Our Episodes
Our episodes are delightfully timeless. š
Please enjoy them all via your favourite podcasting app or simply click through to listen to your favourite elixirs – paired with books of course!Ā Ā
Catherynne M Valente
Joining me for this episodeās online chat is one of my favourite authors of weird and wonderful fiction, Catherynne M Valente.
We talk about her many fabulous books, how she came to write and then crowdfund the first book in The Fairyland series which went on to win the Nebula Award, planting Easter eggs in Space Opera, writing complicated books, the weather and her latest short story which just so happens to be a Star Wars story!
Ellie Marney
Joining me for this episodeās online chat is award-winning Young Adult crime author, Ellie Marney.
We chat about her latest book None Shall Sleep, writing crime for young adults, the question at the heart of crime fiction, sociopaths and geniuses and how difficult they are to write when they are teenagers!
Meg Brodtmann – Rob Dolan Wines
This episode I am joined by Master of Wine, Meg Brodtmann.
Meg recently joined the team at Rob Dolan Wines, a lovely Winery and Cellar Door in South Warrandyte part of Victoriaās Yarra Valley wine region.
Bram Presser
This episode I am joined by lapsed lawyer, recovering academic, semi-reformed punk rocker, and now writer and stay-at-home dad, Bram Presser.
We talk about our love of browsing bookstores, Bram’s journey to writing a novel, writing a personal history as fiction and of course, we pair some delicious things to some fabulous books.
Buck Mulligan’s
This episode I am joined by Eamonn Hennessy, owner of Buck Mulliganās, a Specialty Irish Whiskey Bar and Bookshop in the heart of Northcote.
Eamonn joined me to share three of his favourite whiskeys and talk about his love of books and of whiskey!
Michael Earp
This episode I am joined by bookseller and writer Michael Earp.
Michael Earp is the editor of Kindred: 12 Queer #LoveOzYA Stories and contributor to Underdog: #LoveOzYA Short Stories. He has a teaching degree and a Masters in childrenās literature and has worked between bookselling and publishing for over seventeen years as a childrenās literature specialist. His writing has also appeared in The Victorian Writer and Aurealis.
We chat about recommending books, writing for young adults and of course, we pair some great reads with delicious things!
Jane Rawson
This episode I am joined by award-winning Australian author and environmentalist Jane Rawson.
We discuss her 2017 Aurealis best science fiction winning book From The Wreck, why a bunker is not the solution you are looking for and pair some fabulous books with delicious things!
Christine Gordon
This episode I am joined by Christine Gordon, Programming Manager of one of Melbourneās favourite independent bookshops.
We discuss Chris’s most delicious moment working at Readings, the origin story of the Stella prize, her top tip for recommending books and of course, we pair some fabulous books with tasty treats!
Robert Gott
Joining me this episode is historical fiction writer and author of The holiday murders, Robert Gott.
We discuss book fatigue, writing an unlikeable character, the uselessness of history and Jane Austen!
Mirandi Riwoe
Joining me this episode is Mirandi Riwoe, author of Stone Sky Gold Mountain and the 2018 Stella Prize shortlisted novella, The Fish Girl.
We chat about writing beautifully about difficult things, book covers and her perfect pairings!
Emma White
This episode I am joined by Emma White, Children and Youth Coordinator at Hobsons Bay Libraries and the current Convenor of the Public Libraries Victoria, Childrenās and Youth Services Special Interest Group!
Emma has worked in public libraries for over 10 years, and is a passionate advocate for children and young people in library spaces.
Comfort Reads
In this slightly difficult time I wanted to share with you some of the books I turn to when I really struggle to read. My comfort reads.
I hope these gentle, comforting and fun reads help you get your reading mojo on š
Andrew Kelly
Andrew is a library professional from Perth who has worked in both public and special libraries. He has spent the last few years earning a name for himself in the world of library makerspaces and 3D printing. In 2017 he helped set up the Perth branch of newCardigan – a group for Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museum workers, and is currently newCardigan Treasurer.
This episode Andrew joined me for a good old rant about book to screen adaptations … and we did a couple of pairings too, just for fun š
Kaaron Warren
This episode I am joined by award-winning horror writer Kaaron Warren.
Kaaron is a Shirley Jackson award-winning Australian author whose short stories and novels have won Australian Shadows Awards, Ditmar Awards and Aurealis Awards.
She has published 5 multi-award winning novels, her debut Slights, Walking the Tree, Mistification, The Grief Hole and Tide of Stone.
Angela Savage
Joining me for this episodeās online chat is award-winning Melbourne writer and Director of Writers Victoria, Angela Savage.
Leonee Derr
Leonee Derr has worked in libraries for 14 years and has dedicated her work to serving and supporting community – particularly those under-served, under-represented and those most experiencing marginalisation.
There is some passionate swearing in this episode as two librarians discuss some of the issues current today.
Beth O’Leary
Joining me for this episodeās online chat is special guest all the way from the UK and the author of one of my favourite books of 2019, Beth OāLeary!
Beth is a Sunday Times bestselling author whose debut novel the Flatshare has been translated into more than 30 languages.
She wrote The Flatshare on her train journey to and from her job at a childrenās publisher and now lives in the Hampshire countryside and writes full time.
Bethās second novel is The Switch and was released in April this year, 2020.
Kate Cuthbert
This episode I am joined by award-winning book reviewer, critic and genre-fiction advocate Kate Cuthbert.
