Secrets from the Green Room (2024)

19/07/2024

Irma has recently signed a contract for her second novel, Shift, and Karen has signed a shopping contract (for film/TV) on her most recent novel, Sidelines, so they chat all things contracts. Lots of useful advice for writers facing the contracts stage.

The Book Cow - Kingston Marion Writers Writers Victoria Irma Gold Karen Viggers Books

17/07/2024

Karen and Irma chat about the ins and outs of contracts.

Then Irma talks to Hilde Hinton about the way her work polarises people, how an argument with her brother (actor Samuel Johnson) led to her first novel, why Lego is an important part of her writing process, how novels can make space for important conversations about big topics like mental illness and su***de through joy rather than the sadness, how AI has revolutionised the way she researches, the ways in which writing her debut changed her feelings about her mother, why she formulated a three-book plan (and pulled it off), and how eating milk bottle lollies with Tony Birch in a green room led to a watershed moment.

Listen here on Apple (or wherever you get your pods): https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/season-5-episode-47-hilde-hinton/id1540540062?i=1000662402224

Hilde Hinton Hachette Australia Books The Book Cow - Kingston Marion Writers Writers Victoria Karen Viggers Books Irma Gold

12/07/2024

If you’ve ever wondered about the judging process behind literary awards our latest ep with Beejay Silcox, judge of The Stella Prize, is for you!

Listen on Apple here (or wherever you get your pods): https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/secrets-from-the-green-room/id1540540062

The Stella Prize Marion Writers The Book Cow - Kingston Writers Victoria Karen Viggers Books Irma Gold

10/07/2024

If you haven’t listened to our latest ep yet you MUST! Beejay Silcox is so thoughtful and honest across a range of topics that are relevant to every writer.

Listen on Apple here (or wherever you get your pods): https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/secrets-from-the-green-room/id1540540062

The Book Cow - Kingston Writers Victoria Marion Writers The Stella Prize Canberra Writers Festival Irma Gold Karen Viggers - Author

08/07/2024

In our latest ep, Beejay Silcox talks about judging the Stella Prize. Fascinating insights into the processes of deciding who is shortlisted and how the winner is chosen.

Listen on Apple here (or wherever you get your pods): https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/secrets-from-the-green-room/id1540540062

The Book Cow - Kingston Marion Writers Writers Victoria Karen Viggers Books Irma Gold The Stella Prize

06/07/2024

In our latest ep, Beejay Silcox has many insightful things to say about our writing, publishing and critiquing culture. Such a thoughtful, interesting, not-to-be-missed conversation with Karen

Listen on Apple here (or wherever you get your pods): https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/secrets-from-the-green-room/id1540540062

Karen Viggers Books Irma Gold The Book Cow - Kingston Marion Writers Writers Victoria

02/07/2024

In our latest ep critic, prize judge and Director of the Canberra Writers Festival speaks frankly about Australia’s critiquing culture.

Listen on Apple here (or wherever you get your pods): https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/secrets-from-the-green-room/id1540540062

The Book Cow - Kingston Writers Victoria Marion Writers Karen Viggers Books Irma Gold

30/06/2024

We’re back with a new season and so much good news! We’re so grateful to our sponsor, The Book Cow Bookshop, and MARION Writers, which has supported us right from the start. Now we’re delighted to add another supporter in Writers Victoria. Karen is pictured here with Director Julie Skate, and the smiles say it all. So great to have them on board!

Writers Victoria Marion Writers The Book Cow - Kingston Karen Viggers Books Irma Gold

26/06/2024

NEW EP!

Irma and Karen reveal exciting new partnerships with Ubud Writers and Readers Festival and Writers Victoria.

Then Karen chats with Beejay Silcox about literary criticism in Australia – what good critics endeavour to do, the blowback from a tough review, what is lacking in Australian criticism, the impact of shrinking page space, the inability to make a sustainable career out of criticism, and her deep regret over one particular review. And then on judging the Stella Prize – how the process works, the role of chair and how the panel is selected, how a shortlist and then a winner is decided, and the alchemy of a strong process.

Listen on Apple or wherever you get your podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/secrets-from-the-green-room/id1540540062

Ubud Writers & Readers Festival Writers Victoria Marion Writers The Book Cow - Kingston The Stella Prize Canberra Writers Festival Karen Viggers Books Irma Gold

04/06/2024

W***y Lit Fest is coming up on June 14-16 at Williamstown near Melbourne. I'm delighted to be participating in two sessions. The first, I've already mentioned, is a session with Irma Gold that gives you a bird's eye view into our Secrets from the Green Room podcast.
And the second is a session about traditional v self-publishing: the pros and cons with Alison Stuart, Sasha Cottman and Quinton Li.
Here are bookings links:

SELF V TRAD PUBLISHING
https://www.willylitfest.org.au/session/should-you-self-publish-or-publishing-in-the-21st-century/

PODCAST SECRETS
https://www.willylitfest.org.au/session/on-podcasting/

Allen & Unwin Books

31/05/2024

Australian picture books are doing bold, brave things and creating a space for adults to have important conversations about big and hard emotions and issues. In our latest ep children’s book creators Andrea Rowe and Anna Walker talk about why picture books are so important for everyone.

