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We discuss chapters 25-36 of Aoife Clifford's brand new collective-detective murder mystery, 'It Takes A Town'. Herds and Cam come to the end of all things, 'Jaz 'the visual' Langridge is kidnapped (for real) this time, incompetent cop Billy and town drunk Mer work together to navigate a sudden and dangerous showdown. The friendship of Mer and Frankie is put to the ultimate test and the final culprit is revealed in a classic confrontation between them and real detective of this collaborative investigation tale. Cam maligns his past self as Herds really puts the screws to him, put maybe Cam will have the chance for redemption just round the bend? Thank you to Ultimo Press for providing Death of the Reader copies of 'It Takes a Town.'
In this episode we meet lawyer and author Shankari Chandran, who won the 2023 Miles Franklin Literary Award for her novel Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens. Chandran's writing explores the Sri Lankan diaspora in Australia, and weaves sharp commentary on racism, injustice and ignorance through richly told stories of family and community. Her new novel, Safe Haven, published by Ultimo Press in early May, explores issues of immigration and detention. Hosting this episode, which also covers how Chandran finds the time to write between her work as a lawyer and raising four kids, is Good Weekend editor Katrina Strickland.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We discuss chapters 12-24 of Aoife Clifford's brand new collective-detective murder mystery, 'It Takes A Town'. Frankie and Mer move closer to center stage as their lives are compltely turned upside down. Frankie is asked to leave her teaching job as she is under suspicion of her once friend Vanessa Walton, the cops force her to make a very bad decision about handling some key evidence, and the dark secret her husband has been keeping from her finally comes to light... and Mer? well, Frankie IS Mer's whole world, so Aoife stacks the deck against Mer in the worst way possible. Herds manages to get in a good rant about classism, Cam flounders with three theories to choose from, and Aoife's ghost is here to bring us home with a conversation about power structures. It's just a regular Death of the Reader. Thank you to Ultimo Press for providing Death of the Reader copies of 'It Takes a Town.'
We discuss chapters 1-11 of Aoife Clifford's brand new collective-detective murder mystery, 'It Takes A Town'. Policewoman Carole, distressed mother Frankie, town drunk Mer(maid) and a gaggle of schoolchildren reminiscent of the Scooby Gang all team up to corner the killer of local town star Vanessa Walton, recently returned from a grand tour of fame and fortune, now found dead in the cottage of local MP Barton Langridge. These various super sleuths may not see eye to eye, or even be aware of each other's intentions, but with Flex away on official DOTR business it's up to our star editor Cam to fill in the blanks and catch the killer, if we even know their name? Thank you to Ultimo Press for providing Death of the Reader copies of 'It Takes a Town.'
We discuss chapters 26-42 of Sulari Gentill's brand new metafiction standalone, 'The Mystery Writer'. We come to the explosive finale as the evil Greek machinist Satan Herself is exposed to the world and characters we've never seen before swoop in on helicopters and take part in duels involving both pistols and large burly vehicles. The plot has gone a bit off the rails but Sulari is here to tell us about how much fun she's having. Much like the novel it's all worked out in the end (or has it?). Thank you to Ultimo Press and Berkelouw Paddington for providing Death of the Reader proof copies of 'The Mystery Writer'. Sulari Gentill is the informal title sponsor of our first-place award on Review Season each year, which is not a paid placement.
We discuss chapters 15-25 of Sulari Gentill's brand new metafiction standalone, 'The Mystery Writer'. Theo Benton is a law-school escapee from Tasmania, fled to her brother Gus' home in Lawrence, Kansas. She finds herself as the prime suspect in the murder of her almost-boyfriend Dan Murdoch, and now the conspiracy tightens its hold over her life as her home is besieged by journos and Murdoch fans alike caught up in the madness. We follow Theo as she is forced to flee from one safehouse to the next as she has to consider the faith that she has placed in even her closest companions... and we get to hang out with her love interest Mac's crazy doomsday-prepper family. It's a riot! Thank you to Ultimo Press and Berkelouw Paddington for providing Death of the Reader proof copies of 'The Mystery Writer'. Sulari Gentill is the informal title sponsor of our first-place award on Review Season each year, which is not a paid placement.
We discuss chapters 1-14 of Sulari Gentill's brand new metafiction standalone, 'The Mystery Writer'. Theo Benton is a law-school escapee from Tasmania, fled to her brother Gus' home in Lawrence, Kansas. The world of law might have suited Gus, but Theo wants to be a writer, and her brother is ready to support Theo through that journey. Soon after committing to her new life, Theo meets Dan Murdoch, a famous writer who is usually a recluse. They bond over fiction and start writing together. Unfortunately for Theo, this is a Sulari Gentill novel, which means safety is only a portent of chaos. Theo slips in Dan's pool of blood as she goes to invite him for dinner, and reality has fractured. All the while, a mysterious web forum called 'The Shield' discusses the Minotaur controlling the Labyrinth at the core of the world. Thank you to Ultimo Press and Berkelouw Paddington for providing Death of the Reader proof copies of 'The Mystery Writer'. Sulari Gentill is the informal title sponsor of our first-place award on Review Season each year, which is not a paid placement.
