Imagining The Past

Pip Williams launched her third novel, The German Ward,  a breathtaking new novel from the author of global bestsellers The Dictionary of Lost Words and The Bookbinder of Jericho . A tale of love between enemies behind the lines of WW1 and the Australian artist who captures their secret.  Pip was in conversation with Nicole Abadee at the Uniting Church in Paddington, Sydney. 

At the sparkling new bookshop in Sydney’s Summer Hill, Rose Read, Malcom Knox launched the sequel to The First Friend , imaginatively titled  The Second Child .   He was in conversation with Shankari Chandran and Sid Chandran 

Emily Maguire’s Rapture won the inaugural ARA History Novel Prize Reader’s Choice Award in 2025. Emily chats with Greg Johnston about writing and researching this breakthrough novel.  

In September, Karen Brooks launched her new novel, The Extraordinary Florence Stoker , at the Peacock Theatre in the Salamanca Arts Centre in Hobart.  She was joined by her publisher, Jo Mackay.  

Elisabeth Storrs chats to Greg Johnston about her new novel, Fables and Lies , set in Germany during the Third Reich, and her A Tale of Ancient Rome Series .  

Bernice Barry was recently interviewed by William Yeoman at the City of Perth Library about her new novel, The Names of a Hare .  

Judith Rossell, multi-award-winning author and illustrator, chats with Greg Johnston about her novel, The Midwatch , which was shortlisted for the ARA Historical Novel Prize CYA Category 2025.

In July 2026, Mirandi Riwoe launched her new novel, A Short History of Longans , with author Emily Maguire at Newtown’s Better Read Than Dead bookshop.  

On July 6th, 2026, Kate Forsyth launched her new novel, The Changeling , at The Fox Hole bar in Sydney’s Rocks area.

Malcolm Knox, winner of three Walkley Awards and a Human Rights Award, chats with Greg Johnston about his novel, The First Friend, shortlisted for the ARA Historical Novel Prize 2025 Adult Category.  

Anna Ciddor discusses with Greg Johnston her novel Moonboy , shortlisted for the ARA Historical Novel Prize 2025 – CYA category.  

Leonie Norrington chats with Greg Johnston about her novel, A Piece of Red Cloth , and the intricacies of writing in conjunction with Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr-Stubbs, Djawa Burarrwanga, and Djawundil Maymuru.  

Dave Warner chats with Will Yeoman about his novel, Sound Mind Dead Body , at the City of Perth Library. Not only does Dave speak, he sings, accompanied by Will on guitar and Nicole Warner on backup vocals, a first for Imagining the Past .  

Lauren Keegan chats with Greg Johnston about her first published novel, All the Bees in the Hollows, long-listed for the ARA Historical Novel Prize 2025.   

In April 2026, Mary Lou Stephens launched her fourth novel, The Hobart Hotel, in the place the novel is set – Hobart’s glamorous Wrest Point Hotel Casino. Join Mary-Lou and author Karen Brooks in the Stardust room for a sparkling and twirling conversation.  

Debra Oswald’s One Hundred Years of Betty was longlisted for the ARA Historical Novel Prize 2025.  She chats with Greg Johnston about her long career writing for film, television, stage, radio, fiction and children's fiction. 

Imagining the Past Summer Season is here. Enjoy catching up with book launch discussions featuring your favourite authors and new voices.  This podcast is truly a mesclun. In Feb 2026, Sue Williams launched her fourth novel, The Duke’s Secret, at the rowdy and aptly relevant pub, the Hero of Waterloo, in Sydney’s Rocks district. She was also interviewed by James Dunbar about some of the stories be...

Imagining the Past Summer Season is here. Enjoy catching up with book launch discussions featuring your favourite authors and new voices. In early December 2025, Shelley Dark launched her second novel, Son of Hydra , with book coach Hayley Saunders at the Noosa Library.  

Imagining the Past Summer Season is here. Enjoy catching up with book launch discussions featuring your favourite authors and new voices. Alexandria Burnham’s debut novel, Swallow, through Westwords Publication, was launched by Lauren Chater at the HNSA History Unbound Festival dinner, held in Parramatta in November 2025.   www.westwords.com.au/product/swallow/

Imagining the Past Summer Season is here. Enjoy catching up with book launch discussions featuring your favourite authors and new voices. Wendy J. Dunn launched her new novel, Shades of Yellow , on November 15th, 2025, at Eltham Library in Melbourne. Dr Anne Casey gave an enthusiastic invocation, followed by Wendy’s response and reading from the novel. 

Imagining the Past Summer Season is here. Enjoy catching up with book launch discussions featuring your favourite authors and new voices. Konrad Muller’s debut novel, My Heart at Evening , is published by a new imprint, Evercreech Editions. In November 2025, Konrad chatted with Rodney Croome at the Devonport Library about the novel’s recreation of the final days of colonial surveyor, artist and am...

Imagining the Past Summer Season is here. Enjoy catching up with book launch discussions featuring your favourite authors and new voices. Nicole Alexander travelled a long and winding road to promote her new novel, The Limestone Road . In September, she spoke with Goondiwindi Shire Councillor Susie Kelly at the Goondiwindi Library.  

Imagining the Past Summer Season is here. Enjoy catching up with book launch discussions featuring your favourite authors and new voices. Death at Booroomba is Alison Booth’s ninth novel, a deeply evocative historical whodunnit. It was launched at Gleebooks in Sydney in September 2025. Published through Ventura Press, Jane Curry was the session's convener. 

Greg Johnston chats with Jane Harrison about her novel, The Visitors , and its long and winding road to being long-listed for the 2024 ARA Historical Novel Prize. 

 Greg Johnston chats to Beverley McWilliams about her second CYA novel, Spies in the Sky , which flew into first place in the 2024 ARA Historical Novel Prize – CYA category.