The Fremantle Press Podcast

The art of ageing with wonder and humour with Brigid Lowry

Fremantle Press — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 06:35:30 +0000

What if we could approaching ageing not with dread, but with curiosity and humour? Brigid Lowry’s insights into ageing gracefully and gratefully are a warm embrace for the soul. From navigating the quirks of creaking joints to pondering life’s mysteries, A Time of Living Graciously reminds us to approach life with humour and kindness. Ageing is unavoidable, so what if we could make it wonderful and interesting? In this episode, Brigid shares how we can embrace life’s ups and downs with a light heart, and yes, even approach death with honesty and grace. Show notes About Brigid Brigid Lowry was […]

Poetry, chronic illness, and the living wetlands of Eungedup: A conversation with Giles Watson

Fremantle Press — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 03:50:18 +0000

Nestled between Albany and Denmark, the Eungedup wetlands teem with life. It is also the setting of author Giles Watson’s latest novel, Eungedup: A wetland summer diary. Part memoir, part poetry, Eungedup explores Giles’ journey to understanding his chronic illness as Eungedup awaits the coming of rain. In this episode, Giles dives deeper into the writing process and the wildlife that drew him to Eungedup, shares why poets should record the natural world, and reads poems from the book. Show notes About Giles Giles is a writer and teacher of English and Drama who lives in Albany/Kinjarling, WA. Born in England, […]

Four forces of nature, two languages, one story: Yirga Gelaw Woldeyes on Trials of Hope (የተስፋ ፈተና)

Fremantle Press — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 00:50:49 +0000

Winner of the 2024 Hungerford Award, Yirga Gelaw Woldeyes, joins the Fremantle Press podcast to talk about his award-winning manuscript, Trials of Hope (የተስፋ ፈተና). A unique blend of memoir and poetry, written in both English and Amharic, Trials of Hope tells the story of how Yirga grew up in Ethiopia before moving to Western Australia. Yirga reads poems from the book in both Amharic and English, and takes us deeper into the structure of the novel as mirrored by the four forces of nature, and he reflects on our relationship with place and the value of stories. Show notes […]

Into the unknown on the Fremantle Press podcast: Prema Arasu on poetry, the deep sea and the vampire squid

Fremantle Press — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 04:22:02 +0000

Writer and academic Prema Arasu joins the podcast to talk about their debut poetry collection, Vampire Squid. The collection, written during Prema’s post-doc fellowship at the UWA Deep-Sea Research Centre, explores how we imagine the deep sea – a place we often perceive as eerie and unknowable. Prema explains why they were drawn to poetry, the ways in which they relate to the elusive vampire squid, and reads some poems from the book. Show notes About Prema Prema Arasu is a writer and academic at the Deep-Sea Research Centre at the University of Western Australia. Their research utilises transdisciplinary and […]

Chuckie Raven Has Taken Home the Fogarty Literary Award. Join the Buzz!

Fremantle Press — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 01:04:35 +0000

In Glimmers in the Sea Glass Chuckie Raven shares the stories of Sarah and Owen, two queer characters existing two decades apart. In this podcast the Fogarty Shortlister tells Katherine Allum how they wrote two novels then wove them into one – discovering some important lessons about their writing in the process. Tune in here or on your favourite podcast app to find out more. Show notes About Chuckie Chuckie Raven (they/them) is a youth worker and craftsperson living in Nollamara, WA. They’re the founder and lead of the Perth Pride Shed, Perth’s first LGBTQIA+ community shed. They are passionate […]

Fogarty shortlister Serena Moss on how to rebuild after the wreckage is cleared

Fremantle Press — Fri, 30 May 2025 01:00:00 +0000

When she heard she’d been shortlisted regional writer Serena Moss said she’d been inspired to enter after seeing another ‘Gero’ writer, Holden Sheppard (also from Geraldton), build a writing career. The comparison is apt because this Waggrakine resident gives an equally unapologetic take on small town Australia: from the burn-outs to the booze and from the massive highs of living fast to the irreparable lows of being a young man making bad choices. In this conversation with Katherine Allum she shares that grief is messy – and while you must own your bad decisions, it is what you build from […]

Fogarty shortlister Jessica Baker asks whether we can outrun our own minds

Fremantle Press — Wed, 28 May 2025 01:00:00 +0000

In Out There, In Here, Jessica Baker explores whether we can solve our internal problems by being ‘out there’. In this fascinating conversation she and Katherine Allum discuss the fantasy of escaping the day-to-day vs its reality, and bond over writing manuscripts in the in-between spaces of expat London. Tune in here or on your favourite podcast app to find out more. Show notes About Jessica Jessica Baker (she/her) is a writer based in Kununurra, WA. Her work explores abstract concepts like consent and love, and the intricacies of human emotion. She commenced her career as a journalist in 2020, […]

Meet Seth Malacari, whose manuscript Boy Friends is a queer YA romance set against the backdrop of reality TV

Fremantle Press — Fri, 16 May 2025 04:43:54 +0000

Fremantle Press publisher Georgia Richter describes Boy Friends as a fun, heartwarming read with just the right amount of young adult angst, new love and hot characters. Fogarty shortlister Seth Malacari is one of four writers in the running to win a $20,000 cash prize, a publishing contract and a writing fellowship. Seth told host Katherine Allum they want to use the prize to encourage the trans community to keep writing and keep sharing stories. Tune in here or on your favourite podcast app to find out more. Show notes About Seth Seth Malacari (he/they) is a nonbinary trans masculine […]

How to Avoid a Happy Life podcast – episode 6: Author Julia Lawrinson on the opposite of boredom

Fremantle Press — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 06:09:00 +0000

The life of beloved children’s author Julia Lawrinson is stranger than fiction – and she draws on all her power as a storyteller to turn a life of intense headlines into a wild, marvellous tale. Author Julia Lawrinson was always a creative kid with a knack for theatricality, and in this final episode of the […]

How to Avoid a Happy Life podcast – episode 5: Author Julia Lawrinson on rootlessness

Fremantle Press — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 01:33:30 +0000

The life of beloved children’s author Julia Lawrinson is stranger than fiction – and she draws on all her power as a storyteller to turn a life of intense headlines into a wild, marvellous tale. In the penultimate episode, memoirist Julia Lawrinson discusses the notion of rootlessness by taking a look at her peripatetic childhood […]

Meet Yirga Gelaw Woldeyes, shortlisted for the 2024 City of Fremantle Hungerford Award

Fremantle Press — Sun, 20 Oct 2024 02:00:00 +0000

In this fascinating podcast Yirga Gelaw Woldeyes talks about ‘Teret Teret’ – the ceremonial phrase for introducing stories in Ethiopian culture – and the importance of poetry to the act of storytelling itself. Yirga says, ‘I like to write about the sacred places, holy people and beautiful stories from my country. This for me is an expression of gratitude for my becoming, and guilt for failing to give back as much as I wanted. This is an unusual story that breaks the boundaries of time, place and cultures. As a person, I love crossing multiple worlds and languages with a […]

Meet Fiona Wilkes, shortlisted for the 2024 City of Fremantle Hungerford Award

Fremantle Press — Fri, 11 Oct 2024 07:00:00 +0000

In this podcast Fiona Wilkes, who, unusually, doesn’t have a writing mentor, isn’t doing a creative writing degree and isn’t a member of a writing group, talks about how she wanted to challenge depictions of queer stories. Fiona says, ‘Honestly, part of the drive to write this novel was a dissatisfaction at the way queer […]

Meet Howard McKenzie-Murray, shortlisted for the 2024 City of Fremantle Hungerford Award

Fremantle Press — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 07:00:00 +0000

Howard McKenzie-Murray says his main character was inspired by a road trip, Huckleberry Finn and his own sister. He says, ‘Far From Wonderful is somewhere between a coming-of-age and a journey-home story set in Perth and narrated by 21-year-old med student Maud Tarkington. Maud brings you with her through a 24-hour period spanning her 21st birthday and her […]

Meet Jodie Tes, shortlisted for the 2024 City of Fremantle Hungerford Award

Fremantle Press — Sat, 21 Sep 2024 02:00:00 +0000

In this podcast you get to hear the voice of Screech, Jodie Tes’ titular character. What might surprise you is that Screech is a sulphur-crested cockatoo. Jodie says, ‘I was on a morning walk, listening to Radio National, when an interview with a hilarious and passionate wildlife ecologist sparked the idea for Screech. She was […]

How to Avoid a Happy Life podcast – episode 4: Author Julia Lawrinson pays tribute to her time in the fast-food industry

Fremantle Press — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 00:06:52 +0000

About the episode The life of beloved children’s author Julia Lawrinson is stranger than fiction – and she draws on all her power as a storyteller to turn a life of intense headlines into a wild, marvellous tale. In the fourth episode of this six-part series, Julia returns to her hometown in the south-eastern suburbs […]

How to Avoid a Happy Life podcast – episode 3: Author Julia Lawrinson explores her relationship with her grandparents and the generation gap between them

Fremantle Press — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 05:21:00 +0000

About the show The life of beloved children’s author Julia Lawrinson is stranger than fiction – and she draws on all her power as a storyteller to turn a life of intense headlines into a wild, marvellous tale. In the third episode of this six-part series, Julia delves into her family history to examine the generation gap between herself and her grandparents – and in particular how the role of domesticity divided them. Julia explores the makings of a generation defined by their ‘put up and shut up’ attitude and how it played a role in her upbringing. About the […]

How to Avoid a Happy Life podcast episode 2: Author Julia Lawrinson spills all about being a riotous youth in WA during the 90s

Fremantle Press — Thu, 30 May 2024 05:29:00 +0000

How to Avoid a Happy Life podcast episode 1: Author Julia Lawrinson traces her family lineage to reveal generational truths about divorce

Fremantle Press — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 04:29:18 +0000

Meet Katherine Allum whose manuscript The Skeleton House is a work of literary fiction characterised by a controlled delivery and a sense of suffocating foreboding

Fremantle Press — Wed, 24 May 2023 10:22:42 +0000

What happens when two writers of literary fiction get together for a chat? Find out in the latest Fremantle Press podcast as 2021 Fogarty Literary Award winner Brooke Dunnell interviews shortlisted writer Katherine Allum. Katherine has a one in six chance of winning $20,000 and a publishing contract with Fremantle Press and she’ll find out […]

Patrick Marlborough discusses Nock Loose on the Fremantle Press podcast

Fremantle Press — Tue, 23 May 2023 10:23:24 +0000

Patrick Marlborough has been published in many national and international publications, and their novel, A Horse Held at Gunpoint, was shortlisted in the 2021 Fogarty Literary Award. Now they are in the running for the 2023 Fogarty Literary Award for Nock Loose. In their novel, a retired Olympic archer and former stuntwoman (whose character was […]

