Love stories? Then join Veronica and Laurie in Australian Book Lovers podcast episode #145. They're in the Writer's Room with Madeleine D'Este and Zena Shapter talking dark and stormy stories, worldbuilding, Australian flavour, and writing advice for emerging writers.

Intro - 0:57
Zena Shapter Bio - 2:49
Book Spotlight - When Dark Waters Burn by Zena Shapter - science fantasy - 04:47
Madeleine D'Este Bio - 6:02
Book Spotlight - Black Soil White Bread by Madeleine D'Este - dark mystery, folk-horror - 07:06
Worldbuilding fantasy and horror - 16:25
Why does an Australian setting make for a good story? 27:29
Share your writing routine - 35:53
Advice for writers - 48:15

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In Episode 144, Veronica and Laurie discover John Koenig's meaning of vellichor, keir, and keta. They share industry news, writerly events, quotes, ideas for getting your books into libraries and local stores, and book spotlights. Laurie chats with Elly Both, author of 'A Kids Book about ADHD'.

Book spotlights:

1. Killer by Joe Villanti - mystery, thriller & suspense
2. Breaking School Rules is Easy by Rosie Schonell – middle-grade
3. The Edge of Everything by Miranda Luby – Young Adult
4. Saturation by William Lane – Contemporary speculative fiction
5. Shootin’ Through by Sean Gorman – thriller
6. Mammals and Birds of Tasmania by Frances Mackay – children and middle-grade
7. Awesome Facts about Tasmania by Frances Mackay – children and middle-grade

Intro - 00:57
Giveaway peeks - 6:26
Industry news - 9:43
Book spotlights - 20:27
Author Interview - 36:05
Post interview chat - 1:12:47
Quotes - 1:15:37

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In Australian Book Lovers podcast episode #143, Veronica and Laurie are in the Writer's Room with Christina Giuffré & Suzi Samuel. Two wonderful authors who write beautifully about what they know, sharing their life experience in unique ways.

Intro - 0:57
Christina Giuffré Bio - 3:32
Suzi Samuel Bio - 5:05
Book Spotlight - Dear Friend by Christina Giuffré - self-help/personal development - 09:01
Book Spotlight - The Unintentional Medium by Suzi Samuel - memoir - 12:27
Favourite reads as a child - 21:24
Best response to your writing - 40:35
Most useful advice you've ever been given - 51:55

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In episode #142 Veronica and Laurie discover beloiter and ecury, share industry news, giveaways and quotes. They both chat with the brilliant mother daughter author team of Linda and Marly Wells about their YA time travel fantasy 'Desert Tracks', which is based in and around Mparntwe (Alice Springs). Marly is a proud woman of Warlpiri and white Australian descent and Linda is of white settler descent and proud to be Marly's mother.

Book spotlights:
1. It is What it Isn’t by Stephen Higgins – Science Fiction Short Story Collection
2. When Dark Waters Burn by Zena Shapter – science fantasy
3. My Hot Housemate by Susannah Hardy – romantic comedy
4. The Connections We Keep by Pauline Yates – Horror Short Story Collection
5. Shout out to my ex by Sandy Barker – romance
6. The one that I want by Sandy Barker – romance
7. Someone like you by Sandy Barker – romance
8. I knew you were trouble by Sandy Barker – romance

Intro - 00:56
Industry news - 6:15
Book spotlights - 15:04
Author Interview - 32:39
Post interview chat - 1:16:52
Quotes - 1:20:20

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In Australian Book Lovers podcast episode #141, Veronica and Laurie are exploring crime fiction in the Writer's Room with Andrea Barton and Zane Lovitt. We chat about how to use your friends and contacts (nicely) to write better stories. We also dive into fictional financial grey areas and tortured twists on romantic notions of love.

Intro - 0:57
Zane Lovitt Bio - 2:42
Andrea Barton Bio - 3:43
Book Spotlight - The Body Next Door by Zane Lovitt - crime - 05:33
Book Spotlight - A Killer Among Friends by Andrea Barton - crime - 7:15
Publishing pitfalls and possibilities - 16:27
The unique Australian writing voice - 28:53
Villains in crime - 50:55
Advice for new writers - 58:40

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Episode 140 has Veronica and Laurie exploring epic fantasy and imposter syndrome, sharing industry news and events, and learning the meanings of momophobia and siso. Plus Veronica chats with WA fantasy author Abigail Mader about 'The Crystal Dynasty' series.

Book Spotlights:
1. The Spirit Circle by Tara Calaby – speculative historical fiction
2. The Body Next Door by Zane Lovitt – suburban thriller
3. A Killer Among Friends by Andrea Barton – mystery
4. Holy Parrot by Angel A – contemporary/mystery/magical realism
5. Mary Poser by Angel A – YA
6. Last Saturday in Invermay by Zane Pinner – contemporary
7. Love Connections Series: Saoirse’s Story – AM Jaxon romantic suspense

Intro - 00:57
Industry news - 8:04
Book spotlights - 18:21
Author Interview - 34:30
Post interview chat - 1:12:05
Quotes - 1:29:56

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In Australian Book Lovers podcast episode 139, Veronica and Laurie are back in the Writer's Room, diving into suspense and speculative fiction with Ann Dombroski and lifting the contemporary theatre curtain with Deborah Pike, two authors with some unexpected things in common.

Intro - 0:57
Deborah Pike Bio - 2:58
Ann Dombroski Bio - 4:03
Book Spotlight - After the Great Storm by Ann Dombroski - suspense and speculative fiction - 9:40
Book Spotlight - The Players by Deborah Pike - contemporary - 11:05
Should you write for an audience or yourself? - 15:26
Emerging themes in your stories - 24:07
Research, too much, too little, most interesting - 29:32
Share your writing process - 35:22
Students and literature - 49:38
Advice for new writers - 56:52

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Episode #138 has Veronica and Laurie delivering industry news and events, and getting sidetracked on their favourite authors and the meaning of bildungsroman. Laurie shares a fabulous interview with prolific Australian author John Kinsella.

Book Spotlights:

• After the Great Storm by Ann Dombroski - Speculative Fiction Thriller
• The Unintentional Medium by Suzi Samuel - Non-fiction
• The Dark at the Threshold by Suzi Samuel - Supernatural Thriller
• Criminal Cove: Home for Retired Supervillains by SF Sowter – Science Fiction
• The Buried Life by Andrea Goldsmith – contemporary

Intro - 00:57
Industry news - 9:42
Book spotlights - 22:37
Author Interview - 33:24
Post interview chat - 1:38:16
Quotes - 1:39:55

Support the show

Thanks for listening.
Visit australianbooklovers.com to learn more.