James and Ashley Stay at Home

Bestselling crime author JP Pomare joins us to discuss his latest novel The Gambler, and reflects on how his writing process has changed since his debut in 2018. He discusses his start as a sandwich artist, his impulse to write away from cliche, and his advice for aspiring authors.   JP Pomare is an award-winning author whose debut novel, Call Me Evie, won the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best First Novel. In the Clearing was made into a Disney+ Original Series, The Clearing, while Tell Me Lies was shortlisted for the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Novel and the Ned Kelly Award for Best Crime Fiction. The Last Guests was made into a Stan Original TV series, Watching You. Seventeen Years Later was shortlisted for both the 2025 Ned Kelly Award for Best Crime Fiction and the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Novel, and is currently being adapted for the screen. The Gambler is his eighth novel. Find The Gambler through Booktopia or from your local bookshop or library.    Books & authors discussed in this episode   On Writing by Stephen King  Karl Ove Knausgaard Tierney Page  Sally Hepworth  He Read, She Read podcast with author Sarah Bailey The Genetic Book of the Dead by Richard Dawkins Land by Maggie O'Farrell The Correspondent by Virginia Evans In the Woods by Tana French  Carl's Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman  Dune by Frank Herbert (aka 'June')  Vigil by George Saunders  Departure(s) by Julian Barnes  The Bee Sting by Paul Murray  Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung The Midnight Timetable by Bora Chung The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton Upcoming events  Darwin – join Ashley for her first-ever Darwin event, part of NT Writers Festival, Sunday 31 May, 10.15am  Darwin – join Ashley in conversation for a Book Besties Darwin special event, Monday 1 June, 6pm  Sydney – join James for the launch of Touch Grass by Mary Colusi, Tuesday 2 June, 6.30 pm Sydney – join Ashley and Petronella McGovern at Balmain Library, Thursday 4 June, 6.30pm  Sydney – join Ashley for a **free** workshop, Connecting with Your Creative Practice, Friday 19 June, 10am-2pm  Adelaide – Ashley is teaching Crafting Narrative Drive for Writers SA, Saturday 27 June 10.30am Winter Writing Retreat – join Ashley for a multi-day writing retreat from Writers at the Woolshed, 12-17 July in the Southern Highlands  Geelong – join Ashley for her first-ever Geelong event with Dymocks Books in Bars, Wednesday 22 July, 6.30pm  Central Coast – join Ashley for an in-conversation at Umina Book Nook on Friday 21 August, 6pm Learn more about Ashley's thrillers, Dark Mode, Cold Truth, and Like, Follow, Die and get your copies from your local bookshop or library.  Learn more about James's award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy from your local bookshop or library. Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

5/26/26 • 57:44

In March, Ashley launched her new thriller 'Like, Follow, Die.' In episode 129, hear a live recording of the very special Sydney launch event at Gleebooks, Glebe, where James interviewed Ashley and superstar actor and audiobook narrator Claudia Karvan. Claudia Karvan is one of Australia's most respected and acclaimed film and television actors. She co-created, produced, and starred in the Stan series Bump, earning AACTA and Silver Logie nominations for her performance, and the 2026 AACTA Award for Best Narrative Comedy Series. Claudia also appeared in Disney+'s The Clearing. Earlier, she co-created and produced Doctor Doctor for Nine Network and co-created, produced and starred in the Foxtel series Spirited and Love My Way, winning two Silver Logies and two AFI Awards for the latter. In 2023, she was honoured with an Order of Australia for her service to the industry. Books & authors discussed in this episode: Clown World: Four Years Inside Andrew Tate's Manosphere by Matt Shea and Jamie Tahsin Alain de Botton Find Like, Follow, Die through Booktopia or from your local bookshop or library, or listen to the audiobook only from Audible, narrated by Claudia Karvan, Ryan Corr and Laurence Boxhall.    Upcoming events  Sydney – join Ashley in conversation at Avalon Library, Wednesday 6 May, 5.45pm   Sydney – join Ashley for her Memoir Writing workshop as part of Writer's Toolbox Day at Kirrawee Library, Saturday 9 May Online – Ashley is teaching Online: Crime Writing for Faber Academy starting 12 May Orange, NSW – join Ashley for her first-ever Orange author talk on Thursday 14 May, 5.30pm   Bathurst, NSW – join Ashley for her first-ever Bathurst author talk on Friday 15 May, 15 May    Sydney – join Ashley, Pip Drysdale, Hayley Scrivenor and Rachael Johns for Booked for Lunch, a special She Journeys celebration of books and writing, Saturday 16 May, 9am-3pm  Sydney – join Ashley at the BAD Sydney Crime Book Club to discuss the spoilers and behind-the-scenes of Like, Follow, Die, Wednesday 27 May, 12.30pm  Darwin – join Ashley for her first-ever Darwin event, part of NT Writers Festival, Sunday 31 May, 10.15am  Darwin – join Ashley in conversation for a Book Besties Darwin special event, Monday 1 June, 6pm  Sydney – join James for the launch of Touch Grass by Mary Colussi, Tuesday 2 June, 6.30 pm Sydney – join Ashley for a **free** workshop, Connecting with Your Creative Practice, Friday 19 June, 10am-2pm  Adelaide – Ashley is teaching Crafting Narrative Drive for Writers SA, Saturday 27 June 10.30am   Winter Writing Retreat – join Ashley for a multi-day writing retreat from Writers at the Woolshed, 12-17 July in the Southern Highlands  Geelong – join Ashley for her first-ever Geelong event with Dymocks Books in Bars, Wednesday 22 July, 6.30pm  Learn more about Ashley's thrillers, Dark Mode, Cold Truth, and Like, Follow, Die and get your copies from your local bookshop or library.  Learn more about James's award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy from your local bookshop or library. Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

4/28/26 • 56:04

In episode 128, author Susan Francis joins James and Ashley to share the insidious ways invisible illness and ageism have impacted her sense of self and forced her to reframe her thinking.  At 65 years old, Susan lives with atrial fibrillation (AF), a type of arrhythmia that can lead to heart failure. She shares the challenges of this condition and her creative efforts to be a good (literary) friend despite the limitations of her health.  Susan also discusses her shift from memoir to fiction, and how she crafted her debut historical novel, Revelation Beach, which explores East Timor during the era of the Balibo Five.  Plus, in this month's What Are You Reading segment, Ashley and Susan go deep into Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan (warning: slight spoiler), we return to the frustration/brilliance of Tana French's In the Woods, and James introduces his razor-blade theory of novel endings.  Susan Francis is a writer, teacher and editor. Her memoir The Love that Remains was published in 2020. Her debut novel, Revelation Beach, came out in 2025. Find Revelation Beach and Susan's memoir at Booktopia or from your local bookshop or library.  Books & authors discussed in this episode: Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan So Late in the Day by Claire Keegan The Twenty Days of Turin by Giorgio De Maria, translated by Ramon Glazov The Gambler by JP Pomare Recursion by Blake Crouch In the Woods by Tana French Upcoming events  Central Coast – join Ashley and Anna Downes for the launch of Like, Follow Die on Thursday 27 March, 6pm Sydney – James and Ashley are in conversation with Claudia Karvan for the launch of Like, Follow – Tuesday 31 March, 6pm at Gleebooks, Glebe  Adelaide – join Ashley and Michelle Prak for the launch of Like, Follow, Die on Tuesday 14 April, 6pm Orange, NSW – join Ashley for her first-ever Orange author talk on Thursday 14 May, 5.30pm   Bathurst, NSW –  join Ashley for her first-ever Bathurst author talk on Friday 15 May 14, link to come    Sydney – join Ashley, Pip Drysdale, Hayley Scrivenor and Rachael Johns for Booked for Lunch, a special She Journeys celebration of books and writing, Saturday 16 May, 9am-3pm Sydney – join Ashley at the BAD Sydney Crime Book Club to discuss the spoilers and behind-the-scenes of Like, Follow, Die, Wednesday 27 May, 12.30pm  Darwin – Ashley's first NT author events TBA soon!  Winter Writing Retreat – join Ashley for a multi-day writing retreat from Writers at the Woolshed, 12-17 July in the Southern Highlands  Online – Ashley is teaching Online: Crime Writing for Faber Academy starting 12 May Learn more about Ashley's thrillers, Dark Mode, Cold Truth, and Like, Follow, Die and get your copies from your local bookshop or library.  Learn more about James's award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy from your local bookshop or library. Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

