Content warning for discussions of racism & violence. Welcome to Talking Queer – a summer special of Talking Words. This is the first of two exciting features of writers whose ideas, opinions and perspectives attempt to make queer sense of the world, exploring the complex and shifting spectrum of human sexuality- and gender-diversity through literature. Our first is with award-winning writer of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry, Ellen van Neerven. Ellen, of Mununjali Yugambeh (South East Queensland) and Dutch heritage, has authored three gorgeous and galvanising books – their first, Heat and Light, is a work of fiction which earned Ellen the David Unaipon Award, the Dobbie Literary Award and the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards Indigenous Writers Prize. Comfort Food, Ellen’s first poetry collection was shortlisted for the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards Kenneth Slessor Prize and highly commended for the 2016 Wesley Michel Wright Prize. Throat, their second poetry collection, is hot off the presses, having been released at the end of March this year, and boldly and dauntlessly delves into the complexities of love, language, and land. Throat was shortlisted for the 2020 Queensland Judith Wright Calanthe Award for a poetry collection, and was awarded the inaugural UQP Quentin Bryce Award.Leona had the honour of speaking to Ellen on August 26th of this year, recording their conversation remotely to account for pandemic travel restrictions.[One final note - since this episode was recorded, Leona's preference of pronoun leans more towards 'they' than 'she' - but they won't be offended if you occasionally forget!]

Talking Words

Summer Special: Talking Queer with Ellen van Neerven

Chris Flynn is an Irish author who has written three books, The Glass Kingdom, A Tiger in Eden and Mammoth, a novel that journeys from the Pleistocene era to 21st century America that’s told through the eyes of an American Mastodon, otherwise known as a mammoth. In Olivia’s last episode as host & producer of Talking Words, she chats with Chris about dinosaurs, the importance of nature and whether they may, in fact, be related.Books mentioned:Mammoth by Chris FlynnThe Illustrated BibleWinnie The Pooh by A.A. MilneThe Exorcist by William Peter Blatty

Isolation Special: Chris Flynn

Yumna Kassab is a neuroscientist and teacher who has published one book, ‘The House of Youssef’ which is a collection of short stories that was long-listed for the 2020 Stella Prize. From pondering about isolation to the beauty of first person narrative, Olivia and Yumna chat all things libraries, quarantine and writing.Books mentioned: The House of Youssef by Yumna Kassab

Isolation Special: Yumna Kassab

Rick Held is a screenwriter who has written for Australian TV shows such as A Place to Call Home and Packed to the Rafters, and has just published his first novel, Night Lessons in Little Jerusalem. Olivia and Rick chat about the perils of adaption and the true story behind his novel.Books mentioned: Night Lessons in Little Jerusalem by Rick HeldWinnie The Pooh by A.A. MilneThe Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. LewisThe Secret River by Helen Garner

Isolation Special: Rick Held

Tara June Winch is an award winning Wiradjuri author who has written three books: Swallow the Air, After the Carnage and The Yield, which swept the 2020 NSW Premier's Literary Awards winning in three categories, including Book of the Year. In the first chapter of our isolation Special, Olivia and Tara chat about the importance of language and why art moves us.Books mentioned: The Yield by Tara June WinchDead Man Walking by Kate McClymontShe’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb

Isolation Special: Tara June Winch

Welcome to the finale of Season Two! In this chapter we yarn with Helena Fox, an award winning young adult novelist who has written one book, ‘How It Feels to Float’. Alongside being an author, Helena mentors younger writers and runs workshops on creative writing and its positive impacts on mental health. Helena and Olivia chat about moving overseas to follow your dreams and how writing can be a beautiful act of self care.Books mentioned: How It Feels to Float by Helena Fox.Lenny’s Books of Everything by Karen Fox-Lee.The Treehouse Series by Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton.Euphoria Kids by Alison Evans.The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo.

Chapter Fourteen: Helena Fox

J.P. Pomare is an award winning crime writer who has written three books: ‘Call Me Evie’, ‘In the Clearing’ and 'Tell Me Lies' (available through Audible). J.P. talks to Olivia about the ins and outs of publishing a book and which novels have totally changed his life (hint: he’s not the only one to think this!)Books mentioned: Call Me Evie by J.P. PomareIn the Clearing by J.P. PomareHarry Potter by J.K. RowlingCat’s Cradle by Kurt VonnegutThe Bell Jar by Sylvia PlathOn the Road by Jack KerouacThe Family by Chris by Johnston & Rosie JonesThe Grapes of Wrath by John SteinbeckOf Mice and Men by John SteinbeckGone Girl by Gillian FlynnGravity's Rainbow by Thomas PynchonInfinite Jest by David Foster Wallace

