Gabriel Bergmoser is a playwright, author, screenwriter & international Emmy award winner. His latest novel, The Hunted, is set for release in 2020 & already in active development in Hollywood.In conversation we discuss Gabe's creative journey from stage to page, the costs of early success, & take a very personal dive into the doubts & delusions of pursuing a creative life.Gabe is a founding member of the Bitten By Theatre Company & author of the previously published Boone Shepard YA adventure trilogy. You can find Gabe via his website www.gabrielbergmoser.com & via twitter: @gobergmoserThe Hunted will be published by Harper Collins and is the first in a new action thriller series. It's also one hell of a ride!

Conversations With Writers

Gabriel Bergmoser - The Hunted in Hollywood

Author Sarah Bailey’s international breakout debut ‘The Dark Lake’ garnered major awards and global praise, introducing tortured protagonist Detective Gemma Woodstock to the world of crime fiction.With the recent release of Sarah’s proposed final book in the Woodstock series, ‘Where the Dead Go’, Sarah joins the show to discuss the attraction and challenges of writing a selfish female lead; the deliberate narrative drivers of grief and guilt; the influence of a life in advertising; and the honesty of judgemental 8-year olds.You can follow Sarah Bailey on twitter @sarahbailey1982 and you can follow us via @conversationsww

Sarah Bailey - Guilt, Grief & Murder

With a Sydney dominated by sly grog , street gangs, and the nation’s security services infiltrated by soviet spies, the reality of Australia's 'patriotic' response to World War Two doesn’t match the war memorial view. Authors Michael Duffy and Nick Hordern have delved into the truth of our war effort in their new non-fiction work World War Noir, a follow up to the highly regarded Sydney Noir. In conversation, Nick Hordern discusses the influence and importance of the many criminals and spies who helped determine Australia’s response to the war with Germany, and to reiterate the need for a nation not to shy away from its more human, if somewhat darker past.

Nick Hordern - World War Noir

Tony Cavanaugh is one of Australia's most successful television screenwriters and the author of the highly acclaimed Darian Richards thrillers. His latest novel Blood River features the hunt, catch and conviction of an alleged serial killer, questioning what happens when they're due for release after serving a 'life sentence'. Heavily informed by real-life crime events and trials, including the injustice of Lindy Chamberlain, Tony is extremely candid about what drove him to tell this story. Warning: there is some seriously colourful swearing in the second half of our conversation as Tony's passion for truth in storytelling bursts through. You can follow Tony on twitter @tonycavanaugh1 

Tony Cavanaugh - Releasing Killers

Launched to the world in 1941, Wonder Woman has been an icon and inspiration for millions, surviving supervillains and poor characterisation in equal measure. Recently, she has returned to global dominance and dignity via the work of superstar comic book artist Nicola Scott. In conversation, we explore Wonder Woman's fascinating and fractured history, as well as the Amazing Amazon's critical influence upon Nicola's life and career decisions. You can follow Nicola via Twitter @nicolascottart and purchase original artwork from her website www.nicolascottart.com

Nicola Scott - Wonder Woman in Art & Life

JP Pomare's breakout suspense thriller Call Me Evie plays with the issues of memory and trauma, drawing heavily from psychological theory to inform his many twists and character motivations. In conversation we take a deep dive into his life experiences and studies, dissecting the darker edges of memory and the human psyche.

JP Pomare - Psychology of Suspense

Talking Celtic legends, Nazi history, the circle of life and the story of the Irish Thor, John Connell's The Cow Book tells the critical role of the cow in history and his own life working the family farm in Ireland. This is a fascinating, fun and very personal exploration of Irish traditions. John is an award-winning playwright, filmmaker, author and journalist. You can follow John on Twitter @jconnelj2

John Connell - Irish Legends & Nazi Cows

Chris Hammer’s best-selling debut thriller Scrublands is set in the sun-ravaged heart of regional Australia. Chris is a former foreign correspondent and political journalist and has stolen from his real-life experiences to inform this bold addition to the outback noir genre. In conversation we delve into his connections to the towns of Australia's bush, and discuss what drove him to steer his story through the eyes of a PTSD-affected protagonist. This is a slight change in pace for our conversation series as we spend much of our time exploring the writing of the book, instead of the author himself. 

