85 | 'These men do exist:' the Dark Mode spoilers episode

Throughout their writing careers, James and Ashley have each picked up some excellent writing tricks, plus developed a few of their own. In the coming months, they’ll each share a few of their most effective writing techniques, starting with James’ shortcut to compelling characters. 

British science-fiction author Karen Traviss writes remarkably nuanced characters. She also writes remarkably quickly, once tapping out 37,000 words in two days. In this episode, James delves into one of Traviss's novels to understand what makes her characters so compelling. He then shares the four questions he now always asks himself about his characters before writing. 

Plus, we talk about the latest novel from one of our very first guests.  

You can find a summary of James’ tips here. 

You can find Karen Traviss’ wildly entertaining and informative FAQ page here. 

Books and authors discussed in this episode

• Gears of War: Aspho Fields by Karen Traviss;
• The Corrections by Jonathon Franzen;
• The Walking Dead (series) by Robert Kirkman; 
• Red River Road by Anna Downes; 
• The Consultant by Im Seong Sun, translated by An Seon Jae

’I kept this condition very, very secret from everybody.’

Adele Dumont's remarkable new memoir, The Pulling, details her life with trichotillomania — a mental health condition that, at times, has consumed her life.

In this episode, she discusses the unique writing process that enabled her to put long-held secrets first on the page and then into the public sphere. She also describes the impact of revealing her illness through her memoir, especially to family and friends who knew nothing about her condition. We discuss the shame linked to trichotillomania and whether sharing her story has shifted this feeling.

Adele Dumont is an Australian writer and critic. Her work has appeared in Griffith Review, Meanjin, Southerly, ABR, and Sydney Review of Books. Adele’s first book, No Man Is an Island, is an account of her experiences teaching English to asylum seekers in detention. Adele lives in Sydney, where she works as an English language teacher and examiner. 

'Get your copy of The Pulling from Booktopia or your local bookshop.'

Books and authors discussed in this episode:

• Lee Kofman (from episode 76);
• Helen Garner;
• Adele’s Guardian article;
• Annie John by Jamaica Kincaid;
• The Wolves of Eternity by Karl Ove Knausgård;
• Unfinished Business by Shankari Chandran (from episode 48)

'The whole concept of transplantation still blows me away. There is something a bit magical about it. But as with most things people do, it can also find ways to blow up in people’s faces.' 

Author and neuropsychologist Kylie Ladd joins us to speak about her latest book, 'I'll Leave You with This.' She shares her research into the incredible science of human organ and tissue donation, and the family tragedy that inspired her beautiful novel. 

Plus, you'll never guess what James is reading! 

Kylie Ladd is a novelist, psychologist and freelance writer. Her novels have been published in Australia and overseas, and her short works appear widely across Australia. She holds a PhD in neuropsychology.

Get your copy of 'I'll Leave You with This' from Booktopia or your local bookshop.

You can register to become an organ donor online. 

Books and authors discussed in this episode:

• The Vitals by Tracy Sorensen; 
• The Wolves of Eternity by Karl Ove Knausgård;
• Red River Road by Anna Downes (from episode 5);
• A Mother’s Reckoning by Sue Klebold; 
• Andrew Solomon; 
• Dani Vee, host of the Words and Nerds Podcast

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

It's books wrap-up season! James and Ashley are getting on the bandwagon and discussing their favourite reads from 2023 in the first annual 'Bed on a Plinth Awards.'

Books and authors discussed in this episode (warning: spoilers!):

• Dark Mode by Ashley Kalagian Blunt
• Crushing by Genevieve Novak
• The Sun Walks Down by Fiona McFarlane
• Desire by Jessie Cole
• Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
• A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders
• The Wych Elm by Tana French
• When One of Us Hurts by Monica Vuu
• Fire with Fire by Candice Fox
• Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent
• Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier 
• The Push by Ashley Audrain 
• The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware
• The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward 

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

‘I wanted to find compassion for me and for any writer out there who’s doing the best they can but it’s not working out the way they planned.’  

Author Laurie Steed shares how crippling anxiety affected both his literary career and his experience of fatherhood. Before he could address the anxiety, he first had to unlearn the lessons around masculinity that prevented him from expressing vulnerability. Working with a creativity coach, Laurie has developed new ways of thinking about his writing, his career, and himself. 

Plus, James and Ashley discuss their own ongoing health challenges and how their approaches to discussing health have changed (or not) over time. 

Laurie Steed is the author of You Belong Here, which was shortlisted for the 2018 Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards, and Greater City Shadows, which was shortlisted for the 2022 Dorothy Hewett Award for an Unpublished Manuscript. His debut memoir is Love, Dad: Confessions of an Anxious Father. 

Get your copy of Love, Dad from Booktopia or your local bookshop.

‘When I was a lawyer, I knew what was good enough, because if you did the job properly, you were paid, and if you didn’t do the job properly, you were sued. It was very clear-cut. With writing, you never know. There’s a lot of subjectivity.’

James speaks with Penguin Literary Prize winning author Annette Higgs about her debut novel, On a Bright Hillside in Paradise. They discuss the process of researching family ancestry to craft historical fiction, as well as the challenge of taking up writing later in life. Plus, Annette shares the story of how she learned she won the Penguin Literary Prize during a trip to Norfolk Island. 

Annette Higgs is a writer living in Sydney, Australia. She has lived, worked and studied in Sydney, London and Italy, and holds a Doctor of Arts from the University of Sydney. A Pushcart nominee, her short work has appeared in literary journals and anthologies in Australia, the USA, the UK and India. 

You can read Annette's March 2023 essay for the Bangalore Review, entitled 'Starting Late: Reflections on Becoming a Writer' here. 

Get your copy of On a Bright Hillside in Paradise from Booktopia or your local bookshop.

Ashley reveals the inspiration behind the twists and turns in her bestselling psychological thriller, Dark Mode. 

Together with return guest Jacinta Dietrich and self-described enthusiastic reader Ali Thomas, Ashley and James delve into every scintillating Dark Mode detail they normally can’t discuss, including the novel's real-life inspirations.  

Jacinta Dietrich is the author of This Is Us Now, and co-hosts Differently Brained, a podcast focussed on neurodivergent celebration and mental health awareness. Ali Thomas is a former high school English teacher and featured as part of the inaugural Boorowa Literary Festival. 

Upcoming events:

• Terror Australis Readers and Writers Festival is happening October 26 to 29, and Ashley will be part of two days of panel sessions happening that weekend in the Huon Valley, Tasmania
• 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:

• The Reader by Bernard Schlink 
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
• The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris
• Far from the Tree by Andrew Solomon 
• Before You Knew My Name by Jacqueline Bublitz 
• The Tilt by Chris Hammer
• A Mother's Reckoning by Sue Klebold
• Troll Hunting by Ginger Gorman 
• Men Who Hate Women by Laura Bates
• The Guest List by Lucky Foley 
• Elizabeth Finch by Julian Barnes
• The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
• The Joy Thief by Penny Moodie
• We Didn't Think It Through by Gary Lonesborough
• This Is Us Now by Jacinta Dietrich 

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