It's episode #154, and Laurie's 50th co-hosting. Veronica and Laurie have industry news and events, and discuss K.M. Allan's Foreshadowing checklist from her book Writing and Editing Checklist. Plus book spotlights, giveaways and quotes. Laurie chats with poet Gregory Day about his collection SouthSightedness. And Gregory reads his poem 'Anytime before Byzantium'.

Book Spotlights:
1. Salsa in the Suburbs by Alejandra Martinez - contemporary
2. Looking Out and Beyond by Toby Hammerschlag – historical
3. Wasted? By Hazel Edwards – Young Adult
4. A Song for the Earth by Jade Shannon – poetry
5. In Her Own Time by Delaney Starling – contemporary
6. The Audible Life Stream by Alistair Conwell – non-fiction
7. The One Remaining by Paula McLean – contemporary

Intro - 00:57
Industry news - 9:37
Book spotlights - 18:58
Giveaway peeks - 22:17
Author Interview - 38:10
Post interview chat - 1:22:43
Quotes - 1:24:47
Author reading - 1:30:17

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In episode #153, Veronica & Laurie are ramping up the romance with authors Sandy Barker, A.M. Jaxon and Susannah Hardy. Our fabulous authors chat on romance as escapism and activism, how hot is hot enough, the inspiration behind their stories, and so much more.

Intro - 0:57
Sandy Barker Bio - 3:08
Book Spotlight - I knew you were trouble by Sandy Barker - 4:38
A.M. Jaxon Bio - 6:03
Book Spotlight - Saoirse's Story by A.M. Jaxon - 8:27
Susannah Hardy Bio - 10:44
Book Spotlight - My Hot House Mate by Susannah Hardy - 11:34
Romance as escapism and activism - 13:43
Finding new romance stories - 26:12
Balancing timeless ideals of love with modern realities of consent and diversity - 32:23
What makes Aussie romance unique? - 43:12
Writing space and process - 52:03
Advice for new writers - 59:20

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In episode #152, Veronica and Laurie share industry news and events, some brilliant ideas on writing Deep Point of View from K.M. Allan's book Writing and Editing Checklist, book spotlights, giveaways and quotes. Laurie and author Laura J Fitzwilson dive deep into fantasy, fan-fiction and Laura's book, The Fool. Plus, listen all the way to the end, you'll hear a special reading from The Fool by the author.

Book Spotlights:
1.The Favourite of the Harem by Cindy Davies – Historical
2.The Final Chapter by January Gilchrist – Mystery Thriller
3.Tchaikovsky (Almost) in Love by David Reiter – Romance
4.Heart and Soul of Marketing by Matt Romania – Non-fiction
5.The Haunting of Mr & Mrs Stevenson by Belinda Lyons-Lee - Historical
6.Minoan Footsteps by Coleen Clare – Mystery

Intro - 00:57
Industry news - 8:12
Book spotlights - 16:13
Author Interview - 32:19
Post interview chat - 1:21:11
Quotes - 1:23:28
Author reading - 1:29:18

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In episode #151 Veronica & Laurie explore alternate realities, world building and writing sci-fi with a panel of fantastic speculative fiction authors: Alistair Conwell, Clare Rhoden & Ishmael A. Soledad.

Intro - 0:57
Alistair Conwell Bio - 2:58
Book Spotlight - Circadian Rhythm by Alistair Conwell - 3:38
Clare Rhoden Bio - 4:32
Book Spotlight - The Chronicles of The Pale by Clare Rhoden - 6:26
Ishmael A. Soledad Bio - 7:43
Book Spotlight - Diathesis by Ishmael A. Soledad - 9:02
How did you choose what to include in your fictional world - 11:05
Does your fictional world reflect your own dreams/nightmares/passions? - 24:03
What are you trying to reflect in your alternate reality? - 31:51
What puts you in the mood for writing sci-fi? - 46:20
Advice for new writers - 49:11

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Episode 150 has Veronica & Laurie chatting about their favourite topic - Australian authored books - and industry news, events and some John Koenig words. Want to know how to use agnosthesia, tarrion or proluctance in a sentence? Then have a listen. Veronica chats to the wonderful Ginny Grant, founder of Bakers Lane Books, Fearless Press and the recently launched Fearless Prize for an unpublished manuscript by an Australian woman writer. Plus book spotlights, quotes and so much more...