3/26/26 • 53:41

It's been 30 years since award-winning author Anita Heiss made her debut on the Australian literary scene. She reveals the moment she finally felt she'd made it in the industry and why her powerful historical novel, Dirrayawadha, was one of the most challenging books of her career. Anita opens up about crafting a love story against the violence of the Bathurst War, and how she balances stories of trauma with scenes of profound love and joy. Plus, she shares about her forthcoming rom-com with a political heart, The Paradise Pact, and the insights she's learned from her latest role as publisher-at-large of Bundyi, a First Nations imprint from Simon & Schuster.   Dr Anita Heiss is an internationally published, award-winning author of over 20 books, including non-fiction, historical fiction, commercial women's fiction and children's novels. She is a proud member of the Wiradyuri Nation of central New South Wales and Publisher at Large of Bundyi, an imprint of Simon & Schuster cultivating First Nations talent. Today we're discussing her career, including her historical fiction novel, Dirrayawadha (Rise Up), about the Bathurst War of 1824, and her latest rom com, The Paradise Pact.  Find The Paradise Pact and Anita's other books at Booktopia or from your local bookshop or library.  Books & authors discussed in this episode: Who Am I? The Diary of Mary Talence, Sydney 1937 by Anita Heiss Not Meeting Mr Right by Anita Heiss  Secrets by Judy Morrison I Am Nannertgarrook by Tasma Walton  Robbie Arnott  Larissa Behrendt Tell Her She's Dreaming by Simone Amelia Jordan, from ep 106 It's Been a Pleasure Noni Blake by Claire Christian  The Pearl of Tagai Town by Lenora Thacker The Strangers by Katherena Vermette Test Cricket: A History by Tim Wigmore  The Graduate by Rebecca Lim  Upcoming events James is speaking at Fresh Voices: The Penguin Literary Prize Shortlist on Wednesday 11 March Ashley is on book tour across Australia with events in Canberra, Perth, Bowral, Hobart, Launceston, Brisbane, Melbourne, Mornington, Wollongong, the Central Coast, Sydney and Adelaide (and Darwin TBA) Ashley is Teaching Unexpected Editing Strategies in person at Avid Reader on Sunday 15 March  Ashley is at Manly Writers Festival on Friday 20 March  James is teaching Setting & Landscape for Writers at the Woolshed on Saturday 21 March Ashley is teaching Online: Crime Writing for Faber Academy starting 12 May Learn more about Ashley's thrillers, Dark Mode and Cold Truth, and get your copies from your local bookshop or library. Plus check out Like, Follow, Die from Audible or pre-order the book – out 24 February 2026! Learn more about James's award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy from your local bookshop or library.   Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

2/17/26 • 32:00

In episode 126, internationally bestselling author Christian White describes, in graphic detail, how he thinks of his readers as lobsters. He also shares how his grandmother convinced him to fear trees (but only at night) and why he finds comfort in horror stories, like his latest novel, The Long Night. Plus, he shares his one key takeaway – and it's not what you'd expect.  Christian White is an Australian author and screenwriter whose credits include feature film Relic and Netflix series Clickbait. His debut novel The Nowhere Child was one of Australia's bestselling debut novels ever, with rights sold in 17 international territories and a major screen deal. The Wife and the Widow, Wild Place and The Ledge were all instant bestsellers. The Long Night is his fifth novel. Find The Long Night and Christian's other books at Booktopia or from your local bookshop or library. Books and authors discussed in this episode: Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz  The Gambler by JP Pomare  The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden  Different Seasons by Stephen King  -The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King  Four Past Midnight by Stephen King Bag of Bones by Stephen King  Aubrey Wants to Die by Pip Knight (aka Pip Drysdale from ep 113)  Upcoming events:  Ashley is teaching Year of the Novel for Writing NSW starting 4 February 2026  Like, Follow, Die launches in Brisbane at Avid Reader on Saturday 14 March  Ashley is Teaching Unexpected Editing Strategies in person at Avid Reader on Sunday 15 March  James is teaching Setting & Landscape for Writers at the Woolshed on Saturday 21 March Ashley is teaching Online: Crime Writing for Faber Academy starting 12 May Learn more about Ashley's thrillers, Dark Mode and Cold Truth, and get your copies from your local bookshop or your library. Plus check out Like, Follow, Die from Audible.  Learn more about James's award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy from your local bookshop or your library. Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson  

12/16/25 • 45:22

It's that time of year again! (Well, almost … it's actually a bit early.) Collected here is a varied selection of 2025's 'What Are You Reading' book recommendations, nice and early so you can get your Christmas shopping started sooner rather than later! Books and authors discussed in this episode: From ep. 110 Translations by Jumaana Abdu (Michelle See-Tho) The Profound Benefits of a Stint in Prison by Andrew Hamilton (Ashley) The Third Realm by Karl Ove Knausgård (James) From ep. 111 Everyone and Everything by Nadine Cohen (Ashley) My Dream Time by Ash Barty (James) From ep. 112 The Lady's Handbook to Her Mysterious Illness by Sarah Ramey (Ashley) From ep. 113 I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman (Pip Drysdale) From ep. 114 Girl in a Pink Dress by Kylie Needham (Lynne Ainsworth) Clare Keegan (Lynne Ainsworth) The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald (Lynne Ainsworth) We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer (James) Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra (James) Freedom by Lea Ypi (Ashley) From ep. 115 Anatomy of a Secret by Gerard McCann (Jay Martin) The Hollow Girl by Lyn Yeowart (Ashley) The Silent Listener by Lyn Yeowart (Ashley) Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams (Ashley) From ep. 117 The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler (Melenie Cheng) Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky, translated by Oliver Ready (James) Bat Eater (and other names for Cora Zheng) by Kylie Lee Baker (Ashley) From ep. 119 My First Book by Honor Levy (Nathan Dunne) The Age of Surveillance Capitalism by Shoshana Zuboff (James) Luminous by Silvia Park (Ashley) From ep. 120 Just Another Missing Person by Gillian McAllister (Michelle Prak) A Fortunate Life by AB Facey (Michelle Prak) Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt (Michelle Prak) Universality by Natasha Brown (James) The Last Victim by Tracy Hall and Summer Land (Ashley) From ep. 122 Falling TJ Newman (James & Ashley) Drowning by TJ Newman (James & Ashley) Worst Case Scenario by TJ Newman (James & Ashley) From ep. 123 She Rides Shotgun by Jordan Harper (Matt Rogers) Orbital by Samantha Harvey (James) Legend of a Suicide by David Vann (James) From ep. 124 Outback Cop by Neale McShane and Evan McHugh (Ashley) This episode Moderation by Elaine Castillo The Eyes are the Best Part by Monica Kim Molka by Monica Kim 'Salem's Lot and Cujo by Stephen King Upcoming events  James is teaching Setting & Landscape for Writers at the Woolshed on Saturday 21 March, 2026 Learn more about Ashley's thrillers, Dark Mode and Cold Truth, and get your copies from your local bookshop or your library. Plus check out Like, Follow, Die from Audible.  Learn more about James's award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy from your local bookshop or your library. Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

