Talking Aussie Books

JP Pomare is a bestselling, award-winning author originally from New Zealand and who now lives in Australia.  His first novel, 'Call Me Evie', published in 2018, won the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best First Novel, while 'Tell Me Lies' - his third novel, became a #1 Audible Bestseller and was shortlisted for the Ngaio Marsh Best Crime Novel award along with the Ned Kelly Award for Best...

Courtney Collins is an accomplished author screenwriter producer and podcaster. Her first novel, 'The Burial' was published back in 2012 in ten countries and shortlisted for multiple prizes  - including the NSW Premiers Literary award and the Stella Prize. Courtney’s second novel, ‘Bird’ has just been released by Hachette Australia.  To say that this is a novel like no other I’ve read woul...

Listeners, some of you may recall back in March of this year, I decided to mix things up a little on the podcast, by interrogating a panel of bookish experts about what they were reading.  Because, let’s face it, as much as I would like to think of myself as an authority on what Australians read, the truth is - my reading is mostly guided by what I’m doing for the podcast or events I have coming u...

Few of us who have a keen interest in history and literature - particularly  Australian history and literature - will not have heard of Henry Lawson and his short story - 'The Drover’s Wife'. First published in 1892, Lawson’s story centres on an unnamed woman living in the outback, in an isolated hut, with her four children while her husband is away droving.   One day, she and the children...

The best kind of YA novels are the ones that appeal to a broad audience.  Ones that teenagers, younger and older adults alike can relate to on a multitude of levels. In my time as a podcaster I’ve been fortunate to encounter some truly engaging, highly relevant YA stories that offer a glimpse into the lives of young adults and the issues they face making their way out into the world.  So when I he...

Sandie’s sixth novel, 'The Lyrebird Lake Ladies Choir' (Penguin) is a moving and empowering story about three women set between 1973 and the present day.  It explores deeply emotional and confronting issues in a heartfelt, sensitive and hopeful way - in true Sandie Docker style.  Sandie’s debut novel 'The Kookaburra Creek Cafe' was published back in 2018, closely followed by 'T...

Nicola Moriarty’s brand new novel ‘Every Last Suspect’ has just been released by HarperCollins Australia. And what an absolute cracker it is!! For those who are not familiar with Nicola or her writing, she is a Sydney-based novelist and copywriter whose previous works include: 'Those Other Women', 'The Fifth Letter', 'The Ex' and 'You Need to Know'.  'Every Last...

It's been a long five years since I last chatted with BM Caroll. In the time since, she has written another four novels - one of which is her newest release 'One of Us is Missing' published by Affirm Press. A thoroughly gripping novel that follows the O'Sullivan family after the unimaginable happens: one of them goes missing during a a Cold Play Concert in Sydney. Thrilling and ter...

Barbara Sumner is a writer and filmmaker from New Zeleand who’s debut novel, The Gallows Bird has just been published by Pantera Press. Whilst The Gallows Bird is Barbara’s debut foray into fiction, she  is no stranger to storytelling.  Barbara’s career has covered production of three highly acclaimed feature documentaries, stints in journalism and television as well as the publication of her memo...

‘To Sing of War’ is a novel by Catherine McKinnon - the Miles Franklin Award shortlisted author of Storyland - set in the final months of WW2.   An epic story that examines the events in the lead-up to the United States’ decision to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki - ending the war in the Pacific and leading to Japan’s surrender.  Taking us from the Allied campaign in New Guinea, to...

Pip Fioretti is a Sydney-based author who has been writing fiction since 2006 alongside a career in visual arts.  In the 2021 Sydney lockdown and inspired by walks she’d taken though the arid rangelands of western NSW, Pip wrote the first draft for a novel that would become her first crime novel - 'Bone Lands'. Released by Affirm Press at the end of March, 'Bone Lands' is a highly...

Art, history, lies and family secrets are at the heart of another stunning debut Aussie novel I recently had the utter pleasure of reading.  Lisa Medved’s mesmerising novel, The Engraver’s Secret is the story of two women linked over the span of 400 years through a mysterious map and a family secret. Set between Antwerp in the Spanish Netherlands in the 1620’s and the Antwerp of Belgium in the pre...

