Writers Talking

Welcome to Season 4 of Writers Talking!!

We are starting this season chatting with the author of a debut novel that's getting a lot of buzz in Australia, Kate Horan...

Kate shares how she went from intriguing idea to pantsing her first draft, the (slightly) unexpected path her novel took from query to acquisition, her preferences around plotting during the editorial process and more. I absolutely loved this book AND our convo!!

Check out this fantastic book at your local retailer and find out more about Kate here:

www.katehoran.com

https://www.instagram.com/stories/kate_horan_author/

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I loved having the chance to catch up with Lisa Darcy again after the release of her most recent book, Christmas Actually!! We dove into topics like bringing real-life anecdotes and experiences into your writing, how to manage a complete storyline pivot suggestion from your editors, staying true to the kind of story you love to write and so much more...

Looking for a festive last-minute gift? Buy Lisa's book now:

Australia

USA

UK

Connect with Lisa on her socials!

Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/lisadarcyauthor.bsky.social

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisadarcyauthor/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lisadarcyauthor4

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisa.darcy.author/

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@lisadarcyauthor?hl=en

(X)Twitter:  https://twitter.com/lisadarcyauthor

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I had the pleasure of connecting with one of my favourite Aussie authors and writerly friend, Dr Anita Heiss...not only did we talk about the second of her fantastic Historical Fiction novels, DIRRAYAWADHA, but so much more!

Listen in as Anita chats about how she's surrounded herself with her passions, what she does on a daily basis to get so much done related to each of those passions, how she finds balance when writing (sometimes) heavy storylines, finding the right fit publisher (and recognising that not every project is best fit for every publisher), how important her relationship with her agent has been over many years and more insight into her personal writerly process.

Follow her in these places:

https://www.anitaheiss.com

https://anitaheiss.substack.com/

https://www.instagram.com/dranitaheiss

Photo credit: Morgan Roberts

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This week's talk is so important - not just for readers and writers, but for all of us, our friends, family, sisters, daughters, mums, neighbours...

Emma and Kat get into why bringing serious topics into pop culture is so vital, how the messaging is an important aspect of changing culture and what we might do if we recognise ourselves or our loved ones in the dynamic that is shared so truthfully in Emma's latest novel, Pictures of You!!

A review from IG (@karin.heartwell) of the book:

Pictures of You is the latest book by Canberra author @emmagreyauthor and it is a must-read.

Emma has tackled and mastered the topic of coercive control and emotional abuse in relationships while also giving readers hope that healthy relationships are possible, not just toxic ones.

It is a difficult read for me as it is a bit too close to home, having escaped a toxic relationship full of domestic violence. I have yet to experience a healthy relationship and while that seems way out of reach at times, Emma's writing gives me (and others, too) hope.

We must talk about abuse, every day, especially to boys growing up right now.

Things are changing but only so slowly.

More than 80 women have been killed in Australia this year alone due to domestic violence.

Men are still in positions of power where they get to abuse, hate and kill us and apparently, no one ever saw it coming because he has always been 'such a good bloke’.

Enough with this truth avoidance!

We must bring on change, in big and small ways. One way is to read Emma's book and talk about it with the boys and men in your life.

Books have always had the power to change the world for the better, and Pictures of You is no different.

Thank you, Emma, for this book.

Looking for assistance? The following resources may help...

USA Resources

National Hotline and resources 

Domestic Violence Support | National Domestic Violence Hotline (thehotline.org)

Homepage | National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC)

Start By Believing – Ending the Cycle of Silence in Sexual Assault

AUS Resources 

National Hotline and Resources

Home | 1800RESPECT

Public Awareness free training AUS

Public awareness workshops (dvalert.org.au)

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What a fantastic, fun convo this week with the incredible Australian top 25 fiction author, Tricia Stringer!!

This week, we chat about her process, the difference between author-directed vs character-directed writing/plotting, as well as the joy of embracing the editorial process - such fabulous insights!!

Check out Tricia's extensive backlist and social media here:

https://www.triciastringer.com.au/

https://www.instagram.com/triciastringerauthor/

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This week's chat with Shelley Davidow, author of The Girl With the Violin, was full of insight about the creative process... We chatted about her substantial backlist, the differences in writing memoir vs fiction and how each of them dance with truth!

Get your hands on a copy of her beautiful novel, The Girl With the Violin, and find out more about Shelley here:

https://shelleydavidow.com/

https://www.instagram.com/shelleydavidow/

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What a fabulous conversation this week with Andrea Barton, editor and author of fun new mystery, The Godfather of Dance! We specifically chatted about how she approaches her work as an editor vs her creative work as an author as well as the importance of Point of View in novel writing.

Check out more of what Andrea is up to here:

Author website: https://andreabartonauthor.com/

Editing website: https://brightsidestorystudio.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andreabartonauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreabartonauthor/

X: https://twitter.com/AndreaBartonAu

#murder #ballroomdance

#familysecrets

#journalistinvestigation #betrayal

#loyalty #siblingrivalry #fictionbooks

#debutauthor #Intrigue #Secrets

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This week I got to talk with Jane Tara about her fantastic new book, TILDA IS VISIBLE (available now in Australia and soon-to-be released in the US)!

We chatted about Jane's process of writing a novel where she intentionally added more of herself to the fictional storyline, the beauty of making friends with that internal critic, what women deal with 'at a certain age', how meditation has been a game changer for her and so much more. Love, love, loved this chat!

Discover more about Jane Tara here:

https://www.janetara.com/

https://instagram.com/authorjanetara

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This week we talk to Writers Talking favourites, Lorissa Rinehart and Tracy Dawson, getting an update on book deals, TED talks and more!

Listen in as we chat about the differing paths to publication, how to build your writerly resilience, the way to embrace manifesting in your writing career (even if you hate the concept of 'manifesting') and why it's more important than ever to learn about (and share) the incredible stories of women in history.

Don't forget to check out the work both Lorissa and Tracy are doing by clicking the links to their websites and social pages:

https://www.lorissarinehart.com/

https://tracydawson.net/

https://instagram.com/lorissa_rinehart

https://instagram.com/dawsontracy

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Welcome back as we get started with Season 3 of Writers Talking!

In this episode, we chat with the ever-insightful Sara Foster, author of multiple books, including the upcoming thriller WHEN SHE WAS GONE. In our conversation, Sara shares what she's observed about the limits of verbal communication, how it affects our understanding of each other and the ways she has begun to explore the other kinds of communication between characters in her stories to show rather than tell. Really thought-provoking and undoubtedly only the start of a compelling and ongoing conversation!

Check out Sara's website here: https://www.sarafoster.com.au/

And keep your eye out for pre-orders to open on WHEN SHE WAS GONE, available everywhere April 2025!

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