Podcasts about Will Kostakis

Our most popular episode of the year is back! James has gathered the best 'What Are You Reading?' segments from 2023 into a comprehensive summary of book recommendations from our guests.   We discuss a huge variety of books, including thriller, mystery, memoir, rom com, literature, essays, poetry, nonfiction, plays and audiobooks. We also delve into reading habits. Do you read several books at a time, or restrict yourself to one? Do you finish most books you pick up, or allow yourself to quit? And so much more.  This episode features Hilton Koppe, Sanchana Venkatesh, Lee Kofman, Anna Spargo-Ryan, Karina May, Hannah Bent, Holden Sheppard, Hayley Scrivenor, Danielle Binks, Julie Janson, Mark Brandi, Indira Naidoo, Amy Lovat, Jonathon Shannon, Ali Thomas, Jacinta Dietrich, and Annette Higgs.  Books and authors discussed in this episode: Dear Memory: Letters on Writing, Silence, and Grief by Victoria Chang; The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill;  Lost Connections by Johann Hari; Homesickness by Janine Mikosza; The Fire and the Rose by Robyn Cadwallader; Turning Points in Medieval History by Dorsey Armstrong; Crying in H Mary by Michelle Zauner; Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata; Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason; Fleishman Is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner; Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom; The Wych Elm by Tana French; In the Woods by Tana French; The Others by Mark Brandi; Stolen Focus by Johann Hari; Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka; Crushing by Genevieve Novak; No Hard Feelings by Genevieve Novak; The Shot by Naima Brown; The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka; The Road by Cormac McCarthy; The Passenger by Cormac McCarthy; Stella Maris by Cormac McCarthy; The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho; Ghost Music by An Yu; Eta Draconis by Brendan Ritchie; We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson; The Long Knives by Irvine Welsh; We Could Be Something by Will Kostakis; Windhall by Ava Barry; The Sun Walks Down by Fiona McFarlane; Limberlost by Robbie Arnott; Benevolence by Julie Janson; Compassion by Julie Janson; Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami; The People of the River by Grace Karskens; Nardi Simpson (from ep 18); Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte; Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky; Praiseworthy by Alexis Wright; The Trial by Franz Kafka; Mistakes and Other Lovers by Amy Lovat; Little Secrets by Jennifer Hillier; Things We Do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier; A Country of Eternal Light by Paul Dalgarno; Brilliant Lies by David Williamson; Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller; Summer of the Seventeenth Doll by Ray Lawler; A Swim in the Pond in the Road by George Saunders; Lee Kofman (from ep 76); Kate Mildenhall (from ep 13); Sarah Sentilles (from ep 50); From Bhutan to Blacktown by Om Dhungel; Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver; Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe Stolen Focus by Johann Hari; Yellowface by Rebecca Kuang;      Dress Rehearsals by Madison Godfrey; Really Good, Actually by Monica Heisey; Lucy Clarke; Echolalia by Briohny Doyle; Bunny by SE Tolsen; On a Bright Hillside in Paradise by Annette Higgs; When One of Us Hurts by Monica Vuu; Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld; A Mile Down by David Vann; A Burglar's Guide to the City by Geoff Manaugh; The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger; The Reader by Bernard Schlink; The Tilt by Chris Hammer; The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes; The Joy Thief by Penny Moodie; We Didn't Think It Through by Gary Lonesborough; Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo; Obsession by Nicole Madigan  Learn more about Ashley's psychological thriller Dark Mode and get your copy here or from your local bookshop.  Learn more about James' award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy here or from your local bookshop. Upcoming events  Ashley is teaching Online Feedback: Manuscript Development for Writing NSW starting 4 March 2024 Ashley is teaching Writing Crime Fiction, a six-week online course with Faber starting 15 May 2024  Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

Everywhere you look, there's a cultural bin fire. The flames of disaster are burning down the house and we can't stop staring.First there's the shameless comeback of the Fyre Festival, the disastrous party that never was. Then there's Disney scuttling a super expensive streaming series it's already finished filming and may now never see the light of day.And, of course, there's the calamitous Sex and the City revival And Just Like That, which finished its second season with an anticipated cameo and a narrative whimper.Plus, Australian authors Jenna Guillaume and Will Kostakis drop in to chat about all things Young Adult books, TV shows and movies, and how to walk the tightrope of the culture wars.