11/11/25 • 72:36

In episode 124, urban ecologist and past guest Darryl Jones returns to discuss the power of nature to heal your brain and other topics from his latest book, (Be)Wilder, which delves into  elephants in Thailand, bearded pigs in Borneo, and conservationist farmers in the Snowy Mountains.  Darryl also speaks about the recent brain surgery he underwent as treatment for Parkinson's, and the story of how the disease got its name.  Darryl Jones is a Professor of Ecology at Griffith University in Brisbane, where for over 30 years he has been investigating the many ways that people and wildlife interact. He is particularly interested in why some species have been so successful in urban landscapes while many others have not, and how best to deal with the ensuing conflicts. His books include Getting to Know the Birds in Your Neighbourhood, Feeding the Birds at Your Table and Curlews on Vulture Street, which we spoke to him about in J&A Stay at Home episode 67. Find Darryl at Brisbane Writers Festival or any of his upcoming events.  Books & authors discussed in this episode: Mark Cocker  Enchantment by Birds by Russell McGregor  Apeirogon by Colum McCann Ghost Cities by Siang Lu  Outback Cop by Neale McShane and Evan McHugh Upcoming events  Ashley is at the Mount Beauty Writers Festival on Saturday 18 October  James is speaking with Christian White at Manly Library on Sunday 2 November Ashley is teaching crime writing at Gosford Library on Monday 10 November James is teaching Setting & Landscape for Writers at the Woolshed on Saturday 21 March, 2026 Learn more about Ashley's thrillers, Dark Mode and Cold Truth, and get your copies from your local bookshop or your library. Plus check out Like, Follow, Die from Audible.  Learn more about James's award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy from your local bookshop or your library. Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

10/7/25 • 37:52

How do you write thirty-five novels in a decade and sell a million copies while doing it? Bestselling author Matt Rogers is here to share his secrets.  Matt began writing fiction at age six, then dropped out of university to pursue writing full time. He discusses the differences in traditional and self-publishing, how his obsession with philosophy has bled into his thriller writing, and why he believes quantity leads to quality.   Matt Rogers is the internationally bestselling author of the Dante Jacoby series. Matt began self-publishing at the age of 18, and in the following eight years he single-handedly wrote and marketed more than 35 thriller novels. His books have collectively sold over one million copies. 'The Forsaken' is his debut novel for Simon & Schuster. Books & authors discussed in this episode: Henry David Thoreau  Eragon by Christopher Paolini Lee Child  'Things that aren't doing the thing' from Strangest Loop The War of Art by Steven Pressfield  She Rides Shotgun by Jordan Harper Denizen by James McKenzie Watson  Orbital by Samantha Harvey  Legend of a Suicide by David Vann  Upcoming events: James is speaking to Siang Lu, winner of the Miles Franklin Award and previous podcast guest at the State Library for SWF on October 2 Ashley is at the Mount Beauty Writers Festival on Saturday 18 October Ashley is teaching crime writing at Gosford Library on Monday 10 November Learn more about Ashley's thrillers, Dark Mode and Cold Truth, and get your copies from your local bookshop or your library. Plus check out Like, Follow, Die from Audible.  Learn more about James's award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy from your local bookshop or your library. Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

9/16/25 • 41:44

In episode 122, Ashley asks fellow crime fiction fan and podcaster what it's like to find yourself as a fictional character in a new novel from one of your favourite authors.  Felix 'Flex' Shannon shares his experience of being fictionalised in the latest mystery novel from Sulari Gentill, Five Found Dead. Hear from Sulari in ep 121!  Felix Shannon is a radio presenter, producer, technician and educator. Together with Benjamin Herder, Felix hosts the crime and mystery fiction podcast Death of the Reader.  Books & authors discussed in this episode: All the Tears in China by Sulari Gentill After She Wrote Him by Sulari Gentill Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill  Benjamin Stevenson  When They Cry by Ryukishi07 Denizen by James McKenzie Watson  Kill Your Husbands by Jack Heath  Learned Behaviours by Zeynab Gamieldien The Scope of Permissibility by Zeynab Gamieldien All the Missing Children by Zahid Gamieldien (from ep 102)  Falling TJ Newman  Drowning by TJ Newman  Worst Case Scenario by TJ Newman  I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt  Chris Hammer  Upcoming events: Ashley is teaching a one-day narrative drive workshop for Writers at the Woolshed on Thursday 11 September and providing manuscript feedback sessions on Friday 12 September  Ashley is doing one-on-one manuscript assessments for BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival on Saturday 13 September (only two spots available!)  James is teaching Writing Setting and Landscape at Writing NSW on Saturday 20 September  Ashley is teaching Online: Crafting Memoir for Queensland Writers Centre on Sunday 28 September  James is speaking to Siang Lu, winner of the Miles Franklin Award and previous podcast guest at the State Library for SWF on October 2 Join Ashley and podcast fav Hayley Scrivenor for the Mystery and Mayhem Readers Retreat at the 5-star Tamborine Mountain Glades, 3-5 October Ashley is at the Mount Beauty Writers Festival on Saturday 18 October Learn more about Ashley's thrillers, Dark Mode and Cold Truth, and get your copies from your local bookshop or your library. Plus check out Like, Follow, Die from Audible.  Learn more about James's award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy from your local bookshop or your library. Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

9/2/25 • 28:07

When bestselling author Sulari Gentill was diagnosed with stage four cancer, she decided to write the ending she wanted. In episode 121, she joins James and Ashley to discuss her seventeenth novel, Five Found Dead, which features a main character riding the Orient Express to celebrate his recent cancer recovery – and who ends up solving several murders along the way.  Sulari shares her own experience of riding the Orient Express and describes how her creativity and writing reminded her who she was at a time when her illness was reducing her sense of self to 'patient'.  Plus she shares an excellent story involving red carpets, international awards and to-die-for chocolate cake.  Published in English in Australia, the UK and the US, and in translation in more than a dozen territories, Sulari Gentill is the author of The Hero Trilogy and the multi-award-winning Rowland Sinclair Mysteries. The first book in this ten-book series was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writers' Prize and the second won the Davitt Award. Her novel After She Wrote Him won the Ned Kelly Award. The Woman in the Library was a USA Today Bestseller, and The Mystery Writer won the 2025 Mary Higgins Clark Award. Her latest novel, Five Found Dead is out now in the US, UK and Australia. Books & authors discussed in this episode: Agatha Christie; Death of the Reader podcast;  Kylie Ladd (from ep 92);  The Unquiet Grave by Dervla McTiernan; Congo, Sphere, Jurassic Park and State of Fear by Michael Crichton;  Stephen King; Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott Upcoming events: James is teaching Writing Setting and Landscape at Writing NSW on Saturday 20 September  Ashley is teaching Online: Crafting Memoir for Queensland Writers Centre on Sunday 28 September  James is speaking to Siang Lu, winner of the Miles Franklin Award and previous podcast guest at the State Library for SWF on October 2 Join Ashley and podcast fav Hayley Scrivenor for the Mystery and Mayhem Readers Retreat at the 5-star Tamborine Mountain Glades, 3-5 October Ashley is at the Mount Beauty Writers Festival on Saturday 18 October  Learn more about Ashley's thrillers, Dark Mode and Cold Truth, and get your copies from your local bookshop or your library. Plus check out Like, Follow, Die from Audible.  Learn more about James's award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy from your local bookshop or your library. Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