Chris Hammer - Scrublands secrets & violent anniversaries

Multi-million copy bestselling thriller author Michael Robotham in a deeply personal conversation about his fear of failure, the badge of journalism, the driving force of his father, and the power of sharing your story. A surprising and intimate insight into one of the world's favourite thriller writers. Michael's latest book is The Other Wife.

Michael Robotham - Cowards, Killers & Thrillers

In his book The Lebs, Mohammed reinterprets events from his own life growing up during the peak of anti-muslim rhetoric. His work capturing the racism, anger & struggles confronting young Australians of migrant heritage who found power in the scaring of the white middle class.In conversation we discuss the influence of Malcolm X, the cultural significance of a Big Mac, and how boxers and writers need to remain focused, even when they’ve taken too many laxatives.Mohammed is an author, academic, playwright, activist and the director of Sweatshop, a literary movement devoted to empowering marginalised communities in Western Sydney.Follow Mohammed and the team at Sweatshop on Twitter: @sweatshopws

Dr Michael Mohammed Ahmad - The Lebs

Jay Kristoff has consistently topped the New York Times Bestseller list with his Science Fiction and Fantasy works, often using the genres to address real world issues of slavery, race, class divide and political injustice.Jay's latest series is LIFELIKE, a fast-paced action tale set in a post-apocalyptic world, questioning the ethics of giving life to robots and demanding they live to serve.In conversation we discuss the responsibility of building worlds; the value of sensitivity readers; how not to swear; and the power of science fiction to call for social change.Jay is the author of the Lotus War series, Nevernight series and co-author of the phenomenally successful Illuminae series with Amie Kaufman. Lifelike is the first in a new YA Sc-Fi trilogy.Jay can be found on twitter @misterkristoff 

Jay Kristoff - NYT Bestselling Sci-Fi

Journalist Bridie Jabour's debut novel "The Way Things Should Be" is a fierce & amusing deconstruction of millennial angst & mother issues, questioning what it takes to get, be & stay married amid a family in constant disarray. In conversation we reflect on Bridie's own family; becoming a hashtag when the Prime Minister tells you to "calm down"; the bad wrap of the millennial generation; and the influences that have forged her journalism career. You can find Bridie's writing at the Guardian Australia and follow her on Twitter: @bkjabour

Bridie Jabour - Millennials, Marriage & Mother Issues

Professor Toby Walsh is one of the world's leading researchers in Artificial Intelligence & recently returned from lobbying the UN to ban lethal autonomous weapons, aka Killer Robots.In his book "It's Alive", Toby considers the broader societal and philosophical questions of what happens when robots think and will they really fill our battlefields, take our jobs and eventually rule the world. You can follow Professor Toby Walsh on Twitter @tobywalsh

Professor Toby Walsh - Killer Robots & Artificial Intelligence

Journalist Eileen Ormsby was accused of running the world's most successful Murder-For-Hire website, following her investigation into the scams, drug markets and hurtcore sites of the Dark Web. Working with white-hat hackers, Eileen has become an authority on the darkest areas of this hidden online world, exposing the vices, blackmail and murders conducted away from the spying eyes of the global security services. Everything is true. Eileen's book The Darkest Web is available now and Eileen can be found at her website www.allthingsvice.com 

Eileen Ormsby - Murder-For-Hire on the Dark Web

Journalist and author Caroline Baum's memoir 'Only' is a fascinating insight into growing up an only child in a world of privilege to controlling parents. In conversation Caroline shares the conspiracy of being the lost child of JFK; how MI5 & the KGB came to sit outside her London home; & the challenges of being the precious cargo of immigrant parents escaping their own secretive worlds of grief. This is an intimate and long conversation exploring Caroline's life and the techniques used to capture it.

Caroline Baum - Only The Lonely

Intimate long-form conversations with writers sharing what drives them to tell their stories. Going beyond the press tour Q&As to discuss how their experiences and beliefs shape who they are and the tales they tell. Featuring authors, journalists, screenwriters, comedians and more, Conversations With Writers is published monthly.

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Conversations With Writers

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