EPISODE · Jan 5, 2026 · 45 MIN
Writing Podcast Episode 698: Emma Sloley welcomes you to 'The Island of Last Things'
from So You Want to be a Writer · host Australian Writers' Centre
When was the last time you visited a zoo? Well, now imagine you’re visiting the last zoo on Earth and you have the premise for Emma Sloley’s new book, The Island of Last Things. In this episode, Emma shares the inspiration, research and publishing experience for this book and some of the larger themes this piece of fiction evokes. 00:00 Welcome04:10 Writing tip: Aim for rejections!08:30 WIN!: Tom Clancy Executive Power by Andrews & Wilson11:22 Word of the week: ‘Pelf’11:56 Writer in residence: Emma Sloley13:03 What is The Island of Last Things about?13:50 How Emma got the idea for the book16:00 Discussing the term ‘climate fiction’19:00 Researching Alcatraz for the book21:37 Gathering insights from zookeepers24:19 Transition to American characters25:35 Publishing journey and agent experiences28:34 Editing process with agents and editors31:34 Balancing writing and travel34:39 Current writing projects38:40 Tips for aspiring writers41:06 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Writing Podcast Episode 698: Emma Sloley welcomes you to 'The Island of Last Things'
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