Book Matters

Courtney chats with debut writer Josh Hortinela.   Josh  is a writer and bookseller who also works in social media marketing. A passionate reader, he has worked in the book industry for nearly ten years, and also works as a freelance writer, photographer and moderator for events. When he’s not adding a ridiculous number of books to his staff holds at work, he can be found reading romance novels, rewatching 13 Going On 30 for the millionth time, or drinking a cosmopolitan. He lives in Sydney and can tell you where to find the best coffee or cocktail in town.

We...

Sam speaks with Canadian author and GP Kelly Anderson about her debut novel The Wild Beneath a fierce, haunting story of one woman caught between her first love and a mysterious stranger who upends everything—and the two worlds that won’t let her go.

The Wild Beneath was chosen by Reese Witherspoon for her book club in 2026.   We hope you enjoy.

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Janine speaks with Sydney writer Tania Blanchard about her new Australian historical fiction novel The Paris Prize.

We chat about all things Australian wool growing, the use of our wool in Paris, haute couture, Christian Dior and women living, growing and running sheep properties in Australia back in the day.

The perfect book for History month.

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Courtney speaks with Australian crime writer Vikki Petraitis and delves into her new novel The Reckoning which is the third in a series featuring Detective Antigone Pollard and her partner, Wozza.

They talk about her writing and her true crime works of non-fiction as well as a screen adaptation of her first novel The Unbelieved.

We hope you enjoy.

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Janine speaks with Victorian writer Jock Serong in a Back to Chat episode where we talk about his biography 'A Suitable Man - the eccentric life of Fletcher Jones'

We talk about how Fletcher transformed Australian menswear through manufacturing high-quality, ready-made clothing using Australian wool and pioneered employee ownership, by giving staff a significant share in the company. 

It was a fascinating look into his life and times and the perfect book to celebrate History month.   I hope you enjoy!

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On this episode of Book Matters, Sam speaks with Ilka Tampke, an Australian award-winning author, academic and teacher about her latest novel "How to Love the World"

How To Love the World is a story about the forest. But more than that, it is a story about motherhood, family, and generational trauma. How the lives of our ancestors continue to shape our own lives, and how our childhood impacts us in ways we couldn't have predicted.

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Janine speaks with Melbourne writer Victoria Hannan about her new novel - 'I Love The Whole World'  which is a celebration of life and self.   Hilarious, joyous and beautifully observed, it is a novel about friendship, ageing and the extra/ordinary act of deciding to begin again.

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Courtney speaks with Margaret Hickey who is an award-winning author and playwright from North East Victoria.  Margaret won the Ned Kelly Award for Best Fiction in 2025 for The Creeper.

They chat about her new novel Cold River - a thought-provoking crime mystery set in Victoria's High Country.

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Janine chats with Australian writer Anna Johnston about her new novel 'When Lemons give you Life' - An enchanting, heart-stirring novel about rediscovering joy when life has lost its flavour, from the author of the bestselling novel 'The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife'.

We hope you enjoy. 

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In this episode Janine speaks with Perth writer Holly Craig about her new thriller Find Me, a terrifying survivalist thriller as two sisters navigate the eerie Tasmanian wilderness, in search of their missing brother.

An emotionally charged and vividly written novel that is an exploration of complex family dynamics. Utterly chilling (in both its terror and temperature definitions) and tense, this is a perfect winter thriller.

We  hope you enjoy!

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Tim speaks with writer and illustrator Rebecca Lim based in Melbourne, Australia. She worked as a commercial lawyer for several years before leaving to write full time. 

They chat about her new novel The Graduate - a tense and compelling legal thriller examining the lasting impact of historical wrongs and the courage required to confront them.

We hope you enjoy.

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In this episode Janine speaks to Petronella McGovern about her new novel 'Every Time She Wakes', a taut, time-bending thriller about family, identity and defying fate.

We last spoke to her back in 2022, and if you want to know more about Petronella you can find this in our episode library.

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In this episode Sam speaks with Georgia Harper about her new novel 'Dove' - a thought provoking, nuanced and utterly original psychological thriller exploring power and gender, set against the backdrop of 1990's small town Queensland.

One day, after a row with her neighbour turns violent, Dove writes a provocative question on the wall of her property, ‘What would you do if you had a whole day on Earth free of men?’

What started as a simple expression of frustration quickly becomes a lightning rod for the town. It will keep you read...

In this episode Tim speaks with Melbourne author Fiona Hardy about her writing and her new novel 'Old Games' a pacey, off-beat Aussie crime story about two best female friends and investigators unravelling the private lives of Melbourne's celebrity sportspeople.

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In this episode we have two more Australian female crime writers to talk to about their latest novels.   Tim speaks with Fiona Hardy about her latest novel 'Old Games', a pacey, off-beat Aussie crime story about two best female friends and investigators unravelling the private lives of Melbourne's celebrity sportspeople.

Then Sam talks to Georgia Harper about her new book 'Dove' a domestic thriller that centres on a small community's response to a challenging but important question: What if there were no men for a day.

