Podcasts about australian book industry awards

Book review: Australian Book Industry Awards winner about a First Nations and Carlton identity.  Eddie Betts is an inspirational story of a true Australian Rules champion, on and off the field. It is a moving tale of an Aboriginal boy who battled discrimination and who grew up to be famous for his gravity-defying kicks. ⇨ YOU WILL LEARN:  * What this Australian Aboriginal's memoir is about * Highlights from the Simon and Schuster publication * Life-story tips from an award winner  * Be inspired by a former illiterate author!  ⇨ FULL ARTICLE Click to read: https://foreveryoungautobiographies.com/the-boy-from-boomerang-crescent/  ⇨ VIDEO PODCAST Click to watch: https://youtu.be/smsm7hKrg4s  ⇨ FREE GIFT Structure Success video training: Four steps to plan a life-story outline. FREE training, click to sign up: https://wp.me/P8NwjM-3o ⇨ YOUR SAY Do you have a book review recommendation? Leave me a comment below or here https://www.foreveryoungautobiographies.com/contact/ ⇨ RELATED LINKS Best life stories of 2023: Award-winning books to read over the holidays  https://www.foreveryoungautobiographies.com/best-life-stories-of-2023/   My Dream Time: Tennis memoir by Wimbledon and Aus Open star Ash Barty https://foreveryoungautobiographies.com/my-dream-time   Book review: Johnathan Thurston - The Autobiography, with James Phelps https://www.foreveryoungautobiographies.com/johnathan-thurston/    Good writing: Writing tips on how to become a better writer (plus writing prompts free training) https://www.foreveryoungautobiographies.com/good-writing/  First draft: Don't start writing a first draft before reading this! https://www.foreveryoungautobiographies.com/first-draft/   ♡ Thanks for listening! Please subscribe if you are new and share or review the show if you found it helpful! Happy writing! ⇨ ABOUT ME G'day! I'm Nicola, the founder of Forever Young Autobiographies. I've been a daily print journalist for decades and know how to create life stories! Now I help others do the same to share with family and friends so that unique memories live on. ⇨ WEBSITE https://www.foreveryoungautobiographies.com ⇨ YOUTUBE https://www.youtube.com/c/ForeverYoungAutobiographies ⇨ FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/foreveryoungautobiographies ⇨ INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/foreveryoungautobiographies/

Learn about bird evolution from an ecologist and best-selling author. This episode is about where songbirds originated from, Australia's ‘woodpecker' and other fun birds, and the simple joys of being out in the bush.Tim Low is a biologist and best-selling author of seven books, four of which have won prizes. His most popular book, ‘Where Song Began', won best general non fiction at the Australian Book Industry Awards. And ‘Feral Future' inspired the formation of the Invasive Species Council, a conservation group that campaigns for better policies on introduced species. This year, Tim was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to conservation and environmental awareness. Links:* Subscribe to the Monthly Letter - weekendbirder.com/monthly-letter* Tim's website - timlow.com* Tim's books - timlow.com/books/* Tim on Twitter/X - @timlow5* Brown Thornbill recording by Ramit Singal (XC571148) - xeno-canto.org* Chestnut-crowned Babbler recordings by Marc Anderson, licenced from wildambience.comWeekend Birder online:* Website - weekendbirder.com* Instagram - @weekend.birder* Facebook - @weekend.birder Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ANDY GRIFFITHS IS GOING TO DIEAndy Griffiths is one of Australia's most popular children's authors. He has written forty books—many in collaboration with illustrator Terry Denton—which have sold over 12 million copies in Australia, won 90 children's choice awards and 10 Australian Book Industry Awards—including Book of the Year for The 52-Storey Treehouse in 2015. His much loved Treehouse series has been embraced by children around the world and is published in more than 35 countries. The thirteenth—and final book in the series—was published in 2023. So what does one of the nation's most beloved and playful imaginations have to say about his own demise - and perhaps, the soundtrack that may accompany it?Andy is currently working on a new series called Adventures Unlimited in collaboration with illustrator Bill Hope. The first book, 'The Land of Lost Things', will be published in August 2024 and—in response to many children's requests to be included in the books—will feature the reader as one of the main characters (along with Andy) as they take a unpredictably silly adventure featuring the playful mix of left-of-centre comedy, fantasy, adventure and lavish illustrations that generations of his young readers—and their parents—have come to love so much.  Andy is a passionate advocate for literacy and in 2015 was awarded the Dromkeen Medal to honour his outstanding contribution to Australian children's literature. He is also an ambassador for both The Indigenous Literacy Foundation and the Pyjama Foundation.Andy's funeral playlist can be found here.Twitter: @andygbooksInstagram: andygbooksfacebook: Andy Griffiths Marieke Hardy Is Going To Die is a podcast made by Marieke Hardy (IG @marieke_hardy).You can follow at IG @GoingToDiePodMusic by Lord Fascinator (IG @lordfascinator)Produced by Darren Scarce (IG @Dazz26)Video edits by Andy Nedelkovski (IG @AndyNeds)Artwork by Lauren Egan (IG @heylaurenegan)Photography by Eamon Leggett (IG @anxietyoptions)With thanks to Amelia Chappelow (IG @ameliachappelow)Camilla McKewen (IG @CamillaLucyLucy)and Rhys Graham (IG @RhysJGraham)Drop an email to mariekehardyisgoingtodie@gmail.comWhilst acknowledging the privilege that comes with having the space to discuss death and mortality, we want to also recognise that discussing these topics can raise some  wounds. Should you wish to seek extra support, please consider the following resources:https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/online-grief-support-groupshttps://www.grief.org.au/ga/ga/Support/Support_Groups.aspxhttps://www.headspace.com/meditation/griefhttps://www.mindful.org/a-10-minute-guided-meditation-for-working-with-grief/https://griefline.org.au/get-help/ https://www.wheelercentre.com/events-tickets/season-2024/ben-shewry-is-going-to-die ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

The former Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard joins Vick for a live recording in Bedford Square Gardens from the Women's Prize Live Festival. Julia Gillard served as the 27th Prime Minister of Australia from 2010 to 2013 after serving as Deputy Prime Minister from 2007 to 2010. She was the first and only woman to have held either of these offices in Australian history. Following her retirement from politics, Julia has been a visiting professor at the University of Adelaide and is currently the chair of the Global Partnership for Education, the Wellcome Trust and Beyond Blue, an Australian mental health and wellbeing organisation. Julia has also written several books exploring themes of misogyny, leadership and politics. Her memoir, My Story, was shortlisted for Biography of the Year by the Australian Book Industry Awards and was the highest selling politics-related book in 2014.  Julia's book choices are: ** Nancy Drew Mystery Stories by Carolyn Keene ** To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee ** The Secret River by Kate Grenville ** The Sun Walks Down by Fiona MacFarlane ** Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season seven of the Women's Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women's Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women. Don't want to miss the rest of season seven? Listen and subscribe now!

Sophie Green is an author and publisher who lives in Sydney. In her spare time she writes about country music on her website, Sunburnt Country Music. Sophie's debut novel, The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club, was a Top Ten bestseller and was shortlisted for the Australian Book Industry Awards for General Fiction Book of the Year 2018, longlisted for both the Matt Richell Award for New Writer of the Year 2018 and the Indie Book Award for Debut Fiction 2018. Her following novels were also published internationally. Today, we're talking about her new book, Art Hour at the Duchess Hotel. Our interview begins at 12.00We've got a Substack publication now! On the last day of the month, we share recommendations for two things we reckon you should read/watch/listen to. The beauty of Substack is you can revisit all our old editions and comment on our episode updates to share your thoughts. Come say hi! Caitlin recommends: A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston*Romantic comedies with a dash of magic? Yes please. Elsie finds herself stuck in a small town that's suspiciously like that of her favourite book series and must work out how to conclude the story left in limbo by the death of the author. A very fun, delightful read. Michelle recommends: Kala by Colin Walsh*A literary page-turner set in a small Irish village. We meet Helen, Mush and Joe 20 years after the disappearance of their best friend Kala. The discovery of Kala's body forces them all to confront the truths they've been running from since they were teenagers. This is character-driven, picking up pace as the novel builds to a gripping conclusion. In this interview, we chat about:The hotel stay that inspired Sophie and the long process from idea to bookSophie's view on creativity and ideas, plus her advice to aspiring writersHow Sophie's characters make their voices heardHow Sophie chooses when to set her books (and why 1999 was the setting this time)Sophie's journey to publication including working as a publisher and writing Home&Away fictionThe writing lessons we can all learn from long-running soapsHow Sophie juggles writing and working full-time as a publisherThe career journey into publishing and then becoming an authorBooks and other things mentioned:Just Like Heaven (film)Helly Acton (author)The Husbands by Holly GramazioBrooklyn and Long Island by Colm ToibinSmall Things Like These by Claire KeeganBig Magic by Elizabeth GilbertHunted (TV)Home & Away (TV)Heartbeat (TV)Blue Heelers (TV)All Saints (TV)Follow @sophiegreenbooks on InstagramArt Hour at the Duchess Hotel is available now in Australia. Thank you to the publishers for providing us with copies in preparation for the interview.Connect with us on Instagram: @betterwordspod

Irma tries to convert Karen to writing program Scrivener. Then Irma chats to children's creators Anna Walker and Andrea Rowe about how authors and illustrators work together (or don't!), why illustrator notes are a no-no, the profound impact of picture books on both adults and children, the biggest mistakes that new writers and illustrators make, what to expect from the editing and publishing process, how to network and build connections in the industry, the effects of crippling self-doubt, why we should all be library lurkers, the failures of literary festivals in relation to children's authors, the devastating impact of a public complaint on Andrea's debut book, and why Anna jetted off to New York for a publishing lunch.About Anna and AndreaAnna Walker is an illustrator and author of picture books. Using traditional mediums, she creates stories inspired by the quiet and sometimes joyful details of life. Her books include Florette, (New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Book), Mr Huff, (shortlisted for the Prime Minister's Literary Awards and winner of a CBCA Award), and, most recently, A Life Song with Jane Godwin, which has been shortlisted for the Australian Book Industry Awards.Andrea Rowe is an award-winning children's author, ghost-writer and copywriter. She has published three children's books – Jetty Jumping, Sunday Skating and In the Rockpool – and has won or been shortlisted for several major awards, including the CBCAs. She has another six picture books currently in production and has been awarded the prestigious May Gibbs Fellowship for 2024. Andrea is also Founding President of the Peninsula Writers' Club.

