Do ideas come to you while you’re out walking? There’s a unique connection between writers and walking – and in this episode, Belinda Castles shares the inspiration and experience in creating her new book, Walking Sydney. The book is a curated collection of talks had while on walks with authors around various parts of the city and exploring the concepts of nostalgia, change and a sense of place. 00:00 Welcome 03:59 Writing tip: Dictionary of Australian Words 06:11 WIN! Jack Reacher Book Pack Giveaway 08:58 Word of the week: ‘Catenary’ 09:37 Writer in residence: Belinda Castles 10:22 What Walking Sydney is about 11:09 Inspiration for writing this book 13:04 How the book came together 18:18 The connection between writers and walking 24:50 Writing and the connection to place 28:57 Reader experience and audience 31:18 Why there are no maps in this book 32:31 The armchair travel experience 34:12 Balancing writing with teaching 36:06 The writing process and time management 41:58 The book trailer and filmmaking experience 44:56 A tip from Belinda for writers 46:48 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

In this special bonus episode of 'So You Want to Be a Writer,' Valerie is joined by her original podcast co-host Allison Tait in a live-streamed event celebrating 20 years of the Australian Writer Centre. Together, they discuss important topics for all writers – including goal-setting, overcoming writing obstacles, and structuring one's writing career. They also reflect on their own writing journeys, give writing tips, and offer valuable advice on managing impostor syndrome, planning writing schedules, understanding genre requirements and MORE! 00:00 Welcome 02:24 Reunion with original co-host A.L.Tait. 08:55 Writing Roadmap: Setting Goals and Overcoming Obstacles 19:00 Giving yourself writing rewards 21:44 Overcoming common obstacles 26:46 The importance of discipline in writing 31:04 Networking and community in writing 34:41 Understanding your genre 37:15 The role of revision in writing 41:54 Flexibility and pivoting in writing 48:48 Q&A session 52:53 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

If you found yourself newly single after not dating since being a teenager, what would you do? Author and AWC graduate Holly Brunnbauer asks that question in her award-winning romance novel, What Did I Miss? –and in this episode she shares what inspired her to write it, her exciting story about getting an agent and book deal, plus the unusual window of time she writes in during each day! 00:00 Welcome 02:00 Our SALE is on 05:21 WIN!: ‘Every Day I Read’ by Hwang Bo-reum 06:54 Word of the week: ‘Orrery’ 07:58 Writer in residence: Holly Brunnbauer 09:07 What is What Did I Miss? about? 10:20 What inspired Holly to write the book 12:50 The experience writing it 14:55 Holly’s year of writing a novel 16:27 Discovering the AWC courses 17:15 Getting an agent and a book deal 21:44 Pitching to screen professionals 24:00 Balancing writing with a busy life 26:24 Planning and Structuring a Novel 28:55 Documentation 31:50 The joy of writing and future plans 33:53 Publication surprises and realities 35:28 Bonus short interview with Charlotte Barkla 38:09 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

When Ian Scott and Kirsty McHugh – curators at the National Library of Scotland – created an exhibition on pen names, they never imagined it would become a book. But that’s exactly what happened, and in this episode, Ian joins to discuss some of the curious motivations and stories behind some of the world’s most famous and infamous pseudonyms in their book Pen Names – including examples of authors who fully immersed themselves in their imaginary personas! 00:00 Welcome 00:18 Rewriting your personal narrative 07:06 Writing tip: Tracking your time 10:05 WIN!: The Funeral Crashers by Joanna Nell 13:33 Word of the week: ‘Edentulous’ 14:14 The world of words: Short forms of ‘until’ 16:10 Writer in residence: Ian Scott 16:57 The inspiration for the book Pen Names 18:42 An exhibition on pen names 23:00 The stories behind the stories 27:00 Common reasons for pen names 27:58 Gender bias in literature 31:55 Other reasons for not using your own name 32:10 Famous examples 34:55 Authors wanting to be judged independently 38:47 Deceptive use of a pen name: Fiona Macleod 40:55 Modern pen names and marketability 43:19 Collaborative writing under one name 45:01 Authors like Lee Child and book cover real estate 46:49 Would Ian choose a pen name for himself? 48:45 Wait – is his co-writer Kirsty McHugh even real? 50:30 Is his book in his own library? 53:02 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

Author Zanni L. Arnot has carved out a prolific career as a children's author – publishing more than 40 books in the past decade as ‘Zanni Louise’. In this episode, Zanni discusses how she got into writing children's books and her first YA novel, A Guide to Falling Off the Map. She also shares the differences between different age range stories, juggling multiple projects, plus provides insights and advice for aspiring authors. 00:00 Welcome 00:28 How a setting can become a character 07:53 Writing tip: Learn to love grammar and punctuation 13:42 WIN!: Reacher by Lee Child 17:14 Word of the week: ‘Headwork’ 17:48 Writer in Residence: Zanni L. Arnot 18:46 An overview of her new book 21:03 Why a YA novel? 23:43 How Zanni got into writing 26:52 Discovering a passion for writing 27:30 Building a writing community 28:16 On creating 41 books in ten years! 30:47 Crafting stories for different age groups 32:57 Balancing writing with a busy life 34:15 Navigating the multiple projects 35:33 The process of writing the story 39:42 Is adult fiction next? 41:11 Advice for managing your time 43:30 Zanni’s approach to social media 45:44 Keeping track of ideas and choosing the next one 48:19 Promoting books from overseas 50:15 Advice for authors looking to try YA 53:16 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

The Iranian Embassy siege that unfolded in the UK in 1980 was a huge world event at the time, although perhaps lost in the fog of history today. Prolific British author Ben Macintyre brings it back into focus in his latest book, The Siege: The Remarkable Story of the Greatest SAS Hostage Drama and he joins us to discuss his writerly beginnings, turning real-world espionage into captivating reads and how he balances the personal and factual details in his stories. 00:00 Welcome 00:48 The power of constraints in writing 11:30 Writing tip: The iceberg theory 13:52 WIN!: Torn by Nicole Madigan 15:26 Word of the week: ‘Nonpareil’ 16:11 Writer in residence: Ben Macintyre 17:05 Ben gives an overview of The Siege 21:00 His personal experience with the events 25:43 Ben’s background in writing 28:33 Exploring the SAS archive 32:05 The TV series Rogue Heroes 33:20 Character depth and authenticity 35:20 Challenges of taking an oral history 37:40 Pacing and structuring the book 40:15 Real life being stranger than fiction 42:18 Research and writing process 45:27 From book to screen 51:05 Advice for aspiring writers 54:22 Balancing sensory and factual details 57:12 Ben’s upcoming project 58:13 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