Book Spotlights:
1. Mistress of Amber and Flame by Maria Linwood - fantasy
2. Flight by Anne Vines – Historical
3. Shitty Grit by Claire Parkinson – memoir
4. Always eat the weird stuff by Bo Kitty – memoir
5. Life In Instalments by Danielle Sartorelli – memoir
6. Cobra Pose by Susan Rogers and John Roosen – thriller
7. Klaria’s Battle by Heather Ewings – Fantasy short story
8. Outback Odyssey by Paul Rushworth-Brown – Historical

Intro - 00:57
Industry news - 8:07
Book spotlights - 20:38
Author Interview - 43:53
Post interview chat - 1:19:18
Quotes - 1:21:19
Giveaway peeks - 1:24:18

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Ep149 has Veronica & Laurie back in school chatting all things middle grade with authors Eileen O'Hely, Rosie Schonell & Ingrid Laguna. We cover '50 Ways to Die in Space', how 'Breaking School Rules is Easy' and what happens when 'Edie Tells a Lie' - and that's just the book titles. How much harder is it to engage middle-graders in reading? These authors share some brilliant and helpful answers to this and many more questions.

Intro - 0:57
Eileen O'Hely Bio - 3:34
Book Spotlight - 50 Ways to Die in Space by Eileen O'Hely - middle grade - 06:09
Rosie Schonell Bio - 8:22
Book Spotlight - Breaking School Rules is Easy by Rosie Schonell - middle grade - 09:00
Ingrid Laguna Bio - 10:44
Book Spotlight - Edie Tells a Lie by Ingrid Laguna - middle grade - 12:32
Book idea inspirations - 20:22
Has it become harder or easier to reach middle grade readers? - 25:20
Share your writing routine - 41:31
The best writerly advice you were ever given - 52:44

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Ep 148 has Veronica and Laurie in the Writer's Room and under the (book) covers with Miranda Luby and Holly Cardamone. They're two writers who capture some of life’s most precious and unique moments through a young adult (YA) lens.

Intro - 0:57
Miranda Luby Bio - 3:47
Book Spotlight - The Edge of Everything - YA contemporary - 04:13
Holly Cardamone Bio - 6:23
Book Spotlight - Summer, In Between - YA contemporary - 07:37
The inspiration behind the stories: 09:47
How does the filter of young adult help you tell your stories? - 18:43
How do you plot a quiet young adult story? - 22:04
Switching between writing non-fiction and all the various fiction forms - 32:00
Individual writing routines - 37:15
Advice for new and emerging writers - 49:05

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Episode #147 has Veronica and Laurie sharing the latest literary news and views, quotes and new book spotlights. Veronica chats with the trio of talented creatives behind The Brownout Murders, a graphic novel based on a horrifying true event. Luke Jackson, Maya Graham and Kelly Jackson share their inspiration and creative process.

Book spotlights:
1. Dogs, A Counting and Comparing Book by Frances Mackay – children’s picture book
2. Nature Ninja Saves the Natural World by Tania Moloney – children’s picture book
3. Jana’s Brightly Coloured Socks by Sally Fetouh – children’s picture book
4. A Day on the Brine by Susea Spray – children’s picture book
5. The River Blade by T.R. Thompson – science fiction
6. The War Within Me by Tracy Ryan – historical

Intro - 00:57
Industry news - 4:13
Book spotlights - 13:16
Author Interview - 29:03
Post interview chat - 1:28:38
Quotes - 1:33:13
Giveaway peeks - 1:35:55

Support the show

Thanks for listening.
Visit australianbooklovers.com to learn more.