After Indira Naidoo lost her sister to suicide during the pandemic lockdowns, she unexpectedly found herself turning to nature to help her heal. Speaking with Ashley, Indira shares the journey through grief that led to her memoir 'The Space Between the Stars,' including her relationship with an especially consoling Moreton Bay fig. She describes the challenge of writing the book when she struggled even to speak her sister's name, and delves into our innate need to connect with the natural world.    Indira Naidoo is one of Australia's most popular broadcasters and authors. During her multi-decade award-winning journalistic career, she has hosted and reported for some of the country's most distinguished news and current affair programs, including the ABC TV's Late Edition and SBS TV World News, and she is currently the host of ABC TV's Compass and ABC Radio Sydney's Evenings Program. She is an ambassador for Sydney's homeless crisis centre the Wayside Chapel. Get your copy of The Space Between the Stars online or from your local bookshop. The South Coast Writers Festival is happening 18 to 20 August at Wollongong Town Hall. Hear from James, Ashley, Hayley Scrivenor, Shankari Chandran, and more! Authors include Alan Baxter, Alexis Wright, Caroline Baum, Emma Viskic, Helena Fox, Indira Naidoo, Kate Holden, Kate Scott, Loraine Peck, Meredith Jaffe, Mykaela Saunders, Pamela Cook, Sara Ayoub, Sarah Saleh, Tim Ayliffe, Tim Flannery and Will Kostakis. Indira is appearing on the panel 'Ritual, Nature and Grace,' alongside poet Tamryn Bennett, to discuss nature mysticism and medicine, rituals, and how writers express the things that strain beyond words. They'll be speaking with festival director Sarah Nicholson. Upcoming events  South Coast Writers Festival, 18-20 August, Wollongong Town Hall – see Ashley and James in person!  Online: Building Suspense in Writing – Ashley is teaching this online workshop through Writers Victoria, Sunday 27 August, 10am-4pm Bound to Happen launch – Join Ashley in conversation at Better Read than Dead in Newtown for the launch of Jonathon Shannon's debut romcom, Saturday 2 September, 6.30-8pm  Online: Creative Nonfiction – Ashley is teaching her six-week online Writing NSW course starting 30 October Crafting Narrative Drive – an in-person workshop with Ashley at Avid Reader in Brisbane, Sunday 26 November, 10am-1pm Books and authors discussed in this episode: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver; Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe  Ashley's psychological thriller Dark Mode is out now! Learn more about it and get your copy. James' novel Denizen is out now! Learn more about it and get your copy.  Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Twitter: @AKalagianBlunt + @JamesMcWatson Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

It wasn't until a year into working on her novel 'Madukka the River Serpent' that Julie Janson decided to make it a crime novel. At once a story of corporate greed, environmental destruction and government inaction, 'Madukka the River Serpent' also celebrates older women who hold their families together in the face of extreme challenges. In this episode, Julie discusses the writing of her first crime novel, how she juxtaposes humour with serious political issues, and why she recommends getting involved with some outrageous men.  The South Coast Writers Festival is happening 18 to 20 August at Wollongong Town Hall. Hear from James, Ashley, Hayley Scrivenor, Shankari Chandran, and more!  Authors include Alan Baxter, Alexis Wright, Caroline Baum, Emma Viskic, Helena Fox, Indira Naidoo, Kate Holden, Kate Scott, Loraine Peck, Meredith Jaffe, Mykaela Saunders, Pamela Cook, Sara Ayoub, Sarah Saleh, Tim Ayliffe, Tim Flannery and Will Kostakis. Julie Janson is a NSW Burruberongal woman of Darug Aboriginal nation and a critically acclaimed novelist, playwright, and poet. 'Madukka the River Serpent' is Julie's first Indigenous crime novel. Her earlier work, 'Benevolence', is an Indigenous historical novel. 'Madukka the River Serpent' has been longlisted for the 2023 Miles Franklin Award.  Upcoming events: Boorowa Literary Festival is happening July 14 and 15 – see Ashley and James in person! Mark Brandi in conversation with Ashley Kalagian Blunt, Thursday, 20 July, 6.30-7.30 pm Ashley is conversation with Hayley Scrivenor about Dark MOde at Penrith Library, Monday 7 August, 6.30 pm Ashley and James in conversation about Dark Mode at Mona Vale Library, Tuesday 8 August, 7pm South Coast Writers Festival, 18-20 August, Wollongong Town Hall – see Ashley and James in person!  Building Suspense in Writing – Ashley is teaching this online workshop through Writers Victoria, Sunday 27 August, 10am-4pm Books and authors discussed in this episode: Benevolence by Julie Janson; Compassion by Julie Janson;  Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami;  The People of the River by Grace Karskens;  Nardi Simpson (from ep 18); Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte;  Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky;  Praiseworthy by Alexis Wright;  The Trial by Franz Kafka;  Mistakes and Other Lovers by Amy Lovat;  Little Secrets by Jennifer Hillier;  Things We Do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier;  A Country of Eternal Light by Paul Dalgarno Ashley's psychological thriller 'Dark Mode' is out now! Learn more about it and get your copy. James' novel 'Denizen' is out now! Learn more about it and get your copy.  Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Twitter: @AKalagianBlunt + @JamesMcWatson Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

