Words and Nerds: Authors, books and literature.

Dani Vee and Melissa Manning chat about her new book Frogsong published by UQP and how Melissa captures the sensual aching years of young life along with its confusion and exuberance. They chat about nostalgia, the things that haunt us and the impact of addiction on those around us. They examine setting, character, the writing process and the path to publication. They also discuss the impact of constantly multi-tasking in a busy world and how this has contributed to anxiety. Listen now.

Date with a Debut - S4, E1 - Live at the 2026 Newcastle Writers Festival with Nick Wasiliev, Alejandra Martinez, Sam Elliott and Emma Pei Yin Date with a Debut is a podcast hosted by writer Nick Wasiliev: shining a light on debut authors, their incredible books, and their journeys to publication. Our Series 4 opener sees Date with a Debut live at the 2026 Newcastle Writers Festival, as Nick sits down with Sam Elliott, Alejandra Martinez and Emma Pei Yin to discuss their books and journeys to publication. WARNING: This podcast contains coarse language and adult themes. Enjoy the show? Drop us a review, it really helps the show out! You can also subscribe to our new monthly newsletter: https://nickwasiliev.substack.com/ Check out our brand new podcast website: https://dwad.podpixels.com/ Check out the 2026 sponsor of the podcast, Pod Pixels: https://bit.ly/4cbG1Zt Subscribe on Podbean to never miss an episode: https://www.podbean.com/site/podcatcher/index/blog/3mRME5IMoSJx Date with a Debut is featured as part of the Australian literary platform Words & Nerds. Check out all shows on the platform here: https://danivee.com.au/podcasts/

Dani Vee and Mohammed Massoud Morsi chat about his new novel The Hair of the Pigeon, the importance of humanity in dark times and interesting pathways to publishing. The Hair of the Pigeon is an epic tale of exile, survival and love. They talk about the character development, how we respond to violence when we have no control over our world. Mohammed shares his self-doubt as a writer and an interesting pathway to publication. Mohammed Massoud Morsi is an Egyptian-Danish-Australian photographer, journalist and writer. His work has been published in all three of his traditional languages. His work is enriched by his photographer's eye for detail and a passion for speaking out for those suppressed, challenging and breaking common narratives all at once.

New Episode #796 Dani Vee and Helena Pantsis discuss her unique and dark collection of short stories Mother Salad. They talk about the chaos and complexity of being a woman, the fact that women should not comply to society's expectations and the challenging the perceptions of women. They talk about vibes, how to write short stories and the path to publication. Mother Salad unravels the image of the woman in shambles, identity fractured and exploring a world which has long abandoned the creature it so carefully constructed. Helena Pantsis is an editor, writer and artist with a fond appreciation for the weird, the dark, and the experimental. Helena has won Going Down Swinging's micro-microfiction challenge in 2021, has been shortlisted in WigLeaf's top 50, nominated for Best American Short Stories and Best Short Fictions, and was the 2022 recipient of the H B Higgins Scholarship. In 2024, her debut short story collection GLUTT was published by Grattan Street Press. Today we chat about her surreal collection of short stories, Mother Salad. Listen now!

Dani Vee and Frances Whiting , a senior feature writer and award winning journalism chat about the brilliant The Nocturnals. They chat about: ⭐️ The power of nostalgia. ⭐️ How far would you go to protect the people you love? ⭐️ How does a career in journalism impact writing fiction? ⭐️ Whether they were cool, gla or dangerous as teenagers. ⭐️ Working full time and writing. From the bestselling author of The Best Kind of Beautiful, Frances Whiting, comes an endearing, wise and witty novel of love and friendship, which asks, how far would you go, to protect the people you love?   In the summer of 1997, five high school students meet. Nina, the Good Girl. Beatrice, The Poetess. Harriet, the Ghost. Cosmo, the Professor. And Hunter, the Golden Boy. In their last year of school, they become inseparable, five sides of the same star, until a fault line cracks between them, scattering them to all corners of the globe.   Now, fifteen years later, Hunter has called them with his conch shell lips to return to the place where they lived and laughed and cried together, before secrets were whispered, and promises were broken. No-one knows why he has assembled them, but there is no question they will go. Because to outsiders, they might be, in turns, a little bit weird, a little bit glamorous, and a little bit dangerous. But to each other, they are, and always will be, The Nocturnals.   From bestselling author Frances Whiting comes an irresistible, witty, darkly delightful and utterly endearing novel of friendship - and the lengths we will go to protect those who we love.   ‘Joyous, deep, funny and so bloody gripping. Hooked me, heart and soul. Whiting's words are so full of life. Aching, puzzling, heartbreaking, magnificent life.' Trent Dalton, bestselling author of Gravity Let Me Go  

