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.

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