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Writes4Women host Pamela Cook chats to publishing industry professional Kelly Doust about her new business, Publishing Curious. Kelly has worked across many facets of the industry including as an author, but also in marketing and as an acquiring editor and publisher. She's started a new business to assist authors in reaching their publishing goals, and to demystify the industry. In this conversation Pam chats to Kelly about how acquisitions meeting work, what publishers are looking for in a manuscript, the realities of advances, and a whole lot more. And if you enjoy this chat, join Pam and Kelly for a live zoom chat on Tuesday October 6 ay 7pm, and bring your questions with you.   SHOWNOTES: JOIN OUR LIVE ZOOM CHAT, 7PM ON TUESDAY OCTOBER 6 here Writes4Women www.writes4women.com Facebook @writes4women Twitter / Instagram @w4wpodcast   W4W Substack Click here   Kelly Doust Website: click here Instagram: click here Substack: click here   Pamela Cook www.pamelacook.com.au Facebook @amelacookauthor Twitter @PamelaCookAU   This episode produced by Pamela Cook for Writes4Women and recorded on unceded Dharawal land.             Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/writes4women?fan_landing=true See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shannon Kelly-White & Lisa Ireland on Mentoring and the Making of Billy King Host Pamela Cook interviews debut historical fiction author Shannon Kelly-White and author/mentor Lisa Ireland about the mentoring partnership behind Shannon’s debut novel. Billy King (“Wild girls don’t go quietly”), is a story set in the Australian high country 100 years ago and told through three women’s perspectives: bushranger Dulcie, missing mother Anna, and 12-year-old Billy. Shannon discusses her path from nursing to an unorthodox food blog and cookbooks, learning through a “drawer” manuscript, and developing a modern-feeling historical voice. Lisa describes recognising Shannon’s talent early, providing confidence and structural guidance, and focusing on story momentum and “killing darlings,” including major deletions and restructuring. They discuss knowing when to submit, securing an agent, editing, cover reveal, handling reviews, mentoring benefits, and more. 00:00 Welcome to Writes4Women 02:35 Shannon’s Pre-Book Journey 03:19 Inside Billy King 13:37 Starting Mentorship Together 19:28 Building Three POV Characters 23:46 Story Structure and Cutting 35:56 Knowing When Done 40:20 Stop Over Revising 45:39 Handling Reviews 49:13 Mentorship Matters 51:39 Mentoring For All 57:28 Final Writing Advice 59:42 Wrap And Resources   SHOWNOTES: Writes4Women www.writes4women.com Facebook @writes4women Twitter / Instagram @w4wpodcast   W4W Substack Click here   Shannon Kelly-White Website: click here Instagram: click here   Lisa Ireland Website: click here Instagram: click here   Pamela Cook www.pamelacook.com.au Facebook @amelacookauthor Twitter @PamelaCookAU   This episode produced by Pamela Cook for Writes4Women and recorded on unceded Dharawal land.             Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/writes4women?fan_landing=true See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Courtney Peppernell on Pillow Thoughts, Self-Publishing, and Her Debut Novel The Last Poem Writes4Women host Pamela Cook chats with internationally bestselling author Courtney Peppernell,  about her path from early “lightning writing” and a supportive family to self-publishing novels and then poetry, and now her debut novel. Courtney describes self-publishing, and creating Pillow Thoughts from blog-style reflections, her poems going viral and landing a deal with a traditional publisher. Her latest release is The Last Poem, a multi-POV small-town Colorado story about grief, friendship and love. An inspiring episode for writers at all stages of their career.   