Ashley Kalagian Blunt on novel structure, strategic selling and compartmentalising when researching

Sarah Clutton share how travelling the world and 'trusting the process' helped her create The Bookshop of Buried Pasts

Tina Strachan interviews author Sarah Clutton about her new novel ‘The Bookshop of Buried Pasts’. Clutton outlines the story of antiquarian book dealer Phyllida Banks, who disappears and leaves her granddaughter Lottie to run their Southern Highlands bookshop and find a man named Francis, leading to a Cambridgeshire mystery tied to an unsolved 50-year-old crime, family secrets, spirituality, and threads of witches and Celtic mythology across 1960s–70s timelines. She discusses the setting’s inspiration from Berrima and Australia’s first “book town” region, the showstopping cover design, and the title’s evolution. Clutton shares research experiences, including a death doula course and travel to English manor houses, Devon’s Clovelly, Scotland, and Shetland, and offers advice to aspiring authors: take craft courses and become open to critique.   00:00 Podcast Intro 00:56 Meet Sarah Clutton 01:39 New Book Overview 03:38 Southern Highlands Setting 06:10 Book Town Inspiration 06:49 Cover Art Breakdown 10:47 Title Origins 14:10 Death Doula Research 21:06 Phyllida Character Themes 22:54 Stalking Idea Process 24:33 Trusting the Draft 26:05 Travel As Research 27:03 Themes Of Agency 28:41 Hunting Manor Houses 29:44 Clovelly Village Magic 33:33 Scotland Estate Access 35:08 Mythology DNA Witchcraft 38:32 Daily Writing Reality 39:43 Drafting Through Discomfort 44:30 Tips For Aspiring Authors 46:27 Late Start Publishing Journey 51:17 Wrap Up And Farewell  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]...

The Writing Deal: It's EOFY! Natasha, Tina & Madeleine discuss the business of being an author

Tina, Madeleine and Natasha catch up and discuss: * Natasha's successful workshop on creativity and the nervous system, and how to get the most from creative flow.  * Natasha's title of her second book (!) * All things small business: accounting, expenses, BAS, GST, mileage, super, income averaging, receipts. We go into the nitty gritty of running your own author business. Please do your research and always seek professional financial advice. Our listeners recommended the below specialist accountants for writers: * Real Thiel * Kylie Thompson at Sorrento Strategic * Matthew Tucker from Creative Crunchers This week's Debut in the Spotlight is Disgraceful (Simon & Schuster, 2026) [https://www.simonandschuster.com.au/books/Disgraceful/Rachel-Fox-McLeod/9781761634147]by Rachel Fox McLeod. 00:56 We catch up 01:39 Natasha's workshop chat 11:08 Tina is tinkering 18:19 Natasha reveals her second book title! 27:17 Debut in the Spotlight 28:24 The business behind the books 31:26 Accounting 35:26 Recording travel 42:48 GST, BAS And invoicing 46:27 Income Averaging and ABNs 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 Maguire on non-fiction vs fiction writing, overcoming discouragement and practicalities of sustaining a writing life

Natasha Rai interviews author Emily Maguire about her Queensland Literary Award–winning, Prime Minister’s Literary Award–shortlisted novel Rapture, inspired by a 1,000-year-old legend of a woman disguising herself as a man, rising through monastic ranks, and becoming pope. Maguire contrasts nonfiction research—structured around a topic and intended conclusions—with fiction research driven by deep point of view and character questions, and describes collecting sparks like art and journaled observations. She recounts early discouragement from a teacher, her first publication journey via mailed submissions and an ASA mentorship, and how international rights sales launched her career despite poor local reviews. Maguire discusses navigating tough edits, learning that “a novel is made in the rewriting,” choosing trusted readers, teaching writing without gatekeeping craft jargon, and practical realities of sustaining an Australian writing life amid industry pressures, including AI, while emphasizing writing regularly and revising deeply. 00:00 Podcast Intro 00:56 Meet Emily Maguire 02:27 Elevator Pitch Rapture 03:28 Research Fiction vs Nonfiction 06:03 Finding Story Sparks 08:36 A Life of Reading 09:43 Becoming a Writer 12:32 First Publication Journey 16:55 Persistence and Doubt 20:55 Handling Editorial Feedback 25:55 Learning Deep Revision 30:55 When to Share Drafts 31:52 Trusted Reader Process 33:16 When a Draft Fails 34:49 Finding Trusted Readers 35:53 Feedback That Helps 40:59 Teaching Through Dialogue 43:55 Craft Terms Dont Matter 47:28 Market Identity Anxiety 51:08 Sustaining Writing Career 56:14 Write Then Revise 58:14 Podcast Wrap Up 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]...

