Australian bestselling crime author Sarah Barrie has a dozen books to her name, with her latest standalone thriller Dark Sanctuary, exploring the nuanced world of mental health support, prisons and more. In this episode, Sarah shares the serendipitous inspiration for this novel, the research process and POV choices she made, as well as turning back the clock to give insights into her equally serendipitous start into the world of writing!

00:00 Welcome
07:35 Writing tip: Put your writing out there!
10:20 WIN!: The Couples Retreat by Mercedes Mercier
13:06 Word of the week: ’Crepuscular’
13:38 Writer in residence: Sarah Barrie
14:49 Dark Sanctuary overview
15:46 Inspiration and themes
17:59 Three POV structure
19:11 Podcast character angle
20:49 Setting and research
21:45 Prisons – psychology and programs
24:34 Research and the findings
25:30 Writing the detective character
27:47 Editing and deadlines
28:20 Farm life writing
30:07 Mental health themes
32:59 Sarah’s origin story
34:56 Publishing breakthrough
38:50 Advice for writers
40:16 What’s next?
41:29 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

Australian bestselling crime author Sarah Barrie has a dozen books to her name, with her latest standalone thriller Dark Sanctuary, exploring the nuanced world of mental health support, prisons and more. In this episode, Sarah shares the serendipitous inspiration for this novel, the research process and POV choices she made, as well as turning back the clock to give insights into her equally serendipitous start into the world of writing!
00:00 Welcome 07:35 Writing tip: Put your writing out there! 10:20 WIN!: The Couples Retreat by Mercedes Mercier 13:06 Word of the week: &rsquo;Crepuscular&rsquo; 13:38 Writer in residence: Sarah Barrie 14:49 Dark Sanctuary overview 15:46 Inspiration and themes 17:59 Three POV structure 19:11 Podcast character angle 20:49 Setting and research 21:45 Prisons &ndash; psychology and programs 24:34 Research and the findings 25:30 Writing the detective character 27:47 Editing and deadlines 28:20 Farm life writing 30:07 Mental health themes 32:59 Sarah&rsquo;s origin story 34:56 Publishing breakthrough 38:50 Advice for writers 40:16 What&rsquo;s next? 41:29 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-716/">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 716: Sarah Barrie invites you into her 'Dark Sanctuary'

British writer and librarian India-Rose Bower’s folk horror debut novel, We Call Them Witches explores the concept of ‘eldritch’ creatures in a surreal post-apocalyptic world. In this episode, India-Rose discusses her surprising inspirations for the novel, what ‘eldritch’ actually means and a unique writing tip we should all try!

00:00 Welcome
06:45 Writing tip: Don’t use AI for a pitch!
08:05 WIN!: The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances by Glenn Dixon
9:57 Word of the week: ‘Mélange’
10:17 Writer in residence: India-Rose Bower
11:04 What is her book, We Call Them Witches about?
12:22 Origins of the story
15:02 Designing the eldritch ‘witches’
17:02 Creating the first draft
18:42 Entering a competition and securing an agent
21:07 Selling yourself and the book
22:21 Publicity and author life
23:35 Writing around work and health issues
25:29 Next book and research habits}
28:41 India-Rose’s unique writing tip
30:58 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

British writer and librarian India-Rose Bower&rsquo;s folk horror debut novel, We Call Them Witches explores the concept of &lsquo;eldritch&rsquo; creatures in a surreal post-apocalyptic world. In this episode, India-Rose discusses her surprising inspirations for the novel, what &lsquo;eldritch&rsquo; actually means and a unique writing tip we should all try!
00:00 Welcome 06:45 Writing tip: Don&rsquo;t use AI for a pitch! 08:05 WIN!: The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances by Glenn Dixon 9:57 Word of the week: &lsquo;M&eacute;lange&rsquo; 10:17 Writer in residence: India-Rose Bower 11:04 What is her book, We Call Them Witches about? 12:22 Origins of the story 15:02 Designing the eldritch &lsquo;witches&rsquo; 17:02 Creating the first draft 18:42 Entering a competition and securing an agent 21:07 Selling yourself and the book 22:21 Publicity and author life 23:35 Writing around work and health issues 25:29 Next book and research habits} 28:41 India-Rose&rsquo;s unique writing tip 30:58 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-715/">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 715: India-Rose Bower’s folk horror novel, 'We Call Them Witches'

Some kids dream of being a zookeeper when they grow up. Others dream of becoming a writer. Well, author and animal conservationist Tina Strachan ended up doing both! In this episode, she shares her passion for wildlife and how she ended up scoring a book deal for her Wilder Zoo series – with book 3, Neeka and the Great Search out now. She also shares her writing routine and experience working with a professional illustrator.