You may have heard this one before - or maybe not! Either way, it's well worth a listen. In one of our most popular episodes we sat down to chat with Kay Kerr about her book 'Love & Autism' which, given the timing (a week after Valentine's Day) seemed like a good reason to do an encore.   Original Episode Description: In this episode, Jacinta and Lachlan interview Kay Kerr about her new book Love & Autism. Love & Autism presents an uplifting celebration of neurodivergent love, the search for it and a deeper look into the lives of autistic Australians. We chat to Kay about where the idea came from, the interview and drafting process, autistic affirmation and joy, and what she thinks lies ahead for the next generation of autistics.    About our guest Kay Kerr is an autistic author and journalist from the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. Her debut novel Please Don't Hug Me (2020) was shortlisted for Book of the Year for Older Children at the Australian Book Industry Awards in 2021, and listed as a ‘Notable Book' by the Children's Book Council of Australia. Her second novel, Social Queue, was released with Text Publishing in October 2021. Kay's freelance writing has appeared in The Guardian, SBS Voices, Daily Life, Broadsheet, and Peppermint Magazine, amongst others. She writes about autistic representation, disability, parenting, pop culture, gardening, and feelings. Kay's new book Love & Autism is out now.    Representations & resources Kay's website Please Don't Hug Me Social Queue Love & Autism The Overshare Clem Bastow's Late Bloomer Chloe Hayden's Different, Not Less Tim Chan's & Sarah Chan's Back From the Brink Anna Whateley (Peta Lyre's Rating Normal) Jen Wilde (This Is the Way the World Ends, Queens of Geek, Going Off Script and The Brightsiders) Helen Hoang (The Kiss Quotient, The Bride Test and The Heart Principle) Kate Foster (The Bravest Word, Paws, Harriet Hound, The Unlikely Heroes Club and All the Small Wonderful Things) We're Not Broken by Eric Garcia. You can purchase all of these book titles and more from your local independent bookseller or Booktopia. Please note by purchasing through these Booktopia partner links we are provided a small commission which allows us to continue to provide the podcast at no cost to our audience.    About the podcast Differently Brained shares the opinions of individuals and does not consider your personal circumstances. Differently Brained exists purely for information purposes and should not be relied on as health or medical advice. Because no brain is the same, please consult your healthcare professional for your personal medical needs. The Differently Brained team acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands on which we record, edit and stream this podcast. We pay our respects to all First Nations peoples and their Elders part, present and emerging. We extend that respect to all First Nations cultures and their ongoing connection to the lands, waterways and communities.

Book review: Australian Book Industry Awards winner about an Aussie girl from Ipswich. My Dream Time: A memoir of tennis and teamwork by Ash Barty is a fair-dinkum Aussie read. It is about tennis, family, teamwork and how Barty got to be the grand-slam champ she is today. ⇨ YOU WILL LEARN:  * What this HarperCollins publication is all about * What's fascinating about this grand slam's memoir * Big takeaways to help our own life-story creating * You're not too young (or old) to create a life story! ⇨ FULL ARTICLE Click to read: https://foreveryoungautobiographies.com/my-dream-time/  ⇨ VIDEO PODCAST Click to watch: https://youtu.be/5VVz5QmBrb0  ⇨ FREE GIFT Structure Success video training: Four steps to plan a life-story outline. FREE training, click to sign up: https://wp.me/P8NwjM-3o ⇨ YOUR SAY What's one sport you loved playing when you grew up? Leave me a comment below or here https://www.foreveryoungautobiographies.com/contact/ ⇨ RELATED LINKS Best life stories of 2023: Award-winning books to read over the holidays  https://www.foreveryoungautobiographies.com/best-life-stories-of-2023/ Chasing Me to My Grave: Jim Crow memoir by Georgia artist Winfred Rembert https://foreveryoungautobiographies.com/chasing-me-to-my-grave/ Good writing: Writing tips on how to become a better writer (plus writing prompts free training) https://www.foreveryoungautobiographies.com/good-writing/ Foreign words: How to clearly write foreign phrases and foreign expressions in 5mins https://www.foreveryoungautobiographies.com/foreign-words/ Chapters: 3 questions answered about book chapters https://www.foreveryoungautobiographies.com/chapters/ ♡ Thanks for listening! Please subscribe if you are new and share or review the show if you found it helpful! Happy writing! ⇨ ABOUT ME G'day! I'm Nicola, the founder of Forever Young Autobiographies. I've been a daily print journalist for decades and know how to create life stories! Now I help others do the same to share with family and friends so that unique memories live on. ⇨ WEBSITE https://www.foreveryoungautobiographies.com ⇨ YOUTUBE https://www.youtube.com/c/ForeverYoungAutobiographies ⇨ FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/foreveryoungautobiographies ⇨ INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/foreveryoungautobiographies/

We're kicking off our Summer Series -- a chance to catch up on some episodes you may have missed out on the first time around. If you listened to the seas 6 finale, you'll now that The First Time is taking a break in it's current format in 2024 BUT! Don't delete the feed just yet, Katherine will be back flying solo in March with something new. It'll feature interviews with writers but also creatives, comedians and entrepreneurs. Finally, to celebrate six years of the pod and to kick off the coach-sulting (coaching/consulting) work she'll be doing this year (see here), check out Katherine's tips on interviewing and being interviewed (via Instagram). This episode Katherine talks with internationally best selling award winning author Andy Griffiths about writing for children, his long time collaboration with illustrator Terry Denton and what the perfect % of anarchy is within a story. Andy Griffiths is one of Australia's best known children's authors. He and illustrator Terry Denton have collaborated on more than 33 bestselling books since their first title, Just Tricking, was published in 1997. In Australia, Andy and Terry's books have sold over 10 million copies, won 80 children's choice awards and 10 Australian Book Industry Awards—including Book of the Year for The 52-Storey Treehouse in 2015. Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com  or get in touch via Instagram @katherinecollettewriter, @kmildenhall or @thefirsttimepod.

Joining me on the latest episode of UNBiased is Siang Lu.  Siang is the award-winning author of The Whitewash, the co-creator of The Beige Index and the creator of #dumbbookstagram. The Whitewash won Audiobook of the Year at the 2023 Australian Book Industry Awards and the Glendower Emerging Writer Award at the Queensland Literary Awards, and was shortlisted at the NSW Premiers Literary Awards. In our conversation we delved into The Whitewash in all its punchy, poignant, entertaining and laugh-out-loud funny glory. Siang also shared openly about his own personal journey that led him both to writing (he quit his law degree pretty early on in favour of literature), and targeting representation in so many forms to build visibility of important issues in novel ways. The Whitewash is a mockumentary addressing Asian representation in Hollywood. This led Siang to co-create The Beige Index - the Bechdel Test for race, exploring ethnic representation in the IMDb Top 250 Films. Can't wait to read more from Siang. Learn more about Siang here: https://www.siang-lu.com/ Check out the Beige Index here: https://thebeigeindex.com

Tim Low joins us for Season 1 (2021) of Birdsong. Tim is an Australian biologist, and an author of several books and numerous articles on nature and conservation. His seventh book, Where Song Began: Australia's Birds and How They Changed the World, became the first nature book ever to win the Australian Book Industry Awards prize for best General Non Fiction in 2015. An earlier book, Feral Future, inspired the formation of an NGO, the Invasive Species Council. His earlier books helped popularize Australian bush tucker. Four of his books have won national prizes, and alongside these books, his reports, articles and talks have contributed to ecological thought and environmental policy in Australia and beyond. Written for a general audience, his books have attracted broad academic interest and serve as recommended reading in many university courses. http://www.timlow.com   TIMESTAMPS: [3:55] Why Tim doesn't typically use the word sacred [7:35] We use singular words to define pluralities, such as wilderness and nature [8:00] Nature beings adapt to the suburbs and cities [9:30] Human progression being bad for nature is too simplistic a perspective [10:40] Satin Bowerbirds are technological innovators with their love for blue plastic [12:55] Is nature something that we as humans can enhance? [14:50] Is humanity and our bioevolutionary role to be the great diversifiers of nature? [17:03] Where Song Began: the origin of songbirds from Australia [19:30] Australia gave birth to the most intelligent birds [23:44] The universal language of birdsong [24:24] The noisy miners, lorikeets and goshawk [26:25] Bird calls and snakes [29:23] The differing dialects of bird species [32:00] Awareness, associations, and vegetation relationships out in the field [34:30] The supercontinent Gondwana and the emergence of songbirds from Australia [36:15] Childhood dreams of becoming a paleontologist and my dinosaurian revelation of the lyrebird [37:56] The cassowary [38:56] Bird teeth, the goose, and its serrated tongue [41:06] The ancient Gondwanan connection between gum trees and other species [43:00] The importance of understanding deep time to be decent environmental managers [47:20] Songbirds and parrots have co-evolved with eucalypt trees for many millions of years [50:50] We can learn more about Australia from our birds moreso than our mammals [53:11] Feral Future and how we can move forward with practical solutions to invasive species [54:39] The conservation issue of fire-ants [57:16] Every species has its own agenda [1:00:00] Current problematic invasive species here in Australia [1:02:26] Human transport systems perpetuating invasive species [1:04:04] Think global, act local? [1:08:00] People's relationships to nature can be very shallow [1:08:49] Connecting with nature can be like jogging??? [1:10:11] Finding your nature niche to take interest in [1:11:16] Aldo Leopold - Nature writer and father of wildlife ecology [1:14:34] Observing the similarities between animal species to learn more about the classification tree [1:16:34] Tim's next book further exploring invasive species [1:17:05] The super-colony of Argentine ants causing global destruction [1:21:30] Nature vs computers, bandicoots and platypus

Perry and David talk about their recent reading and watching, in particular discussing a novel they have both nominated for this year's Hugo Awards, The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler. Introduction (01:04) General News (12:44) Crime Writers Association Dagger Awards (02:13) Australian Book Industry Awards (02:07) Australian Book Design Awards (00:58) Death of Lee Harding (00:45) Other News? (06:24) What we've been reading and watching (01:01:09) The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler (14:46) Treacle Walker by Alan Garner (05:06) Ebooks vs physical books (02:00) Cold Water by Dave Hutchinson (06:16) A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers (05:15) Dead Lions by Mick Herron (07:04) Double Indemnity by James M. Cain (04:20) Alien Oceans by Kevin Hand (06:39) John Wick: Chapter 4 (05:02) Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (04:29) Windup (00:36) Click here for more info and indexes Illustration generated by Wombo Art Dropping our Twitter account. You can now find us here on Mastodon. About the episode title: De profundis clamavi ad te, Domine (Latin): "From out of the depths we call thee, Lord".