How can winning an artistic residency impact your creative career? Hear from four Australian authors about their experiences entering and winning the ASA/Varuna Ray Koppe Young Writers Fellowship, and how their careers have developed since.  Hannah Bent is the author of When Things Are Alive They Hum. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art and Film from Central Saint Martins School of Art and Design in London. She undertook further study in both directing and screenwriting at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School and has a Masters in Creative Writing from the University of Technology, Sydney. She won the Ray Koppe Young Writers Award in 2013. Holden Sheppard is a multi award-winning author from Geraldton, Western Australia. His debut young adult novel, Invisible Boys, won multiple accolades including the 2018 TAG Hungerford Award and the 2019 Western Australian Premier's Book Award. His writing often focuses on themes of masculinity, sexuality and mental health.  Hayley Scrivenor is the author of the number one Australian bestseller, Dirt Town, published as Dirt Creek in North America. An earlier version of the book was shortlisted for the Penguin Literary Prize and won the Kill Your Darlings Unpublished Manuscript Award. Hayley has a PhD in Creative Writing and is a former Director of Wollongong Writers Festival. To hear more from Hayley, listen to ep 68. Danielle Binks is a writer, reviewer, agent and book blogger. She edited and contributed to Begin, End, Begin, an anthology of new Australian young adult writing inspired by the #LoveOzYA movement. The Year the Maps Changed, Danielle's debut middle-grade novel, was a CBCA Notable Book for Younger Readers 2021. The Monster of Her Age is Danielle's debut YA novel. We also speak with Hilton Koppe, author of the memoir One Curious Doctor. To hear more from Hilton, listen to episode 70. The ASA/Varuna Ray Koppe Young Writers Fellowship for 2024 is open for applications from 15 June 2023. Each year, thanks to the generosity of the Koppe family, the Australian Society of Authors awards a two-week residential fellowship to an aspiring or emerging writer under the age of 35. The fellowship includes a two-week Varuna residency, a one-hour consultation, a year's membership to the ASA, and travel subsidy for writers outside of NSW. For more information and to apply, visit the ASA website.  Upcoming events: See James at Yarrum Storyfest – 1-2 July, Yarrum Regional Theatre, Yarrum, VIC ($25-$40, book here)  Boorowa Literary Festival will take place on July 14 and 15 this year – see Ashley and James in person! Mark Brandi in conversation with Ashley Kalagian Blunt, Thursday, 20 July, 6.30-7.30 pm Save the date – Ashley and James in conversation on Dark Mode at Mona Vale Library, Tuesday 8 August, 7pm Books and authors discussed in this episode: Ghost Music by An Yu; Eta Draconis by Brendan Ritchie; Jacinta Dietrich (from ep 45); We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson; The Long Knives by Irvine Welsh; Jackie Bailey (from ep 66); Candice Fox; Tracey Lien; Garry Disher; Lee Kofman (from ep 76); We Could Be Something by Will Kostakis; Windhall by Ava Barry;  Fiona McFarlane; Limberlost by Robbie Arnott Ashley's psychological thriller 'Dark Mode' is out now! Learn more about it and get your copy. James' novel 'Denizen' is out now! Learn more about it and get your copy.  Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Twitter: @AKalagianBlunt + @JamesMcWatson Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

We've talked on this show before about the pressure (whether real or imagined) that you can feel when your sibling or someone else in your family comes out before you. In past examples on this show we've only ever been talking about one person in the family... but, on today's episode we're finding out from children's author Will Kostakis what it's like being one of three gay brothers... and, by the sounds of it, they all had different journeys (i hate myself for using that word. sorry). Snd, that's not all we talk about. we have a really interesting conversation about using writing to process and understand your world, getting comfortable in your own skin, and standing in the shadows of the corner of the queer bar hoping beyond hope that no one notices you... . Do you have any memories of The Midnight Shift, or clubbing from your own queer scene that you want to share? Well, if you have please get in touch - I want to create the biggest online record of people's memories and stories - go to www.lostspacespodcast.com and find the section 'Share a Lost Space' and tell me what you got up to! Bonus points for embarrassing photos! You can also find me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lostspacespod), Instagram (www.instagram.com/lostspacespod) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lostspacespod) Find out more about Will by visiting his website https://willkostakis.com/, or follow him on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/willkostakis/) or Twitter (https://twitter.com/willkostakis) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/k-anderson/message

Each of us – including your favourite YA authors – has a treasured protagonist, antagonist or side character who we firmly believe should have nothing bad ever happen to them. Listen to this special gala event from 2021 All-Day YA as Gary Lonesborough (The Boy from the Mish), Zana Fraillon (The Lost Soul Atlas), Garth Nix (The Left-Handed Booksellers of London), Leanne Hall (The Gaps), Michael Pryor (Gap Year in Ghost Town), Jenna Guillaume (You Were Made for Me) and Will Kostakis (Rebel Gods) share which characters they would protect at all costs from malevolent authors and literary harm. Introduced by Amelia Lush and hosted by Will Kostakis, with a Q&A at the end. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hear authors Gabriel Bergmoser and Sophie Gonzales share stories of teenagers whose secret identities come completely unstuck, with moderator Will Kostakis. Bergmoser’s novel The True Colour of a Little White Lie centres on a geeky teen who reinvents himself on a family ski trip, with chaotic consequences. Gonzales’ Perfect on Paper is about a queer high schooler who gives anonymous love advice for a fee, but is blackmailed in exchange for keeping her identity a secret. Recorded for MWF in 2021.Support MWF: https://mwf.com.au/donate/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grant Peel in conversation with Will Kostakis & Lili Wilkinson, co-hosted by year 9 Somerset College student Hayeon Byun. In this episode we discuss the process of writing, the sometimes silly places story ideas come from and the awkward first time meeting of Lili and Will.

