Shows
Secrets from the Green RoomSeason 6: Episode 62: Favel ParrettIrma and Karen chat about finishing a draft of a novel. Then Karen talks to Favel Parrett about why she decided to give up being a postie and become an author, why she signed up for a writing course but didn’t finish, how her novel Past the Shallows changed her life and keeps on giving, why she likes school visits, how she received not one but two Antarctic Arts Fellowships, why she likes writing child characters, how she came to write about dingoes, how rewarding it can be to write for young readers, and how the wor...2025-05-1245 min
Secrets from the Green RoomSeason 6: Episode 61: Tania McCartneyKaren and Irma talk about the intel Irma has gleaned from booksellers on her Shift book tour. Then Irma chats to Tania McCartney about how she made the transition from self-publishing to traditional publishing, creative burn-out and how to come out the other side, deciding to become an illustrator when she was already an established author, the idea that we should all ask for five things we are certain we’ll get a no to, why illustrators need greater recognition, the ways in which the children’s industry is undervalued, and one special reader who means everything....2025-04-2151 min
Secrets from the Green RoomSeason 5: Episode 60: Nardi SimpsonIrma and Karen chat about juggling jobs to survive while writing. Then Karen talks to Nardi Simpson about the creative crossover between making songs and writing books, why she decided to start writing novels, how writing helps her to explore larger questions, how her writing mentors inspired her, what she learned from the Year of the Novel course, how sending a story out into the world is like throwing a boomerang, how she opens herself to playing with ideas and language, why she no longer writes lists of rules for herself when starting to write a new b...2025-03-1049 min
Secrets from the Green RoomSeason 5: Episode 59: Katherine ColletteKaren and Irma chat about the challenges of being able to accept praise. Then Irma talks with Katherine Collette about how co-hosting The First Time podcast was life-changing, her most excruciating experience with the podcast, the excitement of overseas deals for her debut novel and the huge low that followed, how the US market differs from the ANZ market, the secrecy around book sales, the challenges in moving from writing books for adults to writing for kids, how to write humour on the page, how to navigate the emotional headspace of writing, the best and worst advice s...2025-02-1744 min
Secrets from the Green RoomSeason 5: Episode 58: Cate KennedyIrma and Karen chat about the changing shape of the Australian publishing industry as small publishers are bought up by larger publishing houses. Then Karen talks to short-story maestro Cate Kennedy about how she came to be a writer and then a teacher of writing, how writing (and reading) a short story is like plunging deep into a diving pool, how her career took off after having a story published in a 9/11 commemorative edition of the New Yorker, how she wrote a novel because of an offer she couldn’t refuse, what makes a character interesting, how jud...2025-02-041h 06
Secrets from the Green RoomSeason 5: Episode 57: Bob BrownIrma and Karen chat about their top books from the last 12 months. Then Karen chats with lifelong activist and former politician Bob Brown about why writing is so important to activism, why storytelling with intent is important, how he approached writing his memoir, why the practice of writing notes while out in nature is key, the ways in which writing fiction is important in getting people to think about other lives and issues, why he’s given up writing his speeches, the ways in which hope sustains him, how collaboration with other artists is fundamental to his wor...2025-01-1355 min
Secrets from the Green RoomUbud Readers and Writers Festival Special Series: Episode 56: Omar MusaIn a special series direct from the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival (UWRF) Omar Musa chats with Irma about how growing up in an artistic family set his course, why he stopped reading and writing during a dark period and how a new form of expression saved him, the ways in which earning a living from the thing you love can be deeply problematic, why winning the Australian Poetry Slam took him to UWRF and was a gateway into the literary world, why he wants to challenge his own assumptions and biases through his work, why he found it...2024-11-2658 min