We discuss the season debut of The Simpsons seventh season, and its infamous puzzle. It wasn't 16:9 that foiled Flex at all, it was his sheer lack of humour. Smithers is pinned as the culprit after he confesses to shooting an old man in the streets. Fortunately, there is more than one old man in Springfield for him to shoot. That leaves one suspect for the mob in Springfield to go after - but unfortunately nobody can quite remember who that is. We're also joined by Abby Corson to talk about her debut crime fiction novel, 'The Concierge'. Hector Harrow is the longest-serving member of staff at the Cavengreen Hotel in the north of England. A dastardly murder on hotel grounds, just as new management is about to replace him, pins him as the culprit. How can he prove his innocence, through the very book you are reading? Thank you to Ultimo Press for providing copies of 'The Concierge', and their assistance in arranging our interview with Abby.
Brigid Mullane is a publisher at Ultimo Press, and in this interview she discusses her career and her path into publishing. She was previously Managing Editor at Hachette, Editor of Kill Your Darlings, and Communications Manager at Writers Victoria. She has also worked in a variety of roles at Melbourne Writers Festival, National Young Writers' Festival, Emerging Writers' Festival, the Sun Bookshop and the Brunswick Street Bookstore. You can read the transcript of this interview here. About The Garret: Writers and the publishing industry Follow The Garret on Instagram, and perhaps follow our host Astrid Edwards there too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jonathon Shannon is a Sydney-based writer and creative director. His work has been recognised at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, screened at the St Kilda Film Festival, and is housed in the permanent archives of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. Bound to Happen is his debut novel.Our interview begins at 00.21.00We'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: The House that Joy Built by Holly Ringland*An inspiring non-fiction book exploring creativity and encouraging us to do things purely for the joy of them. Michelle recommends: Begin Again by Helly ActonFrankie dies in a freak kebab-related accident and then she's faced with a choice: she can look at several turning points of her life and experience how it would have unfolded. Does she want to begin again in one of those lives or move to the Final Destination?In this interview, we chat about:Deciding how much scientific theory to include in the book through the character of Sophie, an astrophysicistWTF is 'string theory', and what does it have to do with love?The difficulty of translating and sharing music through wordsWhat's the line between romantic moves and creepy moves – and how do you make sure you're writing a poetic character, not a weirdoWhy don't more straight men read or write romance?Jonathan's journey from copywriter to published authorWhat it's like to have a spouse also publishing novelsBooks and other things mentioned:The Midnight Library by Matt HaigThis is Not a Book About Benedict Cumberbatch by Tabitha CarvanMinnie Darke (author – listen to our interview here)Sliding Doors (film)Quantum Leap (TV series)Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins-ReidThe Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows by John KoenigDark Mode by Ashleigh Kalagian-Blunt (listen to our interview)Sleepless in Seattle (film)Love, Actually (film)500 Days of Summer (film)Matthew Reilly (author)Follow @jonathonshannonauthor on InstagramBound to Happen is out now. Thank you to Ultimo Press for providing copies of the book in preparation for the interview. Connect with us on Instagram: @betterwordspod
We discuss chapter 6 of Szu-Yen Lin's impossible-house impossible-crime novel, 'Death in the House of Rain'. Translated by the author himself, the House of Rain is an enormous mansion in the shape of the Chinese character for rain. Device X rears its dubious head as Ruoping Lin has to complete his picture of four horror-movie deaths in eerily similar circumstances. Do they all point to one killer? Did Flex's hail-mary solution actually work? Check out Jim Noy's list of 100 Mysteries at The Invisible Event. Flex is also joined by Lucy Campbell to talk about her debut crime fiction novel, 'Lowbridge', the roles of women, healing from loss, and learning about people indirectly. Thank you to Ultimo Press and Benson PR for providing copies to 2SER.
We're joined by Ashley Kalagian Blunt to talk about her new crime thriller, 'Dark Mode', hours before its' Sydney Launch. Isolated from the internet, flower-shop owner Reagan Carsen is afraid her past has come back to haunt her when a severed corpse that looks just like her is left on the street outside her apartment. As echoes of her past begin to stalk her every footstep, Reagan is caught on the edge between the up and downsides of finally taking her life, and business, online. We talk with Ashley about the motivations behind the story, its powerful game of incentives, and Reagan's journey as a character. Thank you to Ultimo Press for providing copies of 'Dark Mode' and arranging our interview with Ashley.
We discuss chapters 3-5 of Janice Hallett's bizarre media-meta-fiction 'Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels'. Oliver Menzies grows increasingly unhinged as Amanda Bailey tries to keep her investigation of the Alperton Angels as close to the rails as it can hurtle. Outside threats and late-night interrogations grow more menacing, the voices of past writers grow louder, and Ellie Cooper sits petrified on the fences. Will Amanda get the truth, or will getting close enough to it be her demise? We're also joined by Ashley Kalagian Blunt to talk about her new crime thriller, 'Dark Mode', hours before its' Sydney Launch. Isolated from the internet, Reagan Carsen is afraid her past has come back to haunt her when a severed corpse that looks just like her is left on the street outside her apartment. We talk all about technology and imagery. Thank you to Ultimo Press for providing copies of 'Dark Mode' and arranging our interview with Ashley.
