The Book Deal

Kate Mildenhall on publishing and resilience, publicity tips and what it means to be a good industry citizen

Kate Mildenhall on publishing and resilience, tips for interviewing other writers and what it means to be a good industry citizen Madeleine interviews acclaimed and bestselling author Kate Mildenhall. Kate gives an honest account of her journey to publication, detailing the rejections and the success along the way.  Kate's latest novel, THE HIDING PLACE [https://www.simonandschuster.com.au/books/The-Hiding-Place/Kate-Mildenhall/9781761429057] (November 2025, S&S), described as 'White Lotus meets The Slap, is a razor-sharp literary thriller about what happens when good people make bad decisions. Kate discusses themes like land ownership, the environment, and the evolving dynamics of long-term friendships. Kate offers valuable tips for writers navigating publicity, handling interviews, and maintaining the momentum in their writing careers. This engaging and generous chat is a must-listen for aspiring authors and literary enthusiasts. 00:00 Welcome to the Book Deal Podcast 00:56 Introducing Kate Mildenhall 04:04 Kate's Journey to Becoming an Author 13:37 The Rollercoaster of Publishing 19:26 Navigating Rejection and Finding Success 29:27 Tips for Authors on Publicity and Interviews 34:45 Setting Boundaries in Publicity 37:18 Discussing 'The Hiding Place' 40:02 From Hummingbird to The Hiding Place 41:06 Camping Memories and Inspirations 49:40 The Challenges of Writing Multi-POV 57:29 Themes of Land Ownership and Environmentalism 01:03:50 Future Writing Plans and Dreams 01:07:31 Final Tips for Writers Join our Patreon community [https://www.patreon.com/thebookdealpodcast/] for less than the cost of a coffee per month and support the pod! Your contribution will go to directly paying our sound producer, Brogan, and to help us bring you the conversations with industry professionals you love. Follow The Book Deal podcast on Instagram The Book Deal podcast (@the_book_deal_podcast) • Instagram photos and videos [https://www.instagram.com/the_book_deal_podcast/] You can find out more about Tina, Madeleine and Natasha and follow their journeys here: Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos [https://www.instagram.com/td_strachan/] Tina Strachan children's book author [https://www.tinastrachan.com/about-tina-strachan-childrens-book-author] Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos [https://www.instagram.com/madeleineclearywrites/] Madeleine Cleary | Author [https://www.madeleinecleary.com.au/] Natasha Rai (@raiwriting) • Instagram photos and videos [https://www.instagram.com/raiwriting/] Natasha Rai | Author | Mentor [https://www.raiwriting.com.au/] If you want to stay in the know, sign up to Madeleine, Tina and Natasha's newsletters for the latest news first. Madeleine: Subscribe here... [https://madeleinecleary.substack.com/?r=5df0no&utm_campaign=pub-share-checklist]

Believing in yourself and the benefits of constant learning with Valerie Khoo, CEO of the Australian Writers Centre

Join our Patreon community [https://www.patreon.com/thebookdealpodcast/] for less than the cost of a coffee per month and support the pod! Your contribution will go to directly paying our sound producer, Brogan, and to help us bring you the conversations with industry professionals you love. Follow The Book Deal podcast on Instagram The Book Deal podcast (@the_book_deal_podcast) • Instagram photos and videos [https://www.instagram.com/the_book_deal_podcast/] You can find out more about Tina, Madeleine and Natasha and follow their journeys here: Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos [https://www.instagram.com/td_strachan/] Tina Strachan children's book author [https://www.tinastrachan.com/about-tina-strachan-childrens-book-author] Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos [https://www.instagram.com/madeleineclearywrites/] Madeleine Cleary | Author [https://www.madeleinecleary.com.au/] Natasha Rai (@raiwriting) • Instagram photos and videos [https://www.instagram.com/raiwriting/] Natasha Rai | Author | Mentor [https://www.raiwriting.com.au/] If you want to stay in the know, sign up to Madeleine, Tina and Natasha's newsletters for the latest news first. Madeleine: Subscribe here... [https://madeleinecleary.substack.com/?r=5df0no&utm_campaign=pub-share-checklist]