8/26/25 • 45:32

In episode 120, bestselling author Michelle Prak discusses how she set her latest thriller against the backdrop of Australia's housing crisis and why she writes flawed, sometimes rash characters.  She also reflects on how growing up in a lower socio-economic home influenced her love of reading and her ambition to be a writer, and also how it delayed her efforts to make that dream happen.   Michelle Prak is a professional communicator with a thirty-year career in PR, social media, and politics. She lives in Adelaide and teaches communication subjects at the University of South Australia. Her bestselling debut thriller The Rush was published internationally in 2023. Barren Cape is her second novel.  Books and authors discussed in this episode: 'The habit of writing' by Michelle Prak for Sisters in Crime; Colin Thiele Just Another Missing Person by Gillian McAllister A Fortunate Life by AB Facey Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt Universality by Natasha Brown The Last Victim by Tracy Hall and Summer Land Upcoming events: Ashley is at the Mudgee Readers' Festival teaching narrative drive on Friday 15 August and speaking on Technology & The Future of Crime Fiction on Saturday 16 August  Ashley is teaching a one-day narrative drive workshop for Writers at the Woolshed on Thursday 11 September and providing manuscript feedback sessions on Friday 12 September  Ashley is doing one-on-one manuscript assessments for BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival on Saturday 13 September (only two spots available!)  James is teaching Writing Setting and Landscape at Writing NSW on Saturday 20 September  Ashley is teaching Online: Crafting Memoir for Queensland Writers Centre on Sunday 28 September  Join Ashley and podcast fav Hayley Scrivenor for the Mystery and Mayhem Readers Retreat at the 5-star Tamborine Mountain Glades, 3-5 October Learn more about Ashley's thrillers, Dark Mode and Cold Truth, and get your copies from your local bookshop or your library. Plus check out Like, Follow, Die from Audible.  Learn more about James's award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy from your local bookshop or your library. Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

8/5/25 • 33:46

In episode 119, debut author Nathan Dunne joins us to discuss his memoir, When Nothing Feels Real, which shares the story of his onset of severe depersonalisation and his quest to find a diagnosis. He shares the challenge of conveying his experience to those unfamiliar with the condition, his multi-year challenge to reach a proper diagnosis, and the long and uneven journey to recovery. We also discuss the community of fellow sufferers that supported him in the completion of his memoir.  Nathan Dunne was born in Brisbane and grew up in India. As a journalist and critic, he has contributed to many publications, including The Washington Post, The Atlantic, The Boston Globe, The Guardian and Slate. He now lives in Sydney. His debut book is When Nothing Feels Real, a memoir about living with depersonalisation, a frequently misunderstood mental illness. Books & authors discussed in this episode: My First Book by Honor Levy;  The Age of Surveillance Capitalism by Shoshana Zuboff;  Luminous by Silvia Park  Upcoming events Join Ashley and podcast fav Hayley Scrivenor for the Mystery and Mayhem Readers Retreat at the 5-star Tamborine Mountain Glades, 3-5 October James is launching Matt Rogers' highly anticipated debut thriller 'The Forsaken' at Harry Hartog Mosman, Wednesday July 9 Learn more about Ashley's thrillers, Dark Mode and Cold Truth, and get your copies from your local bookshop or your library. Plus check out Like, Follow, Die from Audible.  Learn more about James's award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy from your local bookshop or your library. Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

7/8/25 • 38:32

Ashley's brand new thriller Like, Follow, Die is out now as an audiobook exclusive from Audible! In episode 118, Ashley discusses the book's unique development and what it was like working with an ensemble cast of prominent Australian actors to bring her third book to life. Like, Follow, Die is a "shattering and provocative psychological thriller that dives into the darkest corners of the internet and the powerful bonds between parents and children." Learn more and listen to it here. Books & authors discussed in this episode: John Sandford (narrated by Richard Ferrone) JP Pomare Why Can't I Just Enjoy Things? by Pierre Novellie Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami Upcoming events: Ashley is part of the Sisters in Crime – Death in a Cold Climate panel, Friday 27 June, 7-10pm, South Melbourne Ashley will be doing an in-conversation in Meeniyan with Jacinta Dietrich, Saturday 28 June, 6.30-7.30pm Ashley is speaking at Bendigo Library, Monday 30 June, 1-2pm Ashley is teaching a multi-day memoir masterclass as part of the Writers at the Woolshed Winter Writing Retreat in the Southern Highlands, 13-18 July Join Ashley and podcast fav Hayley Scrivenor for the Mystery and Mayhem Readers Retreat at the 5-star Tamborine Mountain Glades, 3-5 October James is launching Matt Rogers' highly anticipated debut thriller 'The Forsaken' at Harry Hartog Mosman, Wednesday July 9 Learn more about Ashley's thrillers, Dark Mode and Cold Truth, and get your copies from your local bookshop or your library. Plus check out Like, Follow, Die from Audible.  Learn more about James's award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy from your local bookshop or your library. Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

6/24/25 • 28:23

Award-winning author Melanie Cheng joins James and Ashley to discuss her writing practice, her pet rabbit, and The Burrow, her 'most personal book' and its many parallels to her own life.  She also shares her experience of writing toward her greatest fear, coming to terms with her cyclical writing process, and how teaching narrative to medical students can help increase communication between doctors and patients.  Melanie Cheng is a writer and general practitioner. She was born in Adelaide, grew up in Hong Kong and now lives in Melbourne. Her debut collection of short stories, Australia Day, won the Victorian Premier's Literary Award for an Unpublished Manuscript in 2016 and the Victorian Premier's Literary Award for Fiction in 2018. Room for a Stranger, her highly acclaimed first novel, was published in 2019. The Burrow was published in 2024, and has since been shortlisted for numerous major Australian prizes, including the Stella Prize, the Age Book of the Year and the Miles Franklin Award. Read the Kill Your Darlings interview with Melanie discussed in this episode here.  Books & authors discussed in this episode: The Burrow by Franz Kafka Tender Is the Flesh by Augustina Batzerrica  Helen Garner Maxine Beneba Clarke Tony Birch Alice Pung Hilton Koppe (from ep 70)  The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler  Sanchana Venkatesh (from ep 75) and #MyYearWithAnneTyler Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky, translated by Oliver Ready Bat Eater (and other names for Cora Zheng) by Kylie Lee Baker, recommended by @EmilyEatsPages  Laura McClusky  Riley James Jacinta Dietrich Upcoming events: Ashley is part of the Sisters in Crime – Death in a Cold Climate panel, Friday 27 June, 7-10pm, South Melbourne Ashley will be doing an in-conversation in Meeniyan with Jacinta Dietrich, Saturday 28 June, 6.30-7.30pm Ashley is speaking at Bendigo Library, Monday 30 June, 1-2pm Ashley is teaching a multi-day memoir masterclass as part of the Writers at the Woolshed Winter Writing Retreat in the Southern Highlands, 13-18 July Join Ashley and podcast fav Hayley Scrivenor for the Mystery and Mayhem Readers Retreat at the 5-star Tamborine Mountain Glades, 3-5 October James is launching Matt Rogers' highly anticipated debut thriller 'The Forsaken' at Harry Hartog Mosman, Wednesday July 9 Learn more about Ashley's thrillers, Dark Mode and Cold Truth, and get your copies from your local bookshop or your library. Plus check out Like, Follow, Die from Audible.  Learn more about James's award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy from your local bookshop or your library. Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

