The Book Deal
Motivation and inspiration for emerging writers, helping them pave their own pathway to publishing success.
The Book Deal
Book launches, author events and pre-release pressures
In this episode of the Book Deal Podcast, hosts Tina Strachan and Madeleine Cleary delve into the highs and lows of their busy lives as debut authors. They catch up on their recent book launches, including Tina's 'Neeka and the Missing Key' and Madeleine's upcoming 'The Butterfly Women,' discussing their experiences, challenges, and the emotional rollercoaster of seeing their books on shelves. They also cover the excitement of author events, pitches, and the vital balance between publicity and writing. Additionally, the episode highlights upcoming author panels and conferences, offering invaluable insight for both emerging and established writers.
00:00 Welcome to The Book Deal Podcast
00:43 Catching Up with Tina and Madeleine
01:10 Natasha Rai's Upcoming Episode
01:37 Tina's Pathway to Publication
02:19 The Day in the Life of a Published Author
05:54 Book Launch Day Excitement
12:26 Sydney Bookstore Adventures
15:59 Balancing Publicity and Writing
19:15 Final Edits and Self-Imposed Timelines
19:55 Promo Work and Creative Writing Challenges
23:41 The Reunion: A Crime Thriller Preview
25:09 Exciting Social Events and Networking
26:03 Pitching at the Author and Aperol Roadshow
32:05 Pre-Launch Anxieties and Excitement
34:38 Upcoming Events and Debut Author Support
38:36 Concluding Thoughts and Future Plans
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Tina Strachan children's book author
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Madeleine Cleary | Author
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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.
Madeleine Cleary:Tina, it's been a month since we've last spoken. It's been ages.
Tina Strachan:I know it's so long. I miss our more regular chats.
Madeleine Cleary:I know, but we did this for a reason because
Tina Strachan:We're busy. We're very busy. But, I have missed our chats, but I've also really enjoyed having Natasha Rai on the show as well. Ejecting a little bit of, something different, which has been great.
Madeleine Cleary:Yes, we are big Natasha Rai fans. And, um, and actually Natasha's own episodes are where I'm going to be interviewing Natasha because and Onslaught of Light is coming out and this is Natasha's debut novel. And her episode will be coming out on the 6th of March to coincide with the release of her novel. So I'm very looking forward to that as well.
Tina Strachan:it's a busy couple of months. She's busy too. She's going to be super busy afterwards.
Madeleine Cleary:She is.
Tina Strachan:Oh, so yes, a lot has happened, hasn't it?
Madeleine Cleary:Okay. So let's, let's go back to the start. So, Tina, last time we spoke, I interviewed you about your pathway to publication. You're a few days away from launch. Big, big feels, vibes going on. Tell us, how are you feeling? Probably about three or four weeks, I think, after Neeka and the Missing Case come out. How are you feel three weeks. How are you feeling right now?
Tina Strachan:Oh, um, maybe sort of just like living a dream a little bit. I think it's, you know, it's been so busy, but good busy. Uh, like literally, you know, I've had time off work, but my days have been full still like super busy, but it's just been so fun. Um,
Madeleine Cleary:what does a day in a life of a published author look like?
Tina Strachan:well at the moment I'm, actually doing edits for book two as well. So there's a bit of that, but it's been up and down and, Yeah. I mean, so when it first came out, it was that, that was super exciting. So that day, I don't know, it was all of it. It was a bit, um,
Madeleine Cleary:what, okay, so tell us about when you first saw it on the shelf. That would have been the most amazing experience.
Tina Strachan:and that wasn't until it was out, day two that it was out because on the first day that it was out, like I was a little bit scared because I didn't want to go into any bookshop that just didn't have it. And then I walk in and I'm like. My book's not here. This is so sad. So, um, but super exciting cause it was, it's in big W. So I thought surely they'll have stock. Okay. I can count on that. Um, except my, my youngest child decided that he just didn't want to go to the shops.
Madeleine Cleary:I remember this message you sent me.
Tina Strachan:I look, Madeleine, on my release date, I just wanted to walk around like a princess all day. Okay. I wanted to be spoiled. I want to just to The just living the life.
Madeleine Cleary:You told me massages, you, you know, beach walks.
Tina Strachan:Um, and I had a soak, which was nice'cause I, I think it's'cause I just knew what was coming and I was kind of delaying it a little bit. But prepping myself for it. So that was nice. And then, yeah, I mean, like, no one keeps you grounded, like children. So that just brought me right back down. But it was still, and then, yeah, and then I wanted to go out, I thought. I'll take the kids out for dinner, but no, no, I wanted to do that either. So I was
Madeleine Cleary:Oh!