Prema Arasu discusses The Anatomy of Witchcraft on the Fremantle Press podcast

Fremantle Press — Mon, 22 May 2023 08:17:34 +0000

Prema Arasu has a one in six chance of winning $20,000 and a publishing contract with Fremantle Press. Their manuscript, The Anatomy of Witchcraft, is in the running for the prestigious 2023 Fogarty Literary Award for Western Australian writers aged 18 to 35. The Anatomy of Witchcraft is a captivating young adult novel blending themes […]

History repeats itself for writer Emily Paull who has been shortlisted for the Fogarty Literary Award

Fremantle Press — Fri, 19 May 2023 04:37:02 +0000

In this special podcast episode, Emily Paull tells Brooke Dunnell how perseverance and dedication to her craft secured her a place on the Fogarty Literary Award shortlist with a novel she’s been working on for 15 years. The Dreamers is a novel which, after many rewrites, may find itself on the way to publication. Georgia […]

Introducing Karleah Olson whose manuscript, A Wreck of Seabirds, has secured her a place on the Fogarty Literary Award shortlist

Fremantle Press — Thu, 18 May 2023 08:27:09 +0000

Karleah Olson has a one in six chance of winning $20,000 and a publishing contract with Fremantle Press. Her manuscript, A Wreck of Seabirds, is in the running for the prestigious 2023 Fogarty Literary Award for Western Australian writers aged 18 to 35. It’s a gothic YA novel that Georgia Richter describes as a ‘beautiful […]

Introducing Bunbury writer Josh Kemp whose manuscript, Jasper Cliff has him commended in the Fogarty Literary Awards for a second time

Fremantle Press — Tue, 16 May 2023 08:59:15 +0000

Josh Kemp is no stranger to the Fogarty Literary Awards. He’s previously stood upon the stage at The Edith Spiegeltent to receive his longlisting for Banjawarn – his now award-winning debut novel – which, coincidentally, is in the running for a Western Australian Premier’s Award. This time Josh has a one in six chance of […]

Maria Papas presents: Introducing Joy Killian-Essert, one of the 2022 City of Fremantle Hungerford Award shortlisted authors

Fremantle Press — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 08:56:00 +0000

Joy Killian-Essert joins the podcast to chat with Maria Papas, winner of the 2020 City of Fremantle Hungerford Award, about her manuscript, The Slow Patience of the Sea & Other Stories – an immersive and intimate collection of short stories that weaves its narrative closely with nature. For Joy, the process of writing has been […]

Maria Papas presents: Meet the City of Fremantle Hungerford Award shortlisted writer Marie O’Rourke

Fremantle Press — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 08:51:28 +0000

Maria Papas, winner of the 2020 City of Fremantle Hungerford Award, chats with Marie O’Rourke about her shortlisted manuscript, Kintsugi, a wise and gentle piece of narrative non-fiction. Kintsugi is inspired by the Japanese artform by the same name, celebrating beauty in breakage. Marie discusses how her manuscript uses a delicate touch to work with […]

Maria Papas presents: Gerard McCann – one of the 2022 City of Fremantle Hungerford Award shortlisters

Fremantle Press — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 09:07:00 +0000

Gerard McMann joins Maria Papas, winner of the 2020 City of Fremantle Hungerford Award, to talk about his manuscript called Tell Me the Story, a generous and insightful personal narrative non-fiction. Tell Me the Story is a compelling read that reinforces to publisher Georgia Richter that when a story is well told, anything is possible. […]

Maria Papas presents: Introducing shortlisted writer for the 2022 City of Fremantle Hungerford Award, Molly Schmidt.

Fremantle Press — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 09:24:39 +0000

On today’s podcast, Molly Schmidt discusses her manuscript, Salt River Road – a beautiful and moving piece combining verse and prose – with Maria Papas, winner of the 2020 City of Fremantle Hungerford Award. Salt River Road is set in the Great Southern region of Western Australia and follows the aftermath of a beloved mother’s […]

Brooke Dunnell presents: David Whish-Wilson on overcoming the fear of the known

Fremantle Press — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 07:04:00 +0000

Speaking to host Brooke Dunnell on the Fremantle Press podcast, novelist David Whish-Wilson said the main problem he sees from his students as a Creative Writing teacher is ‘overcoming the fear of the known; overcoming this fear that your life is somehow not authentic and your life is not as interesting as other people’s.’ David’s […]

Helen Milroy presents: Tyrown Waigana on learning the language of the land

Fremantle Press — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 04:14:39 +0000

Tyrown Waigana joins the podcast to chat to Helen Milroy about the importance of learning the Noongar language and believes his collaborative book with Jayden Boundry, Noongar Boodja Waangkan, could change how we interact as a culture. Tyrown says, ‘It would be cool if this book influences everyone around here and we start talking Noongar […]

Brooke Dunnell presents: crime novelist Karen Herbert says spreadsheets can help you wrangle a rogue plot

Fremantle Press — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 00:44:08 +0000

Speaking to Brooke Dunnell on the Fremantle Press podcast, novelist Karen Herbert says she didn’t know how the narrative was going to pan out until the end of her writing. Karen says, ‘The story started with chapter four … It was really one of those stories that evolved as you write them. I didn’t know […]

Bron Bateman presents: Yirga Gelaw Woldeyes and Afeif Ismail on lost meaning through translation

Fremantle Press — Thu, 25 Aug 2022 01:01:24 +0000

Bron Bateman sits down with Unlimited Futures contributors Yirga Gelaw Woldeyes and Afeif Ismail to chat about translating texts and the consequential loss of original meaning and intention. ‘Because language is very much intimately linked with the history, the experience, the culture of the people in question,’ says Yirga ‘when we are unable to bring […]

Bron Bateman presents: Andrew Sutherland on queer art making and the discourse around HIV

Fremantle Press — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 08:38:56 +0000

In this episode of the poetry podcast Andrew Sutherland talks to Bron Bateman about how he found his queer identity as a teenager through cult TV, horror movies and science fiction. Andrew says, ‘I really enjoy as an art-maker bringing academia or bringing the canon or the classics down to play in the dirt with […]

Bron Bateman presents: Nadia Rhook on poetry, history, motherhood and privilege

Fremantle Press — Wed, 03 Aug 2022 01:24:22 +0000

In Nadia Rhook’s latest collection Second Fleet Baby she writes of the differences and similarities between motherhood in contemporary and convict times. Nadia says of herself and her ancestor Susannah Mortimer, ‘As white women we have in common that part of our desirability, or function in the colony, is to reproduce the settler population. And […]

Helen Milroy presents: Paula Hayes on writing stories for kids that examine real issues

Fremantle Press — Thu, 14 Jul 2022 03:13:57 +0000

Paula Hayes says she hopes young people find comfort and escapism in her books. Reading as an adult took her out of her day to day and immersed her in a world she didn’t want to leave. ‘You just enter a different world for a while, but the themes of your own reality are still […]

Helen Milroy presents: Kathryn Lefroy on how ‘vomit drafting’ before learning how to write can be useful

Fremantle Press — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 01:30:18 +0000

Growing up, Kathryn Lefroy was not allowed to watch television, and was instead encouraged to create stories for herself and read books. Kathryn gave up writing for fun when academia and university studies took her away from her path. So when she did circle back to it, Kathryn said she made a conscious decision not […]

Helen Milroy presents: Aśka explains the difference between an illustrator and a visual storyteller

Fremantle Press — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 09:14:11 +0000

The amazing Helen Milroy returns to the podcast chair for her first interview of 2022. Helen chats to the co-creator of Stars in Their Eyes, Aśka. You’ll love hearing about Aśka’s journey from high flying physicist to high flying visual storyteller – what a leap of faith! She chats about her unique collaboration with Jessica […]

Brooke Dunnell presents: award-winning novelist Maria Papas challenges the narrative arc in her novel about the effects of childhood illness

Fremantle Press — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 09:56:12 +0000

Speaking to Brooke Dunnell on the Fremantle Press podcast, novelist Maria Papas said when she was younger some people told her ‘Writing’s not really a career for a girl from Bunbury … you have to pick something safer’. But, as she points out, her enjoyment of writing has held her in good stead so far. […]

How to be an Author: Fremantle Press talks with the Australian Society of Authors CEO and company secretary Olivia Lanchester

Fremantle Press — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 06:17:59 +0000

Olivia Lanchester, CEO and company secretary of The Australian Society of Authors, joins Claire Miller and Georgia Richter for a chat about the ASA and what writers can gain from being members. Olivia discloses the advocacy work of the ASA being a national body that speaks for authors and talks about the importance of writing […]

New podcast host Brooke Dunnell teases out the emotional undercurrents of the harvest in her chat with Locust Summer author, David Allan-Petale

Fremantle Press — Fri, 04 Feb 2022 09:34:07 +0000

Our 2021 Fogarty Literary Award winner, Brooke Dunnell, is behind the wheel and driving this year’s Fremantle Press podcast series. In her first episode Brooke visits the Western Australian Wheatbelt to experience the heat and intensity of the harvest through the eyes of her guest, novelist and combine harvester aficionado, David Allan-Petale. His book, Locust […]

How to be an Author: Fremantle Press unpacks the secret of selling books to booksellers

Fremantle Press — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 08:54:21 +0000

By his calculations, Penguin Random House account manager Gavin Burbidge attempts to place 432 books into Australian bookstores per month. Across the publishing industry, that means your book will be competing against thousands of titles and your account manager’s pitch could be less than ten seconds long. For a deep dive into sales, Penguin Random House account managers Gavin Burbidge and Jane Parkhill join Claire and Georgia on the How to be an Author podcast. Meanwhile the final Comma Chameleon episode is all about the Macquarie Dictionary’s Word of the Year and Georgia and Claire discuss the relative merits of featuring cats vs dogs, and gerbils vs Hugh Jackman in your author publicity shots.

Topics discussed:

Competition for shelf space
How many titles your book competing with
Key promotions times for authors
The Macquarie Dictionary’s word of the year
Tips for authors on how to work with booksellers
What does a typical sell-in look like?

The How to Be an Author editions of the Fremantle Press podcast are an informal series of chats between publishing industry professionals. Co-hosted by Marketing and Communications Manager Claire Miller and Publisher Georgia Richter, it features regular guest appearances by editor Armelle Davies, as the Comma Chameleon, special publishing industry guests and top tips from contributors to the book How to Be an Author: The Business of Being a Writer in Australia.

Show Notes

Extend your podcast

How to Be an Author: The Business of Being a Writer in Australia by Georgia Richter and Deborah Hunn is available in all good bookstores and online. Between its pages you’ll find everything you need to know about the business of being a writer from people who live and breathe books.

Connect with Georgia and many of the contributors to the book and podcast in the Facebook group.

Guests

Gavin Burbidge and Jane Parkhill are both account managers for Penguin Random House Australia.

Author tip

Brendan Ritchie is a writer and filmmaker from Fremantle, WA. In 2015 he published his debut novel, Carousel, and was awarded a PhD in Creative Writing. Carousel has been critically acclaimed and is longlisted for the 2016 Gold Inky Award. The sequel, Beyond Carousel, was released to critical acclaim in 2016. In addition to writing, Brendan spends his time lecturing across a range of creative disciplines.