Any book that explores the role fate plays in our lives is always going to be one I will enjoy.  So it was with great interest that I read Rhianna King's and brilliant debut novel ‘Birds of a Feather’ published at the end of March by Affirm Press.  Rhianna is a Melbourne-based author who has spent more than two decades working as a communicator in the public and not for profit sector. During t...

Debut Australian novelists are enjoying their heyday at the moment.  It seems that every other day I’m learning about another fabulous Aussie writer ticking getting published off their bucket list.  Moreover, the quality of these stories are simply outstanding. None more so than the debut novel from my next guest author.  Maxine Fawcett is a Sydney-based author who runs a media and marketing busin...

Regular listeners might remember a few years back I welcomed debut novelist Kelli Hawkins to the podcast.  Kelli is a Newcastle-based author who landed a rare four-book deal with HarperCollins for two adult books and two children’s books in 2020.  Back then we were chatting about her bestselling gripping psychological thriller - Other People’s Houses . A gritty and compelling novel I simply could...

Listeners, as you can imagine I read a lot of books. Mostly Australian fiction - given that this is the genre on which the Talking Aussie Books podcast was founded.   I do try and read the international titles everyone is talking about (I think Yellowface was the latest) and then of course, I throw in a couple of non-fiction titles for good measure.  However, I am far from an authority on what the...

The Black and Bright Festival is a literary festival dedicated to the diverse expressions of First Nations storytelling. Established in 2016 this four-day festival is based in Naarm (Melbourne) and covers all genres from oral stories, novels, to plays and poetry.  With over 60 first nations artists set to appear at the upcoming festival between 14 and 17 March 2024, it is sure to be a fabulous cel...

Jane Tara is an author and wanderer who is best known in Australia for her role as general manager of Better Reading - one of Australia's largest online book communities. Jane is the author of more than 100 books, several plays and five novels. Recently, Jane's new novel, 'Tilda is Visible' was released by Affirm Press. A wonderfully surprising, quirky, funny and spellbinding book...

Dervla McTiernan is an international best-selling critically acclaimed author of 4 novels (think of The Ruin, The Scholar and The Murder Rule) as well as several audio novellas. Since becoming published in 2018, Dervla's books have regularly graced Amazon bestseller lists. She has won a Ned Kelly Award, a Davitt Award and a Barry Award and has been shortlisted for numerous others.  Her work ha...

Today listeners I’m introducing you to another author whose gorgeous debut novel, called ‘All the Golden Light’ has just been published by HarperCollins. A richly detailed, sweeping historical novel, 'All the Golden Light' is a snapshot of life for one woman living on the south coast of NSW at the tail end of WWI. A time of darkness, deprivation and trauma - not only for the those who saw...

Liz Foster is a Sydney-based author originally from Britain who began her writing journey some seven years ago.  'The Good Woman’s Guide to Making Better Choices', published by Affirm Press is her first novel. And listeners, it’s a cracker.  A thoroughly enjoyable read about marriage, parenting, fraud, infidelity and…of all things…goat’s cheese! I was delighted to have the chance to speak...

Michelle Upton in a Brisbane-based author whose first novel ‘Terms of Inheritance’ was shortlisted for the Banjo Prize in 2021.   A little over 12 months later 'Terms of Inheritance' was published by HarperCollins Australia.  And I can see why.  With a strong hook and a cast of strong, vibrant female characters, this was one heck of a good story. Hard to believe it was Michelle’s debut, fr...

After more than 260 interviews to this point and attendance at bookish events too numerous to count, I meet a lot of Australian authors.  Some are well into their writing careers, others are just at the start or trying to break in like me while many are somewhere in the middle.   So when someone I know - someone who has been trying to get published for a while - finally succeeds, it’s an occasion...

It’s impossible not to be excited about interviewing an author whose career I have been fortunate to witness from it’s infancy.  From the first interview I conducted with this author more than five years ago until now, this woman’s skill as a storyteller has simply gone from strength to strength. With 4 bestselling books under her belt now, Tania Blanchard has become an international bestselling a...

Steve Matthews is the author of the bestselling Hitler trilogy: Hitler’s Brothel, Hitler’s Assassins and Hitler’s Resurrection.  Each of these books are based on true events - constructing unique narratives and perspective around the horrific deeds and atrocities committed by the Nazi regime in World War II. It was following the publication of Hitler’s Brothel that I first became acquainted with S...