6/11/25 • 44:25

If you missed hearing Ashley and James live in conversation at the launch of Cold Truth, we've got the full event recording for you here, complete with fake nazi invasions, terrifying cybercrime stats, and the satisfying crunch of James being forced to try genuine Manitoban dill pickle chips.  Thanks to local bookseller Roaring Stories for hosting this event!  Upcoming events: Ashley is teaching Online: Writing Crime for Faber, 8 weeks starting Tuesday 6 May  Ashley is launching Jay Martin's debut novel at Better Read Than Dead on Sunday 18 May, 3pm Ashley is teaching a multi-day memoir masterclass as part of the Writers at the Woolshed Winter Writing Retreat in the Southern Highlands, 13-18 July  Join Ashley and podcast fav Hayley Scrivenor for the Mystery and Mayhem Readers Retreat at the 5-star Tamborine Mountain Glades, 3-5 October Learn more about Ashley's thrillers, Dark Mode and Cold Truth, and get your copies from your local bookshop, Booktopia or your library.  Learn more about James's award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy from your local bookshop, Booktopia or your library. Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

5/27/25 • 60:52

How did Jay Martin go from an award-winning memoir to a fiction manuscript she ultimately abandoned? And what did she learn that helped her craft her debut novel, Boom Town Snap?  Jay talks with Ashley and James about what toxic workplaces have in common with abusive relationships, and how we get trapped in toxic relationships at the community level as well.  Ashley is in conversation with Jay Martin to launch Boom Town Snap at Better Read Than Dead on Sunday 18 May, 3pm Jay Martin's first book, Vodka and Apple Juice: Travels of an Undiplomatic Wife in Poland, won the Hungerford Award and was published in 2018. She has worked in a range of roles including in community development, government policy and consulting. This included positions in federal government in Canberra, as well as in consulting firms in Australia and Canada. Jay designs and runs writing workshops and programs around Western Australia. Her debut novel is Boom Town Snap.  Books & authors discussed in this episode: Arna Radovich (from ep 105) Anatomy of a Secret by Gerard McCann The Hollow Girl by Lyn Yeowart The Silent Listener by Lyn Yeowart (from ep 39) Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams Tender Is the Flesh by Augustina Batzerrica Upcoming events: Ashley is in conversation with Jay Martin to launch Boom Town Snap at Better Read Than Dead on Sunday 18 May, 3pm Ashley is in conversation with Dinuka McKenzie at Sutherland Library, Thursday 5 June, 6.30pm Ashley is part of the Sisters in Crime – Death in a Cold Climate panel, Friday 27 June, 7-10pm, South Melbourne Ashley will be doing an in-conversation in Meeniyan with Jacinta Dietrich, Saturday 28 June, 6.30-7.30pm Ashley is speaking at Bendigo Library, Monday 30 June, 1-2pm Ashley is teaching a multi-day memoir masterclass as part of the Writers at the Woolshed Winter Writing Retreat in the Southern Highlands, 13-18 July  Join Ashley and podcast fav Hayley Scrivenor for the Mystery and Mayhem Readers Retreat at the 5-star Tamborine Mountain Glades, 3-5 October Learn more about Ashley's thrillers, Dark Mode and Cold Truth, and get your copies from your local bookshop or your library.  Learn more about James's award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy from your local bookshop or your library. Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

5/13/25 • 47:13

Lynne Ainsworth is the founder of Writers at the Woolshed, an emerging writer, and a person who 'loves hanging out with people who read and write'. She loves it so much, she not only created a pop-up festival to connect authors with regional readers and writers, she's now hosting the first Winter Writing Retreat, featuring masterclasses with Eleanor Limprecht, Betty O'Neil, Audrey Molloy, Ashley Kalagian Blunt and Lee Kofman (from eps 3, 76 and 112).   In this special bonus episode, Lynne tells us how she first became a festival director, and shares details of the retreat, happening 13-18 July in Mittagong, NSW.  An alumna of Varuna and Faber Writing Academy, Lynne Ainsworth has several short stories published, and was awarded a Masterclass with Patti Miller at Varuna in 2017, a one-month placement as Artist in Residence at The Old School House at Mt. Wilson, and a CreateNSW Small Project Grant for her current memoir, Sambio, set in Papua New Guinea.  Find out more from Writers at the Woolshed. Books & authors discussed in this episode: Clare Keegan Girl in a Pink Dress by Kylie Needham  The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra Freedom by Lea Ypi Upcoming events: Ashley & Pip in conversation at Five Dock Library speaking about Cold Truth, Five Dock Library, Wednesday 30 April 5.30 for 6pm start. Free, book online.  Ashley is teaching Online: Writing Crime for Faber, 8 weeks starting Tuesday 6 May  Ashley is launching Jay Martin's debut novel at Better Read Than Dead on Sunday 18 May, 3pm Ashley will be doing an in-conversation in Meeniyan with Jacinta Dietrich, Saturday 28 June, 6.30-7.30pm Ashley is teaching a multi-day memoir masterclass as part of the Writers at the Woolshed Winter Writing Retreat in the Southern Highlands, 13-18 July  Join Ashley and podcast fav Hayley Scrivenor for the Mystery and Mayhem Readers Retreat at the 5-star Tamborine Mountain Glades, 3-5 October Learn more about Ashley's thrillers, Dark Mode and Cold Truth, and get your copies from your local bookshop or your library.  Learn more about James's award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy from your local bookshop or your library. Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

4/29/25 • 24:46

How does having a stalker change your life? We talk with bestselling novelist Pip Drysdale about her latest novel 'The Close-Up,' its real-life inspirations, and how surviving a stalker shifted her worldview.  We also discuss how to navigate public image and the role anxiety has to play in creative pursuits.  Plus, this ep's What Are You Reading? inspires a debate about what's derivative and what's inspired, and if those can be the same thing.  Join Ashley & Pip in conversation at Five Dock Library speaking about Cold Truth, Five Dock Library, Wednesday 30 April 5.30 for 6pm start. Free, book online.  Pip Drysdale is an author, musician and actor. She grew up in Africa, Canada, and Australia, became an adult in New York and London, and lives on a steady diet of coffee, dreams, and literature. Her first four books – The Sunday Girl, The Strangers We Know, The Paris Affair and The Next Girl – have been bestsellers in Australia. Her latest book, The Close-Up is out now in Australia/NZ and North America. She lives in Sydney. Books & authors discussed in this episode: 'My Stalker, My Novel' by Pip Drysdale for Crime Reads;  I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman;  We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer;  Anna Downes;  House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski Upcoming events: Ashley & Pip in conversation at Five Dock Library speaking about Cold Truth, Five Dock Library, Wednesday 30 April 5.30 for 6pm start. Free, book online.  Ashley is the guest author of the Bloom & Bound 'Bound to Roam' bookshop crawl happening Saturday 26 April, Sydney  Ashley is teaching Online: Writing Crime for Faber, 8 weeks starting Tuesday 6 May  Ashley is launching Jay Martin's debut novel at Better Read Than Dead on Sunday 18 May, 3pm Ashley is teaching a multi-day memoir masterclass as part of the Writers at the Woolshed Winter Writing Retreat in the Southern Highlands, 13-18 July  Join Ashley and podcast fav Hayley Scrivenor for the Mystery and Mayhem Readers Retreat at the 5-star Tamborine Mountain Glades, 3-5 October Learn more about Ashley's thrillers, Dark Mode and Cold Truth, and get your copies from your local bookshop or your library.  Learn more about James's award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy from your local bookshop or your library. Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