After working for more than a decade in trade publishing, notably initiating the Escape Publishing imprint of Harlequin Australia, and serving as its Managing Editor for almost seven years, as well as working at the Australian Library and Information Association, Kate is currently the Program Manager at Writers Victoria and is also pursuing a PhD examining rural settings in Australian popular fiction.
Karen Turner
Joining me this episode for an online chat is Australian author Karen Turner!
Karen is the author of three novels, Torn (2013), Inviolate (2014) and most recently in 2019, Stormbird.Ā
Prior to this,Ā KarenĀ published an eclectic compilation of short stories, All That and Everything, many of which have won literary awards, including the Society of Women Writers Vic Biennial Literary Award, and the Free XpressSion Literary Competition.
Toni Jordan
Joining me for this episodeās online chat is one of my favourite Australian authors, Toni Jordan.
Toni is the author of five fabulous novels including one of my all time favourites, The Fragments. We chat about her writing, which is lovely, and her cocktail game, which is strong!
Dan Kaufman
Joining me this episode for an online is journalist and author Dan Kaufman!
Dan is a former newspaper journo and editor – who still occasionally writes columns for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald. He launched, ran and wrote the very popular Bar Zine before starting his own media training, writing and editing consultancy business.Ā
This year he has released his first novel, Drowning In The Shallows, a social satire poking fun at love, sex and masculinity set in the Sydney bar and nightlife scene.
Adele Walsh
This episode I am joined by blogger, podcaster and youth literature advocate Adele Walsh!
Adele began blogging as Persnickety Snark focussing on championing youth literature and its intended teen audience. She has been Program Coordinator for the State Library of Victoriaās Centre for Youth Literature, founding co-host of the literary podcast, Unladylike and co-host of the podcast What Would Danbury Do? About the Bridgerton Series by Julia Quinn.
Adele is currently Senior Coordinator, Community Outreach & Engagement at La Trobe University.
Justin Hoenke
Joining me virtually for this episode all the way from New Zealand is librarian Justin Hoenke!Ā
We talk about moving to New Zealand, lockdown and creating a tween/teen space at Chatanooga Public Library, working at a hub in Wellington as well as Justin’s favourite reads and just what he would pair with them for that wonderful reading experience.
Jodi McAlister
Joining me virtually for this episode is academic and Young Adult romance author Jodi McAlister!
Jodi is the author of the Valentine series, a young adult paranormal romance/urban fantasy series about smart girls, small towns, and scary fairies. There are three books in the series so far: Valentine, Ironheart, and Misrule , all published by Penguin Teen Australia.
Samantha Marshall
Joining me for an online chat is the lovely speculative fiction author Samantha Marshall!
Samantha has written 3 books across two series, Aislinnās Shadow and Tobiasā Spark in The Kin Chronicles and Sorcery and Stardust is the first in The Weaverās War series.
Maria Lewis
Joining me for an online chat is the wonderful author, journalist and screenwriter Maria Lewis. We discuss her wonderful books, what her characters would drink, two of her favourite recent reads and just what elixirs she’d pair with them for the perfect reading experience!
Jamsheed
Wine and books are a match made in Preston! I was excited to chat with Gary at Jamsheed Urban Winery and only slightly nervous after he told me he majored in Literature and was very interested in what books I was going to suggest to pair with his wines … oh the pressure!
The Smelly Cheese Shop
Recently I visited Adelaide Writers Week and couldnāt resist popping into the Smelly Cheese Shop for a chat with the lovely Valerie about her amazing cheeses. The Adelaide Central Markets are a wonderfully vibrant, albeit slightly noisy background to this episode, enjoy!
Milk the Cow
Milk the Cow cheesemonger Laura took me through a tasting with some weird and wonderful cheeses, discussed how cheese is similar to books in the ways they both tell a story, shared some tips on how to think about pairing drinks with cheese and, if you stick around to the end, you will hear some of Laura’s favourite and deliciously cheesy puns!Ā
Harper & Blohm
Cheese is one of my favourite things in life, it is my personal elixir, and a good cheese shop is one of my favourite places in the world to be. So it was with a great amount of joy that I entered my local specialty cheese shop, Harper & Blohm, to chat with cheesemonger Olivia about that most wonderful, delicious, storied and historic dairy product!
Bad Shepherd Brewing Co.
Recently I ventured south-side to Cheltenham on a mission to drink beer and talk books.
I got to check out the working brewery – a hive of activity – and spoke with Craig Blackmore, head brewer at Bad Shepherd Brewing Co.Ā
I had heard a rumour about a mythical beast, fantastically purple to behold and delicious to drink, which may show itself if I were worthy enough … reader, I was.
La Sirene Brewing Co.
It was a stinker of a 43 degree Melbourne summer day when I headed out to La Sirene Brewery in the wilds of Alphington to chat with brewery ambassador Will Macdonald.
We spoke about the philosophy behind being a modern day Farmhouse brewer, Wild Ales as a house style and the importance of microflora in an open-fermentation brewery.
Inner North Brewing Co.
It was a hot day perfect for a cold beverage when I ventured down a few back streets in Brunswick to Inner North Brewing Co.
Brewmaster Zack was kind enough to chat with me about the beers he brews, the creative process of coming up with new beers in the first place, having your beer blessed by Thai forest monks, the very serious (not really) job of naming a beer and (a little randomly) reading Game of Thrones in Spanish.