Writer's Book Club Podcast By cover art

Writer's Book Club Podcast

By: Michelle Barraclough
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  • Summary

  • Writer’s Book Club is just like a regular book club but each month we’ll take a deep dive into a specific novel from a writing craft perspective.

    It's a podcast for people who read books with a writer’s eye and find themselves wishing they could ask the author specific writing questions about the novel.

    Essentially, it’s a no-holds-barred insight into an author’s writing craft and process, applied to a real-life novel.

    Shownotes are available at www.writersbookclubpodcast.com
    © Michelle Barraclough
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Episodes
  • Charlotte Wood

    Charlotte Wood
    May 1 2024
    Charlotte Wood talks about the writing craft and process behind her novel Stone Yard Devotional. Writing topics include creative process and inspiration, first drafts, novel structure, writing in fragments, point of view, narrative momentum, voice, description and writing at sentence level. Charlotte is such a beautiful writer but also a seasoned writer - she’s been to all the places you, as a writer, have been or are heading towards - and she generously shares all that wisdom. One of the things I love about Charlotte is her curiosity. She’s constantly exploring and expanding upon her own creative process and draws inspiration and motivation from all areas of the arts, not just books and writing.You’ll find links to buy both paperback and ebook versions of Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood here.REFERENCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODESubtraction - Charlotte Wood’s newsletterPortrait of a Lady on Fire - directed by Céline SciammaCéline Sciamma - BAFTA Screenwriters’ Lecture SeriesCharlotte Wood interviews Joan Silber on The Writer’s RoomThe Art of Time in Fiction by Joan SilberLouise Bourgeois, ArtistThe Wren, The Wren by Anne EnrightMy Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth StroutMaking Stories: How Ten Australian Novels Were Written by Kate Grenville and Sue WoolfeLiving Autobiography Trilogy by Deborah LevyCourtney CollinsUnless by Carol ShieldsThe Garret Podcast: Charlotte WoodRead This Podcast: Charlotte WoodMelbourne Writers’ Festival: 6-12 May 2024Sydney Writers’ Festival: 20-26 May 2024Brisbane Writers’ Festival: 30 May – 2 June 2024ABOUT CHARLOTTE WOODCharlotte Wood is the author of seven novels and three books of non-fiction. Her new book Stone Yard Devotional was described by the UK Guardian as ‘a quiet novel of immense power’ and has been praised by authors Anne Enright, Tim Winton, Karen Joy Fowler, Hannah Kent and Paula Hawkins among others. Her previous books include The Luminous Solution, a book of essays on the creative process; the international bestseller, The Weekend; and The Natural Way of Things which won a number of prizes including The Stella Prize and the Prime Minister’s Literary Award. Her features and essays have appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, Literary Hub, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Saturday Paper among other publications.In 2023 Belvoir Theatre Company staged an adaptation of her novel The Weekend, and her novel The Natural Way of Things featured in ABC Television’s 2021 series The Books That Made Us.She has produced a podcast of interviews with artists, The Writer's Room with Charlotte Wood, and in 2024 launched a monthly newsletter on the creative process titled Subtraction. In 2019 Charlotte was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) and was named one of the Australian Financial Review’s '100 Women of Influence'. Website: https://www.charlottewood.com.au/ Substack: Subtraction - Charlotte Wood’s newsletterInstagram:: https://www.instagram.com/charlottewoodwriter/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charlottewoodwriterBuy Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood here.Buy One of Us is Missing by BM Carroll here.BUILD AN AUTHOR WEBSITE COURSETo receive notifications about course dates, the free author website workshop and early bird discounts, sign up here - https://www.freshwebdesign.com.au/course This podcast is recorded on the beautiful, unceded lands of the Garigal people of the Eora nation.Full show notes available at writersbookclubpodcast.com
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    1 hr and 21 mins
  • Hannah Richell