Perry and David talk about their recent reading and watching, in particular discussing a novel they have both nominated for this year's Hugo Awards, The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler. Introduction (01:04) General News (12:44) Crime Writers Association Dagger Awards (02:13) Australian Book Industry Awards (02:07) Australian Book Design Awards (00:58) Death of Lee Harding (00:45) Other News? (06:24) What we've been reading and watching (01:01:09) The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler (14:46) Treacle Walker by Alan Garner (05:06) Ebooks vs physical books (02:00) Cold Water by Dave Hutchinson (06:16) A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers (05:15) Dead Lions by Mick Herron (07:04) Double Indemnity by James M. Cain (04:20) Alien Oceans by Kevin Hand (06:39) John Wick: Chapter 4 (05:02) Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (04:29) Windup (00:36) Illustration generated by Wombo Art Dropping our Twitter account. You can now find us here on Mastodon. About the episode title: De profundis clamavi ad te, Domine (Latin): "From out of the depths we call thee, Lord".

Book review: How a Sydney lawyer is confronted with murder and motherhood. The Mother Wound by Amani Haydar is a devastating memoir no daughter should have to write. It lays bare how Haydar's father murdered her mother and how she was forced to reconsider her parent's relationship. ⇨ YOU WILL LEARN:  * What this Australian Book Industry Awards winner is about * Interesting takeaways from this Pan Macmillan memoir * Life-story ideas to inspire your own creating * Use stories to preserve life, legacy and hope Please note: If you or someone you know is experiencing or is at risk of domestic abuse contact: 1800RESPECT https://www.1800respect.org.au/, Kids Help Line https://kidshelpline.com.au/, Lifeline https://www.lifeline.org.au/ ⇨ FULL ARTICLE Click to read: https://foreveryoungautobiographies.com/the-mother-wound/  ⇨ VIDEO PODCAST Click to watch: https://youtu.be/pYgIJHYmMUg  ⇨ FREE GIFT Structure Success video training: Four steps to plan a life-story outline. FREE training, click to sign up: https://wp.me/P8NwjM-3o ⇨ YOUR SAY What did you think of The Mother Wound? Read a great life story? Leave me a comment below or here https://www.foreveryoungautobiographies.com/contact/ ⇨ RELATED LINKS Best life stories of 2022: Award-winning books to read over the holidays https://www.foreveryoungautobiographies.com/best-life-stories-of-2022 My Adventurous Life: Australian Book Industry Awards winner by Dick Smith https://foreveryoungautobiographies.com/my-adventurous-life/  Book covers: How to create a memorable cover design https://www.foreveryoungautobiographies.com/memorable-cover  How to write a good story: The flashback, parts of a story and reflective writing https://www.foreveryoungautobiographies.com/write-good-story/ Painful stories: How to write about sad memories and hard conversations https://www.foreveryoungautobiographies.com/painful-stories/ ♡ Thanks for listening! Please subscribe if you are new and share or review the show if you found it helpful! Happy writing! ⇨ ABOUT ME G'day! I'm Nicola, the founder of Forever Young Autobiographies. I've been a daily print journalist for decades and know how to create life stories! Now I help others do the same to share with family and friends so that unique memories live on. ⇨ WEBSITE https://www.foreveryoungautobiographies.com ⇨ YOUTUBE https://www.youtube.com/c/ForeverYoungAutobiographies ⇨ FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/foreveryoungautobiographies ⇨ INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/foreveryoungautobiographies/

In this episode, Jacinta and Lachlan interview Kay Kerr about her new book Love & Autism. Love & Autism presents an uplifting celebration of neurodivergent love, the search for it and a deeper look into the lives of autistic Australians. We chat to Kay about where the idea came from, the interview and drafting process, autistic affirmation and joy, and what she thinks lies ahead for the next generation of autistics.    About our guest Kay Kerr is an autistic author and journalist from the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. Her debut novel Please Don't Hug Me (2020) was shortlisted for Book of the Year for Older Children at the Australian Book Industry Awards in 2021, and listed as a ‘Notable Book' by the Children's Book Council of Australia. Her second novel, Social Queue, was released with Text Publishing in October 2021. Kay's freelance writing has appeared in The Guardian, SBS Voices, Daily Life, Broadsheet, and Peppermint Magazine, amongst others. She writes about autistic representation, disability, parenting, pop culture, gardening, and feelings. Kay's new book Love & Autism is out now.    Representations & resources Kay's website Please Don't Hug Me Social Queue Love & Autism The Overshare Clem Bastow's Late Bloomer Chloe Hayden's Different, Not Less Tim Chan's & Sarah Chan's Back From the Brink Anna Whateley (Peta Lyre's Rating Normal) Jen Wilde (This Is the Way the World Ends, Queens of Geek, Going Off Script and The Brightsiders) Helen Hoang (The Kiss Quotient, The Bride Test and The Heart Principle) Kate Foster (The Bravest Word, Paws, Harriet Hound, The Unlikely Heroes Club and All the Small Wonderful Things) We're Not Broken by Eric Garcia. You can purchase all of these book titles and more from your local independent bookseller or Booktopia. Please note by purchasing through these Booktopia partner links we are provided a small commission which allows us to continue to provide the podcast at no cost to our audience.    About the podcast Differently Brained shares the opinions of individuals and does not consider your personal circumstances. Differently Brained exists purely for information purposes and should not be relied on as health or medical advice. Because no brain is the same, please consult your healthcare professional for your personal medical needs. The Differently Brained team acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands on which we record, edit and stream this podcast. We pay our respects to all First Nations peoples and their Elders part, present and emerging. We extend that respect to all First Nations cultures and their ongoing connection to the lands, waterways and communities.

Book review: Autobiography of an Aussie entrepreneur, aviator and philanthropist. My Adventurous Life by Dick Smith is the story of an Australian icon. And it is the tale of a cheeky, big-hearted explorer who loves a challenge. ⇨ YOU WILL LEARN: * How this young Scout grew up and embraced adventure * The interesting achievements of a provocateur and filmmaker * Life-story tips from the founder of Australian Geographic * Learn how giving helps others, our world and feels great! ⇨ FULL ARTICLE Click to read: https://foreveryoungautobiographies.com/my-adventurous-life/ ⇨ VIDEO PODCAST Click to watch: https://youtu.be/l09PNKrDAvY ⇨ FREE GIFT Your Family Stories System: Easily capture your loved ones' memories for future generations. FREE sections, click to sign up: https://wp.me/P8NwjM-b5 ⇨ YOUR SAY What's one adventure you've had? Leave me a comment below or here https://www.foreveryoungautobiographies.com/contact/ ⇨ RELATED LINKS Best life stories of 2022: Award-winning books to read over the holidays https://www.foreveryoungautobiographies.com/best-life-stories-of-202 2/ Diary of a Young Naturalist: British Book Awards winning memoir by Irish teen Dara McAnulty https://www.foreveryoungautobiographies.com/diary-of-a-young-natur alist/ Transcription: How to make writing easier with 3 transcription writing tools https://www.foreveryoungautobiographies.com/transcription/ Lessons learnt: See how easily life lessons can be included in a life story https://www.foreveryoungautobiographies.com/lessons-learnt/ Ask Nicola Q&A: How to take the headache out of high-resolution images https://www.foreveryoungautobiographies.com/high-resolution-images/ ♡ Thanks for listening! Please subscribe if you are new and share or review the show if you found it helpful! Happy writing! ⇨ ABOUT ME G'day! I'm Nicola, the founder of Forever Young Autobiographies. I've been a daily print journalist for decades and know how to create life stories! Now I help others do the same to share with family and friends so that unique memories live on. ⇨ WEBSITE https://www.foreveryoungautobiographies.com ⇨ YOUTUBE https://www.youtube.com/c/ForeverYoungAutobiographies ⇨ FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/foreveryoungautobiographies ⇨ INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/foreveryoungautobiographies/

In this episode, Jacinta and Lachlan interview Kay Kerr, author of Please Don't Hug Me, Social Queue and Love & Autism. They discuss Kay's diagnosis journey, how she has made her house an autistic safe space and how she writes informed and sensitive autistic characters.    About our guest Kay Kerr is an autistic author and journalist from the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. Her debut novel Please Don't Hug Me (2020) was shortlisted for Book of the Year for Older Children at the Australian Book Industry Awards in 2021, and listed as a ‘Notable Book' by the Children's Book Council of Australia. Her second novel, Social Queue, was released with Text Publishing in October 2021. Kay's freelance writing has appeared in The Guardian, SBS Voices, Daily Life, Broadsheet, and Peppermint Magazine, amongst others. She writes about autistic representation, disability, parenting, pop culture, gardening, and feelings. Kay's new book Love & Autism is out now.    Representations & resources Kay's website Please Don't Hug Me Social Queue Love & Autism The Overshare the Amaze website Autism Connect the Yellow Ladybugs Helen Hoang (The Kiss Quotient, The Bride Test and The Heart Principle) Anna Whateley (Peta Lyre's Rating Normal) Heartbreak High, Different, Not Less and Chloe Hayden, Hannah Gadsby and Ten Steps to Nanette Everything's Gonna Be Okay and Josh Thomas Clem Bastow's Late Bloomer The Umbrella Academy.  You can purchase all of these book titles and more from your local independent bookseller or Booktopia. Please note by purchasing through these Booktopia partner links we are provided a small commission which allows us to continue to provide the podcast at no cost to our audience.    About the podcast Differently Brained shares the opinions of individuals and does not consider your personal circumstances. Differently Brained exists purely for information purposes and should not be relied on as health or medical advice. Because no brain is the same, please consult your healthcare professional for your personal medical needs. The Differently Brained team acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands on which we record, edit and stream this podcast. We pay our respects to all First Nations peoples and their Elders part, present and emerging. We extend that respect to all First Nations cultures and their ongoing connection to the lands, waterways and communities.

