The Book Deal
Motivation and inspiration for emerging writers, helping them pave their own pathway to publishing success.
The Book Deal
Tina Strachan on how to win a competition, secure a three-book-deal and release a debut novel
Welcome to Season 2!! In this episode of The Book Deal Podcast, hosts Tina Strachan and Madeleine Cleary return for the second season with a bang. They discuss the exciting launch of their debut novels, starting with Tina's 'Neeka and the Missing Key,' Book One of the Wilder Zoo Series, illustrated by Max Hamilton and released on January 29 2025. Tina shares her journey from conceptualising the story to getting a book deal, winning the CYA Conference competition, and her unique experiences as a zookeeper. They explore the challenges of balancing writing with motherhood and a full-time job, emphasising the supportive nature of the writing community. The episode also includes a special feature from debut author Kate Horan discussing her book 'The Inheritance' and concludes with news about their new co-host, Natasha Rai.
00:00 Welcome to The Book Deal Podcast
00:43 Season Two Kickoff
01:24 Tina's Debut Novel: Neeka and the Missing Key
04:35 The Elevator Pitch
06:49 Tina's Writing Journey
13:24 From Zookeeper to Author
18:53 Winning the CYA Competition
31:50 Meeting with the Publisher
33:20 Overcoming Self-Doubt as a Writer
33:34 From Zookeeper to Author: A Unique Journey
35:01 The Publisher's Interest: A Turning Point
35:47 Navigating the Publishing Process
36:23 The Importance of Timing and Market Trends
37:43 Writing Sample Chapters: The Challenge
39:49 The Acquisitions Process: A Writer's Experience
45:47 Balancing Writing with Life's Demands
46:43 The Long Road to Publication
54:33 Celebrating the Book Launch
57:37 The Writing Community: A Source of Support
01:03:15 Exciting News for The Book Deal Podcast
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This is the Book Deal Podcast. Where you will discover the inspiring stories of the authors behind your favourite books. No matter what stage of writing you are at, we've got you covered. I'm Tina Strachan. And I'm Madeleine Cleary, and join us as we pull back the curtain of published authors. One deal at a time. The Book Deal Podcast acknowledges the traditional owners of the land and waters which it's recorded on. And pays respect to their elders, past, present, and emerging. Hi, Tina, welcome back to season two. I know. Well, thanks Madeleine. It's good to be back, isn't it? It is wonderful to be back and we're kicking our first episode of the year, um, and also our first episode of the season two. It's going to be a big one, a big season. It's going to be a big season, but this is, I think we're, we're kicking off season two with a bang as well. Yeah.
Tina Strachan (2):There's a lot happening in this season, isn't there?
Madeleine Cleary (2):There is actually in this season, we'll both be releasing our debut novels, which is very exciting. And you're going first.
Tina Strachan (2):I am. And very, very soon.
Madeleine Cleary:Very soon. So we are recording this. It's about mid Jan and your book, your debut novel, Nika and the missing key book, one of the wild zoo series is coming out on what date Tina on the
Tina Strachan (2):29th of January, I know it's literally days away. So, um, yeah, that's pretty exciting. Are you counting down the sleeps? Sort of. I try not to. It is a bit of an odd feeling, you know, I think you don't know how you're gonna be. And I literally remember thinking a couple of years ago even, like, is that date ever gonna come? And like, how am I gonna feel in that? In that moment. Um, and I think I feel busy Madeleine is how I feel,
Madeleine Cleary:which is probably good. It is good to be busy. Keeps your mind off all the things that are about to happen. And in this episode, we're going to go back in time a few years to Tina, back when you were writing Nico and the missing key and. Just before you got your deal. So we want to find out all the things cause we've been saving our stories for listeners until this moment. So I'm very, very excited to dig back. And I've also had the amazing opportunity to read your debut book. And it is just so beautiful, even though I am not. A middle grade reader, I loved it. And I am a 34, 33 year old woman.
Tina Strachan (2):Well, thank you for reading it, Madeleine. And it's really exciting because I think you're the only other people that have read it outside of, you know, The, the publishers, um, is yeah, you're one of the only ones that have, have read it. So that was a really, yeah, a really, um, interesting moment, I guess, because no one else really read it. Oh, it was funny. I sent it to you. And that's why I, I messaged and said, I, it's probably been a really long time since you've read a middle grade book. Um, so it's definitely a lot shorter and very different to what you would normally read. I imagine. Yeah.
Madeleine Cleary:Oh, but it was just so wonderful. Like I was like laughing and then I was like almost crying and it was just so heartfelt and warm and wholesome and I just wanted, I want more of that in the world, I think. So you're bringing something very beautiful and special into the world and you're a brilliant writer, Tina. So I can't wait for so many more people to read it.
Tina Strachan (2):Oh, thank you. I'm blushing. Lovely words. Yes. One, one thing I, um, need to do and I'm trying to do is take compliments. Um, just say thank you. Don't say, Oh, it was nothing. I only spent two years writing it. It was nothing.
Madeleine Cleary:Just something I whipped up. Yeah, yeah,
Tina Strachan (2):easy as. So thank you, Madeleine. That's
Madeleine Cleary:really
Tina Strachan (2):kind words.
Madeleine Cleary:Well, very well deserved, Tina. Alright, so we're going to kick this off with something that you're going to be having a lot of practice with, I think, in the next few months to come. And you can practice it out on me here in a nice, safe environment on the Book Deal Podcast. Tina Strachan, will you give us the elevator pitch of Nika and the Missing Key?
Tina Strachan (2):Okay, so this is something I feel like I should probably be more prepared for because I ask other authors for this all the time so I can share, you know, with everybody and also secretly I'm just trying to learn from them all. Um, but what I say for my one liner, Is, uh, so I talk about Wilder Zoo, the series, and it's about a girl called Nika Wilder who lives in a zoo with her family. It's all about fun and friendship and adventure, and of course, lots of animals. So it is a series. Like I said, so, um, yeah, book one in the series is called Nika and the Missing Key. And in that book, Nika is trying to win an award for the wildlife conservation videos that she creates with her two best friends. So they try to create one really awesome last video to help them win the award. They are trying to film one of the cheeky red pandas called Rebel and he won't cooperate. It's a very good name for him because he's very cheeky and he won't cooperate. And she loses her very important Zouki and then she gets grounded and for something else and it just feels like creating the awesome new video and time for the awards is impossible.
Madeleine Cleary:It was such a good premise, I love it. Um, and Nika has the best friends, we were talking about friendship, she has the Best friends ever as well. They're just wonderful. Like I just, I just wanted to like wrap them up in a cuddle. Cause they're just so wonderful. You know, always supporting Nika. Is that something that you really wanted to write about friendship?