We hope you enjoy

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Today we speak with two very different authors on the podcast.  Rachel Fox McLeod chats with Courtney about her debut novel 'Disgraceful' - ahilarious and moving debut novel about a woman who writes a ‘f*ck-it’ list to reclaim herself after her marriage unexpectedly implodes.

Then Sam speaks with Hannah Gould about her thought-provoking book 'How to Die in the 21st Century' - If you have ever wondered about alternative funerals, modern grief, sustainable burial options or simply how to begin the conversation about death, this is the book...

Today we invite back Adelaide writer Victoria Purman onto Book Matters to chat about her new novel The Marriage Trap - A charming but pointed look at the tumultuous extraordinary decade of the 1960s, and the effects of the pill, rebellion and new ideas on ordinary Australian women as alongside shorter skirts and the Beatles.  We hope you enjoy!

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In this episode we are bringing back one of our most popular writers to see what they have been up to since we last spoke with them.

We spoke to Fiona Lowe in 2021 about her novel 'A Home Like Ours' so it was great to bring her back to chat about her latest novel 'The Drowning'.

We hope you enjoy.

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On Book Matters today we have two amazing Australian writers. Janine speaks with Mercedes Mercier about her newest novel The Couple's Retreat, then Kiara speaks with Kathy Lette about her new novel The Sisterhood Rules.

We hope you enjoy!

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On the podcast today Courtney speaks with Brisbane writer Shailee Thompson about her debut novel “How to kill a guy in ten dates” – a sharp and entertaining novel that blends humor, suspense and modern-day dating in unexpected ways.  

Sam then chats to Courtney Peppernell about her new novel “The Last Poem” - a moving and heart-rending debut about a grieving woman who moves to a charming small town and finds healing, friendship and love.    

We hope you enjoy. 

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In this episode Janine speaks with Adelaide writer Rebecca Heath about her latest novel 'The Last Encore' - a gripping, claustrophobic Australian thriller with a killer twist.  

Kiara then chats to Victorian author Susi Fox about her new novel 'The Other Child', a compelling psychological suspense novel about mistrust, coercion and fear of betrayal.

We hope you enjoy.

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Here at Book Matters, we are taking a well-earned break over the summer holidays but we have some recordings of our Live In Conversation events held at the library during 2025.

We welcomed Chris Hammer to the library in October where he spoke to a large audience about his new novel Legacy which sees the return of his popular character Martin Scarsden.

The audio quality is a little compromised, but we are sure you will enjoy listening to Chris and Tim as they chat about his writing and his books.

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During the year we hosted some fabulous live author events at Connected Libraries!  For our Summer Series we are proud to give you the recording of our event with internationally bestselling Melbourne author Jane Harper who chats with Courtney about her writing process and her latest novel Last One Out.

We hope you enjoy!

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For our last episode of Book Matters for the year we have two great interviews for you.

Both are Australian authors, and their books are ideal for Christmas gifts and to take away on your summer holiday.

Courtney speaks with Libby Iriks about her novel "Home to the Heart Country" – a heartfelt small-town romance set in Western Australia exploring themes of belonging, social anxiety and neurodivergence.

Then Janine chats with debut writer Brooke Crawford about her novel "Better than the Real Thing" – where Notting Hill meets Bridget Jones Baby in this whip-smart, funny, emot...

Welcome to Back to Chat, a special episode of Book Matters! 

On today’s special episode we are celebrating five years of Book Matters with a familiar and much-loved guest. That’s right—we’re bringing back one of our most popular authors for a return visit!

Please join us as we catch up, see what’s new and dive into their stories—both on and off the page—that continue to inspire our book world. 

It’s a full-circle moment, and we’re thrilled to share it with you!

This episode we chat with...

On this episode of Book matters we have some interesting interviews for you.

Kiara speaks with Melbourne author Toni Jordan about her new novel ‘Tenderfoot’ - an exquisite and bittersweet read that brings back memories of growing up in Australia in the 1970s wherein a 12-year-old girl from a family of gamblers and greyhound racers grapples with adulthood as her home life disintegrates.

Then Sam chats with New Zealand writer & poet Louise Wallace about her novel ‘Ash’ - a shimmering novel about motherhood, love and the power of feminine rage.

We hope you enjoy.<...

On Book Matters this month Janine talks to Jessica Mansour-Nahra about her gripping gothic domestic thriller "The Farm" It asks confronting questions about women's bodies, what is expected of them, and who is really in control. 

Then Kiara speaks with Jess Kitching about her novel "The Life Experiment" a poignant, life-affirming love story about two people whose lives are turned upside down when they enter an experiment that predicts when they will die.

We hope you enjoy.

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On Book Matters this month Sam chats to Kate Halfpenny about her memoir Boogie Wonderland, when Covid lockdowns hit Melbourne, metropolitan midlife couple Kate and Chris decide to make a sea change and move to a small coastal town to ease financial pressures and live out the beach lifestyle many of us dream of. But they didn't give much thought to just how different it would be.