Organisations, books and people discussed

Books for Cooks

Chickensaurus by James Foley
Collins Bookstores
Hugh Jackman
Macquarie Dictionary
Matthew Riley
Moira Court
Natasha Lester
United Book Distributors

Original music
Title Music and Comma Chameleon Theme by Mo Wilson (copyright 2021)

Sound engineering
Aidan D’Adhemar, Fremantle PA Hire

Produced by
Claire Miller and Chloe Walton, Fremantle Press Marketing and Communications

This podcast was produced in Walyalup in Whadjuk Boodja, on the lands of the Noongar people.

Helen Milroy presents: Stellarphant creator James Foley discusses how he made the leap from day job to full-time author

Fremantle Press — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 05:58:53 +0000

James Foley says the transition from a part-time day job to making a living from his craft was huge and he does not recommend any one quit their job, overnight, on a whim. It took James 14 years to get himself to the point of earning an income from his work as an author/illustrator. In […]

Helen Milroy presents: on the latest podcast, the insightful and joyful Jessica Walton talks about why every child needs a diverse bookshelf

Fremantle Press — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 00:13:00 +0000

Jessica Walton, co-creator of the new graphic novel Stars in Their Eyes, says when young people become disabled or are born with a disability, they're often in a family of non-disabled people and don't always get connected to the disabled community soon enough. She’s passionate about all young people getting to see themselves represented in literature, film and television and believes that adults have a responsibility to make sure children are exposed to disability in the fictional world before they interact with them in the real world.

Topics discussed
Being kind to your writing self
Diversifying your bookshelf
Encouraging kids to make a career out of writing
Self-care and writing time when you have a disability
Representation in literature
Using a Kickstarter campaign to get your book published
Working with an illustrator

For the full show notes go to www.fremantlepress.com.au.

Original music
‘Steel Cap Serenade’ by Aidan D’Adhemar, © 2021

Sound engineering
Aidan D’Adhemar, Fremantle PA Hire

Produced by
Claire Miller, Fremantle Press Marketing and Communications Manager

This podcast was produced in Walyalup in Whadjuk Boodja, on the lands of the Noongar people.

Helen Milroy presents: Gladys Milroy shows you’re never too old to write your story

Fremantle Press — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 08:03:00 +0000

Born in 1927, Gladys Milroy was taken to the Parkerville Orphanage at two years old and spent the next 14 years separated from her mother, Daisy. Gladys say, ‘I think the thing is about growing up in an orphanage is that you live in a story all the time because that’s the way you survive.’

Now in her tenth decade, Gladys says she getting more stories than ever before. ‘A lot of stories I get at night when I’m dreaming … it’s all in colour and I’m part of it … that’s what I love about it. It’s like I’m in this beautiful story that I’m writing.’

Of writing books for children she says, ‘I think people have to be very honest and truthful with their kids. Don’t dress it up and fancy it up. They need to see the truth … We’re all part of each other, we all belong to each other and we’re all part of nature.’

Topics discussed
Aboriginal storytelling
Connecting to nature through stories
Dreaming and writing in full colour
Illustrating an entire story in one image
Where do stories come from?

For the full show notes go to www.fremantlepress.com.au.

Original music
‘Steel Cap Serenade’ by Aidan D’Adhemar, © 2021

Sound engineering
Aidan D’Adhemar, Fremantle PA Hire

Produced by
Claire Miller, Fremantle Press Marketing and Communications Manager

This podcast was produced in Walyalup in Whadjuk Boodja, on the lands of the Noongar people.

The Fremantle Press podcast: Leanne Hall of Readings says networking can be a beautiful, natural and organic thing

Fremantle Press — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 08:02:00 +0000

Leanne Hall joins us on the podcast! We are so pleased to have a bookseller chat to us. Leanne is an author of young adult and children's fiction and works as an online children’s and YA specialist at the independent bookshop Readings. Once you’ve listened to this podcast you’ll feel like you know your local bookseller, and the business of selling books, a lot better.

Though she acknowledges the highly competitive nature of our industry, Leanne’s interview is brimming with tips and encouragement. Even her idea of networking makes it sound quite nice really. She says, ‘I think a lot of people cringe with the idea of … networking in this really sort of callous, calculating way, but it doesn’t have to be like that, it can be a beautiful, natural and organic thing. Most writers are writing because they love books. They genuinely love reading and they love books … Act accordingly; demonstrate your passion and it will come back to you for sure.’

Topics discussed:
Competition for shelf space
Creating a relationship with your local bookseller
How bookstores choose books
Learning from your genre specialist before you’re published
Myth-busting the art of bookselling
Unlocking your writers block with Sasha Wasley
When NOT to approach your bookseller

Original music
Title Music and Comma Chameleon Theme by Mo Wilson (copyright 2021)

Sound engineering
Aidan D’Adhemar, Fremantle PA Hire

Produced by
Tiffany Ko, Claire Miller and Chloe Walton, Fremantle Press Marketing and Communications

This podcast was produced in Walyalup in Whadjuk Boodja, on the lands of the Noongar people.

Helen Milroy presents: Katie Stewart says encouraging kids to ask and answer their own questions is one of the keys to creativity

Fremantle Press — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 07:38:00 +0000

Katie Stewart said she turned to art because she couldn’t keep up with her two older sisters who were incredibly bright. Drawing was her way to do something that distinguished her from them.

With pressure on her to go to university and make the most of the opportunities her mother never had, Katie first did a degree in archaeology then had many career twists and tangents. Katie was well into her fifth decade before she finally turned back to her abiding passion for art. In this podcast she discusses her work and her journey with Helen Milroy.

Topics discussed
Artist studio or hoarder’s paradise?
Critical thinking for kids
Digital illustration
Following your passion
Where do ideas come from?

For the full show notes go to https://www.fremantlepress.com.au/c/news

Original music
‘Steel Cap Serenade’ by Aidan D’Adhemar, © 2021

Sound engineering
Aidan D’Adhemar, Fremantle PA Hire

Produced by
Claire Miller, Fremantle Press Marketing and Communications Manager

The Fremantle Press podcast on how to be a children’s book author who knows how to present

Fremantle Press — Fri, 02 Jul 2021 03:19:00 +0000

Lesley Reece, founder and former director of The Literature Centre, joins Claire Miller and Georgia Richter for a chat about how to prepare yourself to face a room full of under-17s! Leslie ìmparts top tips for aspiring children’s book writers while Claire and Georgia discuss the merits of book hoovering. Writer and editor Amanda Curtin shares her reading recommendations, and the Comma Chameleon has a slanging match with the hosts.

Topics discussed:
Becoming a children’s book writer
How sharing our mistakes makes us more engaging
What makes a good children’s book presenter
When to use slang in your book, and when not to

For the full show notes go to https://www.fremantlepress.com.au/c/news

Original music
Title Music and Comma Chameleon Theme by Mo Wilson (copyright 2021)

Sound engineering
Aidan D’Adhemar, Fremantle PA Hire

Editing
Claire Miller

Produced by
Tiffany Ko, Claire Miller and Chloe Walton, Fremantle Press Marketing and Communications

In the first Helen Milroy Presents podcast, we welcome textile artist turned children’s book illustrator Ruth de Vos to the studio

Fremantle Press — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 03:38:00 +0000

Ruth de Vos says children’s books inspired her textile art long before she became an illustrator. With six children in the house, she says storybooks were always a big part of family life, and she developed an appreciation for their brilliance and their accessibility as an art form. In this podcast, she takes us behind the scenes for a glimpse into how she created the illustrations for Shine by Danny Parker.

Topics discussed:
Editing illustrations
Capturing the joy and difficulty of parenthood
Celebrating ordinary, everyday moments
Finding a structure for the picture book
Killing your darlings
Real homes vs. Pinterest

For the full show notes go to https://www.fremantlepress.com.au/c/news

Original music
‘Steel Cap Serenade’ by Aidan D’Adhemar, © 2021

Sound engineering
Aidan D’Adhemar, Fremantle PA Hire

Produced by
Claire Miller, Fremantle Press Marketing and Communications Manager

Love to Read Local 2021: Mel Hall talks to Maria Papas about how her upbringing, a Christian conversion and her curiosity led her to The Little Boat on Trusting Lane

Fremantle Press — Fri, 11 Jun 2021 01:07:00 +0000

In this episode of the Love to Read Local podcast Mel Hall tells to our host Maria Papas that curiosity led her to writing her novel, The Little Boat on Trusting Lane. Mel says, ‘I was living in Fremantle and I was pretty curious and a bit questioning about some sort of wellness stuff that I was around … I was also having a lot of good talks with a close friend, who is a massive sceptic. I grew up in the church with faith so we were having really good conversations about what faith and belief are, and what community and church are. It really made me question those things and what they mean to me. And at the same time as that I was having this chronic pain and imaging different therapies about pain management that I thought might work … it all just started to become fiction.’

Love to Read Local is a state-wide, celebration of Western Australian stories, books and writers. Visit the Love to Read Local website to connect with other readers, tell us which local books you love to read and perhaps inspire others to read those books too!

Music: ‘Letter to a Daughter of St George’, from the Meat Lunch EP: Songs from Floaters. Written by Alan Fyfe. Performed by Trevor Bentley (guitar and vocals – @trevormb) and Chris Parkinson (harmonica). Produced by Blake Carnaby of Nuglife studios with impresario work by Benjamin P. Newton.

Producer: Claire Miller
Mastered and edited by: Aidan d’Adhemar

Love to Read Local 2021: Maria Papas talks to Susan Midalia about why it’s crucial to keep writing about family

Fremantle Press — Wed, 09 Jun 2021 01:10:00 +0000

Susan Midalia says families can be nurturing, or they can be really damaging, but most of us have them. Family plays a key role in her latest novel, Everyday Madness. Susan says the book is about the ways in which ordinarily rational people can become irrational due to certain personal or social circumstances.

She says she didn’t use the word ‘madness’ in a pejorative way but wanted people to think about the fact that depression is widespread and ‘everyday’ in that sense. Susan said, ‘It is becoming more readily diagnosed but the danger there I think is that sometimes people can assume because so many people have depression that it’s really just a case of the blues something we can easily recover from … the symptoms can in fact be really debilitating and frightening.’

In this podcast she jumps into the Love to Read Local hot seat for an interview with City of Fremantle Hungerford Award winner Maria Papas.

Love to Read Local is a statewide celebration of Western Australian stories, books and writers. Visit the Love to Read Local website to connect with other readers, tell us which local books you love to read and perhaps inspire others to read those books too!

Producer: Claire Miller
Mastered and edited by: Aidan d’Adhemar

Love to Read Local 2021: Maria Papas talks to novelist Josephine Taylor about Eye of a Rook and giving voice to women’s experiences

Fremantle Press — Sun, 06 Jun 2021 01:02:00 +0000

Josephine Taylor says ‘Now Eye of a Rook is in the world and my vulvodynia story is complete. My pain was not invited but it has brought me to this. How can I not be grateful?’ In this Love to Read Local Podcast Jo talks to City of Hungerford winner Maria Papas about her new novel.