The search for ‘a better life’ is the classic motivation for immigrants arriving in a new country and so often we hear about the success stories. But author Moreno Giovannoni wanted to tell the more overlooked migrant stories for his latest novel, The Immigrants – drawing on his family’s own experiences in Australia. Giovannoni shares his approach to writing, his thoughts on translating, as well as past and future projects. 00:00 Welcome 04:47 Writing tip: Creative Mottos 07:46 WIN!: The Watervale Ladies’ Writing and Firefighting Society by Mette Menzies 10:20 Word of the week: ‘Gibbous’ 11:46 Writer in residence: Moreno Giovannoni 12:20 What his new book The Immigrants is about 16:30 Fiction versus the real life inspirations 20:10 Bringing his style to the Australian setting 23:25 The research and notetaking 26:20 Structuring the book 29:31 Fitting the seven key events into the story 31:35 The publishing journey 33:22 The writing process and challenges 34:56 A typical writing day 37:40 Balancing writing and translating 41:33 Publicising the book 43:33 Future writing plans and pure fiction 50:32 Moreno Giovannoni’s writing tip 52:48 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

Halloween is just around the corner, so what better way to mark the occasion than by celebrating AWC grad Amy Hutton’s latest book – a paranormal romance novel, Ghosted! In this episode, Amy shares her writing process, how she wound up writing paranormal romance, afterworld-building and much more! 00:00 Welcome 06:39 Writing tip: Work with teachers and mentors 10:06 WIN!: Remain by Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan 12:29 Word of the week: ‘Bodacious’ 13:52 Writer in residence: Amy Hutton 15:09 What her latest book Ghosted is about 16:30 What inspired this topic of paranormal romance? 19:48 Edits to the story 21:05 Amy’s approach to (after) world building 23:13 Pacing the story and unravelling the mystery 24:16 Writing short stories as a writer’s block strategy 28:10 Amy’s first break 29:22 The thing she didn’t know when she started 32:45 The one thing you can control 33:38 Amy’s average writing day and how it has differed over time 37:25 Freaking herself out in her own writing 39:54 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

If there were ever a decade that evoked such a strong emotional resonance, the 1980s would surely be it! Author Tegan Bennett Daylight channels this in her new time-travelling YA novel, How to Survive 1985, in all its neon-coloured, acid-washed glory, and in this episode, she shares her experience bringing that time period to life and some tips for aspiring writers. 00:00 Welcome 06:52 Writing tip: Grounding details in world-building 09:31 WIN!: The Gifts of Reading for the Next Generation edited by Jennie Orchard 11:20 Word of the week: ‘Noisome’ 13:22 Writer in residence: Tegan Bennett Daylight 14:18 Describing her book How to Survive 1985 17:13 Research vs lived experience of the time period 20:00 Why 1985? 21:59 Writing about motherhood now and then 25:51 Navigating the publishing world 26:33 Early writing experiences 28:14 Tegan’s first children’s book 29:42 Challenges and successes in writing 31:49 The reality of being a writer and inspiring new writers 36:25 The appeal of writing for young adults 40:43 Tegan’s writing routine 43:10 An easy early morning tip for writers 44:38 Engaging with the writing community 45:45 Upcoming projects 47:40 Writing tip and the Spotify playlist 50:17 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

Would YOU do anything to protect your 18-year-old child? That’s core to the premise behind AWC graduate Alex Dook’s outback thriller novel, Gunpowder Creek – and in this episode, he shares the milestones and research that led to this latest successful book. 00:00 Welcome 07:12 Writing tip: Turn jealousy into inspiration 13:11 WIN!: The Occupation by Chloe Adams 14:56 Word of the week: ‘Cynosure’ 18:34 The world of words: ‘Bated vs baited’ 19:59 Writer in residence: Alex Dook 20:38 Describing his debut book, Gunpowder Creek 22:15 Alex’s writing history 25:30 The reason to keep persisting 27:10 The pitching process 29:33 The invisible threshold of becoming published 31:00 Editing and polishing tip 32:08 Advice for aspiring writers 33:54 Using AWC’s‘Anatomy of a Crime course 36:44 Research road tripping 38:00 Discovering the titular Gunpowder Creek town 42:40 Alex’s writing process 46:20 The second book experience 48:30 Alex’s book recommendation 49:34 Thoughts on persistence and passion 51:06 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

We’ve all been to a pub. They’re places to meet friends, meet lovers, to celebrate, commiserate and even do weekly trivia. But do you REALLY know pubs? This is the question author Philip Howell poses and attempts to answer in his latest book, the aptly named Pub. Philip joins us to discuss the inspiration for this book, the pitching process, researching topics and his overwhelming love of one particular app! 00:00 Welcome 05:12 Writing tip: Night-time whiteboards 07:49 WIN!: The Butterfly Thief by Walter Marsh 10:09 Word of the week: ‘Vexillology’ 12:10 Writer in residence: Philip Howell 12:55 Describing ‘Pub’ as a concept and book 14:00 History vs Geography in this book 15:33 Inspirations for writing this book 19:06 The pitching process 21:53 The structure of the book 23:30 Choosing what to leave out 28:05 Range of writing topics and side hustles 30:42 The social dynamics of pubs 32:52 Writing popular geography vs academic 34:49 Research methods and tools 36:53 The importance of readability in writing 37:21 Love of Scrivener 40:35 Repurposing cut content 42:41 Australian pubs? 43:20 On being an expert in ‘pubs’ 45:40 Future projects 48:31 Philip’s writing tip 52:17 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

Collaborative writing is fairly rare in the world of publishing – and writing while working alongside each other in a bookshop cafe is even rarer! But that was exactly how friends and workmates Clayton Zane Comber and Conor McCammon went about co-authoring their new junior fiction illustrated adventure, The Marvellous Submarine. In this episode, they share their experience creating the story together, illustrating it and getting it published. 00:00 Welcome 05:32 Writing tip: Using paintings as a writing prompt 06:54 WIN!: The Verifiers by Jane Pek 09:27 Word of the week: ‘Blatherskite’ 10:40 The world of words: ‘Thank you’ 12:25 Writers in residence: Clayton Zane Comber and Conor McCammon 13:40 Describing The Marvellous Submarine 14:30 The inspiration for the project 17:33 Writing for a particular age group 19:59 How sharing the writing worked 24:53 The inconsistencies of bizarre worlds 25:49 Conor on illustrating the book 29:27 The defining moment of the project 31:49 Their publishing journey 35:30 The book promotion experience 39:53 Advice for aspiring authors 42:45 Upcoming projects 44:44 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