Tina Strachan:checked
Madeleine Cleary:So wait, did you drag your son into BW?
Tina Strachan:No, no, I, you know what? I did it because he was having a little tantrum and I was like, no, you're like killing my vibe now. This is not how I want to see my book dragging you around trying. So no, I'm not going to do it. But that was fine. And I ended up just, you know, I've got some yummy takeaway and of course some bottles of champagne for at home. And then I dragged them along the next day, day two.
Madeleine Cleary:So where did you see it? And tell us about that moment.
Tina Strachan:local Big W because that's the closest to the school for school pickup. Um, and yeah, that was, yeah, just so strange and so amazing to just see it sitting on a, on the shelf. I mean, you know, the, you know, the book quite well by that point, you've seen it, you've held it and, and, um, Yeah. So it's just this thing that's so familiar to you that, you know, only a few people have ever seen. And now it's just there on the shelf. And, and my eldest son was standing in the aisle. And every time someone walked down, he'd be like, Hey mom, can you please buy me a copy of Neeka and the missing key? I hear it's really good. He'd say
Madeleine Cleary:Okay! He's redeemed himself, then.
Tina Strachan:No, that was my eldest. He's he's, he's fully appreciative of, of what that means. So. That was pretty funny, but yeah, that was great. But honestly, just, you know, going, I just, of course, like I did anyway, before my book was published, I'd go into every bookstore that I went past and I still do that. And now just to see them, there's just incredible.
Madeleine Cleary:And not just see them yourself, but have everyone who sees them share them on social media as well, because my feed's been full of Neeka and the Missing K, which I love.
Tina Strachan:it's so nice. I've been so appreciative of people just because everyone's so excited for you as well, you know, so just taking photos and sharing it and it's just been incredible and, all the bookstores and the booksellers doing an amazing job, you know, making sure she's out there front and center and yeah, it's, it's been, it's been a ride that's for sure. So, so yeah, it's been a bit up and down and that, that was some pretty fun weeks and everything kind of feels a bit new.
Madeleine Cleary:I do want to talk, I want to talk about your launch and how you felt during that. But before we do, um, this is something we shared on social media. Um, I went into Dimmicks, Melbourne, so on Collins street. First, the day of, I think I, I must've seen it on the shelf before you did.
Tina Strachan:Yeah, you did. Yeah.
Madeleine Cleary:I was at work and I was like, absolutely. I'm going to go down to Dymocks and see if I can find Tina's book, day one. Um, and it was so, it was amazing. Cause I, I actually asked the lady. Can you point me to it? Dimmix Melbourne's a massive store. I only had a brief amount of time. Um, she pointed me to the shelf. There were two copies on the shelf and I was like, Oh, and so I was like, Oh, I'll just put the two copies as a face out, you know, put it all on display and everything. And I was with my colleague and she's like, Oh, Hey, look at this. And I turn around and there's this giant stack. of Nica and the Missing Key. Huge, huge pile.
Tina Strachan:my gosh.
Madeleine Cleary:just got this, like, it wasn't even my book, but I got so proud and I was like, tingles. I'm so excited for you. And so I was, you know, filming content as you do. And then this young girl comes up and she's, you know, maybe eight or nine. And she's like, oh, I'm looking for a book. What should I get? She's talking to a younger brother. And I just like. Here, take this book. This is written by my friend. It's about a girl who lives in a zoo and it's wonderful and I've read it and you'll really love it. And so yeah, she bought it. So, um, yeah, I just, I mean, I felt like I was living the journey. I've been living the journey with
Tina Strachan:You have,
Madeleine Cleary:weeks.
Tina Strachan:you have, you have been living the journey. Thank you. Oh, how's those wonderful bookseller skills coming back for you? Oh yes. It's like having, it's like having a street team, you know, like everyone's out and they're like, okay, I've saw it here. Um, I turned it face out for you cause it was spine out. It's like, thank you. Good work. Um, but I do have to say on the face out thing, I actually bought a book the other day, literally just cause it was face out. Like I just.
Madeleine Cleary:explain what face out
Tina Strachan:Yes, yes, yes. Do you want to explain it?
Madeleine Cleary:So when you look at a book, when you go into a bookstore and you're looking at the shelf, obviously spine out is where you've got all the little books. And so spine outs generally are for books where you've got two, one or two or three copies. Anything more than that booksellers will try and do a face out. So at least you can see the cover and it's actually creates. more room on the shelf when you can stack them face out. Um, but you tend to only do that when you've got four, five, six copies. Like you said, that's why selling into bookstores, getting your book into bookstores and getting them to buy multiple copies is so important because often it's the cover that sells a book. The cover does matter.