Tina Strachan (2):Um, I think so. I think it just. It just comes naturally that she had these two best friends. So Rumi and Hudson, they're called and yeah, they just, their, their personalities and their character and everything just came to me and they just, yeah, they have a really nice bond. I
Madeleine Cleary:think. And Rumi's dad
Tina Strachan (2):owns a lolly shop and
Tina Strachan:Nika's parents obviously live in the zoo. Like, isn't that the most amazing thing ever? Yes, you're right. She's, she's got it all really, hasn't she? What more could you want? Yes. Yes. Yes. Okay. So let's, let's, um, talk about, um, your writing path to this, Tina. Cause I think everyone's going to be really interested to know how you got your deal. Um, but let's, let's go back a bit further. So, um, I had to write this down cause I thought it was so cute, but Nico, Nico in the book, she says that caring for wildlife is basically her destiny, which I think is gorgeous. Has writing always been your destiny, Tina?
Tina Strachan (2):I don't know if it's been my destiny. Cause Yeah, I guess, well, writing has always been part of what I have done. So I have just always done it. It's probably more, um, not my destiny in that, you know, one day I'll be a writer. It's just, it, it has just always been there and I've always written. Um, I think my earliest memories is sitting at a. One of the computers in, I think it was like, Oh, it would have been about eight or nine. And I remember it so clearly because the computers in my classroom, there was like four of them. And okay, so it was a while ago now, obviously that I was about eight. And so there was only about four of them. They're those massive big ones that you get. And it was really cool. Like it was really high tech to have these like four computers in the classroom, you know? And, um, I, yeah, and the teacher had given us a writing prompt, you know, so it must have been for English or something like that. And I remember, I remember this prompt and it was, um, as the two moons rose. And you had to just go from that. I was really, and I remember just that just stuck in my head. And then I ended up writing about, um, yeah, this guy that lived on this planet and it was, yeah, obviously there was two moons and, but I remember just spending so much time on it and writing and writing. And so. Um, and I think, I feel like that's kind of where it started from just the creativity of it. And then, you know, I remember being a, like me and my husband talk about this all the time. Cause I've got, I've got a, um, an 11 year old at the moment and a six year old. And we were always like, what did we used to do when we were their age? Can you remember? Cause now they've got unlimited access to. You know, television, unlimited shows and movies and stuff, just nonstop back, you know, but back in when I was their age, you had to walk down to Blockbuster to get a video, to rent a video. Right. And, um, and I've also got, you know, we had, we had like game stations and stuff like that as well, but there's, it's just next level. Right. And so many devices. I'm like, well, what did we used to do? And I was thinking back, you know, we, you know, in the summer holidays, I'd go swimming in the pool and have some friends over. And then I'd spend all this time at the computer writing stories, you know, so I did, I've just always, always done it. So yes, I would guess being a, was being a published off a part of my destiny. Um, well, I guess it was, but I just never expected that writing to be published was never. The goal. So,
Tina Strachan:um, did people know you were, because were you writing all your life then? Because you've always told me and said to the listeners that you're a everyday writer. Have you been writing every day since you wrote that first prompt to the moon story?
Tina Strachan (2):Yeah. No, I haven't. No. And it definitely ebbs and flows. ebbed and flowed. And, um, when I, uh, you know, I think when I went to high school, you know, you know, teenage years, you kind of, that sort of thing kind of fell to the wayside a bit more. And then, um, uni, I was at uni, like, you know, and I studied, uh, Um, like science field, you know, and, um, very techie, uh, black and white. And I remember actually specifically making a move away from creativity, um, at that time, because I was just, Um, and I just, I don't know, I just wanted black and white and right or wrong. And I just wanted to learn it and I wanted to, yeah, sort of go down that path. And um, so uni, you know, it's so busy and you're doing so much reading and writing anyway with your assignments and stuff. I just, it kind of fell to the wayside then too. And you know, it's always in my head, it was always in my head though. Like all the stories were just always kind of there. So it almost be writing them. But like, not putting them down on paper. I know that sounds a bit strange, doesn't it? Um, and then it wasn't until, so I kept like dipping into it every now and then, um, I'd write and then it wasn't until, um, my youngest was born that, you know, there's this really There's a sweet spot when they're little where they have like about a three hour nap in the day and that I was just like, you know what, I'm just going to write. And I, um, set my, you know, I put him down for an afternoon nap. I'd set my alarm for an hour and I'd be like that out that whole hour. You just write, you do nothing more. I'd make a coffee, get a Chucky Bicky. Hour, like you just write and then the alarm will go off. And then I go, cool, do all the other mum things like, you know, cleaning and washing and cooking and getting ready for him to wake up, um, and have the whole, you know, afternoon session. And then, but I was like, no, just put aside that hour every day. Um, yeah. So I picked it back up. Yeah.
Tina Strachan:So, um, on, on sort of those ideas, like it sounds like you've always, even if you were dipping in and out of writing, it sounds like you've always had those ideas and we often talk and you're always telling me that you've got a new story. So do you want to talk a little bit about where that inspiration comes from for you?
Tina Strachan (2):Yeah, um, it comes from anywhere I find, like I'm always just thinking of, you know, something will pop into my head and I go, Oh, that's, that's good. And it could be a character. It could be just a trait even of a character, um, or a setting, or, you know, I think we spoke a few weeks back about the beauty of putting down your phone and not looking at a screen because I just looked out the window
Madeleine Cleary:at this
Tina Strachan (2):particular scene that was like right in the middle of the city and I was like, and then it just So I think literally just life, so it just life, I think you've just got to say, you know, go out there, be part of life and just, yeah, and observe.
Tina Strachan:And obviously, so, so this story is set in a zoo and you've got quite a bit of experience working in zookeeping and conservation. Do you want to tell us a little bit about your background and how that's influenced the novel?
Tina Strachan (2):Yeah. Um, yeah. So like I said, I went to uni and I studied, uh, environmental science majoring in zoology and I've always loved animals. I used to always bring animals home for my mom, um, and dad, they, you know, and like Yeah, I would call especially dogs. Um, I was, I was very attached to, you know, anyone giving away a dog I'd bring home. I don't know how they put up with that. If my kid brought home a dog, I'd be,
Tina Strachan:yeah. So this is not during your zoo keeping days. This is okay. But you know, there's
Tina Strachan (2):a photo even of me with, um, and I reckon I was probably about six or seven. I'm holding like Mom and dad had this book, um, uh, it was like a vet book, like how to look after your pets kind of thing. And I just, I love that book. I just put, hold it and like read it and look at the pictures. Um, you know, so that sort of side of it, I loved, always loved animals and had that connection. Um, but yeah, so I studied zoology. Um, never really intended ever on working in the zoo, didn't know exactly what I wanted to do. So I just thought I'd study it and see how I go, loved all animal behavior and stuff like that. And then, um, a eventually job came up in a zoo that, and I thought, Oh, that's a good, you know, it's aligned with what I wanted to do, which by that stage was kind of a wildlife conservation, you know, um, and that was aligned with it because it was. Um, and, you know, they ran a lot of conservation projects as well through the zoo, and I thought that's good. It's good stepping stone. And yeah, just really, really loved it, really enjoyed it and ended up being a zookeeper, um, for over 10 years. Training as a vet nurse as well. I always wanted to do the vet nursing side of it. And I did that when I was heavily pregnant, heavily pregnant. I remember cleaning enclosures and stuff on my hands and knees with like, like this big belly plus him in the ground and, um, you know, and then, um, Yeah. Going back when, um, my son was only three months old, going back for like half a day and just, um, you know, in the vet hospital, which was amazing. And um, yeah. And then I ended up working, yeah, with wildlife conservation. So, you
Madeleine Cleary:know,
Tina Strachan (2):out in the field, doing a lot of field work and, um, yeah, a lot of, you know, a lot of desk work as well, but just a lot of research and a lot of data. And that sort of stuff is balances nicely off my creativity. So a lot of technical writing, which is very different to, to creative writing. So using both sides of my brain. So yeah, obviously all of that does just provided that, you know, inspiration and background. You know, this book has a lot of behind the scenes in the zoo. You probably noticed that. And, um, I don't know how you would write it if you didn't have that experience. It just couldn't. happen. You just, I mean, you could probably just, just maybe, um, you know, a little bit more surface level, but really getting into the behind the scenes stuff was what I loved writing. And I really wanted, I think the kids, cause kids love zoos and they love animals. And imagine
Tina Strachan:growing up living in one. It's just amazing.
