On Better Words recently...
8 brilliant authors share the stories behind their books
Life is a lot sometimes, isn’t it? Although we’ve worked hard this year to bring you interesting conversations with very talented authors, we’ve kinda dropped the ball on sharing them with you.
But we have been honoured to discuss some big topics with fascinating people so it seems wrong not to shout about them a little more. You can find all these episodes (and so many more) in our feed on your favourite podcast app.
Ghostwriting, ego and art with Liam Pieper
We spoke to Liam about his book Appreciation, which turns a critical eye on the arts and culture scene. He explains how it was inspired by some of his own promotional billboards and the way art has become a commodity. Liam also ghostwrites books for others and we loved hearing about a process so often shrouded in mystery.
Why we need polarising writing and our obsession with the next ‘it’ author with Bri Lee
We were delighted to invite
back onto the podcast to discuss her novel The Work. Bri explained why she feels more comfortable promoting her fiction and why polarisation is a crucial part of any art. We also talked about the work that goes into , a newsletter we highly recommend!What critical acclaim can do to a writer with Lauren Draper
Lovely Australian YA author Lauren joined us to chat about her new novel, Return to Sender. She explained how abandoned buildings and dead letter offices inspired the story and how she skipped ‘second book syndrome’.
Inside East Berlin and never giving up on getting published with Josie Ferguson
We started with the incredible true story that gave Josie the spark of inspiration for The Silence in Between. Then we discussed why life in East Berlin still feels so fascinating – and Josie shares an amazing story about the time she visited North Korea! However, the best part of this episode is hearing about Josie’s 20-year journey to publication, with inspirational advice to other aspiring authors.
Forms of masculinity and coming of age with Avi Duckor-Jones
Avi joined us to talk about his beautiful new novel, Max. We spent a lot of time discussing why Avi set the book in the early 2000s and how the story might have changed were it contemporary. We also heard about the long and winding road to Avi becoming an author, including winning the first season of Survivor NZ.
Big love stories and being published in a foreign country first with Emma Steele
This interview includes one of the more bizarre publishing stories we’ve heard – how Emma’s book was published in German before English. That book, The Echoes of Us, was inspired by shared death experiences and we talk a lot about those. Emma also explained how she wrote so many shifts in timelines and perspectives.
Romance tropes and quitting TV production to become an author with Amy Hutton
A rom-com set on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast? Count us in! We loved talking to Amy about her novels and the way that romance tropes have become a major discussion point among readers.
The strange timing of stories and juggling creative careers with Sophie Green
This episode is to blame for Michelle spending all her free time re-watching All Saints (basically Australia’s version of Grey’s Anatomy). How? Well, as Sophie explains the long-running drama is, in her opinion, one of the best in Australian drama. We also talk about Sophie’s job in publishing and how this works alongside her incredible writing schedule.