Tina Strachan:Yep. Yeah. No, I truly like, you know, I was in a bookstore and it can be really overwhelming. I've managed to go to some really amazing, huge bookstores, which we just don't have here on the Gold Coast. When I was in Sydney, the other week and
Madeleine Cleary:Oh, just casually when you're in Sydney. Oh my gosh. We have so much to talk about. Okay. So let's, let's start to talk about your launch. So this actually happened. Was it about a week and a half after your release? Okay.
Tina Strachan:yes, yes. So,
Madeleine Cleary:about the day.
Tina Strachan:oh, it was, you know, the whole day was just really good and everything just went really well and, I didn't feel really nervous or anything. I think I was prepared. Because I, you know, had a fair bit of time to, to prepare for it. And I had my beautiful friend Kate Foster, who is also a children's book author, be my emcee on the day. So I knew that together we would be okay. And, you know, I had like, everyone had jobs. My family had jobs. I had my kids. I was so keen to help. And it was just super fun. I had like craft for the kids to keep them entertained because, um, the, my book obviously is called Neeka and the missing key about a missing key. So I had this little like key ring making, little craft set up for them, which was really And, it was at. Fleay's cafe, it's called it, which is at, David Fleay's wildlife park here on the Gold Coast. So it was the most, oh, it was the most perfect backdrop. You know, you walk in and they have these beautiful snakes there and there was a wild koala in a
Madeleine Cleary:snakes. Is
Tina Strachan:snakes. Yes. Big, beautiful, stunning snakes. And there was a wild koala in the tree right out the front. I was just like, this is just a sign. Today's just. going perfectly, um, which was so amazing. So, you know, lots of people went into the wildlife park afterwards and had to look around and the venue was just, everything went perfectly. It was just fun and went smoothly. And, you know, I was
Madeleine Cleary:have a Prosecco or a glass of the bubbles? I hope.
Tina Strachan:you know, you try, but it's super busy because you're talking and I didn't want to have anything until after I, you know, had a chat and you're super busy and trying to say hi to everyone. And, um, And then someone brought me, yeah, some bubbles and I had like a sip and then I started signing and then I signed for an hour. I just didn't stop
Madeleine Cleary:did you forget anyone's name? Because I've heard this is a common.
Tina Strachan:Okay. But I actually had QBD, they're selling books for me and they were so prepared. I had heard, before. And so I had brought some post it notes with me and I'd asked a friend to be my post it note person. So for those people that don't know, a little trick, is If you, if you're in line to get a book signed, if someone can, you know, take your name and put on a postnote, put it on your book. It is because, uh, whoever is signing your book, there's spelling. Also some people want it for other people's names, not their own. But also the author is, who is at the event is so, Overwhelmed and busy and their head is so full that it's, I've heard stories of people forgetting their relatives names. Yeah. Or just spelling it wrong. And, you know, I think I caught myself once where I actually completely left out a word in, you know, I wrote like a, I hope you enjoy niggas wild adventures or something in the book. And I just completely left out a word, but I I thought I've probably did that five times, but, um, Yeah. As long as you don't forget your own names, you're probably okay. But QBD was amazing. Ava from QBD, she had pens and she had post it notes and she had it all under control anyway.
Madeleine Cleary:done this before,
Tina Strachan:she has done this before. Um, so yeah, everything just went amazingly and, and perfectly. Yeah, so it was an incredible day. It was perfect. Yes. And then I felt like it was a bit of a whirlwind after that. There was lots of social media stuff to come from that. There was lots of organizing and then, yeah, I went to Sydney the following week, to meet Maraya from HarperCollins, who was incredible and, Max Hamilton, who's the illustrator of the book, met her as well, which was so fun. I love, I've met Max a couple of times before, but we got to spend the day together and, um, we just spent a whole day going from bookstore to bookstore. We went to Dimmicks and George Street, which is amazing. I'd never been there before. Like,
Madeleine Cleary:my
Tina Strachan:like, How many, like three or four store levels or something like that.
Madeleine Cleary:gorgeous, isn't it?
Tina Strachan:amazing. I went back the next day and just spent like an hour in there. And Harry Hart Hog and Constant Reader and I'm probably gonna say this wrong, kinna, Kuna. Is that right? Kinakuna?
Madeleine Cleary:I think that's how you say it.
Tina Strachan:That, that is just an amazing shop as well. So beautiful. And, um, and also we got to go to the Booktopia offices, which was such a dream.
Madeleine Cleary:tell me about this because like it's, you always see this and it's kind of like a dream of every author to, to, to have this
Tina Strachan:Yes. Yes. Yeah. And it was, it was pretty surreal and,
Madeleine Cleary:Okay, so, so tell us about what Booktopia signing is.