Tina Strachan (2):Yes. Well, I actually, I worked at, um, I worked at Australia Zoo a thousand years ago, um, when Bindiya was really little and she would, um, come in and just like jump in the You know, jump on in the waterfalls and the bird aviaries and, um, you know, run around with snakes and just, you know, she just, it was her playground
Madeleine Cleary:and, um,
Tina Strachan (2):yeah, so I definitely have a lot of that, you know, behind it when I was writing is just that experience and, um, you know, working in the zoo as a zookeeper, the kids constantly come up to you and they always want to know what you're doing and how did you be a zookeeper and, and adults as well saying, how did you get this job always? Thanks. You know, it was a daily thing and, um, you know, so people really want to know what, what goes on behind the scenes and what happens at a zoo. So, yeah, that's all I tried to, um, weave a lot of that into the story.
Tina Strachan:No, well, it definitely shines through. I feel like I learned so much about. Um, pregnant giraffes. I think you would, you'd go through an elephant as well. And then the period of pregnancy, which is a lot longer than a human 22 months. I think for an elephant, wasn't it?
Tina Strachan (2):Oh, I know. Could you imagine? Yeah. And I tried to. I tried to, um, I ran a lot of stuff past a lot of the keepers that I know and the vets and the vet nurses with those sorts of things. So I tried to be as accurate as possible, but, um, hopefully, hopefully it's all
Tina Strachan:accurate. So there's a super cute and you'd mentioned before rebel, the super cute red panda is rebel based on a, on a real red panda. Cause he's just the most adorable thing. He's a little dancing
Tina Strachan (2):red panda. Unfortunately I've never had. The opportunity to work with the Red Pandas. Oh! I know, but you know, we wanted to really make sure that. Yeah, like he, he adds a lot. He's a character in himself. He adds a lot to the story.
Tina Strachan:That's the thing. The animals do bring their sort of own sense of characters. Yeah. Amazing. Um, okay. So let's go back to when, so your, your, your son's been born, you're putting a son down for a long nap and you've got your one hour every day. Is the story you're writing is, is it actually Nika Is this the origin of this story or were you working on something different?
Tina Strachan (2):No, I was working on something different, which had been a, and again, we've spoken about this before, haven't we? Where how ideas. Um, and it's, you know, come to everybody differently. And for me, it's basically like a movie that I can see in my head. And so it was there, like it's always just been there and it was just about getting the words out. So it was just about having the time to get them out. And that, that was a YA.
Madeleine Cleary:Book,
Tina Strachan (2):uh, why a story, um, very different to Nika in the, in the missing key. Um, but that's the one that in the end got me, um, it, it, it actually still got me the publishing deal in the end. Okay. So
Tina Strachan:let's, let's just talk about this. We are the book deal podcast. So we're all about book deals here. So let's give us the detail. Tell us. So you you've obviously, you've got this draft of a YA novel, which is totally different to Nika. What, what helped you write initial draft and then
Tina Strachan (2):what did you do with it? So I, I just, like I said, it was a, I still, still at that point was never like I'm a writer. I'm an author. I'm working towards publishing. That that ever could happen. It just for something. It must have
Tina Strachan:surely a little something in your mind was going, well, I'm putting a lot of
Tina Strachan (2):time.
Tina Strachan:I just enjoyed
Tina Strachan (2):it. I just enjoyed it. It's like, it'd be like someone who paints every day. They enjoy it. They're trying to, um, improve their craft, but they're not necessarily trying to be a famous artist that can sell their work and hang it in galleries. If that makes sense. I just loved it. And then I just. I got, uh, more into learning about the craft of it because I didn't know that there was a craft. You just like write, you know, and the craft, craft is different for everyone. Some people just innately, and especially if you read a lot, you innately kind of know where things are supposed to go and how a story is supposed to flow. But you know, that's when I started diving into, um, You know, the save the cat method and the story grid method and listening to, and I got those ideas from listening to podcasts. Like I, you know, I started listening to a podcast, um, called, um, I should be writing. Cause I thought that was just really, I don't even know how I came across that one. It's American, um, uh, Murr Lafferty is the host as being probably the longest running podcast. Um, for writing, like she literally has been doing it for like 20 years and, um, it's it's ebbs and flows and it's, but you know, that's where I got all these kinds of ideas is where I found out about NaNoWriMo, like all those kinds of, um, things was my first, first exposure to it. And, um, yeah, so then I started going to the craft and just love the craft. And so then I was just kind of polishing it up and I think I was just like, what do I do with this? Now I was like, I wonder if it's any good. I mean, I enjoyed it. Like I still enjoy it and I still want to finish it one day and, um, and try and publish it. But I, um, Oh, that's good to know. Okay.
Tina Strachan:For any publishers listening, you know, Strachan has a, she has a manuscript.
Tina Strachan (2):Yeah. And then, so just one night, I don't even know how I came across. I think it came up on Facebook or Instagram or something. I was caravanning with the family, just doing my edits. Cause I'd put the kids to bed and then just like edit away and play around with it. Just didn't know where else to go with it. And then, um, that's when I found out about the CYA conference,
Tina Strachan:the famous CYA
Tina Strachan (2):conference. And I entered it because You know, I think it was like 25 bucks to enter and you get feedback from the judges. And so that's what I wanted. I was like, Oh, 25 bucks for feedback. Like that's the cheapest. Cause I was looking at. Like getting a, you know, formal reviewers or like beta readers or something like that to read it. I just wanted to know, like, is, is this, am I completely off the mark? Like, can I even write, like, what do I do with this now? Like, should I just give up? And, um, so I entered that competition with literally hours to spare, like it, it was about to close and, um. I don't know what happened, but something happened with the formatting of it when, so when they were opening it up, um, like the judges were opening it up, it's something was completely unformatted from it. And both judges, Um, comments were something about it was hard to read, like, I know, so I'd completely stuff something up somehow. I don't know how I did it. Um, and it's just horrifying.
