Words and Nerds: Authors, books and literature.

By Words and Nerds: Authors, books and literature.Arts

Words and Nerds: Authors, books and literature. episodes

May 29 S4 E5 - Date With a Debut - Nick Wasiliev and Leearna Shaw - A Farm in Golden Clouds
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 fifth episode of series four, Nick sits down with Leearna Shaw, the debut author of contemporary rural romance, A Farm in Golden Clouds.
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:
A Farm in Golden Clouds / Leearna Shaw: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/L0Zo60
Additional books mentioned:
The Butterfly Women / Madeleine Cleary: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/e1BP3Q
Better than the Real Thing / Brooke Crawford: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/k4oQ6V
PRODUCTION NOTES:
Host: Nick Wasiliev
Guest: Leearna Shaw
Editing & Production: Nick Wasiliev
Podcast Theme: ‘Chill’ by Sakura Hz
Production Code: 4.5
Episode Number: #63
Additional Credits: Dani Vee (Words & Nerds), Ineke Walker, Sreya VT (DMCPR Media), Shannon Edwards (Allen & Unwin)
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.
47 min
May 28 804. Dani Vee and Annie Drum - Writing YA novels
Dani Vee chats to Annie Drum, writer of short fiction and poetry. They talk about her heartfelt coming of age novel, Don’t Forget to Remember Me published by Bakers Lane.
Books versus kindles and audio books.
The importance of hope in YA novels.
How setting can shape character.
The treatment of first love in a YA novel.
A new generation of acceptance.
The lessons we can learn from young people.
The importance of vulnerability.
‘The story will make you smile and break your heart. I inhaled this book in one setting.’ Troy Hunter
‘Everyone should have a friend like star in amongst the human heartbreak drum creates a world. You won’t want to leave.’ RWR McDonald.
25 min
May 23 QWS S5E3 Troy Hunter and Dylin Hardcastle - A LANGUAGE OF LIMBS: a lyric, gorgeous, dark, funny, queer, horny, lovely, wonderful book about love.
QWS S5E3 Dylin Hardcastle and Troy Hunter
In QWS S5E3, Troy chats with Dylin Hardcastle about their super successful, award-winning novel A LANGUAGE OF LIMBS: a fantastic, lyric, gorgeous, dark, funny, sad, queer, horny, lovely, wonderful book about love and the price we sometimes pay for it.
They also talk about Dylin’s trans identity and journey, their earlier novels, their PhD at Oxford, their art, their path to publication, as well as mental health, wanting to be a surfer, and their upcoming TV series!
Books Dylin recommends:
- Host City by David Owen Kelly
- Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
And is grateful for the help of the Pride History Group.
Trigger warning: this episode talks about mental health issues.
You can find Dylin on Insta at @dylin_hardcastle and at www.dylinhardcastle.com (where you can also find their art).
QWS is hosted by Troy Hunter who you can find on Insta @troyhunterwriter and at www.troyhuntwriter.com
Troy is the author of Gus and the Missing Boy and Gus and the Burning Stones, with Gus and the Climate Killer coming in March 2027.
#Queerauthor #Queerwriting #adultfiction #WordsandNerds #LGBTQIABooks #transmasc
1 hr 3 min
May 22 803. Dani Vee and Tristan Bancks - How to write a bestselling suspense thriller, Raised By Wolves and horror films
In Episode #803 Dani Vee and bestselling author Tristan Bancks have an epic chat about his brand new suspense thriller Raised By Wolves, a follow up to the hugely successful Two Wolves.
They chat about:
⭐️ Kids navigating the adult world
⭐️ The horror film effect and how they’ve influenced Tristan’s writing
⭐️ Moral ambiguity in books and why it’s important for young readers
⭐️ Writing a sequel and giving your writing space
⭐️ Why young readers are drawn to dark books
⭐️ Tristan’s writing soundtrack
⭐️ How to write a bestselling suspense thriller
Tristan also reads a section from the new book!
A must listen with bestselling superstar Tristan Bancks ⭐️⭐️⭐️
44 min
May 15 802. Dani Vee and Jacinta Daniher and Taylor Hampton - My Dreamtime Match
Dani Vee chats to author duo Jacinta Daniher and Taylor Hampton about their new picture book My Dreamtime Match.
The talk about why this book is special for kids to be able to see themselves, AFL, diversity and the significance of the totem of the long-necked turtle.
They also talk about getting permission from Adam Goodes and Michael O'Loughlin to have their likeness in the book.
Jacinta and Taylor talk about what it's like to write, work and have a personal relationship.
Listen now.
29 min
May 15 S4, E4 - Date With a Debut - Nick Wasiliev and Katie Hoskins - When the Party's Over