Arrrr me hearties! That’s right, landlubbers – this week we walk the plank to delve into the intriguing real history of female pirates as Francesca de Tores discusses her new historical fiction novel, 'Saltblood.' Francesca goes into her meticulous research process, spanning everything from nautical details to the lives of real historical figures, plus shares a surprising ‘Comic Sans’ tip for writers! 00:00 Welcome 07:36 Writing tip: Social media for writers 11:15 WIN!: When We Were Monsters by Jennifer Niven 12:55 Word of the week: ‘Virga’ 16:19 Writer in residence: Francesca de Tores 17:07 Francesca outlines ‘Saltblood’ 18:20 What drew her to writing about female pirates 19:42 The public perception of pirates 21:55 Francesca’s pirate research for the book 25:21 Nautical research and influences 28:23 Transition to historical fiction 30:37 Publishing journey and challenges 33:45 Using a different pen name 36:32 Writing routine and tips 38:34 Upcoming projects and inspirations 41:37 Francesca shares her writing tips 44:38 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

Have you noticed how everything Korean is so hot right now? From Squid Game to KPop Demon Hunters, the world is enamoured. Of course, for bestselling Korean-Kiwi author and AWC graduate Graci Kim, trends had nothing to do with her choice to mix stories from childhood with fantasy in her new novel, Dreamslinger. In this episode, Graci discusses the many experiences and inspirations that led her to this point, her writing process, advice and much more! 00:00 Welcome 03:29 Writing tip: Reread a book you hated 07:02 WIN!: We’ll Prescribe You Another Cat by Syou Ishida 09:01 Word of the week: ‘Pantechnicon’ 10:40 The world of words: ‘Practice vs Practise’ 12:38 Writer in residence: Graci Kim 13:30 Graci’s fascinating pre-writing lives 21:07 Her relationship with writing over the years 22:59 Rediscovering childhood stories and purpose 25:40 Embracing her Korean name and heritage 27:19 Graci’s journey into writing YA Fantasy 31:21 Discovering a community through AWC 32:00 The value of the Novel Writing Essentials course 33:54 How Graci went about getting an agent 37:13 Joining ‘Rick Riordan Presents’ 38:54 Introducing her new book, Dreamslinger 40:35 What she did differently in this series. 42:22 Graci’s world-building process 43:33 Fun extras and connecting with fans 48:06 Her writing routine and her creative process 49:50 Advice for aspiring writers 53:23 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

What if you could be locked away simply for having disturbing dreams? That’s part of the premise in internationally acclaimed author Laila Lalami’s latest novel, The Dream Hotel. In this episode, Laila discusses the themes that inspired and eventually mirrored her book, along with her background in writing, her daily routine, writing tips and more. 00:00 Welcome 04:50 Writing tip: Avoid clichés! 07:58 WIN!: A Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan 09:35 Word of the week: ‘Apophenia’ 10:03 Writer in residence: Laila Lalami 11:02 Laila outlines The Dream Hotel 12:17 Speculative Fiction and real-world parallels 14:20 The language of this near future world 19:40 Dreams and their cultural significance 21:58 Speculative Fiction and dreams as data 22:50 Researching the novel 27:17 The role of algorithms in society 30:11 Laila’s journey to becoming a writer 34:33 Balancing teaching and writing 37:27 The challenges of book promotion 39:20 Future writing projects 40:59 Laila’s writing tips 42:43 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

With more than 35 books under her belt, Australian author Christine Keighery has written across a range of age groups and genres. In this episode, she shares some insights from that time, along with details about writing her latest adult thriller, We’re Not Us Without You – all about modern day cults. 00:00 Welcome 03:58 Writing tip: ‘Your best friend’s work’ 07:58 WIN!: The Bourne Escape by Brian Freeman 10:55 Word of the week: ‘Desideratum’ 11:28 The world of words: Riband vs. Ribbon 13:33 Writer in residence: Christine Keighery 15:15 Christine’s fascination with cults 17:17 Getting to know her characters 20:20 Writing four perspectives 22:00 Having great editors 23:40 Religion vs cults 25:20 The ingredients of a good thriller 26:13 Balancing character and plot 27:05 Transitioning from junior fiction to adult fiction 28:27 Writing the Go Girl series 33:02 The importance of character in all writing 36:21 Christine's writing process 40:56 Advice for aspiring writers 45:28 What's next for Christine? 47:04 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

Do you love true-crime podcasts? Author A.L. Tait got obsessed with them for a while and pulled those themes into her latest middle-grade crime-thriller novel Danger Road. She joins us to discuss her experience writing and publishing this one, along with her busy year of writing, her process and how she found her unique voice. 00:00 Welcome 02:51 Writing tip: ‘Geolocating writing prompts’ 06:26 WIN!: Lights, Camera, Love by Natalie Murray 09:36 Word of the week: ‘Objurgate’ 10:13 Writer in residence: A.L. Tait 12:00 The inspirations for Danger Road 16:41 Creating distinctive voices 20:07 A busy year of writing. 23:48 The importance of continuous writing 24:41 Challenges of underwriting 27:21 How Tait found her storytelling voice 30:09 The ‘Your Kid’s Next Read’ community 34:43 On writing nonfiction and ghostwriting 36:00 Say yes to new writing avenues and genres 38:18 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

How do you go about adapting a stage play into a compelling murder mystery novel? For acclaimed actor and playwright Toby Schmitz, this was his challenge in creating his debut, The Empress Murders – set on the high seas amid the glamour and clamour 1920s. In this episode, Toby shares his inspirations, aspirations and perspirations in bringing his story to the page. 00:00 Welcome 02:29 Writing tip: ‘Magazine apps to combat doomscrolling’ 07:32 WIN!: Arcana Academy by Elise Kova 10:30 Word of the week: ‘Vicissitude’ 11:11 The world of words: Tack vs. Tact 12:59 Writer in residence: Toby Schmitz 14:02 Toby describes The Empress Murders 16:06 Storytelling in the 1920s 18:11 Themes of colonialism 20:19 How the story started as a play 22:05 Defining what an Australian story is 26:17 The journey from play to novel 27:01 Finding freedom in novel writing 27:22 Crafting the story with index cards 28:13 Maintaining the playwright's touch 29:32 Exploring colonial guilt 30:30 Switching genres throughout 32:32 Inspirations for Toby 35:36 Navigating historical authenticity 37:16 The research process 39:11 The emotional experience of publishing 43:10 Reflections on feedback and notes 45:08 Hopes for the reader's experience 46:36 Acknowledging influences and support 49:19 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

When award-winning author Demet Divaroren decided to write a fantasy novel, she went down a completely different path first, before finally arriving at what would become Blood Moon Bride. In this discussion, Demet shares the inspiration for this YA fantasy novel, the creative freedom of writing in this genre and how motherhood changed her perspective on storytelling. 00:00 Welcome 04:51 Writing tip: ‘Tinder for writers’ 08:45 WIN!: A Passion for Passion by Alice Fraser 11:53 Word of the week: ‘Kickshaw’ 12:25 Writer in residence: Demet Divaroren 16:00 Starting with a different book 19:45 Creating a fantasy world 22:13 Writing for young adults 25:42 Balancing writing and life 26:12 How motherhood changed her writing 29:14 The publishing journey 32:07 The magic of writing 33:08 Promoting the book 35:16 Future projects  37:00 Demet shares a writing tip 38:05 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

When Toby Walsh wrote his first book on AI, he figured he’d said all he had to say. But just a handful of years later, this British computer scientist and current Chief Scientist at UNSW Sydney’s AI Institute is here to discuss his FIFTH book, The Shortest History of AI – how it came about and some of the challenges around explaining this subject to a general audience. 00:00 Welcome 10:05 Writing tip: ‘Just start writing’ 12:52 WIN!: The Midnight Estate by Kelly Rimmer 14:39 Word of the week: ‘Psithurism’ 15:09 Writer in residence: Toby Walsh 15:55 Explaining The Shortest History of AI 17:00 Deciding on the six ideas for the book 18:25 How Toby developed his writing voice 20:06 Balancing the academia and hysteria 22:37 The purpose of writing AI books 23:24 The challenges of writing for the public 25:00 On becoming an accidental science communicator 28:03 The secret circle of science communicators 29:58 Untimely deaths in the timeline of AI 30:30 Adding his expertise to the ‘Shortest’ series 32:20 On designing his book cover and subtitle 35:48 The role of great editors in writing 37:24 Toby’s late night writing process 38:55 His next book project 39:59 A pivot to writing fiction? 42:07 Toby’s tip for writers 43:23 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

Self-confessed writing course junkie and former lawyer Sarah Clutton’s central character literally appeared at the door while she was busy writing another book at the end of the world. In this episode, Sarah elaborates on this unusual inspiration and her writing process for her new novel, The Remarkable Truths of Alfie Bains. 00:00 Welcome 05:54 Writing tip: ‘Number your pages!’ 09:35 WIN!: Chinese Parents Don't Say I Love You by Candice Chung 11:09 Word of the week: ‘AA Lava’ 13:09 The world of words: ‘Filling out vs Filling in’ 14:46 Writer in residence: Sarah Clutton 15:35 Explaining The Remarkable Truths of Alfie Bains 17:30 Sarah’s early years 19:00 Getting started as a writer via lawyering up 22:01 Taking courses with the Australian Writers’ Centre 24:37 On creating Alfie Bains: inspirations and challenges 27:09 Turning 50 and crafting a witchy thriller in Tasmania 31:08 Alfie comes knocking at the door 34:51 Sarah’s writing process – have a deadline! 37:58 What it’s like living in a book town 39:07 Sarah’s next book: a sneak peek 40:06 Themes and messages of the book 41:43 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

What effect has the internet, social media and AI had on language? Should you judge a book by its cover? This week, linguistic legend and British OBE recipient David Crystal joins us to discuss all things words, idioms, dialects and the curious facts he found while researching his latest publication, Bookish Words. 00:00 Welcome 10:07 Writing tip: ‘Write your Why’ 12:47 WIN!: Audition by Katie Kitamura 14:09 Word of the week: ‘Testudo’ 16:37 World of Words: ‘One Fell Swoop’ 18:06 Writer in residence: David Crystal 19:19 David’s love of words 21:30 The wonders of different dialects 22:30 Language and change 27:16 Discussing his latest title, Bookish Words 33:00 Judging a book by its cover 36:05 British and American English differences 37:59 The Influence of Sports on Language 40:18 David and Dean discuss puns 42:11 Nat’s question corner: balancing form and meaning 46:33 The role of technology and social media 49:30 Language in a world of AI 51:34 The impact of COVID-19 on language 53:14 Tips on making your writing engaging 55:27 David reading preferences 01:05:00 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

How much research is too much when writing historical fiction? This is just one of the topics that bestselling author Emilia Hart discusses in this episode as she shares details of her latest novel, The Sirens – a blend of nautical history and fantasy across two stories separated by time and distance. 00:00 Welcome 04:23 Writing tip: ‘The Most Dangerous Writing App’ 07:25 WIN!: The Retirement Plan by Sue Hincenbergs 08:51 Word of the week: ‘Luthier’ 11:01 Writer in residence: Emilia Hart 12:48 Inspirations for the books two timelines 19:45 Writing about Australia during the pandemic 20:24 Exploring the themes of distance and journey 22:17 Researching convict history 25:00 Note taking methods 25:59 The importance of her day job in her writing  28:11 Deleting 300,000 words 30:00 There’s no such thing as a perfect draft 30:32 Learning to sail for the book 31:20 The book deal and publishing process 32:50 Balancing writing with public engagement 35:10 Emilia’s writing tips 37:29 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

