The Book Deal

SUMMER SERIES Kylie Orr on competitions, writing craft, social media and letting go

Join Tina and Madeleine as they candidly discuss their paths in the writing world, from shooting author videos and exploring middle grade fiction to announcing upcoming book deals and generating new ideas. They reveal their personal writing practices, including plotting versus pantsing. Madeleine interviews Kylie Orr and they discuss the influence of social media on an author’s life and the challenges debut authors face in the publishing industry, such as managing expectations and gaining visibility. While reflecting on writer's block and finding inspiration in daily life, Kylie also celebrates the joy of seeing her books on shelves and the supportive nature of the writing community. The episode wraps up with motivational advice for aspiring authors. 00:00 Sunny Weather and Catching Up 01:05 Behind the Scenes of an Author Video Shoot 04:33 Exploring Middle Grade Books 09:10 The Journey of Writing and Publishing 21:59 From Feature Articles to Novels 35:17 Finding the Right Editor 35:54 Rewriting the Book 36:18 Entering the Richell Prize 36:57 Securing a Book Deal 38:01 The Eleventh Floor Pitch 39:30 Writing the Second Book 41:58 Insights on Agents 47:37 The Third Book 50:48 Social Media and Writing 58:35 Organizing Book Events 01:05:53 Wins and Woes 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]

SPOILER BOOK CLUB: Kate Mildenhall on The Hiding Place

SPOILER BOOK CLUB: 'The Hiding Place' with Kate Mildenhall Madeleine leads a spoiler-filled discussion with Kate on her latest novel, The Hiding Place [https://www.simonandschuster.com.au/books/The-Hiding-Place/Kate-Mildenhall/9781761429057] (November 2025, Simon & Schuster). Kate shares insights into the book's development, character choices, and the ethical dilemmas the characters face. Kate discusses her research process, murder plots, star picket fences and death cap mushrooms.  Kate Mildenhall  is an author, writing teacher and podcaster. Her debut novel Skylarking was longlisted for Debut Fiction in the 2017 Indie Book Awards and the 2017 Voss Literary Prize. Her second novel, The Mother Fault, was longlisted for the 2021 ABIA General Fiction Book of the Year and shortlisted for the 2021 Aurealis Science Fiction Novel of the Year. The Hummingbird Effect was shortlisted for the 2024 ABIA Literary Fiction Book of the Year and longlisted for the 2024 Stella Prize and the 2024 Indie Book Awards for Fiction. In 2024, Kate released her first picture book, To Stir with Love, illustrated by Jess Racklyeft, shortlisted for the 2025 Indie Book Awards and the 2025 ABIA Children’s Book of the Year and Notable in the CBCA Book Awards for Early Readers. Kate co-hosted The First Time Podcast where she interviewed over 200 Australian and international writers. 00:00 Introduction to the Book Deal Podcast 00:56 Welcome to the Spoiler Book Club 01:50  Characters and Plot Twists 05:35 Writing Challenges and Inspirations 12:35 The Evolution of Key Scenes 22:10 Mapping Out the Novel 23:05 Realizing the Right Structure 23:24 Advice from Fellow Writers 24:15 Pacing and Reader Expectations 24:28 The Climactic Scenes 25:17 Conflicted Feelings About the Ending 26:06 The Final Scene and Its Inspiration 26:40 The Role of Surveillance 27:22 Stella's Motivations 28:10 The Play Within a Play 30:06 Multiple Endings 31:17 Questions from the Audience 35:46 Character Development and Dialogue 37:13 Balancing Realism and Fiction 37:29 Influence of Fellow Writers 39:12 Mushroom Lady and Reader Response 42:33 Research and Realism 43:49 Camping Plans and Final Thoughts 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]

Agony Aunt Hayley Scrivenor on 'bloody mindedness' for writing success, live at Writing NSW

