Kimberley Freeman is an award-winning writer in children’s, historical and speculative fiction under her birth name Kim Wilkins. She has written several bestselling novels, including Wildflower Hill, Evergreen Falls and Stars Across the Ocean. Her latest novel is The Secret Year of Zara Holt, published by Hachette Australia (read more about the novel below).

Kim has an Honours degree, a Masters degree and a PhD from The University of Queensland where she is also a senior lecturer. There is very little Kim does not know about writing and her readers are the beneficiaries of that knowledge and her experience and her pure, passionate drive to tell stories.

In this episode of the podcast, we talk to Kim about all of that and also about why she chose the Zara Holt - widow of Prime Minister Harold Holt, as well as an acclaimed fashion designer - as her subject and what it’s like to write fiction about a real person. The novel is glorious and if it’s your first Kimberley Freeman novel, it definitely won’t be your last!

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About The Secret Year of Zara Holt

A richly imagined novel of love, fashion, scandal and one captivating woman's passionate life.

Melbourne, 1927. The summer flowers smell like Christmas the night Zara Dickins meets Harry Holt. Zara is wearing a dress she has designed and made herself: white organdie over a short black slip, with black embroidery and a crimson taffeta sash. It's party season and the university crowd are celebrating end-of-year exams. Zara loves dancing with the boys and flirting with them, but it's a game to her. Nothing serious. Until Harry.

He plans to be a politician once he finishes law. She, a fashion designer, if she can find a way to break out of the secretarial pool. When he takes her hand, she doesn't want to let him go.

The spark they ignite that night will last forty years.

Portsea, 1967. When Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt disappears while swimming, his wife Zara loses herself in the memories of their volatile relationship. She always believed Harry when he said no matter what happened, he'd never leave. Their bond has stretched to London, Europe, India, America. It has survived anger, loss and heartbreak, media scrutiny, secrets and lies. But now all Zara wants is for Harry to come home.

A vibrant and compelling story inspired by the fascinating life of fashion designer and businesswoman Dame Zara Bate.

For more information about Rachael Johns: https://www.rachaeljohns.com

For more informationabout Sophie Green: https://sophiegreenauthor.com

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Karly Lane is the bestselling author of 25 rural romance novels - the latest of which is NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK (blurb below) - which have sold over 600 000 copies. When Sophie was a literary agent Karly was her client, but they never actually met, as Karly lives on the mid north coast of New South Wales and at the time she had young children and was fitting in writing books around all the demands of running a household.

It turns out Karly’s pace has not slowed, as she’s writing two books a year, and in this episode of the podcast you’ll almost hear Sophie's jaw drop open (and likely see if it you watch the video version) as Karly talks about how she maintains that pace.

For Sophie this conversation was also a rare opportunity to talk to two authors with many books behind them, as Rachael has over 20 books published.

Karly was so interesting to talk to, and I think for aspiring writers there’s much that’s inspirational in the things she says in this chat. For established writers it’s fascinating too because of the rate at which she works. And for readers, it’s a glimpse ‘behind the curtain’ of an author who continues to deliver compelling stories.

You can find out more about Karly Lane at https://karlylane.com.au

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NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK by Karly Lane

Lottie Fairchild has two loves: history and, well, history. She's fascinated by the legends of love and curses handed down through her family.

Owner of a little antique shop in small country town Banalla, Lottie is on the committee that is about to launch a new festival celebrating local history, including gentleman bushranger Jack McNally.

Altogether, Lottie feels happy. Mostly. But when festival guest speaker Professor Damian Loxley roars into town a week early, Lottie is caught off guard.

As a professor of history and an author, Damian arrives keen to research Jack McNally and a historic cold case: the mysterious disappearance of a colonial lady - in essence the search for a needle in a haystack. Then he meets Lottie Fairchild ... the perfect local guide.

Little do they realise what danger can come with treasures and truths. But least of all do they know that the hardest jewel to grasp is happiness itself ...

For more information about Rachael Johns: https://www.rachaeljohns.com

For more informationabout Sophie Green: https://sophiegreenauthor.com

Subscribe on Spotify

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.