WRITER 659: Maryrose Cuskelly on her ‘neighbourhood noir’ novel 'The Campers'
What does ‘neighbourhood noir’ look like as a genre? Author Maryrose Cuskelly knows, and she discusses her latest novel The Campers, blending crime and psychological elements as well as contemporary issues. 00:00 Welcome04:43 Writing tip: The importance of practice10:26 WIN!: The Gatsby Gambit by Claire Anderson Wheeler13:01 Word of the week: ‘Galligaskins’15:00 Writer in residence: Maryrose Cuskelly18:01 Inspirations for The Campers21:38 Defining the genre22:12 Maryrose’s research and writing process26:43 Bringing the setting to life28:08 Incorporating COVID into the story29:35 Character development and choices31:09 Homelessness and social issues33:04 The writing process and fellowships36:29 Balancing writing and life38:48 Publicity and new projects44:36 Tips for crime writers45:58 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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47:28
WRITER 658: Victoria Brownlee serves up her novel, 'Eat Your Heart Out'
There’s plenty to love about France and food, and author Victoria Brownlee has cleverly combined them both in her latest rom-com novel, Eat Your Heart Out. She joins us to discuss the timeless appeal of Paris, writing dual perspectives, sexy cheeses and much more! 00:00 Welcome04:17 Writing tip: Do a course!08:21 WIN: The Jam Maker by Mary-Lou Stephens10:05 Word of the week: “Lissom”12:12 World of words: “Fewer” vs “Less”13:58 Writer in Residence: Victoria Brownlee15:56 Victoria’s obsession with food17:30 Landing in Paris18:40 Optioning her first book as a film21:00 The sexiness of cheese21:45 Introducing Eat Your Heart Out23:12 Writing dual perspectives26:48 Balancing food and story28:44 The romance of Paris and France30:55 Victoria’s writing process31:32 The influence of Emily in Paris34:46 Bloggers and influencers in writing37:25 The ingredients of a good rom-com novel38:48 Upcoming projects40:07 Tips for writers43:20 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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44:40
WRITER 657: Cale Dietrich and his latest young adult novel, 'The Rules of Royalty'
When the Spin Doctors sang about ‘Two Princes’, perhaps they were thinking about author Cale Dietrich’s new young adult novel, The Rules of Royalty! Cale chats about writing the book and current trends in the genre. 00:00 Welcome05:20 Writing tip: Be curious08:13 WIN! London Uncanny by Clive Bloom09:48 Word of the week: ‘Mansuetude’10:58 Writer in Residence: Cale Dietrich13:12 The appeal of queer royal fiction15:15 Cale’s writing process18:39 Researching the royal aspects 19:37 Going from pitch to contract20:45 How collaborative writing works22:49 Planning and structure24:36 Character development – nice boys26:11 Balancing work and writing27:25 Publicity and social media29:34 Cale’s upcoming projects32:05 Advice for aspiring YA writers33:38 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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35:12
WRITER 656: Kate Horan and her mystery novel, 'The Inheritance'
What secrets do you have hiding in YOUR family tree? Every family has them, and in AWC graduate Kate Horan’s new mystery, The Inheritance, DNA-testing shines a light on two women and previously unspoken truths. Kate shares her experience writing the book including inspirations and real life research. 00:00 Welcome05:21 Writing tip: StoryGraph app09:28 WIN!: Twist by Colum McCann11:10 Word of the week: ‘harbinger’12:51 Word Insights with Dean Koorey: ‘hone vs home’15:55 Writer in residence: Kate Horan18:00 On writing two very different characters20:11 Geographic and DNA inspirations24:20 The many meanings of ‘inheritance’26:13 Inspiration from Who Do You Think You Are?26:40 Complicated family dynamics28:19 Kate’s writing process and balancing life29:18 Managing time and prioritising as a writer31:15 Journey to publication via an agent35:00 Importance of structural edits37:09 AWC courses and learning the craft40:09 Kate’s writing tips and investing in your skills41:33 Building a writing community44:18 Surreal experience of getting published45:17 Upcoming projects and future plans47:45 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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49:45
WRITER 655: Margot McGovern’s hair-raising novel, 'This Stays Between Us'
Capturing the nostalgia of ’90s horror flicks, This Stays Between Us is the latest novel by Margot McGovern. In this episode, Margot shares her inspiration for telling this kind of story, writing her cast of characters and her experience publishing the novel. 00:00 Introduction09:13 Writing tip: Scheduling time for reading13:53 WIN!: 2 Sisters Murder Investigations by Candice Fox and James Patterson15:28 Word of the week: ‘Lycanthrope’17:00 Writer in residence: Margot McGovern19:40 The attraction of horror stories21:00 Representing and reflecting young people’s worlds23:11 The differences between 2000 and today25:26 School camp inspirations27:38 Nostalgia for ’90s horror films28:49 Writing multiple points of view30:23 Drafting and editing process34:20 Publishing journey with Penguin38:07 Publicity and the social media landscape39:56 Upcoming projects44:26 Margot’s tips for aspiring writers45:48 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Everything you’ve always wanted to know about succeeding in the world of writing and publishing. Learn practical writing techniques, go behind-the-scenes and discover how real-life authors got their big break. Uncover the creative processes of writers who have made it. Your host is Valerie Khoo – author, journalist, creative and CEO of the Australian Writers’ Centre.
Australia