Book Matters

Today we speak with two very different authors on the podcast.  Rachel Fox McLeod chats with Courtney about her debut novel 'Disgraceful' - a hilarious and moving debut novel about a woman who writes a ‘f*ck-it’ list to reclaim herself after her marriage unexpectedly implodes.Then Sam speaks with Hannah Gould about her thought-provoking book 'How to Die in the 21st Century' - If you have ever wondered about alternative funerals, modern grief, sustainable burial options or simply how to begin the conversation about death, this is the book you've been waiting for.We hope you enjoy!Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

Today we invite back Adelaide writer Victoria Purman onto Book Matters to chat about her new novel The Marriage Trap - A charming but pointed look at the tumultuous extraordinary decade of the 1960s, and the effects of the pill, rebellion and new ideas on ordinary Australian women as alongside shorter skirts and the Beatles.  We hope you enjoy!Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

In this episode we are bringing back one of our most popular writers to see what they have been up to since we last spoke with them.We spoke to Fiona Lowe in 2021 about her novel 'A Home Like Ours' so it was great to bring her back to chat about her latest novel 'The Drowning'.We hope you enjoy.Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

On Book Matters today we have two amazing Australian writers. Janine speaks with Mercedes Mercier about her newest novel The Couple's Retreat, then Kiara speaks with Kathy Lette about her new novel The Sisterhood Rules.We hope you enjoy!Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

On the podcast today Courtney speaks with Brisbane writer Shailee Thompson about her debut novel “How to kill a guy in ten dates” – a sharp and entertaining novel that blends humor, suspense and modern-day dating in unexpected ways.  Sam then chats to Courtney Peppernell about her new novel “The Last Poem” - a moving and heart-rending debut about a grieving woman who moves to a charming small town and finds healing, friendship and love.    We hope you enjoy. Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

In this episode Janine speaks with Adelaide writer Rebecca Heath about her latest novel 'The Last Encore' - a gripping, claustrophobic Australian thriller with a killer twist.  Kiara then chats to Victorian author Susi Fox about her new novel 'The Other Child', a compelling psychological suspense novel about mistrust, coercion and fear of betrayal.We hope you enjoy.Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

Here at Book Matters, we are taking a well-earned break over the summer holidays but we have some recordings of our Live In Conversation events held at the library during 2025.We welcomed Chris Hammer to the library in October where he spoke to a large audience about his new novel Legacy which sees the return of his popular character Martin Scarsden.The audio quality is a little compromised, but we are sure you will enjoy listening to Chris and Tim as they chat about his writing and his books.Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

During the year we hosted some fabulous live author events at Connected Libraries!  For our Summer Series we are proud to give you the recording of our event with internationally bestselling Melbourne author Jane Harper who chats with Courtney about her writing process and her latest novel Last One Out.We hope you enjoy!Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

For our last episode of Book Matters for the year we have two great interviews for you.Both are Australian authors, and their books are ideal for Christmas gifts and to take away on your summer holiday.Courtney speaks with Libby Iriks about her novel "Home to the Heart Country" – a heartfelt small-town romance set in Western Australia exploring themes of belonging, social anxiety and neurodivergence.Then Janine chats with debut writer Brooke Crawford about her novel "Better than the Real Thing" – where Notting Hill meets Bridget Jones Baby in this whip-smart, funny, emotionally charged contemporary fiction about messy pasts, second chances and future families from a sparkling new voice in fiction.We would like to take this opportunity from the Book Matters team to wish all our listeners a great festive season, and we look forward to returning next year with a whole new season of Book Matters.Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

Welcome to Back to Chat, a special episode of Book Matters! On today’s special episode we are celebrating five years of Book Matters with a familiar and much-loved guest. That’s right—we’re bringing back one of our most popular authors for a return visit!Please join us as we catch up, see what’s new and dive into their stories—both on and off the page—that continue to inspire our book world. It’s a full-circle moment, and we’re thrilled to share it with you!This episode we chat with Melbourne writer Sally Hepworth about her latest novel Mad Mabel.   We hope you enjoy!Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

On this episode of Book matters we have some interesting interviews for you.Kiara speaks with Melbourne author Toni Jordan about her new novel ‘Tenderfoot’ - an exquisite and bittersweet read that brings back memories of growing up in Australia in the 1970s wherein a 12-year-old girl from a family of gamblers and greyhound racers grapples with adulthood as her home life disintegrates.Then Sam chats with New Zealand writer & poet Louise Wallace about her novel ‘Ash’ - a shimmering novel about motherhood, love and the power of feminine rage.We hope you enjoy.Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