00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 02:07 Early Writing Spark 03:54 Family Support and Creativity 05:41 Self Publishing Beginnings 08:05 Pillow Thoughts Goes Viral 13:25 Signing with a US Publisher 15:57 Series Strategy and Branding 21:15 Life Changing Success and Tours 25:26 Setting Up Poem Readings 26:18 Reading From Thinking Of You 26:58 Writing Poetry As Characters 29:17 Modern Versus Traditional Poetry 30:50 Why Online Poetry Boomed 31:58 Algorithm Changes And Reach 33:35 Turning To The Last Poem 35:27 Plot And Grief Group Setup 36:34 Crafting Multiple Viewpoints 40:37 Favorite Characters And Libraries 43:58 Why Wren Is A Poet 45:49 Traditional Publishing And Events 48:57 Upcoming Books And Music   SHOWNOTES: Writes4Women www.writes4women.com Facebook @writes4women Twitter / Instagram @w4wpodcast   W4W Substack Click here   Courtney Peppernell Website: click here Instagram: click here   Pamela Cook www.pamelacook.com.au Facebook @amelacookauthor Twitter @PamelaCookAU   This episode produced by Pamela Cook for Writes4Women and recorded on unceded Dharawal land.           Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/writes4women?fan_landing=true See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hannah Richell on Writing Memoir, Grief, and An Ocean and a Day Join host and author Pamela Cook as she  interviews author Hannah Richell about her memoir An Ocean and a Day, which explores the sudden death of her husband Matt in a surfing accident at Tamarama Beach in 2014 and the long journey of grief that followed. Richell discusses journaling as a survival tool, shaping years of writing into a memoir, and choosing a circular, tidal structure that moves between past and present to show what was lost and reflect how grief is experienced. She shares key influences and also talks about narrating the audiobook herself, deciding what to include about her children, and how touring and reader responses have been unexpectedly uplifting. 00:00 Level Up Writing Courses 01:39 Episode Updates and Memoir Intro 05:15 Memoir Overview and Loss 08:38 Beach Bookends and Ending 13:22 Writing Grief Into Words 17:30 Tidal Timeline Structure 24:02 Journaling to Memoir Draft2 9:38 Visitation Dream Story 32:56 Host Family Grief Reflection 36:42 Kids as Anchors 38:05 Writing Through Nights 38:42 Books That Held Me 42:34 Quoting and Permissions 44:18 Narrating the Audiobook 49:10 Shaping the Memoir 50:51 Privacy and Boundaries 56:20 Swallows and Tattoos 01:00:27 Touring and Reader Connection 01:03:39 Wrap Up and Farewell   SHOWNOTES: Writes4Women www.writes4women.com Facebook @writes4women Twitter / Instagram @w4wpodcast   W4W Substack Click here   Hannah Richell Website: click here Facebook: click here Instagram: click here   Pamela Cook www.pamelacook.com.au Facebook @amelacookauthor Twitter @PamelaCookAU   This episode produced by Pamela Cook for Writes4Women and recorded on unceded Dharawal land.       Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/writes4women?fan_landing=true See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Belinda Alexandra on The Italian Correspondent, Research, and Writing Through Rejection This week on The Convo couch Pam chats to Belinda Alexandra, author of 12 bestselling novels including her latest release The Italian Correspondent. Belinda discusses her storytelling roots in her mother’s White Russian/China wartime experiences and her father’s Australian life, her early writing, travel influences, 10 years of rejections before White Gardenia was published in 2002, and a whole lot more. Pam also talks new releases and gives an update on the Writes4Women Main Character Deep Dive challenge.   00:30 Podcast Updates and Festivals 02:56 Substack Writing Challenge 05:22 New Books on the Shelf 10:55 Meet Belinda Alexandra 13:35 Family Stories and Writing Roots 21:54 Travel Letters and Inspiration 25:54 First Novel and Rejections 31:33 Imposter Syndrome and Craft 34:07 Pushing Through the Dip 34:55 Inside The Italian Correspondent 39:35 Plotting vs Characters Taking Over 42:30 Writing Better Men on the Page 44:55 Three Loves Romance Twist 51:23 Drafting Perfectionism and Mess 56:07 Longevity in Publishing 57:51 Perseverance Through Industry Change 01:00:28 Quality Over Speed 01:02:01 Wrap Up and Bonus Chat   SHOW NOTES: Writes4Women www.writes4women.com Facebook @writes4women Instagram @w4wpodcast   Belinda Alexandra Website: click here Instagram: click here   Pamela Cook www.pamelacook.com.au Facebook: click here Twitter: click here  Instagram: click here Fiction Feedback @ Writing NSW: click here   This episode produced by  Pamela Cook for Writes4Women on unceded Dharawal country.       Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/writes4women?fan_landing=true See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Pam reports in from Lille in France with some exciting news about her upcoming release Because You're Mine! She also chats to debut memoirist Lindsay Bartels about Imogen in Waiting, which follows Lindsay and her husband as they wrestle with whether to use a stored female embryo that carries the BRCA mutation Lindsay has, after Lindsay’s breast cancer diagnosis in her 20s. Lindsay discusses her path from filmmaking and architecture to writing via blogging, and explains drafting the memoir longhand using a four-notebook, three-act structure, then transcribing, revising, cutting scenes, and deepening interiority with editors at Third Rail Press. This is a thought-provoking, uplifting conversation for both readers and writers. 00:18 Podcast Welcome And Travel Update 05:56 Host Updates And Subscriber Perks 09:03 Meet The Guest Lindsay 09:41 Lindsay’s Creative Path 15:36 Writing The Memoir Framework 17:58 Notebook One Cancer Diagnosis 19:59 Notebook Two IVF And The Embryo 21:01 Notebook Three Sydney COVID And Legal Hurdles 26:44 Letting Go And The Emotional Toll 27:53 Notebook Four Return Home And Surgery 32:27 Writing to Imogen 33:55 Transcribing and Revising 36:25 Early Readers Feedback 38:21 Querying and Developmental Edit 40:05 Third Rail Press Origin 43:36 Final Revisions and Trust 45:58 The Big Ethical Question 47:56 Family Gene Background 50:31 Keeping the Memoir Human 51:41 Holding the Finished Book 53:08 Events and Writing Community 56:51 Where to Buy and Farewell   SHOW NOTES: Writes4Women www.writes4women.com Facebook @writes4women Instagram @w4wpodcast   Lindsay Bartels Website: click here Instagram: click here   Pamela Cook www.pamelacook.com.au Facebook: click here Twitter: click here  Instagram: click here Fiction Feedback @ Writing NSW: click here   This episode produced by  Pamela Cook for Writes4Women on unceded Dharawal country.       Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/writes4women?fan_landing=true See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join host Pamela Cook on the Writes4Women Convo Couch with thia week's guest Katherine Collette. They chat about Catherine's adult novels The Helpline (2018) and The Competition (2022), plus two illustrated middle-grade books set around a small Victorian town, discuss debut publication misconceptions, second-book pressure, writing routines, using Scrivener, and spreadsheets, and a whole lot more. Catherine also reflects on what she learnt as the co-host of the popular podcast The First Time as well as her work as a writing coach. 1:43 Host Updates 03:06 Writing Projects 04:57 Courses And Community 06:48 Reading Recommendations 07:36 Meet Catherine Collette 08:47 Career Origins 09:46 Debut Reality Check 12:13 Second Book Pressure 15:06 Middle Grade Shift 15:47 Cartooning Challenge 20:13 Kids Books Marketing 23:23 Illustration Workflow 26:59 New Darker Novel 27:38 Cruise Ship Research 30:46 Writing Routine Progress 31:05 Writing Focus Limits 31:37 Daily Routine Pomodoros 32:06 Story Structure Tools 33:21 Scrivener Workflow Tips 34:15 Crime Plot Spreadsheets 35:54 Genre Hopping Pressures 37:51 Coaching Long Game 40:24 Mindset For Success 43:16 Craft Fixes Openings 48:55 Podcast Career Boost 54:36 Fast Four Wrap Up 59:55 Closing Thanks Outro     SHOW NOTES: Writes4Women www.writes4women.com Facebook @writes4women Twitter / Instagram @w4wpodcast   Katherine Collette Website: click here Instagram: click here     Pamela Cook www.pamelacook.com.au Facebook: click here Twitter: click here  Instagram: click here Fiction Feedback @ Writing NSW: click here   This episode produced by  Pamela Cook for Writes4Women on unceded Dharawal country.       Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/writes4women?fan_landing=true See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to a new season of Writes4Women! Each fortnight, On the Convo Couch will bring you author-based interviews and invite listener requests and questions. In this episode host Pamela Cook interviews bestselling Australian author Tricia Stringer, who discusses The Road Trip’s strong sales (30,000) and long tail, her upcoming novel The Paradise Resort set in the Kimberley, and her writing routine.  