Today's special episode features THREE Australian YA authors: guest host Jo Riccioni chats to Nina Kenwood and Meg Gatland-Veness about their recent releases, writing processes and finds out their top writing tips for emerging authors. Nina Kenwood is an award-winning Australian writer. Her debut novel, It Sounded Better in My Head won the text prize and was a finalist for the American Library Association's William C. Morris Award. It was a CBCA notable book as well as being shortlisted for the New South Wales Premier's Literary Award and the Queensland Literary Awards, the Russell Prize for Human Writing, the Indie Book Awards and the Australian Book Industry Awards. Nina's second novel Unnecessary Drama, was released in October 2022 and will be published in the US by Flatiron Books in August 2023.  Meg Gatland-Veness is a high school drama teacher who lives on the central coast of New South Wales. She's been writing stories for as long as she can remember and reading them for even longer. Equal to her love of words is her passion for championing local youths and fostering important conversation about issues facing young Australians today. Her first novel I had Such Friends, was published in 2018 by Pantera Press and her second novel When Only One came out this year, just a few months ago, again, published by Pantera. Grab your favourite beverage and enjoy this Convo Couch conversation with Jo, Meg and Nina.   SHOW NOTES: Writes4Women www.writes4women.com Facebook @writes4women Twitter / Instagram @w4wpodcast   W4W Patreon https://www.writes4women.com/support-us-on-patreon   Meg Gatland-Veness Facebook: click here Buy Meg's books here   Nina Kenwood Website: click here Instagram: click here Buy Nina's books here   Jo Riccioni Website: click here Instagram: click here Facebook: click here Buy The Branded here   Pamela Cook www.pamelacook.com.au Facebook: click here Twitter: click here  Instagram: click here   This episode produced by Pamela Cook for Writes4Women.      Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/writes4women?fan_landing=trueSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Caroline Overington takes us through the process behind writing her novel The Cuckoo's Cry. Caroline talks about how the novel began its life as an audiobook commissioned by Audible, the process of turning it into a paperback novel, and the wonderful knock-on effect on her backlist of novels. We also discussed character development, the power of the opening first page, Caroline's writing process and the two things that motivate her to get words down on the page fast.You'll find links to buy both paperback and ebook versions of The Cuckoo's Cry here.ABOUT CAROLINE OVERINGTONCaroline Overington is one of Australia's most successful writers and journalists. She has twice won the Walkley Award for Investigative Journalism; she has also won the Sir Keith Murdoch award for Journalistic Excellence; Australia's richest prize for business writing, the Blake Dawson Prize; and the Davitt Award for crime writing. She has written fourteen books, including the runaway bestseller, The One Who Got Away. Caroline has worked as a journalist for The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian, and The Australian Women's Weekly, where she has profiled many of the world's most famous women, including Oprah Winfrey and Hillary Clinton.Her books have earned critical and commercial success: two of Caroline's novels - I Came To Say Goodbye and The One Who Got Away - were short-listed for Book of the Year at the Australian Book Industry Awards; her book about the UN oil for food scandal, Kickback has been optioned for film. Her most recent works include a thriller, The Cuckoo's Cry; and the true crime story, Missing William Tyrrell , an investigation into the disappearance of a three-year old foster child from the village of Kendall in NSW.Website: https://www.carolineoverington.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/overingtonc/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carolineoveringtonQuestions this month were from:Maya Linnell - https://www.instagram.com/maya.linnell.writes/A'Mhara McKey - https://www.instagram.com/amhara_mckey_writer/To enter this month's competition, head to Instagram or Facebook and look for the giveaway post.This podcast is recorded on the beautiful, unceded lands of the Garigal people of the Eora nation.Full show notes available at writersbookclubpodcast.com

Today's guest was shortlisted as a Rising Star of Australian Publishing at the Australian Book Industry Awards. She's been on several conference panels and her knowledge of the industry and creating books for children is amazing. But today we're discussing her very own, brand new book, The Naked Sheep. To tell us all about her new book, including her process for keeping her readers engaged, please welcome author and editor extraordinaire, Crystal Corocher.

Originally from Ballarat, Tobias Madden began his training at the Ballarat Ballet Centre. He then studied at Brent Street in Sydney, and completed a Bachelor of Music Theatre at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts in 2009. Shortly after graduating, he sailed around the world as the Singer / Dancer and Dance Captain onboard the Pacific Princess, returning home to perform in the Aus/NZ tour of Mary Poppins in which he understudied and performed the role of Bert. He has appeared as Corporal Calvin in Guys and Dolls and Rod in Singin' in the Rain, both for The Production Company. He also played Paul in Vic Theatre Company's acclaimed production of Loving Repeating. Other credits include Pippin, Oklahoma! and Hollywood Honkytonk. In 2019, Tobias edited and published Underdog: #LoveOzYA Short Stories, which featured his first published work, Variation. He also co-wrote the cabaret show Siblingship, which played to sold-out audiences in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra. He continues to tell stories striking a chord with readers of Young Adult fiction. As an author his debut novel Anything But Fine was long listed for the Australian Book Industry Awards. His second novel, Take a Bow, Noah Mitchell was released by Penguin books in August. Whether on the page or on the stage, Tobias has contributed vividly as a story-teller ….. welcome to STAGES Tobias Madden. The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Recipient of Best New Podcast at 2019 Australian Podcast Awards. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages). www.stagespodcast.com.au

Welcome to season three of Bell Shakespeare's podcast Speak The Speech! In this episode, Andy Griffiths talks to host James Evans about writing his Shakespeare adaptions Just Macbeth! and Just Romeo & Juliet!, how he inserts himself into his work, workshopping his plays and watching them come to life, the parallels between Macbeth and Hamlet, and his crucial collaborative relationships. Recorded live from Melbourne in May 2022. Andy Griffiths is one of Australia's most popular children's authors. His writing credits include The Day My Bum Went Psycho and the following trilogy; his extensive collaborations with illustrator Terry Denton including the Just series and the Treehouse series have sold over 10 million copies worldwide, won 80 children's choice awards and 10 Australian Book Industry Awards—including Book of the Year for The 52-Storey Treehouse in 2015. Five of his books have been adapted for the stage and have all had sell-out seasons at Sydney Opera House, as well as highly successful tours through the Netherlands, New Zealand, and America. He is a passionate advocate for literacy and in 2015 was awarded the Dromkeen Medal to honour his outstanding contribution to Australian children's literature. He is also an ambassador for both The Indigenous Literacy Foundation and the Pyjama Foundation. Find out more about Bell Shakespeare online: https://www.bellshakespeare.com.au/ and follow us on socials @bellshakespeare

This episode Katherine talks with internationally best selling award winning author Andy Griffiths about writing for children, his long time collaboration with illustrator Terry Denton and what the perfect % of anarchy is within a story.  Andy Griffiths is one of Australia's best known children's authors. He and illustrator Terry Denton have collaborated on more than 33 bestselling books since their first title, Just Tricking, was published in 1997. In Australia, Andy and Terry's books have sold over 10 million copies, won 80 children's choice awards and 10 Australian Book Industry Awards—including Book of the Year for The 52-Storey Treehouse in 2015. Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via Twitter (@thefirsttimepod) or Instagram (@thefirsttimepod). Don't forget you can support us and the making of Season Five via our Patreon page. Thanks for joining us!

This month I had a brilliant chat with Tasmanian author Kyle Perry about his novel The Deep.I'd heard Kyle talk about his writing process before and he was so articulate and generous with his own experiences of writing, I knew he'd be perfect for the podcast. In this chat with Kyle about his latest novel The Deep, we talked about the importance of the opening image of a novel, Kyle's trick to creating a good plot twist, how to make characters distinctive from one another and Kyle gives us a great example of what he did to make a couple of his characters more likeable. He also shares some of the editorial notes he received from his publisher on the Deep and how he applied them, so there are some greats insights there.There ARE spoilers in this episode. If you prefer not to know anything about The Deep or any of it's fantastic twists and turns, come back and listen after you've read it. And I highly recommend you do because this is a really great, in-depth chat about the ins and outs of writing this particular book.ABOUT KYLE PERRYKyle Perry is a drug and alcohol counsellor based in Hobart, Tasmania. He has grown up around the Tasmanian bush and seas, with the landscape a key feature of his writing and his spare time. He loves the sea, and his entire leg is covered in ocean tattoos.His debut novel, The Bluffs, has been translated into five languages. It was shortlisted for the Dymocks Book of the Year and the Indie's Debut Fiction Book of the Year, and was longlisted for the Australian Book Industry Awards' General Fiction Book of the Year.Kyle Perry Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kyle.perry.author/Kyle Perry Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Kyleperryauthor Writer's Book Club Podcast Website & Show Notes - http://writersbookclubpodcast.com/

