Through discussions and interviews with writers, artists and health professionals, author friends James McKenzie Watson and Ashley Kalagian Blunt explore the big questions: how do books get written? How do people navigate life with chronic illness? And just what are you reading?
Ashley Kalagian Blunt is the author of Dark Mode, an internationally published psychological thriller. Her earlier books are How to Be Australian, a memoir, and My Name Is Revenge, collected fiction and essays. Her writing appears in the Sydney Morning Herald, Overland, Griffith Review, Sydney Review of Books, and more. Ashley is an enthusiastic teacher of writing and creativity. Originally from Canada, she has lived and worked in South Korea, Peru and Mexico. Find her on Twitter and Instagram or visit her website.
James McKenzie Watson is the author of Denizen, which won the 2021 Penguin Literary Prize and was shortlisted in 2023 Ned Kelly Awards for Best Debut. His writing has appeared in The Guardian, Meanjin, Kill Your Darlings and the Newtown Review of Books. He has appeared at events including the Sydney Writers Festival, Newcastle Writers Festival and BAD Crime Sydney. He works as a nurse. Find him on Twitter and Instagram or visit his website.
Sep 2, 2025
In episode 122, Ashley asks fellow crime fiction fan and podcaster what it's like to find yourself as a fictional character in a new novel from one of your favourite authors.
Felix 'Flex' Shannon shares his experience of being fictionalised in the latest mystery novel from Sulari Gentill, Five Found Dead. Hear from Sulari in ep 121!
Felix Shannon is a radio presenter, producer, technician and educator. Together with Benjamin Herder, Felix hosts the crime and mystery fiction podcast Death of the Reader.
Books & authors discussed in this episode:
- All the Tears in China by Sulari Gentill
- After She Wrote Him by Sulari Gentill
- Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill
- Benjamin Stevenson
- When They Cry by Ryukishi07
- Denizen by James McKenzie Watson
- Kill Your Husbands by Jack Heath
- Learned Behaviours by Zeynab Gamieldien
- The Scope of Permissibility by Zeynab Gamieldien
- All the Missing Children by Zahid Gamieldien (from ep 102)
- Falling TJ Newman
- Drowning by TJ Newman
- Worst Case Scenario by TJ Newman
- I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
- The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
- Chris Hammer
Upcoming events:
- Ashley is teaching a one-day narrative drive workshop for Writers at the Woolshed on Thursday 11 September and providing manuscript feedback sessions on Friday 12 September
- Ashley is doing one-on-one manuscript assessments for BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival on Saturday 13 September (only two spots available!)
- James is teaching Writing Setting and Landscape at Writing NSW on Saturday 20 September
- Ashley is teaching Online: Crafting Memoir for Queensland Writers Centre on Sunday 28 September
- James is speaking to Siang Lu, winner of the Miles Franklin Award and previous podcast guest at the State Library for SWF on October 2
- Join Ashley and podcast fav Hayley Scrivenor for the Mystery and Mayhem Readers Retreat at the 5-star Tamborine Mountain Glades, 3-5 October
- Ashley is at the Mount Beauty Writers Festival on Saturday 18 October
Learn more about Ashley's thrillers, Dark Mode and Cold Truth, and get your copies from your local bookshop or your library. Plus check out Like, Follow, Die from Audible.
Learn more about James's award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy from your local bookshop or your library.
Get in touch!