Two questions: Where do new mothers meet new people? And ‘What Rhymes with Murder?’ – the latter being the title of author Penny Tangey’s cosy crime novel, inspired by her own experiences as a new mother at her local library’s story time! In this episode, Penny shares insights on making the switch from YA to adult stories, her writing routine and whether you need to know who did it before writing the end of the book!

00:00 Welcome
04:26 Writing tip: Listen to your characters
08:00 WIN!: The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke
10:37 Word of the week: ‘Weltschmerz’
11:30 Writer in residence: Penny Tangey
12:07 Penny describes the book What Rhymes with Murder?
12:52 Real-life inspirations for the book
14:39 The quirky title
15:32 The decision to write her first adult book
17:36 The writing process and plotting
18:38 Librarian life in the novel
20:31 Building a cosy cast
21:07 The timeline of writing the book
21:50 Penny’s writing routine
22:30 The biggest challenge
23:41 Having for researching the book
24:16 Finding an agent and new publisher
27:58 Editing and sprinkling clues
29:39 The overall themes of the book
31:29 Next projects ahead
32:02 Genre switching advice
33:33 Cosy crime specific advice
34:28 Librarian book pick
35:58 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

Two questions: Where do new mothers meet new people? And &lsquo;What Rhymes with Murder?&rsquo; &ndash; the latter being the title of author Penny Tangey&rsquo;s cosy crime novel, inspired by her own experiences as a new mother at her local library&rsquo;s story time! In this episode, Penny shares insights on making the switch from YA to adult stories, her writing routine and whether you need to know who did it before writing the end of the book!
00:00 Welcome 04:26 Writing tip: Listen to your characters 08:00 WIN!: The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke 10:37 Word of the week: &lsquo;Weltschmerz&rsquo; 11:30 Writer in residence: Penny Tangey 12:07 Penny describes the book What Rhymes with Murder? 12:52 Real-life inspirations for the book 14:39 The quirky title 15:32 The decision to write her first adult book 17:36 The writing process and plotting 18:38 Librarian life in the novel 20:31 Building a cosy cast 21:07 The timeline of writing the book 21:50 Penny&rsquo;s writing routine 22:30 The biggest challenge 23:41 Having for researching the book 24:16 Finding an agent and new publisher 27:58 Editing and sprinkling clues 29:39 The overall themes of the book 31:29 Next projects ahead 32:02 Genre switching advice 33:33 Cosy crime specific advice 34:28 Librarian book pick 35:58 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-712/">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

Writing Podcast Episode 712: Penny Tangey asks the cosy-crime question, 'What Rhymes with Murder?'

Australian noir has become a huge sub-genre in the world of fiction and UK-based author Emma Styles brings it to the beaches of Western Australia in her latest novel, The Shark. In this episode, Emma shares her inspiration for writing the book, the pressure of completing her latest adult novel and the process of putting the dual (sometimes unreliable, sometimes unlikeable) narratives together. She also explores the publishing journey and shares a top tip for writers.

00:00 Welcome
05:33 Writing tip: Don’t put off your writing dream
08:28 WIN!: The Writers Retreat by Victoria Brownlee
11:15 Word of the week: ‘Shallop’
13:04 Writer in residence: Emma Styles
14:42 Inspiration for the book
18:00 Crafting characters
21:21 Writing unlikable women
24:30 Complex crime characters
25:19 Why two young women?
28:02 Alternating POV method
29:22 Planning vs pantsing
32:22 Adult crime not YA
34:18 Landing The Shark book deal
36:11 The supportive publishing world
37:39 Writing about Australia from UK
40:38 The setting for her next book
43:10 Trusting your instincts
44:16 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

Australian noir has become a huge sub-genre in the world of fiction and UK-based author Emma Styles brings it to the beaches of Western Australia in her latest novel, The Shark. In this episode, Emma shares her inspiration for writing the book, the pressure of completing her latest adult novel and the process of putting the dual (sometimes unreliable, sometimes unlikeable) narratives together. She also explores the publishing journey and shares a top tip for writers.
00:00 Welcome 05:33 Writing tip: Don&rsquo;t put off your writing dream 08:28 WIN!: The Writers Retreat by Victoria Brownlee 11:15 Word of the week: &lsquo;Shallop&rsquo; 13:04 Writer in residence: Emma Styles 14:42 Inspiration for the book 18:00 Crafting characters 21:21 Writing unlikable women 24:30 Complex crime characters 25:19 Why two young women? 28:02 Alternating POV method 29:22 Planning vs pantsing 32:22 Adult crime not YA 34:18 Landing The Shark book deal 36:11 The supportive publishing world 37:39 Writing about Australia from UK 40:38 The setting for her next book 43:10 Trusting your instincts 44:16 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-711/">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 711: Emma Styles dives into her new crime thriller, 'The Shark'

With 20 books now to her name and a slew of accolades and bestseller titles under her belt, crime author Candice Fox has gone with something a little different for her latest novel, Redbelly Crossing. Inspired by a real-life family reminiscence, she has reimagined elements of two actual Sydney cold-case murders – and in this episode, Candice discusses how she balanced the sensitivity of a real case (including speaking with the victim’s husbands) with her creative storytelling instincts and a genuine desire to solve the case.

00:00 Welcome
06:56 Writing tip: Set an Intention
09:51 WIN!: Astral Library by Kate Quinn
11:49 Word of the week: ‘Ylem’
13:52 Writer in residence: Candice Fox
14:41 Crossing the line into a true-crime inspired novel
16:25 Candice’s mum’s encounter with a possible killer
20:30 Rabbit Holes and why she didn’t make a true-crime podcast
26:07 Similarities in the cold cases: one killer or two?
26:44 Writing real tragedy into fiction: meeting the husbands & making hard edits
28:50 Pitching the project to her agent
32:23 The novel’s elevator pitch
34:22 Ending a fictional case when the real one is unsolved
37:02 What readers should take away
39:55 Career reflections – 20 books in 12 years
42:19 Candice’s writing routine and finding ideas
45:25 Top tips for crime writers
47:39 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

With 20 books now to her name and a slew of accolades and bestseller titles under her belt, crime author Candice Fox has gone with something a little different for her latest novel, Redbelly Crossing. Inspired by a real-life family reminiscence, she has reimagined elements of two actual Sydney cold-case murders &ndash; and in this episode, Candice discusses how she balanced the sensitivity of a real case (including speaking with the victim&rsquo;s husbands) with her creative storytelling instincts and a genuine desire to solve the case.
00:00 Welcome 06:56 Writing tip: Set an Intention 09:51 WIN!: Astral Library by Kate Quinn 11:49 Word of the week: &lsquo;Ylem&rsquo; 13:52 Writer in residence: Candice Fox 14:41 Crossing the line into a true-crime inspired novel 16:25 Candice&rsquo;s mum&rsquo;s encounter with a possible killer 20:30 Rabbit Holes and why she didn&rsquo;t make a true-crime podcast 26:07 Similarities in the cold cases: one killer or two? 26:44 Writing real tragedy into fiction: meeting the husbands &amp; making hard edits 28:50 Pitching the project to her agent 32:23 The novel&rsquo;s elevator pitch 34:22 Ending a fictional case when the real one is unsolved 37:02 What readers should take away 39:55 Career reflections &ndash; 20 books in 12 years 42:19 Candice&rsquo;s writing routine and finding ideas 45:25 Top tips for crime writers 47:39 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-710/">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 710: Candice Fox and the cold case that inspired 'Redbelly Crossing'

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 712: Penny Tangey asks the cosy-crime question, 'What Rhymes with Murder?'

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