Stories Behind the Story with Better Reading

Michael Mohammed Ahmad talks to Cheryl about supporting his community, how his writing has evolved over time and the deeply emotional heart of his latest book, Bugger. He also reflects on grief, vulnerability and what it means to write difficult themes and ideas. Bugger is out now.

Join Cheryl Akle as she sits down with Christian White (The Long Night) and Tim Ayliffe (Dark Desert Road) for an insightful conversation about the Australian literary landscape. Together, the three explore the surge in Aussie crime and thriller books, the realities and roadblocks of getting published, and what it really takes to build a career as an Australian author.

Joanna Nell (Mrs Winterbottom Takes a Gap Year, The Single Ladies of Jacaranda Retirement Village) and Ali Lowe (The School Run, The Trivia Night) talk about their families and the hard work that goes into publishing a book. Learn more about the two authors, Ali's writing ritual, which involves a candle, Joanna's process on assessing in editing notes, and as always, the book industry in this new episode of Authors on Authors.

Welcome to episode #12 of Book Chat with Cheryl Akle and Caroline Overington where they discuss the impact of Australian literature, Caroline's writing journey, her thoughts on the rise of audiobooks, and the enduring appeal of traditional storytelling.

Christian White talks to Cheryl about how becoming a parent has reshaped his writing and expanded his worldview, the influence his daughter now has on his creative process, and the unforgettable moment he spotted a stranger reading one of his novels in the wild. His latest book, The Long Night, is out now.

Rachel Perkins talks to Cheryl about the continuing impact of colonisation on First Nations communities, the extraordinary legacy of her father, Charles Perkins, and his lasting influence on Australia. Rachel also speaks about the importance of the Aboriginal Australian flag as a symbol of identity and unity, and shares insights from The Australian Wars, the book she co-edited with Stephen Gapps, Mina Murray and Henry Reynolds. The Australian Wars is out now.