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

Feeling cosy? Then you&rsquo;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&rsquo;s writing tip: change things up 13:43 WIN! Chickenpox by Remy Lai 15:33 Word of the week: &lsquo;diaphanous&rsquo; 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&rsquo;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
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-649/">Read the show notes</a>
Connect with Valerie and listeners in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/2346749828883788/">the podcast community on Facebook</a> Visit <a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/">WritersCentre.com.au</a> |&nbsp;<a href="http://valeriekhoo.com/">ValerieKhoo.com</a>

Everything you’ve always wanted to know about succeeding in the world of writing and publishing. Learn practical writing techniques, go behind-the-scenes and discover how real-life authors got their big break. Uncover the creative processes of writers who have made it. Your host is Valerie Khoo – author, journalist, creative and CEO of the Australian Writers’ Centre. 

Everything you&rsquo;ve always wanted to know about succeeding in the world of writing and publishing. Learn practical writing techniques, go behind-the-scenes and discover how real-life authors got their big break. Uncover the creative processes of writers who have made it. Your host is Valerie Khoo &ndash;&nbsp;author, journalist, creative and CEO of the Australian Writers&rsquo; Centre.&nbsp;

So You Want to be a Writer

WRITER 649: Alexandra Almond and her cosy fantasy novel, 'Thoroughly Disenchanted'

The 1990s are often looked back at fondly as a largely peaceful time. But for former Australian ambassador to Germany Ian Kemish, the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia and Northern Ireland featured largely in his job at the time. Now retired, he has chosen to set his debut thriller novel, Two Islands, during this timeframe. In this episode he shares his inspiration for the book, the real life characters and how to capture the nuances of the story and the decade. What do you do after you retire from a celebrated 25-year diplomatic career? Play golf? Take up birdwatching? No, you write your first novel.

00:00 Welcome
07:26 Writing tip: Ask “why?” to being blocked
10:31 WIN!: Aubrey Wants to Die by Pip Knight
12:15 Word of the week: ‘Absquatulate’
16:16 Writer in residence: Ian Kemish
17:14 Ian describes what Two Islands is about
19:34 What are the two islands in question?
22:04 Remembering Yugoslavia and Northern Ireland
23:30 Inspiration for the novel
25:53 Why the Balkans?
27:35 The inspiration for the Australian character, Anita
30:01 Writing about the 1990s: distance before the internet
31:22 How the story took shape
34:07 Researching the book
38:15 From bad poetry to diplomacy: finding his writing voice
40:52 The challenges of writing fiction for the first time
45:28 Landing the publishing deal
47:54 What’s next?
49:09 Ian’s tip for writers
50:32 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook
Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

The 1990s are often looked back at fondly as a largely peaceful time. But for former Australian ambassador to Germany Ian Kemish, the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia and Northern Ireland featured largely in his job at the time. Now retired, he has chosen to set his debut thriller novel, Two Islands, during this timeframe. In this episode he shares his inspiration for the book, the real life characters and how to capture the nuances of the story and the decade. What do you do after you retire from a celebrated 25-year diplomatic career? Play golf? Take up birdwatching? No, you write your first novel.
00:00 Welcome 07:26 Writing tip: Ask &ldquo;why?&rdquo; to being blocked 10:31 WIN!: Aubrey Wants to Die by Pip Knight 12:15 Word of the week: &lsquo;Absquatulate&rsquo; 16:16 Writer in residence: Ian Kemish 17:14 Ian describes what Two Islands is about 19:34 What are the two islands in question? 22:04 Remembering Yugoslavia and Northern Ireland 23:30 Inspiration for the novel 25:53 Why the Balkans? 27:35 The inspiration for the Australian character, Anita 30:01 Writing about the 1990s: distance before the internet 31:22 How the story took shape 34:07 Researching the book 38:15 From bad poetry to diplomacy: finding his writing voice 40:52 The challenges of writing fiction for the first time 45:28 Landing the publishing deal 47:54 What&rsquo;s next? 49:09 Ian&rsquo;s tip for writers 50:32 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-708/">Read the show notes</a>
Connect with Valerie and listeners in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/2346749828883788/">the podcast community on Facebook</a> Visit <a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/">WritersCentre.com.au</a> |&nbsp;<a href="http://valeriekhoo.com/">ValerieKhoo.com</a>

Writing Podcast Episode 708: Former ambassador Ian Kemish and his novel, 'Two Islands'

How would you like to spend summers in Australia and then travel to a small village in France to bask in the northern summer during the other half of the year? Well, that’s the current reality of journalist and author Sheryle Bagwell – and in her new memoir, Letter from Provence, she not only documents her French experiences, but also connects to her late mother and the writings of 17th century French writer Madame de Sévigné. In this episode, Sheryle talks about writing the book, resisting her journalistic instincts and her experience publishing it.