4/15/25 • 37:42

What considerations come into choosing to have a baby for creatives? And once baby enters the picture, how do you balance parenting with your creative practice?  We ask Dinuka McKenzie and Lee Kofman, two beloved past guests who happen to be both authors and parents, about their decision to have children and how they manage their writing lives as parents.  Plus, James has a big announcement – you'll never guess what it is.  Lee Kofman is a Russian-born, Israeli-Australian memoirist, novelist, editor and writing coach. She's the author of three fiction books and two memoirs, including Imperfect, which was shortlisted for the prestigious Nib Literary Award in 2019. Her short works have been widely published in Australia, US, UK, Israel and Canada. Lee's most recent book is The Writer Laid Bare (Ventura Press). Dinuka is the author of the Detective Kate Miles crime series, The Torrent, Taken and Tipping Point, published in Australia and the UK. She was the winner of the 2020 HarperCollins Australia Banjo Prize and has been shortlisted for numerous major Australian crime writing awards. Dinuka lives with her family in Southern Sydney on Dharawal country. Mascara Literary Review is looking for essays, flash fiction and poetry from disabled and chronically ill writers – closes 31 March.  Books & authors discussed in this episode: Cyril Connolly  The Lady's Handbook to Her Mysterious Illness by Sarah Ramey  Edenglassie by Melissa Lucashenko  At the Strangers' Gate by Adam Gopnik  Absurdistan by Gary Shteyngart Your Baby Doesn't Come with a Book by Daniel Golshevsky The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus  Upcoming events  James is having a baby! Well, not him personally. His wife. But he'll be there. Date and time TBA.  Ashley is teaching Pathways to Publishing in-person for the South Coast Writers Centre on Saturday, 15 March starting 10.30 am Ashley is doing her first-ever Canberra author talk at Big River Gin Distillery, Thursday 20 March, 6 pm, featuring chocolate martinis   Ashley is returning to the Occasional Wine Bar, Boorowa, on Friday 21 March, 6.30pm Ashley is appearing at Book Face Erina with Anna Downes on Tuesday 25 March, 6pm Ashley is appearing at Newcastle Writers Festival with Anna Downes & Petronella McGovern, and with Shankari Chandran & Jock Serong, 5-6 April Ashley is teaching Online: Writing Crime for Faber, 8 weeks starting Tuesday 6 May  Learn more about Ashley's thrillers, Dark Mode and Cold Truth, and get your copies from your local bookshop or your library.  Learn more about James's award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy from your local bookshop or your library. Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

3/11/25 • 52:18

Cold Truth, Ashley's new thriller, is out now. James and Ashley discuss just how difficult writing this book was, plus why she chose to set in a city that makes headlines for being colder than the surface of Mars. They also chat about real-life research, including the time Ashley learned how to pick a lock with a credit card. Plus, James horrifies Ashley with a true story about digital privacy.  Cold Truth is available now from Booktopia, your local bookshop and your library.   Books & authors discussed in this episode: Everyone and Everything by Nadine Cohen My Dream Time by Ash Barty Upcoming events: Ashley is teaching From Memory to Manuscript for Hunter Writers Centre monthly on Monday evenings starting 24 February  Ashley is teaching Year of the Novel for Writing NSW on Wednesday evenings starting 26 February 2025  Cold Truth Sydney launch with James – Thursday 6 Feb, 7 pm at the Royal Oak, Balmain Cold Truth Melbourne with Kate Mildenhall – Tuesday 11 February, 6.30 at Readings Carlton Cold Truth Brisbane launch with Martine Kropkowski – Thursday 13 February, 6pm at Avid Reader Newcastle author talk – Thursday, 20 Feb, 6pm at Newcastle Library Ashley is teaching Pathways to Publishing in-person for the South Coast Writers Centre on Saturday, 15 March starting 10.30 am Learn more about Ashley's thrillers, Dark Mode and Cold Truth, and get your copies from your local bookshop or your library.  Learn more about James's award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy from your local bookshop or your library. Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

2/11/25 • 38:45

'I always knew I wanted to write a novel, but I didn't have any ideas that I thought could extend to a novel-length work.'  In episode 110, Michelle See-Tho shares her journey from aspiring writer to winner of the 2023 Penguin Literary Prize for her debut novel, Jade and Emerald. Though she started out writing short stories and video game reviews, she discusses how drawing on inspiration from her own life, including her passion for video games, helped her shape the world of her novel.  Michelle See-Tho is a freelance writer and copywriter. She has had articles and stories published in Kill Your Darlings, Meanjin, Overland and The Big Issue Fiction Edition. Jade and Emerald is her first novel.  You can read Michelle's article 'Why Aren't There More Books About Video Games?' for Nintendo Life here.  Get your copy of Jade and Emerald from Booktopia or your local bookshop or library. Books & authors discussed in this episode: Melanie Cheng Katherine Collette Annette Higgs Dirt Town by Hayley Scrivenor Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin Translations by Jumaana Abdu The Profound Benefits of a Stint in Prison by Andrew Hamilton The Third Realm by Karl Ove Knausgård Upcoming events: Ashley is teaching From Memory to Manuscript for Hunter Writers Centre monthly on Monday evenings starting 24 February  Ashley is teaching Year of the Novel for Writing NSW on Wednesday evenings starting 26 February 2025  Cold Truth Sydney launch with James – Thursday 6 Feb, 7 pm at the Royal Oak, Balmain Cold Truth Melbourne with Sally Hepworth – Monday 10 February, 6.30 at Cheltenham Library Cold Truth Melbourne with Kate Mildenhall – Tuesday 11 February, 6.30 at Readings Carlton Cold Truth Brisbane launch with Martine Kropkowski – Thursday 13 February, 6pm at Avid Reader Ashley is teaching Pathways to Publishing in-person for the Sout Coat Writers Centre on Saturday, 15 March starting 10.30 am Learn more about Ashley's thrillers, Dark Mode and Cold Truth, and get your copies from your local bookshop or your library.  Learn more about James's award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy from your local bookshop or your library.  Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