Vulvodynia, the condition at the heart of Eye of a Rook is one that affects over two million women in Australia. It is a condition known to medicine since Victorian times but one that the medical profession still doesn’t understand. Taylor says, ‘What … really incensed me about this was that so many women were experiencing this pain but nobody really knew anything about it. I think that I really felt that it was critical that women were given a voice.’

Love to Read Local is a statewide, celebration of Western Australian stories, books and writers. Visit the Love to Read Local website to connect with other readers, tell us which local books you love to read and perhaps inspire others to read those books too!

Love to Read Local 2021: Maria Papas talks to novelist Emma Young about the bonds we form through a shared love of books

Fremantle Press — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 01:05:00 +0000

The Last Bookshop by Emma Young is a book about what happens when you’re faced with the decision to sink or swim, it’s about a shared love of reading, finding your community and caring for one another. In this first #LoveToReadLocal podcast Emma talks to City of Hungerford winner Maria Papas.

We think it’s the perfect book to kick off Love to Read Local!

Love to Read Local is a statewide, online celebration of Western Australian stories, books and writers. Visit the Love to Read Local website to connect with other readers, tell us which local books you love to read and perhaps inspire others to read those books too!

Producer: Claire Miller
Mastered and edited by: Aidan d’Adhemar

Meet the 2021 Fogarty Literary Award Shortlist

Fremantle Press — Tue, 25 May 2021 07:22:00 +0000

Brooke Dunnell, Patrick Marlborough and Georgia Tree each have a one-in-three chance of taking out Australia’s newest and richest literary award for young writers. In this special edition of the Fremantle Press Podcast, Marketing and Communications Manager Claire Miller chats to each of the 2021 Fogarty Literary Award shortlisted writers and invites Fremantle Press publisher, Georgia Richter, to discuss why each writer's manuscript rose to the top of the reading pile.
The episode also includes a reading from each of the shortlisted manuscripts:
The Glass House by Brooke Dunnell (South Perth)
A Horse Held at Gunpoint by Patrick Marlborough (Fremantle)
Old Boy by Georgia Tree (Mt Lawley)
The Fogarty Literary Award is a biennial prize for an unpublished manuscript by a Western Australian author aged between 18 and 35 for a work of fiction, narrative non-fiction or young adult fiction. The winner receives a cash prize of $20,000 from the Fogarty Foundation and a publishing contract with Fremantle Press.
The Fogarty Foundation was established by Brett and Annie Fogarty in 2000 to support and provide educational and leadership opportunities for young people across the spectrum of the Western Australian community. As well as partnering with a range of organisations, the foundation has initiated its own programs that include the UWA Fogarty Scholarship Program, CoderDojo WA and Fogarty EDvance.

Music: ‘Letter to a Daughter of St George’, from The Meat Lunch EP: Songs from Floaters. Written by Alan Fyfe. Performed by Trevor Bentley (guitar and vocals – @trevormb) and Chris Parkinson (harmonica). Produced by Blake Carnaby of Nuglife studios with impresario work by Benjamin P. Newton.

Producer: Claire Miller

Mastered and edited by: Aidan d’Adhemar

How to be an Author who nails interviews and knows how to pitch

Fremantle Press — Tue, 25 May 2021 06:56:00 +0000

Georgia and Claire are joined by Rowena Morcom, Publisher and Editor of Good Reading Magazine, SpineOut and PK Mag, for a chat about what makes a good author interview and how authors make their way under the covers of her well-thumbed glossy pages for book lovers. Rowena dishes up a hot and greasy story about the things writers shouldn't do, and Claire and Georgia discuss using books in self-defence. Writer and journalist Anne-Louise Willoughby shares why resarch is vital and the Comma Chameleon shows how substandard Gen X is when it comes to choosing the right emoji.

Topics discussed:
Author interviews
Emojis
Pitching to the media
Research for writers
Staying authentic and thinking about your audience
The importance of preparing for interviews
What makes a good Fogarty Literary Award entry

The How to Be an Author editions of the Fremantle Press podcast are an informal series of chats between publishing industry professionals. Co-hosted by marketing and communications manager Claire Miller and publisher Georgia Richter, it features regular guest appearances by editor Armelle Davies, as the Comma Chameleon, special publishing industry guests and top tips from contributors to the book How to Be an Author: The Business of Being a Writer in Australia.

Original music

Sound engineering

Aidan D’Adhemar, Fremantle PA Hire

Editing

Claire Miller

Produced by

Tiffany Ko, Claire Miller and Chloe Walton, Fremantle Press Marketing and Communications

How to be an Author: Let's discuss how to get the most out of your writing group

Fremantle Press — Thu, 06 May 2021 10:25:00 +0000

Are you in a writing group? Georgia and Claire are joined by Deborah Hunn co-author of How to Be an Author: The Business of Being a Writer in Australia for a chat about the ins and outs of workshopping manuscripts. Invisible Boys author Holden Sheppard shares his tips for finding your unique voice and the Comma Chameleon helps us ‘pick the dinkus’.

Topics include:

Where to find a writing group and how to start one from scratch

When is it too early to workshop your manuscript?

How to give and receive constructive feedback

When to accept feedback and when to discard it

Finding your best readers

The How to Be an Author editions of the Fremantle Press podcast are an informal series of chats between publishing industry professionals. Co-hosted by marketing and communications manager Claire Miller and publisher Georgia Richter it features regular guest appearances by editor Armelle Davies, as the Comma Chameleon, special publishing industry guests and top tips from contributors to the book How to Be an Author: The Business of Being a Writer in Australia.

Original music

Sound engineering

Aidan D’Adhemar, Fremantle PA Hire

Editing

Claire Miller

Produced by

Tiffany Ko, Claire Miller and Chloe Walton, Fremantle Press Marketing and Communications

How to Be an Author tackles the tricky business of how to make a book cover that sells

Fremantle Press — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 03:30:00 +0000

Welcome to the first How to Be an Author in Australia edition of the Fremantle Press podcast, co-hosted by marketing and communications manager Claire Miller and publisher Georgia Richter.

In the first episode, Georgia and Claire share the details of Georgia’s new book she co-wrote with Deborah Hunn, How to Be an Author: The Business of Being a Writer in Australia, and share the details of the How to Be an Author in Australia Facebook group. They talk to designer Nada Backovic about her tips on how to get the best cover for your book, writer Meg McKinlay tells authors to have a ‘frank conversation with themselves’ and the Comma Chameleon has a quiz that gets to the roots of obsolescence.

For the full show notes, go to fremantlepress.com.au.

Original music

Title Music and Comma Chameleon Theme by Mo Wilson (Ó 2021)

Sound engineering

Aidan D’Adhemar, Fremantle PA Hire

Production

Tiffany Ko, Claire Miller and Chloe Walton, Fremantle Press Marketing and Communications

Dani Vee of the Words and Nerds podcast joins Rebecca Higgie for the final Fremantle Press Podcast of 2020

Fremantle Press — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 17:13:00 +0000

What happens when you put two podcasters into one studio? You get podcast mashup audio magic! In this episode host Rebecca Higgie celebrates the release of her debut novel, The History of Mischief, while Dani Vee celebrates the three-year anniversary of her tiny podcast with big ideas, Words and Nerds.

English teacher, lit lover and self-confessed nerd Dani Vee describes her podcast, Words and Nerds, as a passion project created because of her love of literature and her desire to get into the minds of authors. Rebecca Higgie was thrown into the deep end as the Fremantle Press Podcast host after winning the Fogarty Literary Award.

For the full show notes go to fremantlepress.com.au.

Producer: Claire Miller

Mastered and edited by: Aidan d’Adhemar

Sponsored by the Copyright Agency Limited Cultural Fund

From Sherlock Holmes to hamsters and from Agatha Christie to moustaches: Alexander Thorpe and Dave Warner chat all things crime on the Fremantle Press Podcast

Fremantle Press — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 05:36:00 +0000

In Rebecca Higgie’s penultimate episode as host of the Fremantle Press Podcast, we’re talking crime. Veteran crime writer Dave Warner joins the podcast to talk about his fifth book, Over My Dead Body, while new kid on the block Alexander Thorpe discusses his historical cosy crime debut, Death Leaves the Station.

Join them as they travel from the 1920s and the Australian outback all the way to the mean streets of modern-day New York City. Sharing the journey will be a nameless friar, a missing corpse, a scientist who brings hamsters back from the dead and none other than Sherlock Holmes.

For the full show notes go to the Fremantle Press website.

Producer: Claire Miller

Mastered and edited by: Aidan d’Adhemar

Sponsored by the Copyright Agency Limited Cultural Fund

Shortlisted for the City of Fremantle Hungerford Award, Maria Papas shares her manuscript about what it is like to bear witness as a sibling battles a serious and frightening illness

Fremantle Press — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 06:34:00 +0000

Maria Papas’s manuscript, I Belong to the Lake, is one of three unpublished manuscripts in the running to win the 2020 City of Fremantle Hungerford Award. If she wins, she’ll secure herself a publishing contract with Fremantle Press and a $15,000 cash prize from the City of Fremantle.

In this podcast, Maria chats to Marketing and Communications Manager Claire Miller about her frustration with how some narratives deal with cancer as a blip in the lives of the characters – not as a disease that can have a profound and lifelong effect on sufferers and family members alike.

This is the second time Maria has been shortlisted for the Hungerford and she has a message to all creative writing students about the importance of perseverance.

Producer: Claire Miller

Mastered and edited by: Aidan d’Adhemar

Sponsored by the Copyright Agency Limited Cultural Fund

Joanna Morrison talks about her supernatural crime thriller, Still Dark, one of three manuscripts in the running to win the City of Fremantle Hungerford Award

Fremantle Press — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 06:32:00 +0000

Joanna Morrison’s manuscript, Still Dark, is shortlisted for the 2020 City of Fremantle Hungerford Award. If she wins, she’ll secure herself a publishing contract with Fremantle Press and a $15,000 cash prize from the City of Fremantle.

In this podcast she talks to Claire Miller about the process of working on her manuscript – a complex novel told from multiple points of view that combines elements of crime fiction and magic realism.

Producer: Claire Miller

Mastered and edited by: Aidan d’Adhemar

Sponsored by the Copyright Agency Limited Cultural Fund

Shortlisted for the Hungerford Award, Sharron Booth's manuscript explores generations of family secrets, some of which she shares with us on the Fremantle Press podcast

Fremantle Press — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 04:39:00 +0000

Sharron’s manuscript, The Silence of Water, is one of three unpublished manuscripts in the running to win the 2020 City of Fremantle Hungerford Award. If she wins, she’ll secure herself a publishing contract with Fremantle Press and a $15,000 cash prize from the City of Fremantle.

