Here at Book Matters we are great supporters of Australian writers, especially those who are publishing their first novels. Today we shine a light on two debut novelists
 Lynne Johnson  is an Australian writer and the author of crime fiction novel, The Bait trap. She writes crime with feeling, that deals with gritty social issues, like addiction. The Bait Trap is about powerlessness, forgiveness, redemption and freedom all set in a fictional rural Australian town.
Abbey Lay is a Melbourne writer whose novel Lead us Not is an emotionally charged novel of female friendship. Her debut novel was shortlisted for the Victorian Premier’s Award for an Unpublished Manuscript.   Lead Us Not is an intriguing, heartbreaking depiction of the complexities of female friendship and the emotional toll of ghosting set in a Catholic Girls School.
We hope you enjoy.

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 In this special Australian Rural Crime episode, Courtney talks to Sydney author Dinuka Mackenzie about her novel – Tipping Point, the third instalment of the Detective Kate Miles series which features, a suicide. a shooting. and a reckoning, decades in the making.  We hear about her writing process and her inspiration for her crime novels, we hope you enjoy.

Reserve your copy here: https://bit.ly/4cEhR9i

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On this episode we have two Australian mystery rural crime writers to chat to. 

Courtney speaks with Vikki Wakefield about her latest release “To the River” about a fire in a remote caravan community which kills 9 people.   

Then Janine speaks with Glenna Thomson about her novel “Gone” which is a gripping rural crime novel of a grieving family and their forty-year journey to discover the truth.   We hope you enjoy.

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WELCOME BACK TO BOOK MATTERS, WE HOPE YOU ALL HAD A LOVELY SUMMER BREAK.   ON OUR FIRST EPISODE OF SEASON 5 WE HAVE TWO VERY DIFFERENT AUTHORS AND BOOKS TO TALK ABOUT.

FIRST UP,  JANINE CHATS WITH CANBERRA BASED AUTHOR KAREN VIGGERS ABOUT HER LATEST NOVEL ‘SIDELINES’, WHICH EXPLORES WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A TEENAGE SOCCER GAME DESCENDS INTO A BRAWL AFTER A CONTROVERSIAL LINE CALL.

NEXT UP COURTNEY SPEAKS WITH MEGAN NORRIS ABOUT HER TRUE CRIME BOOK “LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO – FATHERS WHO KILL” WHICH IS AN EXPLORATION OF REVENGE KILLINGS DURING MARITAL BREAKDOWNS.  

Please note that this interview contains depictions of violence that some people may find disturbing or if you have children around pop on some headphones.

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In our final episode for the year we have two Australian Historical Fiction writers to hear from. 

Janine speaks with Sydney author Tania Blanchard about her new novel A Woman of Courage - A gripping, uplifting new Victorian era novel about passion, love, loss, self-discovery and the right to be heard, inspired by a true story.   

Then Kate speaks with Darry Fraser about her latest novel – The Milliner of Bendigo set in the 1800’s in Bendigo and the mighty Murray River - an exciting and twisty historical mystery and adventure from a bestselling Australian author. 

The team here at Book Matters would like to thank you all for your support over the past year and we would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a happy festive season and we look forward to bringing you more interviews next year. 

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Janine speaks with UK author Wendy Holden about her novel ”The Princess” which is the final novel in Wendy Holden's trilogy about royal outsiders, and fictionalises Princess Diana's little-known early years. Then Kate speaks with Melbourne writer Kirsty Manning about her new novel  “The Hidden Book” which is a compelling novel based on a true story of a WWII European heirloom that brought down war criminals and travelled through history … to be found in an Australian country shed in 2019. We hope you enjoy!

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 On Book Matters this month Kate speaks with Irish author Emma Donoghue about her mesmerizing new novel set in 1805 "Learned by Heart",  which tells the heartbreaking story of the tangled lives of two women whose intense, and unlikely, relationship will change them for ever. 

Then Lynda chats with Sydney writer Fiona Britton about her mystery novel "Violet Kelly and the Jade Owl" which takes us to Sydney in 1930  about a century old curse, a house of secrets and a young woman determined to find out the truth. 

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 In this episode Connected Libraries celebrates History Month where our Local History Librarian Kate speaks with Heather Arnold about her research and her new book Enchanted Beneath the Bluff - Agnes & Geraldine's pursuit of Elwood's elusive Black Diamonds.

