Beyond The Plot Podcast

Ever wonder about the person behind your favourite book? I'm diving deep with authors to uncover the real personal stories behind their work. If you love reading, writing or you're simply interested in learning more about your favourite authors, this podcast is for you!

Beyond The Plot Podcast is a arts podcast hosted by Lisa El-Behnaihy, with 60 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Lisa El-Behnaihy hosts Beyond The Plot Podcast, a arts show with 60 episodes published.

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  Episode #35

  Other People Are Like the Weather | Vicki Anstey on Resilience, Self-Trust, Ocean Rowing & Finding Your True Self

  Sep 30, 202651 minS2

  What happens when you stop trying to control other people's reactions and start focusing on your own choices? In this episode, Lisa speaks with adventurer, keynote speaker, stress and resilience coach, and author Vicki Anstey about her powerful memoir Other People Are Like the Weather . Vicki shares the deeply personal journey behind the book, from leaving a long-term relationship and rebuilding self-trust to overcoming fear, navigating difficult relationships, and finding the courage to create a life that truly felt like her own. Vicki reflects on her transition from a career in advertising to becoming an endurance adventurer, including her appearance on SAS: Who Dares Wins and her experiences rowing across the Pacific Ocean. Together, Lisa and Vicki explore emotional regulation, resilience, psychological safety, stress, self-belief, and why the most transformative adventures often happen within ourselves. In this episode: • The story behind Other People Are Like the Weather • Rebuilding confidence after a life-changing breakup • Lessons from SAS: Who Dares Wins • Overcoming a lifelong fear of water • Rowing across the Pacific Ocean and managing extreme stress • Difficult team dynamics and emotional resilience • Why we can't control other people's behaviour • The importance of psychological safety and self-trust • How small, intentional steps can create lasting change Memorable Quotes "Other people are like the weather." "The most radical thing that any of us can do is not to row oceans or climb peaks or cycle across continents. It's literally just to be intentional in our lives." "We spend half our lives becoming who we're told to be. And then maybe the rest of our life is trying to unravel that and find out who we really are."

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  Beyond The Plot Podcast

  Building a Spicy Romance Career: Jade May on Escapism, Indie Publishing, and Landing a Penguin Deal

  Sep 22, 202633 min

  Lisa sits down with Jade May , contemporary spicy romance author and creator of the completed Eden Series , including her newest release Unleash for Eden . Jade shares how she began writing during COVID after a lifetime of reading—especially as books helped her escape long hospital stays growing up. She walks through the entire arc of her publishing career: her first 10,000 words, an early bad contract, raising money to buy back her rights, self‑publishing, building a loyal readership, and eventually landing a traditional deal with Penguin. Along the way, Jade breaks down the business side of authorship, the marketing grind behind her success, and why she prioritizes themes like escapism, feminism, sexuality, therapy, and body autonomy in her work. This episode is a deep dive into the realities of modern romance publishing, the craft of writing emotionally rich spicy romance, and the discipline required to build a sustainable author career. What You’ll Learn Romance world‑building rooted in escapism, feminism, and emotional depth Indie vs trad publishing from someone who has done both How Jade bought back her rights and rebuilt her career from scratch Why author marketing matters more than viral moments How chronic illness, motherhood, and a film‑industry job shape her writing routine The craft behind writing authentic, emotionally driven spicy scenes How Unleash for Eden explores addiction, trauma, and second‑chance love Practical advice for new authors on contracts, agents, and self‑publishing If you enjoyed this conversation, make sure to follow the show , leave a rating , and share this episode with a romance‑loving friend . Your support helps more listeners discover powerful author stories like Jade’s — and keeps these deep‑dive conversations coming. Want more interviews like this? Hit subscribe and never miss an episode.

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  Episode #32

  Katherine Kovacic: The Long Road to Crime Fiction & No Good Deed

  Sep 16, 202632 minS2

  Melbourne-based crime writer Katherine Kovacic joins Lisa to talk about the long and unexpected road to becoming a published author. Katherine began her career in veterinary science before moving through family business, art history and academia. A Faber Academy writing course helped her reconnect with her creative voice, eventually leading to a pitch event, a publishing deal and a career in crime fiction. In this conversation, Katherine reflects on the realities of publishing and sustaining a writing career — from finding ideas and researching crimes to managing deadlines, social media, AI concerns and the challenge of protecting time for the writing itself. They also explore Katherine’s latest novel, No Good Deed , featuring retired geologist Rena Novak, whose solo journey through the Kimberley takes a sinister turn when she discovers a burnt-out car and a dead body. Katherine discusses the inspiration behind Rena, researching the Kimberley, the role of landscape in the novel, and some of the wonderfully strange questions that come with researching crime fiction. A conversation about crime writing, publishing, creativity, research and what it really means to build a life around writing. Topics Covered Katherine Kovacic’s journey from vet to crime writer Childhood reading and early influences Art history and the rediscovery of writing Faber Academy and developing a creative voice Landing a publishing deal Finding an agent Life after publication Writing routines and research The pressures facing authors today Social media and AI No Good Deed and Rena Novak The Kimberley as a setting Researching crime, diamonds and crocodiles Why writers need to protect their creative time

