Dark Rise is the latest novel from the author of the bestselling YA trilogy Captive Prince, and it is the first in what is already shaping up to be an un-put-downable new series.
Sixteen-year-old dock boy Will is on the run, pursued by the men who killed his mother. When an old servant tells him of his destiny to fight beside the Stewards, Will is ushered into a world of magic, where he must train to play a vital role in the oncoming battle against the Dark.
In this Story Session, C.S. Pacat talks about their writing process and reads the first chapter of Dark Rise.
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WRITER 455: C.S. Pacat discusses their latest novel 'Dark Rise' [Story Sessions series]

Everything you&rsquo;ve always wanted to know about succeeding in the world of writing and publishing. Learn practical writing techniques, go behind-the-scenes and discover how real-life authors got their big break. Uncover the creative processes of writers who have made it. Your host is Valerie Khoo &ndash;&nbsp;author, journalist, creative and CEO of the Australian Writers&rsquo; Centre.&nbsp;

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Valerie interviews B.M. Carroll, whose latest thriller, One of Us Is Missing, revolves around a family dealing with a mysterious disappearance of one family member during a concert. The conversation also touches on B.M. Carroll's writing process, character development, and the importance of feedback and rewriting.
00:00 Introduction and shoutout to AWC graduate Richard Pritchard on this third book
01:55 Nat Newman’s writing tips
02:50 Words at Dawn writing group
05:19 Avoiding info dumps
09:32 Book giveaway: Blackwater by Jacqueline Ross
15:49 Interview with B. M. Carroll
22:44 The creative process and panic
23:32 Editing and major rewrites
25:59 Timeline of writing and rewriting
30:18 Character development and authenticity
37:27 Writing routine and word count goals
40:09 Name change and genre shift
42:35 Top tips for aspiring writers
46:34 Conclusion and fun fact
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WRITER 606: B.M. Carroll on her latest novel 'One Of Us Is Missing'

Amy Hutton, author of Love From Scratch and Sit, Stay, Love. Amy discusses her journey from TV producer to successful romance novelist, the importance of social media presence for authors, and practical tips for aspiring writers. Host Valerie Khoo also chats to author Nat Newman who shares her experience with the Meisner acting technique, and provides valuable advice on dealing with rejection as a writer.
00:00 Introduction
00:46 Deep dive into chapter structure
02:43 Nat Newman’s writing tips
03:01 Drama workshop insights
07:45 Dealing with rejection
11:55 Book giveaway: The Silence Factory by Bridget Collins
14:56 Word of the week: cynosure
16:25 Interview with Amy Hutton, author of Love From Scratch and Sit, Stay, Love
27:19 Pitching through virtual literary speed dating
27:58 Romance Writers of Australia conference experience
29:32 The chaotic offer moment
31:06 Working on multiple projects
34:31 Developing 'Love From Scratch'
39:35 Daily writing routine and discipline
42:17 Engaging with social media as an author
47:14 Courses and continuous learning
51:37 Future plans and traditional publishing
53:56 Top tips for aspiring writers
56:33 Conclusion and fun fact
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WRITER 605: Amy Hutton on her novels 'Love From Scratch' and 'Sit, Stay Love'.

Explore the world of co-writing and collaboration with Radek Sali and Bernadette Schwerdt. They explore the collaborative effort behind writing Radek’s book, How to Build a Billion Dollar Business, discussing challenges, the process of co-writing, the importance of capturing emotional depth in storytelling, and the profound impact of building a purpose-driven business. The episode touches on effective writing strategies, including the importance of starting your day with creative work and offers listeners a chance to win three copies of The Underhistory by Kaaron Warren.
00:00 Welcome to the podcast & upcoming seminar announcement
00:16 Deep dive into writing chapters
02:24 Nat Newman's writing tips & personal journey
13:29 Win The Underhistory by Kaaron Warren.
17:57 Meeting Radek Sali and his co-writer Bernadette Schwerdt
21:50 From idea to co-writer
22:32 Challenges, editors, and finding the right partner
24:02 Bernadette's approach: From manuscript assessment to starting fresh
24:57 Crafting the narrative via nterviews, structure, and voice
37:01 The business of co-writing: Financials and working with publishers
40:08 Insights on co-writing
47:38 Reflections and future directions
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WRITER 604: Valerie talks to copywriting guru Bernadette Schwerdt on how she co-wrote entrepreneur Radek Sali’s memoir, 'How to Build a Billion Dollar Business'.

Meet Megan Daley, author of The Beehive. Megan talks about her passion for children’s literature, her role as a teacher librarian, and her picture book The Beehive. She also discusses her book Raising Readers, which emphasises the importance of instilling a love of reading in children from a young age and offers practical advice for parents.
00:00 Welcome to the world of writing and publishing
00:22 Unlocking creativity with story seeds
03:48 Nat Newman's writing tip
07:54 Crafting engaging openings in writing
14:58 Megan Daley: A passion for children's literature and bees
21:30 The journey from blog to book: Unveiling a love for reading
23:01 Empowering reading habits: Tips for parents and educators
23:48 A creative approach to encouraging reading
29:34 Encouraging savvy teen readers in a digital age
32:41 The path to becoming a teacher librarian
34:02 From educator to children's book author
36:28 Strategies for busy creatives
42:34 From writing dreams to picture book reality
44:22 A dive into the history of the exclamation mark
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WRITER 603: Picture book author Megan Daley on how to nurture your children to become readers.

Meet Jo Peck, whose memoir Suddenly Single at Sixty details her journey through divorce and rediscovery. Jo discusses her writing process, the therapeutic value of journalling, the challenges of constructing a memoir , and her inspirations. She also offers advice for writers on being honest in their writing and the importance of self-analysis.
00:00 Welcome to the podcast & updates
02:03 Nat Newman’s writing tip
05:15 Crafting secondary characters
07:44 Book giveaway: Ghost Cities by Siang Lu
10:39 Word of the week: Desultory
11:26 Writer in residence: Jo Peck on Suddenly Single at Sixty
24:23 The journey of writing a memoir
25:58 From school gate to bookshelf
29:12 Structuring a memoir
34:16 Jo’s writing process
38:18 Exploring future writing projects and reflections
41:09 Receiving feedback and sharing advice for aspiring writers
46:27 Closing thoughts and fun facts
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Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook 
Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WRITER 455: C.S. Pacat discusses their latest novel 'Dark Rise' [Story Sessions series]

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