Tina Strachan:Well, so we went to the, I couldn't even tell you what suburb it's in, but it's a little bit out. And, you walk in and it just looks beautiful and, they have this table, with all your books on it, but also the table is actually signed, like the whole thing's just like got signatures all over it from like anyone that you've ever seen do a Booktopia signing has like signed this
Madeleine Cleary:Oh, how
Tina Strachan:which is incredible. And we got to sign it too, which is really cool. Yeah. So I managed to find a little spot and sign that. And that was amazing.
Madeleine Cleary:How long did it take to sign all your
Tina Strachan:Uh, not very long, not very long. Me, me and Max have it down pat. We've got a, like, a nice little, um, process. Cause, cause that's been really cool too to have your illustrator around have double signatures in the book. It's been really incredible. But then the highlight actually was going, going to see the, was going to see the little, the robots.
Madeleine Cleary:Yes! Yes!
Tina Strachan:them before and um, yeah, they, cause they go and, you know, help collect all the, the books. So the orders come in and these little robots go off with their little baskets and help collect all the books. And they have these faces and these names and you stand there and they just all move around you and move around each other. So it was so cute. I kind of felt like I wanted to cuddle them, but at the same time it was a bit strange, but yeah, that was like my highlights. I was just, I'd seen them before and just thought. How interesting they were. So, oh, and then the next day we went to Glee Book Club, which I keep, I always hear people talk about and I see people post about, but I'd never been able to go there. And, um, so that was amazing with Rachel there. And we did, me and Max did their, their book club that afternoon, which was so cute. We just hung out and chatted to the kids and we all made our own little zoo, um, craft. It was so fun. It was so fun. It was such a good weekend. So yeah, it's been busy.
Madeleine Cleary:Wow, it feels like surreal as well. Like, these are the types of things that are just so fraught, far beyond normal life, isn't it?
Tina Strachan:Yeah.
Madeleine Cleary:you out of it.
Tina Strachan:Yeah. But like you said, and you, you follow authors and you see them do these amazing things all the time. And it's like, We're actually doing them. That's incredible. So being, very appreciative of, yeah, everything that I've been able to do. So yes, but now, um, edits for book two,
Madeleine Cleary:Yes, yes, and so when is book two coming out?
Tina Strachan:July.
Madeleine Cleary:Okay, July. It
Tina Strachan:a little bit of time.
Madeleine Cleary:It actually must be really difficult to come down because I feel like publicity is a different type of brain power compared with your creative power when you're writing, editing. Has it been difficult to come down from the high to sit down and do the work?
Tina Strachan:I think I, Yeah, welcomed having the edits come in and it had been so long since I've seen the manuscript, so I was looking forward to that. But, yeah, it has, it is a bit of a change a yeah, a gear shift because you're kind of running on this high of like, all the publicity and the, all the events and just meeting people and, um, yeah, social media is, yeah, definitely has been taking a bit of time, but I've been grateful to have the time to do that. Because it's, it's, um, time sensitive too, isn't it? Like you, you can't, sometimes I'm not particularly quick to post things that I've been up to, but I'm like, I have to do it for this, you know, quite quickly. So, yeah, no, but it's great. It's been great. It's been great to get my head back into the editing space. So.
Madeleine Cleary:You're always so good. Have you been able to maintain your writing every day while on publicity? Really? You're amazing. I don't know how you do it.
Tina Strachan:I think, well, cause I've taken some time off, but it's been really awesome. I've been able to get into a manuscript that I'd almost finished completely outside of this series. And, um, I was actually a bit worried if I'd be able to get back into it, but you know what? I've just written some awesome chapters on that too. So I feel like I've had my head in a few different places, but, yeah, I'm just trying to make the most of my time.
Madeleine Cleary:I really admire you, Tina. I don't think I could do that, because that's what I'm struggling with at the moment, is trying to Well, I think the last time we spoke and had this kind of chat was in December. And I thought, I think back then I was like, Oh yes, I'm progressing this manuscript. Um, I've pretty much halfway. If I just keep going, I want to have it done by the end of the year. Well, you know, things end up. It, I haven't really done any work on it since then. Um, and very mindful of that as well. Like it's been a couple of months since I've actually picked it up because I, I find I struggle to actually have two things going at once because there's been so much stuff going on with the butterfly women. Um, in the background, that's taken up a lot of my energy and time. And I really struggled to put anything else towards. Book two that I'm working on at the moment. Um, so I've had to, um, I think come to just sit with that and, and accept that. And at first I was feeling super guilty and bad, but I think, and this is not just for published writers, but for emerging writers as well, things happen in life that you can't control and you can't just, or if creative life pursuits. You need to put your best self into them, put the right energy into it. And I just know that over the last couple of months, I haven't been able to put that right energy to it. So, this book that I'm writing, it's going to be written in the pockets of time, which is very different to how I've written, how I wrote The Butterfly Women, which was over a nice consistent period. Mmm.
