Dear Rach & Soph

Some people will make a change from a ‘conventional’ career path to a creative career; some will move from one form of creative practice to another. Melburnian Miranda Nation has done both.After commencing studies in medicine at university, Miranda instead decided to pursue a creative life, training as an actor at at Jacques Lecoq in Paris from 2003 to 2005, then becoming a director and screenwriter, completing a Graduate Diploma in Directing at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School in 2010. That alone would have been reason enough for us to want to talk to her for Dear Rach & Soph, because the conventional path is often the easier one to take, due to there being less resistance along it – from family, friends and those around you – and there’s always a story attached to the decision to take a creative path instead. Miranda has taken it a step further, though. She’s had great success in screen - her short film, Perception, won the Dendy Award for Best Short Film at the 2014 Sydney Film Festival and her critically acclaimed debut feature as writer/director, Undertow, premiered at Melbourne International Film Festival and was released in cinemas in early 2020. The easier choice there would have been to stick to the artform she knew. Except she has taken on another: writing fiction. Her debut novel, New Skin, was released a few weeks ago by Allen & Unwin, and we speak quite a bit about that as well (blurb below). That’s not to say she has left screen behind! Miranda's original six-part series as creator/writer/EP, Playing Gracie Darling, will premiere on Paramount+ soon and stars Celia Pacquola, Anne Tenney and Harriet Walter.So there was so much to ask her about, and Miranda gave great insight into the choices she’s made and what it’s taken to inhabit her creative being. We hope you enjoy meeting her as much as we did. In the intro we talk about Rach's Substack serial, Meanwhile in Mount Merry-Glen, which is being released one week at a time and it is fab! Want to find out more? Go to rachaeljohnsauthor.substack.com ABOUT NEW SKINNew Skin is Miranda’s powerful debut novel about first love and second chances. Alex and Leah meet at medical school and form an immediate and intense connection. Over the course of four years, they are caught in the push-pull of passion and betrayal, longing and reunion. Neither can quite give up the relationship, even as they question whether they are good for each other.Years later, when Alex and Leah are drawn together once more, will they make the right choice?New Skin evokes a coming of age in the 1990s and charts the course of first love and its power to shape who we become. Spare and compelling, this powerful debut introduces a dazzling new voice in Australian fiction.

Léonie Kelsall is the bestselling author of seven rural romance novels. Her eighth is The Path Through the Coojong Trees, has just been released. Léonie keeps a fast pace as a writer, currently producing two books a year while also running a counselling practice and running a farm that is home to many animals. We wanted to talk to Léonie about the relationship between her counselling work, in particular, and her writing but – as often happens – this chat covered a lot of other territory, including Léonie being both a traditionally published and self-published author, how her writing process is not at all structured, and how a childhood without television led to a lifelong love of reading. We had a great time chatting to Léonie, who is a creative powerhouse, and clearly someone who makes the most of each day. You can read more about Léonie below.***Raised initially in a tiny, no-horse town on South Australia's Fleurieu coast, then in the slightly more populated wheat and sheep farming land at Pallamana, Léonie Kelsall is a country girl through and through. Growing up without a television, she developed a love of reading before she reached primary school, swiftly followed by a desire to write. An animal rescuer and carer, Léonie now divides her time between the lush Adelaide Hills, the location of her professional counselling practice, and the stark, arid beauty of the family farm at Pallamana, which provides both the setting for many of her stories and a refuge for the rescues that can't be released. 

This episode is long and all of it worth your attention, mostly because Allison Tait - who writes as A.L. Tait - is one of the most dynamic people working in Australian writing and publishing, and you can find her bio below. Also because it’s an unusual conversation we have for some of it - and that’s because Allison talks about her contemporary women’s fiction book being rejected by its publisher after it was accepted for publication and she did more work on it. The extra angle is that Sophie was her literary agent at that time.So Sophie know Allison well. And Allison and Rachael have known each other for a while through Romance Writers of Australia. Therefore this is a free-flowing conversation in which Allison is also really honest about what it was like to have what was her big dream at the time - to be a published novelist - be crushed. So it’s about a massive disappointment, and also what she made of that and what her career became afterwards.***Allison Tait (A.L. Tait) is the internationally published bestselling author of 12 middle-grade novels, including fantasy adventure series The Mapmaker Chronicles the Ateban Cipher novels, and the Maven & Reeve Mysteries.Her first contemporary middle-grade novel THE FIRST SUMMER OF CALLIE McGEE was published in 2023 and was longlisted for the 2024 Margaret and Colin Roderick Literary Award.Allison’s latest middle-grade novel WILLOW BRIGHT’S SECRET PLOT is out now (Scholastic 2025), with DANGER ROAD (Scholastic 2025) to follow on 1 July.A multi-genre writer, creative writing teacher and speaker with many years’ experience in magazines, newspapers and online publishing, Allison is co-host of the top-rating Your Kid’s Next Read podcast and former co-host of the So You Want To Be A Writer podcast.

