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.
Jul 16, 2024
We made it to 100 episodes! In this celebration of books, reading and creative community, James and Ashley reflect on how the podcast came about, their favourite books and moments from the podcast, and how their lives, health and writing have changed over the four years since episode 1.
You'll also hear from a variety of past guests and listeners, and get an update on the newest books from all our incredible range of previous guests. Plus, we announce the winner of our book pack giveaway.
Authors and books discussed in this episode:
- Red River Road by Anna Downes (from ep 5)
- The Shadow House by Anna Downes
- The Safe Place by Anna Downes
- Meshi: A Personal History of Japanese Food by Katherine Tamiko Arguile (from ep 7)
- The Last Trace by Petronella McGovern (from ep 12)
- The Good Teacher by Petronella McGovern
- The Liars by Petronella McGovern
- The Hummingbird Effect by Kate Mildenhall (from ep 13)
- The Silent Listener by Lyn Yeowart (from ep 39)
- Dirt by David Vann (from ep 23)
- Bianca Millroy, upcoming curator of Science Write Now*
- Josephine Taylor (from ep 20)
- Adele Dumont (from ep 93)
- Little Bit by Heather Taylor Johnson (forthcoming) (from ep 41)
- Ten Thousand Aftershocks by Michelle Tom (from ep 38)
- The Vitals by Tracy Sorensen (from ep 96)
- Fragile Creatures by Khin Myint
- Madrid: A New Biography by Luke Stegemann (from ep 26)
- Happy Millionth Birthday by RWR McDonald (from ep 32)
- Ghost Cities by Siang Liu (from ep 99)
- The Keepers by Al Campbell (from ep 65)
- Mrs Winterbottom Takes a Gap Year by Joanna Nell (from ep 33)
- Smart Ovens for Lonely People by Elizabeth Tan (from ep 14)
- Love & Autism by Kay Kerr (from ep 37)
- Australiana by Yumna Kassab (from ep 57)
- The Lovers by Yumna Kassab
- Politico by Yumna Kassab
- Good Dog by Kate Leaver (from ep 8)
- Safe Haven by Shankari Chandran (from ep 48)
- Unfinished Business by Shankari Chandran
- Tipping Point by Dinuka McKenzie (from ep 51)
- Taken by Dinuka McKenzie
- The Torrent by Dinuka McKenzie
- Australian Gospel by Lech Blaine (from ep 52)
- Dying to Know by Rae Cairns (from ep 58)
- The Good Mother by Rae Cairns
- Getting to Know the Birds in Your Neighbourhood by Darryl Jones (from ep 67)
- Never Ever Forever by Karina May (from ep 78)
- Compassion by Julie Janson (from ep 80)
- Benevolence by Julie Janson
- Madukka the River Serpent by Julie Janson
- Love, Dad by Laurie Steed (from ep 87)
- Greater City Shadows by Laurie Steed
- Girl Falling by Hayley Scrivenor (from ep 68)
- Imbi Neeme (from ep 98)
- A Real Piece of Work by Erin Riley
- Sarah Sentilles (from ep 50)
- Rattled by Ellis Gunn (from ep 56)
- Jacinta Dietrich, favourite friend of the podcast and co-host of Differently Brained (from ep 45)
- Ada Palmer (from ep 16)
- The Writer Laid Bare by Lee Kofman (from ep 76)
- Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
- David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
- Scary Monsters by Michelle de Krester
*Correction: Bianca is hosting an eight-part takeover of Science Write Now, started by Amanda Niehaus and Jessica White.
Upcoming events
- James is teaching an online creative writing workshop for Laneway Learning on Tuesday 23 July, 6.15pm
- Ashley is in conversation with Lisa Kenway to launch her debut thriller on Thursday 1 August, 6.30pm
- Ashley is part of the Northern Beaches Readers Festival, 27-28 September
- Ashley is teaching Online: Creative Nonfiction for Writing NSW, a six-week online course starting 30 September
- Ashley is in conversation with Heather Taylor Johnson in celebration of her latest novel, Little Bit, on Thursday 3 October, 6.30pm
- Ashley is teaching Crafting Memoir for the New England Writers Centre online, Saturday 12 October, 2-3.30pm
- James is teaching Writing Setting and Landscape for Writing NSW, Saturday 26 October, 10am-4pm
Learn more about Ashley's bestselling psychological thriller Dark Mode and get your copy from your local bookshop or library.
Learn more about James' award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy from your local bookshop or library.
Get in touch!