Dani Vee and award winning investigative journalist Louise Milligan chat about her new book Shellybanks. A novel about buried secrets and unimaginable trauma. Published by Allen and Unwin. They chat about the impact of cross-generational relationships between women, and working through trauma through a feminist lens. Louise chats about her Irish influence, humour and the impact of trauma as an investigative journalist. Listen now!

Meet Jayne McIntyre, debut author of the trilogy The Feathers of Farwood, published by Riveted Press. In this episode we chat about: ⭐️ The long pathway to publication. ⭐️ Balancing parenting and passions. ⭐️ Why the fantasy genre resonates with readers, and how it's a great way to explore serious issues in a gentle way. ⭐️ The amount of research needed in a fantasy trilogy. ⭐️ Developing a trilogy and story arc. ⭐️ The importance of kids relating to characters. #podcast #fantasy #fantasygenre #trilogy #publishing

Dani Vee and Ian Kemish chat about Two Islands, balancing fiction and non-fiction and finding the goodness in characters. They talk about inherited trauma, political landscapes and the importance of setting. Two Islands (March 2026) is a debut thriller novel by former Australian diplomat Ian Kemish, focusing on Niko, a Balkan war survivor hiding from pursuers on a remote Scottish island. The story explores themes of trauma, memory, and international conflict through the lens of a quiet community, featuring a plot that involves a, war crimes investigator. Published by UQP.

QWS S5E2 Kemper Donovan and Troy Hunter

Dani Vee and Laura Brooke Robson chat from Sydney to New York about her new book Love is an Algorithm! They chat about the timely nature of AI interrupting relationships, technology vs chemistry and human connection and how involving AI in your romantic life might just make it more complicated. They talk about red flags, why everyone says relationships are hard work and why there is more chance of getting killed by a vending machine than a wild animal or a plane. Dani and Laura talk about the writing process and what it's like to write fiction. Listen now!

In this TAKEOVER episode Rory H Mather chats to author Renae Hayward and illustrator Susan Joy Lu about their beautiful new picture book What Can I Get For Mother's Day? They chat about the creative process of picture book development, taking inspiration from reading to their children, unpacking rhyme, the illustrative process and bringing picture books to life. Listen now!

Dani Vee and Emma Styles chat about her new crime novel The Shark, a darkly unique thriller from an author who writes contemporary Australian noir about young women taking on the patriarchy. They chat about the importance of teenage girls at the centre, creating disturbing characters and how to write a thriller. Listen now!

Dani Vee and Julianne Negri explore the devastating impact of youth suicide through the verse novel The Belly of a Wolf. They chat about art as medicine, the publishing industry, the importance of friendship, and the challenges of writing a verse novel. Listen now!

Dani Vee and best selling author Ashley Kalagian Blunt chat about her new crime novel Like, Follow, Die. They chat about tapping into a parent's fear, multiple perspectives, writing crime and exploring the darker side of the web. They also chat about managing health conditions and creativity. Listen now.

Dani Vee and Niraj Lal chat about his new book Behind the Screens and how we can keep our kids safe. Giving your teenager a phone is a big deal, they suddenly have access to the world their parents didn't have before them, so how do we keep them safe? We chat about how the internet is one of the most life changing inventions in history and how it has changed human behaviour, how tech uses its consumers, data collection and digital surveillance and the debate about AI. An enlightening chat! Listen now.

Dani Vee chats to author and YKNR host A.L. Tait and Affirm Press publisher Tash Besliev about their brand new collaboration on a children's series set to engage kids in reading. They chat about how the idea emerged, how the books help parents and librarians select books that engage kids and encourage them to read for pleasure. The series is written and illustrated by a variety of Aussie creatives, and have been created to engage young readers. Listen now!

