Laura McCluskey is a debut author whose novel was described to me as ‘the hottest debut crime novel of 2025’. Since the book’s release back in February I have watched in awe at the manner in which this book has shot to success. It was the Book of the Month for QBD Books, Dymocks, Booktopia AND WHS Smith. It’s a spooky Scottish detective mystery called ‘The Wolf Tree’ published by Harper Collins Australia. And I was thrilled to have the chatted with Laura for the podcast recently....
Jun 23, 2025•46 min•Season 7Ep. 23
Fleur McDonald is the author of 24 novels clocking up more than 850 000 book sales across a career that has spanned more than 16 years. She is a best-selling rural crime author and has built a loyal fanbase of readers with her incredible cast of characters and settings - the most popular and recognisable of course is Detective Dave Burrows. But in a move that is set to cement Flour’s reputation as a master of crime writing, Fleur has released a brand new novel called ‘The Prospect’. Published by...
Jun 09, 2025•45 min•Season 7Ep. 22
Hilde Hinton is a bestselling author of three novels, as well as a big sister to Connie and Samuel Johnson. A one-time prison officer and second hand book seller, a mother and carer of people in need of temporary housing and support, Hilde’s stories are filled with the kinds of characters that reflect her larger than life experiences and her writing is infused with empathy and insight into the impact of grief, loneliness and trauma. This year, Hilde’s third novel ‘The Opposite of Lonely’ was rel...
Jun 03, 2025•31 min•Season 7Ep. 21
Valerie Miller is a Brisbane-based writer who teaches high school by day and writes stories at night. In late 2024, Valerie decided to self-publish her debut novel 'There's Something About You Olivia Bennett'. A dual-time line historical novel which flips between Sydney of the 1960s and late 1980s. This is a book that Valerie has coloured with her experiences as a child of Italian migrants. A book that explores amongst other things, post-war proxy brides, the difficulties faced by migrants as th...
May 30, 2025•40 min•Season 7Ep. 20
Maithree Wijesekara is an Australian-Sri Lankan writer based in Melbourne who graduated with a Masters in Dentistry in 2021, and who, this year, became a published novelist with her debut novel, 'The Prince Without Sorrow' (Harper Voyager). Now, Maithree splits her time between telling people to brush their teeth, and writing stories inspired by the fantastical and the real world. A richly imagined tale of sibling rivalry and thirst for power, 'The Prince Without Sorrow' is a stunning addition t...
May 25, 2025•32 min•Season 7Ep. 19
Natasha Lester is a international bestselling author whose novels have been translated into 21 languages. Novels which include 'A Kiss From Mr Fitzgerald', 'Her Mother’s Secret', 'The Paris Seamstress', 'The French Photographer', 'The Paris Secret', 'The Riviera House', 'The Three Lives of Alix St Pierre' and "The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard'. Natasha’s latest book is inspired by yet another incredible, brave woman whose story was not widely known. In fact, I had never heard of her before. A...
May 22, 2025•41 min•Season 7Ep. 18
Chris Flynn is the author of several novels that include the astonishing novel ‘Mammoth’ - told from the point of view of a 13000 year-old fossilised mammoth. A book which was shortlisted for a number of awards in 2021 - and which drew praise from some of the brightest literary minds. His new book, ‘Orpheus Nine’, published by Hachette Australia, is a deeply thought-provoking, compelling book set in a tiny rural Australian town against the backdrop of a mysterious global event killing nine-year ...
May 16, 2025•47 min•Season 7Ep. 17
Listeners it’s been almost 3 years since I last welcomed my next guest to the podcast. Back then we were talking about a truly remarkable novel which just over a year later went on to win the prestigious Miles Franklin Literary Award. That book was, of course, Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens and the author, Shankari Chandran. In the time since that first podcast chat, I’ve watched in absolute awe and wonder at the stratospheric rise of Shankari’s writing career. Earlier this year I was privileged ...
May 15, 2025•41 min•Season 7Ep. 16
Jackie French is one of Australia's best-loved, bestselling authors and earlier this year, she released another new novel. Called ‘The Whisperer’s War’ (published by HQ Fiction) it’s an incredible war-time story set in England between 1938 and 1947. A story that examines - amongst many other things - the cost of war and the quest for wealth, power and status that drive it. A unique and entirely gripping account of the war and one woman’s fight to save her country from falling into Nazi hands. I ...
May 08, 2025•51 min•Season 7Ep. 15
**Discussion of Domestic Violence, Intimate Partner Abuse and Other Mature Themes. Please proceed with caution.** Jo Skinner is a Brisbane based author of two novels, a practising GP as well as a long-distance runner. I connected with Jo online a couple of years ago now and have watched on with delight as she achieved her publication dream last year with the release of her debut novel ‘The Truth About My Daughter’ and again this year with her new novel, ‘A World of Silence’. Published by Hawkeye...
