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 th…

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-ba…

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…

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. …

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 a…

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, qu…

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…

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 an…

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 wa…

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 …

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 fo…

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 Bl…

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 Hitle…

Kell Woods in an Australian historical fantasy author whose debut novel has just been released in Australia/New Zealand, the UK and the US. Called ‘After the Forest’ Kell has written a rich, compelling and utterly remarkable fairytale retelling. Set in the Black Forest of Wurrtemberg during the mid-17th century, the story picks up 15 years after Gr…

Shelley Burr is an award-winning Australian author whose debut novel ‘Wake’ was a top five bestseller. Published in the US and the UK as well as here in Australia, 'Wake' won the CWA Debut Dagger Award in 2019 (a UK award for an unpublished writer), it was shortlisted for the Indie Book Awards Debut Novel Award, the Kill Your Darlings Unpublished M…

Steph Vizard is a Melbourne-based writer who won the 2022 Banjo Prize with her then unpublished manuscript 'The Love Contract'. Twelve months on and that book has now been published by HarperCollins. I have no doubt that readers will fall in love with this charming story about enemy neighbours - Zoe and Will - who reluctantly come to the realisatio…

Jane Harrison is an award-winning playwright and novelist as well as Festival director whose work has been performed across Australia and internationally. Jane is descended from the Muruwari people and believes stories have the power to strengthen cultural connection. Jane’s YA novel ‘Becoming Kirrali Lewis’ won the 2014 Black & Write Prize and tha…

Memorable books are the ones that make me feel something. Books that make me laugh or hold my breath with anticipation; stories that make me feel hopeful and most of all... the books that make me cry. These are the ones that become indelibly printed on my heart. ‘Saving Charli’ (Scholastic Australia) written by Victorian-based author, Di Walker is …

Veronica Lando is a crime writer who burst onto the Australian literary scene a couple of years ago when her then unpublished manuscript won the 2021 Banjo Prize. That manuscript 'The Whispering' was published by HarperCollins in 2022 to widespread acclaim. This year, Veronica's second book 'The Drowning Girls' was also published by HarperCollins. …

Philippa Kaye is a mother, educator, and now published novelist who lives on the Central Coast of NSW and was inspired to write her debut novel, 'Girl Detectives Just Wanna Have Fun' during COVID. Set in 1984, 'Girl Detectives Just Wanna Have Fun' is a pacy mystery novel flavoured with lots of fun eighties nostalgia - big hair, short skirts and sho…

Lucy Lever is a former social worker who lives in the bush on Sydney’s coastal fringe with her husband. As proof that it is never too late to follow your dreams, Lucy decided to give creative writing a go later in life. The result is 'Mystic Ridge' published earlier this month by HQ Fiction. It was on her frequent visits to family on the NSW North …

Since first meeting Vanessa McCausland back in 2020, I have marvelled at her gift for evocative and unforgettable story-telling. First through the Lost Summers of Driftwood, then The Valley of Lost Stories, again with the The Beautiful Words and now…Dreaming in French. Not only is Vanessa a warm, lovely person and supportive member of the Australia…

Kelly Rimmer is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of 13 novels. Writing both historical and contemporary novels, Kelly’s titles include The German Wife, The Warsaw Orphan, The Things We Cannot Say and Truths I Never Told You. Kelly has sold more than 2 million books to date. And her work has been translated into…

Listeners, a couple of weeks ago I was at the annual Bellingen Readers and Writers Festival and had the joy of interviewing an author whose career I have been watching for a few years now. And recently, I got to do it all over again. Paul Dalgarno is a Melbourne-based author of two novels and two non-fiction titles. Born and raised in Scotland, Pau…

I first interviewed Jennifer McKenzie Dunbar back in April 2020, just after she'd self-published her debut novel, 'Vivaldi's Lost Concerto'. And what a debut it was. So much fascinating research and detail coloured the historical thread of the narrative of that book along with the harrowing experiences of a contemporary woman who had been through t…

