Open Authors

Simon Hammond speaks with Warren Moore about his latest book, 'Brutal Truths'.Simon began his working life as a journalist, before becoming a top-level marketer and businessman who has worked with some of the world leading brands, analysing and influencing the relationship those brands and products have with consumers.It’s a life that has seen him become a much sought after international public speaker who for other 30 years has been renowned for his insights into social change and consumer behaviour.They are views which will divide people, and for that Simon makes no apologies.With ‘The Brutal Truths’ he raises the question, amongst others, “Are we evolving into a society that is so scared to offend others, that we have lost our identities?”He wrote this book, because of his concerns that we live in a society in decay... and that we need to be awoken to 'Brutal Truths’.

Bruce Elder discusses his landmark book, 'Blood on the Wattle' which was the first book to comprehensively depict in a single volume most of the information about the massacres of Aboriginal people that has been recorded in books and journals.The book, now in it's third edition, has been a centrepiece in debate about the massacre of indigenous people and was named in the top ten most influential work of Australian 20th-century non-fiction by the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age in the readers 'Spectrum Poll of the Century'.

Award-winning entrepreneur and businesswoman Lisa Burling discusses her new book, 'All It Takes Is a Little..Gumption'.This book gives you a front row seat into how Lisa quickly shifted her reality from one of unexpected trauma and devastating heartbreak, to fulfilment and opportunity. After a series of unfortunate events left Lisa a single-mum with no money or job, Lisa turned her life around to develop a successful public relations business - LBPR - build a new home and establish herself as a motivational speak and business leader. And all within four years!Lisa’s inspirational story, combined with practical hints and tips, proves dreaming little really is the secret to creating and living a life you’ll love – not tomorrow, but today!

Jackie and Gareth speak with Warren Moore about their book 'Everyday Vegan', and their life living in a Nissan van.The couple decided to leave behind the mortgage merry-go-round for a humble life travelling in their beloved van in 2016. It is this experience which makes 'Everyday Vegan' unique. Not only does the book obviously feature vegan recipes, but they were created in a confined space and with limited access to specialty ingredients. They also can be prepared in less than 30 minutes.Many of the recipes also cater for food intolerances; a necessity after Jackie was diagnosed with coeliac disease.http://newhollandpublishers.com

William Allender talks about his 40-year-career as a toxicologist and some of the 30 cases from his book 'The Expert Witness'.William has given expert evidence at countless court cases and inquests where drugs and poisons have been responsible for deaths.He also talks about the changes in illegal drugs over the decades and the different characteristics of some of the well-known recreational and medicinal drugs.

Taylor Tara talk about her latest book, 'Tara: Behind Closed Doors' which continues her story of later in life becoming a sex worker.She details the day-to-day life of being a sex worker and talks about her clients and the many and varied reasons they come to see her, apart from obviously sex.This podcast in part looks at the adult industry in regional Australia, where Tara predominately works.Taylor Tara's previous book was 'Tara: Memoirs from the Boudoir.

Erna Walraven talks to Warren Moore about her book, 'Wild Leadership'. She analyses the leadership behaviour of various wild animal species and looks at the lessons that can be learnt for human leaders.'Wild Leadership' puts forward a view of leadership for humans inspired by evolutionary theory and compares various animal societies with leadership styles including laissez-faire, democratic, maternalistic, political and egalitarian.Erna spent over 30 years as the senior curator at Sydney's Taronga Zoo.

Maggie Kirkpatrick talks about her 50-year career and her autobiography, 'The Gloves Are Off'. Topics include her childhood to early acting days and the role that brought international fame as Joan 'The Freak' Ferguson in television's Prisoner/Cell Block H, through to her seven-year stint on stage in 'Wicked'.Maggie also discusses her personal life including her battle with alcohol, bankruptcy and her acquittal on sexual assault allegations.

Matty Silver discusses her book, 'Sex Down Under'. She wrote the book to break down and de-mystify some of the taboos and barriers around sex and encourage people to feel more comfortable talking about it.Matty also criticises the level of sex education for young people and believes a lack of knowledge is the source of many of the problems she encounters in her daily life as a sex counsellor.Over the years, Matty has learned that there is no such thing as a 'normal' sex life and no two people are likely to agree on the minefield topics of sex.

