Talking Aussie Books

Zoë Coyle's debut novel "Where the Light Gets In" is a novel inspired by Zoe's advocacy for euthanasia law and the right to die with dignity, an issue that affected Zoë personally when her terminally ill mother decided to euthanise herself.  Published by Ultimo Press earlier this year, Zoë's novel is a moving tribute to the inadequacies of a system which refuses to make room for a person's de...

Talking Aussie Books and Writes4Women have joined forces in a podcast collaboration.  Recorded at the recent Romance Writers of Australia Conference in Fremantle, the lovely Pamela Cook and I chatted to a bunch of fabulous Aussie authors about all things Romance writing.  Over 8 weeks this collaboration will uncover what various Australian authors think about writing Romance, their most...

Mixing things up a little with a podcast recorded from the Sydney Distribution Centre of Australia's largest online book retailer and distributor - Booktopia.   I'm speaking with author Nick Wasiliev who works as a senior content producer for Booktopia and also hosts popular Booktopia podcast "Tell Me What to Read". We are delving into the world of books.  The trend Booktopia has seen in...

With the inaugural Northern Beaches Readers Festival now only weeks away, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to chat with the Team for a behind the scenes glimpse into what it takes to start a literary festival from scratch. We chat about how it all got started, why we wanted to be part of it, what we're looking forward to and so much more.  I'm so lucky to be working with such a...

In 2020 Rae Cairns self-published her debut novel entitled 'The Good Mother'.  A book which received a great deal of attention, got an audio book deal with Bolinda Audio,  was short-listed for one of Australia's most prestigious crime writing awards - the Ned Kelly Awards (Best Debut Crime Fiction category) and later scored Rae a two-book publishing deal with HarperCollins Australia.&nbs...

Originally from Ireland, Bernadette Jiwa migrated to Melbourne and started her writing career as a blogger and non-fiction writer - later becoming a storytelling adviser and the author of ten Amazon bestselling non-fiction titles.  In 2019, Bernadette began writing what would become her debut novel.  Called 'The Making of Her' (published by Penguin), Bernadette has written a mesmerising...

Nicole Alexander is the bestselling author of 11 historical fiction novels.  Titles that include 'The Bar Cutter', 'Sunset Ridge' and 'The Cedar Tree'.  As a freelance writer, Nicole's articles have appeared widely in publications like The Sydney Morning Herald , ABC Online , The Sunday Telegraph and Elle Magazine Australia .  'The Last Station' is Nicole's new novel. Released by Pe...

Karly Lane is the author of 19 rural fiction novels.  Titles like 'Once Burnt, Twice Shy' and 'Return to Stringybark Creek' are just a couple of the books that have made Karly a bestselling author and household name.   Her newest novel, 'A Stone's Throw Away' was released by Allen & Unwin earlier this year and listeners...I absolutely loved it! Small-town secrets, a writer with write...

Lyn McFarlane is a Canadian-Australian writer and lawyer whose debut novel. 'The Scarlet Cross' was recently released by Pantera Press.   A complex and intriguing crime thriller that takes a thought-provoking look at the healthcare system along with the justice system in North America.  So very topical in light of recent events in the United States.   Clever and twisty, this book he...

Listeners will know that I have eclectic reading tastes - with a particular interest in domestic thrillers.  So when I picked up Kylie Kaden's new book, "One of Us" (Pantera), I knew I was in for a treat.  A book that takes us well beyond the picket fence. "One of Us" exposes the imperfect lives of two seemingly perfect families.  Covering some big issues, this book was pacey and co...

Meg Bignell is a Tasmanian-based author of three novels: 'The Sparkle Pages', 'Welcome to Nowhere River' and now 'The Angry Women's Choir' (Penguin).  Released earlier this year, 'The Angry Women's Choir' is a triumphant novel; a tribute to female anger and the power we can harness when we band together and raise our voices.  Hysterically funny and at times heartbreaking, I both laughed...

As an avid (somewhat amateurish skier), I am captivated by alpine landscapes. So when I learnt about a series of crime books set in the Australian Snowy Mountains, I was intrigued.   Lee Christine has made her mark on the Australian literary scene with six romantic suspense novels along with her series of snow-bound crime thrillers.  The latest of these is 'Dead Horse Gap' published by A...

