Secrets from the Green Room

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.

Karen and Irma chat about one star reviews and Goodreads. Then Karen talks to Anita Heiss about why she writes across so many genres and which is her favourite, what she learned from writing the script for the 'Tiddas' live-show and how it feels to have your work performed on stage, how she creates sexy, sassy First Nations female characters, how she still feels self-doubt even after writing so many books, how she survived a personal attack from a certain right-wing shock jock, and how a life coach helped her to get organised and meet her goals as well as reminding her to take holidays. Photo: Morgan Roberts

Karen and Irma chat about the impact of AI technologies on authors. Then Irma chats with Chris Flynn about exactly how Bookscan works and how he uses the data to monitor his own sales and make decisions about where to invest time with publicity, why publishing is operating on an outdated business model and how it should change, how to organise a book tour yourself, the ways in which both Ireland and Australia have impacted him as a writer, the challenges of writing humorous literary fiction, an unexpected encounter with Sebastian Barry, and how he is banishing self-doubt.About ChrisChris Flynn is an Irish–Australian author of three novels. His first novel, Tiger in Eden, was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writers Prize, and his most recent novel, Mammoth, was shortlisted for the Indie Book Awards and the Russell Prize for Humour. His work has appeared in The Age, The Australian, The Guardian, McSweeney's, The Paris Review and many other publications. He is also the author of a short fiction collection, Here be Leviathans, which won Best Collection at the Aurealis Awards, and the Horridus the Triceratops series of picture books for children. 

Karen and Irma discuss how to craft a good sentence. Then Irma talks to Eliza Henry-Jones about why ‘paddock beanbagging’ is her preferred way to write, how writing a novel every year since she was 14 helped her understand her world, how difficult it was to first be published at the age of 25, why as a writer she is a ‘chaos demon’, how having a child changed her as a writer, why she wrote Salt and Skin from a place of rage, the challenges of writing ‘unlikeable’ female characters, why she resisted Scrivener and then fell in love with it. About ElizaEliza Henry-Jones is an author based on a little flower farm on Wurundjeri land in the Yarra Valley of Victoria. She has published five novels, most recently Salt and Skin, which has just been released in the UK and the US. Her books have been listed for many awards, including the ABIA Awards and the CBCA Awards.

Karen and Irma discuss book tours. Then Irma chats with Aaron Fa’Aoso and Michelle Scott Tucker about the process of ghostwriting (or co-writing) Aaron’s memoir, how they tackled sensitive subjects like suicide, racism and Aaron’s domestic violence history, the decision-making process on what to include and what to not, why Aaron almost pulled the project many times but ultimately never did, how Michelle captured Aaron’s voice, and why recording the audiobook sent Aaron into a dark place. About MichelleMichelle Scott Tucker is the author of Elizabeth Macarthur: A Life at the Edge of the World – a biography of the woman who established the Australian wool industry, and the co-writer for Aaron Fa’Aoso’s memoir, So Far, So Good.About AaronAaron Fa’Aoso is a Torres Strait Islander film producer, director, screenwriter and actor. He is known for his roles in RAN: Remote Area Nurse, East West 101, The Straits, Black Comedy, and as the presenter of Strait to the Plate and Going Places with Ernie Dingo. Aaron is the executive director of his own film and television production company, Lone Star.

Karen and Irma talk about presenting at sales conferences. Then Irma chats with Robbie Arnott about his ‘chaotic’ writing process, how landscapes inspire him and how he approaches writing about climate change to avoid being preachy, why his first book rejection really knocked his confidence, the way he fictionalised family history to avoid friction with family members, how a background in advertising helps him with the editing process, the pressure he puts on himself to get the writing perfect, how his time as a bookseller has shaped his approach to publicity, and weird author interactions in bookshops.About RobbieRobbie Arnott’s acclaimed debut, Flames, won the Sydney Morning Herald Best Young Novelist award and a Tasmanian Premier’s Literary Prize, and was shortlisted for almost every prize going. His follow-up, The Rain Heron, won the Age Book of the Year award, and was shortlisted for another long list of awards, including the Miles Franklin Literary Award. His third and most recent book, Limberlost, has recently won the Age Book of the Year award again. He lives in Hobart. 

Irma and Karen chat about festivals and events they’ve been attending. Then Karen talks to former Canberra Writers Festival Artistic Director Jeanne Ryckmans about how a literary festival is programmed, the role of publicists and why sometimes they don’t work in the author’s best interests, how a writer should pitch themselves to an artistic director, the positive developments as a result of COVID, the writer Jeanne would have donated a kidney to get on her program (and did!), and crazy festival stories – from the author who did a session in his pjs, to another stung by a wasp right before a session, and a melted chocolate incident that incited panic.

Irma and Karen chat about attending festivals as an interlocutor or as a panellist. Then Karen talks to Jock Serong about making the move from lawyer to novelist, why he dives into dark places, the fraught territory of navigating writing First Nations characters and history as a descendant of settler Australians, why he goes on writing excursions with his characters, a surreal green room experience with Ian Rankin, and an utterly disastrous panel event.