Dani Vee and Pip Knight chat about her new book Pip Wants to Die. This is not your average vampire novel. A female vampire who wants to be human. Dani and Pip chat about vampire culture, tropes and inspirations from The Lost Boys to True Blood, and they talk about the impossibility of writing and taking risks. Listen now!

QWS S5E1 Samantha Byres and Troy Hunter New season, brand new episode! In QWS S5E1, Troy chats with Samantha Byres about her debut novel DEAD ENDS, a fantastic, dark, hilarious, queer, horny book about being trapped in the past in your 30s, being stuck with your family, about loss, and making many bad decisions while looking for a second chance. They chat about how Sam manages to write comedy and drama together so well, how they write about messy sex, how Sam's obsession with the 90s NZ TV show Sensing Murder (it's on YouTube) informed her novel, as well as their shift from writing short stories to writing a novel. We laughed so much making this episode! Books and things Sam recommends: - Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq - Look Who's Morphing by Tom Cho - 100 Boyfriends by Brontez Purnell - Self-Help by Lorrie Moore - Sensing Murder TV show You can find Sam on Insta at @thescarletttbitch and Dead Ends at Hosted by Troy Hunter who you can find on Insta @troyhunterwriter and at www.troyhuntwriter.com Troy is the author of Gus and the Missing Boy and Gus and the Burning Stones #Gayauthor #Queerwriting #adultfiction #WordsandNerds #LGBTQIABooks #NewZealandauthors #UQP

Dr Helen Edwards and Dani Vee chat about her new book A Light on the Rocks, a historical fiction novel with a little magic. They chat about anxiety and bravery, the importance of kids seeing themselves in stories, living and writing with anxiety and ADHD and writing process.l Listen now!

TOP 30 COUNTDOWN BEST OF SERIES 2025 Dani Vee chats to bestselling author and superstar Trent Dalton about his new novel Gravity Let Me Go. They chat about being obsessed with art, an impossibility of achieving life work balance, writing the darkest part of themselves, parenting and testicles (you read that right!) LISTEN NOW!

TOP 30 COUNTDOWN BEST OF SERIES 2025 TAKEOVER: Rory H Mather chats to Sarah Speedie, Sharna Carter and Toni D'Alia in this picture nook special about writing, publishing and why picture books are special. Listen now!

TOP 30 COUNTDOWN BEST OF SERIES 2025 Superstar Adrian Beck chats to Dani Vee about his new middle grade book VILLAIN. The switch board lit up like Taylor Swift at a Chiefs game (enjoy my footy reference ADRIAN!) and we heard from 7 special and not at all planted creative guests who asked questions that ranged from the ridiculous (Adam Wallace) to the profound ... um someone did ask something profound didn't they? Just as Adrian Bec-k thought he was out of woods, Dani asked him some hard hitting questions that left him speechless. They may have talked about his new book VILLAIN, but definitely had a chat about the impact of Al, how he keeps his finger on the pulse of publishing, bathing cavoodles and his lush hair. Industry information, random conversations, writing, and donuts vs croissants. What more could you want? get ready to laugh! Listen now!

TOP 30 COUNTDOWN BEST OF SERIES 2025 In this episode Dani Vee chats to Tina Strachan about the maths ins storytelling and pantsing vs plotting when writing a manuscript. We chat about Tina's unique writing processes including Save The Cat and Story Grid methods The conversation turns to self-care and listening to the connection between our brain and body, making space for creativity, and how writing communities shape us as writers. We also talk about Neeka and the Missing Key, published by HarperCollins, the first book of the Wilder Zoo series. Publisher: Harper Collins Music Credit: Happy Corporate Whistle, published by Four Track, Composed by Andre Albrecht

TOP 30 COUNTDOWN BEST OF SERIES Dani Vee and George Ivanoff chat about the publishing industry and how to deal with rejections as an established author. They chat about dinosaurs and his new book You Choose Mega: Prehistoric Peril. Listen now!

