Secrets from the Green Room

Irma and Karen reveal exciting new partnerships with Ubud Writers and Readers Festival and Writers Victoria. Then Karen chats with Beejay Silcox about literary criticism in Australia – what good critics endeavour to do, the blowback from a tough review, what is lacking in Australian criticism, the impact of shrinking page space, the inability to make a sustainable career out of criticism, and her deep regret over one particular review. And then on judging the Stella Prize – how the process works, the role of chair and how the panel is selected, how a shortlist and then a winner is decided, and the alchemy of a strong process. About BeejayBeejay Silcox is an Australian writer and literary critic. She is the Artistic Director of Canberra Writers Festival, and was chair of the 2024 Stella Prize judging panel. Her literary criticism regularly appears in national and international arts publications, and her award-winning short fiction has been published in several literary magazines. She also teaches creative writing. 

Irma tries to convert Karen to writing program Scrivener. Then Irma chats to children’s creators Anna Walker and Andrea Rowe about how authors and illustrators work together (or don’t!), why illustrator notes are a no-no, the profound impact of picture books on both adults and children, the biggest mistakes that new writers and illustrators make, what to expect from the editing and publishing process, how to network and build connections in the industry, the effects of crippling self-doubt, why we should all be library lurkers, the failures of literary festivals in relation to children’s authors, the devastating impact of a public complaint on Andrea’s debut book, and why Anna jetted off to New York for a publishing lunch.About Anna and AndreaAnna Walker is an illustrator and author of picture books. Using traditional mediums, she creates stories inspired by the quiet and sometimes joyful details of life. Her books include Florette, (New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Book), Mr Huff, (shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards and winner of a CBCA Award), and, most recently, A Life Song with Jane Godwin, which has been shortlisted for the Australian Book Industry Awards.Andrea Rowe is an award-winning children’s author, ghost-writer and copywriter. She has published three children’s books – Jetty Jumping, Sunday Skating and In the Rockpool – and has won or been shortlisted for several major awards, including the CBCAs. She has another six picture books currently in production and has been awarded the prestigious May Gibbs Fellowship for 2024. Andrea is also Founding President of the Peninsula Writers’ Club.

Irma and Karen discuss author websites. Then Karen chats with Kris Kneen about writing into deeply uncomfortable spaces and confronting issues like fatness and identity, how to write sex well, why they’re always switching up genres, how to deal with disappointment over missing out on awards, why they almost gave up writing entirely, and the moment that changed their life.About KrisKris Kneen has written erotica, fiction, short-stories, poetry, memoir, non-fiction and scripts for film and documentaries. They have previously been published under the name Krissy Kneen, and their most recent book, Fat Girl Dancing, was shortlisted for the Victorian Premier’s Award in the non-fiction section. Their collection of poems, Eating My Grandmother, won the Thomas Shapcott Poetry Prize in 2015, and their other works have been shortlisted for many prizes.

Irma and Karen talk about prepping for radio interviews. Then Karen chats to Diana Reid about how writing scripts has informed the way she works as a novelist and her approach to being edited, what it was like to be thrown into the spotlight with her bestselling debut novel, how its extraordinary success affected her, advice on how to handle publicity interviews, why writing her second novel was so much harder, how she feels about being called Australia’s Sally Rooney, why COVID was such a positive time for her as a writer, and how the first time she met Helen Garner she was so overwhelmed she began sobbing uncontrollably.About DianaDiana Reid burst onto the literary scene just after COVID with her debut novel, Love & Virtue, which won many awards and earned her the title of Best Young Novelist in 2022. Diana followed up soon after with her second novel Seeing Other People. She is currently living in London and finishing her next novel. 

Karen and Irma chat about point of view and writing from multiple perspectives. Then Irma talks to Peter Papathanasiou about his very long and convoluted journey to publication, how his debut was rejected by 100 agents and took 10 years to get published, why his goal was to get published in the UK first and advice for other writers about how to do the same, how he successfully pitched his own book for screen, the challenges of the book-to-screen process, the devastating impact of being dropped by two agents and then picking himself back up again, and how specialising in law has helped him write crime fiction.About PeterPeter Papathanasiou was born in northern Greece in 1974 and adopted as a baby to an Australian family. His debut book was a memoir, Little One, which he followed with three linked crime fiction novels, The Stoning, The Invisible, and most recently The Pit. The Stoning was longlisted for the prestigious UK Crime Writers’ Association Dagger Awards and the Indie Book Awards. Peter’s writing has also appeared in many publications, including The New York Times, Guardian UK, and The Sydney Morning Herald. 

