James and Ashley Stay at Home

James and Ashley are staying at home. Partly because there’s a pandemic, partly because they’re writers, and partly because of their health. Through discussions and interviews with other writers, they’ll try to inspire, build fellowship and entertain, or at the very least, explore how staying at home has its benefits.

Ashley Kalagian Blunt is author of two books, How to Be Australian, a memoir, and My Name Is Revenge, a thriller novella and collected essays. My Name is Revenge was a finalist in the 2018 Carmel Bird Digital Literary Award, and was shortlisted for the 2019 Woollahra Digital Literary Awards. Her writing appears in Griffith Review, Sydney Review of Books, The Australian, The Big Issue, Westerly, Kill Your Darlings and more. She lives and works in Sydney, NSW. Find her on Twitter or visit her website.

James McKenzie Watson writes short and novel length fiction. He's been recognised in competitions including the International InkTears Flash Fiction Contest, the Newcastle Short Story Award and the Grieve Writing Competition, and featured in publications such as Baby Teeth Journal and Brave Voices Magazine. In 2017 he was shortlisted in the Kingdom of Ironfest prize for his novel Denizen. He works as a nurse in regional NSW. Find him on Twitter or visit his website.

15 | Wanting it - James and Ashley share writing motivations, processes and more tips

Nov 24, 2020

James and Ashley discuss their very different motivations for writing, the processes they use to translate that to words, and some tips they've each learnt along the way.

Get in touch!

Ashley's Website: ashleykalagianblunt.com

Ashley's Twitter: @AKalagianBlunt

James' Website: jamesmckenziewatson.com

James' Twitter:

14 | Moulding stories like clay with Elizabeth Tan, author of 'Smart Ovens for Lonely People'

Nov 10, 2020

James and Ashley interview Elizabeth Tan, author of 'Smart Ovens for Lonely People.' In it, they discuss the public health crisis of loneliness, the personal experiences that inspired some of these stories, and an unusual but highly effective writing prompt.

Find out more about Elizabeth on her website, or buy a copy of...

13 | Navigating creative anxiety with Kate Mildenhall, author of 'The Mother Fault'

Oct 27, 2020

James and Ashley interview Kate Mildenhall, bestselling author of 'The Mother Fault' and 'Skylarking.' They discuss the craft of novel writing, the challenges of penning a second book, and the creative anxieties that plague writers.

Find out more about Kate on her website and buy a copy of 'The Mother Fault' from your...

12 | Magic cures and snake oil with Petronella McGovern, author of 'The Good Teacher'

Oct 13, 2020

James and Ashley interview Petronella McGovern, bestselling author of 'The Good Teacher' and 'Six Minutes.' They discuss the allures and dangers of fringe healthcare, the similarities shared by many Australian communities, and the differences between writing a first and second novel.

Find out more about Petronella at...

11 | Stuff it up, we want to hate this too! with Anthony Jeannot, comedian

Sep 29, 2020

James and Ashley interview Anthony Jeannot, a stand-up comedian who has spent the last decade taking a test-and-learn approach to anxiety management with the help of a professional therapist. They discuss the impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic on mental wellbeing, the mental health challenges faced by young men, and the...