Tina Strachan:Yeah. Yeah. I know. And I guess, well, I guess things are changing now, you know, you're all very close to being a published author and yeah, things will change your writing style, I suppose. Um, but have you, but you have only just finished your absolute final edits though haven't you?
Madeleine Cleary:Uh, yeah, literally yesterday.
Tina Strachan:Yesterday. Isn't it funny? Like that's, we put so much pressure on ourselves. Like that's, so it's, it's not even been 24 hours, Madeleine. And um, I think, yes, let's, you will find, you'll probably find that time now because you can kind of maybe put a, put a little like stop up now behind. Behind the butterfly women for a little bit, you know, it's a different kind of work that you're going to do on it now, right? You're going to work on the promo. You've
Madeleine Cleary:Mm hmm.
Tina Strachan:that, you know, and commitments that you have to do around that, working up to it and your launch, and it's a different kind of work, but it won't be that. As creatively writing, I don't think.
Madeleine Cleary:No, no,
Tina Strachan:Yeah. So you'll probably, yeah, you'll probably feel like you'll want to get back to work because you do have that space and that outlet. And yeah, it's funny. You sound like me. I get sometimes if I'm not progressing, I like, I get super anxious about it, like, and, and really kind of annoyed, like, Oh, I've still haven't written it. I must write it. And, you know, it reminds me of an interview that I did recently on the book deal, um, with, uh, Kirsten Ealand and she had that quote. I think I used it as our quote on socials. That was something along the lines of it. These are self imposed. Timelines that you're putting on yourself. No one, yeah, no one else is doing this. No one else is making you work this hard. Just, you just got to do what you can. And, you know, Kirsten, she, she suggested just quitting. She found if she quit writing for a bit, it would just, you know, the flow would just come back to her anyway. But, um, yeah, it is, it's all, we're just putting those timelines on ourselves, aren't we? So,
Madeleine Cleary:That's right. That's right. And it is, it is definitely self imposed. But, um, I think I hit a point in my writing where I felt stuck. And so, and I tried a couple of times, but it was also, and then it got stuck, but it was also coinciding with lots of other things going on in my personal
Tina Strachan:Mm hmm. Yeah. And I think you can try as much as you want to block that out. Like I really try to compartmentalize, but I found this and I think this is where you are now in the weeks before, um, launch of the book. You do have these other deadlines that aren't in self imposed, they are actual, like your book launch is this date and your book is coming out on this date. Like you're, you, there's nothing you can do to change that. So sometimes you do need to actually just let that go because these right now is your actual book that is on the shelf that is coming out and people are going to be able to buy it. And that is, that is where all the energy probably should go in that time.
Madeleine Cleary:Yes. And it's pretty consuming, this type of energy you have to give to these types of things as well. Like it's, it's really consumed a lot of my thoughts, like normally, you know, in a normal time I'd sort of be thinking about my book and, and, and you sort of, it's a really great time to be able to ponder questions in the book and plot holes and all sorts of things. I'm not doing that. At the moment, it's okay, my to do list. There's 20 things I have to do. How am I going to prioritize this while also working full time social life is a lot at the moment as well. We've, you know, got lots of things going on every weekend. So it's like, how do I sort of plot out that time? So for me, the creative writing has just had to drop in the last two months, and that's been the first time in years that's had to drop. And it's so super sad, but like you said, I've got a focus, I've got the Butterfly Women coming out in two months now, so that has to be my number one focus. And I'm okay with that, like, I've come to that acceptance, I'm just not gonna put that pressure on myself, so.
Tina Strachan:Yeah. And it'll come back.
Madeleine Cleary:imposed deadlines, it will come back. And I'm very happy. Yeah, I'm very excited to get back to it too, but I want to also have a bit of space to get back into it because I'm afraid if I jump back in, in a month's time, it's, it's all going to blow up again.