Should all picture books rhyme? Why use animals as characters? And what’s the deal with working with an illustrator? Picture book author (of more than 15 books) Rory H. Mather joins the podcast in this episode to discuss all of these things, as well as his own journey into the industry, and his latest titles, Laugh in the Bath and Mumma Bear. 00:00 Welcome 04:20 Writing tip: Learn to play an instrument (sort of) 08:23 WIN!: The CIA Book Club by Charlie English 11:40 Word of the week: ‘Psephology’ 12:30 The world of words: Capitalising the seasons 14:05 Writer in residence: Rory H. Mather 15:00 Rory explains his love of writing picture books 18:45 How Rory got his start 22:55 Where he gets his ideas from 26:30 Why writing animals can be a good thing 27:47 The importance of curiosity 29:40 A discussion about picture books that rhyme 31:39 Who is the picture book audience? 32:30 Working with illustrators 37:00 Selling books to publishers 40:48 Remembering the first book he signed 41:30 The economics of picture book writing 42:30 Telling succinct stories 45:05 Writing longer books 47:33 More books coming up 49:30 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

How important is it to have a unique author voice? Hugely important, says author Mandy Beaumont while discussing her late 1980s true-crime inspired novel The Thrill of It. Mandy discusses her inspiration for the book, unique stylistic and narrative choices she made, and more. 00:00 Welcome 03:04 Writing tip: What to do while ‘changing eyeballs’ 06:38 WIN!: The Wrong Daughter by Dandy Smith 08:07 Word of the week: ‘Falderal’ 11:23 Writer in residence: Mandy Beaumont 12:20 Overview of The Thrill of It 13:10 Mandy’s true crime inspirations 17:55 Choosing a unique narrative style 20:13 Researching and organising the details 24:50 The publishing journey with Hachette 28:17 Mandy’s writing process and routine 32:13 Balancing writing with other jobs 33:26 Short stories versus novels 35:08 Publicity and promotion 37:14 Upcoming projects and inspirations 38:56 Mandy’s writing tips 41:14 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

They always say ‘write what you know’, right? Well, authors Gareth and Louise Ward (two British ex-cops who moved to New Zealand and opened a bookshop) fully leaned into it with The Bookshop Detectives series – all about, you guessed it, British ex-cops who move to New Zealand and open a bookshop! The murders are fiction though – and they join the podcast to share their experience writing book 2 in the series. 00:00 Welcome 02:56 Writing tip: yWriter app 04:47 WIN!: Whisky Valley by Joan Sauers 06:04 Word of the week: ‘Moiety’ 07:26 The world of words: 'Jail' vs ‘Gaol’ 09:28 Writers in residence: Gareth and Louise Ward 10:35 Gareth’s other writing and magician life 12:36 Buying a bookshop together 15:17 Leaning into ‘write what you know’ 18:18 The collaboration process 21:38 Incorporating local culture and the setting 24:12 Real-life inspiration for the book 2 climax 25:37 Advice for aspiring cosy crime writers 28:24 Tips on co-writing a book 30:10 The value of constructive feedback 31:27 Future projects and adventures 35:15 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

What kind of life-spanning damage can parents do to their children? Award-winning author Barry Jonsberg explores this and themes of masculinity in his latest YA novel, Darkest Night, Brightest Star. Barry joins the podcast to share his inspiration for the story and insights into his writing process. 00:00 Welcome 04:18 Writing tip: Supporting other writers 07:32 WIN!: Best Left Buried by Neil A. White 10:04 Word of the week: ‘Hyperborean’ 11:39 Writer in residence: Barry Johnsberg 12:12 Describing of Darkest Night, Brightest Star 17:00 Writing quieter characters like Morgan 20:54 The theme of toxic masculinity 22:04 Understanding Morgan's father 23:38 Crafting Three-Dimensional Characters 25:10 The writing process from draft to publication 27:26 Challenges of commissioned writing 30:04 Writing for Young Adults 34:09 Balancing full-time writing and life 36:50 Current and future projects 39:57 Advice for aspiring writers 42:34 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

A lighthouse on the gloomy shores of 1921 is where we take you in this episode, as we meet AWC alumna and author Camille Booker and her gothic historical mystery, The Woman in the Waves. Camille shares her inspirations and experience writing the book and the AWC course that helped her weave the stories together in this specific world. 00:00 Welcome 04:25 Writing tip: Pacemaker Planner app 05:44 WIN!: My Name is Emelia Del Valle by Isabel Allende 09:31 Word of the week: ‘Loquacious’ 10:56 The world of words: Story vs Storey 12:09 Writer in residence: Camille Booker 14:12 Camille’s inspirations for The Woman in the Waves 15:30 Choosing the timeframe 19:55 Techniques Camille used to create the mood 22:00 Populating the world of the novel 23:20 The mechanics of writing – software and notes 24:40 Inspired by Kate Forsyth’s ‘History, Mystery and Magic’ course 25:57 Creative writing advice 27:44 Camille’s publishing journey her novel 30:34 On being a manuscript reader and judge 32:14 Promoting the book 34:55 Historical fiction writing tips 37:00 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

What is a ‘palate cleanser’ book? Author Lynette Noni has written one – pivoting from writing fantasy to a stand-alone contemporary YA romance Wandering Wild, and in this episode she discusses why she chose to write it, her experience researching its plot, her process and more. 00:00 Welcome 03:38 Writing tip: Public Domain Review 05:44 WIN!: All the Perfect Days by Michael Thompson 07:31 Word of the week: ‘Sequacious’ 08:45 Writer in residence: Lynette Noni 09:23 Lynette’s journey to writing Wandering Wild 12:23 Moving from fantasy to this book 19:32 Writing in dual POV and real-world building 22:00 Researching adventure and survival 25:18 Balancing fiction and reality 26:45 Character development 29:57 The importance of writing healthy friendships 35:06 Lynette’s full time writing routine 37:14 Engaging with readers through events 41:18 Upcoming projects 43:43 Lynette’s top tips for writers 45:38 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

What does homelessness look like to you? In this episode, author Michelle Prak tells her latest story – thriller novel Barren Cape – through the lens of the housing affordability crisis. Michelle chats to us about the book's inspiration, her own writing beginnings and much more! 00:00 Welcome 03:20 Writing tip: Visit museums for inspiration 06:24 WIN!: Invisible Woman by Katia Lief 08:15 Word of the week: ‘Koan’ 11:27 The World of words: Compliment vs complement 13:31 Writer in residence: Michelle Prak 14:33 Overview of the novel Barren Cape 16:20 The explosion of the Aussie crime genre 17:21 Author inspirations 19:32 The little red typewriter 21:39 Balancing writing and life responsibilities 23:25 Exploring themes of homelessness in Barren Cape 27:54 Inspiration behind the setting and characters 31:04 Writing multiple perspectives 33:10 On writing younger characters 36:57 Michelle’s daily writing habits and process 39:16 Upcoming projects 40:35 Advice for aspiring thriller writers 41:52 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

Ever wondered what an 18th century mashup of two fairytales would look like? AWC alumna and fantasy author Kell Woods did – and the result is her latest adult fantasy novel, Upon a Starlit Tide. Kell discusses her experience writing the book, online tools, research trips and more! 00:00 Welcome 04:27 Writing tip: Don’t aim for perfection 05:58 WIN!: Julie Chan is Dead by Liann Zhang 07:21 Word of the week: ‘Geologise’ 09:10 Writer in residence: Kell Woods 10:15 Describing her latest book, Upon a Starlit Tide 12:45 Mixing the ‘Cinderella’ and ‘The Little Mermaid’ 16:20 A very busy year – book one to book two 19:00 Overcoming impostor syndrome 20:45 The publishing experience 24:22 Balancing writing and promoting 25:40 Writing to deadlines 28:30 Kell’s research and writing tools 30:44 Becoming a ‘bestselling author’ 32:31 The impact of book subscription services 35:12 Research and using libraries 38:54 International research trips and using video 43:14 Balancing writing and marketing 44:11 Future projects and writing timelines 51:08 Advice for aspiring writers 53:47 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

Just how different is it in the city compared to the country? Former co-host Allison Tait returns to discuss capturing that feeling in her latest middle-grade novel, Willow Bright’s Secret Plot (writing as A.L.Tait) – as well as teasing some of her other books coming out and how she balances it all! 00:00 Welcome 08:02 Writing tip: Be proud of your own work 10:12 WIN!: I Want Everything by Dominic Amerena 12:02 Word of the week: ‘Lagniappe’ 15:24 Writer in residence: A.L Tait 16:01 Recap on Allison’s life lately 21:53 Defining middle grade 24:55 Her latest book, Willow Bright’s Secret Plot 26:35 Inspiration behind the story 29:48 The ideas file– the ‘wows’ and ‘whys’ 36:47 Upcoming projects and writing rhythm 37:56 Danger Road – a middle-grade crime novel 45:59 Allison’s drafting process 47:30 Hiding clues through books without plotting 48:45 A third secret book on the way 52:20 Why ‘A.L.Tait’ and not ‘Allison Tait’? 53:58 The ‘Your Kids Next Read’ podcast 54:45 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

Australian columnist Kasey Edwards has published 10 books, with her latest memoir Goodbye Good Girl, Hello Me exploring self-love and societal expectations and what it means to be a woman. In this episode, Kasey discusses the process of writing the book, her research methods, dealing with rejection and tips for memoir writing. 00:00 Welcome 04:34 Writing tip: Borrowing books online 10:06 WIN!: When She Was Gone by Sarah Foster 12:04 Word of the week: ‘Pantagruelian’ 13:40 Writer in residence: Kasey Edwards 14:30 Thoughts on growing up as a girl 16:31 Defining Goodbye Good Girl, Hello Me 21:00 Researching to solve problems 23:59 The healing power of sharing your truth 24:51 Facing criticism as a writer 27:31 Daily writing routine and challenges 31:31 Collaborating with a co-author 33:30 Writing fiction vs memoir 34:07 Navigating the publishing industry 37:10 The importance of self-promotion 41:07 Tips for aspiring memoir writers 43:03 Conclusion and course promotion Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

What do you get when you mix house-sitting frenemies with a big lovable dog? You get My Hot Housemate – the latest rom-com from Susannah Hardy, who joins us to discuss the characters and the writing process behind the book. 00:00 Welcome 03:19 Writing tip: Reference managers 06:03 WIN!: Elphie: A Wicked Childhood by Gregory Maguire 07:48 Word of the week: ‘Overweening’ 08:29 The world of words: Ordering adjectives 12:16 Writer in residence: Susannah Hardy 13:02 Overview of My Hot Housemate 14:47 Writing about the acting world 17:46 Adding a dog character to the story 20:17 Showing off Sydney 21:36 Tips on writing comedy 22:41 Writing authentic dialogue 24:00 Character development and relationships 25:38 The rise of rom-coms 27:44 Writing process and challenges 29:39 Balancing writing with life 33:38 Having other creative interests 35:32 Importance of mentors and community 37:42 General writing tips 40:17 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

What does ‘neighbourhood noir’ look like as a genre? Author Maryrose Cuskelly knows, and she discusses her latest novel The Campers, blending crime and psychological elements as well as contemporary issues. 00:00 Welcome 04:43 Writing tip: The importance of practice 10:26 WIN!: The Gatsby Gambit by Claire Anderson Wheeler 13:01 Word of the week: ‘Galligaskins’ 15:00 Writer in residence: Maryrose Cuskelly 18:01 Inspirations for The Campers 21:38 Defining the genre 22:12 Maryrose’s research and writing process 26:43 Bringing the setting to life 28:08 Incorporating COVID into the story 29:35 Character development and choices 31:09 Homelessness and social issues 33:04 The writing process and fellowships 36:29 Balancing writing and life 38:48 Publicity and new projects 44:36 Tips for crime writers 45:58 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

There’s plenty to love about France and food, and author Victoria Brownlee has cleverly combined them both in her latest rom-com novel, Eat Your Heart Out. She joins us to discuss the timeless appeal of Paris, writing dual perspectives, sexy cheeses and much more! 00:00 Welcome 04:17 Writing tip: Do a course! 08:21 WIN: The Jam Maker by Mary-Lou Stephens 10:05 Word of the week: “Lissom” 12:12 World of words: “Fewer” vs “Less” 13:58 Writer in Residence: Victoria Brownlee 15:56 Victoria’s obsession with food 17:30 Landing in Paris 18:40 Optioning her first book as a film 21:00 The sexiness of cheese 21:45 Introducing Eat Your Heart Out 23:12 Writing dual perspectives 26:48 Balancing food and story 28:44 The romance of Paris and France 30:55 Victoria’s writing process 31:32 The influence of Emily in Paris 34:46 Bloggers and influencers in writing 37:25 The ingredients of a good rom-com novel 38:48 Upcoming projects 40:07 Tips for writers 43:20 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

