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Motivation and inspiration for emerging writers, helping them pave their own pathway to publishing success.
72 Episodes
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Tina Strachan interviews renowned science fiction and fantasy author Amie Kaufman. The conversation covers Amie's new book 'Red Star Rebels,' the writing journey, and the significance of comp titles. Amie discusses the realities of bestseller lists, the importance of celebrating small wins, and practical advice on managing social media and newsletters. This insightful episode is a must-listen for aspiring and debut authors, offering a blend of inspiration, practical tips, and industry know-ho...
Tina Strachan, Madeleine Cleary, and Natasha Rai return for the 2026 edition of The Book Deal podcast. They reflect on their successful live podcast event with Hayley Scrivenor, their plans to spotlight debut authors, and Natasha’s upcoming panel discussion. The hosts share their personal writing journeys, including Tina’s plans following the launch of her third book in the Wilder Zoo series, Madeleine’s approach to writing her third book, and Natasha’s insights from working at a bookstore. T...
Hosts Tina Strachan and Madeleine Cleary delve into the world of book publishing and the journey to getting a book deal. They are joined by Ruby Ashby Orr, a publisher from Affirm Press, who shares invaluable insights on how to perfect your book pitch, the importance of knowing your market, and what publishers are looking for in submissions. Ruby discusses the acquisitions process, offers tips for emerging writers, and highlights the importance of being open to feedback and collaboration in t...
Hosts Natasha Rai delves into an inspiring conversation with emerging fiction author Holly Brunnbauer. Holly shares her journey from catching the writing bug through blogging to landing a book deal with HarperCollins for her debut novel 'What Did I Miss?' Holly discusses her character development process, her innovative approach to flipping rom-com tropes, and the emotional depth and rage portrayed in her novel. She also provides valuable insights and practical advice for writers on feedback,...
The summer season features an interview with Rory H. Mather, a renowned Australian picture book author. Rory shares his journey of getting published, tips for aspiring authors, the importance of rhyme and promotion, and insights on how he balances a full-time job, family life, and writing. The discussion also covers practical tips for getting work in front of publishers, building a writing community, and making a profit from writing. Tune in for an inside look at Rory’s experiences and valuab...
Host Tina Strachan kicks off the summer season by announcing a short break for the team while replaying some of the most popular episodes. Tina and co-hosts Madeleine Cleary reflect on their recent activities and achievements in the literary world. They interview Samuel Bernard, a literary agent from Zeitgeist Literary Agency. Samuel shares his journey into the literary world, the importance of social media for authors, the dynamics of the author-agent relationship, and gives insights into tr...
Join Tina and Madeleine as they candidly discuss their paths in the writing world, from shooting author videos and exploring middle grade fiction to announcing upcoming book deals and generating new ideas. They reveal their personal writing practices, including plotting versus pantsing. Madeleine interviews Kylie Orr and they discuss the influence of social media on an author’s life and the challenges debut authors face in the publishing industry, such as managing expectations and gaining vis...
SPOILER BOOK CLUB: 'The Hiding Place' with Kate Mildenhall Madeleine leads a spoiler-filled discussion with Kate on her latest novel, The Hiding Place (November 2025, Simon & Schuster). Kate shares insights into the book's development, character choices, and the ethical dilemmas the characters face. Kate discusses her research process, murder plots, star picket fences and death cap mushrooms. Kate Mildenhall is an author, writing teacher and podcaster. Her debut novel Sky...
In this final episode of the Book Deal podcast season 2025, Tina and Madeleine have a quick catch up reflecting on their debut year and share personal highlights. Then we switch to our LIVE episode with Writing NSW, where we interviewed Agony Aunt-in-residence, Hayley Scrivenor, who addresses all our writing woes. Hayley offers valuable insights on jealousy and envy, managing public speaking anxiety, persevering through the writing process, and the importance of writing authentica...
In this episode of the Book Deal podcast Madeleine interviews Australian award-winning author Holly Cardamone. Holly's debut novel, Summer, In Between (Hawkeye Publishing, September 2025) is a great one for your beach bag this summer. Holly shares insights from her book's developmental journey, including a surprising setback when she lost a notebook filled with manuscript ideas on a train in Italy, followed by a decade-long creative detour. She also discusses her manuscript winning the ...
