WRITING BOOKS AND MUSIC PODCAST, EPISODE 13: TONI JORDAN

Toni Jordan has worked as a molecular biologist, quality control chemist, TAB operator and door-to-door aluminium siding salesperson. She is the author of six novels including the international bestseller Addition, which was longlisted for the Miles Franklin Award. Toni holds a Bachelor of Science in physiology and a PhD in Creative Arts. Her most recent novel is Prettier if She Smiled More, which was released earlier this year.

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ABOUT PRETTIER IF SHE SMILED MORE

'Jordan is a kind of Australian Marian Keyes, combining overdrive pace and throwaway humour with a razor intelligence and a deft, illuminating touch on darker subjects and themes . . . A sharp-eyed, engaging, endearing and ultimately optimistic story' Sydney Morning Herald

'Taps into the humour and pathos of ordinary life in a way that has you nodding with recognition . . . while at the same time laughing out loud' PIP WILLIAMS

One perfect life. One disastrous week. The brand-new novel from bestselling, acclaimed and beloved author Toni Jordan

As the eldest child in a single-parent family, Kylie's always had more important things on her mind than smiling for random strangers. Controlling her job, her home, her romantic life and - most importantly - her family takes all her concentration. She's always succeeded, though, because that's just who Kylie is.

When her fiercely independent mother breaks an ankle and needs help, it's up to Kylie, as usual, to fix things. She reluctantly packs her bags and moves in, but back in her childhood home, things start to unravel. Could it be that Kylie's carefully curated life is not so perfect after all?

Prettier if She Smiled More will make you laugh and make you cry. Is it too late to start over?

'Hilarious . . . A funny take on menopause, caring for an ageing parent, perfectionism and midlife crises told with Toni's signature observational humour and wit on ordinary life' Woman's Day

'A funny and smart family drama' Weekend Australian

'Fabulous' Who Weekly

More about Toni Jordan: https://www.tonijordan.com/

Buy Prettier if She Smiled More on Apple Books: https://apple.co/44Oudrc

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Tanya Bretherton has a PhD in sociology with special interests in narrative life history and social history. She has published in the academic and public sphere for twenty years, and worked as a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Sydney for fifteen years. 

Her first book, The Suitcase Baby, was shortlisted for the Ned Kelly Award, the Danger Prize and the Waverley Library 'Nib' Award. Her second book The Suicide Bride, was shortlisted for the Danger Prize and in 2020 she won the Danger Prize for The Killing Streets. Her most recent book is The Husband Poisoner.

Buy The Husband Poisoner on Apple Books: https://apple.co/43Rk8sh

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Sophie Green’s website: https://sophiegreenauthor.wordpress.com

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Ali Lowe is the author of two bestselling thrillers, The Trivia Night, and her latest book, The Running Club. She has also been a journalist for 20 years, writing for bridal magazines, parenting titles, websites and newspapers in London and then Australia, after she moved to Sydney seventeen years ago on a trip that was meant to last a year. 

Ali writes books that captivate you right from the start because of their pace and characters, and it was fascinating to listen to her talking about her process. She also gives some great tips about writing. 

For more about Ali Lowe: https://www.aliloweauthor.com/

Buy The Running Club on Apple Books: https://apple.co/3PSbmXw

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About THE RUNNING CLUB

Everyone pays a premium to live in this town. But someone's paid with their life.

The rules of the running club are the same as they have always been: keep your breath steady, keep your mind sharp, record your laps! Only now there's a new one: don't get killed. 

The wealthy community of Esperance is picture-perfect. Big houses, stunning views, beautiful people. A brand new running track for the local club to jog around in the evenings. From the outside, it looks like paradise.

But the women of the town know the truth: you can hide anything - from wrinkles to secrets from your past - if you have enough money.

You could even hide a murder.

THE RUNNING CLUB is the gripping, twisty page-turner from the author of THE TRIVIA NIGHT, full of secrets, lies and reveals you won't see coming.

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Raechel Whitchurch grew up playing music in a family band and is now a solo artist, having released the truly wonderful and Golden Guitar nominated album Finally Clear in 2021. At the time we spoke her latest single was ‘I’m Not Cool’ and we talked about that. Since then she has released the single 'Untangled'.

