author talks

Suzanne Allain takes on high society and the patriarchy in "The Ladies Rewrite the Rules", a fun Regency-era romp that's based on a real-life little black book the author found during her research.

Author Sara Divello seeks to solve the 100 year old mystery of who killed New York City flapper girl Dot King in her new novel "Broadway Butterfly".

Best selling Australian author, Cassie Hamer joins Pam for a chat writing her latest release The Truth About Faking It. This is Cassie's third women's fiction novel, following the huge success of her first two releases After the Party and The End of Cuthbert Close.

Faking It is a story about three generations of women - Ellen, her daughter Natasha, and grand-daughter Georgie, who all have to grapple with the fallout from their husband/father's/grandfather's death as well as having multiple problems of their own. Each of the characters has a distinctive voice and Cassie weaves their stories together with an expert touch.

This discussion also covers backstory, writing process, working with a publisher and a whole lot more. So much gold in here for writers and for readers - it's a great insight in the writing process.

So grab a cuppa and join Pam and  Cassie on The Convo Couch for this craft of writing episode on writing multiple viewpoints. 

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Pamela Cook

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This episode produced by  Pamela Cook for Writes4Women.

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In this episode we speak with young adult fantasy and science fiction author Astrid Scholte about her new novel League of Liars where four teenagers are charged with the illegal use of magic get together to devise the ultimate jailbreak. A thrilling YA fantasy novel full of twists and turns.

We also chat to debut author Lizzie Pook about her novel Moonlight & the Pearlers Daughter - an exquisite Australian historical novel set in a mesmerising yet unforgiving land, where both profit and peril lie deep beneath the ocean’s surface.

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In this episode we speak with Australian author Diana Reed about her contemporary novel Love & Virtue Feminism where power and sex play out through the eyes of young Australian uni students in a contemporary narrative that is fiercely authentic,  and also with Australian rural suspense writer Fleur McDonald about her new novel Deception Creek about a returned criminal, a cult-like family and cybercrime which clash against the backdrop of the Flinders Ranges.

Staff Book Reviews:

Fury - Kathryn Heyman
Future Girl - Asphyxia
In Case you Missed it - Linsey Kelk
A Thousand Roads Home - Carmel Harrington

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Episode four of our Summer Series features a look back on our chat with International bestselling author, Martha Hall Kelly as well as some usual reviews and recommendations for you!

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In this episode we revisit our chat to Melbourne based writer Sally Hepworth about her writing experience and her novel, The Good Sister.

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In Episode 2 of our Summer Series, we look back on our conversation with American bestselling author, Deborah Rodriguez.  Deborah talks about her writing journey, her inspiration and her book The Little Coffee Shop of Kaboul.

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Our Summer Series kicks off with a look back at our conversation with leading Australian crime fiction novelist Chris Hammer, author of international bestsellers Scrublands, Silver and Trust.

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In our last episode for 2021  we chat to Australian authors, Louise Guy and Jodie Gibson. Louise talks to us about her latest novel "Her Last Hope" while Jodie takes us away to Italy with her new release "The Five Year Plan".   As ever, our talented team  also have some great Summer reading recommendations you can take away on your Summer holidays!

Reviews:

The Lido by Libby Page
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
The Jetsetters by Amanda Ward
The Garden of Hopes and Dreams by Barbara Hannay
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Dressmakers of Yarrandarah Prison by Meredith Jaffe

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Jean Meltzer was such a blast to speak to about her debut novel The Matzah Ball! We covered writing with chronic illness, and having an MC with chronic illness. Loving Christmas as a Jewish woman, why she chose to have the romance be closed-door, how she met her husband (so cute!), and why everyone deserves a happily ever after. 

Happy Hanukkah to all celebrating!

You can check out Jean's book The Matzah Ball here. 

You can listen to our full review on Patreon and check out the blurb below!

Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt is a nice Jewish girl with a shameful secret: she loves Christmas.  Which is why Rachel has created a double life as Margot Cross – a bestselling Christmas romance novelist, who weaves tales of true love under evergreen trees – until her diversity-conscious publisher throws it all into jeopardy by telling her she should write a Hannukah romance... or else!

Like her protagonist, author Jean Meltzer is a chronically-ill and disabled Jewish woman—with a penchant for Christmas festivities! This joyful #ownvoices debut, THE MATZAH BALL (On-sale: September 28, 2021; MIRA Books; Trade Paperback Original; $16.99) is a hilarious Hannukah romance about a woman attempting to write one of her own. Meltzer’s witty and entertaining enemies-to-lovers romance glows as brightly as a menorah and is threaded with the message that everyone is worthy of love—even your arch nemesis from sleepaway camp.