Apr 29, 2025•49 min•Season 7Ep. 14
**Discussion of some mature themes** While Lauren K McKellar is no stranger to publishing, this year marks the release of her first foray into women's fiction with a thoroughly delightful, uplifting and thought-provoking novel entitled 'The Calendar Mums'. Published by HQ Fiction, 'The Calendar Mums' is a novel about motherhood and the importance of female friendships. A novel that, to me, was 'The Calendar Girls' meets 'Big Little Lies'. Trust me when I tell you this is a must-read novel for an...
Apr 26, 2025•34 min•Season 7Ep. 13
Cassie Hamer is not only an Australian bestselling author of 3 novels - 'After the Party', 'The End of Cuthbert Close' and the 'Truth About Faking It' - but a colleague, a writing buddy and most importantly, a dear friend. This month, Cassie has a new novel out. And listener’s it’s an absolute cracker. ‘The Stranger at the Table’ published by HQ Fiction is part crime, part family drama that’s pacy and page-turning. Filled with a cast of flawed but relatable characters and a killer plot twist at ...
Apr 15, 2025•47 min•Season 7Ep. 12
Sara Foster is a Perth-based author of six best-selling psychological suspense novels that include ‘You Don’t Know Me’ The Hidden Hours’ and ‘All that is Lost Between Us’, along with the acclaimed dystopian thriller ‘The Hush’. Two of Sara’s novels have been optioned for TV and ‘You Don’t Know Me’ - a book I have read and absolutely loved - was adapted into a chart-topping drama podcast series by Listnr. Sara’s newest novel ‘When She Was Gone’ was released by HarperCollins earlier this month. An...
Apr 11, 2025•43 min•Season 7Ep. 11
Listeners, I may have mentioned once or twice on the podcast before that I’m a huge francophile. So whenever I have the chance to read a book that takes me back to France or immerses me in the sensory heaven that is French food and wine, I’ll savour it like a glass of Moet and Chandon. And so when a book called ‘Eat Your Heart Out’ set in France crossed my desk earlier this year, I knew it was going to be something I would enjoy. Published by Affirm Press in February this year, 'Eat Your Heart O...
Apr 09, 2025•35 min•Season 7Ep. 10
Listeners, if you tune in regularly, I’m sure you appreciate that I read eclectically and I’m fascinated by how books come into being - whatever path that happens to take. Indie or trad, I’m interested in it all. So when my fellow writer and friend, Sal Gallaher took the plunge and decided to self-publish her debut, I was keen to have a chat about it. Sal is a writer and photographer. A Dane by birth but has long called Australia home. Her debut novel ‘Secrets in the Lakes’ was published in late...
Apr 06, 2025•36 min•Season 7Ep. 9
Listeners I last spoke to my next guest, Maryrose Cuskelly, when her debut novel ‘The Cane’ was published by Allen & Unwin back in 2022. "The Cane" was an atmospheric crime novel set in a fictional sugarcane town in North Queensland in the 1970s. A terrific story reminiscent of 'The Dry' and other Australian rural and outback noir, that became an Australian bestseller and was later shortlisted for a Davitt Award in 2023. Recently, Maryrose’s second novel ‘The Campers’ was released. And liste...
Apr 04, 2025•36 min•Season 7Ep. 8
Listeners today I’m so excited to introduce you to another Aussie author whose book has simply floored me. Fiona Hardy - a writer, bookseller and reviewer from Melbourne - is the author of a new book published by Affirm Press earlier this year called ‘Unbury the Dead’. A contemporary crime fiction novel about two best friends who are hired to undertake some morally questionable activities and who then find themselves caught up in a deadly high-stakes drama. Fast-paced, gritty and compulsive, Fio...
Mar 28, 2025•30 min•Season 7Ep. 7
Marion Taffe is a Melbourne-based writer who after a 20 year career as a journalist, decided to turn her hand to novel-writing. A graduate of the RMIT degree in Professional Writing and Editing, Marion was named Creative Industries Student of the Year in her graduating year of 2023. She was also runner-up in the Grace Marion Wilson Emerging Writers Prize (non-fiction) in 2022 and a recipient of a Varuna Residential Fellowship in 2023. Marion’s novel ‘By Her Hand’ was released in early March by H...
Mar 25, 2025•50 min•Season 7Ep. 6
When a friend that you've been toiling alongside in the writing space for years can finally call themselves a published author, there's many reasons to celebrate. Chrissie Bellbrae is a talented Australian writer who took control of her writing career by self-publishing her debut novel 'The Florentine Quilt' early in 2025. I'd had the pleasure of reading an early draft of this novel some five years ago and knew then this story was special. To now see it out in the world in all its stunning glory...
Mar 19, 2025•36 min•Season 7Ep. 5
There are many Australian writers out there producing quality book after quality book each and every year - satisfying the voracious demands of their eager fans. Penelope Janu definitely falls into that category. And if you haven’t heard of Penelope’s work as yet, then dear listeners you’re in for a treat. Penelope is a former lawyer - a longtime legal academic - whose debut novel ‘In at the Deep End’ was published by HarperCollins in 2017. In the time since, Penelope has gone onto publish anoth...
