Secrets from the Green Room

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monitor his own sales and make decisions about where to invest time with publicity, why publishing is operating on an outdated business model and how it should change, how to organise a book tour yourself, the ways in which both Ireland and Australia have impacted him as a writer, the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. 

Karen and Irma chat about the pros and cons of online writing courses. Then they chat to Marion Halligan about how Sylvia Plath inspired her to get started, what she bought with her first earnings, how writing is a kind of madness, the challenge of writing a memoir about her late daughter, good and bad editing experiences and what it was like being edited by her sister, why essays are her favourite form, the controversies while serving as Chair of the Australia Council Literature Board, why the government should pay writers a salary, and why she got angry at Bill Bryson at the Melbourne Writers Festival.

Karen and Irma chat about writing residencies. Then they talk to bookseller and sales rep Deb Stevens about what goes on behind the scenes in the book trade, how books are sold into bookshops, if and when and how authors should contact their sales reps, preparing for your book’s release, how authors can work maximise promo of their books, the most wonderful authors Deb has worked with and the divas, and how a puppy rescued Jodi Picoult on tour.

Irma and Karen chat about a new writing book, The Writer Laid Bare by Lee Kofman. Then Karen speaks with Inga Simpson about why choosing a character’s name to boost a word count ended up in a prize and her debut novel, how a childhood spent in nature influenced her writing, her determination not to let the second-book pressure derail her, the risks and challenges around telling stories involving Australia’s first peoples, how she measures success and the value of prizes, the politics of green rooms, and the highs and lows of appearing at writers festivals.