Secrets from the Green RoomUbud Writers and Readers Festival 2024: Episode 55: Bora ChungIn a special series direct from the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival Bora Chung chats with Irma about how she wrote her first short story solely for prize money but it eventually led to a short fiction collection that was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, why her publisher thought an approach from Anton Hur to translate her collection into English was a scam, what it was like to be at the Booker Prize ceremony and the strange thing every judge said to her, how the Booker has impacted her career, why she doesn’t translate her own work into En...2024-11-1832 min
Secrets from the Green RoomUbud Writers and Readers Festival Special Series: Episode 54: Laura Jean McKayIn a special series direct from the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival Laura Jean McKay chats with Irma about the experience of touring her books to the UK, why she threw up in a caravan sink after finishing her novel, how the publishing landscape for short fiction has changed over the last two decades, a disastrous book event that ended up in an Oscar-winning performance, writing about big political themes, the surreal experience of recording her audiobook during the pandemic, why winning prizes can be a lonely experience, the overwhelming and unexpected support of the sci-fi community, how to...2024-11-1150 min
Secrets from the Green RoomUbud Writers and Readers Festival Special Series: Episode 53: Aube Rey LescureIn a special series direct from the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival Aube Rey Lescure chats with Irma about how she initially followed a friend’s advice not to become a writer but then ditched law to pursue it anyway, how being multilingual impacts the way she writes, why she refused to follow the career trajectory her creative writing course advised, why she got fixated on publishing a book before she was 30 – and then was forced to let go of it, how her mum’s April Fool’s joke led to an important plot line in her debut novel, how she...2024-11-0442 min
Secrets from the Green RoomUbud Writers and Readers Festival Special Series: Episode 52: Nam LeIn a special series direct from the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival Nam Le chats with Irma about why his first unpublished novel was a spectacular failure but still worthwhile, why for a long time he was a secret writer and the renowned Iowa Writers Workshop was him ‘coming out’ to the world, how he naively thought the crazy success of The Boat was what all writers experienced, why Nam made a pact with himself that he would find the good in every publicity question, how his publisher felt about him wanting to publish a poetry collection – notoriously the smalle...2024-10-2846 min
Secrets from the Green RoomSeason 5: Episode 51: JP PomareIrma and Karen chat about writers festivals they’ve recently attended, as well as the joys and challenges of being a panel moderator and interviewing other authors. Then Karen talks to JP Pomare about how he didn’t know he was writing crime until it was marketed that way, why his goal is to transcend the genre, how he’s managed to publish seven books in six years, why we’re so fascinated with crime fiction, how writing an Audible original taught him valuable lessons about writing, why research can be a trap and so he fact-checks instead...2024-10-0650 min
Secrets from the Green RoomSeason 5: Episode 50: Kylie NeedhamIrma and Karen chat about the upcoming Ubud Writers and Readers Festival. Then Karen talks to Kylie Needham about how a short story turned into her debut novel, the joys and challenges of writing for television and the screen, the collaboration of the writers’ room and the vulnerabilities of the process, what writing scripts taught her about moving the narrative forward, whether authors should get involved with screen adaptions of their work, the inequality and sexism of television in the 2000s, and a beautiful moment with a literature high school teacher decades later.About Kyl...2024-09-1649 min
Secrets from the Green RoomSeason 5: Episode 49: Finegan KruckemeyerIrma and Karen chat about audio books.Then Karen speaks with Finegan Kruckemeyer about how he got his first break as a playwright, the difference between writing for young people and adult audiences, how much freedom there is in the parameters of commissioned works, why he acts out his scripts, why a school production of one of his plays blew him away far more than the professional production, how he goes about writing both comedy and big issues, why he doesn’t enter the rehearsal space, advice on how to get started as a playwright, and how hi...2024-08-2650 min