Mar 07, 2025•35 min•Season 7Ep. 1
Unsurprisingly, I’m very much drawn to the work of debut Australian authors. And this year, I’m delighted to be interviewing a number of them, one of whom is my next guest. Kate Horan is Sydney-based ex-English teacher who once taught at high schools in Western Sydney loving being able to inspire teenagers with a love of reading. For the last seventeen years, however, Kate has worked in corporate communications - helping executives pitch and present. Early last month her debut novel was released...
Mar 05, 2025•39 min•Season 7Ep. 1
Ella Ward is a Melbourne-based author of memoir '27 Letters to My Daughter' and a brilliant debut novel 'The Cicada House'. Released by HarperCollins in January 2025, 'The Cicada House' is a gorgeously uplifting, magical coming of age story that starts out one way and takes readers on an unexpected but utterly delightful journey. Following 40-year-old protagonist Caitlin, we move from London to Arana Bay in Victoria, this story is beautifully written and heralds an exciting career for author, El...
Feb 23, 2025•39 min•Season 7Ep. 2
I couldn’t think of a better way to kick off a brand new season of Talking Aussie Books than with my next guest author, historical fantasy writer, Kell Woods. I've had the pleasure of interviewing Kell once before on the podcast - and that was for Kell’s debut novel ‘After the Forest’ back in 2023. I remember distinctly finishing that book and thinking I had just read something incredibly special. A perfect mix of history, fantasy, romance and fairytale, I was utterly captivated by Kell’s storyt...
Feb 17, 2025•35 min•Season 7Ep. 1
If you’re a fan of crime fiction, you may have noticed that cosy crime is making a come back in a big way of late - certainly in Australia in any event. A sub-genre of crime that many attribute to Agatha Christie has spawned many wonderful Australian novels that recently include 'The Tea Ladies' Mysteries by Amanda Hampson, the Poppy McGowan Mysteries by Pamela Hart, Miss Fisher' Mysteries by Kerry Greenwood, the hugely successful Ernest Cunningham Mysteries written by Benjamin Stevenson and now...
Dec 31, 2024•36 min•Season 6Ep. 33
Alexandra Almond is a Melbourne-based author who, before turning her hand to writing, worked in a variety of roles - which included being a stable hand and a clown! Her debut novel, 'Thoroughly Disenchanted', was recently published by HarperCollins Australia. And what a delightful, romantic - and despite its title - enchanting novel it is. It’s about 4 friends, a cursed country house and a weekend away that stretched over a hundred years. An example of the romantasy genre (albeit cosy romantasy)...
Dec 30, 2024•32 min•Season 6Ep. 32
'The Last Love Note' written by Canberra-based author Emma Grey was one of my most memorable reads for 2023 - a book that Emma wrote in the wake of her husband’s sudden death. It’s been incredibly successful both in Australia and NZ (selling more than 100,000 copies so far) and it was also picked up in the US and was selected for Book of the Month and Target’s book club. Having said all that, it may surprise you to learn that this was Emma debut novel for adults. Earlier last month, Emma’s secon...
Dec 21, 2024•33 min•Season 6Ep. 31
'Immortal Dark' (Hachette Australia) by Tigest Girma heralds a new and exciting era of vampire fiction. As a debut it is a remarkable, fresh, rich and clever reimagining of a tale as old as time. An Ethiopian writer based in Melbourne, Tigest is passionate about exploring East-African stories and myths - weaving them with dark and fantastical themes. 'Immortal Dark' is 'Twilight' meets older 'Harry Potter' and 'A Discovery of Witches' all rolled into one utterly compulsive read. I was delighted ...
Dec 18, 2024•34 min•Season 6Ep. 30
Sydney-based Joanne Fedler is an international bestselling author of 15 books. A writing mentor, women's activist and keen ocean swimmer, Joanne's books have sold over 750,000 copies worldwide. Earlier this year, Joanne's new novel 'The Whale's Last Song' was released by HarperCollins Australia. And what a beautiful, magical and portentous book it is. So much so, I knew I had to speak with Joanne about it for the podcast. Tune in to this wonderful, uplifting chat with a truly talented writer....
Dec 15, 2024•43 min•Season 6Ep. 29
Brisbane-based author Christine Wells is the author of sixteen novels and is a powerhouse in the historical fiction space. Her new novel, ‘The Paris Gown’ (published by William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins) is about three women who meet at the Paris Cordon Blue cooking school in the 1950s and become firm friends, only to go their separate ways afterwards. Years later, they’re reunited in Paris by a Dior gown, but their lives are much changed. Think the Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, ...
Dec 03, 2024•36 min•Season 6Ep. 28
'Double Happiness' (Midnight Sun Publishing) by Melbourne-based writer, editor and arts journalist Rochelle Siemienowicz is a work of auto fiction and explores the complexities of non-monogamy and what it’s like to love two or more people - equally but differently. Set in Melbourne, the book is told from three different perspectives and spans a seven-year period in which Anna, her husband Brendan and her lover Jeremy, try to navigate a polyamorous lifestyle. Beautifully written, this book is raw...
Nov 27, 2024•36 min•Season 6Ep. 27