Tina Strachan:Yeah. Yeah. No, you're right. Yeah. And you can't force it. Hey, it's, it's hard,
Speaker:I'm Bronwyn Rivers, author of The Reunion, a crime thriller being released by Hachette on the 11th of February 2025. I was born and grew up in Newcastle, and now I live here in Sydney's inner west with my partner and two children. The hunting party meets the dry in this tense thriller set in the Australian bush. The pitch indicates how The Reunion derives from three things I love. Atmospheric country house mysteries, tense, secret filled psychological thrillers, and the harsh beauty of the Australian bush. It is set in a fictional location somewhere within the rugged forests of the Greater Blue Mountains region west of Sydney. A place I visited every year while growing up. The story. Ten years ago, six young friends went on a hike into this bushland. Only five came out alive. Now, on the tenth anniversary of Ed Fletcher's death, the remaining five friends are reuniting at the home of Ed's mother Martha, a farmhouse lying deep within the forest. When the friends arrive, the house is in terrible condition and Martha is obviously disturbed. The weather is very hot and the house is very isolated. Something is about to go horribly wrong. What is the truth about Ed Fletcher's death all those years ago? And how far will someone go in order to get it?
You
Tina Strachan:But you have been having a, um, very exciting social life. You just mentioned, you've, you've been to a few fun things recently. It's
Madeleine Cleary:fun last Tuesday night, um, Affirm Press put on, and it was in conjunction with Simon Schuster, um, the, it was Author and Aperol Roadshow, which was to introduce authors from Simon Schuster and Affirm Publishing this year, so it was really fun. That's about 12 authors, I think. And I actually had no idea what to expect. So, um, Christine Newell, who's, um, another debut with Affirm. She's amazing. And I've read her book. I just finished it this morning and it's amazing. Five Seasons and Soul. So I'll be putting a post up on my social media. It comes out on Tuesday this week. So here's a bit of a plug. It, it's amazing. It was such a beautiful book. So Christine and I. We met up beforehand because we thought we'll go into the party together and I was on a
Tina Strachan:safety in numbers.
Madeleine Cleary:safety numbers rooftop in Melbourne. We walked up there. It's gorgeous afternoon. Um, and yeah, we didn't really know what to expect, but they had name tags for us, like special author name tags. So there's 12 of us. And then I looked at the, I looked, I didn't know who the other authors were. And I looked and I was like. Brie Lee and Kate Mildenhall, Mark Russell, Matt Rogers, like all these like very big name authors. And, um, and so I was like, Oh, this is cool. And so then they introduced, so they invited a whole bunch of booksellers from around Victoria and it. Instead of doing formal presentations, which is what they do each year, authors will present their books and pitch their books. Instead, it was a bit of a game. So, which was really cool. They had this little passport and, um, booksellers had to approach you when you have your little name tag on, they know you're an author and they have to ask for your pitch and then get your signature in their passport.
Tina Strachan:oh my gosh.
Madeleine Cleary:And any bookseller who has all the signatures at the end of the night goes into a draw to win a thousand dollar gift card.
Tina Strachan:Oh, this is so cool.
Madeleine Cleary:it's really
Tina Strachan:idea.
Madeleine Cleary:So that means that we as authors don't have to awkwardly, especially us debuts who don't. I don't really know many people awkwardly tap people on the shoulder and say, hello, can you please buy my book? So,
Tina Strachan:That, that is awkward, isn't it? And even having to do the whole pitch is awkward. So how many times did you have to do your pitch during the night then?
Madeleine Cleary:well, I've, and this is the thing, this is the, this, it would, this is why it was so surreal. And I was talking with Kate Mildenhall about this after the event, like it's, um, first time I've actually really. I haven't talked and pitched the book to anybody because the book has been in my little circle, my nice little comfy editorial circle for like the last 18 months. And so I had developed a pitch at lunchtime in my day job. Because I hadn't really had time to think about it. I was like, okay, this will do. And cause I thought I better prepare a pitch. They didn't tell us to, but I thought I better pair one just in case.
Tina Strachan:work.
Madeleine Cleary:And yeah. And then, um, when I rocked up with them, I was like, yep. So you'll have a minute to pitch to each of the booksellers. And I was like, okay, cool. Glad I've got that ready. And, um, and so, yeah, so by the end of the night, it's interesting. And Christine and I were chatting about this. At first it was quite stilted the pitch because it was came out of memory. And then by the end of the night, It was, we, you tested it so many times that you got to know when to add in information and insert things and play with things. And it was like quite natural and, and comfortable. And, and thankfully,
Tina Strachan:the Aperol spritzes as the night went on was certainly helpful for people.
Madeleine Cleary:it was helpful for some people, but I was in this really also awkward. Oh God, I shouldn't say this on the podcast, TMI, but anyway, everyone knows all my, my bowel
Tina Strachan:wouldn't be the first time.
Madeleine Cleary:so, so, and this is, it was hilarious, actually. I, um, had a, had to do a procedure on Thursday last week. And so Tuesday was prepping for this procedure. And so Tuesday, I was meant to take my first laxative.
Tina Strachan:You were so brave!