1/14/25 • 41:11

Here it is - the annual end-of-year book recommendation extravaganza! This bumper episode contains every single edition of 'What are you reading?' from 2024, in which James, Ashley and guests discuss the books on their shelves, and why you should read them too (or not). Use it as a last-minute Christmas shopping guide or a wishlist for your own personal library in 2025. Books and authors discussed in this episode (brace yourself, this is a long list): From episode 92 (Kylie Ladd, author of 'I'll Leave You With This') The Vitals by Tracy Sorensen (Kylie) The Wolves of Eternity by Karl Ove Knausgård (James) Red River Road by Anna Downes (Ashley) A Mother's Reckoning by Sue Klebold. From episode 93 (Adele Dumont, author of 'The Pulling') Annie John by Jamaica Kincaid (Adele) The Wolves of Eternity by Karl Ove Knausgård (James) Unfinished Business by Shankari Chandran (Ashley) From episode 94 (no guest) Red River Road by Anna Downes (James) The Consultant by Im Seong Sun, translated by An Seon Jae (Ashley) From episode 95 (Liz Nugent, author of 'Strange Sally Diamond') The Prophet Song by Paul Lynch (Liz) In the Woods by Tana French (James) The Witch Elm by Tana French (James) Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica (Ashley) Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (Liz) From episode 96 (Tracy Sorensen, author of 'The Vitals') I'll Leave You With This by Kylie Ladd (Tracy) Number Go Up by Zeke Faux (Ashley) The Trial by Franz Kafka (James) Loosely Based on a Made-Up Story by James Blunt (James) From episode 97 (no guest) The Cop Who Fell To Earth by Craig Semple (Ashley) Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (James) From episode 98 (Imbi Neeme, author of 'Kind of, Sort of, Maybe but Probably Not') Ghost Cities by Siang Lu (Imbi) Novelist as a Vocation by Haruki Murakami (Ashley) On Our Best Behaviour by Elise Loehnen (Ashley) The Writer's Room by Charlotte Wood (James) From episode 99 (Siang Lu, author of 'Ghost Cities') He Who Drowned the World by Shelly Parker-Chan (Siang) Amygdalatropolis by BR Yeager (James) So Late in the Day by Claire Keegan (James)  Better Than Happiness by Gregory P Smith (Ashley) From episode 100 (no guest) Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (Ashley) Scary Monsters by Michelle de Krester (James) From episode 101 (Khin Myint, author of 'Fragile Creatures') Detachable Penis by Sam Elkin (Khin) Quiet by Susan Cain (Khin) The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth (Ashley) Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb (James) From episode 102 (Zahid Gamieldien, author of 'All the Missing Children') Hurricane Season by Fernanda Melchor (Zahid) The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin (James) Dark Matter by Blake Crouch (Ashley) The Guest List by Lucy Foley (Ashley) From episode 103 (Robyn Harding, author of 'The Haters') This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead (Robyn) Girl Falling by Hayley Scrivenor (James) Tyranny of the Minority by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt (James) Catherine Wheel by Liz Evans (Ashley) From episode 104 (Michael Klim, author of 'Klim') Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles (Michael) The Storyteller by Dave Grohl (Michael) Andrew Johns: The Two of Me by Andrew Johns and Neil Cadigan (James) Johnathan Thurston: The Autobiography by Johnathon Thurston (James) From episode 105 (Arna Radovich, author of 'Limits of Forgetting') Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout (Arna) What Happened to Nina? by Dervla McTiernan (Arna) The Glass House by Graeme Simsion & Anne Buist (Arna) Stoneyard Devotional by Charlotte Wood (Arna) Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen (James) The Conspiracy Against the Human Race by Thomas Ligotti (James) Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (James) Revisionist History season 11: Hitler's Olympics by Malcolm Gladwell and Ben Naddaff-Hafrey (Ashley) [Podcast] Dopamine Nation by Anna Lembke (Ashley)  From episode 106 (Simone Amelia Jordan, author of 'Tell Her She's Dreamin'' The Greater Freedom: Life as a Middle Eastern Woman (Simone) Outside the Stereotypes by Alya Mooro (Simone) Parable by the Sower by Octavia E Butler (Ashley) From episode 107 (Maggie Walters, author of 'Split') In Bad Faith by Dassi Erlich (Maggie) For Life by Ailsa Piper (Maggie) The Anatomy of Motive by John Douglas (Ashley) My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante (James) Upcoming events  Ashley is teaching Year of the Novel for Writing NSW beginning on Wednesday evenings starting 26 February 2025  The Cold Truth tour is happening in February! Sign up for Ashley's newsletter here for full details  Learn more about Ashley's thrillers, Dark Mode and Cold Truth, and get your copies 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! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

12/17/24 • 100:34

It's that time of year again - the annual Bed on a Plinth Awards, in which James and Ashley discuss the best books they've read in the last twelve months! Use this particularly eclectic list to gather Christmas gift ideas, or simply top up your own 'to be read' pile. Books & authors discussed in this episode (spoilers below!): Red River Road by Anna Downes  The Last Trace by Petronella McGovern An Ambush of Widows by R.W.R. McDonald (audiobook) Seventeen Years Later by JP Pomare Girl Falling by Hayley Scrivenor The Pulling by Adele Dumont (interviewed in episode 93) Nuclear War by Annie Jacobsen  Not Everything Counts but Everything Matters by Ivan Cleary & Andrew Webster  Fragile Creatures by Khin Myint (interviewed in episode 101) Ghost Cities by Siang Lu (interviewed in episode 99) Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra Sociopath by Patric Gagn The Writer's Room by Charlotte Wood  Tyranny of the Minority by Daniel Ziblatt & Steven Levitsky  Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy  Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver  Upcoming events  Ashley is teaching Year of the Novel for Writing NSW beginning on Wednesday evenings starting 26 February 2025  The Cold Truth tour is happening in February! Sign up for Ashley's newsletter here for full details  Learn more about Ashley's thrillers, Dark Mode and Cold Truth, and get your copies 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! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

12/10/24 • 40:19

'It's not a mental illness. It's actually a creative coping mechanism.'  What's it like to discover other people living in your own head? In Maggie Walters' debut memoir, she describes her life with dissociative identity disorder, formerly known as multiple personality disorder (which remains Maggie's preferred term). After surviving years of abuse as a child, Maggie now lives with 40 alters and has spent much of her adulthood learning to understand herself, as well as how to share her experience with others. In episode 107, she describes living with her alters, how she wrote her memoir, and why, after years of keeping her reality a secret, she's now sharing it with the world.  Maggie Walters lives in the NSW Northern Rivers with her family. As a trauma survivor, she shares her journey towards wholeness, confronting stereotypes around mental health. Her debut memoir, Split, was published in 2024. An early draft of Split was longlisted for the 2022 Richell Emerging Writers Prize. Get your copy of Split from Booktopia or your local bookshop or library. Books & authors discussed in this episode: The Writer Laid Bare by Lee Kofman In Bad Faith by Dassi Erlich For Life by Ailsa Piper The Anatomy of Motive by John Douglas My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante  Upcoming events  Ashley is teaching Crafting Narrative Drive for the Society of Women Writers NSW on Wednesday 11 November Ashley is teaching Year of the Novel for Writing NSW beginning on Wednesday evenings starting 26 February 2025  The Cold Truth tour is happening in February! Sign up for Ashley's newsletter here for full details  Learn more about Ashley's thrillers, Dark Mode and Cold Truth, and get your copies 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! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

12/3/24 • 36:49

'That was the most naive, worst decision I've ever made in my life, because the disease came back with a vengeance.'  In episode 106, Ashley speaks to award-winning memoirist Simone Amelia Jordan about the career that took her from Australia to New York City, and the health crisis that changed everything. We also speak about family heritage and family support, and how writing a memoir helped Simone recover herself and reinvent her career.   Simone Amelia Jordan is Australia's most successful hip-hop journalist, with a career spanning print, radio, TV and digital media. At twenty-three, she founded Urban Hitz, the country's highest-selling rap and R&B publication. Later, in New York City, she served as the content director of The Source, the iconic 'Hip-Hop Bible'. Simone is also an ambassador for Crohn's Colitis Australia. Her memoir, Tell Her She's Dreamin', won the 2021 Richell Prize winner, and is published in Australia and the United States. Get your copy of Tell Her She's Dreamin' from Booktopia or your local bookshop or library. Nothing in this episode is intended as medical advice. If you have health concerns, speak to your GP. Books & authors discussed in this episode: The Greater Freedom: Life as a Middle Eastern Woman Outside the Stereotypes by Alya Mooro  Parable of the Sower by Octavia E Butler  Hayley Scrivenor  Upcoming events  Ashley is teaching Crafting Narrative Drive for the Society of Women Writers NSW on Wednesday 11 November Ashley is teaching Year of the Novel for Writing NSW beginning on Wednesday evenings starting 26 February 2025  Learn more about Ashley's thrillers, Dark Mode and Cold Truth, and get your copies 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! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