A fascinating story set in Elwood and St Kilda in the days of suffrage and spiritualism set in the 1890's.

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 On Book Matters Janine speaks with South Australian author Meredith Appleyard about her latest women’s fiction novel Daisy & Kate which is a compelling exploration of the waxing and waning of friendships; how precious they are, and the heartbreak that happens when it all comes undone.   Then Sam talks to Brisbane author Susan Johnson about her memoir Aphrodite’s Breath, that tells what happens when you take your 85-year-old mother to live with you on a Greek island? A strikingly original, funny, and forensic examination of love and finding home.   Two wonderful books that feature mature aged characters on journeys of discovery. 

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On Book Matters we like to shine a light on authors who are publishing their first book and in this special episode Courtney talks to debut Australian author Lucy Campbell about her compelling mystery novel ‘Lowbridge’ which is a heart-wrenching mystery about the girls who are lost, the ones who are mourned, and those who are forgotten, in a town simmering with divisions and a cast of unforgettable characters.  We hope you enjoy.

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Ïn this special episode we celebrate ''Wear It Purple Day'' with well -known Australian author Will Kostatskis. Wear it purple day strives to foster supportive, safe, empowering and inclusive environments for rainbow young people. Today Courtney chats to Will  about his latest novel We could be something, a story which takes readers on a wonderful yet emotional rollercoaster tale of the lives of two young men as they navigate coming out, falling in love and falling apart. We could be something is a story with an enormous and authentic heart."

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Today on the podcast Janine speaks to US author T J Newman about her writing and her latest novel Drowning which is an unforgettable thriller about a family’s desperate fight to save themselves and the people trapped with them—against impossible odds.  Then Sam speaks with debut novelist Pip Finkemeyer about her novel Sad Girl where A young woman tries to figure out if she’s the best (a creative genius) or if she’s maybe just the worst (completely delusional).

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In this episode we have two debut authors to chat to. Courtney speaks with  author Naima Brown who speaks about her debut novel   The Shot   which shines a light on reality television, then Janine speaks with Kate Solly about her delightful novel   Tuesday Evenings with The Copeton Craft Resistance,   which is a heartwarming story of friendship in an imperfect world, feel-good fiction at its best.

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On the podcast today Sam speaks with debut Australian author Michael Thompson about his novel How to be Remembered which is a heartwarming, poignant and ultimately inspiring novel about the important things in life.

Then Kate talks to Tara Calaby about her debut Australian historical fiction novel House of Longing which is set in 1895 and takes place largely in Kew Asylum. It explores loss, grief and the building of community, with a touch of romance on the side.

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On Book Matters this month Janine chats to Sydney based crime writer Rae Cairns about her heart stopping thriller Dying to Know which is a page turning novel about A desperate phone call. A decade of questions and A deadly race to find the truth.

Then we go across the world to New York City where Sam speaks with debut novelist Mikki Brammer about her book The Collected Regrets of Clover, which reminds us all to live our best life with fewer regrets.

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This month on Book Matters we have a Historical Fiction episode.  First up Janine talks to South Australian author Victoria Purman, where we find out all about her new novel “A Woman’s Work’’ which takes us back to Australia in the 1950’s and the Australian Women’s Weekly cooking competition, where two women have the possibility of a new kind of future.

Then Carol speaks with well-known author Jackie French about her new novel "Becoming Mrs Mulberry" which is about the secrets we carry, those that we unearth - and those that are too dangerous to tell.

And of course we have some more great book reviews from our staff here at the library.  

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Today on the podcast Janine speaks with Sydney Author Genevieve Gannon who is an award-winning Sydney-based journalist and author of four novels. Her new book The Gifted Son, explores the subject of “one punch” when a talented student is a victim and the consequences of everyone around him.   Genevieve is fast becoming the Australian version of Jodi Picoult  where she writes about moral dilemmas in her novels. 

Then Courtney speaks with Aussie writer Simon Rowell about his crime thriller series. His latest novel is a fast-paced crime story, vividly set in the towns along the Murray River. Wild Card is a gripping new mystery about gang warfare and small-town corruption, featuring a crime-fighting duo like no other. 

We hope you enjoy! 

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In our first episode for 2023 we celebrate Library Lovers Day!