When the Spin Doctors sang about ‘Two Princes’, perhaps they were thinking about author Cale Dietrich’s new young adult novel, The Rules of Royalty! Cale chats about writing the book and current trends in the genre. 00:00 Welcome 05:20 Writing tip: Be curious 08:13 WIN! London Uncanny by Clive Bloom 09:48 Word of the week: ‘Mansuetude’ 10:58 Writer in Residence: Cale Dietrich 13:12 The appeal of queer royal fiction 15:15 Cale’s writing process 18:39 Researching the royal aspects 19:37 Going from pitch to contract 20:45 How collaborative writing works 22:49 Planning and structure 24:36 Character development – nice boys 26:11 Balancing work and writing 27:25 Publicity and social media 29:34 Cale’s upcoming projects 32:05 Advice for aspiring YA writers 33:38 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

What secrets do you have hiding in YOUR family tree? Every family has them, and in AWC graduate Kate Horan’s new mystery, The Inheritance, DNA-testing shines a light on two women and previously unspoken truths. Kate shares her experience writing the book including inspirations and real life research. 00:00 Welcome 05:21 Writing tip: StoryGraph app 09:28 WIN!: Twist by Colum McCann 11:10 Word of the week: ‘harbinger’ 12:51 Word Insights with Dean Koorey: ‘hone vs home’ 15:55 Writer in residence: Kate Horan 18:00 On writing two very different characters 20:11 Geographic and DNA inspirations 24:20 The many meanings of ‘inheritance’ 26:13 Inspiration from Who Do You Think You Are? 26:40 Complicated family dynamics 28:19 Kate’s writing process and balancing life 29:18 Managing time and prioritising as a writer 31:15 Journey to publication via an agent 35:00 Importance of structural edits 37:09 AWC courses and learning the craft 40:09 Kate’s writing tips and investing in your skills 41:33 Building a writing community 44:18 Surreal experience of getting published 45:17 Upcoming projects and future plans 47:45 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

Capturing the nostalgia of ’90s horror flicks, This Stays Between Us is the latest novel by Margot McGovern. In this episode, Margot shares her inspiration for telling this kind of story, writing her cast of characters and her experience publishing the novel. 00:00 Introduction 09:13 Writing tip: Scheduling time for reading 13:53 WIN!: 2 Sisters Murder Investigations by Candice Fox and James Patterson 15:28 Word of the week: ‘Lycanthrope’ 17:00 Writer in residence: Margot McGovern 19:40 The attraction of horror stories 21:00 Representing and reflecting young people’s worlds 23:11 The differences between 2000 and today 25:26 School camp inspirations 27:38 Nostalgia for ’90s horror films 28:49 Writing multiple points of view 30:23 Drafting and editing process 34:20 Publishing journey with Penguin 38:07 Publicity and the social media landscape 39:56 Upcoming projects 44:26 Margot’s tips for aspiring writers 45:48 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

How do you go about writing a deeply personal story? In this episode, Sonia Orchard discusses her memoir, Groomed, and the process of writing about a traumatic childhood experience. She also shares tips for others looking to write their own memoir. 00:00 Introduction 03:15 Writing tip: It’s never too late to start 06:53 WIN!: Best, First and Last by Amy T. Matthews 09:07 Word of the week: ‘Grok’ 11:18 Writer in residence: Sonia Orchard 15:33 Deciding whether to tell such a vulnerable story 17:00 Writing it vs not writing it 19:25 How Sonia compiled the memoir 23:12 “Write for yourself and edit for others” 24:20 Choosing what details to remove in the story 26:55 Navigating the justice system 28:08 The therapeutic power of writing 33:55 Memoir vs fiction: Similarities and differences 44:31 What Sonia hopes people take away from this book 46:30 Top tips for writing your own memoir 48:41 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

How do you write about a subject not often represented in fiction? In this episode, Sean Wilson shares his latest novel You Must Remember This and his unique journey bringing a story of dementia to the page. 00:00 Introduction 07:36 Writing tip: Goodreads trolling 09:36 WIN! Perspectives by Laurent Binet 11:40 Word of the week: ‘Leaguer’ 12:18 Writer in residence: Sean Wilson 14:25 Why Sean wanted to tell this story 15:40 Writing child characters 17:00 Self-care while writing 19:06 Crafting authentic secondary characters 21:01 Storytelling the challenges of ageing 23:09 How Sean drew inspiration from real life events 25:35 The prevalence of dementia 27:48 From play to novel: The writing journey 31:19 Crafting a nonlinear narrative 35:37 Publishing journey and future projects 38:45 The art of writing across different forms 42:34 Future projects 46:37 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

Author Emma Pignatiello wondered why romance novels didn’t have more murders in them – so she wrote her own! In this episode, she discusses her book Last Shot, the inspiration behind it and the Australian Writers' Centre course that helped her get there. 00:00 Introduction 02:57 Writing tip: Follow the guidelines 10:33 WIN! Headcases by John McMahon 12:30 Word of the week: ‘Redolent’ 15:43 Writer in Residence: Emma Pignatiello 17:20 Emma’s inspiration for the story 24:20 Mapping out the plot points and character arcs 25:49 The writing process 29:42 Balancing her day job and parenting with writing 32:11 The publishing journey 40:51 Two amazing things happen in one day 41:40 Receiving the “yes” from her agent 44:53 Pitching two books to publishers 50:25 Future projects 52:32 How the Australian Writers' Centre Romance Writing course helped her 55:41 Top tips on finding publishing success 1:00:51 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

Belle Gibson fooled the world as a health influencer who lied about having brain cancer. In this re-released conversation, we speak with Beau Donelly – co-author of the book that inspired the hit Netflix series, Apple Cider Vinegar. 00:00 Introduction 02:41 Nat Newman’s writing tip: Write what you want to write 07:57 WIN! You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego 09:55 Word of the week: ‘Tintinnabulation’ 12:41 Re-release conversation: Beau Donelly 18:50 Beau’s first connection with the scandal 22:55 Initial research on Belle’s story 26:00 Fundraising fraud 27:25 Archiving social media 30:30 Categorising the information 32:49 Turning the story into a book 35:11 Dividing the workload between two authors 40:25 Exposing the ‘wellness’ influencer phenomenon 41:42 Painting a picture of Belle’s parents 46:20 The biggest challenge of writing the book 54:20 Belle Gibson’s lack of remorse 55:34 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