11/19/24 • 35:08

In ep 105, James and Ashley interview Arna Radovich, the author of Limits of Forgetting, a collection of stories interwoven with themes of memory, grief and reflection. Arna shares insights into how her own experiences provide the background for her fiction, and how she found the resolve to release her collection after the loss of her husband. We also delve into Arna's multifaceted creative practice, which spans poetry, prose, fiction and nonfiction for both children and adults. We discuss her dedication to both evolving her practice and contributing to her artistic community, affirming how art and connection foster resilience and insight amidst personal and collective challenges. Reflecting on her commitment to writing and community, Arna discusses her long-standing involvement with artist-run initiative Mounted. Their latest exhibition, Excavate, is happening in Sydney in November.  Arna Radovich writes for both adults and children. Her short fiction and poetry has been published widely and performed. She won the ZineWest 2020 Prize and 2nd prize in the 2019 Peter Cowan Short Story Award and has been a finalist in the 2018 Tasmanian Writers Prize, the Carmel Bird Digital Literary Award and the NWF/joanne burns Microlit Award.In 2024 she released her debut collection of new and selected short stories, Limits of Forgetting. Meet Arna and other Blue Mountains artists at Excavate: an exhibition from Mounted ARI: 13 to 17 November, The Corner Gallery Stanmore Opening event: Friday 15 November, 5.30 to 7.30 pm    Get your copy of Limits of Forgetting from Rosey Ravelston Bookshop or your local bookshop or library. Supporting libraries and neighbourhood bookshops supports authors.  Books & authors (and one podcast) discussed in this episode: Forgetting: The Benefits of Not Remembering by Scott Small Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout The Writer Laid Bare by Lee Kofman If You're Happy by Fiona Robertson (from ep 53) 'Vigil' by Amanda O'Callaghan Helen Garner What Happened to Nina? by Dervla McTiernan The Glass House by Graeme Simsion & Anne Buist Stoneyard Devotional by Charlotte Wood The Dinner Party by Victoria Benn Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen The Conspiracy Against the Human Race by Thomas Legotti Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy ('It's like Knausgård in the 1800s!') War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy Jon Ronson Revisionist History season 11: Hitler's Olympics by Malcolm Gladwell and Ben Naddaff-Hafrey Dopamine Nation by Anna Lembke Stolen Focus by Johann Hari  Further recommended reading from Arna: The Grieving Brain: The Surprising Science of How We Learn from Love and Loss by Mary- Francis O'Connor Resilient Grieving: How To Find Your Way Through Devastating Loss: A Practical Guide To Recovery by Dr Lucy Hone Love, Death and Other Scenes by Nova Weetman Upcoming events  Ashley is interviewing Pip Drysdale and Hayley Scrivenor at Harry Hartog Mosman on Thursday 31 October, 6-8pm  Ashley is speaking at Sydney Authors Inked in Summer Hill, Sunday 3 November, 12.30-2.30pm Ashley is teaching Writing Crime Fiction in Bowral on Thursday 7 November, 10am-4pm  Learn more about Ashley's thrillers, Dark Mode and Cold Truth, and get your copies 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! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

10/29/24 • 44:37

'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! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

10/8/24 • 49:00

What's it like putting your creative work out in the world and discovering that some people hate it?  In episode 103 of James and Ashley Stay at Home, international bestselling author Robyn Harding joins James and Ashley to explore her extensive career in writing. She shares her experience of releasing her first book in 2004, and how her journey has evolved up to the launch of her latest novel, The Haters.  Robyn also shares insights into the challenges of dealing with online negativity, the psychological impact of reviews, and what inspired her to write a story centered around an author's worst nightmare. We also discuss managing negativity bias and maintaining a long-term career in the ever-changing literary world. Robyn Harding is the author of numerous international bestsellers, including The Party, The Arrangement and The Drowning Woman. She is also the screenwriter and executive producer of the independent film, The Steps. She lives in Vancouver, BC, with her family and two rescue chihuahuas.  Books & authors discussed in this episode: Troll Hunting by Ginger Gorman;   This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead; The Last Housewife by Ashley Winstead;  Girl Falling by Hayley Scrivenor;  Dirt Town by Hayley Scrivenor;  Tyranny of the Minority by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt;  How Democracies Die by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt; Catherine Wheel by Liz Evans Get your copy of 'The Haters' from your local bookshop or library. Supporting libraries and neighbourhood bookshops supports authors.  Upcoming events: 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  James is teaching an online creative writing workshop for Laneway Learning,  Wednesday 11 Sept, 6.15pm AEST 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 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! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

9/17/24 • 53:37

'I wasn't even sure I was going to write a novel.'  Author Zahid Gamieldien joins us to discuss his debut novel, All the Missing Children. Zahid speaks about his start writing short stories, his decision to transition to novel writing based on the advice of a publisher, and how he sees the differences between prose and screenwriting.  He also speaks about the challenge of fitting in writing time while raising children, and his four-year-old son's assessment of his work.   Plus, more spec fiction talk!  Zahid Gamieldien is an author, screenwriter, editor and writing tutor. His short fiction has been published in literary journals including Overland, Meanjin, Kill Your Darlings, Island Magazine and many others. His co-written screenplays have been listed for awards such as the Australian Writers' Guild's John Hinde Award and the AMC One-Hour Pilot Award at the Austin Film Festival. His debut novel is All The Missing Children. Books & authors discussed in this episode: 2666 by Roberto Bolaño;  A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan;  Hurricane Season by Fernanda Melchor;  The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin;  The Guest List by Lucy Foley;  Dark Matter by Blake Crouch Get your copy of All the Missing Children from your local bookshop or library. Supporting libraries and neighbourhood bookshops supports authors.  Zahid and James will be appearing in conversation together to discuss 'All the Missing Children' at Manly Library on Tuesday 15 October. And make sure to check out Zahid at Bad Crime Sydney on Friday 13 September.  Upcoming events  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 your library.  Learn more about James' award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy from your local bookshop or your library. Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

8/27/24 • 32:46

'I didn't believe that I'd stalked my partner.'  In episode 101, we speak with debut author Khin Myint about the multiple strands of biography he explores in his memoir Fragile Creatures. One of these is the sudden and extreme betrayal he faced from his ex-partner, who accused him of stalking her.  We also discuss the ambiguous illness his sister Theda lived with for years, at times diagnosed as depression, CFS/ME and chronic Lyme disease, and how she chose to end her life after thirteen years of symptoms and divisiveness. We also consider whether our societal silence around suicide is potentially contribuiting to its rise.   Khin also describes how he came to understand masculinity as a shadow, a pressure that follows men and ultimately shapes them. He asks, 'What is this pressure that socialises boys to adhere to some of these toxic expectations of maleness?'   Fragile Creatures is a must-read memoir, and this conversation is only the tip of more than one culturally urgent conversation.   Plus in What Are You Reading, we chat about a surprising number of speculative fiction titles.  Khin Myint is an author based in Perth. His writing has appeared in The Sydney Morning Herald, Liminal and The West Australian, and more. He was selected as one of ten participants in the Wheeler Centre's Next Chapter scheme in 2021. His debut memoir is Fragile Creatures.  Books & authors (and one podcast) discussed in this episode: The Tipping Point by Dinuka McKenzie (from ep 51);  'What do trigger warnings actually do?' from Search Engine;  Detachable Penis by Sam Elkin;  Quiet by Susan Cain;  The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth;  Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb;  Hyperion by Dan Simmons; Orson Scott Card Get your copy of Fragile Creatures from your local bookshop or library. Supporting libraries and neighbourhood bookshops supports authors.  Upcoming events:  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 your library.  Learn more about James' award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy from your local bookshop or your library. Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

8/6/24 • 42:23