TAKEOVER: Alex Dook and Vikki Wakefield - To The River

Adam Wallace has sold millions of books around the world, he writes everyday and last year received 100 rejections. We talk about a shared love of Bruce Lee, trying to be zen, authenticity and give some advice that you should definitely not take.

S3E5 Queer Writes Session: R.W.R. McDonald with Troy Hunter

In this episode Rob chats with Troy Hunter about his debut YA novel, Gus and the Missing Boy, published by Wakefield Press in March 2024.

They chat about Troy’s serendipitous pathway to publication, crime fiction, author identity, and Troy offers great writing advice.

Troy Hunter’s shout out books this episode are:

A Man and His Pride by Luke Rutledge (check out our interview with Luke QWS S2E3)

Mona of the Manor by Armistead Maupin

Queer Writes Session (QWS) Podcast, a Words & Nerds spin off series hosted by Rob aka R.W.R. McDonald and Jonathan Butler, in partnership with Blarney Books & Art in Port Fairy.

Samantha-Ellen Bound returns with the third and penultimate book in her bestselling middle-grade series Seven Wherewithal Way, inspired by the spell-binding creatures and stories of world folklore.

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.

For the second episode of series two, Nick sits down with Abra Pressler, author of Love and Other Scores. They discuss the book, the value of championing homegrown queer romance, what Abra would do if Rafael Nadal would appear in front of her, and more.

WARNING: this podcast contains coarse language

Love and Other Scores by Abra Pressler: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/y2K1L2

Other Books Mentioned:

Book Lovers by Emily Henry: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/Kj6N9x

Sit, Stay, Love by Amy Hutton: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/756Nxy

PRODUCTION NOTES:

Host: Nick Wasiliev

Guest: Abra Pressler

Editing & Production: Nick Wasiliev

Podcast Theme: ‘Chill’ by Sakura Hz

Production Code: 2:2

Episode Number: #15

Additional Credits: Dani Vee (Words & Nerds) and Chloe Patterson (Pan Macmillan Australia)

© 2024 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.

Grace is a thief: a good one. She was taught by experts and she’s been practising since she was a kid. She specialises in small, high-value items—stamps, watches—and she knows her Jaeger-LeCoultres from her Patek Philippes. But it’s a solitary life, always watchful, always moving. It’s not the life she wants.

Lying low after a run-in with an old associate, Grace walks into Erin Mandel’s rural antiques shop and sees a chance for something different. A normal job. A place to call home.

But someone is looking for Erin. And someone’s looking for Grace, too.

And they are both, in their own ways, very dangerous men.

• S3E4. Queer Writes Session: Jonathan Butler with Fiona Kelly McGregor

In this episode Jono chats with Fiona Kelly McGregor, a multidisciplinary writer, artist and critic who has published eight books. When in Sydney, Fiona lives and works on Gadigal land.

Her most recent book was Iris, Picador Pan Macmillan, (2022), shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Award, the ALS Gold Medal, the NSW Premier’s Award, the ARA Historical Novel Prize, and longlisted for the Stella Prize, the Voss Literary Award, the BookPeople and ABDA Awards.

Highlights from their chat:

• How to marry the historical archive with a compelling narrative that feels true

• The importance of capturing the personality of place in literature

• Ways queer writers can be brave with their work

• Generous writing advice and shout outs

Queer Writes Session (QWS) Podcast, a Words & Nerds spin off series hosted by Rob aka R.W.R. McDonald and Jonathan Butler, in partnership with Blarney Books & Art in Port Fairy.

Books mentioned and reviews can be found on QUEER WRITES SESSIONS | Blarney Books and Art

Resources mentioned and a transcript for this episode’s interview is available at QWS Podcast · R.W.R. McDonald https://rwrmcdonald.com/

Maura Peirlot and Dani Vee - The Alphabetter Book

To celebrate the release of Liz Ledden's new picture book Everyone Wants an Octopus Book! illustrated by Makoto Koji, Liz is joined by two fellow authors published by Hardie Grant's Bright Light imprint, Dr Zewlan Moor and Sandhya Parappukkaran. They chat diversity and representation in kids' books, how they present tricky topics in kid-centric ways in their picture books, stories they want more of - and lots more!

Creative Conversations is new chat designed to talk about the publishing industry, writing process, collaboration, comedic qualities and writing for kids. Join Kate Temple and Dani Vee for the first Creative Conversations.