In this podcast she talks to Marketing and Communications Manager Claire Miller about Western Australia’s convict past, about the lies and omissions in our history and about exile and the meaning of home. She also shares her path to the shortlist – a journey that saw her giving up on her manuscript more than once.

Producer: Claire Miller

Mastered and edited by: Aidan d’Adhemar

Sponsored by the Copyright Agency Limited Cultural Fund

From hopping vampires to rice ball blasters, Shirley Marr chats to Rebecca Higgie about her new adventure for middle readers

Fremantle Press — Wed, 30 Sep 2020 00:38:00 +0000

rotagonist Mei Ling Pang is kicking her bad luck to the curb and Little Jiang creator Shirley Marr is showing readers how they can do the same. Her fresh and funny take on an old Chinese legend has resulted in a fast-paced, page-turning adventure that will warm the cockles of even the coldest undead, unbeating heart. With children's writer and fellow chai latte lover Rebecca Higgie at the helm, today's podcast is a warm and delicious brew of writing wisdom. Don't miss it!Little Jiang and The History of Mischief are available in all good bookstores and online.

For the full shownotes, go to www.fremantlepress.com.au.

Producer: Claire Miller

Mastered and edited by: Aidan d’Adhemar

Sponsored by the Copyright Agency Limited Cultural Fund

In this special City of Fremantle Hungerford Award podcast, Jay Martin and Julie Sprigg get to grips with writing narrative non-fiction

Fremantle Press — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 10:24:00 +0000

We’re celebrating 30 years of the City of Fremantle Hungerford Award this year by bringing together Jay Martin, author of Vodka and Apple Juice: Travels of an Undiplomatic Wife in Poland, and Julie Sprigg, author of Small Steps: A Physio in Ethiopia. Jay won the Award in 2016 and Julie was shortlisted for it in 2018.

Speaking about her debut book, out this month, Julie says she wasn’t prepared for the culture shock of living in Ethiopia, where she had to relearn how to do everything from the way she brushed her teeth to how she ate her dinner. She said she was naïve enough to believe that her experience of backpacking alone in London and South America as well as working extensively with asylum seekers would prepare her for her time in Africa.

The pair talk about the genre of travel memoir, and how their novels fall into the category of ‘narrative non-fiction’, a book that’s based on truth but adapted into the flow of a novel. Jay and Julie end the podcast with great advice for those starting out on the writing journey, and have provided a list of resources in the show notes.

The full show notes are available here: https://www.fremantlepress.com.au/c/news/11821-podcastsmallsteps2020

Music: ‘Letter to a Daughter of St George’, from The Meat Lunch EP: Songs from Floaters. Written by Alan Fyfe. Performed by Trevor Bentley (guitar and vocals – @trevormb) and Chris Parkinson (harmonica). Produced by Blake Carnaby of Nuglife studios with impresario work by Benjamin P. Newton.

Producer: Claire Miller

Mastered and edited by: Aidan d’Adhemar

This podcast is sponsored by the Copyright Agency Ltd

Publisher Cate Sutherland sits down with self-publishing gurus to bust myths and share tips on creating a successful book

Fremantle Press — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 09:22:00 +0000

In this podcast, recorded at The Business of Being a Writer seminar, Fremantle Press publisher Cate Sutherland delves into the world of self-publishing with authors Wendy Binks and Annabel Smith, and IngramSpark senior manager Debbie Lee. They address the stigma attached to self-publishing, and give pointers on things to consider before undetaking the self-publishing journey – from creating to distributing and marketing. Annabel challenges the notion that self-publishing is ‘quick and easy and cheap’, and asks, ‘What about your time? The marketing takes an enormous amount of time.’ All three guests emphasise that to self-publish, you must fill the role of creator, publicist, retailer, public speaker and accountant, just to name a few.

For all the show notes go to: https://www.fremantlepress.com.au/c/news/11818-podcastselfpublishing2020

Music: ‘Letter to a Daughter of St George’, from The Meat Lunch EP: Songs from Floaters. Written by Alan Fyfe. Performed by Trevor Bentley (guitar and vocals – @trevormb) and Chris Parkinson (harmonica). Produced by Blake Carnaby of Nuglife Studios with impresario work by Benjamin P. Newton.

Producer: Claire Miller

Mastered and edited by: Aidan d’Adhemar

Sponsor: This show was made possible with a grant from the Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund

In the latest Fremantle Press Podcast, host Rebecca Higgie invites historical fiction aficionados Dianne Wolfer and Elaine Forrestal to talk about the effects of war on young people and the harsh realities of gold fever

Fremantle Press — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 19:31:00 +0000

Dianne Wolfer and Elaine Forrestal are both well-loved and well-established writers who have published a shelfload of historical children’s fiction between them. Settle in for a great podcast as the pair go in-depth on their writing process, and share tips on how to research and write historical fiction.

Dianne says that although there are many stories out there about Australia’s involvement with WWI, not many tell the stories of the ordinary people who did extraordinary things during that time. Her Light series was inspired by a newspaper clipping – a story about a girl who was in the right place at the right time, helping to signal troopships from the lighthouse on the island she lived and grew up on. Elaine says that Goldfields Girl is told from the point of view of the rarely heard voice of a teenage girl, it is a story about adventure, courage and survival.

Writing and financial security rarely come hand in hand, and the authors discuss the different types of support they receive to help them continue on their writing journey. They look at how their writing has changed over time, and how the industry has changed too.

Producer: Claire Miller

Mastered and edited by: Aidan d’Adhemar

In this podcast, Holden Sheppard takes us through a day in the life of a bookseller and a bestselling author

Fremantle Press — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 01:36:00 +0000

Recorded at Perth Festival’s Literature and Ideas Weekend, this podcast is a live recording of the seminar ‘A Day in the Life of Bestselling Authors and Booksellers’, hosted by Holden Sheppard, with guests Natasha Lester, Michael Earp, Allyce Cameron and Aisling Lawless.

First, grunge meets high fashion as bestselling City of Fremantle Hungerford alumni Holden Sheppard and Natasha Lester share their insights into the publishing world. Natasha stresses the importance of loving what you write because, as she puts it, ‘Writing a book is like having a child – you can’t just get rid of it. And when you love what you’re writing, the reader can feel that love.’

In the second half, Holden and Natasha are joined by Michael Earp of The Little Bookroom in Melbourne and Allyce Cameron and Aisling Lawless of Dymocks in Morley and Joondalup. The group highlight the value of bookshops in providing community hubs and a personalised experience for readers, and dispel the myth that booksellers just sit around all day reading books. They recommend that authors engage and build relationships with booksellers rather than cold-calling to try to sell their books. Michael Earp cautions, ‘You can’t expect anything from booksellers because there is, financially and physically, not enough space for every new book in the market.’

Producer: Claire Miller

Mastered and edited by: Aidan d’Adhemar

Sponsor: This show was made possible with a grant from the Copyright Agency's Cultural Fund

In Love to Read Local Radio with Fremantle Press, award-winning authors Holden Sheppard and A.J. Betts talk about how to juggle actual writing time with the business of being a writer

Fremantle Press — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 17:41:00 +0000

A.J. Betts had the idea for Hive eight years before she commenced writing it and 13 years before it was released. In between, she published three books, won an Emmy Award and did a PhD in the topic of wonder. A.J. said the idea for Hive came to her while she was on the Graham Farmer Freeway in Perth: ‘The traffic was really slow and I noticed the drip in the tunnel and I thought, that’s weird … In what situation would a drip be a problem or a danger?’

By contrast, Holden Sheppard wrote the first draft of Invisible Boys in two months and within six months had completed and polished a third draft ready for submission into the City of Fremantle Hungerford Award, which he won. Holden said his novel was a tribute to his home town, Geraldton, and he was careful not to write it like a tourist ad, but rather to portray it as he saw it, focusing on its urban landscape rather than its typical portrayal of stunning nature.

The road to publication might have varied, but both authors agree the success of their books has created a conundrum. How do you juggle day jobs and book promotion while nurturing ideas and writing?

For the full show notes go to https://www.fremantlepress.com.au/?p=11351

Producer: Claire Miller

Mastered and edited by: Aidan d’Adhemar

Sponsor: This show was made possible with a grant from the Copyright Agency's Cultural Fund

In this very special episode Love to Read Local Radio with Fremantle Press, Yuot A. Alaak shares his refugee experience and talks about the importance of sharing real and nuanced African stories with Rebecca Higgie

Fremantle Press — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 17:14:00 +0000

In this touching episode of Love to Read Local radio, debut author Yuot A. Alaak (Father of the Lost Boys) talks about his refugee experience, and how his memoir tells the story of his family, especially of his inspiring father who led 20,000 lost boys towards a brighter future during the Second Sudanese Civil War.

He also mentions the power of storytelling, and its importance in African society. For him, stories were a way of distracting himself from the hardships of reality, and to keep hope alive. He says that it’s important that real and nuanced stories about Africa are being shared that depicts its beauty and the hospitality of its people, rather than the imagined, ‘dark continent’ that it’s often portrayed as.

Producer: Claire Miller

Mastered and edited by: Aidan d’Adhemar

Sponsor: This show was made possible with a grant from the Copyright Agency's Cultural Fund

Susan Midalia, Donna Mazza, Emily Paull and Bindy Pritchard talk turning points and the long and short of fiction writing on this week's episode of Love to Read Local Radio with Fremantle Press

Fremantle Press — Thu, 28 May 2020 00:00:03 +0000

What happens when you conference call with four talented Western Australian writers who are equally committed to short fiction as to long? Loads! Hosted by Susan Midalia, this episode of Love to Read Local Radio will give you a wonderful insight into where the urge to write comes from – those turning points in life which compel writers to put words on the page.

In Love to Read Local Radio with Fremantle Press, authors Helen Milroy and Brenton E. McKenna tell Madelaine Dickie stories are for everyone and are fundamental to our existence

Fremantle Press — Mon, 25 May 2020 03:55:00 +0000

It has been an amazing two months of Love to Read Local Radio, and today’s episode is no different. We’ve brought together Madelaine Dickie (Red Can Origami), Helen Milroy (Backyard Birds) and Brenton E. McKenna (Ubby’s Underdogs Series) to discuss why they love to tell stories.

Helen says she’s always loved storytelling and would write in transit during her day job as a children’s psychiatrist. She was always fascinated by stories growing up, and she attributes this to her Indigenous background, where storytelling was always important. ‘Storytelling is a unique way to understanding your place in the world and understanding the world.’ In her work with children, she noticed that many were struggling with the negative associations placed on them and wanted to change that by showcasing the emotional gifts of children as something positive.

Brenton recounts how he struggled with reading as a kid and how falling in love with comic books changed the way he saw reading. The Ubby’s Underdogs books are graphic novels inspired by the ghost stories he grew up with, and the life of his grandmother and her thirteen siblings. He says that a female superhero is rare, let alone an Indigenous one, and he had to fight for Ubby’s voice to be heard.