Nick and Caroline Robertson-Brown talk about their book, 'Wild Dives', taking you through more than 20 of their most memorable diving experiences, including seeing amazing sharks in The Bahamas, exploring caves in Mexico, traveling to remote parts of the Pacific Ocean to find Giant Manta Rays, and even looking at some of the weird and wonderful critters that are almost invisible to the naked eye.Nick and Caroline also speak with Warren Moore about their concerns over the growing impact of human activity on the marine environment.

Susan Edmunds talks about her book, 'Starting Out Starting Over'. The book is a single woman's guide to money and deals with all aspects of personal finance including debt, income and budgeting.Topics discussed include things to be weary of if getting back into a relationship including differing financial expectations and what she described as 'sexually transmitted debt'!Susan in the business new editor of stuff.co.nz

David Oldfield talks about his autobiography, ‘Before You Judge Me: Being David’In this conversation with Warren Moore, David covers his childhood in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, his early days in politics working for local Liberal member Tony Abbott, and his decision to leave that position and work for Pauline Hanson and co-found the One Nation political party.He also talks about life after politics as a talk radio host, reality television star and his latest role as a father.

Oscar Garden became the youngest aviator to fly from England to Australia when he took off in his second-hand Gipsy Moth in 1930. He had only 38 hours previous flying experience.Yet despite his immediate fame upon arriving in Australia, he ultimately became the forgotten aviator. 17 years after the landmark flight, he turned his back on aviation and never piloted a plane again.Mary Garden speaks with Warren Moore about her journey of discovery in writing 'Sundown of the Skies'. Her father never spoke of his earlier life and she only discovered much of the history while researching the book.'Sundowner of the Skies' is also the story of the Oscar Garden's aviation achievements, his private life and the difficult relationship he had with his daughter.

Craig Bennett speaks about his 36 year media career and the stories that are contained in the pages of his book 'True Confessions of a Shameless Gossip'. The book has garnered international attention, particularly with Craig's startling claims about the treatment of women by Hollywood legend Mickey Rooney.Craig has cover the Oscars, lived in Hollywood and interviewed a galaxy of stars from icons to legends in their own lunchtimes.Craig also speaks about this current role as a showbiz reported on the Australian television show, Studio 10.

International journalist and acclaimed writer Richard Shears uncovers new evidence in the case of the mysterious disappearance of Margaret Clement—the ‘Lady of the Swamp.’Rich, beautiful and well-educated, Margaret Clement was the belle of Melbourne society. With a legacy from her wealthy father, she and her sisters set up a mansion called Tullaree in the verdant pastures near the Tarwin River. With staff to run the property, they impressed the cream of Edwardian society with Japanese screens, tapestries and furniture from their trips abroad. Hit hard by the Great Depression and World War I, their finances declined and the ditches that kept the Tarwin River back collapsed through neglect. The lush paddocks sank under a vast swamp as the elderly belles clung to their beloved Tullaree. As the swamp rose, so too did the presence of opportunists, scammers, lawyers—and a killer.

Peter Moroney talks to Warren Moore about his book, 'Terrorism in Australia: The story of Operation Pendennis'.'Terrorism in Australia' takes us into a world unknown to most of us on how the culture of terrorists groups work and think and how this is an issue that authorities continue to strive to stay on top of around the world but also in Australia. How do we stop an attack on our shores, who is who in our terrorist groups in Australia and around the world and stories behind capturing some of the most dangerous terrorists in Australia and putting them into prison.

In this episode of Open Authors, Daniel Springfield talks about his novel, 'The Six Secrets'.Historical fiction, the book is set in the world of the US secret service in the years after WWII, when the National Security Agency is established.With a background of hidden underground bases, cover-ups, murders and even alien UFO encounters in Nevada’s infamous Area 51, 'The Six Secrets' has the subtitle, ‘If no one talks then no one dies.’After serving 34 years with the NSA, on his deathbed, Dr Max Stroheim reveals to his son the existence of a series of cryptic clues that send him on the search for 'The Six Secrets'.

Brett Stevens talks about 'Rescue Paramedics', written about three ambulance officers and the challenges they face, from coming face-to-face with parents whose child has just died, to cliff rescues, drug addicts and even helping women to give birth.Brett, now an author and photojournalist, has spent decades in the emergency services as a police officer and firefighter. He gained a heightened appreciation for the work of paramedics after assisting in a near-death emergency while in the army reserves.Brett also talks about the gang-culture of the United States and Australia, a topic he covered extensively in his previous book, 'A Hard Place'.