Then Kiara talks to Sinead Stubbins about her novel Stinkbug, where a select group of employees at an advertising agency are sent to an elite three-day...

 On Book Matters today Janine chats to Adelaide writer Leonie Kelsall. We chat about her latest rural fiction novel, The path through the Coojong trees. We also talk about her writing and why she also writes under a pseudonym Courtney then chats to Victorian crime writer Matt Rogers who has self published 36 novels and how he has transitioned to being traditionally published. We hope you enjoy! 

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Welcome to Back to Chat, a special episode of Book Matters! 

On today’s special episode we are celebrating five years of Book Matters with a familiar and much-loved guest. That’s right—we’re bringing back one of our most popular authors for a return visit!

Please join us as we catch up, see what’s new and dive into their stories—both on and off the page—that continue to inspire our book world. 

It’s a full-circle moment, and we’re thrilled to share it with you!

If would like to listen...

On the podcast today Courtney chats with Melbourne author Jodi McAlister about her rom-com – “An Academic Affair” - a charming new romance about two English professors who embark on a fake relationship…only to discover that it may be harder to pretend than they realized.  Then Sam speaks with NSW writer Sarah Clutton about her novel “The Remarkable Truths of Alfie Bains” - a heart-warming story of family, relationships and being true to oneself.  We hope you enjoy!

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On this special NAIDOC Week episode, our local history librarian Kate speaks with Lenora Thaker - a proud Meriam and Wagedagam woman born and living on Gimuy-Walubarra Yidinji country in Far North Queensland.   They chat about her historical novel, 'The Pearl of Tagai Town' a sweeping, heart-warming and ultimately triumphant story of the life of a young Torres Strait Islander woman from Tagai Town, a shantytown on the northeastern coast of Australia, in the decades before, during and after World War II.  We hope you enjoy!

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Welcome to Back to Chat, a special episode of Book Matters! 

On today’s special episode we are celebrating five years of Book Matters with a familiar and much-loved guest. That’s right—we’re bringing back one of our most popular authors for a return visit!

Please join us as we catch up, see what’s new and dive into their stories—both on and off the page—that continue to inspire our book world. 

It’s a full-circle moment, and we’re thrilled to share it with you!

If you are keen to also...

On Book Matters today, Courtney speaks with Sydney paramedic Sally Gould about her memoir Frog, an intimate look at the human cost of the job and the cumulative effect of trauma. Sally shares a personal story which offers a heartfelt tribute to the resilience, courage and camaraderie that define the high-stakes world of emergency medicine.  Then Janine chats with South Australian crime writer Michelle Prak, we talk about her writing and her new suspense novel Barren Cape, where an abandoned resort seems the perfect place to hide, but is Barren Cape a refuge o...

Today on Book Matters we are celebrating Australian crime fiction by chatting to Sydney writer Jane Caro about her compelling and fascinating new mystery novel Lyrebird, which brings a detective out of retirement to investigate a 20-year-old cold case. We hope you enjoy.

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 On Book Matters today Kate speaks with Melbourne author Madeliene Cleary about her new historical fiction novel “The Butterfly Women” which shines a light on Melbourne in 1863, the goldrush and the brothels that operated in that era.   Then Janine speaks with Sydney author Lauren McKellar about her new novel “The Calendar Mums” - a warm, funny and heartbreaking book about what it means to be a mother.  We hope you enjoy.

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On the podcast today Sam chats to Sydney author Catherine Greer about her novel The Bittersweet Bakery Café which sheds light on the complex lives of women, then Kiara speaks with Victoria Brownlee who describes herself as an Eater/Drinker/Writer, about her new novel Eat Your Heart Out.  

We hope you enjoy.

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On the podcast this month Janine speaks with Sydney author Vanessa McCausland about her new release “The Last Illusion of Paige White” a haunting, compelling and beautifully written novel about two women, a tragedy on the lake, and secrets beneath the surface.

Kiara then chats with Ella Ward about her first novel "The Cicada House" - a heartfelt and feel-good time-travelling love story set in London and Australia.

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On the podcast this month Janine speaks with author Kylie Ladd about her new release "The Mix-Up" - A beautifully told and thought-provoking novel about a mix-up that leaves two children wondering who they really are and where they belong . . .  Sam then chats to Darwin based writer Leonie Norrington about her book – A Piece of Red Cloth, A powerful, unique novel based on the oral history of the Yolngu people from north-east Arnhem Land that tells the story of a grandmother who stops at nothing to protect her granddaughter.

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Here at Book Matters we are taking a well-earned break over the holiday period but in the meantime we have put together some great listening in our best in-conversation events held during the year.

Back in October we were fortunate to have well known crime writer and winner of three Ned Kelly awards, Candice Fox here at Bunjil Place.   Fellow crime writer and local girl Kerryn Mayne interviewed Candice about her writing, her collaboration with James Patterson, the adaptations of her novels to the screen and her newest novel “High Wire”.   

The audio quality was a littl...