On Book Matters this month Janine talks to Jessica Mansour-Nahra about her gripping gothic domestic thriller "The Farm" It asks confronting questions about women's bodies, what is expected of them, and who is really in control. Then Kiara speaks with Jess Kitching about her novel "The Life Experiment" a poignant, life-affirming love story about two people whose lives are turned upside down when they enter an experiment that predicts when they will die.We hope you enjoy.Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

On Book Matters this month Sam chats to Kate Halfpenny about her memoir Boogie Wonderland, when Covid lockdowns hit Melbourne, metropolitan midlife couple Kate and Chris decide to make a sea change and move to a small coastal town to ease financial pressures and live out the beach lifestyle many of us dream of. But they didn't give much thought to just how different it would be.Then Kiara talks to Sinead Stubbins about her novel Stinkbug, where a select group of employees at an advertising agency are sent to an elite three-day work retreat in the remote mountains.  In this wildly original and deeply unhinged story, Sinead Stubbins turns her keen but empathetic eye on the lies we tell about ourselves in order to belong.Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

 On Book Matters today Janine chats to Adelaide writer Leonie Kelsall. We chat about her latest rural fiction novel, The path through the Coojong trees. We also talk about her writing and why she also writes under a pseudonym Courtney then chats to Victorian crime writer Matt Rogers who has self published 36 novels and how he has transitioned to being traditionally published. We hope you enjoy! Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

Welcome to Back to Chat, a special episode of Book Matters! On today’s special episode we are celebrating five years of Book Matters with a familiar and much-loved guest. That’s right—we’re bringing back one of our most popular authors for a return visit!Please join us as we catch up, see what’s new and dive into their stories—both on and off the page—that continue to inspire our book world. It’s a full-circle moment, and we’re thrilled to share it with you!If would like to listen to our previous episode with Kelly back in 2020 you can listen to it here:  https://bit.ly/448Rx3FConnected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

On the podcast today Courtney chats with Melbourne author Jodi McAlister about her rom-com – “An Academic Affair” - a charming new romance about two English professors who embark on a fake relationship…only to discover that it may be harder to pretend than they realized.  Then Sam speaks with NSW writer Sarah Clutton about her novel “The Remarkable Truths of Alfie Bains” - a heart-warming story of family, relationships and being true to oneself.  We hope you enjoy!Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

On this special NAIDOC Week episode, our local history librarian Kate speaks with Lenora Thaker - a proud Meriam and Wagedagam woman born and living on Gimuy-Walubarra Yidinji country in Far North Queensland.   They chat about her historical novel, 'The Pearl of Tagai Town' a sweeping, heart-warming and ultimately triumphant story of the life of a young Torres Strait Islander woman from Tagai Town, a shantytown on the northeastern coast of Australia, in the decades before, during and after World War II.  We hope you enjoy!Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

Welcome to Back to Chat, a special episode of Book Matters! On today’s special episode we are celebrating five years of Book Matters with a familiar and much-loved guest. That’s right—we’re bringing back one of our most popular authors for a return visit!Please join us as we catch up, see what’s new and dive into their stories—both on and off the page—that continue to inspire our book world. It’s a full-circle moment, and we’re thrilled to share it with you!If you are keen to also listen to our previous interview with Maya Linnell you can find it here: https://bit.ly/44c3NjTConnected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

On Book Matters today, Courtney speaks with Sydney paramedic Sally Gould about her memoir Frog, an intimate look at the human cost of the job and the cumulative effect of trauma. Sally shares a personal story which offers a heartfelt tribute to the resilience, courage and camaraderie that define the high-stakes world of emergency medicine.  Then Janine chats with South Australian crime writer Michelle Prak, we talk about her writing and her new suspense novel Barren Cape, where an abandoned resort seems the perfect place to hide, but is Barren Cape a refuge or a trap.  We hope you enjoy.Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

Today on Book Matters we are celebrating Australian crime fiction by chatting to Sydney writer Jane Caro about her compelling and fascinating new mystery novel Lyrebird, which brings a detective out of retirement to investigate a 20-year-old cold case. We hope you enjoy.Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

 On Book Matters today Kate speaks with Melbourne author Madeliene Cleary about her new historical fiction novel “The Butterfly Women” which shines a light on Melbourne in 1863, the goldrush and the brothels that operated in that era.   Then Janine speaks with Sydney author Lauren McKellar about her new novel “The Calendar Mums” - a warm, funny and heartbreaking book about what it means to be a mother.  We hope you enjoy.Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

