Auscast Literature Channel

Lauren Williams’ novel Neighbourhood Watch is set in a fictional Melbourne suburb, and the plot features a murder bizarre enough to rival British TV favorite Midsomer Murders. Among the scarecrows in the annual Scarecrow Competition is a real dead body, that of a judge. Justice is the theme and psychologist turned homicide detective Priyanka Pal finds herself up against corruption and powerful men.

+

Young elf Esther learns t...

We're continuing Vampire month by diving deep into the world of teen vampires. Or vampires who fall in love with teens? Join us as we try to pick apart the "pick me" of it all, question why these old ass vampires are interested in teen girls, and the team once again explain how Edward got Bella pregnant in Twilight. Seriously guys, we can't seem to escape Twilight.

This month, we’re reading INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE by Anne Ri...

Welcome to vampire month! It’s now October which means Halloween which means we get spooky which means we contemplate marriage and sex with crusty dusty vampires. Well, for a little bit. But mostly, in this first episode of the month, Amy, Justina, Harry and Millie are talking about their favourite vampires (Nosferatu, but specifically in SpongeBob) and the ways in which vampire lore changes with time. What fears and desires ...

Are you in need of a cathartic cry from a novel that leaves you feeling warm, optimistic, and craving lobster rolls? This week, the '&' of Amy & kick our host, Amy, off the pod so that we can talk candidly about her latest novel, THE TREASURE HOUSE (spoiler: we're obsessed).

Join us as we discuss which moments left us in tears, the pros and cons of owning a treasure home, how sentimental we feel about objects, and whether m...

This week Justina, Abby & Millie are joined by the illustrious Amy Matthews for a conversation all about writing, publishing and The Treasure House. Join us as we delve into Amy’s writing process, hear about her journey into publishing, cry over her latest book and speculate on when all her various pen names will finally merge into one super author.

🏡 Our BOTM is The Treasure House by Amy Matthews

MENTIONS

📖 BOOKS: T...

Munch on this publishing month with us as we take a peek behind the scenes of The Treasure House and trace its journey from ideation to publication. This week Payton & Amy are joined by three publishing experts: Sarah Younger, agent at Nancy Yost Literary Agency and Amy’s own agent; Anthea Bariamis, publisher at Atria Books (Simon & Schuster) and Amy’s Australian editor; and Alicia Clancy, editorial director at ...

What does publishing a novel look like behind the scenes? This month we're following the trajectory of THE TREASURE HOUSE by Amy Matthews, from idea to publication, and asking the agent, editors and publishers our burning questions about the publishing industry. 

This week, we interview the lovely Melanie Hayes, Commissioning Editor at Simon & Schuster UK, to ask what does a commissioning editor do? What does Melanie's jou...

It’s 1917, shop assistant Dora Black has been found dead on a city beach,  and  Adelaide’s legendary early 20th century policewoman Kate Cocks is on the case. Mixing real history, a strong sense of place, and with World War 1 as a backdrop, The Death of Dora Black is the first in Lainie Anderson’s “Petticoat Police Mystery”  series.

+

Caro and Danny were children and later young lovers a...

We're so sad to say goodbye to Smut month, but we're sending it off with a truly fantastic book and a thinker of a book club. In C.M. Nascosta's MORNING GLORY MILKING FARM, our heroine Violet finds herself working an unconventional job 'milking' minotaurs in Cambric Creek. Violet is making the best out of her new career when a stern, deep-voiced client beings to request her specifically for his milking sessions, throwing a spanner ...

This week, Amy& tackle a complicated discussion about sex in romance with the one and only Amy Andrews! Brace yourselves for an incredible chat about how sex can be written, what makes a good sex scene, and how maybe calling a penis a member might REALLY be a reference to parliament. As far as NSFW goes, this week we might have made Amy& history, with a romping number of descriptions that might make you feel like you are ba...

This week Amy, Payton, Abby & Justina discuss Katherine Angel’s book, Tomorrow Sex Will Be Good Again, and deep dive into the nuances of sex, consent and desire. What kinds of social scripts have we been taught about sex and consent and why are they so dang gendered? Why is the patriarchy always at the scene of the crime? And how does this all shake out when romance and smut books enter the chat? 

Content warning: Th...

Michael Caleb Tasker’s grim and gripping Just Like the Night + Elisabeth Storr’s Fables and Lies

Lena has only really known a life of petty crime after spending her childhood on the road with her charismatic card sharp father Ray. Now in adulthood and just out of prison she finds herself in much deeper water, tangling with the dark Sydney underworld in an attempt to save her daughter. Michael Caleb Tasker’s first...

Welcome to another Amy & Smut Month, the month where we talk about books with smut! This time we're getting to know the monstrous, the beastly, and the surprisingly sweet. We tackle what kind of monsters belong in 'monster smut', our Wills and Won'ts of monsterkind, Romantasy vs Monster Romances, and just why these beastly men appeal to readers. Fun moments include a monster dating show (Married at Firs...

In this episode of Around the School Table (xuno.com.au/podcasts), host Steve Davis is joined by Dr Selena Fisk, a Data Storyteller and Founder of SelenaFisk.com, to explore how schools can move beyond simply collecting data and instead build a culture where evidence supports better teaching, stronger leadership, and improved student outcomes. Drawing on her experience as a former teacher, researcher, and education consul...

We're trying something a little different for this After Dark: a get-to-know-us episode. We've been talking zines all month, so it felt right that we get together and talk about our lives as writers. We answer the age old questions like Pantser or Plotter, do you worldbuild extensively or wing it, and why is writing so hard? We get into some less traditional topics as well, like whether we'd prefer to be a Nobel winner or a New Yor...

"It's nice to be known, I guess?"

This book club episode is a liiittle bit different because it is zine month, and in lieu of a book club pick, we tasked ourselves with making our own zines. Today is the day we share them with each other and, of course, with you! From Amy & warfare to imaginary band discographies, this episode is a wild ride and the perfect culmination of everything we've explored this month - it's just un...

In this episode of Around the School Table (xuno.com.au/podcasts), host Steve Davis is joined by Stephanie Doyle, Founder of The Conference Planners (theconferenceplanners.com.au/), to explore how thoughtfully designed conferences can become powerful drivers of professional learning, leadership, and collaboration across Australian education.

Drawing on her experience working with education networks, government systems, peak bodies,...

This week Amy, Millie and Justina are joined by local Adelaide artist, zine-maker, community organiser and author of the graphic memoir Oh Brother, Georgina Chadderton – aka George Rex Comics. Join us as we chat all about making comics, shifting between zine-making and traditional publishing, interdisciplinary creativity, building grassroots arts community, revelling in niche Australian comedy and how to explain Vegemite to C...

In 2023 Afghan single mother Laila was desperate to get herself and her five daughters out of Iran. The chances were slim, but she was willing to try anything.  When she  called an Afghan contact in Adelaide, Mij Tanith was in the room and decided to try and help. What ensued was a growing long distance friendship that overcame  the barriers of language  and culture,  fought through the bureaucratic hurdles...