Book Matters

On Book Matters this month Janine chats to Sydney based crime writer Rae Cairns about her heart stopping thriller Dying to Know which is a page turning novel about A desperate phone call. A decade of questions and A deadly race to find the truth. Then we go across the world to New York City where Sam speaks with debut novelist Mikki Brammer about her book The Collected Regrets of Clover, which rem...

This month on Book Matters we have a Historical Fiction episode.  First up Janine talks to South Australian author Victoria Purman, where we find out all about her new novel “A Woman’s Work’’ which takes us back to Australia in the 1950’s and the Australian Women’s Weekly cooking competition, where two women have the possibility of a new kind of future. Then Carol speaks with well-known author Jac...

Today on the podcast Janine speaks with Sydney Author Genevieve Gannon who is an award-winning Sydney-based journalist and author of four novels. Her new book The Gifted Son, explores the subject of “one punch” when a talented student is a victim and the consequences of everyone around him.   Genevieve is fast becoming the Australian version of Jodi Picoult  where she writes about moral dilemmas i...

In our first episode for 2023 we celebrate Library Lovers Day!  Courtney speaks with Nina Kenwood about her new novel Unnecessary Drama which is a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers story. And a coming-of-age story, and a moving-out-of-home story, and a making-new-friends story, and a dealing-with-anxiety story. And according to the author it’s funny! Then Carol speaks to Canberra author Emma Grey about...

Back in lockdown during 2021 we had the pleasure of speaking with historical fiction writer Fiona McIntosh.   She was just launching her new novel ‘The Spy’s Wife’ which takes us from the windswept moors of the Yorkshire dales, to the noisy beer halls of Munich, and grand country estates in the picture-book Bavarian mountains.   This is a lively and high-stakes thriller that will keep you second-g...

Sue shares an interview with author Heather Morris who tells us about her global bestselling novel " Three Sisters " which is based on the incredible true story of the Meller sisters - a beautiful story of hope in the hardest of times and of finding love after loss.    Three Sisters is her third novel, and the final piece in the phenomenon that is the Tattooist of Auschwitz series .   We...

Back in February last year we had the pleasure of speaking with Sydney author Mary-Anne O’Connor for Library Lovers Day.   She spoke about her writing process and told us all about her inspiration for her new novel “Dressed by Iris”, which is a vivid, romantic story of Sydney in the 1930s Depression - the heartbreak, the glamour, the dark underbelly, the struggle towards a better day - and one you...

Welcome to our Summer Series where we look back at some of the In-Conversation online events over the previous year.  Back in lockdown we had the utmost pleasure in speaking with Australian Author Judy Nunn via Zoom who told us all about her new novel Showtime,  which will take you from the cotton mills of England to the magnificent theatres of Melbourne, on a scintillating journey through the gol...

 In our final episode for 2022 Carol has a wonderful chat with Christine Courtenay who has written a memoir about her late husband Bryce Courtenay. From his humble beginnings in Africa to his dazzling success in advertising and as a bestselling author, Bryce’s extraordinary, rags-to-riches life story reads like one of his epic novels. It was a life marked by all the big themes – overcoming adversi...

Welcome to this very special episode of Book Matters to coincide with the 16 Days of Activism.    Casey Cardinia Libraries is proud to support the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender based Violence campaign. And what better way to contribute to the conversation than with books.  We have an interview with Manjula Datta O'Connor about her enlightening book, Daughters of Durga: Dowries, Ge...

We talk to two authors about their very different novels. Courtney chats to Tom Baragwanath about his crime novel Paper Cage set in Masterton New Zealand about a small community where children have gone missing which is a nail-biting thriller and a beautifully written, acutely observed portrait of a community. Janine then chats to Tasmanian author Minnie Darke about her new novel With Love from Wi...

Today on Book Matters we are bringing you a bonus Australian Crime lovers special - Courtney delves into ' The Tilt ' which is a stunning multi-layered novel by Chris Hammer who is the acclaimed and award-winning author of the international bestsellers Scrublands , Silver , Trust and Treasure & Dirt.   Then Janine chats with Australian author Petronella McGovern about her new novel &...