Nadia Mahjouri on finding writing support and submitting work to as many opportunities as possible

Natasha Rai interviews Nadia Mahjouri, a Moroccan Australian writer, about her debut novel 'Half Truth'. Nadia shares the journey of crafting her novel from mixing memoir and fiction, drawing from her personal experiences to the trials and triumphs of securing a book deal. She discusses her creative process, the challenges of fictionalizing real events, and the importance of emotional truth in storytelling. Nadia also provides valuable advice on how to navigate the writing and publishing process, emphasizing the significance of persistence, seeking feedback, and the willingness to put one's work out there despite the setbacks. 00:00 Welcome to the Book Deal Podcast 00:56 Introducing Nadia Mahjouri 02:00 Nadia's Debut Novel: Half Truth 04:19 The Journey of Writing Half Truth 06:50 From Memoir to Fiction 13:56 The Path to Publication 14:03 Claiming the Writer Identity 25:21 Building a Writing Community 28:01 Post-Assessment Actions 28:32 Navigating Feedback and Courses 30:56 The Road Trip and Penguin Submission 32:12 Facing Rejections and Ghosting 33:36 Literary Speed Dating and Agent Search 37:19 Publishable Program and Mentorship 39:37 Final Offers and Negotiations 45:46 Reflections and Advice for Writers 49:25 Closing Thoughts and Intentions Join our Patreon community [https://www.patreon.com/thebookdealpodcast/] for less than the cost of a coffee per month and support the pod! Your contribution will go to directly paying our sound producer, Brogan, and to help us bring you the conversations with industry professionals you love. Follow The Book Deal podcast on Instagram The Book Deal podcast (@the_book_deal_podcast) • Instagram photos and videos [https://www.instagram.com/the_book_deal_podcast/] You can find out more about Tina, Madeleine and Natasha and follow their journeys here: Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos [https://www.instagram.com/td_strachan/] Tina Strachan children's book author [https://www.tinastrachan.com/about-tina-strachan-childrens-book-author] Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos [https://www.instagram.com/madeleineclearywrites/] Madeleine Cleary | Author [https://www.madeleinecleary.com.au/] Natasha Rai (@raiwriting) • Instagram photos and videos [https://www.instagram.com/raiwriting/] Natasha Rai | Author | Mentor [https://www.raiwriting.com.au/] If you want to stay in the know, sign up to Madeleine, Tina and Natasha's newsletters for the latest news first. Madeleine: Subscribe here... [https://madeleinecleary.substack.com/?r=5df0no&utm_campaign=pub-share-checklist]

Editing: spreadsheets, reading backwards, rulers and when readers point out errors

Hosts Tina Strachan, Madeleine Cleary, and Natasha Rai catch up on their busy lives, upcoming events, and delve into a detailed discussion about their editing processes and tips. They provide personal experiences, practical advice like using a ruler to read line by line, and even reading a manuscript backward to catch errors. Special shout-outs include celebrating Dyslexia Awareness Month and recognizing their supportive patrons, with a particular mention of Christine Newell. Additionally, Rebecca Grant shares insights into her new picture book, Potion Commotion. 00:00 Welcome to the Book Deal Podcast 00:29 Meet the Hosts 01:33 Upcoming Live Episode Plans 02:55 Listener Stats and Shoutouts 05:42 Author Burnout and Health 09:03 Event Preparations and Challenges 17:12 The Importance of Printing Out Your Manuscript 20:11 Rebecca Grant Introduces 'Potion Commotion' 21:28 Using Spreadsheets for Plotting and Structuring 24:38 Editing Failures and Lessons Learned 29:59 Top Tips for Editing Your Manuscript 35:04 Dyslexia Awareness and Special Formats 35:44 Thank You to Our Supporters Join our Patreon community [https://www.patreon.com/thebookdealpodcast/] for less than the cost of a coffee per month and support the pod! Your contribution will go to directly paying our sound producer, Brogan, and to help us bring you the conversations with industry professionals you love. Follow The Book Deal podcast on Instagram The Book Deal podcast (@the_book_deal_podcast) • Instagram photos and videos [https://www.instagram.com/the_book_deal_podcast/] You can find out more about Tina, Madeleine and Natasha and follow their journeys here: Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos [https://www.instagram.com/td_strachan/] Tina Strachan children's book author [https://www.tinastrachan.com/about-tina-strachan-childrens-book-author] Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos [https://www.instagram.com/madeleineclearywrites/] Madeleine Cleary | Author [https://www.madeleinecleary.com.au/] Natasha Rai (@raiwriting) • Instagram photos and videos [https://www.instagram.com/raiwriting/] Natasha Rai | Author | Mentor [https://www.raiwriting.com.au/] If you want to stay in the know, sign up to Madeleine, Tina and Natasha's newsletters for the latest news first. Madeleine: Subscribe here... [https://madeleinecleary.substack.com/?r=5df0no&utm_campaign=pub-share-checklist]

