Published...Or Not

Lucy Sussex's meticulously researched biography provides insights into author, Fergus Hume, and his novel, The Mystery of a Hansom Cab, which became a world wide publishing phenomena. 

The contemporary challenges of women living in an ordinary suburb that has been touched by the spirit of Jill Meagher is the focus of 'On Brunswick Ground' by Catherine de Saint Phalle. These are concerns that touch us all.

Published or Not is one of the many shows on 3CR that rely on donations to remain on air. Community radio plays an important role in keeping an independent voice on the airwaves. The discussion between the appeals centred on publishing, publicity and writing in general.

Rod Jones traces the arc of social change towards women and the challenges of pregnancy in his novel, 'The Mothers'. His own history as an adopted child contributes to the dynamic of the story.

The 'Life of Houses' delves into the shared history of a mother and daughter who are both trying to reconcile themselves with each other and the future.

Peter Millett talks about the challenges of writing for nine year olds and the first instalment of his Johnny Danger spy series. Sam Twyford_Moore talks about the authors and events at this year's Emerging Writers Festival.

Jennifer Scoullar's 'Turtle Reef' is a romance set in tropical Queensland. Krissy Kneen read a lot of erotic fiction and researched William Reich's orgone accumulator while writing 'The Adventures of Holly White and the Incredible Sex Machine'.  Holly White is a sci-fi super hero with a climatic difference!

Maggie Alderson's 'Secret Keeping for Beginners' is much more than a romance story.  Her characters are dependent on social media but do they really want everything about them to be told? Should some secrets never be told? Vogel award winner, Murray Middleton, talks about his short story collection 'Where there is nowhere else to run'.

Anna Jaquiery has 'Death in the Rainy Season' another Commandant Morel, French detective novel, set in Cambodia. Maria Katsonis documents the challenges of her identity and depression in her autobiography, 'The Good Greek Girl'.

'Captive Prince' is a groundbreaking fantasy by C.S. Pacat that challenges certain sexual taboos. Robert Verlander's 'Of White and Shady' is set in Williamstown. This fun read covering secrets held for 50 years, explains why a grandson would be inheriting a ballet shoe factory.

Wendy Scarfe has written a historically compelling story set between wars involving depression, Communism, Port Adeliade and love.

Black Rock White City is A. S Patric's first published novel. Rich in symbolism, it explores the struggle of a tramatized European couple reestablishing their lives in suburban Melbourne whilst grappling with a new language and their troubled past.

Cenarth Fox takes us to a Europe on the brink of war in 'A Plum Job'.In 'Bad Behaviour', a memoir of bullying and boarding school' Rebecca Starford writes about a time of freindship and joy but also of shame and fear.

Robert Gott's, 'The Port Fairy Murders' is set in 1940's Victoria where social values and attitudes are exposed as wanting and where the body count mounts. James Bradley has set 'Clade' into the future.  The world is facing challenging catastrophies but three generations of an extended family find optimism to go.

"Breaking Beauty" is a collection of short stories that challenge the reader's assumptions of what is beautiful in our lives. In 'Fables Queer and Familiar', Margaret Merrilees writes anecdotes of family, friends and life from lesbian grannies.