Stories Behind The Story With Better Reading

Felicity McLean joins Cheryl Akle this week to discuss her debut novel, The Van Apfel Girls are Gone. Together they discuss Felicity's career as a ghostwriter and how that, and a run-in with Bryan Brown, led to her writing her first novel. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Susan Hurley joins Cheryl Akle on this week's podcast to talk about her novel, Eight Lives, and about Susan's career in medical research, the trial that inspired her novel, and her move from the pharmaceutical industry to writing. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Minnie Darke talks to Cheryl Akle about astrology and her delightful new novel, Star-crossed.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Kerry Tucker, author of The Prisoner, talks about her journey going from a prison cell, to having a PhD and being an advocate for women prisoners.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Josephine Moon joins Cheryl Akle this week to discuss ‘Uplit', Authors for Farmers and the writing community, and her latest book The Gift of Life. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mary-Anne O'Connor joins Cheryl Akle this week to discuss growing up in a large, creative family, getting published, and her latest book In a Great Southern Land.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

J.R. Lonie, author of The Woman From Saint Germain, joins Cheryl Akle on this week's podcast to talk about writing, screenwriting, and when it's time to call yourself a writer.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Todd Alexander, the author of eleven books, joins Cheryl Akle on this week's podcast to talk about leaving the city to run a boutique accommodation business and vineyard in the Hunter Valley, and his new book  Thirty Thousand Bottles of Wine and a Pig Called Helga. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jacqueline Harvey joins Cheryl Akle this week to discuss her passion for education, her bestselling Alice-Miranda series and her latest book for kids, Kensy and Max 3: Undercover. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Chris Hammer, Australian journalist and bestselling author of hit crime novel, Scrublands, joins Cheryl Akle on this week's podcast to talk about Chris's move from non-fiction to fiction, and the real-life trip around Australia that inspired Chris to write Scrublands.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

American writer Amy Goldstein joins Cheryl Akle to discuss her 2018 book, Janesville, a compelling and insightful portrait of one town in America's heartland, struggling to regain its footing after the closure of its General Motors plant in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. Together, Amy and Cheryl discuss the hollowing of the American middle class, the decline of the American Dream, and what Amy learnt from her time in Janesville.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Acclaimed Australian author Sulari Gentill joins Cheryl Akle on this week's podcast to talk about her latest novel, All the Tears in China, and about Sulari's fascinating life and colourful career, which has seen her move from astrophysics to law to writing.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Zack McDermott, Brooklyn public defender turned author, joins Cheryl Akle to discuss his memoir Gorilla and the Bird, a book that details his recovery after a devastating psychotic break. Together they discuss the stigma surrounding mental illness, and the steps he now takes to maintain his mental health.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Toby Walsh, one of the world's leading researchers in Artificial Intelligence, joins Cheryl Akle to talk about his book It's Alive! Artificial Intelligence from the Logic Piano to Killer Robots. Together they discuss the scientific problems we need to solve in order to advance artificial intelligence technologies, and how scientists are developing these technologies.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tayari Jones, American author, joins Cheryl Akle to talk about her book An American Marriage. Together they discuss how Tayari came to be a writer, and the intricacies of human relationships.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, Kate Young, award-winning food writer and cook, joins Cheryl Akle to discuss her book The Little Library Cookbook. Together they talk about Kate's love of all things food and literature, and how she came to be a successful food writer. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Kerri Turner, historical fiction author, joins Cheryl Akle this week to discuss her debut novel, The Last Days of the Romanov Dancers. Together they discuss Kerri's colourful career as both a dancer and writer, how her travel has informed her writing, and the importance of female representation in historical fiction.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Fiona Lowe, award-winning Australian author, joins Caroline Overington (standing in for Cheryl Akle) this week to discuss her latest novel Home Fires. Together they discuss Fiona's varied career in nursing, women's health, and midwifery, as well as the many ways in which Australia influences and inspires her writing. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Cassie Hamer, first-time author with a professional background in journalism and PR, joins Cheryl Akle to discuss her debut novel After the Party. Together they discuss Cassie's career journey, and how she came to be a writer. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dervla McTiernan, bestselling author of The Ruin, joins Cheryl Akle to discuss her latest novel, The Scholar. Together they discuss Dervla's success as a writer, and the difficulties of writing the follow-up to a bestseller.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.