TOP 30 COUNTDOWN BEST OF SERIES 2025 Everything I Know About Publishing - a NEW SERIES - focused on what the best in the biz know about publishing

TOP 30 COUNTDOWN BEST OF SERIES Date With A Debut is a podcast hosted by writer Nick Wasiliev: shining a light on debut authors, their incredible books, and their journeys to publication. This week, I sit down with Thomas Vowles to discuss his debut novel, Our New Gods. Enjoy the show? Drop us a review, it really helps out! You can also support Date with a Debut on Patreon: www.patreon.com/c/nickwasiliev/membership

TOP 30 COUNTDOWN BEST OF SERIES 2025 Everything I Know About Publishing - TAKEOVER with Deborah Abela, Sarah Armstrong, Lian Tanner and Zanni Louise. Listen to four different experiences of the publishing industry over the years.

TOP 30 COUNTDOWN BEST OF SERIES 2025 Dani Vee and Ashleigh Barton celebrate the new book How to Sail to Somewhere. They chat about writing in the chaos of creativity and parenthood, and how they're tackling the big parenting moments, while trying to remain inspired. The conversation turns to being present, never being perfect and interesting writing process that doesn't involve writing! Ashleigh is a children's author as has worked in publishing running publicity and marketing campaigns. Ashleigh had written six picture books, two junior fiction series and has been recognised on the CBCA Notables and shortlist three years running. Listen now!

TOP 30 COUNTDOWN BEST OF SERIES 2025 Everything I (Don't) Know About Publishing with superstars Pip Harry and Kate Foster. They chat about the opaque publishing industry and the changes they'd like to see occur in the publishing industry. They discuss writing market versus writing an author wants to write, the importance of creatives having access to data, and balancing creativity with business. An episode not to be missed if you want to know more about publishing. Listen now!

TOP 30 COUNTDOWN BEST OF SERIES 2025 In this adults only chat with Dani Vee and Holden Sheppard they chat about the brilliant STAN series Invisible Boys, brilliant casting and writing the raw and realistic episode 8. They discuss unrealistic love scenes in rom coms and how damaging they are in creating unrealistic expectations. The chat turns to shedding shame and who you are supposed to be and choosing to live authentically. Holden chat about the Invisible Boys sequel and how it is the book he was always meant to write. Holden Sheppard is an award-winning author. His debut novel Invisible Boys has now been adapted for television as an original series.   Holden's second novel The Brink won Young Adult Book of the Year at the 2023 Indie Book Awards and the 2024 Ena Noël Award. The Brink was shortlisted for the NSW Premier's Literary Awards, the South Australian Literary Awards, the Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIAs) and the QLD Writers' Centre's Adaptable program. Holden's third book King of Dirt will be published in June 2025 by Pantera Press. Publisher: Fremantle Press TV: A STAN Original Music Credit: Happy Corporate Whistle, published by Four Track, Composed by Andre Albrecht

TOP 30 COUNTDOWN BEST OF SERIES 2025 Michelle Mitchell and Dani Vee chat about her new book TWEENS. They talk about this time being the most rapid period of development for a child, the difference between concrete and formal thinkers and how we can improve our connections with our tweens. They also chat about screen time, building positive relationships, mental illness and how we're all just trying our best to be the positive adults our kids need. Michelle Mitchell is a bestselling author and speaker, sought after for her compassionate and grounded advice for parenting tweens and teens. LISTEN NOW!

A very feminist chat, essential listening for men and women, by women of a certain rage! Dani and Sara have a fascinating chat about creating female characters that push back against stereotypes and tropes. They also chat about the renegotiation and complexity of mother/daughter relationships as you age, and the paradox of what we want for our daughters (freedom) versus the safety of women in the world. Sara delves in the toxic masculinity such as transactional relationships, power and how uncomfortable conversations have to be had in order to dismantle misogyny and toxic masculinity. Women have always been uncomfortable and have had to plan their lives around their own safety. They also manage to chat about why thrillers engage audiences and how important they are in holding a mirror up to society. Sara Foster is the author of acclaimed dystopian thriller The Hush and six bestselling psychological suspense novels: You Don't Know Me, The Hidden Hours, All That is Lost Between Us, Shallow Breath, Beneath the Shadows and Come Back to Me. Her new novel is When She Was Gone.

TOP 30 COUNTDOWN BEST OF SERIES 2025

TOP 30 COUNTDOWN BEST OF SERIES

TOP 30 COUNTDOWN BEST OF SERIES 2025 Dani and Joel chat about his brand new book Heist: The Great Chocolate Caper, planning vs the benefits of spontaneous writing, word counts and trends. Joel also confesses something about his past that inspired the book - and it's shocking! They also chat about the importance of self-care when touring, the power of poetry in bringing out the vulnerability of students, particularly boys, unraveling the patriarchy and practising courageous vulnerability.

