Kelli Hawkins is a Newcastle-based author who landed with an almighty splash onto the Australian literary scene when she signed a rare four-book deal with HarperCollins Australia in September 2020. Her debut novel, "Other People's Houses" is an emotionally gripping, rollercoaster ride of a story packing a proverbial punch that will leave you stunned! Exploring themes of grief, abuse and the highly-charged real estate scene in Sydney, this is a book that will have you compulsively turning pages. I was delighted to chat with Kelli about her book recently on the podcast. 

Talking Aussie Books

Talking Aussie Books with Kelli Hawkins

Steve Matthews lives on the outskirts of Sydney and is the author of a number of children's books as well as adult fiction. His latest novel for adults was inspired by true events and has an attention-grabbing, unforgettable title. A story of such incredible courage and survival, it will take your breath away.Called "Hitler's Brothel" (Big Sky Publishing), this was an emotional and compelling read. I was delighted to have the chance to speak with Steve recently on the podcast. 

Talking Aussie Books with Steve Matthews

Greg Woodland is another fabulous Australian author who comes from a screenwriting and film-making background. His debut novel, "The Night Whistler" (Text Publishing, 2020) is another example of why Australian crime fiction is so hot at the moment. Inspired by an event from Greg's own childhood, this novel is sharp, gritty and compelling. A terrific read!I was delighted to have the opportunity to speak with Greg on the podcast recently. 

Talking Aussie Books with Greg Woodland

In this fabulous special episode, podcaster extraordinaire Dani Vee, from the Words & Nerds Podcast, and I talk all things podcasting. What we are about, why we do what we do and what we hope to achieve. The highs, the lows and everything in between! I had such fun chatting to Dani and hope you will gain some insight into the our world as a result!Great listening!

Talking Aussie Books/Words&Nerds Podcast Mash-Up: Special Episode

Alli Sinclair is a multi-award winning Geelong-based author of six novels, a film-writer, documentary producer, writing teacher and passionate world traveller. With novel titles that include "Under the Spanish Stars", "Burning Fields" and "The Cinema At Starlight Creek" to name a few, Alli has written her way into the hearts and minds of her readers with strong, inspirational female characters who push boundaries and defy expectations of them.Her brand new title "The Codebreakers", released by HarperCollins in Australia and New Zealand on 3 March, is a remarkable novel inspired by true-life events that occurred during World War II.An excellent, thoroughly illuminating read that I highly recommend.I was delighted to welcome Alli to the podcast recently. 

Talking Aussie Books with Alli Sinclair

Pamela Hart is an award-winning author and writing teacher. She has published a number of historical fiction titles - including "The Black Dress" (as Pamela Freeman), "The Soldier's Wife", "A Letter from Italy" and "The Desert Nurse" along with a host of children's stories. November 2020 saw the release of her latest historical novel called "The Charleston Scandal" (Hachette). A book that Pamela herself describes as a "Downton Abbey meets 42nd Street."Set in 1920's London, the book is beautifully written and meticulously researched and will have you Googling the Charleston along with the cast of real-life characters that populate its pages. I was delighted to welcome Pamela to the podcast recently. 

Talking Aussie Books with Pamela Hart

Gina Wilkinson is an award-winning former journalist, foreign correspondent and documentary-maker turned novelist who spent over a year living in Baghdad under Saddam Hussein's dictatorship and later the Iraq War. Time during which she was befriended by a local woman whom she later found out was working as a secret police informant and was reporting Gina's every move. Gina's experiences during that time inspired her to pen her memoir in 2007 and also formed the basis of her recently released debut novel called "When the Apricots Bloom" (Hachette).This was an unforgettable, evocative story that so beautifully captured the uneasy alliance between the old world and the new; between eastern and eastern cultures and the common experiences that unite people instead of dividing them. I was honoured to chat with Gina on the podcast recently. 

Talking Aussie Books with Gina Wilkinson

Katrina Nannestad is an award-winning children's author based in regional Victoria whose works include "The Girl Who Brought Mischief", "The Girl, The Dog and The Writer" series, "The Olive of Grove" series, the "Red Dirt" series and more.Her latest book, "We Are Wolves" was released at the end of October 2020 by HarperCollins. A remarkable, utterly exquisite read that had me laughing and crying as I followed the Wolf children on their journey of survival at the end of WWII.Aimed at primary school readers, but equally readable by older children as well as adults, this is a book that sensitively and beautifully explores the devastation of war on families and children in particular. 

Talking Aussie Books with Katrina Nannestad

Rae Cairns is a Sydney-based author who describes her writing as "crime with heart". Her debut novel "The Good Mother" was released in December 2020 to rave reviews. It's a book that takes a compelling look at the conflict in Northern Ireland through the eyes of a mother and explores what a mother will do to protect her child. Gripping, engrossing and absolutely heart-stopping. I could not put this book down. I was delighted to be able to chat with Rae on the podcast recently. 