Sophie Green is an author and publisher who lives in Sydney. She has written several fiction and non-fiction books, some under other names. In her spare time she writes about country music on her blog, Sunburnt Country Music. She has been practising yoga since 1993 and teaching since 2002. Sophie's debut novel, The Inaugural Meeting of The Fairvale Ladies Book Club was shortlisted for the Australian Book Industry Awards for General Fiction Book of the Year 2018, and longlisted for both the Matt Richell Award for New Writer of the Year 2018 and the Indie Book Award for Debut Fiction 2018. With the release of 'Thursdays at Orange Blossom House', Ben sat down with Sophie to discuss stumbling on yoga in a church hall, growing up with fascinating women, setting a story in northern Australia, and more. *Producer's Note: Due to our team being in social isolation, the sound quality is more variable. Books mentioned in this podcast: Sophie Green - 'Thursdays at Orange Blossom House': https://bit.ly/3i6MmdS Host: Ben Hunter Guest: Sophie Green Producer: Nick Wasiliev

Kyle Perry is a drug and alcohol counsellor based in Hobart, Tasmania. He has grown up around the Tasmanian bush and seas, with the landscape a key feature of his writing and his spare time. He loves the sea, and his entire leg is covered in ocean tattoos. His debut novel, The Bluffs, has been translated into five languages. It was shortlisted for the Dymocks Book of the Year and the Indie's Debut Fiction Book of the Year, and was longlisted for the Australian Book Industry Awards' General Fiction Book of the Year. With the release of 'The Deep', Shanu sat down with Kyle to discuss the Tasmanian wilderness, drug trafficking, contradictions in characters, The Princess Bride, and more. *Producer's Note: Due to our team being in social isolation, the sound quality is more variable. Books mentioned in this podcast: Kyle Perry - 'The Deep': https://bit.ly/2Ut6HRt Host: Shanu Prasad Guest: Kyle Perry Producer: Nick Wasiliev

One ARIA Award winner's memoir about dieting, breakdowns and beating anxious thoughts. Clare Bowditch is well known as a musical celebrity but Your Own Kind of Girl: The stories we tell ourselves and what happens when we believe them, clearly shows there is much more to this star. Indeed the book is a heartfelt and honest read that tackles difficult topics with bravery, empathy and care. ⇨ YOU WILL LEARN: * What this popular Allen & Unwin read is all about * How this ARIA winner struggled with causes of anxiety and a major breakdown in her youth * What you can learn from this Australian Book Industry Awards best new writer * See how life stories give hope and help to others Please note: I am not a doctor and the advice in this show is general in nature. Please contact your doctor or health professional for help that suits your specific circumstances. Further resources: Beyondblue https://www.beyondblue.org.au/, Lifeline Australia https://www.lifeline.org.au/ ⇨ FULL ARTICLE Click to read: https://www.foreveryoungautobiographies.com/clare-bowditch/ ⇨ VIDEO PODCAST Click to watch: https://youtu.be/JsFYDYqD4Hk ⇨ FREE GIFT Your Family Stories System: Easily capture your loved ones' memories for future generations - FREE sections, click to sign up: https://wp.me/P8NwjM-b5 ⇨ YOUR SAY What did you think of the book? Do you have a book review suggestion? Leave me a comment below or here https://www.foreveryoungautobiographies.com/contact/ ⇨ RELATED LINKS Best life stories of 2020: Award-winning books to read this holiday season https://www.foreveryoungautobiographies.com/best-life-stories-of-2020/ Book review: Any Ordinary Day by Leigh Sales https://www.foreveryoungautobiographies.com/leigh-sales/ Why write: Why is writing important and why do we write https://www.foreveryoungautobiographies.com/understanding-your-why/ How does memory work? Your questions answered about what is memory and types of memory https://www.foreveryoungautobiographies.com/how-does-memory-work/ Painful stories: How to write about sad memories and hard conversations https://www.foreveryoungautobiographies.com/painful-stories/ Death and dying: How to have hard conversations for your writing https://www.foreveryoungautobiographies.com/death-and-dying/ ♡ Thanks for listening - PLEASE SUBSCRIBE if you are new and SHARE THE SHOW if you found it helpful! Happy writing! ⇨ ABOUT ME Hi and welcome! My name is Nicola and I help you learn how to write and self-publish life stories for family and friends so that unique memories live on. For decades I've told thousands of people's stories as a print journalist and would love to hear yours! ⇨ WEBSITE https://www.foreveryoungautobiographies.com

Better Reading's Cheryl Akle and Jane Tara discuss what they're both reading… and the winning books at the Australian Book Industry Awards.Books mentioned:The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip WilliamsPhosphorescence by Julia BairdBorn Into This by Adam ThompsonSuch a Fun Age by Kiley ReidThe Animals in that Country by Laura Jean McKayA Lonely Girl is a Dangerous Thing by Jessie TuSweet Sweet Revenge LTD by Jonas JonassonThe Bone Code by Kathy Reichs See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

To celebrate the end of 2020, we've re-released our highest rating fiction interviews of the year: #3 is Favel Parrett. Favel Parrett has an extraordinary command of the literary form. Her first novel, Past the Shallows, received the Dobbie Literary Prize and was shortlisted for the Miles Franklin. She herself was awarded Newcomer of the Year at the Australian Book Industry Awards. Her second novel, When the Night Comes, overcame all the challenges a second novel often faces and was shortlisted for a host of prizes and longlisted for the Miles Franklin. There Was Still Love is Favel's third novel, and in 2020 it was shortlisted for the Indie Book Awards and longlisted for The Stella Prize. About The Garret Read the transcript of this interview at thegarretpodcast.com. You can also follow The Garret on Twitter and Facebook, or follow our host Astrid Edwards on Twitter or Instagram. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tim Low is an Australian biologist, and an author of several books and numerous articles on nature and conservation. His seventh book, Where Song Began: Australia's Birds and How They Changed the World, became the first nature book ever to win the Australian Book Industry Awards prize for best General Non Fiction in 2015. An earlier book, Feral Future, inspired the formation of an NGO, the Invasive Species Council. His earlier books helped popularise Australian bush tucker. Four of his books have won national prizes, and alongside these books, his reports, articles and talks have contributed to ecological thought and environmental policy in Australia and beyond.Written for a general audience, his books have attracted broad academic interest and serve as recommended reading in many university courses.Please join this Birdsong and support the journey…Check out the Patreon pageLeave us a review on iTunesConnect on InstagramConnect on FacebookTim Low’s websiteFull resources and shownotesTIMESTAMPS:[3:55] Why Tim doesn’t typically use the word sacred[7:35] We use singular words to define pluralities, such as wilderness and nature[8:00] Nature beings adapt to the suburbs and cities[9:30] Human progression being bad for nature is too simplistic a perspective[10:40] Satin Bowerbirds are technological innovators with their love for blue plastic[12:55] Is nature something that we as humans can enhance?[14:50] Is humanity and our bioevolutionary role to be the great diversifiers of nature?[17:03] Where Song Began: the origin of songbirds from Australia[19:30] Australia gave birth to the most intelligent birds[23:44] The universal language of birdsong[24:24] The noisy miners, lorikeets and goshawk[26:25] Bird calls and snakes[29:23] The differing dialects of bird species[32:00] Awareness, associations, and vegetation relationships out in the field[34:30] The supercontinent Gondwana and the emergence of songbirds from Australia[36:15] Childhood dreams of becoming a paleontologist and my dinosaurian revelation of the lyrebird[37:56] The cassowary[38:56] Bird teeth, the goose, and its serrated tongue[41:06] The ancient Gondwanan connection between gum trees and other species[43:00] The importance of understanding deep time to be decent environmental managers[47:20] Songbirds and parrots have co-evolved with eucalypt trees for many millions of years[50:50] We can learn more about Australia from our birds moreso than our mammals[53:11] Feral Future and how we can move forward with practical solutions to invasive species[54:39] The conservation issue of fire-ants[57:16] Every species has its own agenda[1:00:00] Current problematic invasive species here in Australia[1:02:26] Human transport systems perpetuating invasive species[1:04:04] Think global, act local[1:08:00] People’s relationships to nature can be very shallow[1:11:16] Aldo Leopold - Nature writer and father of wildlife ecology[1:14:34] Observing the similarities between animal species to learn more about the classification tree[1:17:05] The super-colony of Argentine ants causing global destruction[1:21:30] Nature vs computers, bandicoots and platypus

Tony Nash joins us on CEO Crossing to share his amazing success story, turning $10/day in marketing into $175 Million per year in revenue. Tony Nash started his first internet business in 1996. In 2004 Tony founded Booktopia, an online bookstore, with an allocated budget of $10 a day. The company’s first book sold in 3 days. Fast track 16 years and Booktopia now sells one book every six seconds, with an annual turnover of over $175 million a year. It was listed in AFR/BRW’s Fast 100 eight times, the only company to achieve this feat, and was voted Book Retailer of the Year for the 3rd time in 2019 at the Australian Book Industry Awards. One of the defining aspects of the business is its philanthropic program. So far Booktopia has donated well over $1 million in books and cash to literacy based projects in Australia including indigenous literacy, writers festivals, readers conferences, library fundraising projects and book industry awards. After being a finalist for 7 years, Booktopia finally took out the top award as the 2018 NSW Business of the Year at the Telstra Business Awards as well as the National People's Choice Award in the same year. In July 2018 Booktopia also won Best Pureplay Online Retailer at the Online Retail Industry Awards and Tony was acknowledged with the Industry Recognition Award. Booktopia launched a book wholesale distribution business called Booktopia Publisher Services (BPS) in 2016. In 2019 it also launched its own publishing imprint Booktopia Editions so the business can own the whole value chain from publishing right through to distribution as well as retailing. In 2015 Booktopia bought Angus & Robertson, an iconic Australian book retail brand established in 1886. In 2020, Booktopia also bought The Co-op Bookshop established in 1958 after it went into administration. Tony is an entrepreneur, Founder & CEO in online retail. With a background in recruitment, programming, business development, selling, SEO and internet marketing, Tony has developed outstanding negotiation and leadership skills with a thorough understanding of sales, forecasting, bootstrapping, PR, empowerment and managing an executive team. Learn more about Booktopia at booktopia.com.au Learn about CEO Crossing at CEOCrossing.com, where you can cross over to success.