Kylie Orr is a Melbourne-based writer whose debut novel “Someone Else’s Child” was released by HQ Fiction at the end of May. A gripping and at times confronting novel that explores the ethics of giving, toxic friendships and motherhood, this story of drew me in immediately and didn’t let go until the very last page. Kylie is a wonderful new voice on the Australian literary scene and I was absolute...

I love a good rom-com. And I've read my fair share of them. So finding a new voice and refreshing take on the romcom genre is always a happy occurrence.  Enter Kimberley Allsopp and her debut novel 'Love and Other Puzzles' (HarperCollins Australia). A fantastically original story that had me fizzing with laughter. Warm, witty and clever, it had me hooked from start to finish. I had a wonderfu...

Toni Jordan is a bestselling, award-winning Melbourne-based author of six novels.  Her debut, 'Addition', was an international bestselling novel which was also shortlisted for the highly prestigious Miles Franklin Award.  Toni's new novel, 'Dinner with the Schnabels', was recently released by Hachette. And whilst it is the first of Toni's novels I've read - it won't be the last.  Th...

What it means to be Australian is a question that runs through the heart of Shankari Chandran's delightful novel, 'Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens' (published by Ultimo Press earlier this year).  A complex and thought-provoking look at Australian society through the eyes of the compassionate community of Sri Lankan Tamils and others within a fictional western Sydney nursing home, this novel was...

Dervla McTiernan is an international, bestselling, critically acclaimed author of four novels along with three Audible original titles.  Her debut novel, 'The Ruin', was published in 2018 and became a top ten bestseller - also winning the Ned Kelly award for best debut crime novel (amongst other awards). 'The Ruin' was the first of Dervla's Detective Cormac Reilly series - which later include...

Wendy James is the author of nine novels, including best-selling title "The Mistake" and "The Golden Child" which was shortlisted for a Ned Kelly award in 2017. Her debut, "Out of the Silence" won the 2006 Ned Kelly Award for best crime debut and was also shortlisted for the Nita May Dobbie award for women's fiction. Her latest novel, "A Little Bird" (Lake Union Publishing) was released in the US...

Sydney-based author Jack Ellis has two published novels to his name. After studying classical composition at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and the Royal Conservatorium in The Hague, Jack went on to study dispute resolution and law, becoming a Family Mediator. His first novel "The Best Feeling of All" was published in 2014 and his second, "Home and Other Hiding Places" was recently released by...

Hilde Hinton is a bestselling author of two books and big sister to Connie and Samuel Johnson. Her debut novel, "The Loudness of Things Unsaid" propelled Hilde reluctantly into the literary realm. But with her second novel now out in the world, in my humble opinion Hilde has unequivocally arrived. Released earlier this year, "A Solitary Walk on the Moon" (published by Hachette) is a delightful, te...

Sasha Wasley's brand new novel 'A Caravan Like A Canary' (Pantera Press) is a beautifully written, heart-felt tale about a family ripped apart by tragedy and the road trip taken by siblings Tara and Zac Button in an attempt to put the past to rest and heal old wounds. Set against the stunning WA coastline, this is a gorgeous novel that had me enthralled from start to finish. I was super excited to...

Joanna Buckley is a Melbourne-based author whose debut novel 'Lily Harford's Last Request' (HQ Fiction) blew me away. A novel that was borne out of some of Joanna's personal experiences. It's a book that makes us confront some of the big issues we face as a society today and the choices we are forced to make along the way. A thought-provoking, moving and brave novel that I absolutely loved. I had...

Cassie Hamer is one of Australia's best-selling authors. With three published titles to her name now, Cassie is fast cementing her reputation as an auto-buy author for meany reader across Australia. Her new book - with the most fabulous title ever - is called "The Truth About Faking It". I've read it and loved it. And I know others will feel the same. An absolute must-read. I was absolutely deligh...

Maryrose Cuskelly is an award-winning Melbourne-based author of both fiction and non-fiction. Her debut novel, "The Cane" was published earlier this year by Allen & Unwin. A gripping, atmospheric crime novel set in the fictional sugarcane town of Quala in North Queensland in the 1970s. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and was delighted to have the chance to speak with Maryrose on the podcast...

**Warning: This podcast contains discussion of themes and issues some listeners may find distressing.** Back in 2020, I had the pleasure of connecting with West Australian author Monique Mulligan and chatting with her on the podcast about her debut novel, "Wherever You Go". A book which occupies a spot on the short list of books in recent times that has made me cry. A beautifully written and heart...