Secrets from the Green RoomSeason 5: Episode 48: Jacinta di Mase, literary agentIrma chats to agent Jacinta di Mase about what agents do to earn their 15%, the intricacies of contracts – including rights reversion, world rights, backlists and rising royalties, how an agent can fight for an author over cover design and choosing a title, the dos and don’ts of submitting to agents, the extent of editorial feedback to expect from agents, how the submission process to publishers works, the ins and outs of foreign rights, what a co-agent is and why they’re important, how film/TV deals are negotiated, how Covid transformed the industry for the better, and why a meet...2024-08-0656 min
Secrets from the Green RoomSeason 5: Episode 47: Hilde HintonKaren and Irma chat about the ins and outs of contracts. Then Irma talks to Hilde Hinton about the way her work polarises people, how an argument with her brother (actor Samuel Johnson) led to her first novel, why Lego is an important part of her writing process, how novels can make space for important conversations about big topics like mental illness and suicide through joy rather than the sadness, how AI has revolutionised the way she researches, the ways in which writing her debut changed her feelings about her mother, why she formulated a three-book plan...2024-07-1646 min
Secrets from the Green RoomSeason 5: Episode 46: Beejay SilcoxIrma and Karen reveal exciting new partnerships with Ubud Writers and Readers Festival and Writers Victoria. Then Karen chats with Beejay Silcox about literary criticism in Australia – what good critics endeavour to do, the blowback from a tough review, what is lacking in Australian criticism, the impact of shrinking page space, the inability to make a sustainable career out of criticism, and her deep regret over one particular review. And then on judging the Stella Prize – how the process works, the role of chair and how the panel is selected, how a shortlist and then a winner is d...2024-06-2651 min
Secrets from the Green RoomSeason 4: Episode 45: Children's books: Andrea Rowe and Anna WalkerIrma tries to convert Karen to writing program Scrivener. Then Irma chats to children’s creators Anna Walker and Andrea Rowe about how authors and illustrators work together (or don’t!), why illustrator notes are a no-no, the profound impact of picture books on both adults and children, the biggest mistakes that new writers and illustrators make, what to expect from the editing and publishing process, how to network and build connections in the industry, the effects of crippling self-doubt, why we should all be library lurkers, the failures of literary festivals in relation to children’s author...2024-05-151h 06
Secrets from the Green RoomSeason 4: Episode 44: Kris KneenIrma and Karen discuss author websites. Then Karen chats with Kris Kneen about writing into deeply uncomfortable spaces and confronting issues like fatness and identity, how to write sex well, why they’re always switching up genres, how to deal with disappointment over missing out on awards, why they almost gave up writing entirely, and the moment that changed their life.About KrisKris Kneen has written erotica, fiction, short-stories, poetry, memoir, non-fiction and scripts for film and documentaries. They have previously been published under the name Krissy Kneen, and their most re...2024-04-2353 min
Secrets from the Green RoomSeason 4: Episode 43: Diana ReidIrma and Karen talk about prepping for radio interviews. Then Karen chats to Diana Reid about how writing scripts has informed the way she works as a novelist and her approach to being edited, what it was like to be thrown into the spotlight with her bestselling debut novel, how its extraordinary success affected her, advice on how to handle publicity interviews, why writing her second novel was so much harder, how she feels about being called Australia’s Sally Rooney, why COVID was such a positive time for her as a writer, and how the first tim...2024-04-0345 min
Secrets from the Green RoomSeason 4: Episode 42: Peter PapathanasiouKaren and Irma chat about point of view and writing from multiple perspectives. Then Irma talks to Peter Papathanasiou about his very long and convoluted journey to publication, how his debut was rejected by 100 agents and took 10 years to get published, why his goal was to get published in the UK first and advice for other writers about how to do the same, how he successfully pitched his own book for screen, the challenges of the book-to-screen process, the devastating impact of being dropped by two agents and then picking himself back up again, and how specialising...2024-03-1252 min
Secrets from the Green RoomSeason 4: Episode 41: Melinda Smith'Irma and Karen talk about the ins and out of book marketing. Then Karen chats with Melinda Smith about winning the Prime Ministers Literary Award for poetry, the potential of TikTok for poets, how arts grants have sustained her writing and how to write a good application (all the details), how form (or lack thereof) influences the writing of a poem, why poets are not featured much in festival line-ups, sources of inspiration, the important art of poetry editing, and advice for how to get published as a poet.About MelindaMelinda...2024-02-2152 min
