Words and Nerds: Authors, books and literature.

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 12th episode of series four, Nick chats with Jane R. Miles about her incredible thriller, Stay Buried.

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:

Stay Buried / Jane R. Miles: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/MK26qq

Additional books mentioned:

Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life / Ruth Franklin: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/L0rmVM

Year of Wonders / Geraldine Brooks: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/rEbDZv

Frankenstein / Mary Shelley: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/PzkVXe

Mastering the Art of French Cooking Volumes 1 & 2 / Julia Child: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/L0rmba

Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit / Jeanette Winterson: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/9VQz5e

The Killer Inside Me / Jim Thompson: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/PzkV36

Your Favorite Scary Movie / Ashley Cullins: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/enBEVg

Save the Cat! Writes a Novel / Jessica Brody: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/GbqVzE

PRODUCTION NOTES:

Host: Nick Wasiliev

Guest: Jane R. Miles

Editing & Production: Nick Wasiliev

Podcast Theme: ‘Chill’ by Sakura Hz

Production Code: 4.12

Episode Number: #70

Additional Credits: Dani Vee (Words & Nerds), HQ/HarperCollins Australia

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.

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 13th episode of series four, Nick chats with Lenny Robinson, discussing her debut war fiction novel, And In The Morning.

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:

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

Additional books mentioned:

The Song of Achilles / Madeline Miller: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/gR4OE9

The Animals In That Country / Laura Jean McKay: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/DWOX62

PRODUCTION NOTES:

Host: Nick Wasiliev

Guest: Lenny Robinson

Editing & Production: Nick Wasiliev

Podcast Theme: ‘Chill’ by Sakura Hz

Production Code: 4.13

Episode Number: #71

Additional Credits: Dani Vee (Words & Nerds), Jean Smith, Siena Johnstone, Sarah Valle (UQP Press)

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.

⭐️ Episode 822 - Dani Vee and Nadine Brown - Gone Guru, Publishing and finding yourself ⭐️

Dear Fiction Lovers,

This week I chat to the lovely Nadine Brown about her brilliantly funny and philosophical book Gone Guru set in New York, and published by Fremantle Press.

We chat about:

💫 Finding a place for contemporary fiction

💫 Philosophical ideas and contemporary fiction

💫 Funny books vs literary books

💫 Giving in to who you are

💫 Challenges of writing humour and finding the zone

💫 Writing in New York

It was such a fun, fast-paced chat. We delve into writing contemporary fiction and how humour and big ideas can work together to entertain and encourage readers to self-reflect and think about the world.

I love the idea that books can either make you think or make you stop thinking and both are just as important.

We also chat about the element of play when you write.

If you love contemporary fiction, want to hear about the publishing industry and writing with humour, this episode is for you!

LISTEN NOW 🔥

Dani 💋

In QWS S5E5, Troy catches up with his old mate Holden Sheppard. Holden is country boy, a weightlifter and a self-proclaimed "bromosexual", who has found literary acclaim with the raw, blokey honesty of his contemporary gay fiction. Holden's latest adult novel YEAH THE BOYS – a sequel to 2019’s INVISIBLE BOYS – came out earlier this year and has just been optioned for TV!

While discussing YEAH THE BOYS, Holden and Troy also yak about masculinity and brotherhood, male only spaces, footy, influencer culture, writing YA vs adult books, as well as what actually happens when a book is optioned for adaptation.

Books discussed in this episode:

- Holding the Man by Tim Conigrave

- Loaded by Christos Tsiolkas

- Boy Erased: A Memoir by Garrard Conley

- Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin

Note, this episode features adult language and themes.

You can find Holden on the Gram at @holdensheppard and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/HoldenSheppardAuthor/ and at www.holdensheppard.com

Hosted by Troy Hunter who you can find on the Gram @troyhunterwriter and at www.troyhuntwriter.com

Troy is the author of Gus and the Missing Boy and Gus and the Burning Stones

⭐️ Episode 821 - Dani Vee and Jane R Miles - Stay Buried, why horror is back ⭐️

Dear thriller and horror lovers,

If you love psychological thrillers with a bit of horror (who doesn’t) this episode is for you! We chat about Stay Buried published by Harper Collins.

⭐️ True crime vs fiction

⭐️ Why horror is back and why it resonates with readers

⭐️ Why horror movies make us sleep better

⭐️ Atmospheric settings

⭐️ How a mentorship and pitch led to publication

⭐️ Multiple rewrites to shape a final manuscript

Listen now!

Dani 💋

⭐️ Episode 820 - Dani Vee and Jess McGeachin - Find Me In The Forest and getting into nature ⭐️

Dear nature loving listeners,

In this episode I chat to award winning author illustrator Jess McGeachin about his gorgeous new picture book Find Me In The Forest published Hachette.

We chat about the illustration process and how important it is to have human made art.

We also explore:

⭐️ The importance of nature in a digital world

⭐️ Whether the words or the illustrations come first

⭐️ Extensive research

⭐️ Publishing journey

Jess is an author illustrator of the Find Me series that includes Find me in the Forest and Find me on the Coast. Some of his other books include Grow, South with the seabirds, The Space Between, Deep, High and Lost.

He s the Winner of the CBCA Eve Powall Award for Deep, winner of the Environment Awards for Children's Literature for The Tree at Number 43, winner of the Environment Awards for Children's Literature for Kind and Awarded an Australian Antarctic Arts Fellowship.

