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

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 Check out these books that have been withdrawn from sale – and why.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.

You'll meet Kyle Perry, author of 'The Deep'. Don't forget to check out our sister podcast, 'So you want to be a copywriter'. Romance is the biggest selling genre in fiction, so learn more about our upcoming course, Romance Writing. Congrats to AWC grad Veronica Lando who has just been announced as winner of 2021 Banjo Prize with HarperCollins. Plus, we have 3 copies of 'The Prince of the Skies' by Antonio Iturbe 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 a special 'betweenisode' because today we’re bringing you an industry insight episode with author Jack Heath. In this chat with Valerie Khoo, Jack goes into the nuts and bolts of his experience in one of the latest developments in the publishing industry – a novel specifically written for audio. 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 Sofie Laguna, author of 'The Song of Lewis Carmichael'. Discover how to prep for NaNoWriMo. Congratulations to AWC graduate Fiona Murphy on becoming a published author with her debut memoir 'The Shape of Sound'. Plus, we have 3 copies of '2 Sisters Detective Agency' by James Patterson and Candice Fox 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.

Now, this is so exciting as this is Sarah’s fourth published novel, and her first standalone book outside of her very popular Gemma Woodstock crime series. In this novel, we’re introduced to a new protagonist – investigative journalist Olive Groves.  In this Story Session, Sarah talks about her writing process and reads the first chapter of The Housemate. 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 Susannah Hardy, author of 'Loving Lizzie March'. Discover why you should not show off your research skills and why indie publishing could be right for you. Plus, we have 3 copies of 'Sweet Jimmy' by Bryan Brown 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 fourth novel from Sandie and it is bound to be as fabulously popular as her previous three. Longtime listeners may remember we spoke to Sandie back in episode 323 when The Banksia Bay Beach Shack had just come out, which was her third novel, and before that she published The Cottage at Rosella Cove and The Kookaburra Creek Cafe. In this Story Session, Sandie talks about her writing process and reads the first chapter of The Wattle Island Book Club. 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 Amy Suiter Clarke, author of 'Girl, 11'. Discover how to join in on 'Australia Reads'. Plus, we have 3 copies of 'The Cat Who Saved Books' by Sosuke Natsukawa 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.

If you haven’t read any of Tony’s books before, you are in for a treat. His bestselling novels are set in Africa and they are full of action, adventure and thrills - and this one is no exception. As you’ll hear in his intro, Blood Trail is Tony’s 19th novel! So if you love this, then there are plenty more amazing Tony Park books you can sink your teeth into. In this Story Session, Gabrielle talks about her writing process and reads the first chapter of Blood Trail. 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 Matt Murphy, author of Rum: a Distilled History of Colonial Australia, and why you should 'relocate your darlings' instead of killing them. Congrats to AWC alumna Anika Molesworth who shares her powerful story with her debut book, Our Sunburnt Country. Plus, we have 3 copies of Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty to giveaway. 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 YA novel from Gabrielle, whose previous bestselling books include My Life as a Hashtag, Beatle Meets Destiny, The Reluctant Hallelujah and The Guy,the Girl, the Artist and His Ex. This is a fresh take on the body-swapping/soul-swapping theme and it’s going to be another hit. In this Story Session, Gabrielle talks about her writing process and reads the first chapter of It's Not You, It's Me. 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.