In this episode of The Book Deal podcast, host Natasha Rai interviews Tom Langshaw, publisher at Pantera Press. Tom discusses his journey from working at Penguin Random House to his current role, explaining the intricacies of the publishing process from manuscript acquisition to promotion. He shares insights on what makes a manuscript stand out, the importance of voice and character in fiction, and the significance of timing and market trends in publishing decisions. Tom also emphasizes the v...
Host Tina Strachan dives deep into the world of publishing, interviewing international multi-published Kid Lit author Kate Foster. Kate discusses her most recent book, 'Camp Spooky,' co-written with Pip Harry, and shares insights into the co-writing process, the importance of diversity in children's literature, and her dedication to promoting awareness through initiatives like the Danz Awards and the Author Pen Pals Program. This episode is a treasure trove of advice, experiences, and behind-...
The Book Deal podcast, hosts Tina Strachan, Madeleine Cleary, and Natasha Rai dive deep into the intricacies of securing book deals, managing writing schedules, and preparing for festivals. The conversation includes insights from experienced authors on pitching to festivals, the balance of self-care, and practical advice to handle writing burnout. They also share humorous and touching personal stories about family support and navigating audience interactions. Special announcements include a l...
Kate Mildenhall on publishing and resilience, tips for interviewing other writers and what it means to be a good industry citizen Madeleine interviews acclaimed and bestselling author Kate Mildenhall. Kate gives an honest account of her journey to publication, detailing the rejections and the success along the way. Kate's latest novel, THE HIDING PLACE (November 2025, S&S), described as 'White Lotus meets The Slap, is a razor-sharp literary thriller about what happens when good peo...
Natasha Rai interviews Nadia Mahjouri, a Moroccan Australian writer, about her debut novel 'Half Truth'. Nadia shares the journey of crafting her novel from mixing memoir and fiction, drawing from her personal experiences to the trials and triumphs of securing a book deal. She discusses her creative process, the challenges of fictionalizing real events, and the importance of emotional truth in storytelling. Nadia also provides valuable advice on how to navigate the writing and publishing proc...
Hosts Tina Strachan, Madeleine Cleary, and Natasha Rai catch up on their busy lives, upcoming events, and delve into a detailed discussion about their editing processes and tips. They provide personal experiences, practical advice like using a ruler to read line by line, and even reading a manuscript backward to catch errors. Special shout-outs include celebrating Dyslexia Awareness Month and recognizing their supportive patrons, with a particular mention of Christine Newell. Additionally, Re...
Emily Paull is a Western Australian librarian, author and book reviewer. Having formerly worked in bookselling, Emily is an avid reader and a big supporter of the WA writing community who regularly moderates author interviews around Perth. She is the author of the historical novel, The Distance Between Dreams (Fremantle Press, 2025) and the short story collection, Well-Behaved Women (Margaret River Press, 2019). The Distance Between Dreams was shortlisted for the 2023 Fogarty Literary Award u...
In this episode of the Book Deal podcast, host Natasha Rai dives into the debut novel 'Melaleuca' by Angie Faye Martin. Angie, an Australian writer of Kooma, Kamilaroi, and European heritage, shares the journey of her career transition from policy roles to writing. She offers an elevator pitch of 'Melaleuca,' a gripping crime novel involving Aboriginal detective Renee Taylor, and explores the themes of violence against Aboriginal women, sovereignty, and intergenerational trauma. Angie outline...
Getting That Elusive Book Deal: Insights from Debut Authors In this episode of the Book Deal podcast, host Tina Strachan interviews three debut middle grade authors: Lucie Stevens, Shara Curlett, and Sandy Bigna. The authors discuss their unique publication journeys, the importance of community and continuous learning, and share valuable tips for aspiring writers. They also delve into the genres of middle grade literature, discussing themes, character ages, and writing conventions. The episo...
Natasha, Tina and Madeleine on strategies to identify and manage author burnout and intention setting In this episode of the Book Deal podcast, hosts Tina Strachan, Madeleine Cleary, and Natasha Rai discuss various aspects of the writing life, including burnout, the importance of nature, the benefits of cold showers, and practical tips for managing time and self-care. They also share personal updates and emphasise the need for thorough editing before submitting work to competitions. The episo...
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