TOP 30 COUNTDOWN BEST OF SERIES 2025 Date With A Debut is a podcast hosted by writer Nick Wasiliev: shining a light on debut authors, their incredible books, and their journeys to publication. This week, Nick sits down with Chloe Adams to discuss her debut novel, The Occupation - winner of the 2024 Penguin Literary Prize. Enjoy the show? Drop us a review, it really helps the show out! You can also support and follow Nick on Substack: nickwasiliev.substack.com/

TOP 30 COUNTDOWN BEST OF SERIES 2025 Date With A Debut is a podcast hosted by writer Nick Wasiliev: shining a light on debut authors, their incredible books, and their journeys to publication. This week, Nick sits down with Natalia Figueroa Barroso to discuss her debut novel, Hailstones Fell Without Rain.

TOP 30 COUNTDOWN BEST OF SERIES 2025 Dani Vee and Gavin Aung Than chat about his new graphic novel Creature Clinic. They also chat about the differences between Australian and US publishers, the secrets of the industry, parenting, finding creative space and whether meditation really works.

COUNTDOWN the top 30 most listened to episodes for 2025. ‘It's never been so important to be a mother of boys. We have to shape how our boys view the world, particularly when it comes to women.' The first episode of the Words & Nerds new season for 2025 has landed! Kell Woods and Dani Vee chat like old friends about the importance of parenting boys and teachable moments of positive masculinity. They also chat about finding a balance between mental health and creativity. Kell and Dani delve into fairytales and appropriating them for a new context where the portrayal of women and feminism becomes a central theme. Kell Woods is an Australian historical fantasy author. She studied English Literature, creative writing and librarianship, and has worked in libraries for the past twelve years. She's the author of After the Forest and Upon a Starlit Tide.

COUNTDOWN of the top 30 most listened to episodes. It's a Kidlit takeover! Join Ky Garvey as she chats to Picture Book creatives Rory H Mather, Brent Wilson & Kirsten Ealand on their new picture books Laugh in the Bath from Little Book Press and The Big Backyard Plan from Affirm Press. The authors share what it's like to collaborate with their fellow publishing creatives including getting creative advice from their peers and what the relationship between Author and Illustrator can be like.

COUNTDOWN the top 30 most listened to episodes of 2025. Date With A Debut is a podcast hosted by writer Nick Wasiliev: shining a light on debut authors, their incredible books, and their journeys to publication. This week, I sit down with Geoff Parkes to discuss his debut novel, When the Deep, Dark Bush Swallows You Whole. WARNING: This book contains intense subject matter, including instances of abuse and violence. Reader discretion is advised.

COUNTDOWN the top 30 most listened to episodes of 2025. NEW SERIES - Ever wanted to get inside the mind of an adult fiction author? This new series spotlights author through a monologue format, where authors take a deep dive into how they wrote their novel, where ideas come from, their challenges and wins, their fears, personal experiences, what it's like working with their publisher, the editing process and more. First up Mark Mupotsa-Russell, author of The Hitwoman's Guide to Reducing Household Debt, takes us through the process of writing his second book The Wolf Who Cried Boy! Check it out!

COUNTDOWN the top 30 most listened to episodes of 2025. Dani Vee and Adam Wallace talk about publishing vs self-publishing, and Adam shares his experiences of writing for children. Adam has sold more than 14 million books worldwide.

COUNTDOWN the top 30 most listened to episodes of 2025. Don't miss this chat with Dani Vee and bestselling superstar author Christian White where they chat about Christian's darkest novel yet, The Long Night. They chat about what makes a best selling book and the writing process, as well trading stories about urban legends that haunt them and the weird confessions they make because of this fear! They talk about dark places, shared anxieties and the complex relationship between mothers and daughters. This is one in depth, fun, creepy chat. Buckle up!