Madeleine Cleary:So
Tina Strachan:before booksellers and
Madeleine Cleary:I was meant to take it just before the evening and I thought, I spoke to the pharmacist and I explained, I had a very important event to attend. And she said, I would highly recommend you do
Tina Strachan:Don't!
Madeleine Cleary:take it. She's like, if you wait till when you get home, it should be okay. So I was like, okay. So I was not allowed to eat
Tina Strachan:I'm glad you checked. It'll be fine. Surely it'll be okay if I just have one.
Madeleine Cleary:you imagine? Anyway. So at the event, um, uh, yeah, I was. I couldn't eat or drink anything except for water. And there was all this delicious food and I was so hungry. And this poor, lovely server, she kept coming up with all these different food options for me. And I kept saying, no, uh, no, that's okay, no. And she, I could tell she was getting frustrated. So then she brought this whole other dish for me and she's like, it's not meat. It's cauliflower. Like she must've thought I was a vegetarian. Uh, And I was like, I didn't want to say, oh, I'm not eating because I'm about to.
Tina Strachan:issue. Oh, good on her for keeping on trying.
Madeleine Cleary:I was like, I'm just not eating. Um, so yeah, I was starving. I was so hungry and my, you know, you're trying to like pitch and, and it would have been nice to have a glass of Prosecco or an Aperol. But, um, but no, it was great. Um, I had this one woman, she was so lovely. She beelined after the initial chat, she'd like beelined towards me. And she's like, Sales reps just come into the bookshop to talk about your book. I am so excited. I just wanted to say how excited I am about the Butterfly Women. Very keen to get you on to have to, you know, get you to sign books, do an event, whatever. Like, I was like, oh, I didn't even have to pitch. She's like, you don't need to pitch because I already know what it's about. I'm so excited. Like, I was, it was just this surreal fairy tale night and I was on a high for the rest of the day. So I got home at about 10 30 PM, took my laxative, um, logged in to work at 8 AM the next day.
Tina Strachan:Yeah. I, it's, I know what you mean by you feel like it's just in your little comfy editorial sort of enclosed people and for early readers and stuff like that, the only ones, and then all of a sudden people outside, no, and they're talking to you about it and they've read it or they've seen it or there's comment on it. It's, it's a whole new world and that's very exciting, Madeleine. It's all just
Madeleine Cleary:Okay. So I want to ask you, um, because the, the thing that I'm getting the common thing, common thread, I suppose, for all authors before their books come down, so they're quite anxious in the lead up to, but then as soon as the books released, they feel fine. I didn't get the sense from you that you were overly anxious in the lead up. It's that I knew you were very busy, but I don't know if you felt that, but I'm keen to hear what you think.
Tina Strachan:I don't think I felt anxious. I think I had the same sort of, um, concerns, I guess that, oh, what if, what if it's just really bad? What if it's a really bad book? No one wants to read it. Um, and I've made a big mistake in this somewhere that somehow no one's picked up, you know, all those things that we all do,
Madeleine Cleary:Yes.
Tina Strachan:but that's, that's, I think just. normal, um, for any author, but I didn't really feel too much anxiety in the lead up. I just think I was excited. And, you know, it's been such a long, it's been two years since I signed and I think I was just like, here, we're here. We're finally here. so I think it was a different kind of, it was more of an excitement of what's to come.
Madeleine Cleary:Mm hmm. Mm hmm.
Tina Strachan:come. And I just knew, you know, I was pretty excited to have, you know, six weeks off, off work to, to do writery stuff. And, um, you know, I've got lots of words down and in between, doing all the publicity stuff and just enjoying the ride. I just really wanted to have that time to enjoy the ride. So I knew that was all coming and I was just excited, I think for it. Yeah. Are you feeling the anxiety Madeleine or?
Madeleine Cleary:Um, no, I don't feel anxious at the moment. Um, I feel very excited. Um, I had, did have a Bit of a sort of last couple of days, oh, is everything I'm writing really crap. Um, but I've, I've moved past that. I recognize that's just a natural thing for people to think. Um, no, I'm, I'm really, really excited now and it's time is going fast. I didn't quite, I think, I quite, I think last year I was like, Oh, time's going really slowly. It's still end of April, still six months away. And then suddenly it's like, Oh, okay. We're two months out now.
Tina Strachan:Yes. I, I felt the same and I don't know if it was because there was Christmas in the last and all that sort of thing in the last month before it came out, but it just, that all of a sudden it was just here and it's out and it just flies. And it's been out for three weeks now, you know, that's, um, that's pretty crazy, you
Madeleine Cleary:So what does your next few weeks look like then? So you've still got the time of work, so you've got, and you've got book two edits. Do you have other Neeka and Missing Key events?