 Courtney speaks with Nina Kenwood about her new novel Unnecessary Drama which is a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers story. And a coming-of-age story, and a moving-out-of-home story, and a making-new-friends story, and a dealing-with-anxiety story. And according to the author it’s funny!

Then Carol speaks to Canberra author Emma Grey about her new novel The Last Love Note, which she wrote in the wake of her husband’s death. It’s a fictional tribute to their love, an attempt to articulate the magnitude of her loss and a life-affirming commitment to hope.

We hope you enjoy!

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Back in lockdown during 2021 we had the pleasure of speaking with historical fiction writer Fiona McIntosh.   She was just launching her new novel ‘The Spy’s Wife’ which takes us from the windswept moors of the Yorkshire dales, to the noisy beer halls of Munich, and grand country estates in the picture-book Bavarian mountains.   This is a lively and high-stakes thriller that will keep you second-guessing until the very end.   She also briefly spoke about her writing process and research for her books as well as hinting at a new Jack Hawksworth novel to be released in 2023.

We hope you enjoy!

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Sue shares an interview with author Heather Morris who tells us about her global bestselling novel "Three Sisters" which is based on the incredible true story of the Meller sisters - a beautiful story of hope in the hardest of times and of finding love after loss.    Three Sisters is her third novel, and the final piece in the phenomenon that is the Tattooist of Auschwitz series.   We hope you enjoy

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Back in February last year we had the pleasure of speaking with Sydney author Mary-Anne O’Connor for Library Lovers Day.   She spoke about her writing process and told us all about her inspiration for her new novel “Dressed by Iris”, which is a vivid, romantic story of Sydney in the 1930s Depression - the heartbreak, the glamour, the dark underbelly, the struggle towards a better day - and one young woman's dream of designing her way from rags to riches.

She also speaks about her work with the Hornsby Ku-ring-ai Women’s Shelter which offers safe emergency accommodation and support services to women facing domestic violence and homelessness.

We hope you enjoy.

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Welcome to our Summer Series where we look back at some of the In-Conversation online events over the previous year. 

Back in lockdown we had the utmost pleasure in speaking with Australian Author Judy Nunn via Zoom who told us all about her new novel Showtime,  which will take you from the cotton mills of England to the magnificent theatres of Melbourne, on a scintillating journey through the golden age of Australian showbusiness.   Judy also tells us about her transition from Actor to Author and what goes on behind the scenes in the theatre world as well as what inspired her other novels. 

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 In our final episode for 2022 Carol has a wonderful chat with Christine Courtenay who has written a memoir about her late husband Bryce Courtenay. From his humble beginnings in Africa to his dazzling success in advertising and as a bestselling author, Bryce’s extraordinary, rags-to-riches life story reads like one of his epic novels. It was a life marked by all the big themes – overcoming adversity, love, loss, hard-won success, fame and fortune, and holding tight to a dream. Christine uncovers the events that shaped the man behind the stories – a man complex, driven and unfailingly positive, who never lost sight of his childhood dream to be a writer. Then to round off the year Janine speaks with Melbourne author of over 80 novels Nicola Marsh about her writing life and her new novel The Promise of Home - a rural fiction novel set in Victoria which would make an ideal book to take away for your summer holidays.

Lastly from all the team here at Book Matters we hope you all have a great festive season and we will be back in 2023 with more reading recommendations and interviews with a whole new group of writers

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Welcome to this very special episode of Book Matters to coincide with the 16 Days of Activism.    Casey Cardinia Libraries is proud to support the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender based Violence campaign. And what better way to contribute to the conversation than with books. 

We have an interview with Manjula Datta O'Connor about her enlightening book, Daughters of Durga: Dowries, Gender Violence and Family in Australia.

We also have some special book reviews from our staff here at Casey Cardinia Libraries.

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We talk to two authors about their very different novels. Courtney chats to Tom Baragwanath about his crime novel Paper Cage set in Masterton New Zealand about a small community where children have gone missing which is a nail-biting thriller and a beautifully written, acutely observed portrait of a community. Janine then chats to Tasmanian author Minnie Darke about her new novel With Love from Wish & Co a heartwarming novel about what we are prepared to give--and give up--in the name of love, and such a timely novel with Christmas on the horizon. And of course we have some great reading recommendations from our staff here at Casey Cardinia Libraries.

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