Tricia reflects on moving across genres, the importance of voice, managing revisions, industry changes including AI and copyright concerns, and memorable career milestones like winning the Ruby for Queen of the Road. Pam also suggests three new release books for your reading enjoyment: Five Stages of Grace by Casey Nott, The Palace of Lost Virtue by Anthea Hodgson, Out of the Blue by Penelope Janu. 00:00 Own Your Voice 00:23 Season Kickoff0 2:46 Workshops And Events 04:29 Pamela Writing Update 06:00 New Release Roundup 08:58 Meet Tricia Stringer 10:47 Welcome To The Couch 11:26 Life In Wallaroo 12:03 New Book Paradise Resort 16:39 Road Trip Success 20:11 From Kids To Romance 25:29 Finding Story Ideas 29:07 Ideas Find Their Writer 30:26 First Draft Routine 32:16 Word Counts And Consistency 35:07 Cleaner Drafts And Outside Eyes 37:16 Over Revising Fixes 40:36 Publishing Shifts And AI 44:58 Genre Pivots And Older Heroes 49:30 Milestones And Final Advice 53:20 Fast Four And Wrap Up   SHOW NOTES: Writes4Women www.writes4women.com Facebook @writes4women Twitter / Instagram @w4wpodcast   Tricia Stringer Website: click here Instagram: click here Facebook: click here   Pamela Cook www.pamelacook.com.au Facebook: click here Twitter: click here  Instagram: click here   This episode produced by  Pamela Cook for Writes4Women on unceded Dharawal country.       Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/writes4women?fan_landing=true See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pamela Cook shares a Rewind episode of Writes4Women featuring novelist Sarah Winman discussing her 2021 novel Still Life, alongside Winman’s background from acting to writing and her earlier books When God Was a Rabbit, A Year of Marvelous Ways, and Tin Man.  Winman describes how she began writing through adult education classes, found an agent, and learned to trust creative instinct. She outlines Still Life as a four-decade story beginning with a 1944 meeting in Tuscany between art historian Evelyn Skinner and soldier/globe maker Ulysses Temper, later exploring postwar London, Florence, found family, art, beauty, class, love, and unity. Inspiration came from learning about Florence’s 1966 flood and the “mud angels,” with Brexit influencing her “joy as resistance” tone. She details researching as needed, writing nonlinearly through many drafts, using ensemble viewpoints, and receiving crucial art guidance from Florentine art historian Stella Rudolph, and offers writing advice on finishing drafts, careful feedback, rereading great writers, and accepting doubt.   SHOW NOTES: Writes4Women www.writes4women.com Facebook @writes4women Twitter / Instagram @w4wpodcast   Sarah Winman Instagram: click here Facebook: click here   Pamela Cook www.pamelacook.com.au Facebook: click here Twitter: click here  Instagram: click here   This episode produced by  Pamela Cook for Writes4Women on unceded Dharawal country.       Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/writes4women?fan_landing=true See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pamela Cook introduces a Writes for Women Rewind episode featuring award-winning Victorian author Favel Parrett discussing her novel There Was Still Love, inspired by family memories and set across Czechoslovakia and Australia from 1938–1981. Parrett explains her “simple on the page, layered underneath” style built through extensive drafting (often 15 drafts per scene), using memory as non-linear snapshots, and writing in a child’s voice to preserve gaps and subtext.  The conversation covers dialogue that relies on silence and mood, weaving motifs like suitcases and food, creating embodied emotion, the intensity of a reclusive routine while writing, and Parrett’s four writing tips: focus on the work first, believe it’s possible, seek feedback at the right time, and read.   SHOW NOTES: Writes4Women www.writes4women.com Facebook @writes4women Instagram @w4wpodcast    Favel Parrett  https://www.favelparrett.com.au   Hachette Publishing "There Was Still Love"  https://www.hachette.com.au/favel-parrett/there-was-still-love   Pamela Cook www.pamelacook.com.au Facebook @pamelacookauthor Instagram @pamelacookwrites         Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/writes4women?fan_landing=true See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Writes4Women host Pamela Cook introduces a special “Rewind” edition of the Writes for Women podcast, featuring an interview with author and editor Kim Kelly.  