A ‘folk horror’ that spans 40 years – awash with intrigue, magic and dark secrets! That’s what awaits you in this episode as we meet British author Olivia Isaac-Henry and discuss her latest suspense novel, Sorrow Spring. Olivia shares what inspired the location and themes, how she blended historical events with fiction, and the challenges of straddling two time periods and different character narratives. 00:00 Introduction 02:22 Nat Newman's writing tip: You’re not ‘bad’ 10:17 WIN! The Last Days of Kira Mullan by Nicci French 12:10 Word of the week: ‘Wolver’ 15:41 Writer in residence: Olivia Isaac-Henry 18:47 Olivia’s inspiration for her story and themes 19:59 Setting the scene: Time periods and locations 21:35 Character backgrounds and motivations 23:40 Crafting distinct voices for characters 26:03 Incorporating real-life events into fiction 26:58 Writing process and challenges 28:19 Upcoming projects and future plans 32:37 Olivia’s tips for aspiring writers 33:56 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

Feeling cosy? Then you’ll love meeting author Alexandra Almond, as she shares her cosy fantasy novel, Thoroughly Disenchanted. Alexandra unpacks how she built her distinct characters, the role of magic in everyday life and her experience in finding an agent and getting published, along with advice for aspiring writers. 00:00 Introduction 04:08 Words at dawn: a unique writing practice 09:55 Nat Newman’s writing tip: change things up 13:43 WIN! Chickenpox by Remy Lai 15:33 Word of the week: ‘diaphanous’ 18:16 Writer in residence: Alexandra Almond 21:17 Character origins and development 23:42 The unexpected romance 26:21 Magic in everyday life 27:44 The historical setting and character evolution 32:05 Alexandra’s writing process and challenges 36:28 Finding an agent and publisher 40:22 Advice for aspiring writers 43:01 Current and future projects 43:57 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

Crafting a novel is one thing, but author Kate Solly loves crafting ‘crafty’ novels – including her latest title, The Paradise Heights Craft Store Stitch-up. Kate shares her journey from casual writing in her family group chats to getting her first publishing contract, as well as how she manages to stay accountable and fit writing in while bringing up six kids!  00:00 Introduction 05:37 Nat Newman’s writing tip: overcoming ‘the doldrums’ 10:28 WIN! The Last Fashion House in Paris by Renee Ryan 12:52 Word of the week: ‘ravel’ 14:11 Writer in residence: Kate Solly 15:34 Getting started in writing 17:11 How she kept accountable 20:04 Kate’s inspiration for her first book 22:30 Writing the next book 26:14 Pre-kids career and charity work 28:40 Getting the first novel published 34:29 The second novel: process and challenges 35:30 Balancing writing with family life 42:15 Editing and future plans 45:25 Building an author platform 47:42 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

From the halls of Australia’s Parliament House to the dark corners of the Vatican! In this episode, author Sophie Clark talks about her writing process and how she pitched her debut ‘romantasy’ novel, Cruel is the Light. She chats about her political background and how walking the ‘halls of power’ influenced her writing, as well as offering tips for aspiring writers. 00:00 Introduction 03:06 Nat Newman's writing tip: systematic editing 09:02 WIN! Death in the Arctic by Tom Hindle 10:47 Word of the week: ‘disputation’ 12:29 Writer in residence: Sophie Clark 14:25 Defining ‘romantasy’ 15:49 Inspiration for her book 18:35 Researching on location 22:29 Writing action and fight scenes 24:28 Drafting and experience in Pitch Wars 26:24 Mentorship and guidance 27:38 Securing an agent 30:11 Sophie’s writing process and challenges 34:30 Political influence in writing 36:31 Building a writing community 39:13 Publicity and promotion 41:17 Asking “who’s my audience?” 45:38 Sophie’s top tips for aspiring writers 48:04 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

Want to know the formula to writing success? In this episode, scientist-turned-author Rebecca Heath discusses her latest domestic thriller novel, The Wedding Party and her unique journey from the laboratory to the library, as well as how she crafts each story and the importance of building a writing community. 00:00 Introduction 03:43 Nat Newman’s writing tip: the art of writing 06:45 WIN! More or Less Maddy by Lisa Genova 09:12 Word of the week: ‘Psychrophile’ 10:36 Writer in residence: Rebecca Heath 13:10 Rebecca’s scientific beginnings 17:33 Making the move to fiction and thrillers 18:55 Discovering the Australian Writers’ Centre 19:20 Building a community of likeminded writers 21:15 How Rebecca wrote The Wedding Party 23:34 The writing timeline, routine and sprints 27:19 Character development and observations 30:43 How walking and recording works for her 33:05 Rebecca’s challenges and joys in this book 34:13 Future plans 37:35 Rebecca’s advice for authors 40:22 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

“Please sir, can I have some more Dickens?” In this episode, author Kathy George discusses her latest novel, The Scent of Oranges – a retelling of the classic Dickens story Oliver Twist from the perspective of character Nancy. Kathy shares her love for gothic literature and why she chose this story to rewrite. 00:00 Introduction 04:46 Nat Newman’s writing tip: Character milestones 08:36 WIN! The Hidden Hand by Stella Rimington 10:30 Word of the week: ‘Susurrous’ 13:02 Writer in residence: Kathy George 16:25 Getting the narrative voice right 22:22 Researching Nancy’s character 24:51 Kathy’s love for gothic literature 25:53 Understanding what “gothic” means 28:39 Thoughts on Dickens' female characters 30:24 On fleshing out Nancy's story 33:01 Retelling classic stories 36:48 Writing process and discipline 40:26 Kathy’s advice for aspiring writers 44:35 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

Would you like to reinvent yourself as a writer? In this episode, accomplished author Karina May shares her advice on how to grow and setting yourself up for a successful author career. Karina also discusses her third print book, That Island Feeling, staying accountable as a writer, using social media, music playlists and more! 00:00 Introduction 06:05 Nat Newman’s writing tip: Desk love! 10:23 WIN! Pictures Of You by Emma Grey 12:10 Word of the week: ‘Inanition’ 12:48 Writer in residence: Karina May 19:06 Advice for setting yourself up for success 22:20 Adjusting goals and rewards 24:01 Finding accountability buddies 25:56 Connecting with fellow writers 27:20 Building an online presence 30:20 Reading outside your genre 31:29 The importance of having a routine 32:30 How Karina uses a playlist 36:34 Ensuring you have the right tools 39:58 Progress on the next book 40:54 Reflecting on the writing journey 43:24 Attention bad spellers! 44:30 Inspiring final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com