On the podcast today Sam chats to Sydney author Catherine Greer about her novel The Bittersweet Bakery Café which sheds light on the complex lives of women, then Kiara speaks with Victoria Brownlee who describes herself as an Eater/Drinker/Writer, about her new novel Eat Your Heart Out.  We hope you enjoy.Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

On the podcast this month Janine speaks with Sydney author Vanessa McCausland about her new release “The Last Illusion of Paige White” a haunting, compelling and beautifully written novel about two women, a tragedy on the lake, and secrets beneath the surface.Kiara then chats with Ella Ward about her first novel "The Cicada House" - a heartfelt and feel-good time-travelling love story set in London and Australia.Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

On the podcast this month Janine speaks with author Kylie Ladd about her new release "The Mix-Up" - A beautifully told and thought-provoking novel about a mix-up that leaves two children wondering who they really are and where they belong . . .  Sam then chats to Darwin based writer Leonie Norrington about her book – A Piece of Red Cloth, A powerful, unique novel based on the oral history of the Yolngu people from north-east Arnhem Land that tells the story of a grandmother who stops at nothing to protect her granddaughter.Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

Here at Book Matters we are taking a well-earned break over the holiday period but in the meantime we have put together some great listening in our best in-conversation events held during the year.Back in October we were fortunate to have well known crime writer and winner of three Ned Kelly awards, Candice Fox here at Bunjil Place.   Fellow crime writer and local girl Kerryn Mayne interviewed Candice about her writing, her collaboration with James Patterson, the adaptations of her novels to the screen and her newest novel “High Wire”.   The audio quality was a little patchy as it was recorded live but we hope you enjoy.Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

Courtney chats with Julie Goodwin about the release of her memoir – “Your time starts now” - the extraordinary life story of Australia's first winner of MasterChef and bestselling cookbook author. It was by all appearances, a successful, rewarding life. But under the surface relentless pressure from Julie’s outer and inner worlds was taking its toll. Struggling with depression, anxiety and addiction, with bushfires blazing and lockdowns looming, Julie found herself hospitalised in a mental health unit.We are brought into her story, into her unravelling and quest for healing as she seeks to resume a richly lived life.We hope you enjoy.Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

In our final Book Matters episode for the year Janine speaks with debut author Leesa Ronald about her novel Special Delivery - a heartfelt, laugh-out-loud story of finding love through life's twists and turns and a perfect novel for the summer holidays.  Then Sam chats to David Lindenmayer about his book The Forest Wars which lifts the lid on what’s happening in our forests.Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

On Book Matters today Kate chats with debut author Lauren Keegan about her book “All the bees in the hollows” an atmospheric, original, folkloric mystery set in a remote Lithuanian beekeeping community in the 16th century.  Then Courtney speaks with best-selling Sydney author Pip Drysdale about her latest book “The Close-Up”, an electrifying, dark and twisty new thriller set in celebrity-soaked Los Angeles.   We hope you enjoy.Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

On Book Matters today we speak to two Australian authors who take us to Italy during two different eras. First up Janine speaks to Perth based author Tess Woods about her fourth women's fiction novel The Venice hotel; where the lives of four very different women become entangled in a boutique hotel where dark secrets unravel and where not everyone who checked into the hotel will check out again. Then Kate chats with Sydney based author Emily Maguire about her historical fiction novel Rapture; an enthralling evocation of a world in turmoil threaded through by the life of a singular brilliant woman. An imaginative and audacious historical novel from the best-selling author of Love Objects and An Isolated Incident. We hope you enjoy!Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

This month Janine chats with Victorian author Jock Serong about his new novel "Cherrywood" an imaginative, darkly playful and deeply meaningful delight, a novel about legacy, community, wonder, love and reinvention.   Then Courtney speaks with debut novelist Brooke Hardwick about her novel The Fog - a spine-chilling gothic thriller, where a  woman on the brink travels to a remote writers’ retreat to uncover the secrets of her past and lands herself in a deadly situation that could destroy her future.We hope you enjoy!Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

In this episode Janine chats with Sydney writer Nicola Moriarty about her new domestic thriller 'Every Last Suspect' - a gripping thriller that masterfully intertwines suspense and drama, leaving readers hooked from the very first page.Then Sam chats to debut author Finegan Kruckemeyer about his novel 'The End and everything before it' which is a sweeping, joyous novel about love, loss and the power of stories - an uplifting journey into our deepest humanity.Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

