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.

5 | The year that almost killed Anna Downes, author of 'The Safe Place'

Jul 5, 2020

James and Ashley interview Anna Downes, author of freshly released worldwide blockbuster 'The Safe Place.' Among other things, they discuss the role motherhood and post-natal anxiety played in the book's development in this wide-ranging chat. Find Anna on her website or on Twitter. And if you can't get to literally any...

4 | Eating caramel slice with Ashley Kalagian Blunt, author of 'How to Be Australian'

Jun 22, 2020

James and Ashley turn the focus of their interviews inwards, with James interviewing Ashley about her new book, 'How to Be Australian.' They discuss the book's influences and inspiration, what its early drafts looked like, and how being part of a writing group transformed it into its current form.

'How to Be...

3 | Interview with Lee Kofman, author of 'Imperfect'

Jun 7, 2020

James and Ashley interview Lee Kofman, author of 'Imperfect - How Our Bodies Shape the People We Become.' They discuss scars, body image, and the incredible experiences that have informed Lee's writing. Lee is an author of four other books, including the memoir The Dangerous Bride, and co-editor of Rebellious Daughters,...

2 | How to Be Australian - Chapter 1

Jun 1, 2020

A special episode in which Ashley reads the first chapter of her new book, 'How To Be Australian.'

Get in touch!

Ashley's Website: ashleykalagianblunt.com

Ashley's Twitter: @AKalagianBlunt

James' Website: jamesmckenziewatson.com

James' Twitter: