2025 Top Listens #14

Author and agent Danielle Binks talks about her middle-grade novel Six Summers of Tash and Leopold — a tender suburban mystery about former best friends, school refusal, childhood anxiety and the slow rebuilding of trust.

She also discusses her work as a teacher and agent, her World War I research, and her ambassadorship with Chapters for Change, encouraging listeners to join the July Readathon to support literacy projects in Cambodia.

Chapters for Change Readathon 2026

Danielle Binks - I write books for children and young adults and short stories for grown-ups.

About the author:

Danielle Binks is a Melbourne-based writer and literary agent with Jacinta di Mase Management. She is the author of bestselling middle-grade book The Year the Maps Changed, and the award-winning young adult books; Begin, End, Begin: A #LoveOzYA Anthology as well as The Monster of Her Age. Her latest middle grade novel is Six Summers of Tash and Leopold. Danielle also teaches Fiction & Young Adult Writing in the Associate Degree of Professional Writing and Editing at her alum, RMIT University.

Buy the book:

QBD Aiffiliate link:https://www.qbd.com.au/six-summers-of-tash-and-leopold/danielle-binks/9780734421890/?a=garvey

Host: Ky Garvey

Theme Song: Claire Houghton

Logo: Tondo Creative - https://www.tondo.com.au/

Production: Aud Pitch - https://www.virtualcreatrix.com/

Totally Lit is an independent podcast. You can help support us to continue to chat with wonderful Australian creatives by leaving a review on Itunes or sharing our socials with your friends. You can also make a contribution at:

www.buymeacoffee.com/Totallylit

For those of you who know me I am kind of a caffeine addict! So you can keep me fueled with caffeine and this will also help with equipment & podcasting platform fees etc.

I love to interact with our listeners so feel free to say hello either by email or social media:

Totallylitpodcast@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/totallylitpodcast

2025 Top Listens #15

In this episode Ky Garvey talks with Aaron Tate about his memoir Far Horizons, tracing his transformation from a young naval officer deployed after 9/11 to a humanitarian leader in Africa. Aaron discusses the trauma of war, the moral awakening that led him to pursue international development, the challenges of writing a raw memoir, and his hopes to inspire readers to live deliberately.

They also touch on reading habits, the importance of men's engagement with books, and Aaron’s tips for memoir writing, along with anecdotes about Cambridge, family, and giving back.

About Aaron:

From war zones to slums, Aaron Tait has travelled to and worked in more than 70 countries across the globe as a military officer, humanitarian and social entrepreneur, and now writes to help people live deliberate lives filled with purpose.

Aaron was thrust into the frontline of international crisis at a young age, deploying to Iraq immediately after 9/11 as a 17 year old military officer. A move to East Africa at 25, saw him leading aid projects in crisis zones and urban slums.

As a co-founder of the impact organisations ygap and Education Changemakers, Aaron has helped to improve the lives of more than a million people living in poverty. He is a geography graduate of the University of Cambridge and holds three master's degrees in international affairs. As an entrepreneur, sold his business EC to the technology unicorn Go1 in 2023. Aaron lives with his wife, Kaitlin, and his two sons, Atlas and Finn, and moves between his home in Byron Bay and global travels.

Author of 'Far Horizons - A Journey from War to Peace'

Far Horizons: A Journey from War to Peace by Aaron Tait | Hardie Grant Publishing

https://www.righteouspr.com.au/

QBD Affiliate link: Far Horizons: A Journey from War to Peace by Aaron Tait - 9781761452796

Host: Ky Garvey

Theme Song: Claire Houghton

Logo: Tondo Creative - https://www.tondo.com.au/

Production: Aud Pitch - https://www.virtualcreatrix.com/

Totally Lit is an independent podcast. You can help support us to continue to chat with wonderful Australian creatives by leaving a review on Itunes or sharing our socials with your friends. You can also make a contribution at:

www.buymeacoffee.com/Totallylit

For those of you who know me I am kind of a caffeine addict! So you can keep me fueled with caffeine and this will also help with equipment & podcasting platform fees etc.

I love to interact with our listeners so feel free to say hello either by email or social media:

Totallylitpodcast@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/totallylitpodcast

Celebrating 2025's Top Listens!

Coming in at #16 is the incredible Lorena Carrington and Sophie Masson

On this episode of Totally Lit, host Ky Garvey chats with author Sophie and illustrator Lorena about their new picture book, The Giant. They discuss how the story began, their collaborative process, Lorena’s mixed-media illustration techniques, working with publisher Midnight Sun, and experiences from the May Gibbs Creative Fellowship.

They also share practical advice for aspiring creatives — on handling rejection, building relationships with publishers and booksellers, connecting with young readers through school visits, and sustaining creative projects like podcasts and launches.

Sophie Masson, Author – Official site for author Sophie Masson

Lorena Carrington – Illustrator & Author

MidnightSun Publishing # MidnightSun Publishing

QBD Books Affiliate link: You can get your copy here - The Giant by Sophie Masson & Lorena Carrington - 9781922858658

Host: Ky Garvey

Theme Song: Claire Houghton

Logo: Tondo Creative - https://www.tondo.com.au/

Production: Aud Pitch - https://www.virtualcreatrix.com/

Totally Lit is an independent podcast. You can help support us to continue to chat with wonderful Australian creatives by leaving a review on Itunes or sharing our socials with your friends. You can also make a contribution at:

www.buymeacoffee.com/Totallylit

For those of you who know me I am kind of a caffeine addict! So you can keep me fueled with caffeine and this will also help with equipment & podcasting platform fees etc.

I love to interact with our listeners so feel free to say hello either by email or social media:

Totallylitpodcast@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/totallylitpodcast