Rochelle Smith, director of the Word for Word Non-Fiction Festival, talks about this year’s program Life, Changing and explores the relationship between literature and non-fiction writing; and Australian cultural historian, essayist and novelist…
Miles Franklin Award-winning novelist Sofie Laguna talks about her new novel Infinite Splendours, and performance poet Andi Stewart joins the show to talk about Word Travels’ Story Week, an online, week-long event…
Jane Harper, award-winning author of The Dry, has written a new novel, The Survivors. Described by one critic as “yet another perfectly balanced, finely honed, deliciously atmospheric thriller”, it is a…
Author Robert Dessaix chats about his latest book, The Time of Our Lives: Growing Older Well, a reflective journey across the landscape of growing older and the importance of cultivating a rich inner…
Tegan Bennett Daylight discusses her new book, The Details: On Love, Death and Reading, a collection of essays that examines the connections we form with literature and, in turn, with each other…
Yarra Plenty Regional Library librarian Patrick Jovaras talks about coordinating this year’s YPRL Booklovers Festival and making the In The Good Books podcast, and the challenges and joys of getting books into the…
Author Kate Mildenhall talks about her latest novel, The Mother Fault and her new project about writing, writers and books,The First Time Podcast, co-hosted by Katherine Collette. And writer Lia Hills…
Author Jock Serong talks about his latest novel, The Burning Island, the follow up to his critically acclaimed thriller Preservation; and novelist Laura Elizabeth Woollett chats about her essay ‘Award Rate’…
Editor, Michael Mohammed Ahmad and contributor, Kaya Ortiz Lattimore, discuss After Australia, a new essay anthology that features twelve Indigenous writers and writers of colour exploring the world we are handing down…
Victoria Hannan talks about her debut novel Kokomo, a story of estrangement from kin, friendship, love, self and country; and Jess Hill, author of the award winning See What You Made Me…
Robbie Arnott joins Backstory to discuss his second novel, The Rain Heron, an allegorical, cautionary tale which has been described as “a journey into a perilous world where the horror of human…
Mia Walsch’s new book, Something For Nothing, has been described as a ‘captivatingly honest memoir about surviving, sex work, friendships, drugs, mental illness and need’. In this long form interview, Mia discusses…
Author Kate Grenville talks about her latest book, A Room Made of Leaves, a work of historical fiction that questions how and by whom our histories get constructed and reconstructed; and poet, educator…
Author K.M. Kruimink talks about winning the Vogel Award for her debut novel, A Treacherous Country, and Caro Llewellyn, the newly appointed CEO of Melbourne’s The Wheeler Centre, discusses what she hopes…
Novelist Chris Flynn talks about his new novel Mammoth, which is narrated by a 13,000-year-old extinct mammoth; and Sarah Walker speaks about her essay on the loss of a parent, in the latest…
Author James Bradley talks about his new novel Ghost Stories, and librarian and author Sarah Schmidt tells us about Yarra Plenty Regional library’s book valet service, matching readers of all ages to…
Editors Evelyn Araluen and Jonathan Dunk discuss the upcoming issue of Overland literary journal which aims to bring the focus of the journal back to its radical roots while engaging with contemporary provocations…
Author Pip Williams chats about her new novel ‘The Dictionary of Lost Words’; and Matilda Dixon-Smith talks about her serialised rom-com ‘The Broken Heart Brigade’.
Author Alice Williams chats about her self-help memoir 'Bad Yogi'; and playwright Hannie Rayson talks about being the Festival Programmer for this weekend’s Yarra Valley Writers Festival.
Ronnie Scott talks about his new novel The Adversary, and Anna Spargo-Ryan discusses what led to the publication of her essay A Conspiracy of Witches, out now in the latest issue of Meanjin…
Sophie Hardcastle talks about her novel Below The Deck, and writer Jane Rawson from Read Tasmania talks about the #LockdownReadingGroup. Jane also shares her 'Comfort Reads.' 'Meet Us for Launch' celebrates Thrill Me…
Mel catches up with Anna Blackie, author of How to Adult: A Guide To Not Being A Trash Human And Other Life Lessons and chats to singer-songwriter Nicola Watson, whose album Welcome to…
Literary critic turned poet Thuy On talks about her debut, Turbulence, a collection of poetry that explores loss, separation, renewal; and writer Wayne Marshall talks about Shirl, his collection of stories. Plus new…
Author and journalist Liam Pieper chats about his latest book, Sweetness and Light. Set in India, Liam says he wanted to tell a modern, subversive story about a vast and varied country…
Backstory host Mel Cranenburgh and author Donna Ward share an extended chat about Donna's memoir, She I Dare Not Name: A spinster's meditations on life, 'a compelling collection of fiercely intelligent, deeply…
Mel Cranenburgh is joined by Mandy Beaumont, author of Wild, Fearless Chests (published by Hatchette), 'a timely debut short story collection that breaks open the idea of women from a powerful new…
Mel talks to author Laura McPhee-Browne about her debut book, Cherry Beach, described by one critic as 'an acute and gripping novel about being made and unmade by first love'. Mel's…
Host Mel Cranenburgh returns for 2020 and her first guest is Ursula Dubosarsky, children’s author and recently annointed 2020–21 Australian Children’s Laureate.
Mel is then joined by Kamilaroi water scientist, Bradley Moggridge and…
Mel Cranenburgh and Beth AQ team up for this special Backstory/Glasshouse extravaganza marking the final show for each program in 2019. They are joined by author Favel Parrett to discuss her latest book…
Helen Garner has a well established reputation as one of Australia’s best writers. A novelist, short-story writer, screenwriter and journalist, Helen’s work spans fiction, non-fiction and reportage. Her latest book, Yellow Notebook Volume…
Jane Sullivan, author of Storytime, joins Mel Cranenburgh to discuss her latest book where she takes readers from Wonderland to Narnia; is enchanted by Winnie-the-Pooh and the Magic Pudding, amazed by Enid…
Mel is joined by Curtis Sittenfeld, the acclaimed New York based author of Eligible, Sisterland and American Wife. Her latest publication, You Think It, I’ll Say It, is a collection of short stories…
Word for Word is Australia’s only non-fiction writing festival. It’s a unique annual literary event showcasing non-fiction writing in all its many facets and forms with world-renowned writers, dynamic panel discussions and “in…
Acclaimed author Elliot Pearlman joins Mel Cranenburgh to discuss his latest novel, Maybe The Horse Will Talk, a searing but darkly funny look at the vicissitudes of life inside corporate capitalism in the…
Author, editor and publisher, Hilary McPhee, joins Mel Cranenburgh to discuss her new memoir Other People’s Houses. Fleeing the aftermath of a failed marriage, Hilary began the project in the Middle East where…
Mel Cranenburgh chats to author Anna Krien. Anna's latest release, Act of Grace, is a meditation on inheritance: the damage that one generation passes on to the next, and the potential for…
Francesca Rendle-Short, Michele Lee and Rajith Savanadasa join Mel Cranenburgh to talk about The Near and The Far, Volume II: more stories from the Asia-Pacific region.
Josephine Rowe’s, Here Until August, is a selection of superbly crafted stories follow the fates of characters who, by choice or by force, are travelling beyond the boundaries of their known worlds. Josephine…
Meg Mundell is a New Zealand-born writer and academic based in Melbourne. Her first novel, Black Glass, was shortlisted for two Aurealis Awards, the Barbara Jefferis Award and the Norma K. Hemming…
