Writes4Women Podcast

Ever wondered about the journey from journalism to fiction writing? Allow us to introduce you to the awe-inspiring author, Carrie Cox, who has skilfully navigated this transition. Carrie opens up about the evolution of her writing career, sharing the source of inspiration for her novels Afternoons with Harvey Beam and Storylines. She delves deep into the themes of the human condition that she boldly explores in her writing and offers a peek into the narrative arc of her debut novel.

In this thought-provoking conversation with guest host Meredith Jaffé, we examine Carrie's approach to character development and theme exploration in her work. We scrutinize how physical appearances and vulnerability can shape our way of engaging with the world and throw light on the cathartic power of storytelling as a form of emotional healing. Carrie unveils the real-life influences that have sculpted her story, and the unique challenges and triumphs of creating a wellness retreat for her protagonist, Nessa.

Carrie shares her unique writing process and reveals how she strikes a balance between plotting and letting the story naturally unfold. We also touch upon the importance of writing residencies, the hurdles of publicity, and marketing for a Western Australian-based writer, and the crucial role of sensitivity readers in the writing process. Carrie's journey is a testament to the transformative power of storytelling, the influence of character development, and the magic that transpires when we let our stories lead the way. Join us for an episode brimming with valuable insights, advice, and inspiration for all aspiring authors.

In this double-up episode guest host Australian rural fiction author Maya Linell chats to international best selling author Paige Toon, before Maya hops into the hot seat to talk to Pam about her latest release.

Paige chats about her latest release Only Love Can Hurt Like This, her shift from rom com to a more emotional style of story, and a whole lot more about her writing life. Pam then puts Maya in the guest spot for a chat about her latest release Kookaburra Cottage and what it's been like to develop a whole new set of characters.

This is a jam-packed episode so settle in for a whole lot of writing talk with Pam, Paige and Maya.

Guest host Meredith Jaffé chats to Tulmur author and publishing all-rounder Melanie Saward about her debut novel, Burn, her bumpy path to publication, writing intergenerational trauma, sensitivity reading and more. 

Melanie has worked in one of the big 4 publishing houses; been a freelance editor on books, audiobooks, and literary magazines; been a marketer and publicity person; a researcher; and a sensitivity reader. These days Mel spends most of her time teaching university students about the Australian industry at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). 

Pam also gives an update on her writing week, and has news about a new bonus for Patreon supporters.

This conversation is jam packed with so much gold for both readers and writers. Grab a cuppa, or your preferred beverage, sit back and enjoy this chat between Meredith and Melanie.

Writes4Women is back!

And not with one rom com author, but four fabulous romantic comedy authors. Award winning Romance author Penelope Janu (In at the Deep End) chats to three debut rom-commers about their new releases: Lucy Lever (Mystic Ridge), Amy Hutton (Sit Stay Love) and Karina May (Duck L'Orange for Breakfast). A great chat about writing inspiration, path to publication, process and more. All three authors have been signed for their next books and are well and truly establishing themselves as must-reads in the Australian publishing landscape.

Pam also gives an update on her writing and shares some tips gleaned from the recent RWA Coinference.

Grab a cuppa, sit back and enjoy this wonderful panel chatting all things rom com.

A special Convo Couch episode featuring guest host Rachael Johns talking to best selling UK thriller author Lisa Jewell.

Lisa's first novel, Ralph’s Party, was the bestselling debut novel of 1999. Since then she has published another sixteen novels, most recently a number of dark psychological thrillers, including The Girls and Then She Was Gone (both of which were Richard & Judy Book Club picks) as well as I Found You and Watching You. Lisa is a top ten New York Times and number one Sunday Times bestselling author who has been published worldwide in over twenty-five languages. 

Rachael is currently Australia’s leading writer of contemporary relationship stories around women’s issues, a genre she has coined ‘life-lit’. She continually places in Booktopia’s Top 50 Aussie Authors poll and lives in the Swan Valley with her hyperactive husband, three mostly-gorgeous heroes-in-training, two ravenous cats, a cantankerous bird and a very badly-behaved dog.

Join Rachael and Lisa as they chat about Lisa's new release None of This is True, her thoughts on changing genres, her writing process and more.

Ashley Kalagian Blunt is a writer, speaker and podcaster. Her bestselling psychological thriller, Dark Mode, is out now in Australia and the UK, and forthcoming in Germany.

She is the author of two previous books, How to Be Australian, a memoir, and My Name Is Revenge, a thriller novella and collected essays. Her writing appears widely across Australian and international publications.

Ashley is a frequent speaker and panel moderator, and co-hosts a podcast, James and Ashley Stay at Home, on writing, creativity and health with James McKenzie Watson.

In this episode Ashley chats to fellow psychological thriller author and guest host Rae Cairns about writing Dark Mode, finding her writing groove, writing with a chronic illness and building her skill set as a writer.

Grab a cuppa and join Rae and Ashley on the Writes4Women Convo Couch

Guest host Meredith Jaffé chats to novelist Gina Perry about the publication of her debut novel My Father the Whale.

Gina is the author of two books of nonfiction, the acclaimed Behind the Shock Machine, and The Lost Boys. Her co-production of the ABC Radio National Documentary Beyond the Shock Machine won the Silver World Medal for a history documentary in the 2009 New York Festival Radio awards. She was runner up for the Brag University of New South Wales Prize for Science Writing in 2013, and her work has been anthologised in best Australian Science writing.