Tina Strachan:I do and I have one this weekend and that's exciting because this episode will be um, aired when there's still a couple of days to go. So if anyone's in Brisbane, uh, and would like to come to, I'm actually having a Brisbane launch as well at Where the Wild Things Are and in Brisbane and that's on this Saturday, which is the 1st of March and it's at 10am. And, um, yeah, we'll put the link in the show notes, but where the wild things are, lots of people know what it is. It's right next to Avid Reader,
Madeleine Cleary:Mm
Tina Strachan:In Brisbane and, it's an incredible kid's bookstore and the team there are amazing. And yeah, come along, we'll be there. There'll be cupcakes. There'll be key ring making. There'll be, there'll be my animal game called, who's food and who's poo. There's two parts to it. Super fun. Yeah. So, so that's what's happening this weekend. And then, you know, um, returning back to work the following weekend. So I feel like, uh, everything will just sort of settle into the new normal,
Madeleine Cleary:hmm.
Tina Strachan:we're working, um, edits are due at the end of this week, so I'll get them in and, you know, just work towards book two in July.
Madeleine Cleary:So exciting. I can't believe it. July, another one. You're going through all this again.
Tina Strachan:I know. Hey, you know, what else exciting that's happening in July for all our listeners is, the CYA conference. Um, is,
Madeleine Cleary:everyone will know about this if you've been listening to the podcast for a while.
Tina Strachan:yes, they've just released a whole new round of, editors and agents from all the different houses, for assessments. So you can, book in to, um, get assessments from many, many different, publishing houses and, and editors and agents as well. So, and they book out really quickly. Yes.
Madeleine Cleary:Get onto that, everybody. Very, very. Are you going to be part of the assessing crew, Tina?
Tina Strachan:No, but I'm going to be a presenter there because I'm a CYA success story. They call it. Um, so yeah, I'll be presenting. So the conference is in July as well. So that's very exciting.
Madeleine Cleary:amazing. Amazing. Um, I'm so excited and we've, we've been having some fun chats as well in the interim with, um, some of our day 20, 25 debuts, we've had some great releases coming out this year, the start of this year, so. Um, yeah, we really encourage everyone to, to support, you know, your Australian debut authors. Um, and if you do enjoy their book, share it on social media, um, tell them about it. Cause it's just, you know, I know from your experience, it's just great, isn't it? To hear from, from readers.
Tina Strachan:It's so nice. Honestly, that's the, that was probably the most exciting part of launch day. Just having my phone just constantly, like someone's shared another reel. Cause I've, you know, they've seen the book in the store and, and just knowing how excited everyone is. Um, so also, yes, if you do see the debut crew books on the shelves, make sure to turn them cover out. So I
Madeleine Cleary:a list of our debut books as well. Um, so Natasha. Um, on the podcast, um, actually has a newsletter, um, that she releases every month with a little bit of a Q and a, um, with all of our debut authors for this year. So definitely sign up to that.
Tina Strachan:And fellow Debut crewer, Holly Braunbauer, if you follow her on Insta, she does, monthly updates as well of everybody's books that are coming out in that month. So that's, that's a really good way of keeping on top of, the Debut crew for this year and finding some new reads and a new author maybe to follow.
Madeleine Cleary:Yes, do we really encourage it? So, um, and I, we had the debut panel interview last week as well with some of our amazing crew. So, um, it was great chat and perhaps. Panel chats are a way forward for the book deal. I think it was really fun.
Tina Strachan:Yeah. Yeah. It's definitely fun. Uh, yeah. I think we're going to do a kid lit one soon as
Madeleine Cleary:Yes!
Tina Strachan:keep an ear out or eye out for that one. Um, yeah, very soon.
Madeleine Cleary:Amazing.
Tina Strachan:Oh, so great to catch up with you, Madeleine.
Madeleine Cleary:it's been too long, Tina, and um, I'm just so thrilled for you on your success. And from all of the sounds, it sounds like your book's flying, which is amazing when I've been turning to booksellers. So we are so happy for you, Tina.
Tina Strachan:Oh, thanks. That's so exciting. But I'm, I'm very excited to follow you in these next few months before the butterfly women come out.
Madeleine Cleary:Yes. And we will be talking before then. And, um, you will be interviewing me as well, I
Tina Strachan:Oh! I am so excited for this! When do I get my arc?
Madeleine Cleary:Yeah, that's right. Well, I've just finished the, uh, proofread. So,
Tina Strachan:Okay, send it over! I'm excited.
Madeleine Cleary:all right. Lovely to chat. It was always, you know,
Tina Strachan:Same for you, bye!
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