'Irma and Karen talk about the ins and out of book marketing. Then Karen chats with Melinda Smith about winning the Prime Ministers Literary Award for poetry, the potential of TikTok for poets, how arts grants have sustained her writing and how to write a good application (all the details), how form (or lack thereof) influences the writing of a poem, why poets are not featured much in festival line-ups, sources of inspiration, the important art of poetry editing, and advice for how to get published as a poet.About MelindaMelinda Smith is one of Canberra’s (and Australia’s) most famous poets. She’s also an editor, teacher, arts advocate and event curator. Melinda has had seven collections published. In 2014 she won the Prime Minister’s Literary Award for 'Drag down to unlock or place an emergency call'. She is also a former poetry editor of The Canberra Times. 

Irma and Karen chat about the highs and lows of podcasting. Then Irma talks to Niq Mhlongo about what it was like growing up in Soweto, South Africa, how sleeping in a tiny room with seven brothers got him hooked on reading, why he ditched law to become a writer, how Dan Brown made him think he’d become a millionaire from writing, how his debut novel went from being deemed ‘unpublishable’ to being accepted by the same publisher, why he is sceptical about literary prizes, why living from Berlin gives him freedom to write about Soweto, and why writing in English gives him another kind of freedom.About NiqNiq Mhlongo is the Sowetan-born author of four novels and three collections ofshort stories. He is also the editor of a collection of essays called Black Tax:Burden or Ubuntu, and two short fiction anthologies. His debut novel, Dog EatDog, won the Spanish Literary Award, and his collection of short stories, SowetoUnder The Apricot Tree won the Herman Charles Bosman Literary Prize and theNadine Gordimer Short Story Award. He currently lives in Berlin.

Karen and Irma talk about ten awful publishing truths. Then Karen chats to Daniel O’Malley about writing humour in books and how to develop this skill, how he lost the first 150 pages of his bestseller The Rook, the potential pitfalls of finding an agent, the process of his novel being made into a mini-series, how he used to tweet as one of his characters, and what it’s like to go to a fantasy book conference.About DanielDaniel O’Malley is an internationally bestselling fantasy/sci fi author. He’s published 3 novels, and his fourth is on its way. His debut, The Rook, won the Aurealis Award for Best Science Fiction Novel and has been made into a television mini-series. He’s a rock star in the paranormal and fantasy fiction world, but most days you can find him working in the National Library of Australia. 

Karen and Irma chat about what makes a good book title. Then Irma talks to Kate Mildenhall about how she organised (and survived!) a massive book tour, the brutal experience of her second book being rejected, why writing retreats are invaluable for her creative practice, the challenges of not sticking to one genre, how she approached the writing of her structurally complex third novel, how she sees Australia’s reviewing culture and her new theory about the impact of reviewing momentum, the highs and lows of being a co-host of The First Time podcast, and the unparalleled joy of her first book’s acceptance.About KateKate Mildenhall is author of three novels. Her debut novel, Skylarking, was longlisted for the Voss Literary Prize and the Indie Book Awards. Her second novel was The Mother Fault, and her third and most recent novel is The Hummingbird Effect. Kate is also co-host of The First Time podcast with Katherine Collette.

Karen and Irma discuss the challenges of author photo shoots. Then Irma chats with Christos Tsiolkas about how reading Monkey Grip cross-legged in a bookstore was a seminal moment, and how his father – who couldn’t read – made him the patient reader he is today, how the poor reception to his second novel The Jesus Man deeply bruised him and the overwhelming success of The Slap was the reverse experience, how acting techniques have influenced the way he writes characters, how he approached writing a love story, and the most challenging and joyous writing experiences he’s had.About ChristosChristos Tsiolkas is the author of eight novels, including Loaded and Dead Europe, which were made into feature films, and The Slap and Barracuda, which were both adapted into celebrated television series. He has won numerous awards, including Overall Best Book in the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for The Slap. He has also published a collection of short stories, Merciless Gods, and a critical literary study called On Patrick White. If that wasn’t enough, he is a playwright, essayist and screen writer. His latest novel is The In Between.