Talking Aussie Books with Rae Cairns

Jackie French is one of Australia's best loved story-tellers. She has written over 200 books across a variety of genres from children’s picture books, to chapter books for middle-grade readers, young adult novels and adult fiction along with a swag of non-fiction titles.Jackie’s writing and services to Australian literature and literacy has earned her over 60 book awards. And in 2016, Jackie’s work was recognised with the award of Member of the Order of Australia. She was Australian Children’s Laureate for 2014-2015 and Australian Senior of the Year in 2015.In the southern summer of 2019/2020, when Australia was ravaged by devastating bushfires, Jackie almost lost her family home. Much of the land around her property was burnt before a flood reached them making their property the main source of food and water for hundreds of animals such as wombats, quolls, possums, owls and wallabies to name a few.Inspired by the survival of one wombat who walked out of the fires on charcoaled feet onto her property, weak with thirst and hunger, Jackie penned her latest children’s picture book.The book is called “The Fire Wombat” (published by HarperCollins). A brilliant story of survival which was beautifully illustrated by Danny Snell.And I was thrilled to have the opportunity to chat to Jackie about this book and so much more. A fun and wide-ranging chat covering wombats, dyslexia, bushfires and the power of catastrophes to bring humans and animals together, this is an interview you shouldn't miss. 

Talking Aussie Books with Jackie French

Fiona McIntosh is an Australian world-class, international best-selling author whose work spans number of different genres: from fantasy to sweeping historical adventures and gritty crime. I have been following Fiona's career for some years now, devouring each new novel as it hits the shelves and getting my "Fiona fix" every year as she embarks on her demanding national book tour. Sadly, there was no tour this year, but we were fortunate enough to see her brand new exquisite novel released into the world. "The Champagne War" published by Penguin is arguably her best, most heart wrenching novel yet. And I was thrilled to be able to speak with Fiona in mid-November about this gorgeous book.Join us in the final episode of 2020 as we chat about Fiona's research, her serendipitous meeting with the woman who would become the inspiration for her avant-garde character Sophie Delancré, champagne-making, baking, writing tips and so much more. 

Talking Aussie Books with Fiona McIntosh

Sophie Masson is a much celebrated French-Australian author with over seventy books for children, young adults and adults to her name. Growing up in France and Australia, Sophie has always had a strong interest in fairy tales. In fact, a number of Sophie's books are based on fairy tales. 'Scarlet in the Snow' - which is a retelling of the classic 'Beauty and the Beast' along with 'Carabas' - based on 'Puss in Boots' are her most notable examples. So, I guess it was no surprise to learn that Sophie turned her mind to another fairy tale project which culminated in the publication of her new book 'French Fairy Tales'. Published by Serenity Press, 'French Fairy Tales' is a divine collection of five French fairy tales as translated and retold by Sophie and gorgeously illustrated by Lorena Carrington. This is an enchanting book that will delight readers young and old. I was delighted to chat with Sophie ahead of the release of this book in November. 

Talking Aussie Books with Sophie Masson

Poppy Gee is a Brisbane-based author whose brand new novel "Vanishing Falls" was recently released here in Australia by Booktopia Editions - the publishing arm of Australia's online book retailer. Like some other notable Australian thrillers at the moment, Poppy's book is set in Tasmania. In a fictional town deep in the rainforest - which makes for a superbly atmospheric read. I caught up with Poppy recently to chat all things Tasmania, what US readers like about our island State, about history, writing trauma and addiction along with Poppy's top tips for aspiring writers. 

Talking Aussie Books with Poppy Gee

Hot on the heels of his success with 'Scrublands' and 'Silver', Chris Hammer is back with a third novel entitled 'Trust' - which sees the return of Martin Scarsden, a journalists with a penchant for landing himself in troublesome situations involving murder and intrigue!Unlike 'Scrublands' and 'Silver', 'Trust' moves away from Martin's story to focus on his partner, Mandalay Blonde, and what happened to her in the ten years between leaving Riversend as a teenager and returning to care for her dying mother. This is an explosive novel which explores the dark underbelly of organised crime, collusion and corruption in a big city. I loved it for all its twists and turns and its nail-biting climax. Utterly gripping!Join Chris and I in this wonderful chat where we talk about his inspiration for this novel, writing a female character like Mandalay Blonde, the demise of the golden years of journalism, 'Scrublands' on the screen, writing tips and much, much more. 

Talking Aussie Books with Chris Hammer

Ellie Marney is an award-winning, internationally successful YA crime writer and passionate Australian YA advocate who has multiple titles to her name. Her latest novel, 'None Shall Sleep' (published by Allen & Unwin) was utterly gripping. A spine-chilling, edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller that kept me turning pages late into the night. I was delighted to welcome Ellie to the podcast a little while ago to talk about her inspiration for this FBI-themed novel and how she managed going back in time, dealing with the notable absence of the internet and mobile phone technology amongst other things. A truly fascinating chat that you won't want to miss if you love crime fiction like I do. 

Talking Aussie Books with Ellie Marney

Podcast by A Podcast by Claudine Tinellis

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Talking Aussie Books

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