In 2025 he was recognised by CBCA Awards for South with the Seabirds (Honour Book), The Space Between (Notable), long-listed for the World Illustration awards for The Space Between, shortlisted for the Panda Book Awards for Kind.

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 tenth episode of series four, Nick chats with Dr Dominique Lee, the author of the powerful memoir, What's Been Broken Is All the More Sharp.

WARNING: this book and podcast contain in-depth topics of sexual assault, trauma and mental health - listener and reader discretion is highly advised. If this is something that has affected you or someone you know, help is available.

FullStop Australia: https://fullstop.org.au/ & 1800 FULL STOP

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service: 1800 211 028

1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732

Rainbow Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence Helpline: 1800 497 212

Blue Knot Foundation: 1300 657 380

Lifeline: 13 11 14

Content Warning (28:57 - 36:10): we discuss Dr Dominique Lee’s sexual assault and the impact of that event.

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

You can also subscribe to our new monthly newsletter: https://nickwasiliev.substack.com/

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:

What's Been Broken Is All the More Sharp / Dominique (Yoo Young) Lee: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/4aLQDL

Additional books mentioned:

Marigold Mind Laundry / Jungeun Yun: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/yZOd3B

Voiceprint / Sally Prosser: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/MKk6xY

PRODUCTION NOTES:

Host: Nick Wasiliev

Guest: Dominique (Yoo Young) Lee

Editing & Production: Nick Wasiliev

Podcast Theme: ‘Chill’ by Sakura Hz

Production Code: 4.10

Episode Number: #68

Additional Credits: Dani Vee (Words & Nerds), Dean Publishing, Emma Pei Yin (yinfluence editorial)

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.

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 11th episode of series four, Nick chats with Lindsay Bartels about her prescient biography, Imogen in Waiting.

WARNING: this book and podcast contains in-depth topics around fertility issues. If this is something that has affected you or someone you know, help is available.

PANDA: https://www.panda.org.au/

Red Nose Australia: https://rednose.org.au/

The Pink Elephants Support Network: https://www.pinkelephants.org.au/

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/

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:

Imogen in Waiting / Lindsay Bartels: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/yqdP4W

Additional books mentioned:

LIT / Anna Woods: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/L0okxL

When The Party's Over / Kaitie Hoskins: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/DWV5xn

When Lemons Give You Life / Anna Johnston: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/rEedz5

The Wedding People / Alison Espach: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/5kmJM9

Breath / Carly-Jay Metcalfe: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/yqdP4W

PRODUCTION NOTES:

Host: Nick Wasiliev

Guest: Lindsay Bartels

Editing & Production: Nick Wasiliev

Podcast Theme: ‘Chill’ by Sakura Hz

Production Code: 4.11

Episode Number: #69

Additional Credits: Dani Vee (Words & Nerds), Third Rail Press, 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.

⭐️ Episode #819 - Dani Vee and Andrew Upton - Krank Fuss, writing weird and moving from writing screenplays to a novel. Published by Puncher and Wattman 🎉

Dear theatre loving listeners,

In this episode I chat to the incredibly talented Andrew Upton about his wildly unique debut novel Krank Fuss and its important place in politics, fiction and philosophy.

Of course, being a Sydneysider and theatre nerd, the Sydney Theatre Company has always been important to me, so I had to ask about how he and Cate Blanchett as Artistic Directors brought sustainability and theatre together.

We nerded out about:

⭐️ The comparisons of Krank Fuss to Animal Farm

⭐️ The different process of writing screenplays and novels

⭐️ The inspiration behind the characters and setting

⭐️ Why George Eliot is the greatest writer of our time

⭐️ The collaborative nature of theatre vs the solitude of writing

⭐️ Why early readers of his draft manuscript were so important

⭐️ Why weird ideas can resonate with readers

⭐️ The helplessness of finding yourself in a political world you did not create

This was one of the most fascinating chats I’ve had about writing, theatre and the state of the world 🩷

LISTEN NOW 🎤 🎧

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.

In our ninth episode of series four, Nick sits down with Albert Jamae, the author of self-help book Shaping Tomorrow’s Man.

WARNING: this book and podcast contains topics of mental health, self harm, domestic violence and fertility issues, listener and reader discretion is strongly advised. If this is something that affects you or your loved ones, help is available.

Movember: https://mylifepsychologists.com.au/

MensLine Australia: 1300 78 99 78

Beyond Blue: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/

LifeLine: 13 11 14

Shaping Tomorrow’s Man Podcast: https://albertjamae.com.au/podcast

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

You can also subscribe to our new monthly newsletter: https://nickwasiliev.substack.com/

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:

Shaping Tomorrow's Man / Albert Jamae: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/jR51Mv

Additional books mentioned:

When Men Cry / Nick Wasiliev: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/1nNdg

The Secret of Secrets / Dan Brown: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/5kqjX9

The Resilience Project / Hugh van Cuylenburg: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/enQROD

PRODUCTION NOTES:

Host: Nick Wasiliev

Guest: Albert Jamae

Editing & Production: Nick Wasiliev

Podcast Theme: ‘Chill’ by Sakura Hz

Production Code: 4.9

Episode Number: #67

Additional Credits: Dani Vee (Words & Nerds), Hawkeye Publishing

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.