Tina Strachan:Well, that can be a complete no, can't it? Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I don't know
Tina Strachan (2):how I did it. I just, I don't even know what they meant because it looked okay on my side, but something happened over on that side. So yeah, but it could be just like a too hard basket and you don't want anything to be too hard. So. Um, yeah, so I entered that competition in the, um, unpublished young adult section and won it. So that was just, we'll talk about validation for your writing when you're going, Oh
Tina Strachan:no, if this is new, should I do it? Am I doing this right? And then winning it. Yeah. So I got first
Tina Strachan (2):go Tina. First go. Yeah. Well, look, look, I had been working on it for a very long time. So.
Tina Strachan:Um,
Tina Strachan (2):you know, the story had been in my head for at least 10 years. Wow. Yeah. Like I used the actual writing story and the writing of it probably started about 10 years ago as well.
Tina Strachan:Wow. Okay. Yeah. So this is a story that's. Been around with you for a long time. So it's a special one. Yeah, it's a yes.
Tina Strachan (2):Yep. So, um, yeah. So I got that email to say that I was shortlisted, which I was just
Tina Strachan:like, was that the first time that absolutely shocking? What was it the first time when you felt validated
Tina Strachan (2):your, your own writing? Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. And it's the first time I'd shared my writing. No one had read my writing, you know, and that just get getting there. So at first I, yeah, I got the. Shortlisted email. Um, and then what did you feel like when you got shortlisted? Even just that would have been amazing away. Yeah. Like blown away. Like I had actually even forgotten that I'd sent it. I was just waiting for the judge's feedback to come through. Like, it wasn't even like, Oh, well, any day now I'll find out if I made it. That wasn't even, that was not even a thought. The thought was. I can't wait to get the judge's feedback
Madeleine Cleary:back so
Tina Strachan (2):I can, you know, improve on whatever their comments were. And so when I got the shortlisting email, yeah, I just remember saying to my husband, I got this like, I've been shortlisted. How about that? And that was, so that was just after COVID. So normally there's a conference for the CYA conference, but it was all online. So, um, I frantically bought a ticket because I didn't even buy a ticket to the conference because I didn't like think that I would be going for like any reason, but they do, they did do the like announcement of who won online. And, um, again, just like listening in just to see, you know, Oh, cool. They might mention my name at some point. And, um, Then I don't know then then oh yeah and then they said um if you if you're being shortlisted can you turn your camera on um because it's all on zoom or whatever and I was like oh hang on what and so I'm in the bathroom like whacking on some makeup and trying to like straighten down my hair and Quickly like put a, you know, I think I was in gym gear trying to put a shirt on, like, just like, Oh my God, are you kidding me? And so I turned the camera on and I didn't even know where they were at with what category are they in? And then I recognized one of the names of the people who'd been shortlisted. I was like, Oh, okay, this must be my category. And so I was like holding the camera, like my computer trying to get like a decent light and good angles. So I sat in the toilet with the toilet lid down. I, just to clarify. So I sat on the toilet looking at the, um, Wait, camera pretending like you couldn't see the toilet. And that was the best lighting in your entire house on the toilet? Well, I had, I was, it was like, I had seconds to spare cause I was like doing makeup and then I'm like, Oh my God, this is my category. Turn on the camera, sit down quickly. And yeah. And then I'm, so I'm sitting on the toilet when they're like, The winner first place goes to Tina Straughan and it was
Tina Strachan:a
Tina Strachan (2):glamorous moment.
Tina Strachan:Oh, that is the best story ever. Oh, I can't. Oh my gosh.
Kate Horan:Hello listeners. I'm Kate Horan, a member of the 2025 Debut Crew and author of The Inheritance, which was released on the 1st of January through HQ. The story was inspired when I received a DNA test for Christmas and I thought to myself, I wonder how often people discover scandalous secrets when they do tests like these, and so that led to the idea for this story. The Inheritance is about two women and the dark secret that connects them. 29 year old journalist Meg Hunter arrives in the exclusive town of Hartwell to investigate suspected corruption by Ashworth Property. She's also seeking answers to the mystery surrounding why her mother fled the town 30 years before, leaving them without any family at all. Meanwhile, 30 year old heiress Isabel Ashworth is sent to Hartwell by her mogul father to prove her commitment to the family business. When her path crosses with Meg's, the carefully guarded secrets of the past start to unravel with the help of three DNA test kits, which mysteriously appear under the Ashworth Christmas tree. As Isabel starts to question everything she knows about her family, she's drawn to Meg and her pursuit of the truth. But someone will stop at nothing to keep their secrets hidden. The Inheritance is a fast paced story full of mystery, intrigue and plenty of twists to keep readers guessing right to the final page. I've been absolutely thrilled with the feedback I've had from readers so far, which has been above and beyond anything I imagined. I'd like to say a big thank you to Madeleine and Tina for letting me pop onto the podcast and talk about my book, The Inheritance, out now in all good bookstores.
Tina Strachan:I think so many people have those, um, those zoom COVID stories. That is a great one, Tina. That is wonderful. On the toilet. You, oh, oh my gosh.
Madeleine Cleary:Yeah. I was going to say, like, how did
Tina Strachan:you feel? Like, did you have to do a speech?
Tina Strachan (2):No, no. Cause it was like.
Tina Strachan:Cause there's always an echo in the
Tina Strachan (2):bathroom. I might've made more of an effort to, but yeah, I had no mic. I had nothing. It was, and it was just like, they're running through all the names of, you know, all the shortlisted and, you know, then the winners and then the next category. Cause there's quite a lot of categories and
Tina Strachan:yeah. So, and then I was like in a bit of. Like shock. So what did it mean? So you, okay, you've won this competition. Mm-hmm So what, what hap what happened then?