Go to the Fremantle Press website for the full show notes: www.fremantlepress.com.au.

About Love to Read Local Radio

This episode is produced by Fremantle Press for Love to Read Local. To listen to more episodes, subscribe to the Fremantle Press Podcast https://www.fremantlepress.com.au/the-podcast on iTunes, Google Play or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. Love to Read Local is a statewide, online celebration of Western Australian stories, books and writers. While we remain at a social distance in the physical world, let’s get socially closer in the digital world. Visit the Love to Read Local website https://ltrl.writingwa.org/ to connect with other readers, tell us which local books you love to read and perhaps inspire others to read those books too!

Producer: Claire Miller

Mastered and edited by: Aidan d’Adhemar

Sponsor: This show was made possible with a grant from the Copyright Agency's Cultural Fund

Seasoned crime novelists David Whish-Wilson and Pol Koutsakis discuss their current and upcoming books, cross-cultural humour and sense of place in their stories for this week's Love to Read Local Radio with Fremantle Press

Fremantle Press — Mon, 18 May 2020 17:15:00 +0000

What do you get when you put two criminal masterminds together? David Whish-Wilson and Pol Koutsakis talking books! In this fascinating episode, the pair discuss the hero – or antihero – in Pol’s two books, Athenian Blues and Baby Blue. Stratos Gazis, an ‘ethical hitman’, has a moral code that controls his choices and leads to intrigue. David’s PI Frank Swann is in a similar boat, falling into the thick of criminal dealings when all he wants is a simple, happy life as a family man.

The authors discuss how the prevailing sense of place in their novels is an integral part of their writing – Athens during the financial crisis for Pol, and Perth, Western Australia, for David. Then they go international to discuss their experiences of working with European publishing houses. Pol shares the intricacies of translating his own work into English and David talks about the German translation of one of his books. They also provide a wonderful insight into the burgeoning Western Australian crime writing scene with recommendations that include Alan Carter, Dervla McTiernan, Sara Foster and many more.

Head to Fremantle Press for the full show notes.

Producer: Claire Miller

Mastered and edited by: Aidan d’Adhemar

Sponsor: This show was made possible with a grant from the Copyright Agency's Cultural Fund

In this week's Love to Read Local Radio with Fremantle Press, poets Caitlin Maling, Bron Bateman and Reneé Pettitt-Schipp bare all on what inspires their writing, and how they connect with humanity in their poetry

Fremantle Press — Mon, 11 May 2020 01:01:00 +0000

In this fascinating podcast, poet and academic Bron Bateman interviews fellow poets Caitlin Maling and Reneé Pettitt-Schipp about the unexpected parallels between their recent collections, which are both tied to their fathers and to the ocean.

Reneé’s debut collection, The Sky Runs Right Through Us, won the WA Premier's Book Award for an Emerging Writer, and recalls her turbulent time spent on the Cocos Islands during her work with asylum seekers. She talks about how being surrounded by the constant flow of the tide created an environment where she felt stuck in a state of flux – and resented the violent space that the ocean became.

In contrast, Caitlin talks about how the ocean is a place of comfort for her, as her childhood was spent either surfing with her dad, or fishing with her stepdad. In her writing, and in particular in her collection Fish Song, the ocean underscores the stories she tells as a stable constant in her life.

The poets discuss how, although each has a different way of articulating their experience, their stories of humanity, of love and loss, are the crucial secret to having their poetry universally understood.

For more information about Love to Read Local Radio and the complete show notes go to fremantlepress.com.au.

Producer: Claire Miller

Mastered and edited by: Aidan d’Adhemar

Sponsor: This show was made possible with a grant from the Copyright Agency's Cultural Fund

Sara Foster chats to fellow crime writer Alexander Thorpe about how life as an editor prepared and failed her for life as an author on this episode of Love to Read Local Radio with Fremantle Press

Fremantle Press — Sun, 03 May 2020 16:31:00 +0000

Sara Foster and Alexander Thorpe have never met, but this podcast feels like the meeting of kindred spirits. From the classic mysteries of Agatha Christie and Josephine Tey to the police procedurals of Val McDermid and the atmospheric psychological thrillers of Nicci French, their discussion of their favourite books is a masterclass in international crime reads.

The pair discuss how Sara’s work as an editor, first for HarperCollins in the UK and then as a freelancer, held her in good stead when it came to the editorial process. As an editor, Sara learned that when pacing your thriller, you need ebb and flow – that without pauses between the peak moments of suspense, you deaden the overall impact, so quiet moments where the readers can breathe are essential. What Sara’s editorial work didn’t show her was the extent of post-publication marketing or just what it takes to get a book out into the world. She says it’s important to allow creative joy to flourish even while the business of being a writer is taking up time and energy.

Alex and Sara have a fascinating chat about her PhD thesis on maternal relationships in dystopian fiction, how to plot, audio books and true crime podcasts before ending with a big bunch of recommended local reads from Nadine Brown, Rachael Johns, Natasha Lester, Dervla McTiernan, Mihaela Nicolescu, Kim Scott, David Whish-Wilson and Tess Woods.

The complete show notes are available on our website www.fremantlepress.com.au

Producer: Claire Miller

Mastered and edited by: Aidan d’Adhemar

Sponsor: This show was made possible with a grant from the Copyright Agency's Cultural Fund

If you've ever wondered how a picture book gets from the head of the creator into the hands of our children, this is the podcast episode for you

Fremantle Press — Fri, 01 May 2020 05:32:00 +0000

Lots of people want to write picture books. Fremantle Press receives almost 600 picture book submissions a year, and we only publish up to five. In this episode of the Fremantle Press Podcast, Rebecca Higgie takes you into the studios of creators Kelly Canby, Tracey Gibbs and Katie Stewart to talk about how picture books are made. From the first idea to the first illustration to the storyboard, design, publication and promotion, this amazing chat unpacks the whole process. There are lots of pro tips from all three creators on giving your manuscript the best chance of success.

For the complete show notes go to: fremantlepress.com.au

Producer: Claire Miller

Mastered and edited by: Aidan d’Adhemar

Sponsor: This show was made possible with a grant from the Copyright Agency's Cultural Fund

This week in Love to Read Local we talk to Westerly Magazine editors Catherine Noske and Josephine Taylor about their own novels, the writing they love and the good, the bad and the brilliant parts of their day jobs as literary editors

Fremantle Press — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 01:20:00 +0000

Just days before COVID-19 sent us all home, Josephine Taylor and Catherine Noske jumped into the studio with Fremantle Press for an episode of Love To Read Local Radio. The two friends are best known in Western Australia’s literary community as editors of the journal Westerly and as academics and mentors, but this episode provided an opportunity to celebrate the release of Catherine’s debut book The Salt Madonna and to anticipate Josephine’s forthcoming novel Eye of a Rook.

The pair discuss the complex structure of The Salt Madonna and how Catherine equated the rhythm of the writing process with her own experiences riding horses. In writing about unresolved violence in Australia, Catherine shares her struggle to lean in to uncertainty, holding multiple truths, untruths, impossible, unresolved and projected truths in a web of tension while creating a nuanced and compassionate work of fiction.

How do two writers of this calibre maintain energy for their day jobs? The enthusiasm of these two colleagues and friends is readily apparent as they describe their work at Westerly, helping Western Australian writers to learn their craft and earn their place on national and international stages. The only downside, they say, is rejecting the works submitted – something they offset by providing writers with meaningful feedback.

For the full show notes including how to download a free digital edition of Westerly, go to www.fremantlepress.com.au.

Producer: Claire Miller

Mastered and edited by: Aidan d’Adhemar

Sponsor: This show was made possible with a grant from the Copyright Agency's Cultural Fund

Susan Midalia and Laurie Steed discuss their latest novels, Western Australian books to watch and the very special art of mentoring with Emma Young

Fremantle Press — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 03:17:00 +0000

In this special Love to Read Local edition of the Fremantle Press podcast, novelist, journalist and Fogarty Literary Award shortlister, Emma Young, interviews her writing mentor Laurie Steed as well as her writing mentor’s mentor, Susan Midalia. Sound complicated? It’s not, it’s awesome.

The podcast highlights the supportive network of Western Australian writers who, while working on their own craft and their own manuscripts, give back by helping less experienced writers develop their craft. The fact that Laurie and Susan have been particularly active in the mentoring space is strongly evident here as they discuss a long list of new and forthcoming Western Australian books they’re excited about – many of which they’ve read as early manuscripts.

Susan and Laurie are both avid and intelligent readers, and skilled writers of short stories, which get a special mention here. If you’ve ever thought a short story is just a precursor to a novel, think again. This podcast will help you understand why the short story is its very own art form!

Producer: Claire Miller

Mastered and edited by: Aidan d’Adhemar

Sponsor: This show was made possible with a grant from the Copyright Agency's Cultural Fund

Live from the Business of Being a Writer: bestselling authors Craig Silvey and Alan Carter join the Fremantle Press podcast to talk about the fine print of author contracts

Fremantle Press — Wed, 08 Apr 2020 01:21:00 +0000

Our Business of Being a Writer seminar, which involved 300 new and emerging authors gathering in a room without air conditioning, feels like two lifetimes ago. Craig Silvey dubbed it the ‘sauna of knowledge’ and, in this mid-pandemic world, the idea of running another feels frankly illicit. We can, however, bring you the broadcast version online. This panel with Craig Silvey and Alan Carter delved into the world of contracts, rights and copyright for authors. It is one of four 2020 Business of Being a Writer podcasts that we’ll be releasing over the coming months. We hope these will provide a forum for new and emerging writers to learn from their peers during this period of self-isolation. The track was recorded live from the Business of Being a Writer at Perth Festival's Writers Weekend. That means you'll even get details of where to find a toilets at UWA's Winthrop Hall. If you want to miss that part, feel free to opt into the recording at around five and a half minutes in!

Recorded and edited by Aidan d'Adhemar

There are lots of myths and misconceptions about the editor-author relationship: in this podcast Jon Doust and Georgia Richter take you under the covers of their decade-long collaboration on Jon's trilogy One Boy's Journey to Man

Fremantle Press — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 09:43:00 +0000

Jon Doust's debut book for adults, Boy on a Wire, was Publisher Georgia Richter's first editorial job for Fremantle Press. In this episode, Georgia and Jon talk to host Rebecca Higgie about the crucial elements of the editor–author relationship, the foremost being trust, another being laughter.

They celebrate the release of the third book in Jon's trilogy One Boy’s Journey to Man: a novel called Return Ticket in which Jon's popular character Jack Muir continues his travels and travails, and they mourn the 'book that died' in between To the Highlands and this latest novel. From the getting-to-know-you phase, through the honeymoon period and onward into the necessary, steady and difficult work of multiple drafts, multiple books, this conversation charts a relationship over time that requires perseverance, optimism, goodwill and shared goals.

