Words and Nerds: Authors, books and literature.

Ashleigh Barton and Dani Vee chat about her new picture book Dinosaur In My Pocket. They talk about ideas, guilt, teachable moments and how we can all come back from mistakes. Ashleigh chats about the writing process an her experiences working in publishing.

TAKEOVER: Alex Dook and Vikki Wakefield - To The River

Adam Wallace has sold millions of books around the world, he writes everyday and last year received 100 rejections. We talk about a shared love of Bruce Lee, trying to be zen, authenticity and give some advice that you should definitely not take.

S3E5 Queer Writes Session: R.W.R. McDonald with Troy Hunter In this episode Rob chats with Troy Hunter about his debut YA novel, Gus and the Missing Boy, published by Wakefield Press in March 2024. They chat about Troy’s serendipitous pathway to publication, crime fiction, author identity, and Troy offers great writing advice. Troy Hunter’s shout out books this episode are: A Man and His Pride by Luke Rutledge (check out our interview with Luke QWS S2E3) Mona of the Manor by Armistead Maupin Queer Writes Session (QWS) Podcast, a Words & Nerds spin off series hosted by Rob aka R.W.R. McDonald and Jonathan Butler, in partnership with Blarney Books & Art in Port Fairy.

Samantha-Ellen Bound returns with the third and penultimate book in her bestselling middle-grade series Seven Wherewithal Way, inspired by the spell-binding creatures and stories of world folklore.

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. For the second episode of series two, Nick sits down with Abra Pressler, author of Love and Other Scores. They discuss the book, the value of championing homegrown queer romance, what Abra would do if Rafael Nadal would appear in front of her, and more. WARNING: this podcast contains coarse language Love and Other Scores by Abra Pressler: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/y2K1L2 Other Books Mentioned: Book Lovers by Emily Henry: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/Kj6N9x Sit, Stay, Love by Amy Hutton: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/756Nxy PRODUCTION NOTES: Host: Nick Wasiliev Guest: Abra Pressler Editing & Production: Nick Wasiliev Podcast Theme: ‘Chill’ by Sakura Hz Production Code: 2:2 Episode Number: #15 Additional Credits: Dani Vee (Words & Nerds) and Chloe Patterson (Pan Macmillan Australia) © 2024 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.

Grace is a thief: a good one. She was taught by experts and she’s been practising since she was a kid. She specialises in small, high-value items—stamps, watches—and she knows her Jaeger-LeCoultres from her Patek Philippes. But it’s a solitary life, always watchful, always moving. It’s not the life she wants. Lying low after a run-in with an old associate, Grace walks into Erin Mandel’s rural antiques shop and sees a chance for something different. A normal job. A place to call home. But someone is looking for Erin. And someone’s looking for Grace, too. And they are both, in their own ways, very dangerous men.

• S3E4. Queer Writes Session: Jonathan Butler with Fiona Kelly McGregor In this episode Jono chats with Fiona Kelly McGregor, a multidisciplinary writer, artist and critic who has published eight books. When in Sydney, Fiona lives and works on Gadigal land. Her most recent book was Iris, Picador Pan Macmillan, (2022), shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Award, the ALS Gold Medal, the NSW Premier’s Award, the ARA Historical Novel Prize, and longlisted for the Stella Prize, the Voss Literary Award, the BookPeople and ABDA Awards. Highlights from their chat: • How to marry the historical archive with a compelling narrative that feels true • The importance of capturing the personality of place in literature • Ways queer writers can be brave with their work • Generous writing advice and shout outs Queer Writes Session (QWS) Podcast, a Words & Nerds spin off series hosted by Rob aka R.W.R. McDonald and Jonathan Butler, in partnership with Blarney Books & Art in Port Fairy. Books mentioned and reviews can be found on QUEER WRITES SESSIONS | Blarney Books and Art Resources mentioned and a transcript for this episode’s interview is available at QWS Podcast · R.W.R. McDonald https://rwrmcdonald.com/

Maura Peirlot and Dani Vee - The Alphabetter Book

To celebrate the release of Liz Ledden's new picture book Everyone Wants an Octopus Book! illustrated by Makoto Koji, Liz is joined by two fellow authors published by Hardie Grant's Bright Light imprint, Dr Zewlan Moor and Sandhya Parappukkaran. They chat diversity and representation in kids' books, how they present tricky topics in kid-centric ways in their picture books, stories they want more of - and lots more!