It gives us great pleasure to once again welcome Sulari Gentill to the stand, this time for her 2022 metafictional mystery, ‘The Woman in the Library', as our third-place recommendation on your Murder Mystery World Tour for 2022. It will come as absolutely no surprise to you that this was Flex's favourite book of the year. Sulari just keeps managing to write the sort of fiction he like to read. Once again, Sulari has come to the page with the question, ‘what if the writer I'm writing, was writing another writer?', but this time, the loop does not close back on itself as in ‘Crossing the Lines', instead becoming an infinite thread wherein each author sculpts a reality below themselves. Thank you to Ultimo Press for providing copies of the book and our time with Sulari.
Our 2022 Honourable Mentions begin with Flex's first pick; 'When We Fall' by Aoife Clifford. They may thwart our escape by land or sea, but the sky is surely open to us: we will go that way. Under an oppressive sky, take the middle way, lest the moisture weigh down your wings, or the sun scorch them. Summoning the art of Dutch masters, ancient poets and present day foibles, ‘When We Fall' is an elegantly modern small-town mystery painted in secrets, where the brushstrokes reward you for tracing them. Thank you to ABC Radio National and Ultimo Press for providing copies of 'When We Fall' to Death of the Reader.
Australian women crime writers are some of the biggest names on the Australian literary scene at the moment. And Sulari Gentill is one of them. Former lawyer turned writer, Sulari is the author of 10 novels in the Rowland Sinclair Mysteries (a series of historical crime novels set in the 1930s) along with a fantasy series and a few stand-alone novels. Sulari's work has been shortlisted for a number of prestigious awards. Her novel 'A Decline in Prophets' (a Rowland Sinclair mystery) won the Davitt Award for Best Crime Fiction in 2012 and 'Crossing the Lines' (a stand alone) won a Ned Kelly in 2018. This year Sulari is back with another stand alone. 'Woman in the Library' (published by Ultimo Press), is a clever, twisty and gripping novel that will have you glued to its pages. I was thrilled to have the chance to speak with Sulari earlier this year.
We discuss 'The Woman in the Library', Sulari Gentill's latest metafictional concoction with the author herself. If you followed the social media marketing frenzy ahead of this book's release, it would all seem as though this was a simple crime wherein an overly aware narrator alerts us that one of the three people she just went to coffee with was a murderer, and that you were tasked with figuring out whodunnit. Of course, being a Sulari Gentill metafiction, this is merely the initial set dressing. Following on from Crossing The Lines' questioning of a writer's relationship with their characters, The Woman in the Library pits writers against readers against writers through several layers of reality, and it's letters from a man named 'Leo' that seem to tie them all together. Thanks to Ultimo Press for copies of the book, and for arranging our time with Sulari! If you're a fan of Death of the Reader, or independent media in general - it's our home station's annual 'Radiothon' birthday fundraiser, and we'd love your support! Find all the details at 2ser.com.
The Impulse to Write with Ashley Kalagian BluntAshley joins us from Sydney, Australia to talk about writing, identity and travel. We explore her personal story of moving from Canada, being an outsider in a new culture and her family's Armenian history, which was the inspiration for her first book, My Name is Revenge: A novella and collected essays. Ashley loves the craft in the creation of story, and offers ideas for how to access inspiration and the state of creative flow. Her newest book, Dark Mode, is psychological thriller, and will be will be published by Ultimo Press in March 2023.Ashley has many online events and courses including The Joy of Creative Writing sessions for an affordable $9-$14 AUD - "Whether you haven't written creatively since high school or you're the author of 12 books, this fun class will help you get your creativity flowing." https://ashleykalagianblunt.com/events/Write In Trees: https://ashleykalagianblunt.com/2019/03/07/you-can-write-in-trees/Ashley Kalagian Blunt's Bio:Ashley Kalagian Blunt is the author of two books. Her memoir “How to Be Australian” was published in 2020. Her first book, “My Name Is Revenge,” a novella and collected essays, was published in 2019 and is available worldwide in print, audiobook and ebook. It was shortlisted for the 2019 Woollahra Digital Literary Awards, and was a finalist in the 2018 Carmel Bird Digital Literary Award. Her writing appears in a variety of publications across North America, Europe and Australia. Ashley is a Moth StorySLAM winner, and the co-host of James and Ashley Stay at Home, a podcast about writing, creativity and health. She is also an enthusiastic teacher of creative writing. Originally from Canada, she has lived and worked in South Korea, Peru and Mexico, and now lives in Sydney, Australia. Connect with Ashley Kalagian Blunt:Website: https://ashleykalagianblunt.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-kalagian-blunt-32680337/Twitter: https://twitter.com/AKalagianBluntInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/akalagianblunt/Podcast James and Ashley Stay at Home: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/james-and-ashley-stay-at-home/id1514919350Amazon My Name is Revenge: https://www.amazon.com/My-Name-Revenge-novella-collected/dp/1925052443/ref=sr_1_5keywords=kalagian&qid=1552437531&s=gateway&sr=8-5Host Hilary Adams is an award-winning theatre director, coach, equine-partnered facilitator, and founder of Story and Horse. She celebrates and guides creative expression and story sharing.Connect with Story and Horsewww.storyandhorse.comFacebook: @storyandhorseInstagram: @storyandhorse Support the show
Zoë Coyle's debut novel "Where the Light Gets In" is a novel inspired by Zoe's advocacy for euthanasia law and the right to die with dignity, an issue that affected Zoë personally when her terminally ill mother decided to euthanise herself. Published by Ultimo Press earlier this year, Zoë's novel is a moving tribute to the inadequacies of a system which refuses to make room for a person's desire to die with dignity, the legacy of grief created by that injustice and a story which is testament to the enduring connection between mothers and daughters. A stunning debut. And what a conversation I enjoyed with the lovely Zoë (who, it turns out I had already been acquainted with through our own daughters). What a small world! Happy listening!