Tina Strachan (2):So then the prize, which I didn't even really know what it was, because again, I'm not thinking I'm winning, I'm just waiting for my judge's feedback. And so then I was like, oh, okay, so 15 minutes with. The judge, like the, so there's judges speech category, and then there's a, a publisher judges, the final, like the short list. Wow. Yeah. So. I was like, Oh, great publisher has read it. And I was like, Oh my God, a publishers read it and said that it's the best one out of that category. Oh my gosh. And then I find out it's Lisa Berryman from Harper Collins. And I'm like, I was literally like, okay, I can just rest on that now. That is it. That is the pinnacle. Publisher from Harper Collins thinks that my entry. Was better than the others. Um, that I, yeah, cool. That's it. Done. I was just like happy. I can just be happy for the rest of my life now. Just cause just absolutely blown away by it. So, but then the prize is so prices 15 minutes with the publisher, which is like gold, you know, like that is absolutely gold. 15 minutes with a publisher, um, who's read your work and it's just, yeah, amazing. So I not only read it, but also judged it as the best. So that's huge. Yeah. And I, so I had my 15 minutes. Um, were you nervous? Booked in with Lisa? Yeah, I, I was, but I still was like, I think I would, I think it was kind of good cause I was naive, really naive. Like I had no, no idea. Did you think at that point, Oh, well it's going to get published
Tina Strachan:now? No, not at all. Not even like an inkling going, okay, well this is a good opportunity. Like,
Tina Strachan (2):no, I don't think so because I don't like. Like, if it happened now, if I won now, I would, because I know how it works, I would be like, you're meeting with them, they judged it as the winner, maybe. You know, and you've heard those, I've heard those stories now of people being offered, you know, they go, we judged it, you won. And hey, also, we'd like to, we'd like to contract this contract. Yeah, yeah. I know that that can happen. I didn't know that that could happen. Then. I didn't know what the process was, so it was just like a, just, you know, sitting there with a pen and, um, my notepad just ready to write down everything that she could give me. I was just like, tell me everything. How do I make it better? What's, you know? And it was just, it was really, yeah. Really, really interesting. And yeah, I just remember sucking up all the information and just my biggest question, like the conversation was coming to an end and I was just kind of like, so should I keep doing this? Like, can I like, like, I just, I'm just like, what, like really tell me what do you think? I just was like, I was like, can I even write? And she was like, Oh, you can write. And I was like, Oh my God, really? And you know, just thinking also in my head, she's just being polite. She's just being nice.
Tina Strachan:So many writers do this, don't they? Even when the validation is like literally shaking them, literally in front of them saying, yes, you can write. You're like, but can I?
Tina Strachan (2):Yeah,
Tina Strachan:will I?
Tina Strachan (2):We just started talking about some other stuff, you know, um, and I mentioned that I had Um, in the zoo industry, because I think Lisa was sort of talking about being so busy, you know, as a publisher and lots of people having ideas of what it's like to be a publisher or saying, Oh, I'd love to do that job. How do you get there? And I was like, yeah, it sounds, I used to be a zookeeper, so I know it's kind of what you mean there. Like I used to get, people just used to ask all the time, how did you get that job? What's such a great job. And you're kind of like, I know it is such a great job and then you think I just scrubbed poo for three hours but sure you know like parts of it are really good parts of it are scrubbing poo and she was like well you know what you need to do then mate you need to write about a zoo based book like as we've spoken about I have lots of ideas and I used to just write them down or dump them down and I was like yep that Great. I mean, it was on my, I was on my ideas list, but it definitely wasn't something that I would have probably been at the top of my list to write. Um, yeah. And, you know, Lisa was like, you know, I think middle grade is the perfect fit for it and it's really popular right now. And, um, that would be a really good, you know, you need to write. I was like, yeah, that's sounds like so much fun, you know, giving a reason for me to write that. And she said, okay, cool. Um, just write me some sample chapters and, and, you know, send them to me. And I was like, just remember, like, and then we got off the phone and I was just like, oh, yeah. Okay. Well, I'll just Write some sample chapters and that doesn't really happen.
Tina Strachan:That doesn't happen that often, does it? When a publisher just says, Oh, like you, you sort of talk about an idea and then the publisher requests a few sample chapters because normally you would have something in the back drawer. Yeah. Yeah. So that's incredible. So she must've thought your writing was really good.
Tina Strachan (2):Yeah, I guess so. So I mean, I guess, like I said, you know, we've got the, she's seen my writing and then we've made connection and we're having this conversation. And then, um, I guess the next step from there, because there's a lot of things that go towards someone getting a deal. Right. And then I think that really talks to, um, right. right time, right place, uh, right person. What's good in the market. What's going to work. And what the publisher is looking for.
Madeleine Cleary:And I
Tina Strachan (2):just had that opportunity to be in front of her and. Um, you know, she's, she's had, you know, just had this idea that like, that would be a really good book. She could, she, you know, she obviously already knows that maybe there's probably a market for that or that that's what's needed right now. Cause they know what they know everything about. What the trend, not really trends, but what's selling, what's needed, what's overdone, what would be a nice little gap, what's novel.
Tina Strachan:It's a business, isn't it? Writing is a business and their job, our job is to be creative, but their job is to be able to sell it. So that makes sense. Yes. Yeah.
Tina Strachan (2):Yeah. Cause you hear all the time of publishers just saying love to the book, love to writing, love the story. I just can't sell that right now.
Tina Strachan:Yes.
Tina Strachan (2):You know, and it doesn't mean no, never, but it just means right now. I just know that it's not going to get picked up and because of the market or the media or the way that everything's, um, working at the moment, like out in society. And I just, so, and what the kids are reading and yeah. So, so I think there's three really important things. There's my top tips, everybody. Oh my goodness. Wearing your writing, um, connecting. Making connections is so important and, um, just remember that it is like right time, right place, um, right people, you know, at that time. So, um, yeah, so that all went toward it. So yeah, then I, you know, I wrote my sample chapters, just how quickly did you write them, how, you know, I should have looked this up before I spoke to you because I. I keep it, I feels like a blur, but I remember saying to myself, okay, I'll give myself like three months to, to write. I didn't know how long, like it would, I've never sat down and with a goal like that before. And I thought this is 2021, right? This
Tina Strachan:isn't
Tina Strachan (2):2021. Gosh. Well, 22, no, 2021. No, it was 2021. And, um, yeah, just thinking I'll give myself three months, which is actually quite a lot of time, but, um, you know, I hadn't done it before and I wanted it to be at a level that I could. Give it to a publisher, right?
Madeleine Cleary:Like,
Tina Strachan (2):so I think it was like, you know, a month or so in, and Lisa emailed me to say, Hey, really interested on seeing those sample chapters. And, and I was like, okay, cause you know, I'd had, I already had, I was just tinkering. I was nonstop tinkering with this and that and changing this. And I was like, okay, I like, I can send them, but please know, like, it's not as perfect as I would want it to be. Like I, you know, I'm just tinkering. And she was like, you can tinker forever. Like that will never, like there was, there's no end to tinkering, which I've learned is very true. And you have to, it has to just be a point when you finish. And, um, yeah, so I sent them through and I just remember Lisa saying, um, that she loved it, that she loved them and just, how quickly did she respond to you? Um, I think it was like maybe a week to maybe a week. Yeah. So she was very keen. A week or so. And, um. Yeah. And I mean, we're talking like, so I did the first third. So just what came up to a natural conclusion for the first act sort of thing. And that's, that was about 10, 000 words. So, you know, it wasn't a lot, but, um, yeah, I think, yeah, it was, I just. It's just like, what does this even mean? This, am I dreaming? This whole process has just been a big dream. So yeah, that was pretty incredible. Yeah. And I, and she said, I want to take it to acquisitions and I was like, I don't know what that is, but that sounds great.
Tina Strachan:So, okay. So she took your 10, 000 words, did you have to do like a chapter summary for the
Tina Strachan (2):rest of the
Tina Strachan:book?