Kim discusses realizing she was a writer as a child, her path into publishing, and how working in the industry helped her confidence and writing. She explains her approach to historical fiction—drawing inspiration from family stories and research—often beginning with character voice, then deepening research during drafting and revision. Kim talks about all aspects of writing, from inspiration to imposter syndrome, to creating, drafting and revising a story, making this the perfect episode to kick off the Rewind series.    SHOW NOTES: Writes4Women www.writes4women.com Facebook @writes4women Twitter / Instagram @w4wpodcast Kim Kelly  https://kimkellyauthor.com Facebook @KimKellyAuthor Instagram @KimKellyAuthor Pamela Cook www.pamelacook.com.au Facebook @pamelacookauthor Twitter @PamelaCookAU Instagram @pamelacookwrites   Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/writes4women?fan_landing=true See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Host Pamela Cook interviews crime writer Kate Horan, to chat about  Kate's latest release, 'On the Edge,' a compelling thriller. On the agenda is Kate's journey to becoming a writer, her experience with the Faber Academy course, and the mentorship she received from Katherine Heyman. Kate shares the inspiration behind 'The Inheritance,' her debut novel, and the complexities of returning to an earlier manuscript for 'On the Edge.' The episode also touches on the structural and character development processes, the challenges of writing, and the significance of small-town settings. Pam also important news regarding the podcast in 2026. 1:27 Pamela's Writing and Podcast News 05:59 Substack Community and Subscriber Benefits 13:30 Kate Horan's Writing Journey 23:58 The Inheritance: Inspiration and Success 27:22 On the Edge: Themes and Storyline 29:43 Elevator Pitch for the Mystery Novel 31:12 Inspiration Behind the Story 33:09 Writing Process and Character Development 34:52 Challenges and Revisions 40:56 Small Town Setting and Its Importance 44:32 Character Development Techniques 48:00 Balancing Writing with Life 48:52 Promotion and Marketing Strategies 51:52 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Events SHOW NOTES: Writes4Women www.writes4women.com Facebook @writes4women Substack: https://writes4women.substack.com/   Kate Horan Website: click here Instagram: click here   Pamela Cook www.pamelacook.com.au Facebook: click here Twitter: click here  Instagram: click here   This episode produced by Pamela Cook for Writes4Women on unceded Dharawal Country.           Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/writes4women?fan_landing=true See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OUT NOW — New Episode! Host PMELA COOK sits down with author KATHARINE POLLOCK for a smart, candid and joyfully nerdy conversation about creativity, fandom, rejection, resilience and the winding road to publication — from PhD manuscript to debut, and now her latest novel Starry-Eyed. They dive into writing craft, comedy, character development, confidence, comparison, and surviving the emotional rollercoaster of the publishing world, with warmth, wit and honesty for writers at any stage of the journey. #writes4women #writingpodcast #australianauthors #femalewriters #booklaunch #authorslife #amwriting #writingcommunity #fictionwriters #booksbooksbooks Timestamps:  [00:00] Finding creative community & weathering rejection[01:59] Early writing memories & first sparks[04:52] Studying writing — Honours to PhD[07:02] Turning academic work into a debut novel[16:00] From manuscript to Penguin Random House[21:36] Writing Starry-Eyed: fandom, obsession & humour[30:11] Craft, character growth & mother-daughter complexity[40:14] Publication, promotion & lessons learned[41:45] A new book in the works — nearly 60K words in SHOW NOTES: Writes4Women www.writes4women.com Facebook @writes4women Substack: https://writes4women.substack.com/   Katherine Pollock Website: click here Instagram: click here   Pamela Cook www.pamelacook.com.au Facebook: click here Twitter: click here  Instagram: click here   This episode produced by Pamela Cook for Writes4Women on unceded Dharawal Country.           Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/writes4women?fan_landing=true See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Writes for Women, host Pamela Cook interviews Melbourne-based author Brooke Crawford about her debut novel, 'Better Than The Real Thing.' Brooke shares her journey to becoming a published author, which began after her 40th birthday and was accelerated during the COVID-19 lockdown. They discuss her writing process, the development of her relatable characters, and the support cast that enriches her romcom storyline. Brooke also talks about the significance of the settings in St. Kilda and London, and how these locations are integral to the story. Additionally, she provides insights into her research process and the challenges of balancing serious themes with a romantic-comedy tone. As Brooke prepares for the book's release, she reflects on the editing process and her experience working with HQ Harper Collins. Looking ahead, she offers a glimpse into her next writing project, set in England's Lake District. This episode provides valuable advice for aspiring authors and celebrates the release of a heartfelt and humorous novel. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction and Acknowledgements 00:45 Meet Brooke Crawford 01:36 Brooke's Writing Journey 04:59 The Impact of COVID and Turning 40 06:49 Writing Process and Challenges 14:41 Character Development 21:29 Setting the Scene: St. Kilda and London 23:13 Exploring the Book's Settings 24:21 Weaving Backstories and Balancing Tones 27:10 Research and Expert Consultation 30:04 The Journey to Publication 34:06 Editing and Feedback Process 35:46 Cover Design and Title Change 38:14 Preparing for the Book Launch 41:11 Sneak Peek into the Second Book 42:43 Conclusion and Final Thoughts   SHOW NOTES: Writes4Women www.writes4women.com Facebook @writes4women Substack: https://writes4women.substack.com/   Brooke Crawford Website: click here Instagram: click here   Pamela Cook www.pamelacook.com.au Facebook: click here Twitter: click here  Instagram: click here   This episode produced by Pamela Cook for Writes4Women on unceded Dharawal Country.         Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/writes4women?fan_landing=true See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OUT NOW - A very special episode!! Host Pamela Cook sits down with authors Alli Sinclair and Michelle Barraclough for a lively chat about what writers can learn from Taylor Swift — from the art of emotional honesty and lyrical precision to the genius of bridges, Easter eggs, and reinvention. They dive into Taylor’s storytelling craft, her bold business choices, and how her evolution as an artist mirrors the creative journey of writers everywhere. Expect fangirling, craft talk, and plenty of inspiration for finding your own rhythm in writing and life.   Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction & Acknowledgement of Country[03:00] Podcast updates, Substack perks, and upcoming guests[07:00] Meet the guests: Alli Sinclair & Michelle Barraclough[09:00] Taylor Swift’s storytelling genius[14:00] What makes us Swifties — music, emotion & connection[18:00] Emotional honesty in writing[22:00] Conciseness and the art of lyricism[26:00] Storytelling lessons from Folklore and Evermore[31:00] The bridge as a turning point — parallels in fiction[38:00] Literary and pop-culture references in songwriting[43:00] The art of light and shade in storytelling[46:00] Easter eggs, foreshadowing, and narrative payoff[54:00] Owning your creative rights — lessons from “Taylor’s Version”[59:00] Branding, authenticity, and community-building[1:04:00] Evolution, work ethic, and writing inspiration[1:07:00] Wrap-up and bonus chat preview   SHOW NOTES: Writes4Women www.writes4women.com Facebook @writes4women Substack: https://writes4women.substack.com/   Alli Sinclair Website : click here Facebook: click here Instagram: click here   Michelle Barraclough Fresh Web Design: click here Michelle Barraclough: Click here Writers' Book Club Podcast: click here Facebook: click here Instagram: click here   Pamela Cook www.pamelacook.com.au Facebook: click here Twitter: click here  Instagram: click here   This episode produced by Pamela Cook for Writes4Women on unceded Dharawal Country.         Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/writes4women?fan_landing=true See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.