In this episode Kate speaks with Australian author, editor and climate activist, Sophie Cunningham, about her career spanning editing, publishing, industry advocacy and the writing of novels, essays and other non-fiction works. Cunningham's latest novel is This Devastating Fever, published in 2022 by Ultimo Press and she discusses its long road from genesis to finished product. The conversation also covers how and why Cunningham writers about the climate crisis, her love of walking and drawing (especially trees) and why she loves debut novels. 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!
Robert Watkins is the Publishing Director of Ultimo Press. He has over 20 years experience in the Australian book industry having worked in book retail, sales, marketing, publicity, publishing and more recently as Head of Literary at Hachette Australia. Robert's love for a good story well told has led to publishing some of Australia's most acclaimed contemporary authors, including Maxine Beneba Clarke, Claire G. Coleman, Sarah Schmidt and Michael Mohammed Ahmad. He is an advocate for progressive and inclusive publishing that speaks to contemporary issues, whether that be in narrative non-fiction or literary and reading group fiction. About The Garret Read the transcript of this interview at thegarretpodcast.com. You can also follow The Garret on Twitter and Instagram, or follow our host Astrid Edwards on Twitter or Instagram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This episode Kate and Katherine bask in their respective Fiji/Darwin holiday glows. Katherine is newly obsessed with Julia Cameron's The Artists Way and Kate is similarly late to the party with Stranger Things. There's a lot of great books in the world at the moment and it feels like they mention every single one :) This episode's featured book segment is brought to you by Ultimo Press and we are delighted to be talking to Alex Sarkis about her debut novel SOMETHING BLUE. 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!
Sulari Gentill is an Australian mystery/crime writer who studied astrophysics and worked in law before turning her hand to telling stories. After a number of short listings in 2008 and 2009 with her work Sulari was contracted by Pantera Press for her first novel and has since written 15 books, many of them in her Roland Sinclair murder-mystery series set in Australia in the 1920s. Her latest release, The Woman in the Library, is something a little different: a contemporary murder mystery published by Ultimo Press. Set in Australia and Boston, it's about a bestselling crime author who becomes unwittingly connected to a serial killer. It's a cleverly written story within a story and in this chat, Sulari talks about her unique writing process (she doesn't know whodunnit until the characters tell her), trusting your instinct as a writer and so much more about the writing life. Sulari lives on a beautiful property in the foothills of the snowy mountains, where she writes and farms truffles, and is currently regenerating the bushland after the devastating 2019-2020 fires. Grab a cuppa, and join Pam and Sulari on the Writes4Women Convo Couch. SHOW NOTES: Writes4Women www.writes4women.com Facebook @writes4women Twitter / Instagram @w4wpodcast W4W Patreon https://www.writes4women.com/support-us-on-patreon Sulari Gentill Website: click here Facebook: click here Instagram: click here Buy The Woman in the Library 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.
This episode is spoiler FREE Loving the book chat? Why not shout me a coffee? https://ko-fi.com/thebookstorianpodcast Be sure to follow/subscribe and rate the podcast wherever you listen and follow me on Instagram @thebookstorianpodcast Liked this episode? Try this:S03E12 Rules for dating a bookshop owner by SC Gray Books mentioned in this podcast:Boy Swallows Universe by Trent DaltonSomething Blue by Alex Sarkis Host: Teagan @bookstorian_Guest: Alex @alex_sarkis Special thanks to Ultimo Press for the free copies of Something Blue Design by Emma Russell CreativeMusic from https://www.zapsplat.com
In this week's episode we're talking about how to write a book about heartbreak and grief plus we're covering a number of things – like what it looks like to approach your story. Join me as I talk with Natasha, a writer and lapsed lawyer based in Melbourne, Australia. Her work has featured in The Guardian, The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, Good Weekend, SBS Voices, Kill Your Darlings, Mamamia and elsewhere. Her first book, FOUND, WANTING, was published by Ultimo Press in February this year. On Valentine's Day after a night of red wine and pasta and planning for their future, Natasha and her partner Rob went to bed. A few hours later, at the age of 27, his heart stopped. The memoir tells the story of Natasha's attempt to rebuild her life in the wake of Rob's sudden death.
This episode Kate and Katherine catch up after WEEKS apart and discuss all the things including Katherine's Winter Solstice swim, grief-exhaustion, the Miles Franklin lit scandal, celeb memoirs and more. The Featured Book segment is brought to you by Ultimo Press and we talk to writer Pirooz Jafari about his debut novel Forty Nights. 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!