 On this episode of Book Matters we are thrilled to be talking to two fabulous writers about their latest releases. First off Janine chats with Canadian crime writer Robyn Harding about her latest thriller The Haters; a twisted tale of fame, obsession, and the dark recesses of social media. Then Kate speaks to Australian author Lia Hill about her novel The desert knows her name; an exquisite novel that speaks to a deep longing for connection with the land, and the silences that persist in contemporary Australia.We hope you enjoy! Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

 On Book Matters today Janine and Courtney speak with two Australian authors.  Janine speaks with Aoife Clifford about her new mystery novel ‘It takes a town’ which is a vivid story of small-town allegiances and secret grudges.  Then Courtney chats with Amy Hutton about her romantic comedy novel ‘Love from Scratch’ which is a delectable story for dog-lovers, cat-lovers and romance lovers.  We hope you enjoy. Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

On Book Matters today Kate speaks with debut author Kyra Geddes about her novel 'The Story Thief' where fact and fiction meld into one in this stirring family saga set against shifting landscapes and pivotal moments in Australian history. Lynda then chats with Jo Peck about her memoir 'Suddenly Single at 60' - This inspiring, witty and at times hilarious memoir tells the story of the road from shock and despair to an unexpected new life, of friendship, romance and racy sex—proof that being suddenly single at sixty is not the end, it’s an opportunity for a fabulous new beginning.Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

Here at Book Matters we are great supporters of Australian writers, especially those who are publishing their first novels. Today we shine a light on two debut novelists Lynne Johnson  is an Australian writer and the author of crime fiction novel, The Bait trap. She writes crime with feeling, that deals with gritty social issues, like addiction. The Bait Trap is about powerlessness, forgiveness, redemption and freedom all set in a fictional rural Australian town. Abbey Lay is a Melbourne writer whose novel Lead us Not is an emotionally charged novel of female friendship. Her debut novel was shortlisted for the Victorian Premier’s Award for an Unpublished Manuscript.   Lead Us Not is an intriguing, heartbreaking depiction of the complexities of female friendship and the emotional toll of ghosting set in a Catholic Girls School. We hope you enjoy.Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

 In this special Australian Rural Crime episode, Courtney talks to Sydney author Dinuka Mackenzie about her novel – Tipping Point, the third instalment of the Detective Kate Miles series which features, a suicide. a shooting. and a reckoning, decades in the making.  We hear about her writing process and her inspiration for her crime novels, we hope you enjoy. Reserve your copy here: https://bit.ly/4cEhR9iConnected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

On this episode we have two Australian mystery rural crime writers to chat to. Courtney speaks with Vikki Wakefield about her latest release “To the River” about a fire in a remote caravan community which kills 9 people.   Then Janine speaks with Glenna Thomson about her novel “Gone” which is a gripping rural crime novel of a grieving family and their forty-year journey to discover the truth.   We hope you enjoy.Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

WELCOME BACK TO BOOK MATTERS, WE HOPE YOU ALL HAD A LOVELY SUMMER BREAK.   ON OUR FIRST EPISODE OF SEASON 5 WE HAVE TWO VERY DIFFERENT AUTHORS AND BOOKS TO TALK ABOUT.FIRST UP,  JANINE CHATS WITH CANBERRA BASED AUTHOR KAREN VIGGERS ABOUT HER LATEST NOVEL ‘SIDELINES’, WHICH EXPLORES WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A TEENAGE SOCCER GAME DESCENDS INTO A BRAWL AFTER A CONTROVERSIAL LINE CALL.NEXT UP COURTNEY SPEAKS WITH MEGAN NORRIS ABOUT HER TRUE CRIME BOOK “LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO – FATHERS WHO KILL” WHICH IS AN EXPLORATION OF REVENGE KILLINGS DURING MARITAL BREAKDOWNS.  Please note that this interview contains depictions of violence that some people may find disturbing or if you have children around pop on some headphones.Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

In our final episode for the year we have two Australian Historical Fiction writers to hear from. Janine speaks with Sydney author Tania Blanchard about her new novel A Woman of Courage - A gripping, uplifting new Victorian era novel about passion, love, loss, self-discovery and the right to be heard, inspired by a true story.   Then Kate speaks with Darry Fraser about her latest novel – The Milliner of Bendigo set in the 1800’s in Bendigo and the mighty Murray River - an exciting and twisty historical mystery and adventure from a bestselling Australian author. The team here at Book Matters would like to thank you all for your support over the past year and we would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a happy festive season and we look forward to bringing you more interviews next year. Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

Janine speaks with UK author Wendy Holden about her novel ”The Princess” which is the final novel in Wendy Holden's trilogy about royal outsiders, and fictionalises Princess Diana's little-known early years. Then Kate speaks with Melbourne writer Kirsty Manning about her new novel  “The Hidden Book” which is a compelling novel based on a true story of a WWII European heirloom that brought down war criminals and travelled through history … to be found in an Australian country shed in 2019. We hope you enjoy!Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