00:00 Welcome
03:21 Writing tip: Don’t limit your writing identity
07:01 WIN!: Whispering Rooms by Genki Kawamura & Marie Kondo
08:45 Word of the week: ‘Manel’
10:12 Writer in residence: Sheryle Bagwell
11:04 Sheryle explains her memoir, Letter from Provence
12:30 A homage to her own mother and Madame de Sévigné
15:59 Telling a new story about France and her mother
18:14 Journalism vs memoir writing
20:00 Telling a personal version of events
22:27 The timeline of writing this book
25:16 Editing and shaping the initial draft
26:14 The publishing experience
28:36 The process of writing the book
34:44 The story of three women across time
36:45 Living between two worlds
37:28 The double life is possible
40:40 Future plans for writing
41:32 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook
Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

How would you like to spend summers in Australia and then travel to a small village in France to bask in the northern summer during the other half of the year? Well, that&rsquo;s the current reality of journalist and author Sheryle Bagwell &ndash; and in her new memoir, Letter from Provence, she not only documents her French experiences, but also connects to her late mother and the writings of 17th century French writer Madame de S&eacute;vign&eacute;. In this episode, Sheryle talks about writing the book, resisting her journalistic instincts and her experience publishing it.
00:00 Welcome 03:21 Writing tip: Don&rsquo;t limit your writing identity 07:01 WIN!: Whispering Rooms by Genki Kawamura &amp; Marie Kondo 08:45 Word of the week: &lsquo;Manel&rsquo; 10:12 Writer in residence: Sheryle Bagwell 11:04 Sheryle explains her memoir, Letter from Provence 12:30 A homage to her own mother and Madame de S&eacute;vign&eacute; 15:59 Telling a new story about France and her mother 18:14 Journalism vs memoir writing 20:00 Telling a personal version of events 22:27 The timeline of writing this book 25:16 Editing and shaping the initial draft 26:14 The publishing experience 28:36 The process of writing the book 34:44 The story of three women across time 36:45 Living between two worlds 37:28 The double life is possible 40:40 Future plans for writing 41:32 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-707/">Read the show notes</a>
Connect with Valerie and listeners in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/2346749828883788/">the podcast community on Facebook</a> Visit <a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/">WritersCentre.com.au</a> |&nbsp;<a href="http://valeriekhoo.com/">ValerieKhoo.com</a>

Writing Podcast Episode 707: Sheryle Bagwell on writing 'Letter from Provence'

What’s more fascinating than reading actual books? Well, it’s the weird and bizarre stories behind the stories themselves! At least, that’s what journalist and author Alex Johnson hopes with his latest book, When Books Go Bad – exploring some of the strangest and most infamous stories about book writing and publishing experiences through the years. In this episode, Alex shares his love of writing these kinds of ‘behind the scenes’ industry books and how he ended up with the publishing relationship that has yielded 20 books to date. He also explains how he chooses the stories to go in his books and some of the more surprising entries.

00:00 Welcome
06:11 Writing tip: Associative triggers
11:00 WIN!: Diaries of Note by Shaun Usher
13:02 Word of the week: ‘Deuteragonist’
15:12 Writer in residence: Alex Johnson
16:00 Alex explains his latest book, When Books Go Bad
16:55 Why he wrote this book
19:58 Journalistic not academic
21:51 Starting his relationship with the British Library
24:00 Compiling the material for the book
25:09 Authors and their naughty and odd tendencies
28:20 Pitching and publishing books
32:57 The editing process
36:21 Illustrations and book design
38:06 Surprising stories from the book
41:34 Publicity and social media
43:06 Upcoming projects and tips
44:39 A writing tip
46:20 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook
Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

What&rsquo;s more fascinating than reading actual books? Well, it&rsquo;s the weird and bizarre stories behind the stories themselves! At least, that&rsquo;s what journalist and author Alex Johnson hopes with his latest book, When Books Go Bad &ndash; exploring some of the strangest and most infamous stories about book writing and publishing experiences through the years. In this episode, Alex shares his love of writing these kinds of &lsquo;behind the scenes&rsquo; industry books and how he ended up with the publishing relationship that has yielded 20 books to date. He also explains how he chooses the stories to go in his books and some of the more surprising entries.
00:00 Welcome 06:11 Writing tip: Associative triggers 11:00 WIN!: Diaries of Note by Shaun Usher 13:02 Word of the week: &lsquo;Deuteragonist&rsquo; 15:12 Writer in residence: Alex Johnson 16:00 Alex explains his latest book, When Books Go Bad 16:55 Why he wrote this book 19:58 Journalistic not academic 21:51 Starting his relationship with the British Library 24:00 Compiling the material for the book 25:09 Authors and their naughty and odd tendencies 28:20 Pitching and publishing books 32:57 The editing process 36:21 Illustrations and book design 38:06 Surprising stories from the book 41:34 Publicity and social media 43:06 Upcoming projects and tips 44:39 A writing tip 46:20 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-706/">Read the show notes</a>
Connect with Valerie and listeners in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/2346749828883788/">the podcast community on Facebook</a> Visit <a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/">WritersCentre.com.au</a> |&nbsp;<a href="http://valeriekhoo.com/">ValerieKhoo.com</a>

WRITER 649: Alexandra Almond and her cosy fantasy novel, 'Thoroughly Disenchanted'

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