So You Want To Be A Writer With Valerie Khoo And Allison Tait: Australian Writers' Centre Podcast

Meet Sara Foster, author of 'The Hush'. Discover how you could win a massive holiday reading 15-book pack. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Safe Place is the latest novel from the bestselling thriller writer whose previous books include Widow’s Island, Prey and Devour - and she is the presenter of Australian Writers' Centrey popular course Crime and Thriller Writing. Everyone in Eagle Falls knows Jessie Lewis. Ever since she reported her boyfriend, fire chief and local hero, for beating her, she’s been an outcast from the small town. But when someone sets fire to a house not far from Jessie’s, killing the entire Troyer family in their beds, the locals turn on her once again. And when rumors circulate about her very public argument with Paul Troyer, they take it as proof that she killed them. Before she reads from her novel, L.A. Larkin answers a few questions we asked her about the themes in this book so that you can get insight into the mind both of a thriller writer – and a criminal. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | Valerie

Meet Anika Molesworth, author of 'Our Sunburnt Country'. Want to enter the 2022 Penguin Literary Prize? Plus, discover how you could win our massive holiday reading 15-book pack! Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once Burnt, Twice Shy is the latest novel from Karly who is a bestselling rural romance sensation. She is the author of the Callahans of Stringybark Creek series, North Star, Morgan's Law, Bridie's Choice, and too many more to mention! Recently divorced mother-of-two Samantha Murphy agrees to house-sit for her parents for a few weeks-but when the house involves several hundred acres of farming and livestock, it's a little more involved than the usual job. Sam left the family farm years ago for a more exciting, glamorous life on the Sunshine Coast, but now that her kids have grown up and moved out, she's at a crossroads. In this Story Session,Karly talks about rural romance and reads the first chapter of 'Once Burnt ,Twice Shy'. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Inga Simpson, author of 'The Last Woman in the World'. Congrats to Anika Molesworth on her book 'Our Sunburnt Country' being The Sydney Morning Herald's non-fiction pick of the week. Plus, discover how you could win a 5-book pack of new release YA fiction. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dark Rise is the latest novel from the author of the bestselling YA trilogy Captive Prince, and it is the first in what is already shaping up to be an un-put-downable new series. Sixteen-year-old dock boy Will is on the run, pursued by the men who killed his mother. When an old servant tells him of his destiny to fight beside the Stewards, Will is ushered into a world of magic, where he must train to play a vital role in the oncoming battle against the Dark. In this Story Session, C.S. Pacat talks about their writing process and reads the first chapter of Dark Rise. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Nicola Marsh, author of 'Summer of Serenity', 'The Scandal' and 76 other romance and domestic suspense novels. Ayliffe's John Bailey series gets optioned for screen. Learn when you should post your holiday gifts, so they arrive in time. Plus, you could win a book pack of FIVE crime and thriller fiction releases from 2021. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the latest life-lit novel from Rachael, whose previous books include the award-winning 'The Patterson Girls', 'The Art of Keeping Secrets', 'The Greatest Gift' and 'Lost Without You'. This is the fifth in her popular Bunyip Bay series - which was meant to be a trilogy! In this Story Session, Rachael talks about her writing process and reads the first chapter of 'Outback Secrets'. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Fiona Murphy, author of 'The Shape of Sound'. Prizes for unpublished manuscripts that are now open. Discover your must-read lists for children's and young adult books. Plus, we have 10 double passes to 'A Boy Called Christmas', in cinemas 25 November to give away. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've been big fans of Tania’s gorgeous historical fiction ever since her first bestselling novel, The Girl From Munich, which she published after attending a few of our courses here at the Australian Writers' Centre. She has since gone on to publish its sequel, Suitcase of Dreams, and another wartime novel, Letters from Berlin - and you can catch the first chapter of that in Story Sessions episode 384. Echoes of War is her fourth novel, again published by Simon and Schuster and it’s sure to be another success. In this Story Session,Tania talks about her writing process and reads the first chapter of Echoes of War. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Mark Smith, author of 'If Not Us'. Write to Santa and get a reply. Learn the difference between a romance and a love story. Discover your chance to get signed copies of A.L. Tait books. Plus, we have 3 copies of 'Showtime!' by Judy Nunn to give away. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the latest novel by Joanna, whose previous bestselling books include The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village, The Last Voyage of Mrs Henry Parker and The Great Escape from Woodlands Nursing Home. And of course, it’s wonderful to see Joanna doing so well in her writing career as she is one of our AWC graduates. In this Story Session, Joanna talks about her writing process and reads the first chapter of The Tea Ladies of St Jude's Hospital. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Sami Bayly, author and illustrator of 'The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs in Nature'. Check out these books that have been withdrawn from sale – and why. Our hotly anticipated Romance Writing course will launch this week. Plus, we have 3 copies of 'Bewilderment' by Richard Powers to give away. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the latest nail-biting novel from Chris who is the award-winning author of the international bestsellers 'Scrublands', 'Silver' and 'Trust'. Before he reads from his prologue, Chris is going to share with us the inspiration behind this story and also some tips about writing which I know you’re going to love. This does get a bit gruesome and there’s some strong language, so just keep that in mind if you’ve got younger listeners with you. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet NYC literary agent Lucinda Halpern. Discover how to get back into the swing of writing when you're unmotivated. Plus, we have 3 copies of 'Blood Trail' by Tony Park to give away. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is Sophie’s first adult fiction novel, although she has also published a memoir Running Like China (about her experiences with mental illness) and a YA novel Breathing Under Water. Just like in those books. Sophie doesn’t shy away from painful subjects - but always with a sense of healing or redemption. Below Deck is a powerful and haunting book with beautiful language that is guaranteed to move you. In this Story Session, Sophie talks about her writing process and reads the first chapter of Below Deck. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Joyce Morgan, author of 'The Countess from Kirribilli'. We recap the best writing advice you've received. Plus, we have 3 copies of 'Echoes of War' by Tania Blanchard to give away. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A.L. Tait is better known as co-host of this very podcast, Allison Tait. The Wolf's Howl is book two in her Maven and Reeve series, and it's another cracking middle grade adventure. This is such a great book and – although you can enjoy it on its own – I highly encourage you to read the first book in the series as well. In this Story Session, Allison talks about her writing process and reads the first chapter of The Wolf's Howl. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Wai Chim, author of 'The Surprising Power Of A Good Dumpling'. Learn what nobody tells you about the publishing industry. Plus, we have 3 copies of 'The One Impossible Labyrinth' by Matthew Reilly – the internationally bestselling author of the Scarecrow series, the Jack West series and numerous standalone novels. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many people will know Marion as a former journalist and political speechwriter, but this is her debut novel - and it is stunning. The subject matter is tough, it deals with terrorism and PTSD and trauma, but Marion has written a compassionate and moving story about friendship. In this Story Session, Marion talks about her writing process and reads the first chapter of Here in the After. Read the show notes Connect with Valerie, Allison and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | AllisonTait.com | ValerieKhoo.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.