Phillipa Nefri Clark is an Australian author based in country Victoria and a USA Today best-selling author of more than 20 novels. Her writing is not only prolific but spans a number of different genres - from romance, to mystery and crime thrillers. Earlier this year I was offered the opportunity to read the first of Phillipa's Detective Liz Moorl…

Robyn Cadwallader is an award winning Canberra-based author - with three historical novels to her name, along with poems, prize-winning short stories and a non-fiction book based on her PhD thesis about virginity and female agency in the Middle Ages. Robyn’s first novel, ‘The Anchoress’ was published in 2015 to critical acclaim and was awarded the …

Kim Lock is an internationally published, bestselling author of five novels that include 'Peace Love and Khaki Socks', 'Like I Can Love', 'The Three of Us' and 'The Other Side of Beautiful'. Living in regional South Australia with her family, Kim’s writing as appeared in Kill Your Darlings, The Guardian, Daily Life and The Sydney Morning Herald amo…

Megan Rogers is a debut novelist with impeccable credentials. Starting her working life as an editorial assistant at Allen & Unwin before taking up a position in Marketing at the State Library of Victoria Megan has a PhD in Creative Writing as well as a Bachelor of Arts/Science, a Diploma of Professional Writing and Editing, a Graduate Diploma in P…

Rae Cairns is a Sydney-based author who shot to notoriety when her debut, self-published novel, ‘The Good Mother’ was shortlisted in 2021 for the Ned Kelly Award in the Best Debut Crime Fiction category. Following this auspicious event, Rae was offered a two-book deal with HarperCollins publishers and 'The Good Mother' was revised and reissued allo…

Jessica Dettmann's new novel 'Without Further Ado" (HarperCollins) is a delightful romantic comedy about one woman's search for love and how the stories we read and films we watch impact that journey. Based loosely on Shakespeare's 'Much Ado About Nothing', this book had me laughing out loud. A terrifically entertaining read filled with witty dialo…

Karina May is a Sydney-based author whose debut print novel, 'Duck À L'Orange for Breakfast' was published by Pan Macmillan at the end of March. A fun, romantic, satisfying and oh-so-delicious book which comes with 14 delectable recipes to sink your teeth into, 'Duck À L'Orange for Breakfast' is rom-com, foodie-fiction and armchair travel rolled in…

Sandie Docker burst onto the Australian literary scene in 2018 with her debut title ‘The Kookaburra Creek Cafe’ followed by 'The Cottage at Rosella Cove in 2019', 'The Banksia Bay Beach Shack' in 2020 and 'The Wattle Island Book Club' in 2022. Each of these stories have cemented Sandie’s reputation as a masterful storyteller. Weaving past and prese…

Author Dianne Yarwood is a Sydney-based writer with a background in accounting and corporate advisory work, who also loves to cook. Her debut novel 'The Wakes' (Hachette Australia) was published in early March 2023. A tender, funny and heartfelt book about two failed marriages, two strangers who fall in love, friends who start a catering business a…

Michelle Johnston is the author of two novels and juggles her writing career with her work as an emergency physician the Royal Perth Hospital and as a Professor of Emergency Medicine at St John of God Murdoch. If that's not impressive enough, Michelle's debut novel 'Dustfall' was awarded the Hachette/Queensland Writers Centre Developing Manuscript …

I first interviewed Canadian-born Ashley Kalagian Blunt in 2019 when her debut book 'My Name is Revenge' was published. Since, Ashley has published a memoir ‘How to Be Australian’ along with other writing which has appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald, Overland, the Griffith Review of Books and Kill Your Darlings, just to name a few. Ashely also t…

Last year I was privileged to interview an award-winning novelist whose debut novel became an overnight sensation. As the winner of the illustrious Banjo Prize in 2020, Dinuka McKenzie quickly became a household name when her book 'The Torrent' was published by HarperCollins at the beginning of 2022. Now, in 2023, Dinuka has followed up on the succ…

