Words and Nerds: Authors, books and literature.

⭐️ Episode 839. Dani Vee, and Jack Heath - Choppy Water, readership and breaking rules ⭐️ Published by Allen & Unwin.

Dear thriller lovers,

Buckle up as I welcome Jack Heath back to the podcast to talk all things genre, thrillers, writing and

We chat about:

✅ Writing in sub-genres

✅ Researching behind the scenes of Choppy Water

✅ Writing Process - Making sure the reader has a good time while reading

✅ How to make a story work

✅ How following rules made his writing worse

✅ Being influenced by other writers

✅ Writing with AuDHD

✅ Being kind to yourself

Support the industry by hitting play and reading more books!

Dani 💋

⭐️Episode 838 - NaNoWriMo 2026 - Day 1 ⭐️

Adrian, Cristy, Dani & Tristan will try and write 50,000 words in 30 days 🎉

⭐️ Handwriting vs writing on the laptop

⭐️ Meeting word counts

⭐️ The challenges we’ll face this month

⭐️ Making art anywhere

⭐️ Making your own rules

⭐️ What to avoid during NaNo

Find out who’s following the rules, what everyone is hoping to achieve and what bugs Adrian …

Join us in writing a bunch of words in November!

Are you coming with us?

Dani 💋

Adrian 🍩

Cristy ⛰️

Tristan 🇫🇷

Episode 837: Celebrating 9 years of Words and Nerds with a cast of creatives 🎉

Dear listeners,

Join us for a chaotic and fun chat where amongst the oddball questions we talk about:

✅ Voice

✅ Self-belief

✅ Self-doubt

✅ Where do ideas come from?

✅ Creative superstitions

✅ Mandating teacher librarians

We also ramble on about a reality TV show for publishing, publishing vs writing, what would you love to put in a children’s books but wouldn’t be allowed and community 🔥

Support the industry and read more books! 🩷

Dani 💋

*Please note there is a tiny bit of adult language, you may not want little ears to hear 💯

Thank you

🔥 Adam Wallace

🔥 Nicole Hayes

🔥 Joel McKerrow

🔥 RWR McDonald

🔥 James Layton

🔥 Ingrid Laguna

🔥 Dan Thomas

Some adult language

#podcast #podcasting #creatives #writer #author

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.

In our 17th episode of series four, Nick chats with Bryony McGuinness, discussing her historical YA debut, Violet Town.

Enjoy the show? Drop us a review, it really helps the show out!

You can also subscribe to our new monthly newsletter, and get access to exclusive show Second Date: https://nickwasiliev.substack.com/

Sign up to the free Instagram Date with a Debut Writing/Reading Crew: https://bit.ly/4pyCx9u

Check out our brand new podcast website: https://dwad.podpixels.com/

Check out the 2026 sponsor of the podcast, Pod Pixels: https://bit.ly/4cbG1Zt

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

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

BOOKS:

Debut:

Violet Town / Bryony McGuinness: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/QYv6Ba

Additional books mentioned:

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone / J.K. Rowling: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/5kD7Wb

Don’t Forget to Remember Me / Annie Drum: https://bit.ly/4gJd49y

PRODUCTION NOTES:

Host: Nick Wasiliev

Guest: Bryony McGuinness

Editing & Production: Nick Wasiliev

Podcast Theme: ‘Chill’ by Sakura Hz

Production Code: 4.17

Episode Number: #75

Additional Credits: Dani Vee (Words & Nerds), Bakers Lane Books, Julia Ferracane (Righteous PR)

FOLLOW NICK WASILIEV (+ DATE WITH A DEBUT):

A LITTLE IDEA PODCAST: Feed

NEWSLETTER: nickwasiliev.substack.com

WEBSITE: www.nicholaswasiliev.com

YOUTUBE: @NickWasiliev_Official

INSTAGRAM: @nickwasiliev

TWITTER/X: @Nick_Wasiliev

FACEBOOK: Nick Wasiliev

TIKTOK: @nickwasiliev

© 2026 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.