Tina Strachan (2):No, I just sent the 10, 000 words. And I sent, um, a whole page of. one liners with, there's probably like 21 liners on there of ideas that I could, I had. So I think I did the, like a little, like a little pitch, probably like a paragraph on what it was going to be. So, you know, probably almost similar to probably what's on the back of the book now and sent my sample chapters and then. Sent a document that had about 20 dot points of, um, all these other ideas for about 20 other books. Like I was like, I could, I mean, it's, I could just come up with a thousand ideas of adventures for Nika in a, in the zoo, you know, like it just had so many and I was just like, and here's all these ideas for any other books that you might want about Nika, like any other Nika books and, um, Yeah. Yeah. Yes. And you're like a publisher's dream,
Tina Strachan:Tina.
Tina Strachan (2):Well, I didn't even know I was just like, well, these ideas kept popping up. And so here they are. If you want some ideas and, um, and then. Yeah. So she just took the 10, 000 words to acquisitions and, uh, yeah, I, I knew when acquisitions was going to be, which was, I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing. I literally spent the whole day just, you know, refresh, refresh, refresh on your emails, just constantly checking constantly and thinking about it, but then also being like, well, I don't know. Like maybe you don't find out for three weeks after, so no idea about the acquisitions process. Um, yeah. And then Lisa sent me an email saying, you know, everyone loved it and they, you know, it's the, it's a great story and you're the perfect person to write it. And um, yeah, cause actually that's right. I also sent in a couple of photos of some of the cool things that I had done. So like in action with, sorry, there's one of me like holding a fluid bag above a, um, rhino in this rhino. Sanctuary that I was at in South Africa. And, um, uh, what else? I think like, you know, one with a koala and, uh, yeah, I can't even remember all the other ones now, but they were doing fun stuff. Oh, giraffe in South Africa as well. Yeah. Just doing lots of fun stuff with lots of cool animals. Just, I don't know. I just wanted them to see that, you know, if I'm writing this, so about what. Uh, this book about working in a zoo, it's coming from a really natural place for me. And I've got lots of ideas.
Tina Strachan:How did it, how did it, so when that email came through, so, so Lisa emailed you to say, yes, everyone loved it. Tell us about that moment. Cause that is a very amazing moment in a, in a writer's career.
Tina Strachan (2):Yep. Yeah. Actually, that's really funny. I, um, I was on the toilet where I wasn't, but I was in a meeting at work and I was checking my emails. Sorry, work. I love you. Um, and I was focusing in that meeting, I promise. But after that I was not because yeah, when I got that email, I was just like, Oh my God. And you know, it was, yeah, I was one with one of my close teammates and I, um, yeah, waited for the meeting to end and I was like, I'm sorry, but I just have to tell you that, that, you know, I've written a book and the publishers want to publish it. It's just crazy. And, um, yeah, I remember sending, you know, at least her email back saying, Oh my God, that's incredible. And then that I was kind of filled with this, like, Well, hang on. So she said it went through acquisitions and I was like, is there some other process that I don't know about now? Is this actually, and I was like, hang on, can I get excited? Is this the point where I get excited? Where's the point where I like, is that now do I get super excited about it? And do I buy a bottle of champagne? And, um, and that's what I actually emailed her back. I was like, Oh, just checking. Um, so who acquisitions, so like, does that mean I can buy a bottle of champagne and celebrate now? you know, or is this something else that's meant to happen? And she got back to me and said something like, actually, I think she rang me. And she was like, look, yes, it's very exciting. It's, you know, it's, it means that we want to publish it. Um, you know, you haven't got your, you know, your contract and everything yet hasn't been signed. You know, there's a few things that we've got to go through admin wise, but so you can buy a bottle of champagne and celebrate, just don't make it like the, you know, the, um, or anything like that. You know, just a bottle of, I was like, hey, just like a bottle of yellow then is that good enough? She's like, yeah, save the good stuff for when you sign the contract. What
Tina Strachan:was it like when you told your family, cause you've got kids and you're writing middle grade, so what was it like telling them?
Tina Strachan (2):Yeah. Well, you know, it, It's, they knew that, well, they knew that I won the competition, which was a bit of like for them, you know, I think they, well, they knew that I wrote, cause I used to do when I was younger, but I don't think they, so I didn't tell, I don't tell people about my writing. I didn't tell people it was just something that I just did. And um, I don't think they knew that I was even writing again. So they were like, Oh, you want a competition? Like a little bit shocked. And then, so then they came along, you know, for that journey of like. You know, it's going, you know, I'm writing this other thing now and she's taking, you know, it's, you know, probably they're taking it to acquisitions and yeah, so it was, yeah, they were still, I think, yeah, gobsmacked, but, you know, I think I know now the gravity, obviously it was really important and it was really huge. And like I said, like, I think I just felt like I was in a dream. Um, now I was. It's almost like I know how much what the gravity of that is as well, like even more now, because I was kind of just super naive to it and none of it ever felt like it would ever happen. But it's funny, my boss at work was, you know, When I was in the middle of writing Nika, I took some time off of work, not time off, but, you know, drop my hours a little bit just to focus. And, you know, I had some stuff on it home and that, where I just wanted to be home a bit more. And, you know, I was like, Oh, you know, thanks for being so flexible. I really appreciate it. And he's like, you know, who can't stand in the way of someone's dream, you know? And I was like, you know what, it's so funny. Cause it wasn't a dream. Yeah. It was never a dream to be published. I just never thought it would happen. Um, so obviously it is like a dream
Madeleine Cleary:come
Tina Strachan (2):true, but I just, it wasn't even something that I had on my radar. I just didn't think it would happen.
Tina Strachan:So, so that was in 20. So, okay. So eventually you sign your contract. You have your fancy champagne. Then what happened? So that's what end of 2021. And it's now we're looking into 2025. So the. The road to publication does take a lot of time, even after you've signed the deal.
Tina Strachan (2):It takes a really long time. And that is one thing that I'd heard of, you know, and I remember just thinking two or three years or like even one year, but two years publication. That's it. That's like out of control. That's so long. It's like when you start uni and you're like, Oh my God, three years. That's. That's my whole life. And then three years just goes super fast. And, um, you know, I think the competition was awarded in like June, July, my meeting with. Um, Lisa, for some reason I feel like was November for some reason. And then I feel like, yeah, acquisitions was early the next year. So early 2022 and then signing the contract, that deadline on that very first one was actually super tight. I think it was like going to be a year to publication. So Nika and the missing key is heavily illustrated. And that was something that, you know, they always wanted and. And it's incredibly illustrated. It's so gorgeous, yes. Yeah, so, so lucky to have Max Hamilton as my illustrator. If anyone knows her work, like, it's just incredible. Really adds to the story, I think.
Madeleine Cleary:Mm hmm.
Tina Strachan (2):And that took a bit of time trying to find someone who had the right style. And then, of course, we got, we found Max, and she's just Perfect. And it's just been the absolute best. Well worth the wait. I think. Absolutely. Absolutely. So, you know, I think it was a year and then there was a bit, you know, another in the end, it ended up being like another year, but we look back now and go, that was probably very undoable to, to do it in that year to the, to the level that, you know, um, HarperCollins wanted it to be. And, um, yeah, so it would've been a lot of pressure hitting those deadlines. So
Tina Strachan:there's,
Tina Strachan (2):um, there's three books in the series, so, you know, it just feels. Yeah. There's a lot of, there's a lot of deadlines and due dates.