Jo Dixon is one of Australia's newest debut authors. Her novel, 'The House of Now and Then' was published in January 2023 by HQ Fiction. Beautifully written, evocative, intriguing and heart-rending, 'The House of Now and Then' is a tale about a decades long mystery, deadly secrets and the consequences of discovering the truth. I absolutely loved it…

Just over four years ago, I had the very great fortune to interview an outstanding debut novelist. I was relatively new to the world of podcasting then, still finding my way and, consequently, feeling like I’d won the lottery when I was handed the opportunity to speak with this brilliant author. Listeners, I know you will feel my joy and nerves in …

Emma Harcourt is a Sydney-based writer who works a researcher and journalist as well as an author. After completing the Faber Academy course in 2011, Emma began writing historical fiction. The result was two novels: the first being the critically acclaimed international best-selling title 'The Shanghai Wife' published in 2018 and now 'The Brightest…

Eliza Henry-Jones is a Victorian author, freelance writer, Phd candidate and flower farmer whose previous novels have been listed for multiple literary awards. Her work has been published in a variety of places - including The Guardian, Country Style and The Age amongst others. In 2017, a trip to the remote Orkney Islands of Scotland highlighted El…

I love reading all types of books. Crime, thriller, domestic noir, family drama, YA, magical realism and romance. You name it, I probably have it on my shelf. But there's nothing quite like reading a rom-com for pure escapism and sheer joy. And that's what reading Nina Kenwood's 'Unnecessary Drama' was for me. Published by Text Publishing earlier t…

Jackie Bailey is a writer who holds a PhD in creative writing from the University of NSW and whose work has appeared in a variety of publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, ScreenHub, ArtsHub and the Australian Journal of Human Rights. Jackie's debut novel 'The Eulogy' was published by Hardy Grant earlier this year. A work of auto-fiction…

Tori Haschka is a published cookbook author who has appeared on TV programs like The Today Show and Adam Liaw's The Cook Up and has written for a variety of publications including The Times, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Guardian. Her first novel 'Grace Under Pressure', published in 2021, heralded a new genre of food fiction - combining her lov…

Vikki Petraitis is the author of the best-selling true crime books "The Frankston Murders" and "The Phillip Island Murder" as well as a podcaster - making two highly successful podcasts with Case File Presents: series which have topped charts around the world and enjoyed millions of downloads. More recently, Vikki won the inaugural Allen & Unwin Cr…

Denise Picton's debut novel "The Family String" (Ultimo Press) is a poignant, beautifully written novel about a difficult mother-daughter relationship which explores mental health issues in the context of a faith that could not understand such issues along with the way children cope with family dynamics. An uplifting, but at times heart-breaking no…

Mercedes Mercier is author of the electric debut novel "White Noise" published by HarperCollins Australia earlier this year. Drawn from Mercedes' real-life experiences working in the Australian corrections system for almost a decade, "White Noise" is a triumph of a novel. I was utterly mesmerised by the world Mercedes created - exploring the ongoin…

Rachael Johns has been described as the 'undisputed queen of Australian women's fiction' and with a whopping 29 titles under her belt to date, I'm sure you'll agree it's an apt title. An award-winning author with her own online bookclub - membership of which has now reached some 5000 members - Rachael is a force to be reckoned with. I was more than…

Katharine Pollock's debut novel 'Her Fidelity' (published by Penguin) is a wonderfully insightful book that takes a humorous look at the record industry from the point of view of female retail worker. A sharply-drawn snapshot of contemporary Australian society and exploration of what it means to be a woman working in a male-dominated industry, 'Her…

From the author of 'The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman' comes another warm and humorous story populated with a cast of delightful characters. Julietta Henderson's 'Sincerely, Me' (Penguin) is a brilliant, hopeful read that shines a light on families of all shapes and sizes along with the debilitating effects of grief. Another must-read from a sup…