In this final episode of the Book Deal podcast season 2025, Tina and Madeleine have a quick catch up reflecting on their debut year and share personal highlights.  Then we switch to our LIVE episode with Writing NSW, where we interviewed Agony Aunt-in-residence, Hayley Scrivenor, who addresses all our writing woes. Hayley  offers valuable insights on jealousy and envy, managing public speaking anxiety, persevering through the writing process, and the importance of writing authentically. The episode highlights the challenges and triumphs of writing and publishing, providing encouragement and practical advice for both seasoned and emerging writers. Hayley Scrivenor is a former festival director and an internationally bestselling author. Her first novel, Dirt Town, won a number of national and international awards, including an ABIA for General Fiction Book of the Year, a Lambda Literary award for LGBTQ+ Mystery and the CWA New Blood Dagger. Her second novel, Girl Falling, won the People’s Choice Danger Award in 2025. Hayley has years of experience teaching writing and particularly enjoys one-on-one mentoring with emerging writers. Hayley holds a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Wollongong and lives on Dharawal country. She is currently working on a novel loosely inspired by the lives of her circus-performer grandparents. You can find out more about Hayley and her books on her website [https://hayleyscrivenor.com/].  As this was recorded live in Writing NSW, the audio may sound a little different.  00:00 Introduction to the Book Deal Podcast 00:56 Tina & Madeleine catch up 01:55 Highlights and Memorable Moments 06:27 Upcoming Episodes and Events 10:45 Live Episode with Hayley Scrivenor 15:19 Agony Aunt Segment: Writing Advice 29:13 Navigating Rejection and Community Support 31:02 The Importance of Writing What Excites You 33:42 Balancing Publisher Expectations and Personal Passion 36:30 Defining Success as an Author 49:43 Handling Criticism and Persevering 56:35 Mentorship and the Writing Process 01:00:20 Avoiding Vanity Publishers 01:01:37 Top Writing Tips and Final Thoughts 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]

Holly Cardamone on pre-launch strategies, communications and why publishing is a marathon, not a sprint

In this episode of the Book Deal podcast Madeleine interviews Australian award-winning author Holly Cardamone. Holly's debut novel, Summer, In Between [https://hawkeyebooks.com.au/products/summer-in-between] (Hawkeye Publishing, September 2025) is a great one for your beach bag this summer.  Holly shares insights from her book's developmental journey, including a surprising setback when she lost a notebook filled with manuscript ideas on a train in Italy, followed by a decade-long creative detour. She also discusses her manuscript winning the 2024 Hawkeye Publishing Manuscript Development Prize and the exhilarating process of getting her book published despite numerous challenges. Holly offers valuable advice on writing processes and book promotion strategies. She emphasises the importance of authentic connections within the literary community, engaging with booksellers, and how her background in communications has influenced her successful pre-launch strategy.  As mentioned by Madeleine, join us for a special Zoom Spoiler Book Club with Kate Mildenhall on The Hiding Place on Wednesday 10 December at 7pm. Tickets are free, but you'll need to sign up here. [https://events.humanitix.com/the-hiding-place-spoiler-book-club?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnTtfSpbHYmz9D_lSB2Lw6rEleMZLJ54hPYWgA4rDxvdM156N-MmPF9JqdRC0_aem_RR4CQDB-h78FUuyxnUmf1A] 00:00 Welcome to the Book Deal Podcast 01:23 Holly Cardamone's Debut Novel 03:59 Nostalgia and Setting in 'Summer In Between' 05:12 Holly's Teenage Years and Writing Aspirations 06:57 The Journey to Becoming a Writer 12:27 The Lost Manuscript and Family Life 14:23 Writing 'Summer In Between' 19:23 Crafting Characters and Voice 23:47 Writing Romance and Green Flag Characters 30:11 Manuscript Assessment and Revisions 34:12 The Writing Day Dilemma 35:02 Balancing Life and Writing 36:18 Turning 50 and Running a Marathon 39:23 From Manuscript to Hawkeye Prize 39:57 The Joy of Writing Again 42:14 Winning the Hawkeye Prize 47:13 Building Author Connections 50:26 Social Media and Bookseller Strategies 01:00:49 Final Tips and Conclusion 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 Publishing Deal: Publisher, Tom Langshaw, on the strongest elements in a fiction manuscript, what to include in your submission pitch, and industry trends

In this episode of The Book Deal podcast, host Natasha Rai interviews Tom Langshaw, publisher at Pantera Press. Tom discusses his journey from working at Penguin Random House to his current role, explaining the intricacies of the publishing process from manuscript acquisition to promotion. He shares insights on what makes a manuscript stand out, the importance of voice and character in fiction, and the significance of timing and market trends in publishing decisions. Tom also emphasizes the value of respectful and collaborative relationships with authors and offers advice for emerging writers on perfecting their pitches. Additionally, Tom highlights concerns about the consolidation in the publishing industry and the importance of supporting independent publishers. 00:00 Welcome to The Book Deal Podcast 00:56 Meet Tom Langshaw: Publisher at Pantera Press 01:57 A Day in the Life of a Publisher 04:45 The Art of Manuscript Selection 08:31 From Editorial Assistant to Publisher 12:17 Navigating the Publishing Industry 16:06 The Role of Sales and Trends in Publishing 21:19 Transitioning to Pantera Press 32:16 Building Relationships in Publishing 33:21 Connecting with Booksellers 34:34 Reading for Work vs. Pleasure 36:03 Editing Tips for Writers 38:48 Common Mistakes in Pitching 45:43 Trends in the Publishing Industry 48:32 Advice for Emerging Writers 56:39 Exciting Upcoming Books 01:00:13 Final Thoughts and Reflections 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]