Go to the Fremantle Press website: fremantlepress.com.au for all the show notes

Interviewer Rebecca Higgie was the inaugural winner of the Fogarty Literary Award for writers aged 18 to 35. Her winning novel, The History of Mischief, will be in stores this September.

Producer: Claire Miller

Mastered and edited by: Aidan d’Adhemar

Sponsor: This show was made possible with a grant from the Copyright Agency's Cultural Fund.

Superstar children's book writers Julia Lawrinson and AJ Betts join the Fremantle Press podcast to share their new books and their top tips for successful author gigs

Fremantle Press — Thu, 12 Mar 2020 13:04:00 +0000

In this episode we're chatting to Maddie in the Middle author Julia Lawrinson about the complexities of female friendships. We ask her whether it's ever ok to do the wrong thing for the right reason and we listen as Julia (who holds a PhD) completely bombs-out in her pop quiz (#EpicFail). Bestselling young adult author AJ Betts (Zac & Mia, Hive, Rogue) leaves a voicemail for all you aspiring writers out there. She takes us behind the scenes to share all the ins and outs of author talks, festivals and events, covering everything from what to charge to what to wear. Your host is Fogarty Literary Award winner Rebecca Higgie whose debut book The History of Mischief just went off to the printer. Whoot whoot. Your producer is Claire Miller and your sound technician and the podcast is mastered and edited by Aidan d’Adhemar.

Poet Bron Bateman on writing, memory and the female body

Fremantle Press — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 05:11:00 +0000

Bron Bateman says she makes sense of the world through writing. She is an observer of her own life, absorbing every experience with all senses so she can articulate it in poetry. She’s also the ideal interviewee. She wants to answer every question put to her, no matter how difficult, because, she says, it’s only by doing this that we can truly reach each other as writers and as humans.

In this podcast, we talk to Bron about her writing process in relation to her new poetry collection, Of Memory and Furniture. For more information her poetry collection and the works of other writers discussed in the podcast, please go to the show notes page: http://bit.ly/2UGmjif

We invite you all to spend some time with this wonderful poet but please take care. This podcast contains references to sexual violence, miscarriages and the largely unacknowledged experience of childbirth trauma. If this podcast raises any issues for you, and you are in Australia, contact Lifeline for crisis support 24 hours a day on 13 11 14.

Producer: Claire Miller

Mastered and edited by: Aidan d’Adhemar

From the Hungerford award to an epic new novel, Madelaine Dickie chats to Holden Sheppard about writing, the Kimberley and Indigenous affairs on the Fremantle Press podcast

Fremantle Press — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 09:23:00 +0000

Madelaine Dickie’s gripping new novel Red Can Origami explores the tensions between a Japanese uranium mining company and a Native Title group in regional Western Australia. In this episode of the Fremantle Press podcast, she explains how the Kimberley people and landscape inspired the story, why she chose to write it in the second person and the origin of the semi-dangerous game Swagmo.

Producer: Claire Miller

Mastered and edited by: Aidan d’Adhemar

Rebecca Higgie talks to children's fantasy writer HM Waugh and about world building, NaNoWriMo and balancing kids and creativity

Fremantle Press — Thu, 31 Oct 2019 09:11:00 +0000

In this packed episode HM Waugh and Rebecca Higgie discuss The Lost Stone of SkyCity. Waugh shares her top tips on world building and takes us through how NaNoWriMo helped her get her manuscript down on paper. She discusses her latest read, the 'pants wettingly' hilarious Toffle Towers by Tim Harris and James Foley and shows off just how much she knows about goats. In our new phone a friend segment, CEO of Fremantle Press Jane Fraser joins the podcast to give new and emerging authors the lowdown on all things foreign rights.

Holden Sheppard talks to David Whish-Wilson about his hard-hitting new crime novel True West and what it says about our right-wing past and our political present

Fremantle Press — Thu, 31 Oct 2019 08:49:00 +0000

David Whish-Wilson says seeing the rise of populism and nationalist right-wing movements around the world made him want to reflect on Australia's long history of nationalist movements. 'I hadn't seen anyone else writing about Perth's late-80s Neo-Nazi scene ... I've spoken to many Asian Australians over the years and they often talk about that as a particularly unpleasant time to be a Western Australian ... I really wanted a mini-exploration of that period to reference what's happening around the world now.' As well as being an award-winning crime writer, David is the Creative Writing coordinator at Curtin University. In this podcast, Holden and David delve into some basic things we can all do make ourselves better writers.

Sexuality, masculinity and mental health: Holden Sheppard bares all in the latest episode of the Fremantle Press Podcast.

Fremantle Press — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 11:42:00 +0000

Fogarty Literary Award winner Rebecca Higgie joins Holden Sheppard at the mic for this month’s episode of the Fremantle Press podcast.

Holden talks about his gritty debut YA novel Invisible Boys, which won the 2018 City of Fremantle Hungerford Award. He explains how men play a part in shaping the concept of masculinity, touches on the importance of addressing mental health issues in young people and discusses how his own experiences as a gay man growing up in country Western Australia shaped the novel.

Mastered and edited by: Aidan d’Adhemar

Holden Sheppard talks to Steve Hawke about his new novel Out of Time

Fremantle Press — Mon, 02 Sep 2019 08:51:00 +0000

Out of Time by Steve Hawke is a powerful, sometimes confronting novel and an exploration of aging and what a diagnosis, or a feared or impending diagnosis, can lead to in both the life of the sufferer and also their family and friends. In this podcast Holden Sheppard talks to the author about the many issues a diagnosis of Alzheimer's raises including a person's right to decide their own demise.

Poet Nandi Chinna speaks to Holden Sheppard about peripatetic creativity and the seeds of the future

Fremantle Press — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 09:37:00 +0000

From the death of old growth trees at Beeliar Wetlands to securing the seeds of potential trees at Kings Park, Nandi Chinna’s work holds both anticipatory grief and hope for future. In this episode of the Fremantle Press Podcast, she speaks to Holden Sheppard about her very special brand of peripatetic creativity which has led to the launch of her latest poetry collection, The Future Keepers.

Nandi says people have been walking to stimulate creativity for millennia. In this interview, she talks about her neologism ‘Poepatetics’, the activism which helped save the Beeliar Wetlands (for now), and her journey as a LGBTQIA+ woman of a certain age.

Podcast editor: Lata Periakarpan

Poet Caitlin Maling tells Holden Sheppard about her poetry and why we should sometimes read books we hate

Fremantle Press — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 09:12:00 +0000

In this episode of the Fremantle Press podcast poet Caitlin Maling chats to Holden Sheppard about her new collection Fish Song – which celebrates the beautiful coastline of Western Australia and the people and creatures that live on it. Caitlin says writing poetry is a fundamentally positive act that can help you come to terms with the precarious nature of an eroding coastline and an eroding way of life. She also advises new and emerging authors about the benefits of ‘hate reading’.

Podcast editor: Lata Periakarpan

Mastered by: Aidan d’Adhemar

2019 Fogarty Literary Award: Michael Burrows reads from Where the Line Breaks

Fremantle Press — Tue, 14 May 2019 05:02:00 +0000

Michael Burrows is an author and poet from Perth. Here, he reads from his first novel, Where the Line Breaks, which was inspired by an Anzac Day experience in Gallipoli, the search for Australian war poetry and his love for Western Australia. It's in the running to win the Fogarty Literary Award.

2019 Fogarty Literary Award shortlist: Emma Young talks bookshop crazies and book delivery services

Fremantle Press — Tue, 14 May 2019 03:46:00 +0000

With the 2019 Fogarty Literary Award announcement looming, we thought it’d be a good idea to bring in one of our shortlisted authors, Emma Young, for a chat about her manuscript The Last Bookshop. In the podcast, Emma talks to Marketing and Communications Manager Claire Miller about the inspiration behind her story and in particular the character of Kate who owns the last bookshop in Perth. She discusses bookshop crazies and how a story in The Monthly helped shaped Kate’s personality. In the excerpt she reads, Kate visits an older book client who challenges and inspires her to tackle the challenges of the new world head on.

This episode of the Fremantle Press podcast is mastered and edited by Aidan d’Adhemar.

2019 Fogarty Literary Award shortlist: writer Rebecca Higgie talks books, magic and play

Fremantle Press — Tue, 14 May 2019 03:43:00 +0000

The shortlist has been announced for the 2019 Fogarty Literary Award and Western Australian author Rebecca Higgie is on the list. In this podcast she chats to Marketing and Communications Manager Claire Miller about her manuscript The History of Mischief and what it took to create the story. This includes but is not limited to the concept of how we handle grief, mischief as a magical thing, the extensive research required for each ‘history’, and the other-worldly nature of the town of Guildford. Rebecca also reads an excerpt from her manuscript that spans nine locations, time periods and perspectives, and explores the grief of two bereaved sisters, and how they learn to deal with it in a magical way.

This episode of the Fremantle Press podcast is mastered and edited by Aidan d’Adhemar.

2019 Fogarty Literary Award longlist: author Mel Hall on how swimming inspired a whole manuscript.

Fremantle Press — Mon, 13 May 2019 05:19:00 +0000

The only Freo resident to make the Fogarty Literary Award, Mel Hall, came in to talk to Marketing and Communications Manager Claire Miller about her manuscript The Shapes. In this podcast, Mel discusses the successive events that happened to her to inspire her novel, and how a therapeutic swim in the pool sparked the idea for a fictional healing modality. She also reads an excerpt from The Shapes, that encapsulates the blooming relationship between Finn and Ethann – with two n’s – as well as a few new age jokes thrown into the mix.

This episode of the Fremantle Press podcast is mastered and edited by Aidan d’Adhemar.

2019 Fogarty Literary Award longlist: Nanci Nott

Fremantle Press — Thu, 09 May 2019 17:34:00 +0000

Young adult novelist Nanci Nott talks to Marketing and Communications Manager Claire Miller about being longlisted for the 2019 Fogarty Literary Award.

This episode of the Fremantle Press podcast is mastered and edited by Aidan d’Adhemar.

2019 Fogarty Literary Award longlist: Belinda Hermawan

Fremantle Press — Wed, 08 May 2019 19:43:00 +0000

Belinda Hermawan sits down with Marketing and Communications Manager Claire Miller to talk about her collection of short stories S to Z, which is longlisted for the Fogarty Literary Award for writers aged 18 to 35.

This episode of the Fremantle Press podcast is mastered and edited by Aidan d’Adhemar.

Crime writer Alex Dook debates whether cats are the best writing buddies

Fremantle Press — Wed, 08 May 2019 03:52:00 +0000

In this special edition of the Fremantle Press podcast, marketing and communications manager Claire Miller talks to crime writer Alex Dook about his manuscript 'No Answer', which has been longlisted for the 2019 Fogarty Literary Award.

Mastered and edited by: Aidan d’Adhemar

Crime writing 101 with Dave Warner (the writer and musician, not the cricketer)

Fremantle Press — Wed, 01 May 2019 14:06:00 +0000

In this episode, Holden Sheppard speaks to crime writer Dave Warner about his new book River of Salt and Dave spills the beans on his fool-proof method of how to know ‘whodunnit’.