On Book Matters today Janine speaks with the lovely Tricia Stringer about her new novel Keeping Up Appearances which is a delightful novel full of practical wisdom and dry humour that examines female friendship, buried secrets and why honesty is (usually) the best policy. Then Lynda chats to author Alex Sarkis about her novel Something Blue which is about loving home and leaving home, but never es...

Today at Book Matters we enjoy chatting to two fabulous Australian authors. First up Sam talks to acclaimed writer Meg Bignell about her newest novel The angry women's choir - a laugh out loud tale of friendship, music and the incredible capability of women to achieve wonderful things. Jess then speaks to debut YA author Miranda Luby about her novel Sadie Starr's guide to starting over;...

Here at Book Matters we recognise and celebrate the importance of diversity in books as they serve as both a mirror and a window into different human experiences. This month we celebrate the many wonderful LGBTQ books and authors in honour of Wear it purple day. Wear It Purple strives to foster supportive, safe, empowering and inclusive environments for rainbow young people. The role literature pl...

Today at Book Matters we welcome two phenomenal Australian authors. First up  Courtney speaks with Sulari Gentill about her new literary adventure novel The woman in library, which examines the complicated nature of friendship and how words can turn into a deadly weapon. Then  Janine speaks with debut author Neela Janakiramana about her compelling and illuminating psychological thriller novel The...

On the podcast today we speak to two exceptional Australian crime writers.  Emma Viskic is author of the internationally acclaimed Caleb Zelic series. Her novels have won numerous prizes, including a Ned Kelly Award and an unprecedented five Davitt Awards.  We hear about Those Who Perish which concludes the Caleb Zelic series. Then we chat to debut novelist Matthew Spencer whose novel Black River...

National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia in the first week of July each year (Sunday to Sunday), to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cu...

In our annual Debut Author special we have three new Australian authors to chat to. First up Janine chats to Bernadette Jiwa about her debut novel The Making of Her which is is a page-turning mother-daughter love story, spanning the 1960s to 1990s, charting one woman’s journey to escape the legacy of the society that shaped her. Courtney then speaks with Lyn Yeowart  about her suspenseful, origina...

In this episode we travel across to the USA where we chat  to New York times best selling Women's Fiction author Jane Green from her home in Westport, Connecticut, about her new novel Sister Stardust in which she  re-imagines the life of troubled icon Talitha Getty in this transporting story from a forgotten chapter of the Swinging ’60s.  We then talk to young adult fiction writer E. Lockhart...

On this episode we chat to Sydney writer Mark Lamprell about his new novel "The Secret Wife" which takes us back to the 1960's in suburban Sydney - a perfect example of the powers of female friendship.  We also talk to Mary-Rose Cuskelly about her debut novel "The Cane" which is set in the cane fields of Queensland and is an evocative and atmospheric thriller, set in the 1...

In this episode we chat to two very different authors.   Benjamin Stevenson is an Australian award-winning stand-up comedian and author who chats about his new murder mystery novel Everyone in my Family has killed Someone .   Then we go across to North Carolina in the USA and talk to Women's Fiction author Kristy Woodson Harvey about her Peachtree Bluff series which is being adapted for telev...

In this episode we speak with young adult fantasy and science fiction author Astrid Scholte about her new novel League of Liars where four teenagers are charged with the illegal use of magic get together to devise the ultimate jailbreak. A thrilling YA fantasy novel full of twists and turns. We also chat to debut author Lizzie Pook about her novel Moonlight & the Pearlers Daughter - an exquisi...

In this episode we speak with Australian author Diana Reed about her contemporary novel Love & Virtue Feminism where power and sex play out through the eyes of young Australian uni students in a contemporary narrative that is fiercely authentic,  and also with Australian rural suspense writer Fleur McDonald about her new novel Deception Creek about a returned criminal, a cult-like family and c...

Episode four of our Summer Series features a look back on our chat with International bestselling author, Martha Hall Kelly as well as some usual reviews and recommendations for you! Read Next Newsletter Connected Libraries Website Connected Libraries Facebook Page In a nook with a book Facebook Group Connected Libraries Instagram Page Connected Libraries YouTube