Toni Jordan has worked as a molecular biologist, quality control chemist, TAB operator and door-to-door aluminium siding salesperson. She is the author of six novels including the international bestseller Addition, which was longlisted for the Miles Franklin Award. Toni holds a Bachelor of Science in physiology and a PhD in Creative Arts. Her most recent novel is Prettier if She Smiled More, which was released earlier this year.

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ABOUT PRETTIER IF SHE SMILED MORE

'Jordan is a kind of Australian Marian Keyes, combining overdrive pace and throwaway humour with a razor intelligence and a deft, illuminating touch on darker subjects and themes . . . A sharp-eyed, engaging, endearing and ultimately optimistic story' Sydney Morning Herald

'Taps into the humour and pathos of ordinary life in a way that has you nodding with recognition . . . while at the same time laughing out loud' PIP WILLIAMS

One perfect life. One disastrous week. The brand-new novel from bestselling, acclaimed and beloved author Toni Jordan

As the eldest child in a single-parent family, Kylie's always had more important things on her mind than smiling for random strangers. Controlling her job, her home, her romantic life and - most importantly - her family takes all her concentration. She's always succeeded, though, because that's just who Kylie is.

When her fiercely independent mother breaks an ankle and needs help, it's up to Kylie, as usual, to fix things. She reluctantly packs her bags and moves in, but back in her childhood home, things start to unravel. Could it be that Kylie's carefully curated life is not so perfect after all?

Prettier if She Smiled More will make you laugh and make you cry. Is it too late to start over?

'Hilarious . . . A funny take on menopause, caring for an ageing parent, perfectionism and midlife crises told with Toni's signature observational humour and wit on ordinary life' Woman's Day

'A funny and smart family drama' Weekend Australian

'Fabulous' Who Weekly

More about Toni Jordan: https://www.tonijordan.com/

Buy Prettier if She Smiled More on Apple Books: https://apple.co/44Oudrc

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Sophie Green’s website: https://sophiegreenauthor.wordpress.com

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Her first book, The Suitcase Baby, was shortlisted for the Ned Kelly Award, the Danger Prize and the Waverley Library 'Nib' Award. Her second book The Suicide Bride, was shortlisted for the Danger Prize and in 2020 she won the Danger Prize for The Killing Streets. Her most recent book is The Husband Poisoner.

Buy The Husband Poisoner on Apple Books: https://apple.co/43Rk8sh

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Ali writes books that captivate you right from the start because of their pace and characters, and it was fascinating to listen to her talking about her process. She also gives some great tips about writing. 

For more about Ali Lowe: https://www.aliloweauthor.com/

Buy The Running Club on Apple Books: https://apple.co/3PSbmXw

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About THE RUNNING CLUB

Everyone pays a premium to live in this town. But someone's paid with their life.

The rules of the running club are the same as they have always been: keep your breath steady, keep your mind sharp, record your laps! Only now there's a new one: don't get killed. 

The wealthy community of Esperance is picture-perfect. Big houses, stunning views, beautiful people. A brand new running track for the local club to jog around in the evenings. From the outside, it looks like paradise.

But the women of the town know the truth: you can hide anything - from wrinkles to secrets from your past - if you have enough money.

You could even hide a murder.

THE RUNNING CLUB is the gripping, twisty page-turner from the author of THE TRIVIA NIGHT, full of secrets, lies and reveals you won't see coming.

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Raechel also runs the busy booking agency called Sure Thing Agency, which means she helps other musical artists manage their live performances. So she is an expert at fitting in creativity around other things, and at making meaningful songs full of heart and humour. In conversation Raechel is funny and sincere, and during this interview she had lots of great insight into writing and how she manages it around her myriad other responsibilities.