What it means to be Australian is a question that runs through the heart of Shankari Chandran's delightful novel, 'Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens' (published by Ultimo Press earlier this year). A complex and thought-provoking look at Australian society through the eyes of the compassionate community of Sri Lankan Tamils and others within a fictional western Sydney nursing home, this novel was utterly enchanting. Settle in for this highly entertaining, in-depth chat with Shankari recorded a little while ago.
We discuss chapters 25-34 of Sulari Gentill's 'The Woman in the Library', her second standalone metafictional mystery. We're also joined by Dani Vee from Words and Nerds, to join Herds in the battle for points. In Hannah's world, Leo's messages grow more and more erratic, until eventually international travel returns, and he makes his way to Sydney to finally meet his favourite federal agency. In Freddie's world, it's about time for our moustache-twirling villain to be unveiled, but it seems even they don't have all the answers.We're once again joined by Sulari to dive into why Leo's worst crime isn't murder.Thanks to Ultimo Press for copies of the book, and for arranging our time with Sulari!
We discuss chapters 12-24 of Sulari Gentill's 'The Woman in the Library', her second standalone metafictional mystery. We're also joined by Dani Vee from Words and Nerds, to join herds in the hotseat as we scale the mountain of realities facing us as writers write writers writing writers. In Freddie's reality, she struggles with her feelings for Cain as increasingly dark facets of his past emerge, making the aftermath of Whit's injury and Marigold's bizarre fascinations even more difficult to stomach. In Hannah's world, Letters From Leo have taken an even darker turn, a humble correspondence seemingly gone horribly wrong.And in Sulari's world, two schmucks sit down across a table to grill her about every which decision, and still can't seem to take a bloody hint.Thanks to Ultimo Press for copies of the book, and for arranging our time with Sulari!
Sydney-based author Jack Ellis has two published novels to his name. After studying classical composition at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and the Royal Conservatorium in The Hague, Jack went on to study dispute resolution and law, becoming a Family Mediator. His first novel "The Best Feeling of All" was published in 2014 and his second, "Home and Other Hiding Places" was recently released by Ultimo Press. A tender, poignant and at times funny insight into fractured families and one little boy's attempt to find where he belongs, "Home and Other Hiding Places" was a novel I won't forget in a hurry. I was delighted to have the chance to chat with Jack about this beautiful novel on the podcast a little while ago.
We discuss chapters 1-11 of Sulari Gentill's 'The Woman in the Library', her second standalone metafictional crime extravaganza. Australian author Hannah Tigone is writing her next bestseller novel, about Winifred 'Freddie' Kincaid writing her debut novel, about another writer writing their debut novel. We follow Hannah's drafts, and the accompanying emails from an enthusiastic fan, Leo, who has volunteered himself to help Hannah make his home town of Boston more realistic. Freddie's world has four writers who meet after a blood-curdling shriek is let out in the Boston Public Library, and they become fast friends as they attempt to solve the ensuing mysteries as it seems the suspicions of the police close in on them.Herds is in the hotseat, and all professional neutrality is out the window, as two Sulari Gentill fanboys ignore all the warning signs that Leo's insufferability reflects poorly on them.Thanks to Ultimo Press for early copies of the book.
Craig and Irma unpack the role Amazon plays in the book world. Then Irma chats with Ultimo Press publisher Robert Watkins about why diverse publishing is so important to him, how to nab an editorial job, the way that authors should own the publicity stage and be proud, what makes him want to publish a manuscript, what good sales mean in terms of hard numbers, the impact of Covid on the publishing landscape, and a case of mistaken identity in the green room.
We discuss Aoife Clifford's latest novel 'When We Fall', from its roots in the global mistreatment of mothers and children of minority groups the world over, Dutch art, the way we construct crime, and more that we dare not mention in the description. If you want to hear more, you can also hear Aoife in discussion with Gary Disher, Hayley Scrivenor, and Dr. Kate Evans at the upcoming Sydney Writers' Festival for the panel 'Small Town, Big Secrets'. You can also hear Flex discuss it over on ABC Radio National's 'The Bookshelf'.Thank you to ABC Radio National and Ultimo Press for getting us copies of the book.
This episode Kate and Katherine talk wordle strategies, the paths of lost novels (nod to Jane Rawson) and correspondence between famous authors. The Featured Book segment is brought to you by Ultimo Press and we talk to author Natasha Sholl about her grief memoir, 'Found, Wanting'. 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!
Aoife Clifford is an award-winning, bestselling Australian crime writer of three novels including "All These Perfect Strangers", "Second Sight" and now her brand new novel "When We Fall".Published by Ultimo Press, "When We Fall" is a tense, gripping and propulsive novel with a racing plot that will leave you breathless til the very end. If you're a fan of crime fiction, you will love Aoife's work.Aoife and I had wide-ranging and insightful chat for the podcast recently.