Monica McInerney is the author of the internationally bestselling novels A Taste for It, Upside Down Inside Out, Spin the Bottle, The Alphabet Sisters, Family Baggage, Those Faraday Girls and many more books. Those Faraday Girls was the winner of the General Fiction Book of the Year prize at the 2008 Australian Book Industry Awards. She currently has been living between Australia and Ireland for twenty years. Ahead of the release of The Godmothers (which is part of #Booktoberfest), Ben sat down with Monica to discuss the book, how friendships change over time, finding support in times of vulnerability, and more. Books mentioned in this podcast: 'The Godmothers' by Monica McInerney: https://bit.ly/37e3l6J Host: Ben Hunter Guest: Monica McInerney Producer: Nick Wasiliev

Trent Dalton writes for the award-winning The Weekend Australian. A former assistant editor of The Courier-Mail, he has won a Walkley, been a four-time winner of the national News Awards Feature Journalist of the Year Award, and was named Queensland Journalist of the Year at the 2011 Clarion Awards for excellence in Queensland media. His writing includes several short and feature-length film screenplays. His debut novel 'Boy Swallows Universe' was published in 2018 and sold over half a million copies, in addition to winner dozens of awards, including the prestigious Australian Book Industry Awards 2019's Book of the Year Award. All Our Shimmering Skies is Trent's second novel. Ahead of the release of All Our Shimmering Skies, Olivia and Ben sat down for an exclusive chat with Trent to discuss his new book, his love of Madonna, the success of Boy Swallows Universe, the lack of pressure he felt completing this book, his worries about losing the next generation of storytellers, and more. WARNING: occasional mild coarse language Books mentioned in this podcast: 'All Our Shimmering Skies' by Trent Dalton: http://bit.ly/2uktlys 'Boy Swallows Universe' by Trent Dalton: https://bit.ly/3iZg6au Host: Olivia Fricot & Ben Hunter Guest: Trent Dalton Producer: Nick Wasiliev

Tony is an entrepreneur, Founder & CEO in online retail. He started his first internet business in 1996 and in 2004 Tony founded Booktopia, an online bookstore, with an allocated budget of $10 a day. The company’s first book sold in 3 days. Fast track 16 years and Booktopia now sells one book every six seconds, with an annual turnover of over $175 million a year. It was listed in AFR/BRW’s Fast 100 eight times, the only company to achieve this feat, and was voted Book Retailer of the Year for the 3rd time in 2019 at the Australian Book Industry Awards. One of the defining aspects of the business is its philanthropic program. So far Booktopia has donated well over $1 million in books and cash to literacy based projects in Australia including indigenous literacy, writers festivals, readers conferences, library fundraising projects and book industry awards. In July 2018 Booktopia also won Best Pureplay Online Retailer at the Online Retail Industry Awards and Tony was acknowledged with the Industry Recognition Award. Booktopia launched a book wholesale distribution business called Booktopia Publisher Services (BPS) in 2016. In 2019 it also launched its own publishing imprint Booktopia Editions so the business can own the whole value chain from publishing right through to distribution as well as retailing. In 2015 Booktopia bought Angus & Robertson, an iconic Australian book retail brand established in 1886. In 2020, Booktopia also bought The Co-op Bookshop established in 1958 after it went into administration. In this conversation Tony shares; - How his ADHD gave him increased understanding around his style of leadership and surrounding himself with the right people - The evolution of an idea - Why it’s important to give something of yourself every single day to create that ripple of change for others - Facing challenges with a smile and saying ‘bring it on.’ If you have any questions at all for Tony he can be found on LinkedIn and asked me to invite you to message him direct. In the meantime enjoy this conversation Janine

Beloved Babblers, Here is your BONUS quiz! We thought we would upload the quiz on a TUESDAY from now on. Considering, a lot of you have mentioned you're no longer working from home. This week a very fancy Winnebago with a Jacuzzi tub and fold out pool table is up for grabs! WHO WILL WIN?!?! Producer Ruby Questions: 1. What is the name of Post Malone's new brand of Rose Wine? a) Maison no.9 b) Feeling Fine Wine c) Little Fancy d) Piss & Regret. 2. In isolation, Sophie Monk has reached peak boredom by carving Keanu Reeve's face in what? 3.What is the name of Diplo's new born baby? 4.What is the name of the first single from Lady Gaga's new album Chromatica? 5.Two high fashion designers shared their new summer/pre-fall designs on the addictive computer game 'animal crossing.' Who were the designers? a) Marc Jacobs + Valentino b) Versace + Balmain c) Chanel + Gucci d) Balenciaga + Prada 6.Maison Ramsay, the new found country music superstar who has collaborated with the likes of lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus- was discovered when someone uploaded a video of him singing in a US department store. Which Chain department store was it? 7.'Look at me' and 'It's raining men' where all the solo singles of which spice girl? 8.'Crickey! It's the Irwins' is a popular Australian TV show on which cable network? a) Discovery Channel b) NAT GEO c) Animal Planet d) Nat Geo Kids 9.What is the name of Rhianna's beauty brand? 10.Leslie Jordan shot to fame on what US sitcom? 11.How many Instagram followers does Natswhatireckon have currently? Between 200,000 and 230,000 12.The most popular 2019 documentary on Netflix was about the making of Beyonce's Coachella performance. What was the name of the documentary? ANSWERS: A, A Pumpkin, Pace, Stupid Love, A, Walmart, Ginger Spice, Animal Planet, Fenty Beauty, Will&Grace, 228,000, Home Coming. Matty J's Questions: 1.Who will be replacing Alan Jones on 2GB? 2.Which celebrity will appeared on Masterchef this week? 3.Which Olsen twin just filed for divorce? 4.The Oscars is set to take place on Feb 28 next year but why might it get pushed back up to 4 months? 5.How old is Stevie Wonder? a) 60 b) 65 c) 70 d) 75 6.Which actor was the highest paid in 2019 according to forbes? a) Wayne Johnson b) Chris Hemsworth c) Robert Downey Jr d) Akshay Kumar 7.Name one of Hamish and Zoe Foster Blake's children's names? 8.All Gold Coast Titans players have agreed to take flu shots - TRUE or FALSE? 9.Why has James Middleton (brother to Kate) made it into the headlines this week? 10.Which Australian athlete has become an international superstar on TikTok? a) Shane Warne b) David Warner c) Matt Shirvington d) Stephanie Rice 11.Bluey: The Beach recently won Book of the Year at the Australian Book Industry Awards. The series has also won a BAFTA. TRUE or FALSE? 12.Does Adam Hills have a missing right or left foot? ANSWERS: Ben Fordham, Katy Perry, Mary-Kate, Not enough films, C, A, Sonny or Rudy, FALSE, Shaved his beard, B, FALSE, Right The Babble with Matty J & Producer Ruby a Nova podcast - we publish every Thursday and Monday. Make sure to follow us on socials: Instagram - @thebabblepodcast Website - www.thebabblepodcast.com.au   If you like what you hear, hit that 'Subscribe' button on Apple Podcasts or ‘Follow' on Spotify. If you LOVE what you hear make sure to give us a 5 Star review!   We'll love you forever if you do.   Matty J & Producer Ruby x @matthewdavidjohnson @rubyteys   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Favel Parrett has an extraordinary command of the literary form. Her first novel, Past the Shallows, received the Dobbie Literary Prize and was shortlisted for the Miles Franklin. She herself was awarded Newcomer of the Year at the Australian Book Industry Awards. Her second novel, When the Night Comes, overcame all the challenges a second novel often faces and was shortlisted for a host of prizes and longlisted for the Miles Franklin. There Was Still Love is Favel's third novel, and in 2020 it was shortlisted for the Indie Book Awards and longlisted for The Stella Prize. About The Garret Read the transcript of this interview at thegarretpodcast.com. You can also follow The Garret on Twitter and Facebook, or follow our host Astrid Edwards on Twitter or Instagram. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rachael Johns is a bestselling author of 24 books ranging from Romance to Rural Romance to what she likes to call Life Lit. In 2016 Rachael's book, "The Patterson Girls" was named General Fiction Book of the Year at the Australian Book Industry Awards and her star has been rising ever since. In this special hour long interview with Pamela Cook, Rachael talks about releasing her latest Life Lit novel "Just One Wish', her long road to success, what she does to fight writers block and why she prefers to call her books Life Lit instead of Women's Fiction. If you like this episode of the Writes4Women podcast, check out our other episodes at www.writes4women.com OR SUBSCRIBE at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get your pods. #w4wpodcast #RachaelJohns #LifeLit #Fiction #WomensFiction #Romance #RuralRomance #WritingCommunity #podcasts #Writes4Women SHOWNOTES: Writes4Womenwww.writes4women.comFacebook @writes4womenTwitter / Instagram @w4wpodcasthttps://www.writes4women.com/support-us-on-patreonW4W PATREON: Rachael Johnshttps://www.rachaeljohns.comFacebook @rachaeljohnsauthorTwitter @RachaelJohns Pamela Cookwww.pamelacook.com.auFacebook @pamelacookauthorTwitter @PamelaCookAU Listen Up Podcasting (Kel Butler)www.listenuppodcasting.com.auFacebook @kelbutler / @listenuppodcastingTwitter @KelB Writing NSWhttps://writingnsw.org.auFacebook / Twitter @WritingNSW

“No one really wants to talk about the writing, they just want to talk about the murders” - Sarah Schmidt Sarah Schmidt’s debut novel, 'See What I Have Done', is an incredible look inside the mind Lizzie Borden, famously accused of murdering her father and stepmother in 1892. In this recording, Sarah Schmidt discusses the story she felt compelled to tell with Kylie Carlson, Coordinator of Community Learning and Partnerships at Yarra Libraries. This is an edited recording of a live event. Among other awards and shortlists, 'See What I Have Done' won Best Fiction at the Australian Book Industry Awards in 2018. You can find it in branch at Yarra Libraries, or through the RB Digital App. Yarra Libraries Recommends See What I Have Done - Sarah Schmidt (also available on RB Digital) Half Wild - Pip Smith (also available on Borrowbox and Cloud Library) The Portrait of Molly Dean - Katherine Kovacic (also available on Cloud Library)) From the Wreck - Jane Rawson Burial Rites - Hannah Kent (also available on Borrowbox and Cloud Library) The Wonder - Emma Donoghue (also available on Borrowbox) The Good People - Hannah Kent (also available on Borrowbox) The Secret Art of Poisoning - Samantha Battams