This is a brilliant ep for parents, teachers, carers and picture book creators, emerging or otherwise.

Listen on Apple here (or wherever you get your pods): https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/secrets-from-the-green-room/id1540540062

Marion Writers The Book Cow - Kingston Karen Viggers Books Irma Gold Andrea Rowe Writer Hardie Grant Books Anna Walker Books

24/05/2024

How do you handle feedback? In our latest ep author-illustrator superstar Anna Walker says she’s got better at it over time. No more tears in the boardroom

Listen on Apple here (or wherever you get your pods): https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/secrets-from-the-green-room/id1540540062

Marion Writers The Book Cow - Kingston Irma Gold Karen Viggers Books Anna Walker Books Andrea Rowe Writer

22/05/2024

In our latest ep we talk to incredible children’s book creators Anna Walker and Andrea Rowe. Andrea describes the magical experience of seeing your words brought to life by an illustrator, and both have so much advice for writers wanting to publish books for kids.

Listen on Apple here (or wherever you get your pods): https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/secrets-from-the-green-room/id1540540062

Andrea Rowe Writer Anna Walker Books Marion Writers The Book Cow - Kingston Karen Viggers Books Irma Gold

17/05/2024

Can we get a hallelujah?!

After years of procrastination, Irma has recently jumped on the Scrivener bandwagon and turned evangelist. In this ep she tries to convince Karen to join her.

If you don’t know what Scrivener is, listen up!

If you already use and love Scrivener, enjoy head-nodding along!

If you’ve been avoiding Scrivener like the plague, prepare to be converted!

(Also, third pic is The Face author Eliza Henry Jones sent Irma to ensure she signed up for Scrivener. All is explained on the pod!)

Listen on Apple here (or wherever you get your pods): https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/secrets-from-the-green-room/id1540540062

Marion Writers The Book Cow - Kingston Karen Viggers Books Irma Gold Natasha Lester - Author

15/05/2024

💚 NEW EP! 💚

Irma chats to children’s creators Anna Walker and Andrea Rowe about how authors and illustrators work together (or don’t!), why illustrator notes are a no-no, the profound impact of picture books on both adults and children, the biggest mistakes that new writers and illustrators make, what to expect from the editing and publishing process, how to network and build connections in the industry, the effects of crippling self-doubt, why we should all be library lurkers, the failures of literary festivals in relation to children’s authors, the devastating impact of a public complaint on Andrea’s debut book, and why Anna jetted off to New York for a publishing lunch.

Listen on Apple here (or wherever you get your pods): https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/secrets-from-the-green-room/id1540540062

Anna Walker Books Andrea Rowe Writer Marion Writers The Book Cow - Kingston Karen Viggers Books Irma Gold

10/05/2024

I’m our latest ep Kris Kneen talks about going into dark, hard places with memoir. Lots of excellent advice for anyone writing in this form.

Listen on Apple here (or wherever you get your pods): https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/secrets-from-the-green-room/id1540540062

Krissy Kneen Marion Writers The Book Cow - Kingston Karen Viggers Books Irma Gold

03/05/2024

S*x scenes are notoriously difficult to write but Kris Kneen is well-known for their erotic fiction. In our latest ep they talk about how to nail writing s*x and the body.

Listen on Apple here (or wherever you get your pods): https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/secrets-from-the-green-room/id1540540062

Krissy Kneen Marion Writers The Book Cow - Kingston Karen Viggers Books Irma Gold

30/04/2024

Can you relate to falling in love with a new idea? In our latest ep Kris Kneen talks about how they follow the energy, chasing only ideas that excite them. Fascinating insights into their creative process.

Listen on Apple here (or wherever you get your pods): https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/secrets-from-the-green-room/id1540540062

Krissy Kneen Karen Viggers Books Marion Writers The Book Cow - Kingston Irma Gold

24/04/2024

Irma and Karen discuss author websites. Then Karen chats with Kris Kneen about writing into deeply uncomfortable spaces and confronting issues like fatness and identity, how to write s*x well, why they’re always switching up genres, how to deal with disappointment over missing out on awards, why they almost gave up writing entirely, and the moment that changed their life.
The Book Cow - Kingston
Marion Writers
Irma Gold
Karen Viggers Books
LISTEN HERE:

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/secrets-from-the-green-room/id1540540062?i=1000653383434

21/04/2024

In our latest ep Karen has great fun chatting to Diana Reid about how writing scripts has informed the way she works as a novelist and her approach to being edited, what it was like to be thrown into the spotlight with her bestselling debut novel, how its extraordinary success affected her, advice on how to handle publicity interviews, why writing her second novel was so much harder, how she feels about being called Australia’s Sally Rooney, why COVID was such a positive time for her as a writer, and how the first time she met Helen Garner she was so overwhelmed she began sobbing uncontrollably.