 On Book Matters this month Kate speaks with Irish author Emma Donoghue about her mesmerizing new novel set in 1805 "Learned by Heart",  which tells the heartbreaking story of the tangled lives of two women whose intense, and unlikely, relationship will change them for ever.  Then Lynda chats with Sydney writer Fiona Britton about her mystery novel "Violet Kelly and the Jade Owl" which takes us to Sydney in 1930  about a century old curse, a house of secrets and a young woman determined to find out the truth. Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

 In this episode Connected Libraries celebrates History Month where our Local History Librarian Kate speaks with Heather Arnold about her research and her new book Enchanted Beneath the Bluff - Agnes & Geraldine's pursuit of Elwood's elusive Black Diamonds.A fascinating story set in Elwood and St Kilda in the days of suffrage and spiritualism set in the 1890's.Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

 On Book Matters Janine speaks with South Australian author Meredith Appleyard about her latest women’s fiction novel Daisy & Kate which is a compelling exploration of the waxing and waning of friendships; how precious they are, and the heartbreak that happens when it all comes undone.   Then Sam talks to Brisbane author Susan Johnson about her memoir Aphrodite’s Breath, that tells what happens when you take your 85-year-old mother to live with you on a Greek island? A strikingly original, funny, and forensic examination of love and finding home.   Two wonderful books that feature mature aged characters on journeys of discovery. Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

On Book Matters we like to shine a light on authors who are publishing their first book and in this special episode Courtney talks to debut Australian author Lucy Campbell about her compelling mystery novel ‘Lowbridge’ which is a heart-wrenching mystery about the girls who are lost, the ones who are mourned, and those who are forgotten, in a town simmering with divisions and a cast of unforgettable characters.  We hope you enjoy.Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

Ïn this special episode we celebrate ''Wear It Purple Day'' with well -known Australian author Will Kostatskis. Wear it purple day strives to foster supportive, safe, empowering and inclusive environments for rainbow young people. Today Courtney chats to Will  about his latest novel We could be something, a story which takes readers on a wonderful yet emotional rollercoaster tale of the lives of two young men as they navigate coming out, falling in love and falling apart. We could be something is a story with an enormous and authentic heart."Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

Today on the podcast Janine speaks to US author T J Newman about her writing and her latest novel Drowning which is an unforgettable thriller about a family’s desperate fight to save themselves and the people trapped with them—against impossible odds.  Then Sam speaks with debut novelist Pip Finkemeyer about her novel Sad Girl where A young woman tries to figure out if she’s the best (a creative genius) or if she’s maybe just the worst (completely delusional).Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

In this episode we have two debut authors to chat to. Courtney speaks with  author Naima Brown who speaks about her debut novel   The Shot   which shines a light on reality television, then Janine speaks with Kate Solly about her delightful novel   Tuesday Evenings with The Copeton Craft Resistance,   which is a heartwarming story of friendship in an imperfect world, feel-good fiction at its best.Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

On the podcast today Sam speaks with debut Australian author Michael Thompson about his novel How to be Remembered which is a heartwarming, poignant and ultimately inspiring novel about the important things in life. Then Kate talks to Tara Calaby about her debut Australian historical fiction novel House of Longing which is set in 1895 and takes place largely in Kew Asylum. It explores loss, grief and the building of community, with a touch of romance on the side.Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

On Book Matters this month Janine chats to Sydney based crime writer Rae Cairns about her heart stopping thriller Dying to Know which is a page turning novel about A desperate phone call. A decade of questions and A deadly race to find the truth.Then we go across the world to New York City where Sam speaks with debut novelist Mikki Brammer about her book The Collected Regrets of Clover, which reminds us all to live our best life with fewer regrets.Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube

This month on Book Matters we have a Historical Fiction episode.  First up Janine talks to South Australian author Victoria Purman, where we find out all about her new novel “A Woman’s Work’’ which takes us back to Australia in the 1950’s and the Australian Women’s Weekly cooking competition, where two women have the possibility of a new kind of future.Then Carol speaks with well-known author Jackie French about her new novel "Becoming Mrs Mulberry" which is about the secrets we carry, those that we unearth - and those that are too dangerous to tell.And of course we have some more great book reviews from our staff here at the library.  Connected Libraries WebsiteConnected Libraries Facebook PageIn a nook with a book Facebook GroupConnected Libraries Instagram PageConnected Libraries YouTube