More about Raechel Whitchurch: https://www.raechelwhitchurch.com/

Listen to Raechel Whitchurch on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3Oevu53

Listen to Raechel Whitchurch on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/23Lanv91sAHkTGulIJDIwd?si=jsQBEmxGSlGr_wIoJdv71w

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Sophie Green’s website: https://sophiegreenauthor.wordpress.com

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A multi-genre writer, teacher and speaker with many years’ experience in magazines, newspapers and online publishing, Allison is co-host of the top-rating Your Kid’s Next Read podcast and former co-host of the So You Want To Be A Writer podcast. She has a writing group called Write With Allison Tait and you can find out more about it on her website at https://allisontait.com/writing-group-membership/

Allison's next book, The First Summer of Callie McGee, will be published on 1 August.

Allison and I have known each other for several years so there's a certainly familiarity in this chat - hopefully it's the better for it! 

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Sophie Green’s website: https://sophiegreenauthor.wordpress.com

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I’ve interviewed Ashleigh several times over the past year and while there’s a chance our chats threaten to turn into their own talk show, it’s because she’s so interesting and inspiring to talk to. Ashleigh is one of the most creative people you’ll ever encounter, and one who appreciates how fundamental creativity is to her life while also treating it like it’s the most everyday thing in her life. As ever, it was a joy to talk to her - and it is a long chat because that's what happens every time!

More about Ashleigh Dallas: https://ashleighdallas.com.au/

Listen to Ashleigh Dallas on Apple Music: https://apple.co/42Yw0YX

Listen to Ashleigh Dallas on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4Jbn3jYmhnsJbnEhIZiEx2?si=4MqT3vWfRyyWF7DysX0atQ

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Sophie Green’s website: https://sophiegreenauthor.wordpress.com

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It was an absolutely joy to interview Catherine, who is insightful and passionate and inspirational. This was a long chat but worth your time because everything Catherine has to say is interesting. 

Buy Things She Would Have Said Herself on Apple Books: https://apple.co/3Pm2Wav

Other links to buy: https://www.hachette.com.au/catherine-therese/things-she-would-have-said-herself

About Things She Would Have Said Herself:

For those who loved Olive Kitteridge and Boy Swallows Universe comes a darkly funny, deeply moving novel told with breathtaking originality and dazzling talent.

'Completely original and bursting with love in all its messy, complicated forms. I loved this book.' FAVEL PARRETT

'Never have ordinary suburban lives felt so rambunctious, exhilarating or hilarious.' CATE KENNEDY

Leslie Bird loves being a wife and mother but loathes her husband and children. The only person she ever loved was born dead.

Meet Leslie Bird, the irascible matriarch of a big bonkers family, coming of age and to the boil, as the secrets and slights that have shaped her and her hapless husband's lives impact their children in the most profound and complex ways. In other words, everyone's story. Sort of. Because this is a story, and family, like none you've ever read before.

Things She Would Have Said Herself is a darkly funny, deeply moving novel about the lengths and breadths one woman will go to ignore her own and others' pain and what happens when she's confronted by it one sweltering Christmas day.

A story of motherhood, marriage, madness, unspeakable loss and the heartbreaking messy love that holds a family together. Honest, revealing, resonant and startlingly original, if you loved Olive Kitteridge and Boy Swallows Universe, you will love this book!

'Raw, evocative storytelling . . . Things She Would Have Said Herself will appeal to fans of Olive Kitteridge, as it unpacks the trauma that shapes difficult people and shows an unshrinking commitment towards exploring discomfort, grief and loss.' BOOKS+PUBLISHING

'This is a book like no other - utterly brilliant, both acerbic and kind, astute and compassionate . . . A lustrously clever work, relentlessly uncovering layer upon layer of human experience, the minutiae of family life, the power of the word and the centrality of childhood (and other) losses in determining the choices we make' LIVING ARTS CANBERRA

'Darkly funny.' SUNDAY AGE

'A terrific tale.' THE SENIOR

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At the time of our interview I already knew the album was one of my favourites of the past year but it's now one of my favourite albums of all time - which is not to say the previous albums aren't great! More that there is something about the collection of songs on this album which has kept a hold on me. And that is, no doubt, in part due to Matt's skills as a songwriter. As I discovered during the course of this interview, he is so experienced as a writer that he teaches songwriting.