Yumna Kassab is a writer from Western Sydney. Her work has been featured in Kill Your Darlings, Meanjin and the Sydney Morning Herald amongst. Yumna's debut book is the critically acclaimed and much prize listed, The House of Youssef.The subject of today's book club is Yumna's debut novel Australiana.Australiana takes us to the north-eastern New South Wales region around Tamworth, an area Yumna lived for many years as a teacher.Across diverse and interwoven sections Yumna weaves a tale of a region overwhelmed by drought and struggling to reconcile itself to the threat of oblivion that the lack of rain brings.The book travels across literary styles and moves through time to evoke the region and the people who live there.The opening section entitled The Town moves in tightly narrated vignettes that link each other via small details, almost talismans. Yumna describes her inspiration as the tales of the One Thousand and One Nights, where every evening the story dangles linking to the next to ensure the continued telling and life of Scheherazade.In the interlinking tales I felt the kinds of bonds of community that bring people together. Whether near or far everyone knows a little something of each other and these links forge the greater whole.In the telling of the stories in Australiana we become privy to the minds of the town, riding alongside them as they face the increasingly dry landscape. In these perspectives we see something of what keeps each person on the land and the extremes that may yet drive them off it.In the section entitled The Blind Side we sit and listen as the narrator tells the story of Barry to Barry's son. Now missing, the narrator weaves a tale that encompasses a group of young friends moving to the city and their various fates away from the town.As the only one to return to the town they grew up in, the narrator has some suspicion and disdain for his old friends but remains steadfast even as Barry finds himself with the town turning against him. Through the changing fortunes of Barry and the struggle of the narrator to stay true to his friend we learn a little more of how the land pulls at people in a way that perhaps we can never know in the city.Australiana is a unique and fascinating novel, both for its subject and its ever shifting style. The name Australiana seems to evoke a kind of nationalistic kitsch. I imagined Henry Lawson and Dorothea McKellar kicking the footy while Banjo Patterson burns sausages on the barbie. But the result is a work that challenges the sacred cows of white Australian ruggedness whilst also asking us to look closer at environments that we often take for granted or see as only regional jaunts.In describing the book, Yuman Kassab told me she shys away from the term ‘novel' in favour of an ecosystem. The book seeks to encompass the human and non-human, living and organically inert to more fully encompass place and life.The book is at turns serious and absurd, challenging and evocative and offers a unique perspective on our world.Yumna Kassab's Australiana is out now from Ultimo Press.Book Club is produced and presented by Andrew PopleWant more great conversations with Australian authors?Discover this and many more conversations on Final Draft every week from 2ser.
In this Heart of Writing episode Pam chats to Eliza Henry Jones about the creative process, writing trauma, her life on her beautiful flower farm in the Yarra Valley, horse riding, motherhood...and more. Eliza is an author, freelance writer and PhD candidate based on a little flower farm on Wurundjeri land in the Yarra Valley. Her latest novel Salt and Skin will be published by Ultimo Press in August 2022. She is the author of In the Quiet(2015), Ache(2017) and the young adult novels P is for Pearl(2018) and How to Grow a Family Tree(2020). Her novels have been listed for numerous awards including the Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction, QLD Literary Awards, NSW Premier's Literary Awards, Indie Awards, ABIA Awards and CBCA Awards. Eliza is currently a PhD candidate at Deakin University, examining how historic sites of trauma manifest in the environment and through more-than-human bodies. Grab a cuppa and sit back and eavesdrop as Pam chats to Eliza about a diverse range of writing topics and finds out what's at the heart of her writing. SHOW NOTES: Writes4Women www.writes4women.com Facebook @writes4women Twitter / Instagram @w4wpodcast W4W Patreon https://www.writes4women.com/support-us-on-patreon Eliza Henry Jones Website: click here Facebook: click here Instagram: click here Buy Eliza's books 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=true See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Discussion around consent and sexual violence experienced by girls and women in educational institutions and the toxic culture engendered by these institutions has been a topic that has dominated headlines in recent years.It's a discussion that is slowly filtering its way into high school curriculums and hopefully leading to a change in what young women and men think of as healthy, respectful sexual encounters and relationships.And in a critically acclaimed debut novel called “Love & Virtue” (Ultimo Press), Diana Reid is contributing to that ongoing discussion with a fascinating work that explores this and other issues in the context of a contemporary university setting.A book that will challenge our notions of material wealth and morality, consent and context along with how we decide what is right or wrong in any particular situation.A fascinating read. I was delighted to have the chance to speak with Diana on the podcast recently.
Nicole talks to Diana Reid about her sharp new fiction book "Love and Virtue," which intersects consent, class, privilege and feminism, with university culture and a contemporary eye. SHOW NOTES: Nicole Abadee Website: https://www.nicoleabadee.com.au Facebook: @booksbooksbookspodcast OR @nicole.abadee Twitter: @NicoleAbadee Instagram: @nicoleabadee Diana Reid Ultimo Press "Love and Virtue": https://www.ultimopress.com.au/loveandvirtue Instagram: @dianareid_See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Robyn Mundy is a Tasmanian-based author of three novels whose work forms an exploration of nature in its wildest forms.Her fiction draws inspiration from her own adventures through Svalbard (a territory of Norway), Greenway, Antartica, the Norwegian Coast and Scotland.Her latest novel, "Cold Coast" (published by Ultimo Press) is a completely immersive and enthralling exploration of the majesty and brutality of nature through one woman's brave journey in a world exclusively occupied by men.The more I read, the more captivated I became. A brilliant novel!I was thrilled to welcome Robyn to the podcast a little while ago.
