Words and Nerds: Authors, books and literature.

Dani Vee chats to Annie Drum, writer of short fiction and poetry. They talk about her heartfelt coming of age novel, Don’t Forget to Remember Me published by Bakers Lane.

Books versus kindles and audio books.
The importance of hope in YA novels.
How setting can shape character.
The treatment of first love in a YA novel.
A new generation of acceptance.
The lessons we can learn from young people.
The importance of vulnerability.

‘The story will make you smile and break your heart. I inhaled this book in one setting.’ Troy Hunter

‘Everyone should have a friend like star in amongst the human heartbreak drum creates a world. You won’t want to leave.’ RWR McDonald.

QWS S5E3 Dylin Hardcastle and Troy Hunter

In QWS S5E3, Troy chats with Dylin Hardcastle about their super successful, award-winning novel A LANGUAGE OF LIMBS: a fantastic, lyric, gorgeous, dark, funny, sad, queer, horny, lovely, wonderful book about love and the price we sometimes pay for it.
They also talk about Dylin’s trans identity and journey, their earlier novels, their PhD at Oxford, their art, their path to publication, as well as mental health, wanting to be a surfer, and their upcoming TV series!

Books Dylin recommends:
- Host City by David Owen Kelly
- Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

And is grateful for the help of the Pride History Group.
Trigger warning: this episode talks about mental health issues.
You can find Dylin on Insta at @dylin_hardcastle and at www.dylinhardcastle.com (where you can also find their art).
QWS is hosted by Troy Hunter who you can find on Insta @troyhunterwriter and at www.troyhuntwriter.com
Troy is the author of Gus and the Missing Boy and Gus and the Burning Stones, with Gus and the Climate Killer coming in March 2027.
#Queerauthor #Queerwriting #adultfiction #WordsandNerds #LGBTQIABooks #transmasc

In Episode #803 Dani Vee and bestselling author Tristan Bancks have an epic chat about his brand new suspense thriller Raised By Wolves, a follow up to the hugely successful Two Wolves.

They chat about:
⭐️ Kids navigating the adult world
⭐️ The horror film effect and how they’ve influenced Tristan’s writing
⭐️ Moral ambiguity in books and why it’s important for young readers
⭐️ Writing a sequel and giving your writing space
⭐️ Why young readers are drawn to dark books
⭐️ Tristan’s writing soundtrack
⭐️ How to write a bestselling suspense thriller

Tristan also reads a section from the new book!

A must listen with bestselling superstar Tristan Bancks ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Dani Vee chats to author duo Jacinta Daniher and Taylor Hampton about their new picture book My Dreamtime Match.

The talk about why this book is special for kids to be able to see themselves, AFL, diversity and the significance of the totem of the long-necked turtle.

They also talk about getting permission from Adam Goodes and Michael O'Loughlin to have their likeness in the book.

Jacinta and Taylor talk about what it's like to write, work and have a personal relationship.

Listen now.

Date with a Debut is a podcast hosted by writer Nick Wasiliev: shining a light on debut authors, their incredible books, and their journeys to publication.

In our fourth episode of series four, Nick sits down with Katie Hoskins, the debut author of contemporary fiction drama, When the Party’s Over.

WARNING: this book and podcast contain topics of mental health and fertility issues; listener and reader discretion is strongly advised. If this is something that affects you or your loved ones, help is available.
Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia (PANDA): 1300 726 306
ForWhen Helpine: 1300 24 23 22
Red Nose Australia: https://rednose.org.au/
Pink Elephants Support Network: https://www.pinkelephants.org.au/

Enjoy the show? Drop us a review, it really helps the show out!

You can also subscribe to our new monthly newsletter: https://nickwasiliev.substack.com/

Check out our brand new podcast website: https://dwad.podpixels.com/

Check out the 2026 sponsor of the podcast, Pod Pixels: https://bit.ly/4cbG1Zt

Subscribe on Podbean to never miss an episode: https://www.podbean.com/site/podcatcher/index/blog/3mRME5IMoSJx
Date with a Debut is featured as part of the Australian literary platform Words & Nerds. Check out all shows on the platform here: https://danivee.com.au/podcasts/
BOOKS:

Debut:

When the Party’s Over / Katie Hoskins: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/DWV5xn

Additional books mentioned:

The Farm / Jessica Mansour-Nahra: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/ramyxv
Everything I Know About Love / Dolly Alderton: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/gRAYmv

ADDITIONAL LINKS:
Katie Hoskins: Turning a dream into a two-book deal (Australian Writers Centre): https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/katie-hoskins-when-the-partys-over/

PRODUCTION NOTES:

Host: Nick Wasiliev
Guest: Katie Hoskins
Editing & Production: Nick Wasiliev
Podcast Theme: ‘Chill’ by Sakura Hz
Production Code: 4.4
Episode Number: #62
Additional Credits: Dani Vee (Words & Nerds), Lily Cameron, Dave Cain (Pan Macmillan Australia)

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