Since our chat and only weeks after releasing Between Tonight & Tomorrow, Matt released a new song in a new project with another NZ Melburnian, Kerryn Fields. 'Your Heart of Gold' is their debut single as Matt Joe Gow & Kerryn Fields and was nominated, along with two other songs, for an MLT Songwriting Award at the NZ Country Music Honours. Matt would go on to win the award for 'Whirlwind'.

More about Matt Joe Gow: https://mattjoegowmusic.com/

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Christmas can also regularly be found performing around Australia with his country band Copperline - and if you'd like to see my interview with him about Copperline's latest release, 'Gabriel', go to Sunburnt Country Music. He is a very rare creature, as a songwriter who has also written and released a novel, so this interview was a wonderful opportunity to ask him about different kinds of writing and storytelling.

Saltwater Boy on Apple Books: https://apple.co/3MN7JPp

Bradley's band Copperline: https://copperline.bandcamp.com/

ABOUT SALTWATER BOY

Heartfelt and poignant, this coming of age story explores father-son relationships, against a backdrop of small town rivalries, buried truths, with themes of sustainability, preserving the past and environmental care.

When Dad goes to jail, Matthew and his mum move to the coast, so mum – an artist – thinks she can renovate her late father’s old place to sell it to get them back on their feet. Matthew strikes up a friendship with Old Bill, an Indigenous man who becomes a father figure to him, and teaches him how to find and eat pippis, fish (and to make a few dollars from it). Dad gets out on parole and moves back in with the family, but his anger fractures the newfound peace and everything is once again at stake, and in peril.

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Together Felicity and Josh released the album The Song Club in 2021 and it was nominated for an ARIA and four Golden Guitars, and won the AIR Award for best independent country album. Since then they have released the singles 'Bogswamp' and 'Unsteady (Ever Since You're Gone)'.

We recorded this interview right after doing an interview about 'Unsteady' and Josh was due to leave for the airport to head out on tour with The Waifs, but they gave almost half an hour extra to talk about songwriting. They were so generous with their time, wisdom and insight and, as ever, inspiring in their dedication to telling stories and connecting with audiences.

felicityurquhart.com | joshcunningham.com

Listen to ‘Unsteady’ on Apple Music



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Rachael’s latest book is The Work Wives and her next book, Talk to the Heart, will be released in November. She is also the host of the Rachael Johns Online Book Club and a fabulous interviewee. Rachael was so generous with her time and information that this interview is long but all of it so interesting and worthwhile. I had to cut us off at a certain point in time but could have kept talking for hours!

More about Rachael Johns: https://www.rachaeljohns.com/

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Lawrence is a prolific songwriter who can turn her hand equally to a catchy kids' tune ('My Big Mack Truck') and a high-stakes diplomatic-mission tune ('100 Year Handshake'). On Living for the Highlights she writes and sings movingly of a devastating personal loss and also, separately, finds the joy in everyday life, with a range of experiences in between. She's also a renowned songwriting collaborator within the country music community.

Given that range of writing experiences, and her ability to set up a world, and a life, and break your heart all in the space of a few verses and a chorus, Lawrence was an obvious choice to be the first songwriter interviewed for this podcast, and it was a pleasure to talk to her.

Listen to Amber Lawrence on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3RyYW4bMFeTeQ2jjLZu4xg?si=DavCWEhYRzCTaLouEII7lA

More about Amber Lawrence: https://www.amberlawrence.com.au/

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'A truly delightful debut novel. Funny, moving, tender and wise, I ate up every delicious word' LIANE MORIARTY

'Warm and profound. I can't wait for everyone to read it' SALLY HEPWORTH

'A delectable fusion of comedy, hope, loss, and great food' Weekend Australian

More about Dianne Yarwood: https://www.dianneyarwood.com/

Buy The Wakes on Apple Books: https://apple.co/3pdDAke

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