Not Quite Write Interviews

Ed and Amanda chat with prolific Australian author, journalist and cricket aficionado, Gideon Haigh, ahead of the Blood Lines panel at the 2025 Words on the Waves Writers Festival. We talk about Gideon's memoir, My Brother Jaz, and how in just 72 hours of drafting, he came to reckon with the death of his teenage brother some 37 years ago, and its lifelong impact on a shattered family.

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Ed and Amanda sit down with wanted men, Peter Greste and Sean Turnell, following the Wrongfully Imprisoned panel at the 2025 Words on the Waves Writers Festival. The "terrorist and the spy," imprisoned in Egypt and Myanmar respectively, share what it was like to face trial on trumped-up charges, their battles for freedom, and the lingering impact of wrongful imprisonment on their lives today.

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Ed and Amanda chat with influential Australian literary figure, Nikki Gemmell, ahead of the Power and Privilege panel at the 2025 Words on the Waves Writers Festival. We talked about writing as a day job, what it looks like to 'do menopause badly,' and of course about Nikki's latest book, Wing, a contemporary thriller in the vein of Picnic at Hanging Rock.

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Ed and Amanda chat with debut author, Natasha Rai, in the lead up to the Power and Privilege panel at the 2025 Words on the Waves Writers Festival. Natasha is a podcaster in her own right, co-hosting The Book Deal podcast, offering motivation and inspiration for emerging writers. Natasha shared with us details of her publishing experience, offering a little insight into just how long it takes to become an "overnight" success.

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If you think the world is going to pot, you're not alone! Ed and Amanda chat with US/Australian political expert and commentator, Bruce Wolpe, about his book, What Trump's Second Term Means for Australia. Bruce featured in the 2025 Words on the Waves Writers Festival's, New World Order panel, and shared with us his thoughts on how the United States lost its place as the 'leader of the free world'.

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Ed and Amanda chat with critically acclaimed poet and inaugural Poet in Residence at The University of Melbourne, Maxine Beneba Clarke. Maxine featured in a range of poetry events at the 2025 Words on the Waves Writers Festival, including a live performance at the Saturday night Poetry Slam. Maxine shared with us her thoughts on the place of poetry in Australia today, and treated us to a reading of one of her fun-loving poems for k...

Ed and Amanda sit down with award-winning investigative journalist, Quentin McDermott, following the Australia’s 'Most Hated Woman’ session at the 2025 Words on the Waves Writers Festival. Quentin's book, Meadow's Law, chronicles the notorious Kathleen Folbigg case, and calls into question the law's presupposition that, "one sudden infant death is a tragedy, two is suspicious and three is murder until proved otherwise."

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Ed and Amanda chat with newly minted spicy crime fiction author, Blanche d'Alpuget, following The Bunny Club with Blanche d'Alpuget session at the 2025 Words on the Waves Writers Festival. Blanche is best known as the second wife of the late Australian Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, but we take a broad look at Blanche's extensive writing career across both fiction and non-fiction, and find out what inspired her to start writing spicy c...

Ed and Amanda chat with renowned Australian psychologist, social researcher and writer, Hugh Mackay AO, following The State of Australia Today with Hugh Mackay session at the 2025 Words on the Waves Writers Festival. Hugh brings his analytical eye to the state of Australian mental health today, and offers uplifting insights into the simple ways […]

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Ed and Amanda chat with Aboriginal Australian author and academic, Debra Dank, ahead of the Do you Know Stella and Historical Amnesia panels at the 2025 Words on the Waves Writers Festival. Debra offers insight into Australia's oldest form of written storytelling, and why Aboriginal iconography should be seen as far more than just 'art'.

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Ed and Amanda chat with Ben McKelvey, an author who had to relearn how to read and write following a stroke at just 27 years old, and Craig Semple, former homicide detective turned mental health advocate, following the 'Back from the Abyss' panel at the Words on the Waves Writers Festival. Both men shared with us their incredible stories of loss and resilience. We discussed post-traumatic growth, and the unique challenges men face ...

Ed and Amanda chat with bestselling historical fiction author, Lauren Chater, following the Beauty and the Beasts panel at the Words on the Waves Writers Festival. Lauren shared with us her research process, and the opulent seventeenth-century inspiration for her new historical fiction novel, 'The Beauties', which poses the question, "In a world where beauty is a woman's only currency, who pays the price?"

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Ed and Amanda chat with Bruce Pascoe and Lyn Harwood, partners, business partners and co-authors of 'Black Duck: A Year at Yumburra'. The book, written in diary form, chronicles a year at the Black Duck farm, touching on the impact of devastating bushfires, as well as the rebuilding of a marriage. Bruce and Lyn shared with us their personal journey, as well as insights into how to live and eat in harmony with this wide brown land.

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Ed and Amanda chat with Toby Walsh, Chief Scientist of the AI Institute of the University of New South Wales, and Carla Wilshire, founding CEO of The Social Policy Group. Both authors have a keen interest in the way AI is redefining the world as we know it. But should we be pessimistic or optimistic? And does AI even care what we think?

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Ed and Amanda chat with beloved picture book author and illustrator, Matt Cosgrove, of "Macca the Alpaca" fame, and his wife and co-author, Eva Amores. They've been working together on the 'Worst Week Ever' series, and they shared with us what it's like to collaborate as a married couple. They also shared the unique challenges of translating picture books and graphic novels to an international audience.

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Ed and Amanda chat with journalist, author, and romance scam victim, Stephanie Wood, following the 'Trust Issues' panel at the Words on the Waves Writers Festival. Stephanie is on the cusp of watching her real life play out on the small screen in the Paramount+ TV series, FAKE, starring Asher Keddie and David Wenham. The series is an adaptation of Stephanie's memoir of the same name, and she shared with us what it was like to watch...

Ed and Amanda chat with Australian reality TV megastar, Julie Goodwin, at the Words on the Waves Writers Festival. Julie's memoir, 'Your Time Starts Now' chronicles her life, from highest highs to dizzying lows. Julie has been open about her struggles with depression, and candidly shared with us what it felt like to overcome her internal critic and finally seek the help she needed.

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