Raechel also runs the busy booking agency called Sure Thing Agency, which means she helps other musical artists manage their live performances. So she is an expert at fitting in creativity around other things, and at making meaningful songs full of heart and humour. In conversation Raechel is funny and sincere, and during this interview she had lots of great insight into writing and how she manages it around her myriad other responsibilities.

More about Raechel Whitchurch: https://www.raechelwhitchurch.com/

Listen to Raechel Whitchurch on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3Oevu53

Listen to Raechel Whitchurch on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/23Lanv91sAHkTGulIJDIwd?si=jsQBEmxGSlGr_wIoJdv71w

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Allison Tait (A.L. Tait) is the internationally published bestselling author of middle-grade adventure series The Mapmaker Chronicles, the Ateban Cipher novels, and the Maven & Reeve Mysteries. Her latest novel The Wolf's Howl (A Maven & Reeve Mystery #2) is out now in Australia and the USA.

A multi-genre writer, teacher and speaker with many years’ experience in magazines, newspapers and online publishing, Allison is co-host of the top-rating Your Kid’s Next Read podcast and former co-host of the So You Want To Be A Writer podcast. She has a writing group called Write With Allison Tait and you can find out more about it on her website at https://allisontait.com/writing-group-membership/

Allison's next book, The First Summer of Callie McGee, will be published on 1 August.

Allison and I have known each other for several years so there's a certainly familiarity in this chat - hopefully it's the better for it! 

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Last year Tamworth-based artist Ashleigh Dallas won two Golden Guitars, including one for Female Artist of the Year, and this year she took home the GG for Traditional Country Album of the Year for her fifth album, In the Moment. But she has already moved on, releasing the completely new singles ‘Take a Minute’ and 'Over to Me'. n addition to this musical output Ashleigh is a mother of two small children and an ambassador for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.

I’ve interviewed Ashleigh several times over the past year and while there’s a chance our chats threaten to turn into their own talk show, it’s because she’s so interesting and inspiring to talk to. Ashleigh is one of the most creative people you’ll ever encounter, and one who appreciates how fundamental creativity is to her life while also treating it like it’s the most everyday thing in her life. As ever, it was a joy to talk to her - and it is a long chat because that's what happens every time!

More about Ashleigh Dallas: https://ashleighdallas.com.au/

Listen to Ashleigh Dallas on Apple Music: https://apple.co/42Yw0YX

Listen to Ashleigh Dallas on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4Jbn3jYmhnsJbnEhIZiEx2?si=4MqT3vWfRyyWF7DysX0atQ

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Catherine Therese is an award-winning writer, designer and educator who has had a diverse career in Europe and Australia, where she has lived, worked and published widely across the arts. Her memoir, The Weight of Silence, was a The Age and Sydney Morning Herald Book of the Year and finalist in the National Biography and ABIA awards. In April this year she released a novel, Things She Would Have Said Herself and you can read more about that below.

It was an absolutely joy to interview Catherine, who is insightful and passionate and inspirational. This was a long chat but worth your time because everything Catherine has to say is interesting. 

Buy Things She Would Have Said Herself on Apple Books: https://apple.co/3Pm2Wav

Other links to buy: https://www.hachette.com.au/catherine-therese/things-she-would-have-said-herself

About Things She Would Have Said Herself:

For those who loved Olive Kitteridge and Boy Swallows Universe comes a darkly funny, deeply moving novel told with breathtaking originality and dazzling talent.

'Completely original and bursting with love in all its messy, complicated forms. I loved this book.' FAVEL PARRETT

'Never have ordinary suburban lives felt so rambunctious, exhilarating or hilarious.' CATE KENNEDY

Leslie Bird loves being a wife and mother but loathes her husband and children. The only person she ever loved was born dead.

Meet Leslie Bird, the irascible matriarch of a big bonkers family, coming of age and to the boil, as the secrets and slights that have shaped her and her hapless husband's lives impact their children in the most profound and complex ways. In other words, everyone's story. Sort of. Because this is a story, and family, like none you've ever read before.

Things She Would Have Said Herself is a darkly funny, deeply moving novel about the lengths and breadths one woman will go to ignore her own and others' pain and what happens when she's confronted by it one sweltering Christmas day.

A story of motherhood, marriage, madness, unspeakable loss and the heartbreaking messy love that holds a family together. Honest, revealing, resonant and startlingly original, if you loved Olive Kitteridge and Boy Swallows Universe, you will love this book!

