The Write Way

Australian filmmaker and director, Kiah Roache-Turner (Wyrmwood, Nekrotronic), joined me to talk about his latest film, ‘Wyrmwood Apocalypse’. Topics discussed include: - The long road to the second instalment in the Wyrmwood series – from the various plot ideas discussed back in 2015 (at the special Q&A screening I attended), to what was ultimately committed to screen. How Kiah’s experiences with...

Journalist and writer, Mike Burge, joined me to discuss his debut novel, ‘Tank Water’. TRIGGER WARNING: Topics/themes explored include homophobia, gay-bashing, hate-crimes, violence and murder. Please do not listen to this episode if this might trigger/otherwise affect you. Topics discussed include: - The novel’s ten-year journey. Mike allowing for the passage of time before he could write about s...

Computer scientist, editor, writer and prolific author of speculative fiction, Eugen Bacon, joined me on the program to discuss her latest collection of short stories, ‘Danged Black Thing’. Topics discussed include: - The assembling of the collection featured in ‘Danged Black Thing’, deciding which stories to pair from her body of work – what the overarching theme of the collection was/is. - Her u...

Best-selling Australian noir author, Chris Hammer (Scrublands, Silver, Trust), joined the program to talk about his new standalone novel, ‘Treasure & Dirt’. Topics discussed include: - The story of creating Finnigans Gap, the setting of ‘Treasure & Dirt’, from visiting Lightning Ridge and learning about opal mining from real-life opal miners. How Chris uses real-life landscapes as a basis for crea...

New York Times bestselling author, Matthew Reilly, appeared on the program all the way from the U.S. of A to talk with me about his latest novel (the final in the Jack West Jnr. series) – ‘The One Impossible Labyrinth’. Topics discussed include: - Thoughts and feelings about being at the definitive conclusion of a series he’s been working on for 17-odd years - the final send-off of Jack West Jnr –...

Writer, independent researcher and historian Barbara Minchinton, appeared on the program to discuss her book – ‘The Women Of Little Lon’. Topics discussed include: - Barbara’s collaborations with several archaeological teams operating on sites around Little Lon – uncovering artefacts and their history - how that served as the impetus for what would become the exhaustively researched ‘The Women Of...

Screenwriter Shaun Grant joined me to discuss his latest film – a biopic of Port Arthur gunman, Martin Bryant, ‘Nitram’. TRIGGER WARNING: Topics discussed include gun violence, mass-shooting and the lead-up to these real-life events. Topics discussed include: - What drew him to the project, how his experience with adapting other Australian historical events and figures, from the legendary (‘The Tr...

Award-winning writer and novelist, Mark Brandi, appeared on the program to talk about his latest novel, ‘The Others’. Topics discussed include: - Creating the ‘voice’ of the 11-year-old narrator, the pitfalls and challenges faced when writing a novel, an ‘grown-up’ novel, featuring a child narrator. How draining it could be – to sustain that voice in the writing, and how rewarding. - The wonder th...

Writer, editor and now novelist, Lyn Yeowart, joined me on the program to discuss her debut novel, ‘The Silent Listener’. TRIGGER WARNING: The chat included lengthy discussions of child abuse, domestic violence, partner/spousal abuse, etc. If these subjects or their offshoots might trigger you, I do not recommend listening to this episode. Topics discussed include: - How the novel came to be, aris...

Writer and award-winning novelist, Sarah Bailey, joined me to talk about her latest (and first standalone) novel, ‘The Housemate’. Topics discussed include: - The origins of the idea. How it had been lodged in Sarah’s brain for several years and eventually became ‘The Housemate’. - Choosing to set the story (the main timeline) in 2015 – when the medium of podcasts were still somewhat in their infa...

Former advertising strategist, writer and now novelist, Tania Farrelly, joined me to discuss her debut novel, ‘The Eighth Wonder’. Topics discussed include: - Bringing the close-of-the-19th/turn-of-the-20th century New York/‘gilded age’ setting to life. The immense research that went into it (including visiting the real life, still-standing locations) and how Tania went about filtering all her fin...

Former rugby league player, scientist, podcaster and writer, Max Easton, joined me to discuss his debut novel, ‘The Magpie Wing’. Topics discussed include: - Familial themes and dynamics explored throughout the novel, including how unearthing the secrets of a parent(s) can alter our perception of them, sometimes permanently. Also, how those that have passed away can inspire and inform our outlook...

