Date With A Debut is a podcast hosted by writer Nick Wasiliev: shining a light on debut authors, their incredible books, and their journeys to publication.

This week, I sit down with Geoff Parkes to discuss his debut novel, When the Deep, Dark Bush Swallows You Whole.

WARNING: This book contains intense subject matter, including instances of abuse and violence. Reader discretion is advised.

Enjoy the show? Drop us a review, it really helps out! You can also support Date with a Debut on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/nickwasiliev/membership

Subscribe on Podbean to never miss an episode: https://www.podbean.com/site/podcatcher/index/blog/3mRME5IMoSJx

Date With a Debut is featured in the Australian literary platform Words & Nerds. Check out all shows on the platform here: https://danivee.com.au/podcasts/

BOOKS:

Debut Feature:

When the Deep, Dark Bush Swallows You Whole / Geoff Parkes: https://bit.ly/3ZI3s6W

Other Books Mentioned:

Travelling / Ann Powers: https://bit.ly/3ZwM4lV

Trainspotting / Irvine Welsh: https://bit.ly/43TZ2fR

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest / Ken Kesey: https://bit.ly/3T0mPo5

Catch 22 / Joseph Heller: https://bit.ly/4dDtn5z

PRODUCTION NOTES:

Host: Nick Wasiliev

Guest: Geoff Parkes

Editing & Production: Nick Wasiliev

Podcast Theme: ‘Chill’ by Sakura Hz

Production Code: 3:5

Episode Number: #39

Additional Credits: Dani Vee (Words & Nerds), Tessa Robinson, Grace Howe (Penguin Random House Australia)

FOLLOW NICK WASILIEV (+ DATE WITH A DEBUT):

A LITTLE IDEA PODCAST: Feed

WEBSITE: www.nicholaswasiliev.com

YOUTUBE: @NickWasiliev_Official

INSTAGRAM: @nickwasiliev

TWITTER/X: @Nick_Wasiliev

FACEBOOK: Nick Wasiliev

TIKTOK: @nickwasiliev

© 2025 Nick Wasiliev and Breathe Art Holdings

‘Date With A Debut’ is a Words and Nerds and Breathe Art Podcasts co-production recorded and edited on Awabakal Country, and we pay our respects to all elders past and present.

Michelle Mitchell and Dani Vee chat about her new book TWEENS.

They talk about this time being the most rapid period of development for a child, the difference between concrete and formal thinkers and how we can improve our connections with our tweens.

They also chat about screen time, building positive relationships, mental illness and how we're all just trying our best to be the positive adults our kids need

Michelle Mitchell is a bestselling author and speaker, sought after for her compassionate and grounded advice for parenting tweens and teens.

LISTEN NOW!

Dani Vee and Michelle Mitchell chat about her new book TWEENS. They explore parenting suggestions for those with tweens and teens, the challenge of screen time, how we connect with our children and how we're doing our best.

ANGE CRAWFORD

🎙️ New QWS Podcast Episode! 🌈✨ Season 4 Continues!

In QWS S4E6, Troy Hunter (he/him) has a yarn with Ange Crawford (she/her) about her award-winning debut YA novel How To Be Normal, out now with Walker Books.

Ange discusses some of the key elements of the novel, including friendships, family and queer love. But How To Be Normal also tackles darker themes like coercive control and anxiety. She also opens up about how her own autism influences and impacts her writing.

There’s a great chat about how music influences her work and her life, and how our identities are fluid as we author ourselves in real time.

Plus there is squeeing over Angie Thomas books and Chappell Roan.

📚 Plus, Ange recommends some must-read queer books:

• Where You Left Us by Rhiannon Wilde

• The Spider and Her Demons by sydney khoo

• The Boy from the Mish by Gary Lonesborough

• Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Organisations - Switchboard and Minus 18

📖 More about Ange on Insta @ange_e_crawford

🔗 Hosted by Troy Hunter (he/him)

🌟 Gus and the Missing Boy – out now

🔥 Gus and the Burning Stones – coming August 2025

📖 More about Troy on Insta @troyhunterwriter

Dani Vee and Gavin Aung Than chat about his new graphic novel Creature Clinic. They also chat about the differences between Australian and US publishers, the secrets of the industry, parenting, finding creative space and whether meditation really works.

Date With A Debut is a podcast hosted by writer Nick Wasiliev: shining a light on debut authors, their incredible books, and their journeys to publication.

This week, I sit down with Curtis Campbell to discuss his debut novel, The House of Rural Realness.

Enjoy the show? Drop us a review, it really helps out! You can also support Date with a Debut on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/nickwasiliev/membership

Subscribe on Podbean to never miss an episode: https://www.podbean.com/site/podcatcher/index/blog/3mRME5IMoSJx

Date With a Debut is featured in the Australian literary platform Words & Nerds. Check out all shows on the platform here: https://danivee.com.au/podcasts/

BOOKS:

Debut Feature:

The House of Rural Realness / Curtis Campbell: https://bit.ly/4kKx3oE

Other Books Mentioned:

Doppelganger / Naomi Klein: https://bit.ly/4kIxZtI

On Freedom / Maggie Nelson: https://bit.ly/4juJKTB

The Hobbit / J R R Tolkien: https://bit.ly/43ivnga

PRODUCTION NOTES:

Host: Nick Wasiliev

Guest: Curtis Campbell

Editing & Production: Nick Wasiliev

Podcast Theme: ‘Chill’ by Sakura Hz

Production Code: 3:4

Episode Number: #38

Additional Credits: Dani Vee (Words & Nerds), Chloe Mills (University of Queensland Press)

FOLLOW NICK WASILIEV (+ DATE WITH A DEBUT):

A LITTLE IDEA PODCAST: Feed

WEBSITE: www.nicholaswasiliev.com

YOUTUBE: @NickWasiliev_Official

INSTAGRAM: @nickwasiliev

TWITTER/X: @Nick_Wasiliev

FACEBOOK: Nick Wasiliev

TIKTOK: @nickwasiliev

© 2025 Nick Wasiliev and Breathe Art Holdings

‘Date With A Debut’ is a Words and Nerds and Breathe Art Podcasts co-production recorded and edited on Awabakal Country, and we pay our respects to all elders past and present.

