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.
Oct 8, 2024
'For me, the only decision was to put myself out there and become more of service to others.'
Olympic gold medallist Michael Klim speaks with James about his diagnosis and life with CIDP, the same autoimmune condition James lives with. Michael discusses his childhood and Olympic career, how his worsening health affected his mental health, and how he ultimately decided to become vocal about his condition and support others.
Michael Klim is a renowned Australian swimmer. He competed in three Olympic Games and won six medals, including two gold. Since 2020, Michael has lived with a rare autoimmune disorder, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). He has established the Klim Foundation to provide support to sufferers and champion the search for new treatments.
Books & authors discussed in this episode:
- Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles
- This Is a Call: The Life and Times of Dave Grohl by Paul Brannigan
- Andrew Johns: The Two of Me by Andrew Johns and Neil Cadigan
- Johnathan Thurston: The Autobiography by Johnathon Thurston
- Open by Andre Agassi
- Kelly Slater: For the Love by Kelly Slater
Get your copy of Klim from your local bookshop or library. Supporting libraries and neighbourhood bookshops supports authors.
Upcoming events:
- Ashley is teaching Crafting Memoir for the New England Writers Centre online, Saturday 12 October, 2-3.30pm
- James is in conversation with Zahid Gamieldien at Manly Library on Tuesday 15 October, 6:30pm
- James is teaching Writing Setting and Landscape for Writing NSW, Saturday 26 October, 10am-4pm
- Ashley is doing her first author tour to the Mid North and Central Coast. Catch her speaking in Forster on Monday 21 October, in Port Macquarie on Monday 21 October, in Kempsey on Tuesday 22 October and at Erina Library on Wednesday 23 October.
- Ashley is teaching Writing Crime Fiction in Bowral on Thursday 7 November, 10am-4pm.
Learn more about Ashley's bestselling psychological thriller Dark Mode and get your copy from your local bookshop or your library.
Learn more about James' award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy from your local bookshop or your library.
Get in touch!