Words and Nerds: Authors, books and literature.

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.

Series 4 gets back up and running with a special collaboration with one of the best Aussie book podcasts going around, Talking Aussie Books!

Talking Aussie Books: https://claudinetinellis.com/episodes/
Claudine Tinellis - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claudinetinellis

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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 Features:
The Heir Apparent / Rebecca Armitage: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/QYAmro
When The Party's Over / Katie Hoskins: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/DWV5xn
Solo Mum by Choice / Lorena Oates: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/eneVMO
The Beauty of Broken Things / Melissa Sharman: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/GbOzJm

Other Books Mentioned:
Life Drawing / Emily Lighezzolo: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/aNWM9Q
Stay Buried / Jane R. Miles: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/MK26qq
Wake in Fright / Kenneth Cook: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/L0ObLM
The Animals In That Country / Laura Jean McKay: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/DWOX62
The Sisters of Serendib / Ayesha Inoon: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/jRQo7P
The Society of Literary Marauders / Sasha Wasley: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/k49BKL
Disgraceful / Rachel Fox McLeod: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/9Vn5Ye
Dove / Georgia Harper: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/aNjaXj
The Couples Retreat / Mercedes Mercier: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/X4GDe5
The Bookshop of Buried Pasts / Sarah Clutton: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/B5OZM9
Billie King / Shannon Kelly-White:https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/zzPLVm

PRODUCTION NOTES:
Host: Nick Wasiliev
Guests: Claudine Tinellis
Editing & Production: Nick Wasiliev
Podcast Theme: ‘Chill’ by Sakura Hz
Production Code: 4:8
Episode Number: #66
Additional Credits: Dani Vee (Words & Nerds), Claudine Tinellis

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© 2026 Nick Wasiliev and Breathe Art Holdings

‘Date With A Debut’ is a Words and Nerds and Breathe Art Podcasts co-production recorded and edited on Awabakal Country, and we pay our respects to all elders past and present.

Dear Bookish Community,

In this episode I chat to Shivaun and I chat about her unique and wonderful middle grade novel Running in Circles. This book is a moving coming-of-age story about family, picking your battles and the transformative power of science.

We chat about:
* How she combines family heartache, extraterrestrials and science
* Frog saunas
* Climate change and what she wanted readers to take from the book
* An obsession with the supernatural
* Writing and publishing process
* The process of creation
* The impact of AI on creativity

Thanks for supporting Aussie books and podcasts
Dani

QWS S5E4 Dennis Altman and Troy Hunter

TEXT 🎙️ New QWS Podcast Episode! 🌈✨

In QWS S5E4, Troy chats with the legendary activist, academic and author Dennis Altman. Dennis is a political scientist, social commentator, essayist and novelist. who has written many other books, covering topics as broad as AIDS, US politics, queer refugees and asylum seekers, constitutional monarchies, as well as writing memoir and, even a crime novel, Death at the Sauna. and, importantly, Dennis’ new collection of essays Righting My World.

Dennis talks to Troy about his life, politics, racism, America, AIDS, Gore Vidal, James Baldwin - covering everything from queer and Jewish prejudice, to Agatha Christie and gay saunas!

Books Dennis recommends:
- Baldwin: A Love Story by Nicholas Boggs
- The Devastating Fever by Sophie Cunningham
- Marlo by Jay Carmichael
- Losing Face by George Haddad:
- Host City by David Owen Kell
- Modern Marriage by Filip Vukasin

You can find Dennis on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/dennis.altman.50/ and at Monash University Press at https://publishing.monash.edu/authors/dennis-altman/
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
#Gayauthor #Queerwriting #adultfiction #WordsandNerds #LGBTQIABooks

⭐️ EPISODE 813 - Dani Vee and Adrian ‘Danger’ Beck - Jam packed with fun, books and random conversations about all things writing

Dear kid lit lovers and listeners,

In this episode I chat to my good mate, and according to the internet, the ‘superstar’ of kid lit, Adrian ‘Danger’ Beck 🔥

We celebrate Adrian’s new middle grade thriller Nowhere House, which will become your next favourite book ☀️

We chat about …
⭐️ Needy and sleepy cavoodles
⭐️ The World Cup ⚽️
⭐️ Donuts vs Turkish Delight

We eventually get to books and publishing and chat about …
🎉 The importance of a great cover
🎉 The secret of writing engaging thrillers
🎉 The challenge of writing humour
🎉 How to refine your idea and perfect the blurb to help your writing

Thanks for listening
Dani x

Special Mentions:
Chad Mitchell
Michael Wagner
RWR McDonald
Dervla McTiernan
Candice Fox
Mick Elliott
Jack Heath

Dear book lovers,

If you love books, this is the episode for you! Cheryl Akle has worked in the book industry for over 40 years in various roles. After having launched Better Reading in 2014 reaching over 1 million readers each month. Now Cheryl and her team and launching their own app - What Are You Reading?

We chat about:
📕 Developing an app with community feedback
📕 The importance of respectful reviews
📕 Audio books vs printed books
📕 What should you be reading?
📕 Books as a safe haven
📕 The future of books
📕 And Cheryl makes a writing confession …

Come on a journey into our bookish world where we get lost in books and how they make us feel.

Make sure you download the What Are You Reading? app today? It’s free and it’s Australian.

Listen now 🩷

Dani 💋