The Book Deal

Natasha Rai interviews author Bridie Blake days before her rom-com debut The Boyfriend Clause releases. Blake pitches the novel: café owner Sabrina Fogarty enters a fake-dating deal with her broody neighbor, bestselling author Adam Whitaker, which escalates when he joins her family holiday to the UK. Blake discusses becoming a rom-com reader during the pandemic, her earlier years writing dark YA and suspense, and years of rejection...

The Publishing Deal: Catherine Milne, Head of Fiction at HarperCollins, on Success, Bestsellers and Writing from the Heart

Catherine Milne has worked in publishing for many years, including with Penguin Books, Allen & Unwin, and since 2012, with HarperCollins, where she has been Head of Fiction since 2017.  Her list is eclectic, ranging across fiction and non-fiction, but consistently award-winning and bestselling. It includes s...

Tina Strachan interviews author Amy Doak about her YA mystery thriller What Have They Done to Liza McLean?, pitched as a twisty story set at an elite boarding school with dual viewpoints and secrets leading to a death. Amy discusses crafting one-liners using comp titles to convey “vibe,” avoiding overthinking, and balancing the ongoing Eleanor Jones series (book four, Eleanor Jones Is Not Drowning, due in July) with writing a stand...

Tina Strachan, Madeleine Cleary, and Natasha Rai discuss recent author life updates and practical publishing-event etiquette. Tina shares launching book three of the Wilder Zoo series, “Neeka and the Great Search,” and they discuss gift ideas for in-conversation partners, the importance of stocking and pitching the partner’s books, and not feeling pressured to spend much. Tina talks about adjusting to a new writing routine, realizi...

Natasha Rai explores the inspiring stories behind anticipated debut books of 2026 in her interview with Sophie Stern, Leearna Shaw, and Inessa Jackson, members of the 'Debut Crew 2026.' The authors share their elevator pitches, writing processes, publishing journeys, and how competitions boosted their confidence. They also discuss preparing for their book launches, navigating public speaking anxieties, and building suppor...

Alli Parker and Mark Mupotsa-Russell on finding success with your second book

In this episode, Madeleine chats second books with Alli Parker and Mark Mupotsa-Russell. Is second book syndrome a thing? Is it harder or easier to publish a second time?

This is an episode full for heart, craft, strategy, lessons learned, screenwriting tips for novelists and self-care and is useful for a writer at any stage of their journey. 

The Wolf Who C...

Tina Strachan interviews renowned science fiction and fantasy author Amie Kaufman. The conversation covers Amie's new book 'Red Star Rebels,' the writing journey, and the significance of comp titles. Amie discusses the realities of bestseller lists, the importance of celebrating small wins, and practical advice on managing social media and newsletters. This insightful episode is a must-listen for aspiring and debut a...

Tina Strachan, Madeleine Cleary, and Natasha Rai return for the 2026 edition of The Book Deal podcast. They reflect on their successful live podcast event with Hayley Scrivenor, their plans to spotlight debut authors, and Natasha’s upcoming panel discussion. The hosts share their personal writing journeys, including Tina’s plans following the launch of her third book in the Wilder Zoo series, Madeleine’s approach to writing her thi...

Hosts Tina Strachan and Madeleine Cleary delve into the world of book publishing and the journey to getting a book deal. They are joined by Ruby Ashby Orr, a publisher from Affirm Press, who shares invaluable insights on how to perfect your book pitch, the importance of knowing your market, and what publishers are looking for in submissions. Ruby discusses the acquisitions process, offers tips for emerging writers, and highlights t...

Hosts Natasha Rai delves into an inspiring conversation with emerging fiction author Holly Brunnbauer. Holly shares her journey from catching the writing bug through blogging to landing a book deal with HarperCollins for her debut novel 'What Did I Miss?' Holly discusses her character development process, her innovative approach to flipping rom-com tropes, and the emotional depth and rage portrayed in her novel. She also ...

The summer season features an interview with Rory H. Mather, a renowned Australian picture book author. Rory shares his journey of getting published, tips for aspiring authors, the importance of rhyme and promotion, and insights on how he balances a full-time job, family life, and writing. The discussion also covers practical tips for getting work in front of publishers, building a writing community, and making a profit from writin...

Host Tina Strachan kicks off the summer season by announcing a short break for the team while replaying some of the most popular episodes. Tina and co-hosts Madeleine Cleary reflect on their recent activities and achievements in the literary world. They interview Samuel Bernard, a literary agent from Zeitgeist Literary Agency. Samuel shares his journey into the literary world, the importance of social media for authors, the dynamic...

Join Tina and Madeleine as they candidly discuss their paths in the writing world, from shooting author videos and exploring middle grade fiction to announcing upcoming book deals and generating new ideas. They reveal their personal writing practices, including plotting versus pantsing. Madeleine interviews Kylie Orr and they discuss the influence of social media on an author’s life and the challenges debut authors face in the publ...

SPOILER BOOK CLUB: 'The Hiding Place' with Kate Mildenhall

Madeleine leads a spoiler-filled discussion with Kate on her latest novel, The Hiding Place (November 2025, Simon & Schuster). Kate shares insights into the book's development, character choices, and the ethical dilemmas the characters face. Kate discusses her research process, murder plots, star picket fences and death cap mushrooms. 

Kate Mildenhall  is a...

In this final episode of the Book Deal podcast season 2025, Tina and Madeleine have a quick catch up reflecting on their debut year and share personal highlights. 

Then we switch to our LIVE episode with Writing NSW, where we interviewed Agony Aunt-in-residence, Hayley Scrivenor, who addresses all our writing woes. Hayley  offers valuable insights on jealousy and envy, managing public speaking anxiety, persevering through the writin...

In this episode of the Book Deal podcast Madeleine interviews Australian award-winning author Holly Cardamone. Holly's debut novel, Summer, In Between (Hawkeye Publishing, September 2025) is a great one for your beach bag this summer. 

Holly shares insights from her book's developmental journey, including a surprising setback when she lost a notebook filled with manuscript ideas on a train in Italy, followed by a decade-lo...

In this episode of The Book Deal podcast, host Natasha Rai interviews Tom Langshaw, publisher at Pantera Press. Tom discusses his journey from working at Penguin Random House to his current role, explaining the intricacies of the publishing process from manuscript acquisition to promotion. He shares insights on what makes a manuscript stand out, the importance of voice and character in fiction, and the significance of timing and ma...

Host Tina Strachan dives deep into the world of publishing, interviewing international multi-published Kid Lit author Kate Foster. Kate discusses her most recent book, 'Camp Spooky,' co-written with Pip Harry, and shares insights into the co-writing process, the importance of diversity in children's literature, and her dedication to promoting awareness through initiatives like the Danz Awards and the Author Pen Pals ...

The Book Deal podcast, hosts Tina Strachan, Madeleine Cleary, and Natasha Rai dive deep into the intricacies of securing book deals, managing writing schedules, and preparing for festivals. The conversation includes insights from experienced authors on pitching to festivals, the balance of self-care, and practical advice to handle writing burnout. They also share humorous and touching personal stories about family support and navig...