Listen on Apple here (or wherever you get your pods): https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/secrets-from-the-green-room/id1540540062

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19/04/2024

In our latest ep Diana Reid has excellent advice on how to handle interviews. Karen and Irma also add their two cents.

Listen on Apple here (or wherever you get your pods): https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/secrets-from-the-green-room/id1540540062

Ultimo Press Marion Writers The Book Cow - Kingston Karen Viggers Books Irma Gold

13/04/2024

In our latest ep internationally bestselling author Diana Reid talks about how comparing yourself to others combined with imposter syndrome is a toxic mix. We loved her raw honesty in this chat — so much invaluable stuff for creatives.

Listen on Apple here (or wherever you get your pods): https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/secrets-from-the-green-room/id1540540062

Ultimo Press Irma Gold Karen Viggers Books Marion Writers The Book Cow - Kingston

04/04/2024

💚NEW EP💚

Irma and Karen talk about prepping for radio interviews.

Then Karen chats to Diana Reid about how writing scripts has informed the way she works as a novelist and her approach to being edited, what it was like to be thrown into the spotlight with her bestselling debut novel, how its extraordinary success affected her, advice on how to handle publicity interviews, why writing her second novel was so much harder, how she feels about being called Australia’s Sally Rooney, why COVID was such a positive time for her as a writer, and how the first time she met Helen Garner she was so overwhelmed she began sobbing uncontrollably.

Ultimo Press Karen Viggers Books Marion Writers The Book Cow - Kingston Irma Gold

29/03/2024

In our latest ep with Peter Papathanasiou we talk a lot about rejection and how you pick yourself up and keep going. He’s faced a huge number of setbacks, and now a huge number of successes, including a film deal that he brokered himself. Excellent listening for your Easter long weekend.

Listen on Apple here (or wherever you get your pods): https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/secrets-from-the-green-room/id1540540062?i=1000648964533

Marion Writers The Book Cow - Kingston Karen Viggers Books Irma Gold

Peter Papathanasiou Writer

23/03/2024

In our latest ep Peter Papathanasiou talks about how he picked himself up after being dropped by two agents and being rejected over 100 times before going onto to become a successful crime author in both Australia and the UK. This is one for every writer who needs to be fortified against rejection. (Isn’t that all of us?)

Listen here on Apple (or wherever you get your pods): https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/secrets-from-the-green-room/id1540540062?i=1000648964533

Peter Papathanasiou Writer Irma Gold Karen Viggers Books Marion Writers The Book Cow - Kingston

16/03/2024

In our latest ep Karen and Irma chat about point of view and writing from multiple perspectives. Here Karen is talking over the overarching narrative arc, and those of the individual characters, hence the big sweeping arm! Meaty topic, but always plenty of laughter too.

Listen here on Apple (or wherever you get your pods): https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/secrets-from-the-green-room/id1540540062?i=1000648964533

.gold

14/03/2024

💚NEW EP💚

Irma chats with crime author Peter Papathanasiou about his very long and convoluted journey to publication, how his debut was rejected by 100 agents and took 10 years to get published, why his goal was to get published in the UK first and advice for other writers about how to do the same, how he successfully pitched his own book for screen, the challenges of the book-to-screen process, the devastating impact of being dropped by two agents and then picking himself back up again, and how specialising in law has helped him write crime fiction.

Listen on Apple here (or wherever you get your pods): https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/secrets-from-the-green-room/id1540540062?i=1000648964533

Pete Papathanasiou Marion Writers The Book Cow - Kingston Karen Viggers Books Irma Gold

09/03/2024

In our latest ep poet Melinda Smith debunks the myth.

Listen on Apple here (or wherever you get your pods): https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/secrets-from-the-green-room/id1540540062?i=1000646176788

Melinda Smith Poet The Book Cow - Kingston Marion Writers Karen Viggers Books Irma Gold

08/03/2024

Our latest ep with poet Melinda Smith is such a warm and open and honest conversation that covers so much ground — everything from TikTok for writers to how to successfully apply for grants.

Listen here (or wherever you get your pods): https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/secrets-from-the-green-room/id1540540062?i=1000646176788

Melinda Smith Poet Marion Writers The Book Cow - Kingston Karen Viggers Books Irma Gold

01/03/2024

In our latest ep with Melinda Smith she gives comprehensive, detailed, AMAZING advice about applying for grants. Any creative out there thinking of applying for a grant of any kind should get on this immediately!

Listen on Apple here (or wherever you get your pods): https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/secrets-from-the-green-room/id1540540062?i=1000646176788

Marion Writers The Book Cow - Kingston Karen Viggers Books Irma Gold Melinda Smith Poet

Secrets from the Green Room