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.
Subscribe:.rss.atom.json.md.m3u.pls
Live Last read · last published · next check
Saves to your Listen queue, to pick up on another day or another device.
Have you ever sat on a train and wondered about the lives of the other passengers? Author Samantha Sotto Yambao certainly has. In fact, she's written a book based on that very concept! In this episode, Samantha shares her experience crafting and publishing her new novel, The Elsewhere Express , the unique lit scene in the Philippines and the manuscript that ended up becoming a donor for her other…
Ever wanted a step-by-step insight into building a novel? Well, in this episode, you have access to bestselling author Kate Forsyth's note-taking, research and writing process in the creation of her latest novel, The Changeling ! It's a fascinating look into the actual nuts and bolts of crafting a story, from idea to finished edit - including mistakes made along the way! Kate generously shares her…
Train platforms are fascinating people-watching locations. And if you've ever sat and imagined the lives of the strangers standing next to you, UK-based author Ilona Bannister's new psychological thriller Five may be for you. In this podcast episode, Ilona discusses her inspiration for the book and her own path to writing, along with insights into her daily writing practice. 00:00 Welcome 03:09…
Same-sex couples fought long for marriage equality, but finally getting it didn't necessarily equate to 'happily ever after'. That's the area UK-based bestselling author Tom Rob Smith explores in his new novel Twenty Years Together - inspired by how legalisation of gay marriage changed the psychology of long-term relationships. In this episode, Tom discusses the inspiration behind telling this…
Every day we experience 'sliding doors moments' - those decisions we make that unwittingly affect the future. In this episode, bestselling author Petronella McGovern explores this concept through her own life and via the plot of her latest novel, Every Time She Wakes . As well as sharing the inspiration and research into this story, she also shares the evolution of her life as a writer and advice…
Do you believe in second chances? In this episode, author Michelle Wright discusses her new novel Good Boy - about a long-term prisoner who joins a dog rehabilitation program and is assigned a troubled pooch he renames 'Good Boy'. Michelle talks about the story's inspiration, reasons for setting it in its particular time period, the double meaning behind the title and more. 00:00 Welcome 07:55…
Are YOU curious about self publishing? Wondering how much you can make from it and how it differs from traditional publishing? In this episode, prolific self-published author Matt Rogers shares his experience writing three or four novels a year and selling more than a million copies! He also talks about his move to traditional publishing in 2025 - including his latest novel, The Damned , as well…
We love books about books, and bestselling Canadian author Emily Austin's latest novel Is This a Cry for Help? explores the subject through the lens of a librarian returning to the job after a breakdown. As well as the book's themes, Emily also shares her own parallels to the story, writing and reading with dyslexia, her approach to book promotion and a random writing tip! 00:00 Welcome 02:54…
After a first-hand experience with a witch, author and AWC graduate Inessa Jackson started researching the real world Wiccan community, and the result was her debut crime/thriller novel, Devil Mountain . In this episode, Inessa generously shares her quirky writing process, her experience learning the craft, publishing timeline and more! 00:00 Welcome 04:17 Graduate spotlight 10:21 Writing tip:…
Is food your love language? It certainly is for bestselling author and AWC graduate Anna Johnston - brought to life through her new novel, When Lemons Give You Life . In this episode, Anna dishes up the inspiration and character creation for this latest book and the challenges, strategies and superpowers of being an author with ADHD. She also shares how she deals with writing tough scenes, her…
Australia is experiencing a golden age of crime and thriller writing right now and Christine Gregory is a part of that. Her latest novel, The Informant , explores the world of bikie gangs, and in this episode, Christine discusses how she went about researching this subject, and how she balances dark themes as an author. And we love that she is an AWC graduate! 00:00 Welcome 04:25 Writers in the…
Do you spend your weekends visiting cliffs with your child to find out which ones would be deadliest? Well, that's something Fiona Hardy did in researching her new 'cosy crime' novel, Old Games ! In this episode, Fiona joins us to discuss the inspiration for this latest book, her own writing process and how she went from kids to adult fiction! 00:00 Welcome 06:31 Writers in the wild 11:06 Writing…
She's baaaaack! Any chance to chat with my former podcast co-host Allison Tait (who writes as A.L Tait) is a good day, and she's back with yet another book hitting shelves - tween romance, The Last Word . Allison also discusses some of the other exciting projects including curating a new series of books through her Your Kids Next Read community. 00:00 Welcome 06:05 Writers in the wild 09:23…
Do you love historical fiction? I have to admit to being a sucker for a different time and place - and both are on offer in Mary-Lou Stephens' latest novel, The Hobart Hotel . In this episode, Mary-Lou discusses her unique approach to research and the challenges of writing about Uruguay in the 1940s, as well as why she loves writing historical fiction so much. 00:00 Welcome 06:03 Writers in the…
