In this episode of Between the Lines, we're joined by author Olivia O'Flynn to talk about her fantasy novel Ever Blessed, the first book in the Tides of Ever series.

Olivia shares how the story came to life, why she set out to write "the book she wanted to read," and what readers can expect from the world, characters, and themes in the series. We also discuss how the book has been categorised by readers (including "romantasy"), and what that label can mean in practice.

• Ever Blessed as Book 1 in the Tides of Ever series

• Olivia's motivation for writing fantasy and the types of stories she loves as a reader

• Genre conversations, including how the book is sometimes described as romantasy

• Writing approach and craft choices (including character and tone)

• Myth and inspiration touchpoints, including recommendations Olivia shares for readers interested in myth retellings and adjacent fantasy/romantasy reads

• What's next in the series and where Book 2 is at

Ever Blessed is a fantasy novel set in the world of the Tides of Ever series. It blends magic, adventure, and relationship dynamics, with a strong focus on compelling characters and an immersive setting.

Olivia O'Flynn is an author of fantasy fiction and the creator of the Tides of Ever series.

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In this special live episode of Between The Lines, Chelle and Leanne sit down with Australian crime author Fiona Tarr at the Sunshine Coast Fiction Festival to talk about her gripping, atmospheric novels.

Fiona writes crime fiction set in distinctly Australian landscapes - from remote tropical towns to outback mining communities - where secrets run deep and the past is never far behind.

We discuss two of her novels:

Grave Regret, which follows detective Dawn Grave as she returns to the town tied to her traumatic past when her sister goes missing, and Her Buried Bones, where a young constable arrives in an outback opal town searching for answers about her family, only to uncover a suspicious death and a trail of buried secrets.

Across both stories, Fiona explores what happens when personal history collides with professional duty, and how the truth can be both dangerous to uncover - and impossible to ignore.

• Writing crime fiction set in uniquely Australian environments
• Creating strong, complex female investigators
• How personal backstories shape investigative decisions
• The role of small towns in building tension and secrecy
• Balancing personal stakes with crime-driven plots
• Why secrets - both personal and communal - sit at the heart of great crime fiction

• The impact of the past on the present
• Family, loyalty and unresolved trauma
• Power dynamics in small communities
• Corruption, silence and hidden truths
• The tension between doing your job and following your instincts

Grave Regret is a small-town Australian crime novel following detective Dawn Grave as she returns to her hometown to investigate her sister's disappearance — a case that forces her to confront the trauma she's spent decades trying to forget.

Her Buried Bones is set in an outback opal mining town, where a young constable investigating a suspicious death uncovers secrets that may be linked to her own family's past.

Both novels combine strong settings, layered characters and steadily building tension.

Fiona Tarr is an Australian crime author known for writing atmospheric mysteries set in rural and remote communities. Her work focuses on strong female leads, complex personal histories and the hidden dynamics within small towns.

Chelle and Leanne created Between The Lines because they love books and great conversations — and wanted to share both with you.

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In this episode of Between The Lines, Chelle and Leanne chat with internationally bestselling author Courtney Peppernell about her latest novel The Last Poem - a moving story about grief, identity and the possibility of starting again.

The novel follows Wren Paisley, a successful poet whose life is shattered by the sudden loss of her fiancée, Lucy. Overwhelmed by grief and public attention, she leaves everything behind and finds herself drawn to the small town of Everston, Colorado - a place where no one knows her and she can begin again.

There, she quietly rebuilds her life. She changes her name, renovates an old Victorian house, and slowly becomes part of a local grief support group that centres around poetry.

For the first time since her loss, she begins to feel a sense of connection — to the town, to the people around her, and possibly to a new kind of love. But as her past begins to catch up with her, she is forced to confront whether she can truly leave her old life behind.

In our conversation with Courtney, we explore:

• How grief shapes identity and the process of starting over
• The role of poetry in healing and connection
• Why modern poetry resonates so deeply with readers today
• Writing in a way that feels accessible, emotional and real
• How Courtney's own readers influenced the creation of this story

We also found ourselves completely drawn into the setting — and may or may not have added the town that inspired Everston, Colorado to our growing "to be visited" list.

This is a heartfelt conversation about loss, healing and the quiet ways we begin again.

Courtney Peppernell is an internationally bestselling Australian author, best known for her Pillow Thoughts series and other works exploring love, healing and self-discovery.

Her books have sold millions of copies worldwide and have been translated into multiple languages. Courtney lives on the South Coast of NSW and continues to create work that fosters connection, reflection and emotional healing.

Chelle and Leanne created Between The Lines because they love books and great conversations — and wanted to share both with you.

📚 Listen to the podcast for author interviews and reading inspiration

📦 Or join our online book club, where we deliver books to your door and a book club to your reading nook

https://www.betweenthelinesaustralia.com/bookclub2026