An irresistible page-turner that will have you falling in love almost as much as it will have you falling down laughing, Jean Meltzer’s THE MATZAH BALL is a refreshing twist on classic tropes that will make it a rom-com for the ages!

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A lot of additional listening on Patreon!

Welcome to Romance at a Glance, a podcast that uses romance novels to dive into candid conversations about life, relationship dynamics, and sexual desires. 

As hosts Bridget and Shani review books and interview some of romance's biggest authors, they explore the breadth of the genre, openly embracing the sex, diverse couplings, and taboo to create a safe space for listeners to be exposed to different lifestyles, fantasies, and to pique their naughty curiosity.

Expect 100% honest reviews, spontaneous singing, life lessons, indecent anecdotes, and bawdy humor.

Check out www.romanceataglance.com

Chat with us on Instagram at instagram.com/romanceataglance

Support us on Patreon at patreon.com/romanceataglance

This month we chat to debut writer Hannah Bent about her writing and her novel - When Things are Alive they Hum.  We also speak with Miles Franklin award winner Sofie Laguna about her new Children's book -The Song of Lewis Carmichael.

Our staff also review:

•  The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi
• Group by Christie Tate
• Poly by Paul Dalgarno
• CSI Told you Lies by Meshel Laurie

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In this episode we had the pleasure of talking with local YA fantasy and romance writer C S Pacat about her latest novel Dark Rise, a fantasy epic set in 1800s London. Inspired by the works of JR Tolkein and Mercedes Lackey, this gripping tale of good and evil will challenge all your preconceptions of the fantasy genre. Tim speaks with Cat about her road to publication, her overnight success The Captive Prince and what drew her towards writing fantasy. 

 We also hear from our staff with these book reviews:

• Saving Missy by Beth Morrey
• The Castaways by Lucy Clarke
• While Justice Sleeps by Stacey Abrams
• Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo
• The Second Son by Loraine Peck

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Author (and indie bookstore owner!) Michaela Carter discusses her new book Leonora in the Morning Light, a novel of the real-life Surrealist artist Leonora Carrington, with fellow author Kate Christensen (The Great Man). The two novelists discuss the intersections of painting and writing, women artists as muses for each other, madness and dreams, and their shared love of writing about food. (Recorded April 12, 2021)

This month we chat with  Australian author Amanda Hampson, author of six novels.   Her new novel Lovebirds  is a road trip story that explores family, love and redemption. Warm witty and wise and possibly a great story to get you through winter!

We also recommend the following books this month,
A House Full of Secrets by Zoe Miller
Americanah  By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Bones  by Gabrielle Lord
Year of Living Vulnerably by Rick Morton

Sam shares the success of the Bunjil Place Writers' group and how to get involved if you love writing.

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And we are back - Season 2 of Book Matters! In this episode we chat to award winning Victorian author Fiona Lowe and find out about her new book A Home Like Ours. We also hear from our book club organiser Makaila about the library Book Groups and of course there are some awesome reading recommendations from our staff!

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In todays' show I chat to Izolda Trakhtenberg about how to develop your skills as an effective public speaker. Izolda has travelled the world as a NASA Master Trainer so she knows the subject from every conceivable angle. Jam packed with hints, tips and advice, you cannot afford to miss this one. 

Listen as American writer, Jennifer Egan, talks to music and book journalist, Garvia Bailey, about the process of writing historical fiction and creating characters that are real and believable - whether they are a woman diver bucking conventions in 1920s New York (Manhattan Beach) or a 1980s rock and roll executive in A Visit from the Goon Squad. This event was recorded on Monday, October 30, 2017, in the Toronto Public Library’s Bram and Bluma Appel Salon. In this 18 minute discussion, Egan talks about how she creates these characters from the past, what research she does and how the issues from her own life are subtlely embedded in her work.

Jennifer Egan is the author of five previous books of fiction: A Visit from the Goon Squad, which won the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award; The Keep; the story collection Emerald City; Look at Me, a National Book Award Finalist; and The Invisible Circus. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, Harper's Magazine, Granta, McSweeney's, and The New York Times Magazine.

Garvia Bailey is a regular host for TPL's Bram and Bluma Appel Salon series, having interviewed Roxane Gay, Dave Bidini and others, and is the former host of Good Morning Toronto on JazzFM. She is currently working on a forthcoming podcast series with the Toronto Public Library featuring some of Canada's best-known writers and their views on the Harlem Renaissance.

Interview transcript