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 fourth episode of series four, Nick sits down with Katie Hoskins, the debut author of contemporary fiction drama, When the Party’s Over.
WARNING: this book and podcast contain topics of mental health and fertility issues; listener and reader discretion is strongly advised. If this is something that affects you or your loved ones, help is available.
Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia (PANDA): 1300 726 306
ForWhen Helpine: 1300 24 23 22
Red Nose Australia: https://rednose.org.au/
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: 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:
When the Party’s Over / Katie Hoskins: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/DWV5xn
Additional books mentioned:
The Farm / Jessica Mansour-Nahra: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/ramyxv
Everything I Know About Love / Dolly Alderton: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/gRAYmv
ADDITIONAL LINKS:
Katie Hoskins: Turning a dream into a two-book deal (Australian Writers Centre): https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/katie-hoskins-when-the-partys-over/
PRODUCTION NOTES:
Host: Nick Wasiliev
Guest: Katie Hoskins
Editing & Production: Nick Wasiliev
Podcast Theme: ‘Chill’ by Sakura Hz
Production Code: 4.4
Episode Number: #62
Additional Credits: Dani Vee (Words & Nerds), Lily Cameron, Dave Cain (Pan Macmillan 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
56 min
May 07 801. Dani Vee and Dervla McTiernan - Three Reasons for Revenge and the best writing advice ever
Dani Vee and bestselling author Dermal McTeirnan chat about her new book Three Reasons for Revenge.
They chat about horror films causing anxiety, the infamous scene in Se7en, the incredible premise of this new novel and setting the book in Melbourne - her first time setting a book in Australia,
They chat about the importance of portraying women of all ages in books and films, how to write twisty crime fiction, why crime fiction resonates with so many readers and Dervla gives the best writing advice to create a page turner.
Order the book here:
https://geni.us/ThreeReasons4R
Newsletter sign up link:
https://dervlamctiernan.com/newsletter/
33 min
May 01 S4E3- Date with a Debut - Nick Wasiliev and Amanda Hewitt - The Last Resort
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 third episode of series four, Nick sits down with Amanda Hewitt, the debut author of romance novel The Last Resort.
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:
The Last Resort / Amanda Hewitt: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/QYOB1P
Additional books mentioned:
Just For The Summer / Abby Jimenez: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/VOZOEa
The Nowhere Child / Christian White: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/ZVXVOQ
PRODUCTION NOTES:
Host: Nick Wasiliev
Guest: Amanda Hewitt
Editing & Production: Nick Wasiliev
Podcast Theme: ‘Chill’ by Sakura Hz
Production Code: 4.3
Episode Number: #61
Additional Credits: Dani Vee (Words & Nerds), Maeve Carragher, Cath Hayes (Echo 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.
43 min
April 30 800. Celebrating a milestone with Dani, Adrian, Tristan and Cristy
Celebrate the 800 episode milestone with Dani Vee, Adrian Beck, Tristan Bancks and Cristy Burne.
The gang kick off by chatting about Cristy's new verse novel One Day Soon, a personal story inspired by real events.
To celebrate life and 800 episodes of talking to creatives about their work, Dani, Adrian, Tristan and Cristy ask each the hard questions about their childhood dreams, things they've always wanted to do, books they've always wanted to write and they have a lot of fun doing it!
Whatever journey you've been on with Words and Nerds, join the celebration of 800 epic interviews with authors, illustrators and publishers.
1 hr 6 min
April 26 799. Dani Vee and Karen Comer - Once Upon Tomorrow, feminism and speculative fiction
Dani Vee and Karen Comer chat about her new YA verse novel Once Upon Tomorrow.
They chat about the complexity of writing three separate storylines across one hundred years, speculative fiction and the impact of AI on the human experience.
Dani and Karen also explore feminism, the experience of women across the ages and how AI has been used to weaponise women.
They also chat about the importance of verse novels and the writing process.
29 min

About Words and Nerds: Authors, books and literature.

From the publisher's feed

Words and Nerds Podcast is an entertaining and conversational podcast that aims to get inside a writer's mind. We discuss books, the social and political influences of a writer's work and how literature has the power to change the world.