Dear listeners-slash-viewers - or ‘liewers’, as Soph has taken to calling you - this episode was recorded in April and because Soph mentioned her upcoming appearance at the Festival of Fiction in it, we had to hold it until the festival was announced, which has just happened! And the reason we mention the festival is that our guest, Mona Farrokhi, is involved with the festival.Mona volunteered a little while ago for writer ‘therapy’, in which writers bring us their writerly challenge and we try to help them through it. Mona has been working on a manuscript for a while and wanted our advice on what she should do about it. Suffice to say Soph declared that this would be a ‘tough love’ session! Thanks to Mona for her honesty and as she is no doubt not alone in this challenge, perhaps some of you will find the episode of interest.If you’d like to receive some of our tough love, please send Soph or Rach a DM on social media or email sophiegreenbooks [at] gmail [dot] comThe delay on releasing this means the intro we recorded is technically out of date but as Soph listened to it in preparation for publication, she realised it’s kinda not! We talk about ideas we have for books and also those ideas being rejected and us not being attached.

Kimberley Freeman is an award-winning writer in children’s, historical and speculative fiction under her birth name Kim Wilkins. She has written several bestselling novels, including Wildflower Hill, Evergreen Falls and Stars Across the Ocean. Her latest novel is The Secret Year of Zara Holt, published by Hachette Australia (read more about the novel below). Kim has an Honours degree, a Masters degree and a PhD from The University of Queensland where she is also a senior lecturer. There is very little Kim does not know about writing and her readers are the beneficiaries of that knowledge and her experience and her pure, passionate drive to tell stories. In this episode of the podcast, we talk to Kim about all of that and also about why she chose the Zara Holt - widow of Prime Minister Harold Holt, as well as an acclaimed fashion designer - as her subject and what it’s like to write fiction about a real person. The novel is glorious and if it’s your first Kimberley Freeman novel, it definitely won’t be your last! ***About The Secret Year of Zara HoltA richly imagined novel of love, fashion, scandal and one captivating woman's passionate life.Melbourne, 1927. The summer flowers smell like Christmas the night Zara Dickins meets Harry Holt. Zara is wearing a dress she has designed and made herself: white organdie over a short black slip, with black embroidery and a crimson taffeta sash. It's party season and the university crowd are celebrating end-of-year exams. Zara loves dancing with the boys and flirting with them, but it's a game to her. Nothing serious. Until Harry.He plans to be a politician once he finishes law. She, a fashion designer, if she can find a way to break out of the secretarial pool. When he takes her hand, she doesn't want to let him go.The spark they ignite that night will last forty years.Portsea, 1967. When Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt disappears while swimming, his wife Zara loses herself in the memories of their volatile relationship. She always believed Harry when he said no matter what happened, he'd never leave. Their bond has stretched to London, Europe, India, America. It has survived anger, loss and heartbreak, media scrutiny, secrets and lies. But now all Zara wants is for Harry to come home.A vibrant and compelling story inspired by the fascinating life of fashion designer and businesswoman Dame Zara Bate.

Welcome to our atypical episode in which co-hosts Rachael Johns and Sophie Green do not chat amongst ourselves or with guests but, instead, tell you all about some wonderful new books to put on your TBR list or in the TBR pile. They’re organised by genre, as Soph learnt her lesson the first time we did this and shall never again attempt to present them haphazardly.All these books are by Australian (and one New Zealand) author and released in the month of June 2025.GENERAL FICTIONTitle: Rise and ShineAuthor: Kimberley AllsoppPublisher: HarperCollinsHISTORICAL FICTIONTitle: The Secret Year of Zara Holt Author: Kimberley FreemanPublisher: HachetteCRIME/MYSTERY/THRILLERThe title: The PalazzoAuthor: Kayte NunnGenre: MysteryPublisher: HarperCollinsTitle: Boney Creek Author: Paula GleesonGenre: Mystery/thriller Publisher: Thomas & MercerTitle: A Beautiful FamilyAuthor: Jennifer Trevelyan (NZ author)Genre: ThrillerPublisher: Allen & UnwinTitle: Whiskey ValleyAuthor: Joan SauersGenre: Mystery Publisher: Allen & UnwinSCI FI/FANTASYTitle: Ever BlessedAuthor: Olivia O'FlynnGenre: FantasyPublisher: HarperCollinsTitle: Galaxy GrifterAuthor: A ZaykovaGenre: Sci fiPublisher: Orbit US (Hachette)Title: Shadow of Ruin, book 2 in the Donare seriesAuthors: Melissa and Andre HattinghGenre: RomantasyPublisher: Blue GryphonTitle: Raven and the Witch: The Bloodlines of Destiny book 1 of 3Author: Wendy PymGenre: YAIndie published ROMANCETitle: Cockatoo Cove Author: Maya Linnell Genre: Rural romancePublisher: Allen & UnwinTitle: An Academic AffairAuthor: Jodi McAlisterGenre: RomancePublisher: Simon & SchusterLITERARY FICTIONTitle: New SkinAuthor: Miranda NationGenre: LiteraryPublisher: Allen & UnwinYOUNG ADULTTitle: The Foal in the Wire Author: Robbie CoburnGenre: YA verse novelPublisher: HachetteFor more about Rachael Johns: https://www.rachaeljohns.comRachael's latest book is Outback Reunion (2025)For more about Sophie Green: https://sophiegreenauthor.comSophie's latest book is Art Hour at the Duchess Hotel (2024)Subscribe on Spotify Subscribe on AppleSubscribe on YouTube