Tina Strachan:Yeah. And then how, I don't actually know how you do it. Well, maybe I do. Maybe it is you getting up at a ridiculous hour in the, in the day to, to, to, to do all of this. Cause having three books coming out in one year is significant, especially when you, when you signed the contract as well, you'd only written that those first 10, 000 words. So you didn't even have like full drafts of each and three books that you're working towards as well. Yeah. Yeah. And you obviously have a busy, busy job as well, a day job. Um, you've got family. How, how do you balance everything, Tina?
Tina Strachan (2):Hmm. How do I balance it or juggle it or cram it in? Um, I think. I think there's a few things, I guess, that, I mean, there's practical things. Like I do wake up at four 30 in the morning and I started doing that when, you know, I was talking about those lovely three hour naps, you know, that my son was having. And that's when I was doing my writing and you know, those naps eventually disappear. Yes. Unfortunately,
Tina Strachan:like, just, can you please go down just to have a three hour nap
Tina Strachan (2):as a six year old. Um, and. And I went back to work when he was about 18 months old as well. So that took that nap time and writing time away and I just thought, well, like, when can I do it? And I thought, well, maybe I'll just set my alarm for five and get up before the kids get up because you know how your day can just, just go away and just disappear or just turn to, you know, turn to poo and you just run out of time for whatever reason the kids can wake up and be sick. And then that's it. Your whole day's gone or, or whatever. So I was like, if I just wake up at five and do an hour, then, then it's done. Like tick the box done for the day. And that's what I was doing. And it seems like an hour works well for you like that. Is that your goal? Yeah. I mean, some people cannot do early mornings. I can't do late nights. Like I'm not, it's probably cause I do wake up at 4 30 in the morning. Maybe I should get up later and see if I can do a late night, but even when I was studying at uni, like I could never pull an all nighter, but I could go to bed and set my alarm for like 2 and be fresh as a daisy, like my brain just like, yep, okay, I've had my little nap and I'm, and I'm, you know, clear just, but I know some people need that time to.
Madeleine Cleary:For their
Tina Strachan (2):brain to wake up, but not for me, I just like do it first thing and I literally push every single other thing out. Like nothing else. Like, don't think about anything else. Just do that. Um, and yeah, so just get it done. And then, you know, after a bit of time, I was like, I should probably fit, you know, exercising back into my routine now as well. And that's when I was like, I'll just get up at 4 30 so I can fit my exercise in that like. six o'clock. And then, um,
Tina Strachan:that's like,
Tina Strachan (2):you know, so that's why how it became 4. 30. Um, yeah. So there's a little bit of practical stuff like that. Cause honestly, I don't know if there's books and things out there about getting up at 5. 00 AM. There's even like, there are like hashtag 5. 00 AM writers club as well. Poor people. Because it really like it is. Um, like you can get so much done in that it's a whole extra hour in your day, basically. And had I not gotten up early and had that time, like I would not have books now.
Madeleine Cleary:Yeah. There's no other time
Tina Strachan (2):when you're a young mom, uh, and with young kids, there is no other time in the day, you know, I would be better with it now. I can kind of write when the kids are up and being disrupted and stuff, but at the time it had to be. Nothing else disrupting me. And, um, yeah, there's a lot of compartmentalization. Like I said, it's like, this is my writing time. It's an hour. Anytime I thought of anything popped in my head, like, Hmm, what am I going to cook for dinner? Like, just put it out of your head. Don't do it even for a second. Just don't check your socials. Don't do anything. Just. And then I just like, you know, my hours up, I put it down, move on to exercise that's over. And then I just all day long, it's just compartmentalized. And that works. That just works for me. I mean, everyone's brain's different and that's how mine likes to do it. I've took me a long time to realize that that's what I needed to be productive, but I think whatever works right. Like
Madeleine Cleary:for
Tina Strachan (2):you, um, it's
Tina Strachan:so good that you found that routine. That's amazing. Yeah. Okay. So it's been three years then I've just counted because it's 2025 since the competition, since you've signed your books coming out in a matter of days into the world. How do you feel? Are you excited or anxious or what, or what's the thing that you're most looking forward to about it?
Tina Strachan (2):Yeah. I mean, I think I'm just looking forward to sharing it with. people and people enjoying it, you know, it's so nice hearing, you know, um, yeah, just like your comments even on it. And, you know, um, it's at that point where we can share a little bit of it on, um, social media now. So people are starting to see some of Max's amazing illustrations and just seeing how excited people are to see that and,
Madeleine Cleary:and
Tina Strachan (2):then read the story around it. I think that's just really nice. Just all that work and being able to. You know, paying off and, um, being able to provide people with, yeah, something fun to, you know, to, to read and to, to look at, cause I can't stop looking at it. So I think that's, yeah, mostly just like sharing it, I think. And having it out in the world and having, you know, I had so much fun writing it. And so I hope people find it fun to read as well.
Tina Strachan:It was super fun to read. I read it in less than a day. I just, I spent a whole morning just absorbed by it.
Tina Strachan (2):Oh, that's so cool. I loved it. Because you always, you always, okay, look, I know it's published and I know it's signed and everything, right? But you still go. But is it any, you know, am I any good at writing?
Tina Strachan:Tina, I can categorically say you are very good at writing. I can't wait to buy this for my nieces as well. I think they're just going to love it. So what are you doing to mark the occasion when, when your book comes out into the world? What are your plans?
Tina Strachan (2):Yeah, it's so funny. I've been so focused on the book launch because I'm having a launch on the 8th of February. So like about a week afterwards. And I've been kind of focused on, on that almost like. So, um, the actual day, yeah, I don't know. I think it very much should be honored with a dinner out, right? Like I should be treating myself to a big old dinner.
Tina Strachan:Yes.
Tina Strachan (2):Um, I, you know, I'm not working that day, so. Maybe let's make plans, Madeleine. What should I do? Maybe I should go for, you know what I should do? Go for a soak or a massage. Just something like that.
Tina Strachan:Yes, I'd love a class. Do something really just good for you, I think. I think it's a great plan because a lot of people, when their book comes out, I've read, They go to a bookshop first thing, but often they don't have the copies. I know. And that's what I'm scared of. So I
Tina Strachan (2):actually don't think I'm going to do that.
Tina Strachan:No, no, instead you have a Tina day. I think that's
Tina Strachan (2):wonderful. And then I might send someone else to check. I'll send mom out. I'll be mom because she loves the shops. Go to the shops, go, go and have a look in all the bookstores that say that they've got the book and let me know if it's there and then maybe I'll come in. She can be my scout.
