Words and Nerds: Authors, books and literature.

TOP 30 COUNTDOWN BEST OF SERIES 2025

Everything I (Don't) Know About Publishing with superstars Pip Harry and Kate Foster. They chat about the opaque publishing industry and the changes they'd like to see occur in the publishing industry. They discuss writing market versus writing an author wants to write, the importance of creatives having access to data, and balancing creativity with business. An episode not to be missed if you want to know more about publishing.

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TOP 30 COUNTDOWN BEST OF SERIES 2025

In this adults only chat with Dani Vee and Holden Sheppard they chat about the brilliant STAN series Invisible Boys, brilliant casting and writing the raw and realistic episode 8.

They discuss unrealistic love scenes in rom coms and how damaging they are in creating unrealistic expectations.

The chat turns to shedding shame and who you are supposed to be and choosing to live authentically.

Holden chat about the Invisible Boys sequel and how it is the book he was always meant to write.

Holden Sheppard is an award-winning author. His debut novel Invisible Boys has now been adapted for television as an original series.  

Holden's second novel The Brink won Young Adult Book of the Year at the 2023 Indie Book Awards and the 2024 Ena Noël Award. The Brink was shortlisted for the NSW Premier's Literary Awards, the South Australian Literary Awards, the Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIAs) and the QLD Writers' Centre's Adaptable program.

Holden's third book King of Dirt will be published in June 2025 by Pantera Press.

Publisher: Fremantle Press
TV: A STAN Original
Music Credit: Happy Corporate Whistle, published by Four Track, Composed by Andre Albrecht

TOP 30 COUNTDOWN BEST OF SERIES 2025

Michelle Mitchell and Dani Vee chat about her new book TWEENS.

They talk about this time being the most rapid period of development for a child, the difference between concrete and formal thinkers and how we can improve our connections with our tweens.

They also chat about screen time, building positive relationships, mental illness and how we're all just trying our best to be the positive adults our kids need.

Michelle Mitchell is a bestselling author and speaker, sought after for her compassionate and grounded advice for parenting tweens and teens.

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A very feminist chat, essential listening for men and women, by women of a certain rage!

Dani and Sara have a fascinating chat about creating female characters that push back against stereotypes and tropes.

They also chat about the renegotiation and complexity of mother/daughter relationships as you age, and the paradox of what we want for our daughters (freedom) versus the safety of women in the world.

Sara delves in the toxic masculinity such as transactional relationships, power and how uncomfortable conversations have to be had in order to dismantle misogyny and toxic masculinity. Women have always been uncomfortable and have had to plan their lives around their own safety.

They also manage to chat about why thrillers engage audiences and how important they are in holding a mirror up to society.

Sara Foster is the author of acclaimed dystopian thriller The Hush and six bestselling psychological suspense novels: You Don't Know Me, The Hidden Hours, All That is Lost Between Us, Shallow Breath, Beneath the Shadows and Come Back to Me.
Her new novel is When She Was Gone.

TOP 30 COUNTDOWN BEST OF SERIES 2025

🎙️ New QWS Podcast Episode! 🌈✨ Season 4 Continues!

In QWS S4E3, our new co-host Troy Hunter (he/him) sits down with Lisa Tirreno (she/her), a bi fantasy and speculative fiction writer, to chat about her debut novel Prince of Fortune. They dive into Lisa’s inspirations, the evolving definitions of "romantic fantasy," and the intersection of queer storytelling and world-building. They also explore shifting ideas of masculinity, from the Regency era to today. Lisa shares insights on navigating the publishing industry, obtaining an international agent, the role of social media for authors, and how the fight for marriage equality shaped her novel.

📚 Plus, Lisa recommends some must-read queer books:
• You Better Be Lightning by Andrea Gibson
• Dark Rise series by C.S. Pacat
• Unhallowed Halls by Lili Wilkinson
🔗 Hosted by Troy Hunter (he/him)
🌟 Gus and the Missing Boy by Troy Hunter
🔥 Gus and the Burning Stones – coming July 2025
📖 More about Troy: Website | Instagram

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