Dear Rach & Soph

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!

This week we have a wonderful guest, Dinuka McKenzie, who was willing to talk about perfectionism and procrastination, paired subjects that have been on our list for a while … not that we were procrastinating about discussing them (or were we??). Dinuka was honest about her perfectionism and how it affects her writing, for good and bad, and the good includes the Detective Kate Miles crime series, with novels The Torrent, Taken and Tipping Point published in Australia and the UK. Dinuka was the winner of the 2020 HarperCollins Australia Banjo Prize. Her writing has been shortlisted for the Sisters in Crime Davitt Awards, the Bad Sydney Crime Danger Awards, and longlisted for the Richell Prize. Her short fiction appeared in the 2022 Dark Deeds Down Under Crime and Thriller Anthology. She is also an ambassador for Chapters for Change, which is a reading challenge (or readathon), so we asked her about the organisation and the upcoming readathon in July this year. Registrations open on 15 May for the next readathon and you can find more information at https://chaptersforchange.orgABOUT CHAPTERS FOR CHANGEChapters for Change has to date raised $40,000 to combat Cambodia's high illiteracy rate, where 1 in 5 individuals over 15 lack literacy skills. Funds will maintain a library, support English, Khmer, and preschool classes for disadvantaged children. These programs have successfully made children literate in their native language within a year and in English within four years. Over 730 children have studied in the programs, with around 100 attending the library daily.For 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)

New books mentioned in this episode:General fictionThe Remarkable Truth of Alfie Bains by Sarah Clutton (Allen & Unwin)Lonely Mouth by Jacqueline Maley (HarperCollins)Everything Lost, Everything Found by Matthew Hooton (HarperCollins)The Good Mistress by Anne Tiernan (Hachette) – NZ authorBoom Town Snap by Jay Martin (Fremantle Press)RomanceSalty, Spiced and a Little Bit Nice by Cynthia Timoti (Pan Macmillan)Last Breath (Blood Wine Dynasty Book 2) by Emma Pignatiello (Penguin Random House)Needle in a Haystack by Karly Lane (Allen & Unwin)One Last Night by Lauren Ford (Canelo/Hardie Grant)Crime/thrillerVANISH by Shelley Burr (Hachette)The Unquiet Grave by Dervla McTiernan (HarperCollins)The River Whispers by Deb Jordan (Bloodhound Books - UK and US)Historical fictionThe Butterfly Women by Madeleine Cleary (Affirm Press)The Ladies Guide to Utter Ruin by Alison Goodman (HarperCollins) Literary fictionThe Opposite of Lonely by Hilde Hinton (Hachette)FantasyThe Quest Begins - The Crystal Dynasty Book 2  by Abigail Mader (independent)Children’sMade of Steam and Stardust by Bianca Breen (Stag Beetle Books)Silverborn: The Mystery of Morrigan Crow – Nevermoor 4 by Jessica Townsend (Hachette)For more about Rachael Johns: https://www.rachaeljohns.comRachael's latest book is The Bad Bridesmaid (2025)For more about Sophie Green: https://sophiegreenauthor.comSophie's latest book is Art Hour at the Duchess Hotel (2024)

There have been several well-known books written about creativity. The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron is a classic. Rachael and I talked about Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic in an episode last year. Both of them deserve the hype and longevity, and there are others too of course. None of the books I’ve read about creativity or writing, even a book that might be classified as inspirational self-help (or perhaps I just made up that category), has quite the combination of warmth, compassion, urgency and practicality as British-resident, Australian-raised Amie McNee’s new book We Need Your Art.Amie is an author, speaker, creative guide and the founder of the popular Instagram account Inspired to Write, where she has over half a million followers. She writes historical fiction and has released two novels, Regrettably, I Am About to Cause Trouble and The Rules Upheld by No One. She is known for speaking, teaching and coaching artists all over the world, and We Need Your Art is a way of having her coaching you all the time. Because what Amie says and how she says it have a way of making each day feel interesting and limitless. It was a tremendous privilege to have the opportunity to talk to Amie about her work, her teaching, and her fiction, and to delve into how We Need Your Art was written and why. It is a book for everyone, because Amie fervently believes that EVERYONE should be creating. Everyone should be making art. So if you need a jolt - or a lightning bolt - or just a reminder that whatever project you’re working on is worth getting back to or persevering with, read this book. There is so much that’s great about it that we couldn’t possibly cover it in this interview, but hopefully that gives you that much more incentive to buy the book.We Need Your Art by Amie McNee is out now from Penguin Books Australia.For more about Rachael Johns: https://www.rachaeljohns.comRachael's latest book is The Bad Bridesmaid (2025)For more about Sophie Green: https://sophiegreenauthor.comSophie's latest book is Art Hour at the Duchess Hotel (2024)

‘It’s solving overwhelm’. Our guest this week, novelist Karina May, is an experienced user of writing software Scrivener and the above is one of the reasons why she uses it. Rachael has tried using it; I never have. Will I be convinced to try by the end of this episode? Listen and find out!We cover this subject because we like to have a theme to these episodes, and mainly because we thought it would be interesting and useful to chat about. And we also wanted to talk to Karina about her latest novel, That Island Feeling (out now from Pan Macmillan) - there’s a blurb below should you wish to know more. Karina writes romcoms, and she is terrific at it! She also has a podcast, That Rom Com Pod, with author Clare Fletcher. Do you know about Scrivener? Use it? Love it? Loathe it? Let us know in the comments!***ABOUT THAT ISLAND FEELINGFrom holiday fling to homecoming ... A whirlwind island romance becomes something more in an uplifting romantic comedy about finding yourself after heartbreakA week on Pearl Island is exactly the R&R that perpetual planner Andie Alcott needs. Except instead of sipping pina coladas by the beach, she's busy throwing her freshly divorced bestie, Taylor, a girls' trip to remember, dealing with a double-booking fiasco and worrying about her ailing father on the mainland. But it's cool – she has it covered. After all, everyone would be lost without her, right? The last thing habitually barefoot local Jack Cooper wants is the headache of managing tourist bookings. But since he's to blame for the island's dwindling supply of holidaymakers, he'll do whatever it takes to keep them happy - in particular, a beautiful visitor named Andie …With sun-kissed sands, sapphire waters, oysters and wine, Pearl Island promises the perfect getaway - and maybe even a hot holiday fling. But what happens when the emotional baggage comes in excess, and island life suddenly feels all too real?