OMG, I adored Katie Hoskins' debut novel, When the Party's Over ! In so many ways, it's the PERFECT book - nailing structure and narrative to tell a nuanced and contemporary story. In this episode, Katie talks about the path that took her from beginner to a two-book Pan Macmillan deal, including the AWC courses that helped her hone her structure, subplot, distinct voices and more. 00:00 Welcome…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Two questions: Where do new mothers meet new people? And 'What Rhymes with Murder?' - the latter being the title of author Penny Tangey's cosy crime novel, inspired by her own experiences as a new mother at her local library's story time! In this episode, Penny shares insights on making the switch from YA to adult stories, her writing routine and whether you need to know who did it before writing…
Australian noir has become a huge sub-genre in the world of fiction and UK-based author Emma Styles brings it to the beaches of Western Australia in her latest novel, The Shark . In this episode, Emma shares her inspiration for writing the book, the pressure of completing her latest adult novel and the process of putting the dual (sometimes unreliable, sometimes unlikeable) narratives together.…
With 20 books now to her name and a slew of accolades and bestseller titles under her belt, crime author Candice Fox has gone with something a little different for her latest novel, Redbelly Crossing . Inspired by a real-life family reminiscence, she has reimagined elements of two actual Sydney cold-case murders - and in this episode, Candice discusses how she balanced the sensitivity of a real…
Derek Pedley was a young newspaper journalist in the 1990s when bank robber Brenden Abbott became well known throughout Australia as escaped prisoner 'The Postcard Bandit'. One capture, break out and recapture later, Derek gained exclusive access to Abbott and wrote an account of his story. Now, 20 years later - with Abbott still in prison - a Warner Brothers documentary and six-part drama series…
The 1990s are often looked back at fondly as a largely peaceful time. But for former Australian ambassador to Germany Ian Kemish, the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia and Northern Ireland featured largely in his job at the time. Now retired, he has chosen to set his debut thriller novel, Two Islands , during this timeframe. In this episode he shares his inspiration for the book, the real life…
How would you like to spend summers in Australia and then travel to a small village in France to bask in the northern summer during the other half of the year? Well, that's the current reality of journalist and author Sheryle Bagwell - and in her new memoir, Letter from Provence , she not only documents her French experiences, but also connects to her late mother and the writings of 17th century…
What's more fascinating than reading actual books? Well, it's the weird and bizarre stories behind the stories themselves! At least, that's what journalist and author Alex Johnson hopes with his latest book, When Books Go Bad - exploring some of the strangest and most infamous stories about book writing and publishing experiences through the years. In this episode, Alex shares his love of writing…
We often talk about persistence in the journey of an aspiring author, and for podcaster Sam Elliott, his 20 years of working towards publication had many twists and turns. Now finally with his debut crime/thriller novel Haze under his belt, in this episode Sam shares the turning points that got him to this stage - including completing a particular AWC course - and the inspiration for telling this…
The cosy crime genre has exploded in recent years, with older protagonists featuring heavily (they tend to have more time on their hands for solving mysteries, you see). But what happens when your older protagonist has a murderous past? That's the hilarious set up for British actor, comedian and author Fergus Craig's new 'cracked cosy' whodunnit I'm Not the Only Murderer in my Retirement Home . In…
Two thousand years ago in Britain, the historical figure of Boudicca famously revolted against the Roman Empire and carved a path across the land. This later sparked many myths and stories - including the new historical fantasy novel Nightshade and Oak by author Molly O'Neill. In this episode, Molly discusses her inspirations for telling this story and the experience of writing and editing it. She…
There are three short words you're often told when you first walk into a nail salon - and they form the title of award-winning Laotian Canadian poet and author Souvankham Thammavongsa's new novel Pick a Colour . In this episode, Souvankham explains how the novel came about, its unusual inspiration and timeframe as well as the cultural and power dynamics it explores. 00:00 Welcome 06:03 Writing…
War stories are often famously told by the victors. But what of the stories of civilians caught up in the conflict? These themes intersect in World-War-II-era Hong Kong in AWC graduate Emma Pei Yin's debut historical novel, When Sleeping Women Wake - and in this episode she shares her inspirations, the book's themes and the publishing process, including a fascinating connection with the cover…
A lot of old bands these days seem to be reforming for reunion tours - allowing older fans to reminisce (usually while sipping wine and sitting in a comfy picnic chair). This idea fascinated author Rebecca Heath, so in her new book The Last Encore , she decided to not only get a fictional old-school band back together but add a documentary crew and a dead body into the mix! In this episode,…
It was a single photo of AWC graduate William J. Byrne's grandmother standing outside a ramshackle home that formed the spark that inspired this self-confessed history buff to explore stories of his past and the experiences of Aboriginal people leading up to the 1960s. The result is his debut novel, The Warrumbar - spanning half a century and casting light on a lesser-told chapter of Australia. In…
When was the last time you visited a zoo? Well, now imagine you're visiting the last zoo on Earth and you have the premise for Emma Sloley's new book, The Island of Last Things . In this episode, Emma shares the inspiration, research and publishing experience for this book and some of the larger themes this piece of fiction evokes. 00:00 Welcome 04:10 Writing tip: Aim for rejections! 08:30 WIN!:…
