.

- Being knocked over by a man on an esky-modified loveseat, a Kookaburra stealing her sausage roll, the life-changing experience of witnessing an Indigenous burlesque performer’s show – and much, much more!

Check out the upcoming courses of Writing NSW at:

https://writingnsw.org.au/whats-on/courses/

You can purchase Ashley’s book from the publisher, Affirm Press directly here:

https://affirmpress.com.au/

Former journo turned media consultant, Dan Kaufman, joins the program to discuss his debut published novel, ‘Drowning In The Shallows’.

Some topics covered include:

- Authenticity of voice, ‘writing what you know’ – how your lived experience can serve as a fine springboard to write a substantial fictional story, and where does one then draw the line (if ever?).

- How the humour prevalent throughout the novel still could not hide the undercurrent of profound loneliness felt by the main character – and how his disastrous attempts at dating can be considered a realistic depiction of real-life contemporary dating within Sydney.

- Tenderness in the weirdest times – how even in settings and situations revolving exclusively around sleazy sex, one’s wholesome, loving spirit and desires can prevail.

- Writing for yourself – how liberating it can be to write a novel assuming that it will never get published, or read by anyone else but yourself.

- And much more!

You can purchase ‘Drowning In The Shallows’ from Dan’s publisher, Melbourne Books, here:

https://melbournebooks.com.au/products/drowning-in-the-shallows

This episode has thriller writer, J.P. Pomare, talking about his new, veritable page-turner, ‘Tell Me Lies’.

Topics discussed include (Trigger Warning):

- Psychology and the tightrope balance of a psychologist’s keeping professional duty and personal well-being/safety in check.

- Contemporary issues woven into the story and novel – such as the new and inherently traumatic job of a Social Media Content Moderator and the oftentimes malicious world of online gaming/streaming (i.e. doxing/swatting).

- Familial themes – what limitless lengths one is willing to go to out of a sense of familial obligation, from trying to ‘save’ ones family to trying to destroy another’s out of revenge etc.

- J.P.’s writing process and how it has changed, along with the challenges he has faced with writing his new novel.

- And much more.

Sydney-based filmmaker/editor/poet/writer Anthony J. Langford appears on the program to talk about his latest novel, ‘Lone Wolf World’. This is an episode that delves into some of the darker depths of contemporary society and the human condition. Though violence and confronting matters are not discussed in graphic detail, listener caution is still advised.

Topics discussed include:

- The process of entering into the mind of such a disturbed individual and maintaining their narrative voice throughout the length of an ever-changing novel.

- Opining on how individuals come to commit heinous acts and how much society is responsible for the shaping of these individuals and if they can be prevented.

- The pervasive feeling of isolation in a pandemic-ridden world and how it could be contributing to the making of outcasts.

- The need to address and depict such characters, and what purpose they can serve to the potential betterment of real-life society.

- And much more!

‘Lone World World’ and all of Anthony’s many other works are available for purchase via his website: https://www.anthonyjlangfordbooks.com/