    Hannah Richell
    Apr 2 2024
    Hannah Richell talks about the writing craft and process behind her novel The Search Party. Writing topics include structure, point of view, character development, dual timelines, backstory, reveals, editing, and writer’s retreats. Have you ever read a novel and thought to yourself ‘how on earth did the author pull it off?’ That’s exactly what crossed my mind when I read The Search Party by Hannah Richell. Hannah is a beautiful writer and her talent is on display again with this novel, her fifth. The Search Party is bit of a departure for her. Hannah’s novels always have a mystery element but with this novel she’s taken it up a notch. It’s not a police procedural but the police investigation does play an important part in how the novel is structured. And of course, at the heart of the novel, as with all of Hannah’s novels, are the relationships, this time with a focus on friendships, specifically old friendships that don’t necessarily stand the test of time.Hannah and I had the most wonderful chat. She talked about how she wrangled the 8 points of view, how she restructured the novel when she realised it wasn’t ‘hooky’ enough, her editing process, how she managed the dual timeline and incorporated backstory, and what she did to make sure the reveals were in the best place. We also talked about writing retreats - how she does it, where she goes, why she goes. I know many of you have the same kind of life constraints that Hannah does - partner, kids, work - so this is something I’m sure you’ll be curious about.You’ll find links to buy both paperback and ebook versions of The Search Party by Hannah Richell here.ABOUT THE SEARCH PARTYMax and Annie Kingsley have left the London rat race to set up a glamping site in the wilds of Cornwall. They invite old university friends – TV star Dominic, doctor and new mum Kira, and free-spirited Jim and Suze – and their children for a trial weekend but the reunion quickly veers off-course.First, there’s The Incident around the campfire on the first night. The following afternoon, a storm quickly develops off the rugged North Coast. When one of their group goes missing, all hell breaks loose. And as the winds batter the bell-tents, emotions run high and tension mounts for all the characters.Who is lying in hospital, who has gone missing and who is the body on the beach below the cliffs . . .?Gripping, cleverly structured and brimming with secrets and lies, this is a masterclass in narrative tension and a chilling exploration of the ways in which aspiration and anxiety collide. It will keep you guessing until the last page. ABOUT HANNAH RICHELLHannah Richell was born in Kent and spent her childhood years in Buckinghamshire and Canada. After graduating from the University of Nottingham, she worked in the book publishing and film industries in both London and Sydney. She is a dual citizen of Great Britain and Australia, and currently lives in the South West of England with her family. Richell is the author of international bestsellers Secrets of the Tides (2012), The Shadow Year (2014), The Peacock Summer (2019) and The River Home (2020). Her work has been translated into twenty-one languages. Wow, phenomenal. Hannah is also a judge for the Richell Prize for Emerging Writers which was set up in memory of her late husband Matt.Website: https://www.hannahrichell.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahrichell Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/hannahrichellauthor X: https://twitter.com/hannahrichell Buy The Search Party by Hannah Richell here.Special shout out to Penelope Janu, Fiona Taylor and Jemma from Reading For Keeps for your excellent questions. Give these writers and readers a follow on their socials.BUILD AN AUTHOR WEBSITE COURSETo receive notifications about course dates, the free author website workshop and early bird discounts, sign up here - https://www.freshwebdesign.com.au/course This podcast is recorded on the beautiful, unceded lands of the Garigal people of the Eora nation.Full show notes available at writersbookclubpodcast.com
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    1 hr and 24 mins
  • Suzanne Leal

    Suzanne Leal
    Mar 4 2024

    Suzanne Leal discusses the craft and process behind her novel The Watchful Wife.

    Suzanne talks about balancing external and internal dialogue and how you can create a really vivid scene in the mind of the reader without too much description, literally just with what the characters are saying, plus dialogue tags and actions. Suzanne reads a section of the novel that perfectly demonstrates this technique so listen out for that. We discussed how she balances difficult content and serious subject matter with humour. Suzanne also talked about the importance of rhythm and pacing in her work, and how she uses her own emotional state at any given time, in her writing.

    You’ll find links to buy both paperback and ebook versions of The Watchful Wife by Suzanne Leal here.

    ABOUT SUZANNE LEAL

    Suzanne is the author of novels The Watchful Wife, The Deceptions, The Teacher’s Secret and Border Street. Her debut children’s novel is Running With Ivan, a story of time travel and adventure. A regular presenter at literary, corporate, community and school events, she is the former chair of the fiction and poetry panel for the Prime Minister's Literary Awards and is a board member of BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival. From 2017 to 2019, she was the senior judge for the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards. A keen traveller, she is a fluent French and German speaker.

    Suzanne’s third novel, The Deceptions, was inspired by a story told to her by her former landlords and neighbours, Fred and Eva Perger, Czech-Australians who had survived the Holocaust. The wartime experiences of Fred Perger also inspired Suzanne’s debut children’s novel, Running With Ivan. A fascination for the intrigues of the schoolyard inspired Suzanne’s second novel, The Teacher’s Secret, which follows the joys and tribulations of the beachside village of Brindle and the local school at the centre of this close-knit community.

    A lawyer experienced in child protection, criminal law and refugee law, Suzanne is a senior member of the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal and former member of the Refugee Review Tribunal. She lives in Sydney with her husband, David, her four children, Alex, Dominic, Xavier and Miranda and their Japanese Spitz, Milly.

    Website: https://www.suzanneleal.com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzannelealauthor/

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suzanne.author

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbn2ZRHNnXTF4JDuycDeNSQ

    To enter this month’s competition, head to Writers Book Club Instagram or Facebook and look for the giveaway post.

    Buy The Watchful Wife by Suzanne Leal here.

    Buy The Search Party by Hannah Richell here.

    This podcast is recorded on the beautiful, unceded lands of the Garigal people of the Eora nation.

    Full show notes available at writersbookclubpodcast.com
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    53 mins
Art Literary History & Criticism
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