Are YOU ready to unlock your potential in 2026? Join us for a special 'manifestation' episode of the podcast, as Valerie is joined by Matt Cooke, author of Beyond Wanting: The Art of True Manifestation . Matt shares his personal story into manifestation - from skeptic to believer AND how he manifested his book deal - and some key ideas you can use immediately in taking actionable steps towards…
We've all heard of the 'muse' but what about the 'mewwwws'? That's the sound of authors' cats, and in this episode, Susannah Fullerton discusses her wonderfully titled book, Great Writers and the Cats Who Owned Them - exploring the unique relationships between famous authors and their feline companions. Susannah shares how she researched the topic, choosing the authors and the magical publishing…
We've heard of crashing weddings, but what about funerals? That's the topic that bestselling author Joanna Nell has tackled for her sixth book, The Funeral Crashers . In this episode, she joins us to discuss the experience behind writing this latest novel as well as the turning point in her life that got her publishing her first book in her fifties. 00:00 Welcome 06:44 Writing tip: Overcoming…
How do you go about writing a personal memoir that heavily features your very-much-alive parents? Author Candice Chung grappled with this and her culturally private family while curating her book, Chinese Parents Don't Say I Love You . In this episode, she joins us to discuss the inspiration for a book that uses food as a storytelling device, some of the rituals around dining and the story behind…
Do ideas come to you while you're out walking? There's a unique connection between writers and walking - and in this episode, Belinda Castles shares the inspiration and experience in creating her new book, Walking Sydney . The book is a curated collection of talks had while on walks with authors around various parts of the city and exploring the concepts of nostalgia, change and a sense of place.…
In this special bonus episode of 'So You Want to Be a Writer,' Valerie is joined by her original podcast co-host Allison Tait in a live-streamed event celebrating 20 years of the Australian Writer Centre. Together, they discuss important topics for all writers - including goal-setting, overcoming writing obstacles, and structuring one's writing career. They also reflect on their own writing…
If you found yourself newly single after not dating since being a teenager, what would you do? Author and AWC graduate Holly Brunnbauer asks that question in her award-winning romance novel, What Did I Miss? -and in this episode she shares what inspired her to write it, her exciting story about getting an agent and book deal, plus the unusual window of time she writes in during each day! 00:00…
When Ian Scott and Kirsty McHugh - curators at the National Library of Scotland - created an exhibition on pen names, they never imagined it would become a book. But that's exactly what happened, and in this episode, Ian joins to discuss some of the curious motivations and stories behind some of the world's most famous and infamous pseudonyms in their book Pen Names - including examples of authors…
Author Zanni L. Arnot has carved out a prolific career as a children's author - publishing more than 40 books in the past decade as 'Zanni Louise'. In this episode, Zanni discusses how she got into writing children's books and her first YA novel, A Guide to Falling Off the Map . She also shares the differences between different age range stories, juggling multiple projects, plus provides insights…
The Iranian Embassy siege that unfolded in the UK in 1980 was a huge world event at the time, although perhaps lost in the fog of history today. Prolific British author Ben Macintyre brings it back into focus in his latest book, The Siege: The Remarkable Story of the Greatest SAS Hostage Drama and he joins us to discuss his writerly beginnings, turning real-world espionage into captivating reads…
The search for 'a better life' is the classic motivation for immigrants arriving in a new country and so often we hear about the success stories. But author Moreno Giovannoni wanted to tell the more overlooked migrant stories for his latest novel, The Immigrants - drawing on his family's own experiences in Australia. Giovannoni shares his approach to writing, his thoughts on translating, as well…
Halloween is just around the corner, so what better way to mark the occasion than by celebrating AWC grad Amy Hutton's latest book - a paranormal romance novel, Ghosted ! In this episode, Amy shares her writing process, how she wound up writing paranormal romance, afterworld-building and much more! 00:00 Welcome 06:39 Writing tip: Work with teachers and mentors 10:06 WIN!: Remain by Nicholas…
If there were ever a decade that evoked such a strong emotional resonance, the 1980s would surely be it! Author Tegan Bennett Daylight channels this in her new time-travelling YA novel, How to Survive 1985, in all its neon-coloured, acid-washed glory, and in this episode, she shares her experience bringing that time period to life and some tips for aspiring writers. 00:00 Welcome 06:52 Writing…
Would YOU do anything to protect your 18-year-old child? That's core to the premise behind AWC graduate Alex Dook's outback thriller novel, Gunpowder Creek - and in this episode, he shares the milestones and research that led to this latest successful book. 00:00 Welcome 07:12 Writing tip: Turn jealousy into inspiration 13:11 WIN!: The Occupation by Chloe Adams 14:56 Word of the week: 'Cynosure'…
We've all been to a pub. They're places to meet friends, meet lovers, to celebrate, commiserate and even do weekly trivia. But do you REALLY know pubs? This is the question author Philip Howell poses and attempts to answer in his latest book, the aptly named Pub . Philip joins us to discuss the inspiration for this book, the pitching process, researching topics and his overwhelming love of one…
Collaborative writing is fairly rare in the world of publishing - and writing while working alongside each other in a bookshop cafe is even rarer! But that was exactly how friends and workmates Clayton Zane Comber and Conor McCammon went about co-authoring their new junior fiction illustrated adventure, The Marvellous Submarine . In this episode, they share their experience creating the story…