'Raw, evocative storytelling . . . Things She Would Have Said Herself will appeal to fans of Olive Kitteridge, as it unpacks the trauma that shapes difficult people and shows an unshrinking commitment towards exploring discomfort, grief and loss.' BOOKS+PUBLISHING

'This is a book like no other - utterly brilliant, both acerbic and kind, astute and compassionate . . . A lustrously clever work, relentlessly uncovering layer upon layer of human experience, the minutiae of family life, the power of the word and the centrality of childhood (and other) losses in determining the choices we make' LIVING ARTS CANBERRA

'Darkly funny.' SUNDAY AGE

'A terrific tale.' THE SENIOR

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Matt Joe Gow was born in Aotearoa New Zealand and now lives in Melbourne. He has released four solo albums over the past few years and he also works with other artists as a writer and producer. His latest album is the exceptionally good Between Tonight & Tomorrow.

At the time of our interview I already knew the album was one of my favourites of the past year but it's now one of my favourite albums of all time - which is not to say the previous albums aren't great! More that there is something about the collection of songs on this album which has kept a hold on me. And that is, no doubt, in part due to Matt's skills as a songwriter. As I discovered during the course of this interview, he is so experienced as a writer that he teaches songwriting.

Since our chat and only weeks after releasing Between Tonight & Tomorrow, Matt released a new song in a new project with another NZ Melburnian, Kerryn Fields. 'Your Heart of Gold' is their debut single as Matt Joe Gow & Kerryn Fields and was nominated, along with two other songs, for an MLT Songwriting Award at the NZ Country Music Honours. Matt would go on to win the award for 'Whirlwind'.

More about Matt Joe Gow: https://mattjoegowmusic.com/

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Bradley Christmas has worked as a social worker, English language teacher and children's entertainer. These days as a freelance copywriter he helps charities like Greenpeace, The Royal Flying Doctor Service and The Sydney Children's Hospital Network share their stories. His short fiction has appeared in a number of magazines and publications including The Big Issue and received several award nominations. His first book, Saltwater Boy, is a novel for readers aged 10 to 14 and it was published by Walker Books in March (more about Saltwater Boy below).

Christmas can also regularly be found performing around Australia with his country band Copperline - and if you'd like to see my interview with him about Copperline's latest release, 'Gabriel', go to Sunburnt Country Music. He is a very rare creature, as a songwriter who has also written and released a novel, so this interview was a wonderful opportunity to ask him about different kinds of writing and storytelling.

Saltwater Boy on Apple Books: https://apple.co/3MN7JPp

Bradley's band Copperline: https://copperline.bandcamp.com/

ABOUT SALTWATER BOY

Heartfelt and poignant, this coming of age story explores father-son relationships, against a backdrop of small town rivalries, buried truths, with themes of sustainability, preserving the past and environmental care.

When Dad goes to jail, Matthew and his mum move to the coast, so mum – an artist – thinks she can renovate her late father’s old place to sell it to get them back on their feet. Matthew strikes up a friendship with Old Bill, an Indigenous man who becomes a father figure to him, and teaches him how to find and eat pippis, fish (and to make a few dollars from it). Dad gets out on parole and moves back in with the family, but his anger fractures the newfound peace and everything is once again at stake, and in peril.

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Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham are two of Australia’s most beloved and prolific songwriters. Felicity has recorded several albums and EPs as a solo artist and as a member of Bennett Bowtell and Urquhart, winning 13 Golden Guitars along the way. Josh Cunningham is a founding member of The Waifs, who have released 10 albums over three decades and won multiple ARIA awards.

Together Felicity and Josh released the album The Song Club in 2021 and it was nominated for an ARIA and four Golden Guitars, and won the AIR Award for best independent country album. Since then they have released the singles 'Bogswamp' and 'Unsteady (Ever Since You're Gone)'.

We recorded this interview right after doing an interview about 'Unsteady' and Josh was due to leave for the airport to head out on tour with The Waifs, but they gave almost half an hour extra to talk about songwriting. They were so generous with their time, wisdom and insight and, as ever, inspiring in their dedication to telling stories and connecting with audiences.

felicityurquhart.com | joshcunningham.com

Listen to ‘Unsteady’ on Apple Music



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