Hi everyone! I'm Max Crack and this awesome book is all about me and my quests and my best friend Frankie! Buried treasure, new school, doodles, peanut butter and honey toast, best friends, horrible blobs, mysteries, Meddlyslop, spelling bees (hard words, harder words), more doodles, comics, World War Undies ... this book has it ALL. This is a specially formatted fixed-layout ebook that retains the look and feel of the print book. AUTHOR INFORMATION Jules Faber is a cartoonist, caricature artist and illustrator. In addition to his WEIRDO books, Jules has illustrated THE KABOOM KID and 'The Leo Da Vinci' series. In 2014, Jules and Anh Do were awarded the Book of the Year for Younger Readers at the Australian Book Industry Awards for the first book in the WEIRDO series. They also took out the Best Designed Book for Children and Best Cover at the Australian Book Design Awards as well as an Honour in the KOALAs. WEIRDO 3 was nominated for three awards in 2015 and The KABOOM KID series was also nominated for Best Designed Series at the ABDAs. Jules conducts regular workshops at schools and learning centres for those wanting to learn more about caricaturing, comic strips, comic book layout, scriptwriting, storyboarding, animation and general cartooning.

Anna and Annie discuss the Australian Book Industry Awards, mostly won by Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton, and the Best Young Australian Novelists according to the Sydney Morning Herald.  Our book of the week is Gingerbread by Helen Oyeyemi.  Annie is a fan of this Nigerian-born British author, whom Ali Smith calls 'a writer of sentences so elegant they gleam.'  Gingerbread has been described as 'exhilarating' (New York Times Book Review), 'mind-bending' (Washington Post) and 'wildly inventive' (Vogue).  But how will Anna cope with all the magic? Next week, Anna and Amanda will be reading At Dusk by Hwang Sok-yong, translated by Sora Kim-Russell. Follow us! Facebook: Books On The Go Email: booksonthegopodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @abailliekaras and @mr_annie Twitter: @abailliekaras and @mister_annie Litsy: @abailliekaras and @mr_annie Credits Artwork: Sascha Wilkosz

What a night! The Australian Book Industry Awards celebrates the achievements of author and publishers in bringing Australia books to readers. Last night booksellers, publishers, authors, friends and family gathered at the ICC in Sydney to celebrate #ABIA2019. We had many Booktopians in attendance that night, including Olivia and Bronwyn who were lucky enough to be backstage in the media room waiting for the lucky ABIA winners. Bronwyn and Olivia got to speak with some of the winners just after they won their awards, including Trent Dalton (who won FOUR ABIAs), Holly Ringland, Jeremy Lachlan, Andy Griffiths, Davina Bell, Lynette Noni and more. Sit back, relax and enjoy this special live episode of The Booktopia Podcast. Find out more about the ABIAs here —> https://bit.ly/2IW4CGh Hosts: Olivia Fricot and Bronwyn Eley

John Safran is an award-winning documentary maker of provocative and hilarious takes on race, the media, religion and other issues. Safran first hit TV screens in 1997 on “Race Around the World”. Both John Safran's” Music Jamboree” and “John Safran vs. God” won Australian Film Industry awards for best comedy series and most original concept, and were also nominated for Logie awards. Other shows include “John Safran's Race Relations” and “Speaking in Tongues”. He co-hosted “Sunday Night Safran”, a radio talk show on Triple J with cranky but beloved Catholic priest, Father Bob Maguire. Safran's first book the award winning true crime book, “Murder in Mississippi”, is the true story of how he met a white supremacist and befriended his black killer. In his latest book, “Depends What You Mean by Extremist”, was shortlisted for General Non-Fiction Book of the Year at the Australian Book Industry Awards. This is where he attends a far-right rally in Melbourne and is led into a mad world of misfits, white nationalists, ISIS supporters and anarchists. This podcast is absolutely hilarious! He's done the craziest things and is certainly mentally strong and resilient, yet he still feels vulnerable when he puts out his creative content. To quote John, “One of the cool things about being an artist is obstacles just become really handy, because there's something to write about and makes things interesting”. If you'd like to know more about John or keep up to date with him, check out his website: www.johnsafran.squarespace.com Follow @Funny in Failure on Insta and FB and @Michael_Kahan on Insta to keep up to date with the latest info.

Steve was a guest of StartCon, Australia’s largest startup and growth conference. It was held over two days at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. One For The Books The story of Booktopia, ‘Australia’s favorite bookstore,’ and how they’re conquering the competition—even Amazon. Once upon a time, a programmer who got his start with IBM was given an enchanted opportunity to create a magical bookstore that would one day battle powerful giants. The magical power? With just a click of a button, Australians could have brand new books delivered within days to their doorsteps. And just like in most fairy tales, our hero and his friends stumbled upon the opportunity entirely by accident. “We literally fell into it,” says Steve Traurig. Traurig and his two brothers-in-law, Tony and Simon Nash, were running an online marketing consulting business when Angus & Robertson, the 130-year-old Australian bookseller, approached them and asked if they would be interested in getting into the book business. The pitch was a white label book retail website, meaning that everything from the website creation to the distribution would be handled by Angus & Robertson. All Traurig and company had to do was add their personal flair. But Booktopia, the company that arose from that project, would end up becoming something much bigger. Nearly 15 years after Traurig’s brother-in-law said he “wouldn’t mind giving that book thing a bit of a go,” Booktopia has served over 4.2 million Australians and is on track to bring in $115 million this year, making it the market leader in online book sales. Oh, and they now own Angus & Robertson. The journey from their very first book sale to squaring off against Amazon for online book supremacy in Australia was a chess game of strategic move after strategic move. Thanks to some shrewd decisions, including focusing on customer interaction and building their own ecommerce and fulfillment systems, Booktopia’s well on its way to happily ever after. A White Label Bookshop, Transformed In 2004, with only $10 a day to put toward advertising their new business, Traurig and the Nash brothers dove headfirst into the book world. “When we first started, we owned nothing,” Traurig says. When Booktopia first launched, Angus & Robertson created their website, managed their distribution and owned the brand. Traurig and his brothers-in-law were responsible only for marketing, so they created a few Google AdWords campaigns (one of which is still running today) and waited for their first books to sell. By the end of the first year, they were doing $100,000 in business a month. This worked beautifully for the trio and for Booktopia for three years, but in 2007, they had to confront the reality that what they were building, with revenue ever increasing, could all go away in an instant. They also realized that the fulfillment company was neither able to keep up with the growth they were experiencing, nor were they able to meet the expectations Traurig held. “We decided we had to go out on our own, because we were actually building a company of value,” he says, “and we realized that if you want to have something of value, you have to do it yourself.” Things were going well, and they realized that in the current setup, they didn’t really own anything of substance, should they ever want to sell. So they broke away from the fulfillment company and set out to turn Booktopia into something of their own. They set up their first warehouse, hired a warehouse manager, bought some shelves off eBay, and got to work building their own core systems. “Dealing with those sorts of numbers in databases, in the website, in the front end, in the backend, etc., the scale is beyond almost any other retail environment, and we had to make it all work,” he says. “We built the systems ourselves and that takes particular commitment and skill.” With all of the changes taking place, it would have been reasonable to see a marked customer drop off. Before the transfer, they did about 130 orders a day, but that number only dropped to about 110 a day, even after everything from their systems to their website changed. Through it all, the Booktopia customers remained loyal. In fact, the focus Booktopia places on the customer experience would come to define their brand. “It’s about the customer obsession,” Traurig says. “About putting yourself in the place of the customer.” When Traurig and his brothers took on the fulfillment side of the business, they began with only a single book on their physical shelves, but knew that building up their stock was the only way to give their customers the best experience. Instead of the long wait from the moment an order was placed until a supplier could deliver the order and then ship it off, all they had to do once they built up stock was grab an item from the shelf the moment the order came in and send it along. “That was essentially a business-changing experience, because the feedback we got from the customer was instantaneous,” he says. Customers responded with glee that their books arrived so quickly, inspiring them to remain loyal and recommend the bookseller to friends. Because of this organic growth, Booktopia has never needed to take on investors. Even without investors, they have consistently outmatched the competition and met their sales goals. In fact, they made the BRW Fast 100, Financial Review’s list of the fastest growing Australian brands, seven times between 2009 and 2016, the only company to do so. Traurig says that they have also built strong relationships with their banks, something he describes as a critical part of doing business. This gives them additional wiggle room if necessary, staving off a need for traditional investors. “A lot of startups, a lot of founders, think they immediately need to go out and grab someone else’s money and give away bits of the company,” he says. “There’s definitely merit in doing that for certain types of models. We chose to actually build a solid business organically and build it off the back of our customers and customer service.” And this approach has carried them through what could have been a business-ending battle. Squaring Off Against a Giant When Amazon announced that it would be launching in full in Australia at the end of 2017, Traurig wasn’t nervous. The institutions they worked with, however, had concerns. The gargantuan online retailer had generated $136 billion in revenue the year before, with all signs pointing to continued growth. So how was “Australia’s local bookstore” going to keep up? Well, according to Traurig, they had been keeping an eye on the behemoth from the very beginning and hadn’t let its success deter them. “From our point of view, when we started Booktopia, Amazon was shipping $100 million worth of books into Australia already, and we didn’t worry about that,” he says. “We were fearless.” They focused instead on their own business, and the most important asset: the customers. Due to its global nature and size, Amazon has an impersonal quality to it that Traurig says Booktopia always vowed to counter. For example, Booktopia’s website has the office’s physical address, email, and phone number on every single page, not only allowing but encouraging customers to reach out and share praise, complaints, and questions instantaneously. They wanted to be accessible and feel like a part of the community. To keep up with the emails and phone calls, they quickly hired their first customer service staff, a cheerful individual who still answers the questions of Booktopia customers today. Traurig says they take customer feedback extremely seriously and use it to inform their continued development. With a 20-person development team on the case, he says that Booktopia is always in pursuit of the best possible user experience, a quest that can only be completed through regular, honest feedback. Traurig says that this approach to customer service has been the key to keeping up with the competition. “All throughout our history, Amazon has been this massive company…but we were just focused on getting product to our customers.” And if winning 2016’s National Book Retailer of the Year and 2017’s National Bookstore of the Year at the Australian Book Industry Awards is any indication, Booktopia’s approach is working. The Next Page Today, Booktopia has over 6 million products available on their website with over 150,000 of those titles in stock in a 140,000 square-foot distribution center. They also acquired Angus & Robertson, along with its online store Bookworld, in 2015. “It’s a 130-year-old company that had a very, very good chance of disappearing completely,” Traurig says. “So for us, it was also an honor.” The company currently runs as its own business unit with independent marketing, branding and customer base. The founders also have high hopes for the company’s automated systems and distribution center. To demonstrate their capabilities, Booktopia acquired an online camera and optics company. In doing so, Traurig and his partners are hoping to show that their systems can handle more than a single type of product. So what’s next for Australia’s favorite bookstore? Although they ventured down the path of going public in 2016, they pulled the IPO just before launch, choosing to remain a private company. With Amazon looming, and after watching several other online companies attempt to go public and fail spectacularly, they decided to keep things as they were. While Traurig has a “never say never” mindset toward another try at going public, there are no plans to move in that direction for now. “Our customers have been our investors,” Traurig says. “What we’ve always chosen to do is delight the customer.” And in true fairytale fashion, delight them they will. Steve Traurig’s Tips on Building a Sellable Company While founders are still scaling the challenging mountains that come with launching a business, it might seem silly to think 500 steps ahead to the day they will be shaking hands on the sale of the company. But Steve Traurig believes building a company that will someday attract a buyer starts on day one, so he offered three tips to creating a company that will sell. Make Sure Your Bookkeeping is Impeccable “One of the things we’ve always done is make sure that our financials, our financial reporting and our accounting are top notch,” he says. As you might expect, well-kept books have always been a priority at Booktopia. From the very beginning, they sought financial advice when necessary and kept all of their books in perfect order. And because neither he nor his other co-founders had strength in bookkeeping, they always made it a number one priority to hire someone skilled. “It may just all look like a whole bunch of receipts and a pain the neck…but aim to set up solid financial management right at the beginning.” Create as Many Original Things as You Can In the beginning, Booktopia was a white label website, but when it started to flourish, Traurig and his partners realized they needed to make some changes. “If we wanted to sell it,” he says, “we had nothing to sell,” Traurig says. So they decided to build all of their own core systems to create something that would be attractive to eventual buyers. Traurig encourages founders to use as many original systems as possible and innovate wherever feasible. In doing so, the value of the company you may someday look to sell increases significantly. Demonstrate What You’ve Built Now that you’ve created something original, it’s time to show what it can do! Perfect its intended capabilities and then push its limits. This is what Traurig says they are currently doing at Booktopia with their distribution systems. Because they created the automation used in the center, they decided to demonstrate to potential buyers that it could handle more than one product at a time, leading them to purchase a camera company. The only thing better than an innovative creation is one that can be used in more than one way. Traurig says that demonstrating this is a great way to build a sellable company. Key Takeaways How this self-professed tech guy “fell into” starting an online bookstore that rivals Amazon How Booktopia has remained fully self-funded for 15 years Why they pulled an IPO just before it went live How he felt about Amazon coming to Australia For bootstrapped businesses, how to know when it’s time to build your own internal tools and handle shipping and fulfillment yourself The reasons behind the acquisitions Booktopia has made, particularly Angus & Robertson How Booktopia approaches Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO)