My Father the Whale, is her first novel and it was shortlisted for the 2021 Harper Collins Banjo Prize. It's a heartwarming tale about yearning, belonging, and finding oneself. In this episode, in addition to exploring the world of the novel, Meredith chats to Gina about the differences between writing no-fiction and fiction, her writing process and path to publication.

Enjoy this Convo Couch chat between Gina and Meredith.

This week's guest is internationally published author of contemporary women's fiction and romantic comedy novels, Jannette Paul. Janette is the altar ego of award-winning suspense author Jaye Ford. Her first novel won two Davitt Awards for Australian women crime writers and her books have been translated into nine languages.

Janette's latest novel is The Summer Place, a women's fiction novel about three women returning to the summer place of their youth for a beach wedding, each of them grappling with the cards life has dealt them.

Pam chats to Janette about The Summer Place, crossing genres and writing under two names, her writing process and more.

Grab a cuppa and join Pam and Janette on the Writes4Women Convo Couch. 

This week's episode is a solo ep featuring Writes4Women Host Pamela Cook answering listener questions on writing and publishing.

After putting a call out on social media Pam had a long list of questions to kick off the Q&A. With 23 years as a writer and 10 years as a published author, Pam has a wealth of  experience to share with other writers 

In this week's episode she answers questions on author branding, writing across genres, the importance of professional edits for indie publications, dealing with fear and overwhelm, writing process, word counts and ways to tap into your creativity.

There's more to come in future episodes but for now, grab a cuppa and pop on your headphones to find out Pam's answers to the questions of the day.

A special On The Convo Couch episode featuring Guest Host Rachael Johns chatting to NYT best selling author Patti Callahan Henry.

Patti Callahan Henry is a New York Times, Globe and Mail, and USA Today bestselling author of seventeen novels, including her newest, The Secret Book of Flora Lea. 

​She is the co-host and co-creator of the popular weekly online Friends and Fiction live web show and podcast. Patti also was a contributor to the monthly life lesson essay column for Parade Magazine.

​Her newest novel, The Secret Book of Flora Lea, is set outside Oxford in the hamlet of Binsey and was released May 2, 2023, with Simon & Schuster Atria and is available now. 

Rachael is the best selling author of eighteen plus books and a regular guest host at Writes4Women.

Grab a cuppa and join Rachael and Patti for this fun chat on the Writes4Women Convo Couch.

Guest host Cassie Hamer chats to Sydney based author Sandie Docker about her latest release The Red Gum River Retreat and the writing life.

Sandie writes about love, loss, family and small country towns. Her debut novel, The Kookaburra Creek Café, was released in 2018, The Cottage at Rosella Cove in 2019, The Banksia Bay Beach Shack in 202O, The Wattle Island Book Club in 2021 and her latest book, The Redgum River Retreat, was released in March, 2023. 

Cassie Hamer is the author of three Women's Fiction titles and a regular guest host on Writes4Women. Cassie's most recent novel is The Truth About Faking It., following on from the huge success of her first two releases After the Party and The End of Cuthbert Close.

In this episode Cassie chats to Sandie about the inspiration for ...Red Gum River, the characters and themes of the book, her writing process, tips for aspiring authors and her role as Director of the Northern Beaches Reader's Festival.

It's a great chat between two very accomplished authors so grab a cuppa and join Cassie and Sandie on the Writes4Women Convo Couch.

Guest host Rachael Johns chats to West Australian author Anthea Hodgson about her new release The War Nurses.

Rachael is a regular guest host on Writes4Women, and a best selling author of more than 18 rural romance and women's fiction titles, her most recent being The Work Wives.

Anthea’s first novel, The Drifter, was published in 2016, followed by The Cowgirl in 20018. Her recent release, The War Nurses, brings the story of the 65 nurses of the Vyner Brooke, and the victims of the Bangka Island Massacre to a broader audience. She was inspired to honour her great aunt Minnie Hodgson, who died in the massacre, along with all the amazing nurses who were bombed, imprisoned, beaten and starved during WW2, and who survived, with great dignity, courage, strength and love.

This is a fun chat between two accomplished writers which both readers and writers will love.

Grab a cuppa and join Rachael and Andrea on the Writes4Women Convo Couch.

Amie Kaufman is a New York Times, USA Today and internationally best selling author of science fiction and fantasy. Her multi-award winning work has been translated into over thirty languages and several of her series are currently in development for film and television. Amie lives in Melbourne and is host of the podcast Amie Kaufman on Writing. Her upcoming release is the first of a series featuring magic, romance and the clash of slumbering Gods.

Jo Riccioni is a novelist and short story writer. Her latest fantasy series, The Branded Season, is published by Pantera Press, with the first book, The Branded, out in October 2022. Its conclusion, The Rising, will be released in 2023. Jo works from her shed on Garigal land in Sydney’s Northern Beaches. When not losing herself in imaginary worlds, she teaches creative writing and sex education, but not at the same time.

In this chat Amie chats about her path to publication, the authors and books that inspired her, her writing process, self care for writers and her upcoming release The Isles of the Gods.

Grab a cuppa and settle in for Jo Riccioni and Amie Kaufman on the Writes4Women Convo Couch.