Dave’s superpower is his ability to juggle many projects at once. Dave first came to prominence with his band Dave Warner from the Suburbs and his song writing is just one part of his creative practice. He is an award-winning multi-skilled writer who writes for television, the cinema and the stage, as well as crafting works of poetry, crime fiction, kids fiction and non fiction. This podcast delves into what Dave sees as the differences and similarities between each format and how to balance them all.

So what’s Dave’s advice to aspiring writers? Don’t lose the plot.

The Fremantle Press podcast takes you beyond books to discuss different formats for stories

Fremantle Press — Wed, 01 May 2019 13:13:00 +0000

We know you all love to write, but writing a book isn’t the only way you can follow your passion. In our latest podcast, recorded live at the Business of Being a Writer event at Perth Festival Writers Week, Fremantle Press CEO Jane Fraser was joined by award-winning screen director Alison James, Black Swan State Theatre Company Literary Director Polly Low and Red Room Poetry Director Tamryn Bennett. The panel discussed adapting books for the stage, creating scripts, using dialogue to advance the story and publishing poetry in unconventional places – from a bus shelter to a packet of seeds.

This podcast is a part of the Four Centres Emerging Writers Program, supported by the State Government through the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries and brought to you by the Fellowship of Australian Writers WA, Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers' Centre, Peter Cowan Writers Centre Inc., WA Poets Inc. and Fremantle Press.

Music: Letter to a Daughter of St George, from The Meat Lunch EP: Songs from Floaters. Written by Alan Fyfe. Performed by Trevor Bentley (guitar and vocals – @trevormb) and Chris Parkinson (harmonica). Produced by Blake Carnaby of Nuglife Studios with impresario work by Benjamin P. Newton. Podcast edited by Lata Periakarpan. Additional sound editing: Aidan d’Adhemar of Fremantle PA Hire.

ANZAC Day podcast: Anne-Louise Willoughby talks to Holden Sheppard about her new biography on Australia's first female war artist Nora Heysen

Fremantle Press — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 07:23:00 +0000

Here, Anne-Louise talks about why Nora’s paintings of WWII are some of the most significant in Australian art history, how contentious her Archibald win was, and the enduring but competitive relationship she had with her landscape-painter father Hans Heysen. Anne-Louise is also a creative writing teacher at the University of Western Australia and Holden has made sure to get her writing advice for all our new and emerging writers.

What writers need to know about marketing and PR

Fremantle Press — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 07:28:00 +0000

Get insider tips on how to build your author profile. Fremantle Press Marketing and Communications Manager Claire Miller is joined by Hancock Creative social media mentor Lisa Shearon, Small Press Network General Manager Tim Coronel and award-winning children's book creator James Foley. In this panel they talk about how writers can prepare for media interviews, how to develop an author brand and an authentic social media profile, getting to know your audience and best practices when networking with anyone in the book trade.

The panel session was part of The Business of Being a Writer which was delivered live from the Perth Festival Writers Week in February 2019.

The Business of Being a Writer was part of the Four Centres Emerging Writers Program, which is funded by the Western Australian Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries and offered in association with the Fellowship of Australian Writers Western Australia, Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers' Centre, Peter Cowan Writers Centre and WA Poets Inc.

Music: Letter to a Daughter of St George, from the Meat Lunch E.P: Songs from Floaters. Written by Alan Fyfe. Performed by Trevor Bentley (guitar and vocals - @trevormb) and Chris Parkinson (harmonica). Produced by Blake Carnaby of Nuglife studios (www.facebook.com/nuglifestudios/) with impresario work by Benjamin P Newton.

Podcast editor: Claire Miller

Mastered by: Aidan d’Adhemar

What Australian authors need to know about grants, residencies and awards

Fremantle Press — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 08:57:00 +0000

A must-listen episode of the Fremantle Press Podcast for all authors: whether just starting out, emerging or established. Recorded live at The Business of Being a Writer event at Perth Festival Writers Week, Fremantle Press publisher Georgia Richter gets insider tips on applying for grants, funding residencies and entering awards from a panel of experts. Her guests are award-winning authors Gail Jones and Alice Nelson, and Australia Council Director of Literature Wenona Byrne.

Podcast editor: Claire Miller

Mastered by: Aidan d’Adhemar

Did you know that Australian convicts helped create the San Francisco we know today? Novelist David Whish-Wilson talks about his latest book The Coves.

Fremantle Press — Mon, 11 Feb 2019 09:29:00 +0000

Set in the Gold Rush era, The Coves pulls no punches depicting those brutal times with uncompromising accuracy. Jessica Gately chats to David Whish-Wilson about his inspiration for the book and together the pair delve into what was, until recently, a suppressed footnote in history.

Award-winning novelist Amanda Curtin discusses her first foray into non-fiction with Fremantle Press's Tiffany Ko

Fremantle Press — Mon, 11 Feb 2019 07:20:00 +0000

Events marketing assistant Tiffany Ko speaks to Amanda Curtin about her new book Kathleen O'Connor of Paris. Amanda Curtin followed her subject to France, the UK and New Zealand in order to bring to light the significance of this mostly forgotten Western Australian female artist.

Fremantle Press podcast host and author Holden Sheppard talks to Marcella Polain about writing into the dark and her new book Driving Into the Sun

Fremantle Press — Mon, 11 Feb 2019 06:13:00 +0000

Marcella Polain talks to Holden Sheppard about Driving into the Sun, the book inspired by her childhood that took her ten years to write. Holden quizzes Marcella, who also works as a creative writing teacher at Edith Cowan University, about her top tips for aspiring writers embarking on their first books.

Music: Letter to a Daughter of St George, from the Meat Lunch E.P: Songs from Floaters. Written by Alan Fyfe. Performed by Trevor Bentley (guitar and vocals - https://soundcloud.com/trevormb) and Chris Parkinson (harmonica). Produced by Blake Carnaby of Nuglife studios (https://www.facebook.com/nuglifestudios/) with impresario work by Benjamin P Newton.

Christmas in Poland? Vodka and Apple Juice author Jay Martin is our latest guest on the Fremantle Press podcast.

Fremantle Press — Tue, 11 Dec 2018 18:53:00 +0000

2016 City of Fremantle T.A.G. Hungerford winner Jay Martin takes us behind diplomatic doors and into the Australian Embassy deep in the heart of Europe. Christmas, she says, will never be the same.

Meet award winning crime novelist Alan Carter

Fremantle Press — Tue, 04 Dec 2018 11:58:00 +0000

One Geordie to another, Jen Bowden chats to Alan Carter about his latest crime novel Heaven Sent.

Introducing Alan Fyfe, shortlisted for the 2018 City of Fremantle T.A.G. Hungerford Award

Fremantle Press — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 13:33:00 +0000

Alan Fyfe is one of six writers shortlisted for the 2018 City of Fremantle T.A.G. Hungerford Award. In this podcast he talks to Claire Miller about his manuscript 'Floaters'. Recorded at Radio Fremantle.

Introducing Julie Sprigg, shortlisted for the 2018 City of Fremantle T.A.G. Hungerford Award

Fremantle Press — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 13:40:00 +0000

Julie Sprigg is one of six writers shortlisted for the City of Fremantle T.A.G. Hungerford Award. In this podcast she speaks to Claire Miller about her manuscript 'Chewing Porridge'. Recorded at Radio Fremantle.

Introducing Holden Sheppard, shortlisted for the 2018 City of Fremantle T.A.G. Hungerford Award

Fremantle Press — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 13:28:00 +0000

Holden Sheppard is one six writers shortlisted for the 2018 City of Fremantle T.A.G. Hungerford Award. In this podcast he speaks to Claire Miller about his manuscript 'Invisible Boys'. Recorded at Radio Fremantle.

Introducing Zoe Deleuil, shortlisted for the 2018 City of Fremantle T.A.G. Hungerford Award

Fremantle Press — Mon, 08 Oct 2018 13:47:00 +0000

Zoe Deleuil is one of six writers shortlisted for the 2018 City of Fremantle T.A.G. Hungerford Award. In this podcast she talks to Claire Miller about her manuscript 'She Came to Stay'. Recorded at Radio Fremantle.

Meet Steve Hawke author of The Valley an epic tale set in the Kimberley

Fremantle Press — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 01:36:00 +0000

Steve Hawke talks about his new book The Valley. This stunning novel sweeps across four generations of one family, who have lived hidden away, deep in a secret valley in the Kimberley. When young Broome schoolboy Dancer visits his estranged relatives to escape an angry gang of bikies, he finds himself tangled in the enigma of his missing mother Milly. Along the way, he discovers the story of his Indigenous heritage and his true identity.

Introducing Trish Versteegen, shortlisted for the 2018 City of Fremantle T.A.G. Hungerford Award

Fremantle Press — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 13:52:00 +0000

Trish Versteegen is one of six writers shortlisted for the 2018 City of Fremantle T.A.G. Hungerford Award. In this podcast she talks to Fremantle Press about her manuscript 'The Seventh Sister'. Recorded at Radio Fremantle.

Meet Tracy Ryan, award-winning poet, as she discusses her new collection The Water Bearer

Fremantle Press — Sun, 29 Jul 2018 17:05:00 +0000

From scheme water, pipelines and a countryside in the grip of drought – the water in Tracy Ryan's new collection is a many-sided metaphor. In this podcast she talks to Kellie Eighteen, an English and Cultural Studies student at Edith Cowan University, whose home on the semirural outskirts of Perth gave her many points of commonality with the award-winning Western Australian poet. The podcast features 'Water Dripping Echo' by mlprovideos, http://www.mlsprovideos.com/, 'Soundscape: Dripping Water' by Electroviolence and '05913 Swimming loop' by FxProSound, http://www.fxprosound.com. Additional sound editing by Katie McAllister.

Meet Susan Midalia author of The Art of Persuasion

Fremantle Press — Tue, 03 Jul 2018 08:51:00 +0000

In The Art of Persuasion, twenty-five-year-old Hazel is reading the classics, starting with 'A' and Jane Austen when she meets an irresistible older man on the train. When they are partnered on a political campaign, Hazel's attraction to him deepens and things start to get complicated. Western Australian short story writer and novelist Susan Midalia chats to Jess Gately about writing comedy and writing romance, about what literary fiction means to her and why Jane Austen's novel Persuasion inspired her latest book.

Meet Carrie Cox author of Afternoons with Harvey Beam

Fremantle Press — Thu, 31 May 2018 08:09:00 +0000

As a young man, Harvey Beam got the hell out of his hometown, confirming his suspicions that you can successfully run away from your problems. Carrie Cox, author of Afternoons with Harvey Beam, speaks to Albany ABC’s Saturday morning presenter, Katie McAllister, about love, death, family life and losing your baggage—literally and figuratively—in Fremantle Press’ first podcast.