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

What secrets do you have hiding in YOUR family tree? Every family has them, and in AWC graduate Kate Horan&rsquo;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: &lsquo;harbinger&rsquo; 12:51 Word Insights with Dean Koorey: &lsquo;hone vs home&rsquo; 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 &lsquo;inheritance&rsquo; 26:13 Inspiration from Who Do You Think You Are? 26:40 Complicated family dynamics 28:19 Kate&rsquo;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&rsquo;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
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-656/">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 656: Kate Horan and her mystery novel, 'The Inheritance'

Derek Pedley was a young newspaper journalist in the 1990s when bank robber Brenden Abbott became well known throughout Australia as escaped prisoner ‘The Postcard Bandit’. One capture, break out and recapture later, Derek gained exclusive access to Abbott and wrote an account of his story. Now, 20 years later – with Abbott still in prison – a Warner Brothers documentary and six-part drama series have put the story back into the spotlight, and Derek has released an updated version of his book, The Postcard Bandit. In this episode, Derek shares the timeline and why it made sense to update the story now.

00:00 Welcome
06:03 Writing tip: Breaking down a novel into sessions
08:28 WIN!: Iluka by Cassie Stroud
10:08 Word of the week: ‘Stochastic’
12:54 Writer in residence: Derek Pedley
15:27 The story of Brenden Abbott – the ‘postcard bandit’
18:30 Brenden’s bank robbing style
19:51 How Derek became involved in Brenden’s story
23:00 Frustrations writing the first account
24:10 Gaining access to Abbott
26:16 Frustrations publishing the second account
28:59 20 years later – returning to the project
30:30 A new angle to the story
32:10 Turning it into a TV series and documentary
36:45 Updates with the new book
40:55 Finally meeting Brenden
42:10 Why change the book’s name?
43:23 Derek’s tip for writing crime stories
46:30 Future book projects
47:43 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

Derek Pedley was a young newspaper journalist in the 1990s when bank robber Brenden Abbott became well known throughout Australia as escaped prisoner &lsquo;The Postcard Bandit&rsquo;. One capture, break out and recapture later, Derek gained exclusive access to Abbott and wrote an account of his story. Now, 20 years later &ndash; with Abbott still in prison &ndash; a Warner Brothers documentary and six-part drama series have put the story back into the spotlight, and Derek has released an updated version of his book, The Postcard Bandit. In this episode, Derek shares the timeline and why it made sense to update the story now.
00:00 Welcome 06:03 Writing tip: Breaking down a novel into sessions 08:28 WIN!: Iluka by Cassie Stroud 10:08 Word of the week: &lsquo;Stochastic&rsquo; 12:54 Writer in residence: Derek Pedley 15:27 The story of Brenden Abbott &ndash; the &lsquo;postcard bandit&rsquo; 18:30 Brenden&rsquo;s bank robbing style 19:51 How Derek became involved in Brenden&rsquo;s story 23:00 Frustrations writing the first account 24:10 Gaining access to Abbott 26:16 Frustrations publishing the second account 28:59 20 years later &ndash; returning to the project 30:30 A new angle to the story 32:10 Turning it into a TV series and documentary 36:45 Updates with the new book 40:55 Finally meeting Brenden 42:10 Why change the book&rsquo;s name? 43:23 Derek&rsquo;s tip for writing crime stories 46:30 Future book projects 47:43 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-709/">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 709: Derek Pedley shares his true crime story 'The Postcard Bandit'

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>

WRITER 656: Kate Horan and her mystery novel, 'The Inheritance'

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