Karly Lane is the bestselling author of 25 rural romance novels - the latest of which is NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK (blurb below) - which have sold over 600 000 copies. When Sophie was a literary agent Karly was her client, but they never actually met, as Karly lives on the mid north coast of New South Wales and at the time she had young children and was fitting in writing books around all the demands of running a household.It turns out Karly’s pace has not slowed, as she’s writing two books a year, and in this episode of the podcast you’ll almost hear Sophie's jaw drop open (and likely see if it you watch the video version) as Karly talks about how she maintains that pace. For Sophie this conversation was also a rare opportunity to talk to two authors with many books behind them, as Rachael has over 20 books published.Karly was so interesting to talk to, and I think for aspiring writers there’s much that’s inspirational in the things she says in this chat. For established writers it’s fascinating too because of the rate at which she works. And for readers, it’s a glimpse ‘behind the curtain’ of an author who continues to deliver compelling stories. You can find out more about Karly Lane at https://karlylane.com.au***NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK by Karly LaneLottie Fairchild has two loves: history and, well, history. She's fascinated by the legends of love and curses handed down through her family.Owner of a little antique shop in small country town Banalla, Lottie is on the committee that is about to launch a new festival celebrating local history, including gentleman bushranger Jack McNally. Altogether, Lottie feels happy. Mostly. But when festival guest speaker Professor Damian Loxley roars into town a week early, Lottie is caught off guard. As a professor of history and an author, Damian arrives keen to research Jack McNally and a historic cold case: the mysterious disappearance of a colonial lady - in essence the search for a needle in a haystack. Then he meets Lottie Fairchild ... the perfect local guide. Little do they realise what danger can come with treasures and truths. But least of all do they know that the hardest jewel to grasp is happiness itself ...

It was Rach who suggested we invite award-winning children’s author, literary agent and writing teacher Danielle Binks onto the podcast. I know Danielle, as we’ve both worked in the publishing industry for years - and we are both industry professionals who have published multiple books - plus I’ve spoken to her RMIT class. The reason Rach wanted to invite her on the pod, though, was to talk about plotless novels, which Danielle says she loves to read and teach but cannot write. When I contacted Danielle beforehand we talked about adding children’s and YA books and ‘genre creep’ to the agenda; as a children’s author and agent who represents children’s author, she obviously has a lot of knowledge in this area. Danielle is brilliant and passionate and so, so knowledgeable. By the time we said goodbye to Danielle, Rach and I both felt like we’d had a masterclass. But one of those riveting, time-passes-so-quickly masterclasses, not one where you want to nod off. You’ll be riveted too because there’s no other way to be when Danielle speaks. And if you’d like to know more about her, there’s a bio below, but here’s the potted version: her latest book is called Six Summers of Tash & Leopold.

This week’s episode wasn’t planned, in that the list of subjects Rachael Johns and I want to cover on the podcast did not include talking to a new literary agent with a background in book marketing - simply because not many new agents come along.Until recently Chloe Berry worked at HQ/HarperCollins, where she masterminded their digital marketing and appeared in quite a bit of it - if you follow them on socials you’ll know her. Chloe also has her own bookish social accounts - @chloeraebooks on TikTok and @chloeraeberry on Instagram. She is the co-founder of the hugely successful @booktokbookclub.Chloe has now started The Berry Agency (@theberryagency on Insta and TT), which she plans to be a different kind of literary agency, not only because of the genres she specialises in but because she can offering marketing expertise to her clients in a way that is tailored to their genres, because she has the knowledge and experience to do so. Rach and I both ‘met’ Chloe on TikTok - in my case, because Chloe commented on a video I made about literary agents in Australia. Then we met IRL. She had some questions about agenting and I suggested she come on the pod to ask them. So she did, but mainly the three of us ended up having quite a long discussion about book marketing in the age of social media, and I think you’ll find what she has to say fascinating!