Jules Faber: Australian illustrator, cartoonist and author chats about his creepy compilation of short stories - that even his mother couldn't read - working with Disney on The Proud Family, and creating stories for children. A great Aussie bloke, Jules talks to us about his career, the writing process and how to engage children in stories, he should know he has illustrated a number of children's books such as the WeirDo series with Anh Do, The Kaboom Kid with cricketer David Warner, the Leo Da Vinci series with Michael Pryor and the Helix series with Damian Posner. Did you know Jules won the Book of the Year at the Australian Book Industry Awards with Anh Do for the first WeirDo book in 2014? They also won Best Designed Book for Children and Best Cover at the Australian Book Design Awards as well as an Honours in the KOALAs 2014. Plus Weirdo 3 has been nominated for three awards in 2015 and David Warner’s Kaboom Kid series has been nominated for Best Designed Series at the ABDAs. Did you know Jules is also an award-winning cartoonist? He’s won three prizes in the Rotary Cartoon Awards Best Comic Strip category, coming second in 2009 and 2010 before getting first place in 2013. On top of this, Jules’ talents lie in many fields including: caricature art, realistic illustration, teaching workshops, public speaking, pizza making, animation, writing and wearing sneakers.

A conversation with Ian McGuire, author of the 2016 Man Booker longlisted, 2017 Australian Book Industry Awards shortlisted title, The North Water. Ian grew up near Hull in the UK, and studied at the University of Manchester and the University of Virginia, USA. He is a founder and co-director of the University of Manchester's Centre for New Writing. His stories have been published in the Chicago Review, Paris Review and elsewhere, and his first novel was Incredible Bodies.

Secrets sell, and none know this better than Rachael Johns, Australia’s number 1 Rural Romance author, and more recently Life Lit author (a term coined by Johns’ publicist to explain Johns’ latest book, The Art of Keeping Secrets. Reviewer, Debbish dotcom – I love that name and you can find out more about Debbish and her love of everything Jane Austen https://www.debbish.com (here) – describes Johns’ novel as contemporary and uplifting even though it is not traditionally happily-ever-after-ish. But make no mistake, Johns has published more than her fair share of romance novels, twenty books in total in five or so years, with her most exciting moment being when her name was called out as winner of the 2016 Australian Book Industry Awards with another of her Life Lit novels, The Patterson Girls. Now, my all time favourite author is Jane Austen and if Johns writes, as Debbish states, with warmth and humour about issues most of us face in our daily lives, then I’m all keen to read Johns’ backlist, including Book 4 of her Bunyip Bay series – and yes, to those of us who are loyal followers of Outback Dreams, Outback Blaze, Outback Ghost and now, Outback Sisters, that makes four, and I’m guessing an email or three to Johns begging for more may go some way to persuading her to continue the small town series with books five, six and seven (sorry, Rach). Oh, and Johns’ own secret: writing is work, hard work, and sometimes it isn’t the fun the rest of us imagine it to be. Yes, Johns may write in her jarmies, and enjoy the odd Diet Coke, Maltesers and glass of wine (not all together) but she admits to a certain laziness when it comes to re-writing and more re-writing. Unlike some of us, she prefers to get it right the first couple of times. For the real truth about Johns, her books and her upcoming appearances, you can find out more https://www.rachaeljohns.com (here.)

Benjamin Law is an author, freelance journalist, columnist and screenwriter. Since I first ventured into full-time freelance journalism in 2009, he's been someone that I've greatly admired, not only for his ability to write well across a range of publications and styles, but also for the simple fact that he's a generous and enthusiastic supporter of other writers. I first met him in early 2010, when I emailed him to introduce myself and ask for a meeting, and from that point, he has remained as a firm friend and mentor. I interviewed him for The Courier-Mail that same year, for an article that coincided with the release of his first book, The Family Law, a memoir which described his upbringing as a Chinese-Australian. The following year, he spoke about freelance journalism alongside John Birmingham at an event I hosted in Brisbane as part of National Young Writers' Month. I reviewed his excellent second book, Gaysia, for The Weekend Australian in 2012, and since then, he has taken me suit shopping, offered me a place to crash while visiting Sydney, and provided some timely advice when I was negotiating my first book contract. As you've no doubt already gathered, I'm a big fan of Benjamin's. His career has recently taken an interesting turn into screenwriting, as his first book was turned into a six-part SBS television series. The Family Law debuted on Australian screens in early 2016; it was very well-received, and Benjamin is currently writing the second season. His regular writing gig is his weekly column in Good Weekend, which never fails to make me laugh. When he visited Brisbane in late April for a QUT Journalism and Media Society event, where we were both speaking to university students about feature writing, I took the opportunity to interview Benjamin in an empty classroom before the crowds arrived. Our conversation touches on how a mentorship with Matthew Condon helped him to pitch stories and get his head around writing longform features; how he was approached by a publisher to write The Family Law; what he learned about the book industry while working at Brisbane bookstore Avid Reader; how he comes up with ideas for his Good Weekend column, and how he views being in a relationship where both partners work in the creative industries. Benjamin Law is a Sydney-based TV screenwriter, journalist and newspaper columnist, who has PhD in creative writing and cultural studies. He’s the author of two books—The Family Law (2010) and Gaysia: Adventures in the Queer East (2012)—and the co-author of the comedy book Shit Asian Mothers Say (2014) with his sister Michelle and illustrator Oslo Davis. Both of his books have been nominated for Australian Book Industry Awards. The Family Law is now in its fourth reprint, has been translated into French and is now a major SBS TV series. Gaysia was published in India in 2013 and North America in 2014. Benjamin is a frequent contributor to Good Weekend (The Sydney Morning Herald/The Age), frankie and The Monthly. He has also written for over 50 publications, businesses and agencies in Australia and worldwide. Show notes and links to what was discussed in this episode: http://penmanshippodcast.com/episode-24-benjamin-law/ Benjamin Law on Twitter: @mrbenjaminlaw Penmanship on Twitter: @PenmanshipAU penmanshippodcast.com