Authorised with Kevin Hillier

Duncan Ewing Graham is an interesting human being. He is a barrister and a doctor and, in his spare time, an author. Duncan's second book Where the Dust Settles takes us inside a world Duncan knows back to front - the David and Goliath battle between Joe Average and Big Asbestos. Duncan's story brings the human victims face to face with the corporate culprits in a legal battleground of epic proportions and ramifications.  &nbs...

Books allow us to engage in eras and events that our mortal beings cannot and in this episode of Authorised, two very talented authors take us back in time to a very different Australia to the one we currently live in. 

Flight by Anne Vines (Glass House Books) brings 1942 Melbourne alive with the threat of a Japanese invasion in the air and platoons of American servicemen on the ground. What started as a short story has blosso...

Give Dad a book this Father's Day, and I have three nominations for you to consider from the two authors who join me in this episode. Geoff Hutchison has finished his long and illustrious career as a broadcaster and turns his talents to writing a most entertaining and enlightening book, beautifully and aptly titled 'How Not To Be a Grumpy Old Bugger' (Affirm Press). You will love Geoff's candour and insights into bringing this book...

Author Matthew Spencer returns to Authorised with his second novel 'Broke Road' (Allen & Unwin). Sergeant Rose Riley, introduced in Matthew's debut book 'Black River', is back with another homicide to solve but a mystery that takes her to some unexpected places personally and professionally. Matthew talks about the challenges of the second novel, his learnings from his first book, the importance of authenticity in the crime wri...

The Good Losers is Meg Bignell's fourth novel and it is an absolute delight from start to finish. Meg has tapped into some real life experiences to bring readers a very honest and hilarious tale of life, love, winners and losers in an elite rowing club. 

Meg takes us through her processes of writing and creating the characters and plot lines for The Good Losers (Penguin Random House), a book that took her into a few unchartere...

Ali Berg and Michelle Kalus bring an interesting dynamic to this episode as co-autors of Love Overdue (Allen & Unwin), their fourth book together. The combination obviously works well and the pair explain how they juggle plot lines, character development, new babies and day jobs. Ali and Michelle also have a side hustle: 'Books on the Rail,' a genius idea to get more books in the hands of potential readers. It is a most enterta...

Michael Thompson's second novel poses a fascinating question for us all to ponder as it takes us on a emotion-charged journey. All The Perfect Days is the story of Dr. Charlie Knight, a small town GP who is wrestling with his new 'gift'. Charlie knows how many days his patients, friends and loved ones have to live. What does he do? What would you do? 

Michael tells us the story behind the story of All The Perfect Days (Pantera...

Murder and intrigue and mental health and wellbeing are polar opposite genres, but they come together in this episode of Authorised. Author Joan Sauers delivers her second novel Whisky Valley (Allen & Unwin), a delicious cocktail of mystery, romance and pastries set in the brooding Southern Highlands of New South Wales.

Nathan Dunne's When Nothing Feels Real (Murdoch Books) brings a mystery of a different kind, detailing his pe...

Jenny Pattrick came to writing novels after a very successful life in teaching and in the jewellery industry where she is something of a revered figure. The New Zealand born and raised author chats about her 11th novel, Sea Change. Jenny takes us to a coastal community reeling from a tsunami and the aftermath brings out the best and worst in those affected. 

My second guest is author A.M.Jaxon, talking about the first part of ...

It's another double-barrelled episode of Authorised, with two authors who come to our bookshelves via very different paths.

Muriel Cooper was the queen of talkback radio for many years and a trailblazer in broadcasting for the women who have followed her. These days she is a psychologist and author and her latest book is the most refreshing self help guide you will find anywhere. The title says it all - Up Shit Creek in a Barbed Wi...

Peter Norris has led an extraordinary life by any measure. His childhood was unlike anyone else's and like us all, he made some good and bad choices, but the options he had to choose from were very different to most kids. Peter's father was a career criminal and it looked like Peter was following in his footsteps until he made a difficult choice. 

Peter's story is harrowing, confronting, sad, joyous and totally compelling. The...

Sarah Hayden now adds author to her very impressive list of life credentials which include wife, mother of 5, foster mother of 55, qualified social worker and equine assisted psychotherapist and Mayor of Golden Plains Shire Council.

Her book Parenting Different - How to raise your neurodivergent kids to be their authentic and awesome selves (Murdoch Books) is both a personal journey and a practical guide to navigating and embracing...

It's not exactly chalk and cheese, but it's not far from it, with the combination of authors in this episode. Victoria Brownlee's third novel 'Eat Your Heart Out' (Affirm Press) is a food fight with a difference as rival food writers vie for the much sought-after biographer's byline for a high-profile, high maintenance French celebrity chef. Is it a dream job or a nightmare? That's a great story, as is Victoria's, which she shares ...

It's variety with a capital V in this episode of Authorised. Maryrose Cuskelly's latest book The Campers is more a How Dare They? than a Whodunnit, making it an even more intriguing read and featuring a subject matter sure to evoke much discussion. 

On the other hand, John Wayne Parr has bled in the pursuit of his life goal. He carries the scars from 110 wins in the ring all over the world and proudly boasts 10 world titles.

T...

Emma Pignatiello is beginning her journey as an author, while Mike Coward is a man with many miles on his writing odometer. Emma talks about her first novel 'Last Shot' (Penguin) and Mike shares tales about his latest 'The Baggy Green' (Gelding Street Press). Emma takes us into a wine making family dynasty full of drama and suspense while Mike has his share of both those qualities in stories of the most iconic piece of Australian s...

In this episode, meet two unique and talented authors discussing two vastly different pieces of work. Mark Smith's Three Boys Gone and Everald Compton's Walking with the Man but not to Church come from very different places. Mark's ficticious novel is action packed and packed with thought provoking human, moral and ethical dilemmas. Everald's book is all that as well, but it is also the thoughts, reflections and questions of a man ...

Andrea Barton joins me for a most interesting chat about her pathway to becoming an author and her first novels The Godfather of Dance and A Killer Among Friends. Andrea take us through developing the main character of this series, Jade Riley, using her own life experiences in her writing and dealing with the ups and downs of being a writer.  

All thanks to our podcast partners CSCG. When it comes to the world of finance,...

Another holiday weekend double banger with a couple of very talented Aussie authors, Pip Drysdale and David Batty. Pip's new book takes you to LA for a thriller that will keep you guessing and glued until the very end and her personal story is quite a tale in itself.

David's travels are very different and his personal adventures across the length and breadth of Australia make for very entertaining listening and reading. 

Enjoy...

Authorised returns for 2025 thanks to my podcast partners CSCG.                                We go international for the first episode of this series with author Nick Harkaway. Nick is a successful author in his own right but also happens to be the son of world famous novelist John le Carré and in this new novel Karla's Choice those worlds coll...