00:00 Welcome
06:45 Writing tip: Carry a tiny book around
11:26 WIN!: The Angry Wives Club  by Gabbie Stroud
12:57 Word of the week: ‘Spicate’
13:22 Writer in residence: Tina Strachan
15:09 Wilder Zoo series overview
17:20 Tina’s favourite koala fun fact
18:19 Wildlife career origins
21:54 The role of zoos and conservation
25:05 Turning point to getting into writing
27:02 Building a daily habit
27:37 Entering a CYA competition
31:22 Connecting with a publisher
33:03 From samples to a series
35:12 Courses and gaining confidence
36:55 Building her author website 
38:25 Writing routine and its evolution
42:07 School visits and writing festivals
42:57 Illustrator collaboration
44:52 Next books
47:08 Tina shares some writing advice
49:11 Final thoughts

Read the show notes

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

Some kids dream of being a zookeeper when they grow up. Others dream of becoming a writer. Well, author and animal conservationist Tina Strachan ended up doing both! In this episode, she shares her passion for wildlife and how she ended up scoring a book deal for her Wilder Zoo series &ndash; with book 3, Neeka and the Great Search out now. She also shares her writing routine and experience working with a professional illustrator.
00:00 Welcome 06:45 Writing tip: Carry a tiny book around 11:26 WIN!: The Angry Wives Club&nbsp; by Gabbie Stroud 12:57 Word of the week: &lsquo;Spicate&rsquo; 13:22 Writer in residence: Tina Strachan 15:09 Wilder Zoo series overview 17:20 Tina&rsquo;s favourite koala fun fact 18:19 Wildlife career origins 21:54 The role of zoos and conservation 25:05 Turning point to getting into writing 27:02 Building a daily habit 27:37 Entering a CYA competition 31:22 Connecting with a publisher 33:03 From samples to a series 35:12 Courses and gaining confidence 36:55 Building her author website 38:25 Writing routine and its evolution 42:07 School visits and writing festivals 42:57 Illustrator collaboration 44:52 Next books 47:08 Tina shares some writing advice 49:11 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-714/">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 714: Tina Strachan and the latest book in her Wilder Zoo middle-grade series

Would you like fries with that? Playwright and author George Kemp’s debut novel, Soft Serve, follows a particular day at a regional McDonalds restaurant and the various characters who work there. In this episode, George shares his influences and some of the curious choices he made in writing the book, as well as his writing routine and differences between novel and script writing.

00:00 Welcome
10:51 Writing tip: Focus on positive feedback
15:00 WIN!: Click by Sarah Bailey
17:29 Word of the week: ‘Mensal’
18:06 Writer in residence: George Kemp
18:44 What his book Soft Serve is all about
19:47 Origins and influences
21:54 Novel versus script
23:27 The differences between the two
27:21 Defining the age range 
30:48 Small town limitations
34:41 Unconventional dialogue and POV choices
37:01 Acting skills in writing
39:43 George’s writing routine
42:54 The publication process
45:54 Editing collaboration
48:25 A writing tip
50:13 Next projects
51:03 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 fries with that? Playwright and author George Kemp&rsquo;s debut novel, Soft Serve, follows a particular day at a regional McDonalds restaurant and the various characters who work there. In this episode, George shares his influences and some of the curious choices he made in writing the book, as well as his writing routine and differences between novel and script writing.
00:00 Welcome 10:51 Writing tip: Focus on positive feedback 15:00 WIN!: Click by Sarah Bailey 17:29 Word of the week: &lsquo;Mensal&rsquo; 18:06 Writer in residence: George Kemp 18:44 What his book Soft Serve is all about 19:47 Origins and influences 21:54 Novel versus script 23:27 The differences between the two 27:21 Defining the age range 30:48 Small town limitations 34:41 Unconventional dialogue and POV choices 37:01 Acting skills in writing 39:43 George&rsquo;s writing routine 42:54 The publication process 45:54 Editing collaboration 48:25 A writing tip 50:13 Next projects 51:03 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-713/">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 716: Sarah Barrie invites you into her 'Dark Sanctuary'

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