James and Ashley Stay at Home

A very special episode to make a very special announcement! Get in touch! Ashley's Website:  ashleykalagianblunt.com Ashley's Twitter:  @AKalagianBlunt Ashley's Instagram:  @akalagianblunt James' Website:  jamesmckenziewatson.com James' Twitter:  @JamesMcWatson James' Instagram:  @jamesmcwatson  

James and Ashley interview Ruhi Lee, author of the hilarious and heartbreaking memoir 'Good Indian Daughter.' In it, they discuss what it means to be a girl in a South Asian family, the notion of unconditional parental love, and how one generation avoids making the same mistakes as the last.  Follow Ruhi on Instagram (@lee_ruhi), and buy a copy of 'Good Indian Daughter' from  your local bookshop ,...

Ashley interviews a mystery guest from the Varuna Writer's House in Katoomba, NSW, where he's midway through a residential fellowship (hint: it's James). An episode for both those who've never been on a residential writing retreat and those who want to reminisce about their time at Varuna! You can learn more about Varuna and the incredible work it does supporting Australian authors here .  Books d...

James and Ashley interview Emily Maguire about her stunning new novel 'Love Objects.' In it, they discuss our relationships with our belongings, the psychology of hoarding, and the beauty of writing for connection.  Learn more about Emily on her website , and buy a copy of 'Love Objects' from your local bookshop , Booktopia or wherever else books are sold.  Books discussed in this episode: 'Friend...

James and Ashley interview Luke Stegemann, author of 'Amnesia Road.' In it, they discuss the parallels between South-West Queensland and rural Andalusia's violent pasts, the ongoing ramifications of near-forgotten genocides, and little black dogs that portend death.  You can follow Luke on Twitter, or buy a copy of 'Amnesia Road' from your local bookshop , Booktopia , or wherever else books are so...

James and Ashley listen to some audio of themselves when unwell and have a conversation about the psychological impacts of chronic ill-health, the fears and anxieties that accompany invisible illnesses, and how difficult conversations like this one are to have.  Books (and cults) discussed in this episode: Far from the Tree by Andrew Solomon;  Earthlings by Sayaka Murata;   Children of Thunder Get...

James and Ashley interview Kavita Bedford, author of the novel 'Friends & Dark Shapes.' In it, they discuss the isolation and anonymity that comes with modern city living, the implications this disconnect has for those grieving, and the troubled relationship Sydney millennials have with their city and its identity. Learn more about Kavita on her website , and buy a copy of 'Friends & Dark Shapes'...

James and Ashley interview David Vann, author of seven internationally bestselling novels including 2019's 'Halibut on the Moon.' In it, they discuss the trauma that inspired and haunts much of his work, the creative process that fosters his raw and visceral writing style, and the difficulties even an author of his status and calibre faces in the modern publishing landscape. Just a warning: this e...

James and Ashley interview Nash, artist and author of 'What to Expect When You're Immigrating,' a hilarious and insightful commentary on the Australian immigration process. In it, they discuss using humour to cope with stressful situations, the challenges faced by new arrivals to Australia, and the commonalities between Sri Lanka and Melbourne (hint: its pigeons).  Follow Nash on Instagram , and b...

This bonus episode contains a ten-minute excerpt from the newly released audiobook of Ashley's first book, 'My Name is Revenge.' On 17 December 1980, at 9:47 am, two men shot the Turkish consul-general to Sydney and his bodyguard near the consul's home in Vaucluse. The assassins aimed, fired, and vanished. A finalist in the 2018 Carmel Bird Digital Literary Award and Longlisted for the 2020 Davitt...

James and Ashley interview Josephine Taylor, author of 'Eye of a Rook.' In it, they discuss vulvodynia, a poorly understood and often debilitating gynaecological condition, how this illness has shaped Josephine's life, and the stunning novel it's inspired her to write. Find out more about Josephine at her website , and buy a copy of 'Eye of a Rook' from your local bookshop , Booktopia , or whereve...

In this special crossover episode, James and Ashley interview Dani Vee from the Words and Nerds podcast and vice versa. It's a fascinating conversation about podcasting, health, reading, and why we're all doing what we're doing.  This conversation is being simultaneously released as an episode of Words and Nerds. Big thanks to Dani for editing this chat. Find out more about Words and Nerds at the...

