Secrets from the Green Room

Karen and Irma chat about how to decide on the POV(s) for a novel, and how to listen to what the book itself wants to be. Then Irma talks to Melbourne Writers Festival Director Veronica Sullivan and Sorrento Writers...

<p>Karen and Irma chat about structuring a novel, in particular the use of prologues and epilogues.</p><p>Then in the first of an occasional series with debut authors, Irma talks to Dominic Amerena and Lisa Moule about...

<p>Irma and Karen answer a listener question about the transition from emerging writer to established, then chat about their latest reading recommendations.</p><p>Then Karen talks to poet Robbie Coburn about how...

<p>Karen and Irma chat about the environmental cost of publishing books, and uncover some positive take-aways. </p><p>Then Irma talks to children’s author Ingrid Laguna about how running away from home impacted her as a...

<p>Irma and Karen talk about how different platforms – Instagram, Facebook, X, Substack and author websites – help sell books (or don’t!)</p><p>Then Karen chats to Toni Jordan about how to successfully inject serious...

<p>Karen and Irma talk about the importance of writers centres, and urge listeners to sign the Writers Victoria petition.</p><p>Then Irma chats to Tasma Walton about novelising the story of her ancestor Nannertgarrook...

<p>Karen and Irma debate whether AI is useful to break writer’s block.</p><p>Then they both chat to Fleur McDonald about pioneering the way in rural crime writing, how she built her profile over the years and then...

<p>Irma and Karen chat about the year ahead, and dive into their first Book Chat of the year, championing Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell, and Colony by Annika Norlin.</p><p>Then Karen talks to Colombian writer Ingrid Rojas...

<p>In a special series direct from the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival, Karen chats to Craig Leeson (impact filmmaker) about how growing up in Tasmania made him an environmental activist, how to find a hook to capture...

<p>In a special series direct from the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival, Karen chats to Indian author, winner of the 2025 International Booker Prize, Banu Mushtaq about what drives her to write about the fundamentalist...

<p>In a special series direct from the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival, Irma chats to German author, winner of the 2024 International Booker Prize, Jenny Erpenbeck, about the pros and cons of coming from a family of...

<p>In a special series direct from the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival, Karen chats to Lech Blaine about how to shape a memoir and find a meaningful throughline within the truth, what it was like being edited by Helen...

<p>In a special series direct from the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival, Irma chats to travel writer Nina Karnikowski about why she no longer wants to do a five-day trip to Paris and would rather opt for longer more...

<p>In this episode Irma and Karen chat about the 2025 Ubud Writers & Readers Festival, painting a picture of the festival atmosphere and sharing some of the highlights. </p><p>Then they ask six authors at the festival –...

<p>Karen and Irma chat about early drafts and tips for gaining momentum again after a break.</p><p>Then Irma talks to Sophie Cunningham in her role as Chair of the Australian Society of Authors about the impact of AI...