Australian author Diana Reid delves into her debut novel ‘Love & Virtue'. The novel introduces Michaela and Eve, two fellow college students in Sydney who come to know the privilege, power and male-dominated culture that wreak havoc in such institutions. Amidst a social minefield, the two girls navigate consent, sex, feminism, class, love and envy. Out now through Ultimo Press. With presenter Elsie Lange.Website: https://www.rrr.org.au/explore/podcasts/backstory
Hannah Bent discusses her tender, heart-breaking debut novel, “When Things Are Alive They Hum”. SHOW NOTES: Nicole Abadee Website: https://www.nicoleabadee.com.au Facebook: @booksbooksbookspodcast OR @nicole.abadee Twitter: @NicoleAbadee Instagram: @nicoleabadee Hannah Bent Website: http://www.hannahbent.com Ultimo Press "When Things Are Alive They Hum": https://www.ultimopress.com.au/hum Instagram: @hannahbent_authorSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hannah Bent is a Sydney-based author whose debut novel 'When Things Are Alive They Hum', was recently published by one of Australia's newest publishing houses, Ultimo Press.Born and raised in Hong Kong, Hannah studied Fine Art and Film in London before deciding to pursue further studies in writing in Sydney. Completing a Masters In Creative Writing, Hannah was awarded the Ray Koppe Young Writer's Award in 2013 for her novel in progress.Listeners, this book is something to behold. Exploring themes of grief, love, sisterhood and existence, this story brought me to tears with its exquisite tenderness and insight.It was with much pleasure that I welcomed Hannah to the podcast earlier this year.
Welcome to the first episode of our new interview series, Pub Talk, where we chat to some of Australia's most experienced and influential publishers, editors and agents. During these conversations you'll receive insiders' information about the industry, as well as advice from experts on the many pathways to publication for new writers. We're thrilled to have Brigid Mullane as our first guest. She is the commissioning editor at Ultimo Press. Previously, she worked at Hachette Australia as both a managing editor and a senior editor. Tune in to hear KYD publishing director Rebecca Starford and Brigid discuss the role of a commissioning editor, Ultimo Press's plans for finding and publishing new writers, some of the press's publication initiatives over the coming months, and how Australian publishers need to do better on diversity in their organisations. Do you have a manuscript you'd like published? Check out KYD's many writing courses that help writers get their work into the hands of editors. Our theme song is Johnny Ripper's ‘Typing'. (more…)
Kylie Moore-GilbertKylie is an academic and expert focusing on the Middle East. She has had quite an incredible journey which most recently included imprisonment in Iran for more than 2 years. Since her return to Australia she has been busy writing her memoirs about the years she spent in prison in Iran. Her book is due for release through Ultimo Press in April 2022.Neon TreehouseI'm really pleased to announce that Humans of Purpose has partnered with digital agency and major season sponsor, Neon Treehouse. Neon Treehouse are a bold and creative team, delivering bright and imaginative solutions in the digital space. They are the digital agency I would send any of my trusted friends or colleagues to.Humans of Purpose Experience SurveyWant to help me improve the podcast? Now is your chance and if you are one of the first 50 to complete our HoPES survey, you will win an exclusive reusable Humans of Purpose x Memobottle collab reusable water bottle (valued at over $40). It takes less than 5 minutes to complete. Share your feedback here.Got Purpose?The Purpose is our periodic e-newsletter, providing you with our top ranking podcasts, Humans of Purpose updates, a range of useful and thought-provoking links and a much needed dose of inspiration and growth-oriented material. Sign up here.Community PoweredHumans of Purpose is independent and locally produced. We are funded and supported by our generous community of listeners. A big thankyou goes out to our amazing Patreon supporters:Deb, Joel, Carmen, Levi, Bee, Lyndon and Joe, Misha and SabinaWithout your support we wouldn't exist. Patreon support covers the majority of my monthly costs of production and enables me to improve podcast quality and to secure top quality guests. Have you thought about supporting us? Your SupportBecome a Patreon Supporter today for as little as the price of a single coffee per month. I'll send you an awesome exclusive Humans of Purpose tote bag (valued at $25) and you will help shape the podcast moving forward. Support us via Patreon today. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Welcome to another episode of Writes4Women. This one is a mashup between a Heart of Writing, Craft of Writing and New Release episode featuring debut author, Hannah Bent. Hannah's book, When Things Are Alive They Hum has recently been released to great critical acclaim. Hannah was born and raised in Hong Kong. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art Film and Photography at Central St. Martin's School of Art and Design in London. She undertook post-graduate study in both directing and screenwriting at the Australian Film and Television and Radio School, and has a Master's in Creative Writing from the University of Technology in Sydney. In 2013 Hannah was the recipient of the Ray Koppe Young Writers award which included a residency at Varuna, where she worked on the manuscript for When things Are Alive They Hum. She is one of the first authors to be published by a brand new publishing house set up in Sydney last year, Ultimate Press. When things Are Alive They Hum is both heart wrenching and heart warming, a beautifully written novel which draws heavily on autobiographical elements of Hannah's life and her relationship with her sister Camilla, who has Down Syndrome. Pam chats to Hannah about the inspiration for the book, her writing process and her experiences as a debut author. SHOW NOTES: Writes4Women www.writes4women.com Facebook @writes4women Twitter / Instagram @w4wpodcast W4W Patreon https://www.writes4women.com/support-us-on-patreon Hannah Bent Website: click here Instagram: click 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=true See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Welcome to The Weekend Booktopian, our weekly podcast to kick off your weekend! Our team will give you the low down on all things book news related, and turn you on to the books that we are reading right now! For our twenty-fifth episode, Nick hosts Ben, Olivia, and special guest Dani Vee from the Words & Nerds podcast as we discuss the Prime Minister's Literary Awards, Booktopia's releases of the best books of 2020, and the latest news from Ultimo Press. We then give you our latest round of book recommendations, before another episode of Book Fight! Words & Nerds Podcast: https://www.wordsandnerds.com/ Books Mentioned in this podcast: Summer - Ali Smith: https://bit.ly/3kKsuvm The Cruel Prince - Holly Black: https://bit.ly/2W51BIs The Divines - Ellie Eaton: https://bit.ly/2IGM0f4 The Last Migration - Charlotte McConaghy: https://bit.ly/3dcYl4s Sorrow And Bliss - Meg Mason: https://bit.ly/2VhdqLl All Our Shimmering Skies - Trent Dalton: http://bit.ly/2uktlys Invisible Boys - Holden Sheppard: https://bit.ly/3nl9gOV The Living Sea Of Waking Dreams - Richard Flanagan: https://bit.ly/3fpet3R The Animals In That Country - Laura Jean McKay: http://bit.ly/2UHVBFS Hamnet - Maggie O'Farrell: https://bit.ly/3dJO4gM The Glass Hotel - Emily St. John Mandel: https://bit.ly/3bHWkfH Hex - Thomas Olde Heuvelt, transcribed by Nancy Forest-Flier: https://bit.ly/3oAk1Ng Sisters - Daisy Johnson: https://bit.ly/373j1eK Exciting Times - Naoise Dolan: https://bit.ly/34gtXop My Dark Vanessa - Kate Elizabeth Russell: https://bit.ly/341qusU The Fire Star - A.L. Tait: https://bit.ly/345bsCu Hideout - Jack Heath: https://bit.ly/3eWcox9 The Champagne War - Fiona McIntosh: https://bit.ly/3mqMCnk When We Say Black Lives Matter - Maxine Beneba Clarke: https://bit.ly/39YNZGC Finding Franscois - Gus Gordon: https://bit.ly/377dcwP Selection of Alexander McCall Smith: https://bit.ly/377vBtC Host: Nick Wasiliev Guests: Ben Hunter, Olivia Fricot & Dani Vee (from the Words & Nerds Podcast) Producer: Nick Wasiliev
Welcome to The Weekend Booktopian, our weekly podcast to kick off your weekend! Our team will give you the low down on all things book news related, and turn you on to the books that we are reading right now! For our twenty-third episode, Nick hosts Jo, Shanu and Olivia to discuss the latest news, including the Penguin buyout of Simon & Schuster, and the introduction of Bright Light to Ultimo Press. We then give you our latest round of book recommendations, before another episode of Book Fight! Books Mentioned in this podcast: Charming as a Verb - Ben Phillppe: https://bit.ly/39ibABW Solutions and Other Problems - Allie Brosh: https://bit.ly/3k6EiHE To Asia, With Love - Hetty McKinnon: https://bit.ly/3m454CK Perfect Tunes - Emily Gould: https://bit.ly/39loS0A The Binding - Bridget Collins: https://bit.ly/2HtWlK6 Use it All - Alex Elliott-Howery & Jaimee Edwards: https://bit.ly/323ZRSa What Are You Going Through - Sigrid Nunez: https://bit.ly/2KlWjFH A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry: https://bit.ly/3fHvdo4 In Praise Of Veg - Alice Zaslavsky: https://bit.ly/3pgUTfy The Friend - Sigrid Nunez: https://bit.ly/3q58Spp Host: Nick Wasiliev Guests: Jo Lewin, Shanu Prasad & Olivia Fricot Producer: Nick Wasiliev
Welcome to The Weekend Booktopian, our weekly podcast to kick off your weekend! Our team will give you the low down on all things book news related, and turn you on to the books that we are reading right now! For our eighteenth episode, Nick hosts Mark, Ash and Olivia to discuss the latest news, including the latest announcements from Ultimo Press, the new releases from Judith Lucy, Max Porter and Lucy Taddeo, and the upcoming adaptation of When The Crawdads Sing. We then give you our latest round of book recommendations, before another edition of Book Fight! Books Mentioned in this podcast: The Wise Man's Fear - Patrick Rothfuss: https://bit.ly/2ITENb7 The Binding - Bridget Collins: https://bit.ly/2HtWlK6 Rings - Koji Suzuki: https://bit.ly/2HoSkHm The Stand - Stephen King: https://bit.ly/2HqhZiw Real Life - Brandon Taylor: https://bit.ly/31zQKt8 Queenie - Candice Carty-Williams: https://bit.ly/3ohPk05 Breasts and Eggs - Mieko Kawakami: https://bit.ly/2Mag54Q Sponsored Books: When Men Cry - Nick Wasiliev: https://bit.ly/354BfKI Host: Nick Wasiliev Guests: Ashleigh Berry, Olivia Fricot & Mark Harding Producer: Mark Harding & Nick Wasiliev