Susie Elelman speaks with Warren Moore about her 45 year career in the media, from being a Miss Australia contestant, to working in regional television, the Seven Network and on shows such as Beauty and the Beast, Good Morning Australia, Studio 10 and her own syndicated morning show Susie. She also discusses her radio career on 2GB.In '15 Minutes of Fame' Susie dishes out on the divas, bad boys and those who are just too precious to handle. Susie also talks about the many Australian and international celebrities she has interviewed over the years.

On Australia Day 1966, the Beaumont children Jane, Arnna and Grant disappeared from an Adelaide beach. Despite a large-scale police investigation and extensive media coverage, the case remains unsolved, bogged down by false leads and dead ends, and the Beaumont children were never seen again.Alan Whiticker speaks with Warren Moore about the book, 'The Satin Man', exploring the possibility put forward by one family that their patriarch, a man with a peculiar predilection for satin, might have been involved.'The Satin Man', is the result of ten years of investigating the news leads that emerged after Alan and researcher Stuart Mullins wrote an earlier book on the disappearance of the Beaumont children. 'The Satin Man' details everything uncovered about the new potential suspect, a man of wealth and position, and sheds incredible new light on this decades-old mystery with vital additional information on the unsolved case.

Richard Shears speaks with Warren Moore about his 40 year career as a foreign correspondent for the Daily Mail, and about his book, 'What Happens in Bali'.Richard is well qualified to talk about the famous and infamous stories to emerge from Bali, having been there for all of the events in his role as a journalist.The book covers the major stories, such as the Bali Nine, Bali Bombings, Schapelle Corby and the murder of Scheila von Wiese-Mack (The Body in the Suitcase) as well as events on the Indonesian island such as celebrity weddings and holidays.

Glenn Shorrock speaks with Warren Moore about his autobiography "Now Where Was I?" which covers his 50-year career in the music and entertainment industry and his early life in Adelaide after coming to Australia as a ten-pound-pom in the 1950s.Glenn discusses his early music success with the Twilights and Axiom as well as international stardom with the Little River Band, being replaced in LRB by John Farnham and his ongoing solo career.

Barbara speaks with Warren Moore about her book, "I’ve Come to say Goodbye"; the story of an incredible friendship between two unlikely people, a 50-something artist and a 32-year-old Indian spice merchant named Tarun. Over a ten-year period the author traveled back and forth to India spending time with Tarun in Udaipur, Rajasthan.From beige Australia to dazzling India, the intrepid Barbara Carmichael takes us on a poignant journey of friendship and self-discovery. A big-hearted tale of travel, family and the strange hand of destiny that can bring people together — and tear them apart.

The abduction, rape and murder of 26-year-old nurse Anita Cobby in the Western Sydney suburbof Blacktown in 1986 shocked hardened detectives, the wider community and ultimately the entire nation. That five young men from adjoining suburbs were responsible – local thieves and hoods with nothing to fear or lose – horrified the entire nation. Quickly captured, they were found guilty of their crimes and jailed for life, their papers marked ‘never to be released’.Alan Whiticker discusses with Warren Moore his book and the broader impact of Anita Cobby's murder.

'Diggin’ Your Dark Side' is a refreshingly raw and open look at how depression can take a healthy person and usher them to a place of despair and suffering so profound that suicide feels like the only option to escape.Warren Moore speaks with Melinda Carbis-Reilly about her autobiographical self-help book, her own journey through depression and the steps she used to become joyful and peaceful once again.

Robert Ian Bonnick was abandoned by his parents when he was less than two years old. He spent the next 16 years in children’s institutions.Yet, despite such a tough start to life, which included seeing other children he lived with jailed or even killed, Robert has had a successful life. He has represented England in basketball, been a professional model, worked in hospitality and become a motivational speaker.Robert Ian Bonnick speaks with Warren Moore about his book, Soul Survivor: How an abandoned child went from nothing to everything.

John Killick attracted international headlines when he escaped from prison in a hijacked helicopter in 1999. He has spent over 30 years in jail, mostly for armed robberies.John talks to Warren Moore about his latest book, On the Inside, which looks at his life behind bars and the criminals he has met.