Drawing on his Greek heritage, Will Kostakis subverts the norm with the duology Monuments and Rebel Gods juxtaposing contemporary Sydney teenagers, with ancient gods and time slips. Hear Will reflect on his influences and ideas when writing this “page-turning adventure fiction peppered with humour, romance and high- stakes.” (Sydney Morning Herald)

Will Kostakis takes over the podcast to interview Sophie Gonzales about Perfect On Paper.

Will Kostakis interviews Amie Kaufman

Jennifer Niven chats to Will Kostakis about her novel Breathless, love, sex, chemistry and frank discussions.

Will Kostakis chats to Charlie Archbold.

Great Conversations features interviews with authors and writers, exploring books, writing and literary culture from Australia and the world.Today's episode features part two of Will Kostakis discussing his fantasy series Monuments.Today on the show...Connor, Sally and Locky should be just ordinary teens; skipping class and dealing with friendship dramas. But there’s a pantheon of ancient gods known as Monuments hidden beneath high schools across Sydney. As they race to find the Monuments and deal with their power, Locky Connor and Sally must confront the danger of the hounds, rebel gods and the question of who, if anyone, has the right to control so much power.Join me as we discover Will Kostakis’s Rebel Gods...

Great Conversations features interviews with authors and writers, exploring books, writing and literary culture from Australia and the world.Today's episode features part one of Will Kostakis discussing his fantasy series Monuments.Today on the show...Connor, Sally and Locky should be just ordinary teens; skipping class and dealing with friendship dramas. But there’s a pantheon of ancient gods known as Monuments hidden beneath high schools across Sydney. As they race to find the Monuments and deal with their power, Locky Connor and Sally must confront the danger of the hounds, rebel gods and the question of who, if anyone, has the right to control so much power.Join me as we discover Will Kostakis’s Rebel Gods...

Author Will Kostakis returns to face time travel, unexploded bombs and a tangle of timelines in the final Johnny Maxwell book, 1996's Johnny and the Bomb! When Johnny and his misfit friends look after homeless eccentric Mrs Tachyon's shopping trolley, they soon discover she has a complicated relationship with time. Johnny, Yo-less, Wobbler, Bigmac and Kirsty travel back to World War II, on the eve of the "Blackbury Blitz". Johnny knows bombs are meant to destroy Paradise Street - but can he and his friends do anything about it? Do they even have the right? And how will they get back ho- hang on. Where's Wobbler? Pratchett's first book focussing on time travel also touches on the worries of teenagers, local history, racism, sexism and the nature of fate and destiny. It might seem weighty for a children's book, but children think about this stuff all the time! Did you follow all the time travel shenanigans? How do you think Pratchett's handling of these issues compares to modern middle grade fiction - or even his own previous Johnny books? And if you could go back in time, would you try and change things for the better? Join the discussion using the hashtag #Pratchat37. Returning guest Will Kostakis is a writer and award-winning author. Since we last saw him in #Pratchat18, "Sundog Gazillionaire", he's published his first fantasy YA novel, Monuments, and its sequel, Rebel Gods. His new novella, The Greatest Hit, is out now from Lothian Children's Books as part of the Australia Reads initiative. Find out more about Will at willkostakis.com, or follow him on Twitter at @willkostakis. You can find the full show notes and errata for this episode on our web site. As mentioned at the end of this episode, the fiction anthology Collisions from Liminal Magazine is out now, featuring Liz's story "The Voyeur"! Order it from your local bookshop. And we also announced that the Australian Discworld Convention in Sydney has had to be postponed from 2021 to 2022. Find out more at ausdwcon.org. Next month we see out the year with a favourite, as we time travel about ten Discworld books ahead to meet Moist von Lipwig in Going Postal! We've invited two experts on con artistry to discuss it with us: writer and magician Nicholas J Johnson, and comedian and actor Lawrence Leung! Get your questions in via social media using the hashtag #Pratchat38.

In this week's After Show we discuss gender-neutral kids toys and enforced gender norms on children (first published November 30, 2019). We're also joined by queer writers Rebecca Shaw and Will Kostakis to discuss our first loves (first published September 7, 2019).The Gays Are Revolting went on an indefinite hiatus in August 2020.Keep up to date with new developments by following The Gays Are Revolting on Twitter at @gaysrevolting, Facebook at The Gays Are Revolting & Instagram @gaysrevoltingpod.. The Gays Are Revolting is produced by Dan Gregg at Lipp Media (hello@lippmedia.com). See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Newbie gods Connor, Sally and Locky want to change the world - no biggie. But they're soon drawn into a centuries-old conflict that just might destroy the world they're striving to make better. Book 2 in the MONUMENTS fantasy duology from YA superstar Will Kostakis. With the Monuments gone, newbie gods Connor, Sally and Locky must stop the rebel gods from reducing the world to ruin. Trouble is, they don't know how. While Sally searches for answers and Locky makes plans to change the world, Connor struggles to keep up appearances as an ordinary teenager. But when a rebel god offers them a deal to end the chaos, their lives are turned upside down and they're forced to reckon with the question: who should decide the fate of the world? Rebel Gods is the gripping conclusion to Monuments, a Children's Book Council of Australia Notable Book 2020, from YA superstar Will Kostakis. It's a heartfelt look at family, friendship and the parallel lives we lead.

