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

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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>

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;