Secrets from the Green RoomSeason 4: Episode 40: Niq MhlongoIrma and Karen chat about the highs and lows of podcasting. Then Irma talks to Niq Mhlongo about what it was like growing up in Soweto, South Africa, how sleeping in a tiny room with seven brothers got him hooked on reading, why he ditched law to become a writer, how Dan Brown made him think he’d become a millionaire from writing, how his debut novel went from being deemed ‘unpublishable’ to being accepted by the same publisher, why he is sceptical about literary prizes, why living from Berlin gives him freedom to write about Soweto, and wh...2024-01-3146 min
Secrets from the Green RoomSeason 4: Episode 39: Daniel O'MalleyKaren and Irma talk about ten awful publishing truths. Then Karen chats to Daniel O’Malley about writing humour in books and how to develop this skill, how he lost the first 150 pages of his bestseller The Rook, the potential pitfalls of finding an agent, the process of his novel being made into a mini-series, how he used to tweet as one of his characters, and what it’s like to go to a fantasy book conference.About DanielDaniel O’Malley is an internationally bestselling fantasy/sci fi author. He’s publishe...2024-01-0947 min
Secrets from the Green RoomSeason 4: Episode 38: Kate MildenhallKaren and Irma chat about what makes a good book title. Then Irma talks to Kate Mildenhall about how she organised (and survived!) a massive book tour, the brutal experience of her second book being rejected, why writing retreats are invaluable for her creative practice, the challenges of not sticking to one genre, how she approached the writing of her structurally complex third novel, how she sees Australia’s reviewing culture and her new theory about the impact of reviewing momentum, the highs and lows of being a co-host of The First Time podcast, and the unparalleled jo...2023-11-281h 01
Secrets from the Green RoomSeason 4: Episode 37: Christos TsiolkasKaren and Irma discuss the challenges of author photo shoots. Then Irma chats with Christos Tsiolkas about how reading Monkey Grip cross-legged in a bookstore was a seminal moment, and how his father – who couldn’t read – made him the patient reader he is today, how the poor reception to his second novel The Jesus Man deeply bruised him and the overwhelming success of The Slap was the reverse experience, how acting techniques have influenced the way he writes characters, how he approached writing a love story, and the most challenging and joyous writing experiences he’s had.2023-11-0850 min
The First TimeLive at Write Around the Murray with Kathryn Heyman, Irma Gold, T.R Napper & Kate MildenhallThis episode is a Live recording of the First Time Publishing panel at the Write Around the Murray Festival on September 17, 2023.
Kate speaks with writers Kathryn Heyman, Irma Gold and Tim Napper about their first and subsequent publication experiences and what they have learned along the way.
Kathryn Heyman is the author of six novels including Storm and Grace and Captain Starlight's Apprentice which was serialised on BBC radio to an audience of two million and was published last year in a new edition. Her previous work has won the Wingate, Southern Arts and Arts Council...2023-10-221h 15
Secrets from the Green RoomSeason 4: Episode 36: Anita HeissKaren and Irma chat about one star reviews and Goodreads. Then Karen talks to Anita Heiss about why she writes across so many genres and which is her favourite, what she learned from writing the script for the 'Tiddas' live-show and how it feels to have your work performed on stage, how she creates sexy, sassy First Nations female characters, how she still feels self-doubt even after writing so many books, how she survived a personal attack from a certain right-wing shock jock, and how a life coach helped her to get organised and meet her goals a...2023-10-1836 min
Secrets from the Green RoomSeason 3: Episode 35: Chris FlynnKaren and Irma chat about the impact of AI technologies on authors. Then Irma chats with Chris Flynn about exactly how Bookscan works and how he uses the data to monitor his own sales and make decisions about where to invest time with publicity, why publishing is operating on an outdated business model and how it should change, how to organise a book tour yourself, the ways in which both Ireland and Australia have impacted him as a writer, the challenges of writing humorous literary fiction, an unexpected encounter with Sebastian Barry, and how he is banishing...2023-08-2449 min