Dani Vee and Sarah Clifton chat about her new book The Remarkable Truths of Alfie Bains.

They chat about the writing process, writing, feminisms and remarkable truths.

Sarah WON an interview by bidding on the Authors and Artists for Palestine Fundraiser

Date With A Debut is a podcast hosted by writer Nick Wasiliev: shining a light on debut authors, their incredible books, and their journeys to publication.

This week, I sit down with Leesa Ronald to discuss her debut novel, Special Delivery.

Enjoy the show? Drop us a review, it really helps out! You can also support Date with a Debut on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/nickwasiliev/membership

Subscribe on Podbean to never miss an episode: https://www.podbean.com/site/podcatcher/index/blog/3mRME5IMoSJx

Date With a Debut is featured in the Australian literary platform Words & Nerds. Check out all shows on the platform here: https://danivee.com.au/podcasts/

BOOKS:

Debut Feature:

Special Delivery / Leesa Ronald: https://bit.ly/3F4tEBX

Other Books Mentioned:

Nina Kenwood / Nina Kenwood: https://bit.ly/3F0YbRa

Beach Read / Emily Henry: https://bit.ly/43pOq7c

Five Bush Weddings / Clare Fletcher: https://bit.ly/3FbPVxJ

PRODUCTION NOTES:

Host: Nick Wasiliev

Guest: Leesa Ronald

Editing & Production: Nick Wasiliev

Podcast Theme: ‘Chill’ by Sakura Hz

Production Code: 3:3

Episode Number: #37

Additional Credits: Dani Vee (Words & Nerds), Allen & Unwin

FOLLOW NICK WASILIEV (+ DATE WITH A DEBUT):

A LITTLE IDEA PODCAST: Feed

WEBSITE: www.nicholaswasiliev.com

YOUTUBE: @NickWasiliev_Official

INSTAGRAM: @nickwasiliev

TWITTER/X: @Nick_Wasiliev

FACEBOOK: Nick Wasiliev

TIKTOK: @nickwasiliev

© 2025 Nick Wasiliev and Breathe Art Holdings

‘Date With A Debut’ is a Words and Nerds and Breathe Art Podcasts co-production recorded and edited on Awabakal Country, and we pay our respects to all elders past and present.

Dani and Joel chat about his brand new book Heist: The Great Chocolate Caper, planning vs the benefits of spontaneous writing, word counts and trends.

Joel also confesses something about his past that inspired the book - and it's shocking!

They also chat about the importance of self-care when touring, the power of poetry in bringing out the vulnerability of students, particularly boys, unraveling the patriarchy and practising courageous vulnerability.

Date With A Debut is a podcast hosted by writer Nick Wasiliev: shining a light on debut authors, their incredible books, and their journeys to publication.

This week, I sit down with Deborah Pike to discuss her debut novel, The Players.

Enjoy the show? Drop us a review, it really helps out! You can also support Date with a Debut on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/nickwasiliev/membership

Subscribe on Podbean to never miss an episode: https://www.podbean.com/site/podcatcher/index/blog/3mRME5IMoSJx

Date With a Debut is featured in the Australian literary platform Words & Nerds. Check out all shows on the platform here: https://danivee.com.au/podcasts/

BOOKS:

Debut Feature:

The Players / Deborah Pike: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/K0gQvN

Other Books Mentioned:

Orbital / Samantha Harvey: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/POB5ve

Heartsease / Kate Kruimink: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/XmWJRX

God Forgets About the Poor / Peter Polites: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/WygVzA

The Great Undoing / Sharlene Allsopp: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/k06WGx

The Bell Jar / Sylvia Plath: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/vPWAvv

Paul Auster's The New York Trilogy / Paul Auster: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/MAgrVq

PRODUCTION NOTES:

Host: Nick Wasiliev

Guest: Deborah Pike

Editing & Production: Nick Wasiliev

Podcast Theme: ‘Chill’ by Sakura Hz

Production Code: 3:2

Episode Number: #36

Additional Credits: Dani Vee (Words & Nerds), Fremantle Press

FOLLOW NICK WASILIEV (+ DATE WITH A DEBUT):

A LITTLE IDEA PODCAST: Feed

WEBSITE: www.nicholaswasiliev.com

YOUTUBE: @NickWasiliev_Official

INSTAGRAM: @nickwasiliev

TWITTER/X: @Nick_Wasiliev

FACEBOOK: Nick Wasiliev

TIKTOK: @nickwasiliev

© 2025 Nick Wasiliev and Breathe Art Holdings

‘Date With A Debut’ is a Words and Nerds and Breathe Art Podcasts co-production recorded and edited on Awabakal Country, and we pay our respects to all elders past and present.