FINAL DRAFT on 2SER

For this show, we go on two different journeys across Asia with two restless women bitten by the travel bug. Kim Barker did 'The Taliban Shuffle' as Afghanistan and Pakistan correspondent for the Chicago Tribune for eight years from 2001. She lived a high-pressure life chasing suicide bombings and rigged elections. She spoke to Neda Vanovac about bluffing her way through and never losing her fear. Steph Liong brings us the story of Australian writer Carolyn Shine, who thought moving continents would be easier than moving suburbs, and went from Bondi to Vietnam. We also take another peek into the world of the Rereaders, who are talking about the exclusion of indigenous poets in Australian anthologies. Kim Barker, The Taliban Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan, published by Scribe Publications, produced by Neda Vanovac. Carolyn Shine, Single White Female in Hanoi, published by Transit Lounge Publishing, prduced by Stephanie Liong. The Rereaders, featuring Sam Twyford-Moore, Rebecca Giggs, and Fiona Wright, produced by Jessica Minshall.

This week we're talking dystopias. Think apocalypse, societal collapse, and totalitarianism. Neda Vanovac looks at the wave of young readers gorging themselves on dystopian fiction. Catriona Menzies-Pike talks all things grim and J.G. Ballard, author of Crash and Empire of the Sun. Leaving all things dystopian for a bit, Kim Tan talks to Toby Leon about the television adaptaion of The Slap, based on the book by Christos Tsiolkas. Young Adult Dystopias, featuring Alison Stewart's Days Like This, published by Penguin Books, and Maria V. Snyder's Outside In published by Harlequin Teen. Produced by Neda Vanovac. J.G. Ballard Fictional Worlds produced by Catriona Menzies-Pike. The Slap review, produced by Kim Tan.

About a month ago, Final Draft had a lovely opportunity to record the winner and highly commended poets of the Blake Poetry Prize. There is something quite magic about poetry read aloud, but particularly of a poet reading their own work – phrases and words well considered by tongue and by pen. And tonight we get to hear them over the airwaves. We hear Sydney based poet, Fiona Wright reading her poem The Fox Man. And we speak with poets Robert Adamson and Todd Turner – as well as listen to their Blake entries. Also later tonight – The Rereaders are back and taking on literary magazines. Blake Poetry Prize 2011 – www.blakeprize.com.au Winner: Via Negativa, The Divine Dark by Robert Adamson Highly Commended: The Fox Man by Fiona Wright and Fieldwork by Todd Turner The Rereaders featuring Sam Twyford-Moore, Rebecca Giggs and Fiona Wright – produced by Jessica Minshall.

This week, two authors who deal in intrigue, bravery and betrayal under authoritarian regimes. First we hear from Joseph Braude, the first ever journalist allowed to embed with a unit of the Moroccan police. And then, Rochelle Fernandez chats with Anna Funder about her latest novel, All that I am – set in the beginning of the Nazi rise to power. Joseph Braude, The Honoured Dead: A Story Of Friendship, Murder and the Underbelly of the Arab World, published by Scribe. Interview by Neda Vanovac. Anna Funder, All That I Am, published by Hamish Hamilton – interview by Rochelle Fernandez. Ben Jenkins and Dominic Knight, National Young Writers Festival – interview by Neda Vanovac. For more information go to: www.youngwritersfestival.org

This week we’re dedicating the first part of the show to poetry. Sydney-based poet Rob Wilson has spent the last few years working on a book of poetry called 6am in the Universe by poet Benjamin Frater, and he recently talked to Final Draft’s Madeleine James about the process of writing and editing the book. And before we go this evening, a look at a brand new project – The Rereaders is a literary and cultural podcast featuring Sam Twyford-Moore, Rebecca Giggs and Fiona Wright. Rob Wilson, 6am in the Universe by Benjamin Frater published by Grand Parade Poets - interview by Madeleine James The Rereaders - Sam Twyford-Moore, Rebecca Giggs and Fiona Wright. For more info go to: www.therereaders.com