Writer, blogger, editor, podcaster/host and novelist, Karyn Sepulveda, joined the program to chat about her novel, ‘The Women’s Circle’: Topics discussed include: - The power of unity – how we all seek out some kind of community. What strength can be found in a community, enabling us all to accomplish great things. How Anna’s narrative of emerging from gaol, and meeting the women’s circle within t...

Author, writer, editor, S.C. Farrow appeared on the program to discuss her novel, ‘This Is Not A Lie’. Trigger Warning: Drug addiction, homophobia and homophobia-related violence is discussed, among other things. Topics discussed include: - How S.C.’s own youth served to inform what would become ‘This Is Not A Lie’ from the real-life counterparts to the fictional characters in the story, to the Cr...

Crime author and novelist J.P. Pomare appeared on the show to discuss his latest novel, ‘The Last Guests’. Topics discussed include: - The inspiration for the novel. - The dual mindset of home-owners – of living in inherently mistrusting times and therefore suspicious of strangers, yet still offering up their place to be used by complete strangers. - Normalised ‘stalking’ behaviour – something tha...

Comedian, television personality, writer and true-crime podcaster host of ‘Australian True Crime’, Meshel Laurie, appeared on the program to discuss her book – ‘CSI Told You Lies’. TRIGGER WARNING: The discussion including touching on cases, including the tragic manslaughter of cricketer David Hookes and the murder of Melbourne comedian Eurydice Dixon and Aya Maasarwe, along with addressing the on...

Writer, editor, lecturer and novelist, Dr Josephine Taylor, appeared on the program to discuss her novel, ‘Eye Of A Rook’. Topics include: - Josephine’s real-life experience with vulvodynia – how her experiences formed into creative and academic writings that eventually culminated in ‘Eye Of A Rook’ - and the long, innately tough journey to writing the novel. - The history of modern medicine’s tre...

Writer, teacher and novelist, Katherine Kovacic, appeared on the program to discuss her latest book – ‘Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries – Just Murdered’ (on publication day no less!). Topics discussed include: - The unique way in which Katherine came by the project. - The writing process for the story – originally based on a screenplay – how Katherine balanced the need to make the novel a faith...

Writer Hannah Bent, appeared on the program to discuss her debut novel, ‘When Things Are Alive They Hum’. Topics discussed include: - The ten-year writing and gestation process of the novel, balancing real-life with fiction – the difficulties and freedoms this can and did impose on Hannah. - In a novel called ‘A gift’ by Trent Dalton – how Hannah went about passing on the gifts given her by her re...

Writer and novelist, Amanda Hampson, joined the program to talk about her new novel, ‘Lovebirds’. Topics discussed include: - Lifelong, enduring friendships – forged in youth, carried through life – how they can assist us in trying times. How close friends can see the best qualities, parts, and potential of our character that we ourselves cannot – as exemplified in what Ginny sees in central chara...

Writer and novelist, Laura Elizabeth Woollett, appeared on the program to discuss her second novel, ‘The Newcomer’. Topics discussed include: - What drew Laura to writing this story, from the real-life case of Janelle Paton, to her own extended stays in Norfolk Island. How she went about corralling her time in the location into her narrative and creating the completely fictional Fairfolk Island. -...

https://open.spotify.com/show/7LJJydii5AIlKRZXxwTkcq Former butcher, model, actor and now prolific playwright, Nick Thomson, a.k.a. The Modern Playwright, appeared on the program. Topics discussed include: - Nick’s acting provenance, entwined with his butcher trade – how he always maintained his lifelong passion for acting, while continuing the butcher trade. - How his experiences and some of the...

Teacher, writer and novelist R.W.R. McDonald joined me on the program to discuss the follow-up to his hugely-popular debut novel, ‘Nancy Business’. Topics discussed include: - The joys and potential challenges of returning to now beloved characters. How he always envisioned the series and how that’s been going. - Balancing traumatic subject matter (suicide, tragic death, murder etc) with humour, t...

Former policeman, private investigator, writer and journalist, Duncan McNab, appeared on the show to discuss his latest book ‘The Ruby Princess’ – an exhaustively researched probe into the now-infamous ship and its ill-fated voyage ending in Sydney. Topics discussed include: - The history of luxury cruising, from its humblest of humble origins where cruisers were fuelled by ‘the smell of an oily r...

Former journalist and travel writer, Rosie Ayliffe, appeared on the program to discuss her memoir, ‘Far From Home: A True Story Of Death, Loss, And A Mother’s Courage’. TRIGGER WARNING – This memoir is about the tragic murder of Rosie’s twenty-year-old daughter, Mia, during completing her 88-day work scheme in exchange for a 2nd-year visa for Australia. Topics discussed include: - Her life with Mi...