Rebecca Lim on genre-hopping, rejection and the joy of 'having no brand'

Content warning: Please note this episode contains brief references to crimes against children, including mentions of historical cases and industry terminology. These topics are not discussed in detail, but listener discretion is advised. Not suitable for younger audiences. Madeleine interviews beloved Australian author, Rebecca Lim. Rebecca is an Australian writer, editor and lawyer, and the author of over twenty books, including Tiger Daughter (a Kirkus, Amazon and Booklist Best Book, CBCA Book of the Year, and Victorian Premier’s Literary Award-winner), Two Sparrowhawks in a Lonely Sky (NSW History Award-winner) and the bestselling Mercy. Her work has been twice shortlisted for the NSW Literary Awards and Margaret and Colin Roderick Literary Award, shortlisted for the Queensland Literary Awards and ARA Historical Novel Prize, shortlisted multiple times for the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, Aurealis Awards and Davitt Awards, longlisted for the David Gemmell Legend Award and the Tasmanian Literary Awards, and has been optioned for film. Rebecca talks to us about: * why being a publishing flake might be a good thing * rejections and the financial realities of being an author * having no brand (but loving what you do) * how she balances life as a corporate lawyer, mother, dog owner and writer (and a little spoiler, her advice includes the use of toilet paper rolls). The Graduate (Affirm Press, 2026) [https://www.simonandschuster.com.au/books/The-Graduate/Rebecca-Lim/9781923293786] A razor-sharp revenge thriller that blows the whistle on the cutthroat world of corporate law.  New graduate Fei Fei Chou is an outlier at her prestigious law firm. She's too quiet. She wears too much makeup. She’s only here because the boss has a thing for Asians. But Fei isn’t here to climb the corporate ladder – she’s here for revenge.  Thirty years ago, three schoolgirls were kidnapped and abused by a man who’s never been identified. The information Fei needs to find him is buried somewhere in the firm’s records. Deliberately placing herself in harm’s way, Fei will uncover a secret history of power and privilege that haunts not only her firm, but the nation itself. Taut, riveting and blackly humorous, The Graduate is a mesmerising legal thriller and a masterfully dark crime debut from a beloved Australian writer. Our Debut in the Spotlight this week is Lit by Anna Woods (Allen & Unwin, 2026). [https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Anna-Woods-LIT-9781786588265] 00:51 Meet Rebecca Lim 02:33 Early Writing  08:46 Quitting Law For Writing 10:23 Genre Hopping  13:56 The Graduate  32:24 Debut in the Spotlight 33:45 Editing 40:20 Writing Adults Vs Kids 42:37 Balancing life 43:52 Burnout And Career Breaks 50:58 Feedback And Resilience 54:31 Top Tip  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]...

Jess Galatola: reaching young readers through writing books with heart

Tina Strachan welcomes author and teacher Jess Galatola to The Book Deal podcast to discuss her upcoming children’s books: picture book The Witch Who Couldn’t Spell (launching 19 July) and graphic novel Seasons of Clementine (launching 4 July). Jess shares that The Witch Who Couldn’t Spell uses homophones and comedic chaos to encourage resilience, imperfection, and joy in language, praising debut illustrator Lou Baker’s Easter eggs. She explains Seasons of Clementine evolved from a picture book (The Cloud Collector) into a graphic novel after publisher feedback, and describes learning the format through Perenti Press workshops and the Perenti Prize. Jess recounts her “backwards” publication journey, writing Some Families Change during a 2020 separation, its 2024 release with EK Books, and her advice to remember your “why,” avoid comparison, build relationships, and persist through slush-pile submissions. 00:00 Podcast Introduction 00:56 Welcome Jess Galatola 01:43 The Witch Who Couldn't Spell Pitch 04:25 The Witch Who Couldn't Spell Message 06:24 Illustrator Magic 09:29 Seasons of Clementine Origins 13:45 Graphic Novel Craft 16:10 Perenti Workshops 20:19 Reading Kids Today 23:27 Why Reading Matters 23:56 Books as Escape 25:13 Representation Matters 26:03 Jess Origin Story 27:25 Writing Through Separation 29:38 Landing a Publisher 30:41 Finding Kidlit Community 33:41 Slush Pile Reality 35:12 Rejection and Resilience 39:48 Advice for Authors 44:25 Pitching and Conferences 47:45 Upcoming Launch Events 48:57 Final Thanks and Outro 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]...