In this final episode of the Book Deal podcast season 2025, Tina and Madeleine have a quick catch up reflecting on their debut year and share personal highlights.

Then we switch to our LIVE episode with Writing NSW, where we interviewed Agony Aunt-in-residence, Hayley Scrivenor, who addresses all our writing woes. Hayley offers valuable insights on jealousy and envy, managing public speaking anxiety, persevering through the writing process, and the importance of writing authentically. The episode highlights the challenges and triumphs of writing and publishing, providing encouragement and practical advice for both seasoned and emerging writers.

Hayley Scrivenor is a former festival director and an internationally bestselling author. Her first novel, Dirt Town, won a number of national and international awards, including an ABIA for General Fiction Book of the Year, a Lambda Literary award for LGBTQ+ Mystery and the CWA New Blood Dagger. Her second novel, Girl Falling, won the People’s Choice Danger Award in 2025. Hayley has years of experience teaching writing and particularly enjoys one-on-one mentoring with emerging writers. Hayley holds a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Wollongong and lives on Dharawal country. She is currently working on a novel loosely inspired by the lives of her circus-performer grandparents.

You can find out more about Hayley and her books on her website.

As this was recorded live in Writing NSW, the audio may sound a little different.

00:00 Introduction to the Book Deal Podcast

00:56 Tina & Madeleine catch up

01:55 Highlights and Memorable Moments

06:27 Upcoming Episodes and Events

10:45 Live Episode with Hayley Scrivenor

15:19 Agony Aunt Segment: Writing Advice

29:13 Navigating Rejection and Community Support

31:02 The Importance of Writing What Excites You

33:42 Balancing Publisher Expectations and Personal Passion

36:30 Defining Success as an Author

49:43 Handling Criticism and Persevering

56:35 Mentorship and the Writing Process

01:00:20 Avoiding Vanity Publishers

01:01:37 Top Writing Tips and Final Thoughts

Join our Patreon community for less than the cost of a coffee per month and support the pod! Your contribution will go to directly paying our sound producer, Brogan, and to help us bring you the conversations with industry professionals you love.

Follow The Book Deal podcast on Instagram The Book Deal podcast (@the_book_deal_podcast) • Instagram photos and videos

You can find out more about Tina, Madeleine and Natasha and follow their journeys here:

Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos
Tina Strachan children's book author
Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos
Madeleine Cleary | Author
Natasha Rai (@raiwriting) • Instagram photos and videos
Natasha Rai | Author | Mentor

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Madeleine: Subscribe here...

In this episode of the Book Deal podcast Madeleine interviews Australian award-winning author Holly Cardamone. Holly's debut novel, Summer, In Between (Hawkeye Publishing, September 2025) is a great one for your beach bag this summer.

Holly shares insights from her book's developmental journey, including a surprising setback when she lost a notebook filled with manuscript ideas on a train in Italy, followed by a decade-long creative detour. She also discusses her manuscript winning the 2024 Hawkeye Publishing Manuscript Development Prize and the exhilarating process of getting her book published despite numerous challenges. Holly offers valuable advice on writing processes and book promotion strategies. She emphasises the importance of authentic connections within the literary community, engaging with booksellers, and how her background in communications has influenced her successful pre-launch strategy.

As mentioned by Madeleine, join us for a special Zoom Spoiler Book Club with Kate Mildenhall on The Hiding Place on Wednesday 10 December at 7pm. Tickets are free, but you'll need to sign up here.

00:00 Welcome to the Book Deal Podcast

01:23 Holly Cardamone's Debut Novel

03:59 Nostalgia and Setting in 'Summer In Between'

05:12 Holly's Teenage Years and Writing Aspirations

06:57 The Journey to Becoming a Writer

12:27 The Lost Manuscript and Family Life

14:23 Writing 'Summer In Between'

19:23 Crafting Characters and Voice

23:47 Writing Romance and Green Flag Characters

30:11 Manuscript Assessment and Revisions

34:12 The Writing Day Dilemma

35:02 Balancing Life and Writing

36:18 Turning 50 and Running a Marathon

39:23 From Manuscript to Hawkeye Prize

39:57 The Joy of Writing Again

42:14 Winning the Hawkeye Prize

47:13 Building Author Connections

50:26 Social Media and Bookseller Strategies

01:00:49 Final Tips and Conclusion

Join our Patreon community for less than the cost of a coffee per month and support the pod! Your contribution will go to directly paying our sound producer, Brogan, and to help us bring you the conversations with industry professionals you love.

Follow The Book Deal podcast on Instagram The Book Deal podcast (@the_book_deal_podcast) • Instagram photos and videos

You can find out more about Tina, Madeleine and Natasha and follow their journeys here:

Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos
Tina Strachan children's book author
Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos
Madeleine Cleary | Author
Natasha Rai (@raiwriting) • Instagram photos and videos
Natasha Rai | Author | Mentor

If you want to stay in the know, sign up to Madeleine, Tina and Natasha's newsletters for the latest news first.
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In this episode of The Book Deal podcast, host Natasha Rai interviews Tom Langshaw, publisher at Pantera Press. Tom discusses his journey from working at Penguin Random House to his current role, explaining the intricacies of the publishing process from manuscript acquisition to promotion. He shares insights on what makes a manuscript stand out, the importance of voice and character in fiction, and the significance of timing and market trends in publishing decisions. Tom also emphasizes the value of respectful and collaborative relationships with authors and offers advice for emerging writers on perfecting their pitches. Additionally, Tom highlights concerns about the consolidation in the publishing industry and the importance of supporting independent publishers.

00:00 Welcome to The Book Deal Podcast
00:56 Meet Tom Langshaw: Publisher at Pantera Press
01:57 A Day in the Life of a Publisher
04:45 The Art of Manuscript Selection
08:31 From Editorial Assistant to Publisher
12:17 Navigating the Publishing Industry
16:06 The Role of Sales and Trends in Publishing
21:19 Transitioning to Pantera Press
32:16 Building Relationships in Publishing
33:21 Connecting with Booksellers
34:34 Reading for Work vs. Pleasure
36:03 Editing Tips for Writers
38:48 Common Mistakes in Pitching
45:43 Trends in the Publishing Industry
48:32 Advice for Emerging Writers
56:39 Exciting Upcoming Books
01:00:13 Final Thoughts and Reflections

Join our Patreon community for less than the cost of a coffee per month and support the pod! Your contribution will go to directly paying our sound producer, Brogan, and to help us bring you the conversations with industry professionals you love.

Follow The Book Deal podcast on Instagram The Book Deal podcast (@the_book_deal_podcast) • Instagram photos and videos

You can find out more about Tina, Madeleine and Natasha and follow their journeys here:

Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos
Tina Strachan children's book author
Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos
Madeleine Cleary | Author
Natasha Rai (@raiwriting) • Instagram photos and videos
Natasha Rai | Author | Mentor

If you want to stay in the know, sign up to Madeleine, Tina and Natasha's newsletters for the latest news first.
Madeleine: Subscribe here...