James and Ashley interview Nardi Simpson, Yuwaalaraay musician and author of 'Song of the Crocodile.' In it, they discuss Nardi's transition from writing lyrics to prose, the preservation of Indigenous languages, and the importance of non-Indigenous Australians accepting that some elements of Indigenous culture are not accessible to them.  Find out more about Nardi at her website , and buy a copy...

In the last episode for 2020, James and Ashley gather some fantastic writing tips provided by authors interviewed in the first sixteen podcasts. It features contributions from Kate Mildenhall, Anna Downes, Elizabeth Tan, Petronella McGovern and Ada Palmer. Don't forget to listen to the whole interviews these excerpts came from if you haven't already!  Books and authors mentioned in this episode: "...

James and Ashley interview Ada Palmer, historian, composer and author of the 'Terra Ignota' sci-fi/fantasy book series. In it, they discuss Ada's astonishing body of work and how she's managed to achieve it while managing a number of invisible illnesses. They also explore the impact of COVID-19 on research, the relationship between identity and disability and why the renaissance wasn't actually a...

James and Ashley discuss their very different motivations for writing, the processes they use to translate that to words, and some tips they've each learnt along the way.  Get in touch! Ashley's Website:  ashleykalagianblunt.com Ashley's Twitter:  @AKalagianBlunt James' Website:  jamesmckenziewatson.com James' Twitter:  @JamesMcWatson

James and Ashley interview Elizabeth Tan, author of 'Smart Ovens for Lonely People.' In it, they discuss the public health crisis of loneliness, the personal experiences that inspired some of these stories, and an unusual but highly effective writing prompt. Find out more about Elizabeth on her website , or buy a copy of 'Smart Ovens for Lonely People' from your local bookstore , Booktopia , or wh...

James and Ashley interview Kate Mildenhall, bestselling author of 'The Mother Fault' and 'Skylarking.' They discuss the craft of novel writing, the challenges of penning a second book, and the creative anxieties that plague writers.  Find out more about Kate on her website and buy a copy of 'The Mother Fault' from your local bookshop , Booktopia , or wherever else books are sold.  Get in touch! As...

James and Ashley interview Petronella McGovern, bestselling author of 'The Good Teacher' and 'Six Minutes.' They discuss the allures and dangers of fringe healthcare, the similarities shared by many Australian communities, and the differences between writing a first and second novel.   Find out more about Petronella at her website and buy a copy of 'The Good Teacher' from your local bookshop, Book...

James and Ashley interview Anthony Jeannot, a stand-up comedian who has spent the last decade taking a test-and-learn approach to anxiety management with the help of a professional therapist. They discuss the impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic on mental wellbeing, the mental health challenges faced by young men, and the idea of the Nintendo life.  Find out more about Anthony on his website , or get...

James and Ashley discuss health - more specifically, their own chronic illnesses. In this episode, they explain their conditions, discuss how these affect day to day life, and explore how illness has impacted their senses of self.  Get in touch! Ashley's Website:  ashleykalagianblunt.com Ashley's Twitter:  @AKalagianBlunt James' Website:  jamesmckenziewatson.com James' Twitter:  @JamesMcWatson

James and Ashley interview Karin Foxwell, an art therapist and counsellor from South Australia's Adelaide Hills. In this fascinating conversation, Karin describes the profound therapeutic power of art, as she's observed in her work with military and emergency services personnel who've sustained PTSD in the course of their service. She also describes a 'standard' art therapy session, discusses the...

James and Ashley interview journalist, author and speaker Kate Leaver about her new book, 'Good Dog.' They discuss the remarkable therapeutic power of dogs, extraordinary pups from around the world, and the impact canine companionship has had on Kate's own mental wellbeing. (As if that wasn't reason enough to listen to this episode, it also features a very special canine guest... albeit, a very qu...

James and Ashley interview Katherine Tamiko Arguile, author of 'The Things She Owned.' They discuss the traumas that shaped Katherine's writing, the troubled mother-daughter relationship at the centre of the novel, and the secret, hybrid languages that develop when cultures overlap. You can find Katherine on Twitter , or pick up a copy of 'The Things She Owned' here.   Get in touch! Ashley's Websi...

James and Ashley tell the stories of their writing journeys to date and each offer three tips that have helped them along the way.  Get in touch! Ashley's Website:  ashleykalagianblunt.com Ashley's Twitter:  @AKalagianBlunt James' Website:  jamesmckenziewatson.com James' Twitter:  @JamesMcWatson Ashley's book 'How to Be Australian' was published in Australia by Affirm Press on June 1, 2020. Learn...