COUNTDOWN the top 30 episodes of 2025. Episode 752: Everything I Know About Publishing with Adam Wallace and Sue Whiting PART 1

COUNTDOWN the top 30 episodes for 2025. Dani Vee and Paula McLean have an insightful chat about storytelling, feminism, women and how the past shapes you. The One Remaining is a story of memory, endurance, loss and love. Hilary comes upon a stack of her old diaries, which document the trauma she's endured and decides she is ready to face the hidden backstory of her life. The One Remaining is a captivating story of overcoming loss, finding the courage to trust and the self-healing power of writing our stories. Paula McLean is an author, philanthropist and advocate for Australian literature. A Patron and former Deputy Chair of the Stella Prize, she now serves as their NSW Ambassador. With a background in publishing and a legacy of

COUNTDOWN the top 30 most listened to episodes in 2025. In QWS S4E4, Rob chats with writer and artist Catherine Johnstone (she/her) about her lyrical, hybrid memoir-in-progress and her contributions to the international anthology Stories of Place (Black Rose Writing). They talk coming out through art, the power of queer storytelling, and how creative nonfiction can blur and bend traditional forms—lyric essays, fragments, visual structure, and more. Catherine reflects on publishing with a global collective, the joy of letting go, and her hopes for the LGBTIQA+ community. She also shares thoughtful advice for fellow writers: the importance of daydreaming, embracing experimental forms, and ending the never-ending pursuit of perfection—letting go of work when it's ready “enough,” rather than endlessly chasing a mythical final draft.

COUNTDOWN 30 of the most listened to episodes for 2025. Rob chats with journalist and author Michael Burge (he/him) about his new crime fiction novel Dirt Trap (MidnightSun Publishing), a sequel to Tank Water. They discuss writing rural noir and queer history, the silences that shape small towns, and what happens when truth finally breaks through. Michael talks about blending crime-thriller pace with emotional weight, writing justice into places that resist it, and why representation in regional stories matters more than ever.

In QWS S4E11, Troy sits down with his mate Holden Sheppard and they go deep into some meaty topics, from masculinity, drinking and trauma, through to YA vs adult writing and writing gay sex. Buckle up! They dive into the fascinating origin stories behind Holden's three acclaimed novels - Invisible Boys, The Brink and King of Dirt - as well as exploring unpublished YA fantasy novel and his gay bogan novella and how they informed his path to publication. Of course the recent Invisible Boy hit tv series on Stan gets looked at too. (Also see Words and Nerds ep 727 with Dani Vee for a dedicated discussion of this series.) Things that Holden recommends: - Gus and the Burning Stones by Troy Hunter - Wrong Answers Only by Toby Madden - Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie by Alanis Morisette Other media referenced includes: - Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams - Brokeback Mountain directed by Ang Lee - The Language or the Kiss by the Indigo Girls Trigger warnings: this episode covers depression, suicidal ideation, alcohol abuse and violence. If these topics raise any issues for you, here are some support resources to consider: - Life line 131114 - Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 - MensLine 1300789978 Hosted by Troy Hunter who you can find at www.troyhuntwriter.com Troy is the author of Gus and the Missing Boy and Gus and the Burning Stones Follow Troy on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/troyhunterwriter/ #QWSPodcast #LoveOzYA #Gayauthor #Queerwriting #adultfiction #WordsandNerds #LGBTQIABooks #YoungAdult #bromosexual

A Recording of the Dymocks Adelaide YA SPECTACULAR Panel “Why YA is Here To Stay” on Wednesday 14th November 2025. Episode Description: We've got something a bit different and a bit special for Radelaide Reads this month: a recording from the Dymocks Adelaide YA SPECTACULAR event - on Wednesday 14th November 2025 a panel of seven (yes, SEVEN) YA authors, assembled at Dymocks Rundle Mall to discuss the topic of why “YA Is Here to Stay”. It was a phenomenal event, in front of a huge crowd, and many people who couldn't attend asked whether there was any chance it was recorded. Well lo and behold I did strategically position a microphone to capture the brilliance. Here's a list of the authors (Instagram handles and latest book titles) who made up the panel: @vikkiwakefield (moderator) This Is How We Change The Ending @allaynewebster Maisy Hayes is Not for Sale @lkclipstone Tenderly I Am Devoured @mikelucasauthor One By One They Dissappear @sharonkernot Birdy @margot.mcgovern This Stays Between Us And me @ceceadam The Locked Room With special guest appearance by Becky Lucas ( @beckybookingagent )