Will Kostakis chats with fellow author Melina Marchetta about his new YA novel, Rebel Gods. This is a live recording of an online event hosted via Zoom during the Covid-19 crisis.

Star of the stage Gillian Cosgriff joins Liz and Ben to cower in fear before that most horrifying of beasts: the magpie! Yes, it's time for the twenty-third Discworld novel, 1998's Carpe Jugulum. The new princess of Lancre has been officially named! But all has not gone well: new priest Mightily Oats took Queen Magrat's notes on the naming a little too literally. King Verence has been a little too liberal with which nobility he invited. And most worryingly of all, Granny Weatherwax - supposed to be the baby's godmother - is nowhere to be found. As the forward-looking Count de Magpyr and his family effortlessly dominate the wills of all about them (with the notable exception of two-minded Agnes Nitt), can the fractured witches pull together a full coven and save the day? And what on the Disc is going on in the mews? The fifth and last of the books to star the original coven of Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg and now-Queen Magrat Garlick shakes things up even more than its predecessors. Young witch Agnes Nitt's inner voice is now a fully independent personality, while Nanny and Granny clash over their roles and responsibilities, and Magrat brings her child along to coven meetings. Pratchett also takes aim at every vampire tradition and cliche from curtain-twitching to shying away from holy symbols, pitting the modern vampire against his more monstrous predecessors. And on top of that, he introduces two enduring fan favourites: the first of many Discworld Igors, and the tiny "pictsies" of the Nac mac Feegle! What did you you think? Does Carpe Jugulum make beautiful music? Is Pratchett's ongoing need to make fat jokes too distracting? When he came up with the idea of vampires who turn into and control magpies instead of bats, do you think he realised how horrifying that would seem to Australians? Use the hashtag #Pratchat36 on social media to join the conversation! Guest Gillian Cosgriff is an actor, singer and cabaret star most recently seen as part of the Australian cast of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Gill's career has included musical comedy, musical theatre and - as mentioned briefly in our Maskerade episode - opera! Find out more about her talents at gilliancosgriff.com, or you can look up some of her music on Youtube or buy her albums on Bandcamp. (Do so on a Bandcamp Friday if you want to make sure all your money goes to supporting the artist!) You can also follow Gill on Twitter at @gilliancosgriff. Next time, we finish off Pratchett's other children's trilogy as Johnny and his gang go out with a bang in Johnny and the Bomb. Joining us is returning guest, author Will Kostakis! Send us your questions using the hashtag #Pratchat37, or send us an email at chat@pratchatpodcast.com. You'll find the full notes and errata for this episode on our web site.

ARIA award-winning triple j host Alex Dyson talks to fellow YA author Will Kostakis about his debut YA novel, When it Drops. Sixteen-year-old Caleb is a socially awkward outcast dealing with the death of his father by secretly making music in his bedroom until he becomes suddenly, and reluctantly, famous. When it Drops is a hilarious and touching coming-of-age story about family, friends, fame, and the importance of never leaving your computer unattended. This conversation is part of our YA podcast series. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on Middle Grade Mavens, Pamela reviews, "The Silver Arrow," by Lev Grossman as well as "Rebel Gods," by Will Kostakis, and Julie reviews, "The Heartsong of Wonder Quin," by Kate Gordon, Illustrated by Rachel Tribout. Plus Will and Kate stop by the Mavens hot seat for an interview. Author links: http://levgrossman.com/ Want this at your local library, here's what you'll need. Author: Lev Grossman Title: The Silver Arrow Format: Book Publisher: Bloomsbury Date: 1 September 2020 ISBN: 9781526629418 Author links: http://willkostakis.com/ Want this at your local library, here's what you'll need. Author: Will Kostakis Title: Rebel Gods: Monuments book 2 Format: Book Publisher: Hachette Australia Date: 25 August 2020 ISBN: 9780734419262 Author links: https://kategordon.com.au/ Illustrator links: https://racheltribout.com/ Want this at your local library, here's what you'll need. Author: Kate Gordon Illustrator: Rachel Tribout Title: The Heartsong of Wonder Quin Format: Book Publisher: University of Queensland Press Date: 1 September 2020 ISBN: 9780702262821 To learn more about the Mavens, head on over to https://www.middlegradepodcast.com Or to find Julie online drop by https://www.julieannegrassobooks.com And for Pamela online find her at https://www.ueckerman.net Have a question or comment? Email us at mavens@middlegradepodcast.com To learn what books are in the pipeline, follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/middlegrademavens