Tina Strachan:Yes. Yes. It's so, so exciting. Um, I just, I saw on Instagram to Kylie or answer her unsolicited tip to, to daily cruise, which we very appreciate. Yes. Um, so if anyone else has other tips for us, we, we, uh, we are open to them, but I loved her idea, which was. Um, you take a book around your book around to all your events and people can write a message. And I just think that's so beautiful. Are you going to do that? Do you think
Tina Strachan (2):I saw that too? And I had heard of that before and I was like, Oh, that's a really nice idea. What a nice idea. So yeah, I think I will do that. Thanks Kylie. Yeah. Thanks Kylie. She's a friend of the podcast. So yeah, it'd be lovely. It'd be so nice to just. Yeah. See
Tina Strachan:what people would write. Okay. So you've given us all three top tips already. Three tips. Um, I'm not, if you might have another tip, but I also want to know what, what do you, what do you, Tina Strachan wish you had known when you were. Back before you submitted to the CYA conference, when you just finished that draft, when you, just before you're about to come into this world, you said you described yourself as naive and you didn't really know much about the industry. So you've had now three years to get to know this industry. You've interviewed lots of different authors. You're part of both 2024 and 2025 debut crew. So, you know, you know, a lot about the industry now. So what is your. Tip that you're going to leave here for aspiring writers.
Tina Strachan (2):And this is, this is a tricky one. Uh, and that, and that's probably, I don't know if there's just one answer, but what do I wish I knew beforehand? Um, I think how coming the writing community is like, honestly, I just, like I said, didn't tell people about my writing for some reason in my mind. If I wasn't published, I didn't know that I could actually do it. And therefore I wasn't confident enough. Or validated enough to be part of a writing community, which is so silly, isn't it? Like there's art, people do art and they do art groups. There's people who run and they do running groups, but they're not, you know, like gold medalist runners. Right.
Tina Strachan:So you don't have to have a contract. Yeah. It
Tina Strachan (2):was just such a, I don't know, it's such a private thing. I've done it forever. I remember. So I just like never thought it just felt so foreign and strange. And um. Thank you. I, yeah, but honestly I've, so I probably only just started joining groups after I signed or when in the midst of, even like after the competition, I was like, Oh, I can actually do that. And, um, I had someone reach out to me who also had shortlisted in the illustration, uh, in CYA, um, Kristen Willis, who's now also published her books and. Um, I just reached out to me. Didn't know me from a bar or so, but was like, Oh, I, you know, congratulations. And it's so exciting. And, you know, I could see her online at the same time when we were doing the CYA conference. And just being like, wow, this is incredible. I don't know this person it's, this is, but they're, they're so supportive. And then, you know, just started joining on with the groups from there. Like the Gold Coast Riders. you know, um, center and the Queensland writer's center and just, you know, really just started kind of dipping my toes into it. And just honestly, I've made like a full huge circle and a wide circle of, um, friends, um, and yeah, friends now that are in the writing community. And some of them I've not even met yet. And they're all just in real, in real life.
Madeleine Cleary:It's
Tina Strachan (2):just on. You know, socials or things, which I'd heard of that happening and how supportive people are on social media. They've never met anyone. And I just never like in the writer community. And I never really thought that that could happen, but it's true everybody, if you haven't joined your writing community yet and it's inspiring. And I think being published can also be a little bit contagious. You know, um, it, you know, it does seem to, you know, hang out if you hang around. You know, publish authors, a little bit of that magic dust is gonna, you know, spread onto you. Hopefully that's the hope anyway.
Tina Strachan:That's right. I think that's beautiful. Well, Tina, the next time we talk, you're going to have a book out in the world. It's very exciting, isn't
Tina Strachan (2):it? We're here. We're finally here, Madeleine. You're not long after me. I can't wait to interview you about your book.
Tina Strachan:Well, I've still got a few months, so, um, yes, I am just going to be eagerly watching you and learning from your experience as you go out and do it. So it's very exciting.
Tina Strachan (2):I have to say, I didn't realize, um, I'm not the first, so I'm also part of, um, The debut kid lit crew as well 2025. So many crews. So because it is like, and we were just talking about this before we press record that the kid lit, um, publishing sort of world can be quite, and processes can be quite different to, you know, the rest of the, uh, publishing Industry and, um, yeah, so it so sometimes there are these like breakout groups because, you know, but there's chat about illustrators and, you know, all those sorts of things and what, you know, school visits and stuff like that, or, um, you know, story times that people do. At libraries and things like obviously there's it's that's different to and things that may not happen as much. I mean,
Tina Strachan:an adult story time actually sounds quite fun. Maybe that should be something we should champion.
Tina Strachan (2):Oh, adult story time has to have wine though, right? Yeah, that's right. And cheese. Cheese. Okay. Uh, yes, I'd be, I'd be there for that. So I'm not the first to be published from our 2025 debut crew, but I am the first to be published in the kid lit crew. And I think there's actually only been. There'll be like three, you know, that have gone before us. So I'm actually really glad that I got that extra time and I got pushed, you know, bumped to like another year because I got to be part of the 2024 crew and watch every single one of them go through. And that's like 80 people Strachan now and watch them all go through. And it's honestly been. Um, you cannot pay for that wealth of knowledge, you know, I'll have a question cause I'm essentially the last of them. Oh no. Marion Taff, I think is going to be cause she's now 25 as well, but I can literally just tap into that resource and ask a question and just have all these now experienced published authors.
Tina Strachan:Yes.
Tina Strachan (2):Um, give me some advice. And
Tina Strachan:you've beckoned call for free. It's amazing. Okay. Well, I don't want to end this interview because I just keep talking to you all day, Tina. As everyone, all our listeners know, I
Tina Strachan (2):think we broke our rule of like aiming for 45 minutes, which by now I feel like the listeners know that we can't stick to an agenda. Can we? No, no, we're terrible. We're terrible.
Tina Strachan:But, um, yeah, it was a great. Great to hear that story in full. And I think that's the first time I've heard the full story with all the details as well. So I think that's the first time I've told it fully like that as well. So for listening. Thank you for asking about it. I think you might be telling it a few more times. I might need a
Tina Strachan (2):shorter version.
Tina Strachan:All right. Well. And good luck, Tina! Thank you!
Tina Strachan (2):Thanks everyone for listening to that episode. It was really fun to record, but now Madeleine and I are just jumping in because we have some extra special news, a bit of a surprise for this season of The Book Deal.
Tina Strachan:That's right, Tina. We're really excited to introduce To all our listeners, a wonderful debut author for this year. Her name is Natasha Rai, and she's going to be featured in, uh, our episodes once a month. And she's going to be interviewing some amazing writers. And that's, uh, we thought we'd shake things up a little bit this season and introduce Natasha to you all. She's, um, a very experienced and wonderful interviewer, and we think she's going to add great value to our podcast.
Tina Strachan (2):So we're super excited for this season and Natasha is going to bring a nice fresh vibe to the show and her interviews are most definitely still going to be extremely helpful to all the aspiring authors out there.
Tina Strachan:That's right. And so we will catch up still, uh, you and I, Tina, once per month. Um, so you won't get us every fortnight, but you will hear us once per month and that will give us a little bit of extra time while we are also launching our books into the world. Thanks everyone.