In episode #135 Veronica and Laurie dissect what goes into creating a great story villain, and share news, events and grants for the writing community. Laurie gets the long straw and has a chat with fabulous sci-fic and fantasy author S.F. Sowter.

Book spotlights:

• A Night So Dark and Full of Stars by Nikky Lee - fantasy/sci-fi/horror
• The Rarkyn's Fall by Nikky Lee - fantasy
• Out of Time: Roaring into Queensland by Bruce Lowery - memoir
• Agnes: A childhood betrayed and reclaimed by Judy King - memoir
• Fame & Other Disasters by Maria P Frino - contemporary

Intro - 00:57
Industry news - 14:16
Book spotlights - 19:30
Author Interview - 34:27
Post interview chat - 1:24:12
Quotes - 1:29:30

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In episode #134 of the Australian Book Lovers podcast, Veronica and Laurie chat industry news, writing events, trends in Australian book sales. Plus made up words from John Koenig, a shout out to Holden Sheppard for the launch of Invisible Boys on Stan, and a delightful interview with super early rising, middle-grade author Tina Strachan (no relation).

Book Spotlights:

• The Subjugate by Amanda Bridgeman - cyberpunk, genetic reengineering science fiction
• Sound of Light: Marvel: School of X by Amanda Bridgeman - Superhero Science Fiction
• Patient Zero: A Pandemic Novel by Amanda Bridgeman – Science Fiction Thriller
• Aurora: Darwin (Aurora Book 1) by Amanda Bridgeman – military science fiction
• Nate’s Noisy Nose by Frances Mackay – children’s interactive book
• Panic by Catherine Jinks – Mystery, Thriller, Suspense

Intro - 00:57
Industry news - 3:53
Book spotlights - 18:46
Author Interview - 37:12
Post interview chat - 1:19:06
Quotes - 1:26:15

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In episode 133, Veronica & Laurie tap into the inner worlds of two wonderful non-fiction authors. Bronwyn Frazer and Adrian Emery share their life and writing stories, philosophies and reflections on life purpose. It's a wide-ranging chat that gives listeners an opportunity to look at life from a different angle.

Intro - 0:57
Bronwyn Frazer Bio - 2:40
Adrian Emery Bio - 3:41
Change and transitions 10:23
Book Spotlight - What if? - Bronwyn Frazer - non-fictionr - 11:17
Book Spotlight - Tao Tuning - Adrian Emery - non-fiction - 13:15
What inspired you to put your message into words? - 14:35
What does self-reflection mean to you? - 32:32
Share your writing process - 50:50

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In episode #132 of the Australian Book Lovers podcast, Veronica and Laurie chat industry news (so many events), story seeds, editing and the fabulous K.M. Allan's latest blog which has tips for overcoming author burnout. Veronica interviews the wonderful author Diane Clarke about mystery, history and the inspiration behind her writing.

Laurie reviews The Rarkyn's Fall by Nikky Lee

Book Spotlights:

• Golden by S. S. Turner - contemporary
• Christmas Actually by Lisa Darcy - contemporary
• Not Mentioning Any Names by Margaret Pearce - Aussie Tales & Humour
• Nasty Names Are Hurtful: An Australian White Ibis Responds to Name-Calling in the City – written and illustrated by Rick LeCouteur – children
• What if…? How to frame challenges into opportunities for growth by Bronwyn Frazer – non-fiction/self-development

Intro - 00:57
Industry news - 14:04
Book spotlights - 30:40
Author Interview - 46:31
Post interview chat - 1:30:15
Quotes - 1:35:43
Book review - 1:38:27

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In episode 131 Veronica and Laurie are joined in the Writer's Room by Australian romance writers Rowena Mabbot and Jodie Benveniste. They chat about happily ever afters, Australian settings, simpler times, youth mental health and healing. Both writers are great observers of the human condition and share their fabulous insights and experience as well as their transitions to published authors.

Intro - 0:57
Jodie Benveniste bio - 03:39
Book spotlight - Never, Not Ever - Jodie Benveniste - YA Romance - 06:03
Rowena Mabbott bio - 07:57
Book spotlight - Avoiding the Friend Zone - Rowena Mabbott - Contemporary Romance - 11:42
Why these stories? - 17:07
Your concept of love - 22:13
As close observers of the human condition - 30:03
How has the romance genre changed - 36:11
Writing Australian settings - 40:38
Advice for new writers - 53:35

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Episode 130 has Veronica and Laurie planting plenty of seeds for daydreaming over the summer break. They have news (Laurie has sent the final book (5) in her Stones of Power off to the publisher), and events to share along with five book spotlights. Laurie chats with the multi-talented author Dirk Strasser about his latest book 'Conquist', his unique writing journey, backpacking a plot and his experience in the Australian book industry (including the Aurealis awards and Aurealis Magazine). A fabulous way to begin a new year of Reading More Aussie Books!

Book spotlights:

• The Necromancer by Adam Coleman – fantasy
• The Rainbow Coloured Black Sheep by Drew Mortimer – autobiography
• Shattered by Pauline Yates – science fiction thriller
• The Case of the Beth-El Stone by David Cairns – historical fiction
• Never, Not Ever by Jodie Benveniste – YA Romance

Intro - 00:57
Industry news - 7:37
Book spotlights - 22:49
Author Interview - 41:16
Post interview chat - 1:39:37
Quotes - 1:42:25

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In Episode 129, Veronica & Laurie get into the underbelly with crime and thriller writers Dan Kaufman and Lisa Kenway. We chat inspiration, experience, character arcs and red herrings. And we explore themes from the human psyche, connected consciousness, research and plot retrofitting.
Intro - 0:57
Lisa Kenway Bio - 2:47
Dan Kaufman Bio - 6:34
Book Spotlight - All You Took From Me - Lisa Kenway - pyschological thriller - 19:32
Book Spotlight - Humidity - Dan Kaufman - Aussie Noir - 20:46
Exploring the dark corners of the human psyche - 32:07
Plotting the crime thriller - 36:34
Your biggest writing and publishing lesson - 45:13
Advice for new writers - 56:00
Book Review - 58:06

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In episode #128, Laurie finally gets Veronica under the author spotlight. We learn of the Heroine's Journey, how the pathway to publication can be filled with ogres and dragons, and how important family, friends and writing communities are for fostering emerging authors. Then it's Laurie's turn to share why she writes, what she reads, fan fiction, her creative triggers, future plans, and so much more.

Intro - 00:57
Grief and Breathing While Drowning - 06:48
The Heroine's Journey - 08:22
Ochre Dragon - 11:15
ABL origins - 23:16
Why Laurie writes - 41:24
Stones of Power - 52:35
What feeds Laurie's imagination - 56:38
Boss From Hell - 58:09
How does writing make you feel? - 1:06:34
White Fire plus The Good, The Bad & The Undecided - 1:15:32
Quotes - 1:19:06
Chickabella - 1:24:25

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