In episode 3, Will Kostakis talks to Cheryl Akle about LGBTQ+ representation in schools, how diversity is constantly changing, and why we must get beyond 'the struggle story' when creating diverse stories for kids. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When Will's career as an author takes off at just 19, he writes many stories about his father's absence, but it would take a few more years before he considered trying to find him. Will Kostakis is a writer of all things, from celebrity news stories that score cease and desist letters, to tweets for professional wrestlers. He’s best known for his award-winning Young Adult fiction. His first novel, Loathing Lola, was released when he was just 19. His second, The First Third, won the 2014 Gold Inky Award and was shortlisted for the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year and Australian Prime Minister’s Literary awards, among others. The Sidekicks was his third YA novel, and his American debut and recently published, Monuments, his fourth novel. Queerstories is an LGBTQIA+ storytelling night programmed by Maeve Marsden, with regular events in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. For Queerstories event dates, visit www.maevemarsden.com, and follow Queerstories on Facebook. The new Queerstories book is published by Hachette Australia, and can be purchased on Booktopia. To support Queerstories, become a patron at www.patreon.com/ladysingsitbetter And for gay stuff, insomnia rant and photos of my dog Frank follow me - Maeve Marsden - on Twitter and Instagram.

Today’s podcast features #LoveOzYA queer authors and butterflies Will Kostakis and Alison Evans. Nalini Haynes talks with Will and Alison about their books and queer ... The post “Focus on butterflies”: a Queer-focused podcast featuring Will Kostakis and Alison Evans appeared first on Dark Matter Zine.

In the third episode of the Readings Kids Podcast, Leanne and Angela do a whistle-stop tour of their favourite books of the past year. This episode also includes a bonus interview with YA author Will Kostakis about his new fantasy book, Monuments.

She burned her earlier diaries, and now she's published others in Yellow Notebook.

This week we tax!  Isn't there an app that could do it for us? Should you have a business account?  Can you just use a shoe box for receipts?  Whatever you do, don't take our advice, we are not professionals. Then Katherine speaks with author Will Kostakis. There's a lot about schools: getting published when you're still going to one, visiting as an author, having visits cancel your visits for appalling reasons.  Check out show notes for this episode on our website www.thefirsttimepodcast.com or get in touch via Twitter or Instagram @thefirsttimepod.Don't forget you can support us and the making of Season Two via our Patreon page https://www.patreon.com/user/overview?u=14470635! Thanks for joining us!

When Connor Giannopoulos discovers a Monument under his high school, he doesn't have any idea how much his life is going to change forever. It turns out that immortality and strength beyond his wildest dreams is a bit more responsibility than he bargained for. All 16-year-old Connor is trying to do is avoid his ex-best friend when he stumbles upon a trapdoor to a secret chamber under his school. But when Sally Rodgers breaks into the same secret chamber looking for an ancient being, things take an unexpected turn . . . and Connor's life will never be the same again. Along with the mysterious Sally and, later on, his new friend Locky, Connor discovers the Monuments - gods who have been buried for generations - who created the world and hid themselves away from humanity to keep everyone safe. But now they're exposed and vulnerable, and Connor isn't sure who, himself included, can be trusted with the knowledge and the power these gods have. MONUMENTS is the first book in an exciting new duology from YA star, Will Kostakis.

This week Tom and Luke are joined by queer writers Rebecca Shaw and Will Kostakis in town for the Melbourne Writer's Festival. They chat to us about queer content in schools and feminism on Twitter, and stick around to discuss new developments on the ‘gay gene', and how to navigate a sex life if you're lazy. Head over to patreon.com/gaysrevoltingpod as the conversation continues into a chat about our first loves

Connor is just trying to avoid his ex-best friend when he accidentally finds a trapdoor leading to a secret chamber under his school. That's the story of new Australian novel Monuments.

Connor is just trying to avoid his ex-best friend when he accidentally finds a trapdoor leading to a secret chamber under his school. That's the story of new Australian novel Monuments.

Will Kostakis is an award-winning author for young adults. You may have read his previous books such as The Sidekicks, The First Third and Loathing Lola. Now Will is back with Monuments - his first in fantasy! Monuments is the first book in a duology following a group of Sydney teenagers on a quest to save the creator Gods. Booktopia's Sarah and Bron sit down with Will to talk about his new series, how he wants to constantly challenge himself with his writing, what's next for him, where the idea came from, the transition from contemporary to fantasy and so much more. Books mentioned in this podcast: Monuments by Will Kostakis —> http://bit.ly/2NhIx6p Hosts: Sarah McDuling and Bronwyn Eley Guest: Will Kostakis