Creative Conversations is new chat designed to talk about the publishing industry, writing process, collaboration, comedic qualities and writing for kids. Join Kate Temple and Dani Vee for the first Creative Conversations.

Join Dani Vee on her journey from zero draft, right through to production and a publisher junior fiction title.

Belinda Murrell and Dani Vee chat about Belinda's new series Daredevil Princess, nineteen years of publishing with Penguin Random House, what makes a successful series and feminism.

Welcome to the miniseries hosted by author, podcaster and book fanatic, Nick Wasiliev. This is Date With A Debut: shining a light on debut authors, their incredible books and their journeys to publication. For the first episode of our new series, Nick sits down with Eleanor Elliot Thomas, author of The Opposite of Success. They discuss the book, setting a story over the course of a day, the moment where things just got to hell, and more. WARNING: this podcast contains coarse language BOOKS: Debut Feature: The Opposite of Success by Eleanor Elliot Thomas: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/R5qRmb Other Books Mentioned: The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/y2Ar9W The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Waot by Junot Diaz: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/75qboQ PRODUCTION NOTES: Host: Nick Wasiliev Guest: Eleanor Elliot Thomas Editing & Production: Nick Wasiliev Podcast Theme: ‘Chill’ by Sakura Hz Production Code: 2:1 Episode Number: #14 Additional Credits: Dani Vee (Words & Nerds) and Emily Booth (Text Publishing) © 2024 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.

Nat Amoore and Dani Vee: Shower Land Break the Curse

• S3E2. Queer Writes Session: Jonathan Butler with Dr Jared M Field In this episode Jono chats with Dr Jared M. Field, a Gamilaraay Guwaymadhaan mari from Moree way, where the red sand meets the black soil. Etta and the Shadow Taboo was published by Hardie Grant in June 2023 and was highly commended in the 2024 Victorian Premier's Literary Awards — Prize for Indigenous Writing. They chat about the collaborative experience of producing a picture book, Gamilaraay Kinship System research as featured on SBS's The First Inventors, Decolonising our ideas of gender and queerness, as well as excellent writing advice.

Megan Daley and Dani Vee: The Beehive

653. TAKEOVER: Our Australian HeART hosted by David Lawrence and Carla Hoffenberg

Adrian Beck and Dani Vee chat about Adrian’s brand new series FOX KID! Adrian discusses the importance of literacy and how this series helps young readers improve their literacy through decodable books. The conversation turns to celebrity writers, how he became an illustrator and what’s burning Adrian’s soul. Of course there is a GRAND QUIZ, will Adrian be able to take home the PRIZE (which is just glory, there are no croissants!) There is also an intruder right at the end who gatecrashes the interview. One of the MOST informed, FUN and FUNNY episodes recorded. Listen NOW!

S3E2. Queer Writes Session: Jonathan Butler with Anna Kate Blair In this episode Jono chats with Anna Kate Blair about writing, visibility, art and how she approached writing and researching her fascinating debut novel, The Modern. Anna Kate also shares some tips and insights as Program and Partnerships Manager at Writers Victoria, as well as some excellent writing advice. Anna Kate Blair’s shout out books this episode are: You Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat Mrs. S by K. Patrick Queer Writes Session (QWS) Podcast, a Words & Nerds spin off series hosted by Rob aka R.W.R. McDonald and Jonathan Butler, in partnership with Blarney Books & Art in Port Fairy. Books mentioned and reviews can be found on QUEER WRITES SESSIONS | Blarney Books and Art Resources mentioned and a transcript for this episode’s interview is available at QWS Podcast · R.W.R. McDonald https://rwrmcdonald.com/