Dear book lovers

We talk about capturing an Aussie Christmas, nostalgia and pushing back against AI

We also explore:

✅ Unique experiences of an Aussie Christmas

✅ Human made art

✅ Working together as author/ illustrator

✅ The process of illustration

✅ How to make a Christmas book stand out

✅ A book they dream of creating

✅ How often we create

Support the industry by hitting play and reading more books!

Dani 💋

⭐️ Episode 835 Dani Vee and Ben Ryan - Coming Out at the End of the World ⭐️ Published by Midnight Sun

Dear book lovers

We talk about positive masculinity, coming out, the writing process and the zombie apocalypse.

We also explore:

✅ Misconceptions of masculinity

✅ The LGBTQIA community

✅ Why zombie apocalypse’s resonate with readers

✅ How the story came from a personal story

✅ The divisive nature of the internet

✅ How screenwriting influences writing books

Support the industry by hitting play and reading more books!

Dani 💋

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, we welcome our second collaboration for the year as Nick sits down with one of the co-hosts of The Book Deal podcast, Tina Strachan!

Listen to The Book Deal: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2368528

Follow The Book Deal on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_book_deal_podcast/

Follow Tina Strachan: https://www.instagram.com/td_strachan/

Follow Madeleine Cleary: https://www.instagram.com/madeleineclearywrites/

Follow Natasha Rai: https://www.instagram.com/raiwriting/

Enjoy the show? Drop us a review, it really helps the show out!

You can also subscribe to our new monthly newsletter, and get access to exclusive show Second Date: https://nickwasiliev.substack.com/

Sign up to the free Instagram Date with a Debut Writing/Reading Crew: https://bit.ly/4pyCx9u

Check out our brand new podcast website: https://dwad.podpixels.com/

Check out the 2026 sponsor of the podcast, Pod Pixels: https://bit.ly/4cbG1Zt

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

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

BOOKS:

The Book Deal Authors:

Neeka and the Missing Key / Tina Strachan, Max Hamilton (Illustrator): https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/9VBjJ0

Neeka and the Storm / Tina Strachan, Max Hamilton (Illustrator): https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/AgY1Ex

Neeka and the Great Search / Tina Strachan, Max Hamilton (Illustrator): https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/ZVevNQ

The Butterfly Women / Madeleine Cleary: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/9VevmY

An Onslaught of Light / Natasha Rai: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/092QEJ

Other Books Mentioned:

And in the Morning / Lenny Robinson: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/JkWKNE

R.I.P. Nanny Tobbins / Lucie Stevens: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/yqdP4W

Imogen in Waiting / Lindsay Bartels: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/rE1WxQ

My Mum is a Bird / Angie Cui, Evie Barrow (Illustrator): https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/yZxPkv

PRODUCTION NOTES:

Host: Nick Wasiliev

Guests: Tina Strachan

Editing & Production: Nick Wasiliev

Podcast Theme: ‘Chill’ by Sakura Hz

Production Code: 4.16

Episode Number: #74

Additional Credits: Dani Vee (Words & Nerds), Tina Strachan (The Book Deal)

FOLLOW NICK WASILIEV (+ DATE WITH A DEBUT):

A LITTLE IDEA PODCAST: Feed

SUBSTACK: nickwasiliev.substack.com

WEBSITE: www.nicholaswasiliev.com

YOUTUBE: @NickWasiliev_Official

INSTAGRAM: @nickwasiliev

TWITTER/X: @Nick_Wasiliev

FACEBOOK: Nick Wasiliev

TIKTOK: @nickwasiliev

© 2026 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.

⭐️ Episode 834 Dani Vee and Riley James - The Wreck, thrillers and the Bermuda Triangle ⭐️ Published by Allen and Unwin

Dear book lovers,

I have a thrilling chat with Riley James about her new book The Wreck. We chat about the Bermuda Triangle and how we thought it would be so much more of a problem in our lives!

Inspired by real-life events of Frederick Valentich, a pilot who went missing under mysterious circumstances.

✅ Who become in the worst times

✅ Why thrillers resonate with readers

✅ The writing process of writing thrillers

✅ Creating tension

✅ AI and what it can’t do

✅ Publishing journey and getting an agent

Support the industry by hitting play, reading more books and throw on a record!