Secrets from the Green RoomSeason 3: Episode 34: Eliza Henry-JonesKaren and Irma discuss how to craft a good sentence. Then Irma talks to Eliza Henry-Jones about why ‘paddock beanbagging’ is her preferred way to write, how writing a novel every year since she was 14 helped her understand her world, how difficult it was to first be published at the age of 25, why as a writer she is a ‘chaos demon’, how having a child changed her as a writer, why she wrote Salt and Skin from a place of rage, the challenges of writing ‘unlikeable’ female characters, why she resisted Scrivener and then fell in love with it. 2023-08-0156 min
Secrets from the Green RoomSeason 3: Episode 33: Aaron Fa'Aoso and Michelle Scott TuckerKaren and Irma discuss book tours. Then Irma chats with Aaron Fa’Aoso and Michelle Scott Tucker about the process of ghostwriting (or co-writing) Aaron’s memoir, how they tackled sensitive subjects like suicide, racism and Aaron’s domestic violence history, the decision-making process on what to include and what to not, why Aaron almost pulled the project many times but ultimately never did, how Michelle captured Aaron’s voice, and why recording the audiobook sent Aaron into a dark place. About MichelleMichelle Scott Tucker is the author of Elizabeth Macarthur: A Life a...2023-07-1258 min
Secrets from the Green RoomSeason 3: Episode 32: Robbie ArnottKaren and Irma talk about presenting at sales conferences. Then Irma chats with Robbie Arnott about his ‘chaotic’ writing process, how landscapes inspire him and how he approaches writing about climate change to avoid being preachy, why his first book rejection really knocked his confidence, the way he fictionalised family history to avoid friction with family members, how a background in advertising helps him with the editing process, the pressure he puts on himself to get the writing perfect, how his time as a bookseller has shaped his approach to publicity, and weird author interactions in bookshops....2023-06-2047 min
Secrets from the Green RoomSeason 3: Episode 31: Jeanne Ryckmans (festival director)Irma and Karen chat about festivals and events they’ve been attending. Then Karen talks to former Canberra Writers Festival Artistic Director Jeanne Ryckmans about how a literary festival is programmed, the role of publicists and why sometimes they don’t work in the author’s best interests, how a writer should pitch themselves to an artistic director, the positive developments as a result of COVID, the writer Jeanne would have donated a kidney to get on her program (and did!), and crazy festival stories – from the author who did a session in his pjs, to another stung by...2023-05-3133 min
Secrets from the Green RoomSeason 3: Episode 30: Jock SerongIrma and Karen chat about attending festivals as an interlocutor or as a panellist. Then Karen talks to Jock Serong about making the move from lawyer to novelist, why he dives into dark places, the fraught territory of navigating writing First Nations characters and history as a descendant of settler Australians, why he goes on writing excursions with his characters, a surreal green room experience with Ian Rankin, and an utterly disastrous panel event. 2023-05-0244 min
Secrets from the Green RoomSeason 3. Episode 29: Marion HalliganKaren and Irma chat about the pros and cons of online writing courses. Then they chat to Marion Halligan about how Sylvia Plath inspired her to get started, what she bought with her first earnings, how writing is a kind of madness, the challenge of writing a memoir about her late daughter, good and bad editing experiences and what it was like being edited by her sister, why essays are her favourite form, the controversies while serving as Chair of the Australia Council Literature Board, why the government should pay writers a salary, and why she got a...2023-04-1148 min
Secrets from the Green RoomSeason 3. Episode 28: Deb Stevens (Retired Sales Agent)Karen and Irma chat about writing residencies. Then they talk to bookseller and sales rep Deb Stevens about what goes on behind the scenes in the book trade, how books are sold into bookshops, if and when and how authors should contact their sales reps, preparing for your book’s release, how authors can work maximise promo of their books, the most wonderful authors Deb has worked with and the divas, and how a puppy rescued Jodi Picoult on tour.2023-03-2143 min
Secrets from the Green RoomSeason 3. Episode 27: Inga SimpsonIrma and Karen chat about a new writing book, The Writer Laid Bare by Lee Kofman. Then Karen speaks with Inga Simpson about why choosing a character’s name to boost a word count ended up in a prize and her debut novel, how a childhood spent in nature influenced her writing, her determination not to let the second-book pressure derail her, the risks and challenges around telling stories involving Australia’s first peoples, how she measures success and the value of prizes, the politics of green rooms, and the highs and lows of appearing at writers festi...2023-02-2852 min