Chapter Thirteen: J.P. Pomare

Stephanie Wood is an award winning journalist and editor. Her debut book, ‘Fake: A startling true story of love in a world of liars, cheats, narcissists, fantasists and phonies’ is a memoir that explores the impact of duplicitous relationships. She sits with Olivia and chats about her book, media literacy and why having a social conscience is vital in today’s world.Books mentioned: Snugglepot and Cuddlepie by May GibbsThe Famous Five by Enid BlytonThe Magic Faraway Tree by Enid BlytonThe Enchanted Wood by Enid Blyton

Chapter Twelve: Stephanie Wood

Vivian Pham is a Vietnamese-Australian author whose debut novel ‘The Coconut Children’, was written when she was just 16 years old. She yarns with Olivia about identity, life before she was born and her love of fan fiction.Books mentioned:The Coconut Children by Vivian PhamMatilda by Roald DahlGeorge's Marvellous Medicine by Roald DahlThe Witches by Roald DahlLetters to Felix by Annette LangenA Room of One’s Own by Virginia WoolfGo Tell It On the Mountain by James BaldwinPluck the Living Flower by Danial CarringtonWith a special shout out to P.G. Wodehouse

Chapter Eleven: Vivian Pham

Kate Forsyth is an award-winning author who has written over 40 adults and children’s books, and she holds a PHD on the topic ‘The Rebirth of Rapunzel’. Kate chats to Olivia about what happens to our brains when we read, why fairy tales never go out of style and why travel is fantastic for creativity.Books mentioned:The Blue Rose by Kate ForsythThe Puzzle Ring by Kate ForsythA Mother’s Offering To Her Children by A Lady Long Resident in New South Wales (AKA Charlotte Waring Atkinson, AKA Kate’s great-great-great-great-grandmother)The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid BlytonThe Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. LewisThe Hobbit by J.R.R. TolkienPride and Prejudice by Jane AustenThe Elements of Style by Whiton StrunkRapunzelCinderella

Chapter Ten: Kate Forsyth

Dan Box is a journalist who has worked for news outlets such as The BBC, The Sunday Times and The Australian. He has written one true crime book, Bowraville, and produced a podcast of the same name. Dan chats with Olivia about the importance of journalism, why objectivity is a bit of a myth, and why the Bowraville case changed his approach to journalism.Books mentioned:Bowraville by Dan BoxCarry Me Home by Dan Box

Chapter Nine: Dan Box

Matt Okine is an award-winning actor, writer, comedian and musician. In this chapter he chats with Olivia about career moves, his debut novel Being Black N Chicken N Chips and why mixing fact with fiction can sometimes bite you on the bum. Books mentioned:Being Black N Chicken & Chips by Matt Okine

Chapter Eight: Matt Okine

Leah Purcell is an award winning playwright, actor, director, filmmaker, producer, screenwriter, showrunner and author who has written one novel, The Drover’s Wife: The legend of Molly Johnson. In this episode Leah yarns with Olivia about writing for different forms, ownership of stories and the importance of listening.Books mentioned:The Drover’s Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson by Leah Purcell.The Drover’s Wife by Leah Purcell.The Drover’s Wife by Henry Lawson.Box the Pony by Scott Rankin & Leah Purcell.Black Chicks Talking by Scott Rankin & Leah Purcell.

Chapter Seven: Leah Purcell

Welcome to the season finale of season one! In our final instalment, we have Michael Mohammad Ahmad. Mohammed is an award winning Arab-Australian author who has written The Tribe and The Lebs. He is also the founder of Sweatshop, a literacy based organisation aimed at empowering Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Mohammed chats with Olivia about the importance of representation, how writing is inherently phantasmagorical, and why flared jeans are the best kind of jeans.Books mentioned:The Lebs by Michael Mohammed AhmadThe Tribe by Michael Mohammed AhmadSweatshop Women by SweatshopThe Prophet By Kahlil GibranThe Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley and Malcolm XThe Qur’an

Chapter Six: Michael Mohammed Ahmad

Talking Words with Olivia O'Flynn is presented by Better Read Than Dead, and features interviews with an array of fascinating authors. From oral story-tellers, to memoir writers, from fictional autobiographies to reference writing, Talking Words is a haven for people who love storytelling. We dive into the importance of literature whilst celebrating its quirks along the way, getting elbow-deep in the exploration of reading, writing and everything that happens in between.They've been writing them, we've been reading them. Now, let's talk about them.

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