For episode eighteen we go back to Pratchett's science fiction beginnings as - in the evening between the two days of the 2019 Speculate festival - author Will Kostakis joins us to talk about the 1976 standalone novel, The Dark Side of the Sun! Dom Sabalos is about to become Chairman of the planet Widdershins when he is messily assassinated. Well...mostly. When he survives against all odds, he discovers his death had been predicted using probability math. The same science also predicts he will discover Joker's World, the mysterious home of the vanished ancient species thought to have laid the foundation for all intelligent life. Dom sets out to fulfil his destiny with his alien mentor Hrsh-Hgn, his new robot, Isaac, and a strange, lucky creature from his homeworld's swamp. Filled with references and homages to prominent science fiction authors like Larry Niven, Isaac Asimov and Frank Herbert, The Dark Side of the Sun is the first of Pratchett's two early science fiction novels. It features the first appearance of many names and concepts he would later come to reuse in various forms in the Discworld. It's a short, fast-paced book with big ideas - not least Pratchett's own take on the classic sci-fi trope of a vanished, ancient precursor species known only through mysterious artefacts. But does it work? Is this an early sign of genius, or a run-up for someone who needed more time to come into his own? We'd love to hear from you! Use the hashtag #Pratchat18 on social media to join the conversation. Don't forget that you can see Liz and Ben at Nullus Anxietas 7, the Australian Discworld Convention, on April 13 and 14! Watch out for our bonus live episode, recorded at the convention, in an upcoming special episode. Next month it's back to the Discworld as we crank up the volume and rock out with Death! Yes, we'll be reading Soul Music, so get your questions in via social media by mid-April using the hashtag #Pratchat19. Show Notes and Errata: Will Kostakis is a writer and award-winning author. He's written many short stories and four novels, all for young adults, including The Sidekicks and The First Third. As mentioned in the episode, his first fantasy YA novel, Monuments, will be released in September 2019. You can find out more about Will and his work at willkostakis.com, or follow him on Twitter at @willkostakis. Since the 1990s many have claimed that if you play Pink Floyd's hit 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon while watching MGM's The Wizard of Oz (1939), the songs supposedly sync up with the vision. Fans of "Dark Side of the Rainbow" (as it's known) suggest hitting play when the lion roars for the second or third time, and claim the experience is profound, but the band and producers say any synchronicity between them is just a coincidence.Terry Pratchett's first published novel was The Carpet People in 1971, five years before The Dark Side of the Sun. He was 23 at the time, but had started work on the book considerably earlier; the revised 1992 edition is described as being "co-written by Terry Pratchett, aged seventeen, and master storyteller, Terry Pratchett, aged forty-three"."Galaxy Song" was written and performed by Eric Idle for the 1983 film Monty Python's Meaning of Life. In a Python reunion live show which toured in 2015, Brian Cox appeared in a filmed insert nitpicking the song's accuracy. It's mostly close enough for rock and roll; in one of it's most accurate lines, it actually says the galaxy is "100,000 light years side-to-side", not 30,000. (Ben also made this mistake in an episode of re:Discovery.)Gilpin's Space is a 1986 novel by Russian-born American sci-fi author Reginald Bretnor. It paints a dystopian authoritarian future in which "eccentric genius" Saul Gilpin steals a submarine and uses it to successfully test his new hyperdrive engine. The novel follows a group of his friends who follow his instructions to steal another submarine and escape the oppressive regime at home ...

In our seventeenth episode we join everyone's favourite dysfunctional coven - and guest, writer Nadia Bailey - as we return to Lancre for the 1992 Discworld novel, Lords and Ladies! The Lancre coven have returned from their trip abroad, but despite the impending royal wedding of Magrat and King Verence, all is not well in the Ramtops: it's circle time, when the walls between worlds are thin, and in the witches' absence someone has been toying with powers beyond their understanding. As usual Granny Weatherwax thinks she can sort everything out herself: facing down a young witch wannabe and keeping the Gentry at bay. But Granny is off her game. Is it the arrival of an old flame? Or is her time as a witch of Lancre nearly up? She'll need Nanny and Magrat's help to see off the threat of the Lords and Ladies... Bringing us back to the witches after only one book away, Lords and Ladies is a particularly Pratchett take on the ancient Celtic stories that inspired modern ideas of fairies and elves. One of the few novels to cross the streams between the witches and wizards, it also gives us more of a glimpse into Esme Weatherwax's past, hints at the future of witchcraft (and royalty) in Lancre, and introduces the infamous "Trousers of Time". Is this your favourite witches novel? What do you think of the parallel universes, other dimensions and alternate timelines it describes? And is this the best take on elves since Tolkien? We'd love to hear from you! Use the hashtag #Pratchat17 on social media to join the conversation. Don't forget that you can see Liz and Ben at both Speculate 2019 on March 15 and 16, and at Nullus Anxietas 7, the Australian Discworld Convention, on April 13 and 14! Plus Ben's new show, You Chose Poorly, plays at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival from April 1-7. Next month, to tie in with our appearance at Speculate, we'll be leaving the Discworld and blasting off into outer space as we discuss one of Pratchett's early sci-fi novels, The Dark Side of the Sun, with writer Will Kostakis! We'll likely be recording around the time of Speculate 2019, so get your questions in via social media before March 15th using the hashtag #Pratchat18. Show Notes and Errata: Nadia Bailey is an author, journalist and critic whose work has appeared in The Australian, The Age, The Lifted Brow and many others. The Book of Barb, an unofficial celebration of the surprisingly popular supporting character from the first season of Netflix "kids on bikes" drama Stranger Things, was her first book; it was followed by The Stranger Things Field Guide in December 2018. In between Nadia wrote The World's Best BFFs, a book of profiles of celebrity best friends. All three are published by Smith Street Books. You can find Nadia online at nadiabailey.com, and she tweets at @animalorchestra.There are two examples of Steven Moffat writing women who marry men who follow them around in Doctor Who - first in his most famous episode, Blink, and then in the Christmas special The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe. There are similar behaviours in his other work, going all the way back to Press Gang. We previously mentioned The Craft in our Witches Abroad episode, but it's worth mentioning here that one of its stars, Fairuza Balk, made her major screen debut in another film referenced this episode: Return to Oz (see below).The Last Unicorn (1982) is an adaptation of the 1968 fantasy novel by American writer Peter S. Beagle, and has a pretty star-studded voice cast including René Auberjonois, Alan Arkin (who plays the incompetent magician Schmendrick), Jeff Bridges, Mia Farrow (who plays the titular unicorn), Angela Lansbury and Death himself, Christopher Lee! It has music written by Jimmy Webb, including songs performed by the band America.Narnia is a fantasy world invented by English writer C S Lewis in his Chronicles of Narnia books. The White Queen first appears in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950),