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  Episode #32

  From YA to Adult Fiction: Julia Tuffs on Writing, Rejection & Creative Reinvention

  Sep 8, 202655 minS2

  In this episode of Beyond the Plot , I chat with author Julia Tuffs about her unconventional journey from childhood writing, to television and teaching, and eventually back to fiction. Julia shares how exhaustion, boredom and becoming a parent unexpectedly led her back to writing — and how joining a local writing group helped her rebuild her confidence and take her creative ambitions seriously. From SCBWI and an MA in Writing for Children to querying agents, going on submission and navigating rejection, Julia offers an honest look at what it really takes to build a writing career. She talks openly about the manuscripts that ended up in the “drawer,” the lessons hidden inside rejection, and the importance of continuing to write even when the publishing journey feels uncertain. The conversation also explores Julia’s move from YA into adult fiction , the inspiration behind 45 Things to Do Before You’re 45 , and how writing something funny, honest and joyful helped her reconnect with her voice. Julia also discusses publishing with Audible and a smaller press , the changing publishing landscape, the future of books and reading, and why writer communities and genuine connection with readers matter so much. If you’re a writer navigating rejection, considering a creative reinvention, thinking about changing genres, or simply wondering whether it’s ever too late to return to the work you love, this episode is for you. In this episode; ​Julia’s early love of writing and her journey through TV and teaching ​How becoming a parent helped bring her back to fiction ​Joining a writing group and finding confidence as a writer ​The role SCBWI played in understanding the publishing industry ​Studying for an MA in Writing for Children ​The realities of querying agents and going on submission ​Dealing with rejection and the emotional ups and downs of publishing ​Why some manuscripts end up in the “drawer” — and why they still matter ​Julia’s transition from YA to adult fiction ​The inspiration behind 45 Things to Do Before You’re 45 ​Writing about midlife, identity and perimenopause ​Publishing with Audible and a smaller press ​The changing landscape of publishing and books ​Finding your voice by writing for joy ​The importance of writer communities, creativity and reader connection Julia Tuffs is an author whose writing journey has taken her through television, teaching, YA fiction and adult fiction. Her work explores creativity, identity, relationships and the messy, funny realities of life — with a particular focus on finding your voice and making space for creativity at every stage of life. ​ Hexed ​ Twice Hexed ​ 45 Things to Do Before You’re 45 ​ Nesting for Beginners

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  Episode #31

  Victoria Hannon on Finding Her Voice, Writing in Bursts & I Love the Whole World

  Sep 1, 202630 minS2

  In this episode of Beyond the Plot , I talk with award-winning Australian novelist Victoria Hannon about finding her voice, building a writing life that works for her, and the journey behind her third novel, I Love the Whole World . Victoria has been a professional writer for more than 20 years, beginning in advertising as a copywriter before moving into fiction. Her breakthrough came in 2017, when she quit her job, won a writing residency in Brazil, and wrote the first draft of Kokomo in around a month. That manuscript went on to win the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for an unpublished manuscript, launching Victoria’s fiction career and leading to a two-book publishing deal. Victoria talks candidly about what happened next: the pressure of following up a successful debut, the emotional experience of writing Marshmallow , and the freedom she found in writing a novel without a contract. She also shares how reading widely became one of her most important forms of writing education, why relentless drafting helped her discover her authentic voice, and how travel, immersion and periods of intense focus have shaped the way she works. For her newest novel, I Love the Whole World , Victoria travelled to Las Vegas to research the setting and wanted to create something playful, human and hopeful. In this episode; Victoria’s journey from copywriting to fiction The writing residency in Brazil that sparked Kokomo Writing a first draft in just one month Winning the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award The importance of reading widely as a writer Finding an authentic voice through experimentation and drafting The pressure of writing a second novel after a successful debut The emotional challenges behind Marshmallow Writing without a publishing contract Why Victoria writes in bursts and builds her life around focused work Researching Las Vegas for I Love the Whole World The shift in tone and perspective behind her third novel Why she wanted I Love the Whole World to feel playful, human and hopeful If you’re a writer, reader, or simply interested in how novels come into being, this is a conversation about creative courage, finding your voice, and making a writing life your own.

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