In episode #132 of the Australian Book Lovers podcast, Veronica and Laurie chat industry news (so many events), story seeds, editing and the fabulous K.M. Allan's latest blog which has tips for overcoming author burnout. Veronica interviews the wonderful author Diane Clarke about mystery, history and the inspiration behind her writing.

Laurie reviews The Rarkyn's Fall by Nikky Lee

Book Spotlights:

• Golden by S. S. Turner - contemporary
• Christmas Actually by Lisa Darcy - contemporary
• Not Mentioning Any Names by Margaret Pearce - Aussie Tales & Humour
• Nasty Names Are Hurtful: An Australian White Ibis Responds to Name-Calling in the City – written and illustrated by Rick LeCouteur – children
• What if…? How to frame challenges into opportunities for growth by Bronwyn Frazer – non-fiction/self-development

Intro - 00:57
Industry news - 14:04
Book spotlights - 30:40
Author Interview - 46:31
Post interview chat - 1:30:15
Quotes - 1:35:43
Book review - 1:38:27

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In episode 131 Veronica and Laurie are joined in the Writer's Room by Australian romance writers Rowena Mabbot and Jodie Benveniste. They chat about happily ever afters, Australian settings, simpler times, youth mental health and healing. Both writers are great observers of the human condition and share their fabulous insights and experience as well as their transitions to published authors.

Intro - 0:57
Jodie Benveniste bio - 03:39
Book spotlight - Never, Not Ever - Jodie Benveniste - YA Romance - 06:03
Rowena Mabbott bio - 07:57
Book spotlight - Avoiding the Friend Zone - Rowena Mabbott - Contemporary Romance - 11:42
Why these stories? - 17:07
Your concept of love - 22:13
As close observers of the human condition - 30:03
How has the romance genre changed - 36:11
Writing Australian settings - 40:38
Advice for new writers - 53:35

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Episode 130 has Veronica and Laurie planting plenty of seeds for daydreaming over the summer break. They have news (Laurie has sent the final book (5) in her Stones of Power off to the publisher), and events to share along with five book spotlights. Laurie chats with the multi-talented author Dirk Strasser about his latest book 'Conquist', his unique writing journey, backpacking a plot and his experience in the Australian book industry (including the Aurealis awards and Aurealis Magazine). A fabulous way to begin a new year of Reading More Aussie Books!

Book spotlights:

• The Necromancer by Adam Coleman – fantasy
• The Rainbow Coloured Black Sheep by Drew Mortimer – autobiography
• Shattered by Pauline Yates – science fiction thriller
• The Case of the Beth-El Stone by David Cairns – historical fiction
• Never, Not Ever by Jodie Benveniste – YA Romance

Intro - 00:57
Industry news - 7:37
Book spotlights - 22:49
Author Interview - 41:16
Post interview chat - 1:39:37
Quotes - 1:42:25

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In Episode 129, Veronica & Laurie get into the underbelly with crime and thriller writers Dan Kaufman and Lisa Kenway. We chat inspiration, experience, character arcs and red herrings. And we explore themes from the human psyche, connected consciousness, research and plot retrofitting.
Intro - 0:57
Lisa Kenway Bio - 2:47
Dan Kaufman Bio - 6:34
Book Spotlight - All You Took From Me - Lisa Kenway - pyschological thriller - 19:32
Book Spotlight - Humidity - Dan Kaufman - Aussie Noir - 20:46
Exploring the dark corners of the human psyche - 32:07
Plotting the crime thriller - 36:34
Your biggest writing and publishing lesson - 45:13
Advice for new writers - 56:00
Book Review - 58:06

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In episode #128, Laurie finally gets Veronica under the author spotlight. We learn of the Heroine's Journey, how the pathway to publication can be filled with ogres and dragons, and how important family, friends and writing communities are for fostering emerging authors. Then it's Laurie's turn to share why she writes, what she reads, fan fiction, her creative triggers, future plans, and so much more.

Intro - 00:57
Grief and Breathing While Drowning - 06:48
The Heroine's Journey - 08:22
Ochre Dragon - 11:15
ABL origins - 23:16
Why Laurie writes - 41:24
Stones of Power - 52:35
What feeds Laurie's imagination - 56:38
Boss From Hell - 58:09
How does writing make you feel? - 1:06:34
White Fire plus The Good, The Bad & The Undecided - 1:15:32
Quotes - 1:19:06
Chickabella - 1:24:25

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In Episode 127, Veronica & Laurie share Australian writing and publishing industry news, writing events & more wonderful words from John Koenig. Laurie dives into a fabulous conversation about writing original science fiction novels, media tie-ins, screenplays and so much more with the amazing, award-winning and versatile Australian author, Amanda Bridgeman.

Book Spotlights:

• Broome Enigma by Meryl Brown Tobin - romance
• Scruffy and Silk by Karen Kepert & Kaz Clarke - children's picture book
• My Name is Gucci by Sun Jung - contemporary
• A Cold Season by Matthew Hooper - contemporary

Intro - 00:57
Industry news - 3:22
Book spotlights - 14:45
Author Interview - 28:28
Post interview chat - 1:25:46
Quotes - 1:29:18

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In episode 126 Veronica and Laurie are joined in the Writer's Room by authors Lisa Darcy and Dr Bella Ellwood-Clayton. We dive into contemporary fiction writing, female relationships in its many forms across the generations, the concept of perfection, navigating the vicissitudes of life and ultimately triumphing over adversity. Lisa and Bella share their different writing and editing processes, and provide sage advice for emerging authors.

Intro - 00:57
Lisa Darcy bio - 05:35
Book spotlight - Christmas Actually - 8:48
Bella Ellwood-Clayton bio - 13:53
Book spotlight - Weekend Friends - 15:08
Outwardly perfect inwardly messy characters - 22:08
Contemporary settings - 28:31
Relationships from real life creeping into stories - 41:51
The writing and editing process - 55:58

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Episode 125 brings ABL co-founder Darren Kasenkow back for an insightful interview with author, artist and advocate, Damien Linnane. Dive into this brilliant discussion on crime, the justice system, and memoirs as Damien shares some of the traumas and triumphs of his life story, his writing, his art, and his passion for lifelong learning.

Intro - 00:56
Author Interview - 02:25
Post interview chat - 2:01:57
Quotes - 2:03:08

Support the show

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