Dani Vee chats about the podcast having a social conscience and discussing books that talk about serious issues that can open up conversations and eventually positive change. Dani talks about the reasons for beginning the podcast; to encourage reading, as a free resource for educators and students and to create something that brought some good into the world and had a social conscience. This tiny podcast with big ideas talks stats and how listenership continues to grow thanks to the incredible authors who have been part of the conversation. Shout outs to Trent Dalton, Craig Johnson, Elliot Perlman, Jack Heath, Lexi Frieman, John Purcell, Michael Pryor, Dr Michael Mohammed Ahmad, Megan Jacobson, Kate Forsyth, Christian White, Sarah Bailey, Alice Nelson, Will Kostakis, Alex Miles, JP Pomare, Nicole Hayes & Rusty Young. Hello Mexico!

How do authors deal with serious issues in YA literature? How do they create diverse YA voices? What are their challenges and joys? With Eleni Hale, Megan Jacobson, Tamar Chnorhokian, James Bradley, and Will Kostakis (chair). Recorded at the 2018 Kids & YA Festival directed by Belinda Murrell.

Will Kostakis is an award winning Australian novelist of The Sidekicks and The First Third. Will is an absolute delight to chat to, and opens up about being self-reflective and admitting our errors in order to become a better human. After all, what we do after our mistakes is what matters. Will provides an insight into his professional career after coming out and how he hopes his experiences will make it easier for the next person. We chat about the importance of representing all people in society and how The Sidekicks character Sticks was so important in representing people living with cerebral palsy. Will talks about his family, literature and reaching out to young people. We chat about a lot in half an hour, don’t miss this episode! 13

Will Kostakis, who makes his U.S. debut with The Sidekicks and has two books, The First Third and Loathing Lola, published in his native Australia, talks about approaching every book like it could be his last, spite writing, being the writer he is today because of a personal tragedy, and the difference between the Australian and U.S. YA markets. Will Kostakis Show Notes   Will’s blog post about coming out Will’s blog post about being disinvited from a school because he came out "After He Came Out, A Catholic School Told This Author His New Book Was 'Inappropriate,'" the Buzzfeed article about Will coming out Amie Kaufman (listen to her First Draft interview here) and Jay Kristoff, authors of The Illuminae Files series Garth Nix Melina Marchetta

Will Kostakis talks about how losing his best friend as a teenager shaped his life, and served as part of the inspiration for his new book, The Sidekicks. Will's Australian and talks about how conservative it is there and why the recent postal survey on same-sex marriage is so complicated. He also says that Australian politicians are watching U.S. politicians very closely and that they've started to mimic our divisive rhetoric and use the phrase, "fake news".  LGBTQ&A is hosted by Jeffrey Masters. @jeffmasters1 You can recommend a guest or let us know what you think about the show on Twitter or by emailing lgbtqashow@gmail.com More information: www.LGBTQpodcast.com 

What are the things you're not telling people -- and what's stopping you? My guest this week is Will Kostakis, author of award winning young adult novels and the upcoming book The Sidekicks. Growing up, Will and his best friend were as close as friends could be, or at least, they told themselves they were. There was something neither one was telling the other.

Will Kostakis has published three hugely popular YA novels to date, reinventing himself on each occasion. Proactively engaging with his audience of teenagers facing an uncertain future, Will talks about his media-darling rise, humbling fall and literary resurrection; coming out mid press tour; the value of a tortured teen diary; the debate between gay, too gay and not gay enough; and the power of teachers in shaping the identity of young people. With a self-deprecating wit and laugh capable of blowing the doors off, Will Kostakis is carving an important niche in the YA market. His latest book The Sidekicks is available in stores and currently set to conquer the United States.

A Limelight interview by Nalini Haynes Hi, I’m Nalini Haynes, your host for Dark Matter Zine‘s podcast. Today I’m putting Will Kostakis in the limelight. ... The post Will Kostakis appeared first on Dark Matter Zine.