Advertise on podcast: In The Good Books with Luke Bateman

Prepare for a peek inside the one-of-a-kind mind behind some of the most seriously kid-approved stories ever! In this episode, record-breaking and internationally bestselling children’s author and Australian Children’s Laureate Andy Griffiths shares: How telling neighborhood kids fibs about his bath time led to his love of storytelling How his path to being an author first led to teaching and punk-rock Why iconic children's stories like Hansel & Gretel have a special blend of horror and humour The 5 Essential Elements of Children's Fiction How Andy still listens closely to his inner ten year old Andy's mission as Australian Children’s Laureate to defend endangered school libraries and rebuild long-form focus in a screen-obsessed world. How all his books (including his latest You and Me and the Gigantic Knucklehead) are always true stories (even if nothing true happens in them) How absurd, uninhibited play is the key to imagination and creativity for anyone And much much more.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Luke becomes acquainted with this regency romance classic, with it themes, characters and moments, and what they all have to show us about modern romance today. Stay connected on our socials:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/inthegoodbooks_podcast/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@inthegoodbooks_podcast  Thanks to Hachette - for the list of their expert readalikes for Pride and Prejudice and other Good Book Club picks, go to https://www.hachette.com.au/news/in-the-good-books  and for more, visit www.hachette.com.au See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Luke is joined by Shen Tao, the brilliant debut author behind The Poet Empress—a novel Luke proudly declares as his favorite book of the year so far!  But despite being a debut, it was far from Shen's first work. In fact, as she reveals, there were many unpublished books before it... Shen details exactly what made The Poet Empress different, the breakthrough that allowed its first four chapters to "flow like water," how dark themes of forbidden female literacy and systemic corruption shaped the narrative, and how ancient Chinese philosophy and different views of masculinity helped humanise her complex antagonists. Plus, she reveals the books that most influence her life, and why writing to her is a true form of magic. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From relentless research, to battling book bans, to a career of 30 bestsellers and counting, Jodi Picoult is a literary force unlike any other. In this conversation, Luke and Jodi trace her journey from reading at three years old and surviving over 100 agent rejections (and getting the ultimate petty revenge decades later) to the eerie 10-word postcard that inspired her new book, Hollow Bones, and a peek into what she's working on next. Jodi pulls back the curtain on her creative process—explaining the "tornado" moment when a book’s first line finally touches down, and the deeply personal reasons behind the big topics she chooses to explore. Jodi also pulls zero punches on culture and society, exposing the infuriating inadequacies within women's healthcare, the true political motive behind censorship in schools, and her hot take on why she 'calls BS' on William Shakespeare. Complete with warm reflections on her legacy, this episode is a masterclass in craft, courage, and conviction. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sydney-based author Joshua Hortinella, after becoming beloved in the book industry for over a decade, has just penned Hate You to Love You, one of the most vibrant romance debuts of the year. Josh spills wild behind-the-scenes secrets of bookselling—including the joys of stocking, heartwarming customer interactions, and mysterious boxes. He opens up about how queer representation helped him overcoming feeling like a "side character" in his own life, shares the emotional highs and lows of writing enemies-to-lovers dynamics, how his book was an accidental love letter, and why holding it for the first time was an experience so powerful he almost had a panic attack.  But most of all, Josh shares his deep love for love itself, including rom-com nostalgia and why queer literature is for everyone, along with his top three recommendations for jus that topic... along with the book he is drawn to read every single winter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A pre-birth prophecy, a contrarian relationship to fear that pushes her toward her deepest discomforts, and years spent studying both the stars and the greatest monsters of our imaginations alike. These aren't the notes of a fictional character - this is the lore of V.E Schwab herself!   In this incredibly candid interview, she tells Luke all about it, along with illuminating insights into her writing philosophy and her most loved works, including: How The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue contains her most personal character ever (that's not Addie!) How Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil explores not only her favourite monster, but one of her favourite themes  How she had the end to her her upcoming novel Victorious, the finale in her Villains Trilogy, from the very start - and exactly what we can expect from it.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are few more beloved voices in fantasy writing than Australia's own Garth Nix - with Luke accounting for a fair share of that love himself. Here, the two finally sit down to discuss Garth's hesitant awakening as a writer, his process of using 'bad maps' to great novels, how his landmark work Sabriel was originally intended to be very different, his latest venture (and adventure) into science fiction with Massif - and even why he thinks that if he weren't a writer, he might well be in jail! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Luke dives into his own personal "Good Book": Raymond E. Feist's fantasy classic, Magician. From picking up a paperback copy fresh out of rehab, to examining how Pug and Tomas's journeys inspired his own path to recovery, Luke shares why this epic story changed his life—and analyzes what it’s like to come back to it now. Stay connected on our socials:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/inthegoodbooks_podcast/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@inthegoodbooks_podcast  Thanks to Hachette - for the list of their expert readalikes for Magician and other Good Book Club picks, go to https://www.hachette.com.au/news/in-the-good-books  and for more, visit www.hachette.com.au See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Luke is joined by Em Rusciano—the powerhouse singer, comedian, author, broadcaster, podcaster and more—for an uninhibited, laugh-out-loud, and deeply honest conversation about midlife awakenings, the transformative power of putting yourself first and the liberating world of spicy romance novels. Em opens up about her love for literary smut and why bookstores urgently need a dedicated "middle-aged horn aisle". She retells how ADHD and autism influenced her reading, why books were a safe-haven, overcoming dyslexia, and turning personal trauma into her raw autobiography, 'Blood, Sweat and Glitter'. Em also shares the hilarity and liberation of stepping into her single era in her 40s, dating younger men, and why her stand-up show Addicted to Love is a rallying cry for women to stop sacrificing themselves for others and finally choose their own happiness. For tour dates and tickets head here: https://emrusciano.com/addicted-to-love/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liane Moriarty, author of mega best-sellers Big Little Lies, Nine Perfect Strangers and more, joins Luke in the studio for a candid, hilarious, and insightful conversation on her writing process, career origin story, and long-awaited return to her most famous literary world. In this episode, Liane opens up about growing up in a story-obsessed household of six kids—where her dad funded her earliest writing efforts—and reveals how a sudden flash of sibling envy over her sister's debut novel finally kicked her own multi-million-copy career into gear. She offers a fascinating look into Big Little Truths, her new book and first-ever sequel, sharing how Hollywood adaptations subtly reshaped how she visualized her own characters, like Nicole Kidman's Celeste, and the unique pressure of writing characters ten years later. Plus, she reveals how even after all this time and all those copies sold, she sometimes still has to trick herself to write (using some very ornate equipment), and why her fans are her biggest source of joy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You wouldn't expect constructing a crime thriller to be a time of laughter and healing after a tragic loss. But that's exactly what it was for Matt Nable. In this conversation, the multi-talented ex-sport star, actor and author talks about why writing is his biggest love above all, the encouragement another legendary Australian writer gave him that changed everything, the moment he felt safe revealing his creativity to his fellow footy-mates, everything that went into crafting his latest book Mire. Find more of Matt's books here: https://www.hachette.com.au/matt-nable Thanks to Hachette Australia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The episode that proves that you SHOULD meet your heroesLuke is joined by Peter V. Brett, the acclaimed writer behind the Demon Cycle, a fantasy series destined to one of Luke's favourites from the moment he picked it up at 13. In this raw and far-ranging chat, Luke gets to express just how much Peter's work has meant to him, and explore the incredible impact that fantasy can have as a whole.Peter retells the beginnings of his career, from the many manuscripts that will never see the light of day, to writing his breakthrough on his phone on the subway to his day job, the breakthough, all he learned along the way- and even a peek at what's next. He explains how witnessing the 9/11 attacks in New York inspired his written world, how he deliberately aims for his works to make his readers more empathetic, the importance of representation, what true literary heroes really look like, and the incredible power fantasy has to empower us and help us find belonging. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prepare to be immersed in the times and lives of history in the most sweeping epic of Maggie O'Farrell's career yet.  In this episode, Luke breaks down the lyrical, poetry-like prose and perspective-shifting narrative while exploring the story's rich tapestry of 19th-century Irish history, complex family dynamics, and the resonances he himself found with the stories vivid characters.  How do the hardships of the past shape who we are? Can forcing ourselves to slow down help us truly step into another person's shoes? What does it mean to deeply belong to a place that outlasts all human attempts to own or alter it? What are your thoughts? Let us know and have your voice notes featured on the podcast: email [email protected]. Stay connected on our socials:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/inthegoodbooks_podcast/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@inthegoodbooks_podcast  Thanks to Hachette - for the list of their expert readalikes for Land and other Good Book Club picks, go to https://www.hachette.com.au/news/in-the-good-books  and for more, visit www.hachette.com.au See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What books do young boys really want to read? Scott Stuart, a passionate children's author and advocate for inclusive stories, joins Luke to reveal the surprising truths about gender bias in reading, how to break free from it, and the simple (and often joyful) acts that can ignite lifelong love of reading - even for reluctant boys.You'll learn how to model reading as a parent, the importance of diverse voices, and the power of engaging with children’s interests, whether it be Disney or sports. Scott shares inspiring stories about on-the-ground literacy efforts, from author visits to library access disparities, illustrating the broader social impact of promoting inclusivity in literature.And you'll hear about his response to censorship controversies - including having his books criminalised and called out by Donald Trump - how it only encouraged him to continue challenging societal norms and trying to create a safer, more welcoming, more empathetic and inclusive world for our kids.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it really take to breathe life into a bestseller? To make another time come alive? To place us into a polyphony of perspectives? In this candid conversation, acclaimed author Maggie O’Farrell joins Luke Bateman to unpack her extraordinary life story and highly intuitive creative process. From surviving a life-altering childhood illness at age eight that forced her to re-learn basic motor skills and embrace reading (and re-reading), to inspirations and insights into her most acclaimed works such as Hamnet, Land and The Marriage Portrait, and why Irish culture is uniquely built for storytelling.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.