Dani 💋

⭐️ Episode 833 Dani Vee and Andrew Clarke - Songs That Changed The World ⭐️ Published by Rockpool Publishing

Dear music lovers,

I have something very cool for you this week! I chat to Andrew Clarke about songs that have changed the world! Andrew is a football, motorsport and motoring journalist, and now he’s writing about music.

Some of the songs we focus on are I Am Woman, Smells Like Teen Spirit, Strange Fruit, F@$k the Police,

✅ Songs throughout history that changed the world through popularity, protest and lyrics

✅ The nostalgia of music

✅ Important movements that have been driven by music

✅ The courage of artists and record labels

✅ Songs that can empower you

✅ Feminism

✅ The importance of the punk and grunge movement

What an inspired chat!

Support the industry by hitting play, reading more books and throw on a record!

Dani 💋

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.

The main show will return next week for the final two episodes of the main series before we finish 2026 with three Debut Revisited specials, but to bridge the gap please enjoy a sneak peek of my newsletter show exclusive, Second Date, where authors return for a second round of rapid-fire questions.

Check out a historical fiction/romance special as I go spoiler heavy with Lenny Robinson and Bryony McGuinness, and if you like it, sign up below!

WARNING: this episode contains coarse language.

I have a special deal currently where if you sign up to the newsletter, you can have 50% off a monthly or yearly VIP subscription for the next twelve months. That's $3 a month, or $25 a year!

Sign up to the newsletter here (you can also get a free version too!): https://nickwasiliev.substack.com/

Get 50% off a paid VIP subscription here: https://nickwasiliev.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=651cc6fe

Enjoy the show? Drop us a review, it really helps the show out!

Check out our brand new podcast website: https://dwad.podpixels.com/

Check out the 2026 sponsor of the podcast, Pod Pixels: https://bit.ly/4cbG1Zt

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

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

MAIN EPISODES:

Lenny Robinson: https://dwad.podpixels.com/ep/series-4-episode-13-and-in-the-morning-by-lenny-robinson/

Bryony McGuinness: https://dwad.podpixels.com/ep/series-4-episode-17-violet-town-by-bryony-mcguinness/

BOOKS:

Debut Features:

And in the Morning / Lenny Robinson: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/JkWKNE

Violet Town / Bryony McGuinness: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/QYv6Ba

Other Books Mentioned:

Land / Maggie O’Farrell: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/m4J737

Middlemarch / George Eliot: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/L0yQqV

Mansfield Park / Jane Austen: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/4axb51

The Scarlet Letter / Nathaniel Hawthorne: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/m4JARD

The Handmaid’s Tale / Margaret Atwood: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/5kD6bn

Villette / Charlotte Bronte: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/rEqZnB

David Copperfield / Charles Dickens: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/VOvEyk

Crown of Midnight / Sarah J. Maas: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/VOvEyk

Crescent City / Sarah J. Maas: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/OYvgRG

The One Remaining / Paula McLean: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/yZP02y

Alchemised / SenLinYu: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/qWLJ4O

The Book Thief / Markus Zusak: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/gRej10

The Iliad and The Odyssey / Homer, Samuel Butler (Translator): https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/WOvnqn

PRODUCTION NOTES:

Host: Nick Wasiliev

Guests: Lenny Robinson & Bryony McGuinness

Editing & Production: Nick Wasiliev

Podcast Theme: ‘Chill’ by Sakura Hz

Production Code: 4:X2

Additional Credits: Dani Vee (Words & Nerds), Jean Smith, Siena Johnstone, Sarah Valle (UQP Press), Bakers Lane Books, Julia Ferracane (Righteous PR)

FOLLOW NICK WASILIEV (+ DATE WITH A DEBUT):

A LITTLE IDEA PODCAST: Feed

SUBSTACK: nickwasiliev.substack.com

WEBSITE: www.nicholaswasiliev.com

YOUTUBE: @NickWasiliev_Official

INSTAGRAM: @nickwasiliev

TWITTER/X: @Nick_Wasiliev

FACEBOOK: Nick Wasiliev

TIKTOK: @nickwasiliev

© 2026 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.