Secrets from the Green RoomSeason 3. Episode 26: BooksellersIrma and Karen chat about how organised (or disorganised!) they are with their writing. Then Irma chats to booksellers Katarina Pearson (Harry Hartog), Alison Page (Dymocks) and Peter Arnaudo (The Book Cow) about how to get friendly with booksellers – what to do (when and how) and what not to do, how long you can expect your book to stay on the shelves, how sales and returns work, the important role of sales reps and how they impact book selection, why relationships with local authors are key, when and how to sign books, how to organise events with bo...2023-02-0758 min
Secrets from the Green RoomMargaret River Readers & Writers Festival series. Episode 25: Natasha LesterIn a special series direct from the Margaret River Readers and Writers Festival, Irma chats with Natasha Lester about how utter despair before an award ceremony preceded the best moment of her life, the lightbulb moment that changed the course of her career, the rewards of constructive sulking after rejection, how a fraught editing process almost destroyed her current book, how she manages three books at a time in different stages of writing, editing and promoting, the high of hitting the New York Times bestseller list, and why the Muse doesn’t actually exist.About Natasha...2022-08-1040 min
Secrets from the Green RoomMargaret River Readers & Writers Festival series. Episode 24: Craig SilveyIn a special series direct from the Margaret River Readers and Writers Festival, Irma chats with Craig Silvey about the author school visit as a child that changed his life, the careful considerations around writing characters from marginalised communities, why he thinks writing to word counts is unhelpful, how writing is like an illness, the hardest manuscript he had to abandon, and the most frightening library display of his book.About CraigCraig Silvey is an author and screenwriter from Fremantle, Western Australia. His critically acclaimed debut novel, Rhubarb, was published in 2004. His bestselling...2022-07-2735 min
Secrets from the Green RoomMargaret River Readers & Writers Festival series. Episode 23: Brooke Davis and Rhett DavisIn a special series direct from the Margaret River Readers and Writers Festival, Irma chats with siblings Rhett and Brooke Davis about what it’s like sharing the world of publishing with a sibling, their very different paths to becoming published authors, the downsides of a worldwide tour when your book is a smash hit, the childhood books that shaped them and are now echoed in their writing, how grief led to them both publishing novels, the pressure of writing a second novel when your debut has been an international bestseller, seeing famous writers in the green room and re...2022-07-1346 min
Secrets from the Green RoomMargaret River Readers & Writers Festival series. Episode 22: Claire G ColemanIn a special series direct from the Margaret River Readers and Writers Festival, Irma talks to Claire G. Coleman about how poetry influences her non-fiction style, the downsides of book touring, how she deals with Twitter trolls, the complications of working with two publishers, her love-hate relationship with the editing process, and how she responds to criticisms that she’s ‘not blak enough’.About ClaireClaire G. Coleman is a Noongar woman whose family have belonged to the south coast of Western Australia since long before history started being recorded. Her debut novel, Terra Nulliu...2022-06-2836 min
Secrets from the Green RoomSeason 2. Episode 21: Robert WatkinsCraig and Irma unpack the role Amazon plays in the book world. Then Irma chats with Ultimo Press publisher Robert Watkins about why diverse publishing is so important to him, how to nab an editorial job, the way that authors should own the publicity stage and be proud, what makes him want to publish a manuscript, what good sales mean in terms of hard numbers, the impact of Covid on the publishing landscape, and a case of mistaken identity in the green room.About RobertPublishing Director of Ultimo Press, Robert Watkins...2022-06-0149 min
Secrets from the Green RoomSeason 2. Episode 20: Tony BirchCraig and Irma talk about books that have wowed them. Then Tony Birch chats to Irma about the sensitivity around fictionalising family, the importance of First Nations writing, who has the right to tell certain stories, the problems with teaching writing at university, the rejections that have really stung, the time his mum threatened a radio host, and the famous writers who have snubbed him in green rooms.About TonyTony Birch is an author of three novels, four collections of short stories and two collections of poetry – which have won or be...2022-05-0454 min