Emily Paull on "retiring" from writing and her 17-year journey to publishing The Distance Between Dreams

Emily Paull is a Western Australian librarian, author and book reviewer. Having formerly worked in bookselling, Emily is an avid reader and a big supporter of the WA writing community who regularly moderates author interviews around Perth. She is the author of the historical novel, The Distance Between Dreams [https://fremantlepress.com.au/books/the-distance-between-dreams/?srsltid=AfmBOoqfpUZWrk5VQBZKr5w1Mq_VcvLhLtWEUHTk124N926wIYF15y-w](Fremantle Press, 2025) and the short story collection, Well-Behaved Women (Margaret River Press, 2019). The Distance Between Dreams was shortlisted for the 2023 Fogarty Literary Award under the working title 'The Dreamers.' Emily was also highly commended for the 2021 Fogarty Literary Award for her manuscript, 'The Good Daughter.  Emily shares the highs and lows of her 17-year journey to publication, including the inspiration behind her works, the significance of setting, and the importance of place in historical fiction. They discuss Emily’s experiences with the publishing industry, her role as a book reviewer and librarian, and the value of libraries for authors. Emily also offers practical advice for writers at every stage of their journey and emphasises the importance of community and persistence in the literary world. You can subscribe to Emily's Substack here [https://substack.com/home/post/p-157535516?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web]. This week's Debut in the Spotlight is Darcy Green with their debut novel, After the Siren [https://www.penguin.com.au/books/after-the-siren-9781761355257] (Penguin, September 2025),  00:55 Introducing Emily Paull 01:37 Emily's Journey in the Book Industry 04:58 The Reality of Being a Writer 08:40 The Long Road to Publication 19:07 Short Stories 27:59 The Fogarty Literary Award 30:35 The Distance Between Dreams 33:07 Darcy Green's Debut Novel 34:24 The Fogarty Award Journey 40:23 Historical Research and Fremantle's Significance 45:47 Writing About the Thai-Burma Railway 49:25 Tips for Authors Working with Libraries 58:44 Becoming a Book Reviewer 01:02:16 Final Thoughts and Top Tips for Writers Join our Patreon community [https://www.patreon.com/thebookdealpodcast/] for less than the cost of a coffee per month and support the pod! Your contribution will go to directly paying our sound producer, Brogan, and to help us bring you the conversations with industry professionals you love. Follow The Book Deal podcast on Instagram The Book Deal podcast (@the_book_deal_podcast) • Instagram photos and videos [https://www.instagram.com/the_book_deal_podcast/] You can find out more about Tina, Madeleine and Natasha and follow their journeys here: Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos [https://www.instagram.com/td_strachan/] Tina Strachan children's book author [https://www.tinastrachan.com/about-tina-strachan-childrens-book-author] Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos [https://www.instagram.com/madeleineclearywrites/] Madeleine Cleary | Author [https://www.madeleinecleary.com.au/] Natasha Rai (@raiwriting) • Instagram photos and videos [https://www.instagram.com/raiwriting/] Natasha Rai | Author | Mentor [https://www.raiwriting.com.au/] If you want to stay in the know, sign up to Madeleine, Tina and Natasha's newsletters for the latest news first. Madeleine: Subscribe here... [https://madeleinecleary.substack.com/?r=5df0no&utm_campaign=pub-share-checklist]