The Write Way

The Write Way

By Samuel ElliottArts
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The Write Way episodes

  • Bernard Gallate Chatting About 'The Origin Of Me'
    Animator, teacher, former Sydney Harbour Bridge tour guide and now novelist, Bernard Gallate, joined the program to delve into his debut novel, ‘The Origin Of Me’. Topics discussed include:
    - The two different writing styles that the story is told with – from the book within a book (‘My One Redeeming Affliction), historical fiction tale, to that of the present-day setting of the central character, 15-year-old Lincoln Locke’s and his distinctly contemporary story. How Bernard married the two to tell the unique story he wanted to.
    - Balancing humour with harder topics, from the eugenics and human zoo and travelling oddity show practices that were the norm and depicted in the historical fiction account, to that of homophobia and bullying/associated deplorable behaviour shown in the contemporary setting. How there was still a humour to be found prevalent within the overall story and why this was important.
    - How his animation provenance and skillset informed, or helped shape, his writing process and style.
    - How Bernard went about paring back the original colossal 800+ page version. A brutal and gruelling, but necessary process. And how he ensured that the story he wanted to tell was retained within this onslaught of huge edits.
    - And much, much more!
    Thanks heaps to Bernard for appearing on the program – you can pick up your copy of ‘The Origin Of Me’ via Penguin Random House, here:
    https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-origin-of-me-9780143789628
    1 hr 2 min
  • Richard James Allen Talking 'Blood - Shot Heart'
    Contemporary Australian poet, dancer, actor and filmmaker and all-round prolific creative, Richard James Allen, appeared on the show to discuss his latest (and one of his largest) project(s) – starring as lead character, Hans, in a new delightfully weird independent Australian film – ‘Blood-Short Heart’. Topics discussed include:
    - ‘Blood-Shot Heart’ (briefly) dissected - its influences, from the Giallo sub-genre of Italian horror movies of the 70s, to Shakespearian plays and prose and Greek tragedies, along with a dash of Opera and Operatic stories.
    - What drew Richard to the project, to take on the role of the lead character, Hans, his process with getting into character and what served to inspire and helped him build the final Hans seen on screen.
    - Subverting the cliches and tiresome tropes of the psychological thriller genre – how this came about organically through the want of creating a fully-realised, densely-layered character.
    - The difficulties imposed by his dual role in the production, that of producer as well as lead actor, how he went about successfully balancing the two almost diametrically opposed roles.
    - A lively discussion on the current state of Australian cinema – in particular, the importance of audiences attending and supporting (and supporting by attending) independent Australian films such as ‘Blood-Shot Heart’.
    Huge thanks to Richard James Allen for appearing on the program, and for contributing to such a great new Independent Aussie film. You can find out more:
    Bloodshot Heart at FanForce Films:
    https://fan-force.com/films/bloodshot-heart/
    "Bloodshot Heart: A Cinematic Moment" (FilmInk):
    https://www.filmink.com.au/bloodshot-heart-a-cinematic-moment/
    48 min
  • Rod Barton On 'The Life Of A Spy'
    Today, in yet another first for the program, I was joined by Rod Barton – a former high-ranking Australian Intelligence Officer. Rod appeared on the show to discuss his remarkable life and career that he has now committed to paper with, ‘The Life Of A Spy’. Topics discussed include:
    - Growing up in a small town with an intriguing Weapons Research Establishment – how that, along with his extensive Boy Scout work and passion for chemistry might’ve aggregated into shaping him to take on such a unique career.
    - The serendipitous turn of events, applying for a vague-sounding job, that would lead to him becoming a Junior Analyst and ultimately see him pursue a career within the national intelligence sector.
    - The Yellow Rain/Bee Poo scandal – how that put him out of odds with CIA (being branded by the then-Director of the CIA as ‘perverse and mischievous’) and how a later sharing of information obtained by his work with a Russian defector might’ve restored that somewhat.
    - Being present at (and contributing to) historical events and meetings, from Bob Hawke’s Kuwait-related outburst, to serving as advisor to Kofi Annan and Hans Blix.
    - Risking life and limb – from using his boy scout training to try saving the life of a gunshot victim in Somalia, to nearly plunging into the highly-volatile ‘volcano’ in a bombed-out plant facility in Iraq.
    - His decision to become a whistle-blower with the Camp Cropper story, what led to that and what arose from that. Including major change within the U.S. and Australia’s policies.
    Big thanks to Rod for appearing on the program, and for Black Inc books for publishing such a unique and cracking book! You can purchase your copy of ‘The Life Of A Spy – An Education In Truth, Lies and Power’
    https://www.blackincbooks.com.au/books/life-spy
    1 hr 11 min
  • Publisher Talk With Busybird's Blaise Van Hecke
    Co-founder of publishing house, Busybird Publishing, Blaise Van Hecke, joined me on the program today. Topics discussed include:
    - A brief history and mission statement for Busybird Publishing, created with her husband. What inspired two photographers (and writers!) to become publishers.
    - How the COV-19 pandemic and consequent lockdown has affected, if at all, Busybird Publishing.
    - The ‘Untitled’ anthology – one of the first endeavours that Busybird embarked on (and continue to produce yearly), how it has transformed, including now in these unprecedented times.
    - The limitless freedom afforded an anthology that doesn’t have a set, or specific theme.
    - Issue No. 9 – the selection process from the outset and how the final product came to be, along with the disparate stories told, from the harrowing to the heart-warming, and everything in between.
    - Has Australian storytelling and have the types of stories coming into Busybird changed since COV-19?
    - What makes a story stand out to Busybird. How all writing is subject to subjectivity and how this should never discourage you as a writer.
    Thanks heaps to Blaise for appearing on the show and for publishing one of my stories in such a stellar anthology. You can purchase a copy of the Untitled Anthology (9), along with all others here:
    https://www.busybird.com.au/
    43 min
  • Cassandra Austin On 'Like Mother'
    In an unprecedented first for the show - documentary filmmaker, criminologist and novelist, Cassandra Austin, chatted with me today, all the way from the U.S. of A., about her 3rd novel, ‘Like Mother’.
    Topics discussed include:
    - The novel’s setting, Bennelong, how a small township causes big problems with its treatment of its denizens. How the stain of a tragedy can affect oneself and their treatment in a town, for life.
    - The decision to set the novel in the 60s and how Cassandra went about bringing it all to life. The subtlety of the referencing and references, illustrating everything nicely for the reader.
    - The opinions people form of others (and refuse to change). How oftentimes they have a serious disconnect, or inaccuracy to the way people perceive themselves or who they know themselves to be. Delving into this human condition being featured on a grand scale (the town vs the central characters) and a narrowed one (the family members views of each other at the novel’s core).
    - The common, but seldom depicted familial relationships at the novel’s centre – a mother’s devotion that can, at face value, appear dysfunctional to fanatic, yet throughout the course of the story, show clear elements of true love and devotion. The inherent difficulties in creating such realistic and complex relationships and dynamics.
    - The pitfalls and challenges faced with the creation of the central character, Louise, both within the writing of her and her admittedly bizarre behaviour and getting it ‘right’.
    - An overview of Cassandra’s career thus far, including some of the serious writerly trials she’s faced and prevailed over to keep penning her novels.
    - And much more!
    Thank you again to Cassandra for talking to me all the way from the U.S. today, you can pick up your copy of ‘Like Mother’ from the good folks at Penguin Random House, here:
    https://www.penguin.com.au/books/like-mother-9781760895556#:~:text=Secrets%2C%20lies%20and%20crying%20babies,won't%20leave%20her%20alone.
    39 min
  • Anna George Discussing 'Tipping'
    Author Anna George appeared on the program to discuss her third and latest novel, ‘Tipping’. Subjects discussed include:
    - The fictional (but unnervingly realistic) setting of Carmichael Grammar – how such a place can be a breeding ground for misogyny and assorted related behaviour leading to cases of sexting.
    - How parents might be becoming more informed (for good or ill) about the lives of their teenagers, through social media and technology.
    - The teenage twin brother characters of Jai and Oscar, how their personalities diverge from one another and can also mirror their parents and contemporary society’s, along with what it means to raise teenage boys. The challenges it presents and the importance of doing it right.
    - The research – the work of (fictional, but again, very realistic) Dr. Vic Cato and the strategies she implements to address this behaviour – the research that Anna completed, and how effective it is being used or not used within real-life school environments (i.e. Harvard).
    - Writing from the perspectives of the Jess and Liv, the two mothers from the rival factions, how Anna resonated with both and conveyed that to the reader.
    - Writing from Duncan’s perspective, the decision to include his perspective in the novel and what challenges or difficulties that presented in the writing.
    - Unconscious bias and techniques to alter this – how change, very much like that depicted in ‘Tipping’ can and has happened in real-life industries and institutions, complete with case studies.
    - Hope, the feeling of hope imbued within ‘Tipping’ – and how there can be hope for societal change now and even more in the future.
    Huge thanks to Anna for chatting with me about ‘Tipping’. You can purchase it and her other novels from Penguin Random House, here:
    https://www.penguin.com.au/books/tipping-9781760897789
    50 min
  • Belinda Lyons-Lee Talks 'Tussaud'
    Writer, creative writing teacher and now novelist, Belinda Lyons-Lee, joined the program to discuss her debut novel, ‘Tussaud’. Topics discussed include:
    - Her fascination with the era and how it fuelled this daringly imaginative novel.
    - Writing a story with real-life historical figures, the basis for which her creativity catapulted from.
    - Research – including the exquisitely described building of the automaton, Marie’s hands becoming her hands and so on.
    - The juggling act of including just enough the research – if it’s supposed to be the ‘wallpaper’ of the narrative, what about if the of-era wallpaper was riddled with arsenic?
    - Delving into themes featured in the story – the creation of artificial life and playing god, the moral quagmire that elicits and the motivations the character Marie felt in the need to ‘protect’ her latest creation.
    - Loneliness as a driving force for a character.
    - Penning a decidedly gothic tale that nevertheless featured the realistic oppression of women of the time, exemplified in several of the male characters. Including the oft used technique of declaring someone to be a ‘hysterical woman’ and carting them off to an asylum to do away with them.
    - How Belinda’s career has in some ways informed her writing, the appreciation for the human condition and how that has enabled her to create such densely-layered characters.
    - And much more!
    Thanks so much to Belinda for appearing on the program, you can purchase a copy of ‘Tussaud’ from her brilliant publisher, Transit Lounge, here:
    https://transitlounge.com.au/shop/tussaud/
    40 min
  • Shannon Molloy On 'Fourteen'
    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
    55 min
  • Dani Vee and 'Words & Nerds' Podcast Mashup With 'The Write Way'
    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!
    56 min
  • SWF Artistic Director Michael Williams talks 'Within Reach'
    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/
    39 min

About The Write Way

From the publisher's feed

A program founded and hosted by author and interviewer Samuel Elliott, that features a broad and disparate range of writer folk guests, ranging from international best-selling authors, to debut novelists or those as-yet unpublished writers. Regardless of what stage of their career they might be at, all of them are united by a love of writing, as well as having overcome some brutal challenges to get to where they are. This program will discuss not only each guest’s latest and greatest work or project, but also delve into what they’ve faced and conquered along their way to inevitable success.