Gabriel Bergmoser is a playwright, author, screenwriter & international Emmy award winner. His latest novel, The Hunted, is set for release in 2020 & already in active development in Hollywood. In conversation we discuss Gabe's creative journey from stage to page, the costs of early success, & take a very personal dive into the doubts & delusions of pursuing a creative life. Gabe is a founding member of the Bitten By Theatre Company & author of the previously published...

Author Sarah Bailey's international breakout debut 'The Dark Lake' garnered major awards and global praise, introducing tortured protagonist Detective Gemma Woodstock to the world of crime fiction. With the recent release of Sarah's proposed final book in the Woodstock series, 'Where the Dead Go', Sarah joins the show to discuss the attraction and challenges of writing a selfish female lead; the deliberate narrative drivers of grief and guilt; the influence of a life in advertising; and the...

With a Sydney dominated by sly grog , street gangs, and the nation's security services infiltrated by soviet spies, the reality of Australia's 'patriotic' response to World War Two doesn't match the war memorial view. Authors Michael Duffy and Nick Hordern have delved into the truth of our war effort in their new non-fiction work World War Noir, a follow up to the highly regarded Sydney Noir. In conversation, Nick Hordern discusses the influence and importance of the many criminals and spies...

Tony Cavanaugh is one of Australia's most successful television screenwriters and the author of the highly acclaimed Darian Richards thrillers. His latest novel Blood River features the hunt, catch and conviction of an alleged serial killer, questioning what happens when they're due for release after serving a 'life sentence'. Heavily informed by real-life crime events and trials, including the injustice of Lindy Chamberlain, Tony is extremely candid about what drove him to tell this story....

Launched to the world in 1941, Wonder Woman has been an icon and inspiration for millions, surviving supervillains and poor characterisation in equal measure. Recently, she has returned to global dominance and dignity via the work of superstar comic book artist Nicola Scott. In conversation, we explore Wonder Woman's fascinating and fractured history, as well as the Amazing Amazon's critical influence upon Nicola's life and career decisions. You can follow Nicola via Twitter @nicolascottart...

JP Pomare's breakout suspense thriller Call Me Evie plays with the issues of memory and trauma, drawing heavily from psychological theory to inform his many twists and character motivations. In conversation we take a deep dive into his life experiences and studies, dissecting the darker edges of memory and the human psyche.

Talking Celtic legends, Nazi history, the circle of life and the story of the Irish Thor, John Connell's The Cow Book tells the critical role of the cow in history and his own life working the family farm in Ireland. This is a fascinating, fun and very personal exploration of Irish traditions. John is an award-winning playwright, filmmaker, author and journalist. You can follow John on Twitter @jconnelj2

Quick update on the kick-off of Series 3 in February 2019 featuring a new run of entertaining and highly researched conversations with authors, journalists, screenwriters and storytellers from across Australia and overseas.

Chris Hammer's best-selling debut thriller Scrublands is set in the sun-ravaged heart of regional Australia. Chris is a former foreign correspondent and political journalist and has stolen from his real-life experiences to inform this bold addition to the outback noir genre. In conversation we delve into his connections to the towns of Australia's bush, and discuss what drove him to steer his story through the eyes of a PTSD-affected protagonist. This is a slight change in pace for our...

Multi-million copy bestselling thriller author Michael Robotham in a deeply personal conversation about his fear of failure, the badge of journalism, the driving force of his father, and the power of sharing your story. A surprising and intimate insight into one of the world's favourite thriller writers. Michael's latest book is The Other Wife.

In his book The Lebs, Mohammed reinterprets events from his own life growing up during the peak of anti-muslim rhetoric. His work capturing the racism, anger & struggles confronting young Australians of migrant heritage who found power in the scaring of the white middle class.In conversation we discuss the influence of Malcolm X, the cultural significance of a Big Mac, and how boxers and writers need to remain focused, even when they’ve taken too many laxatives.Mohammed is an author,...

Jay Kristoff has consistently topped the New York Times Bestseller list with his Science Fiction and Fantasy works, often using the genres to address real world issues of slavery, race, class divide and political injustice. Jay's latest series is LIFELIKE, a fast-paced action tale set in a post-apocalyptic world, questioning the ethics of giving life to robots and demanding they live to serve.In conversation we discuss the responsibility of building worlds; the value of sensitivity readers;...

Journalist Bridie Jabour's debut novel "The Way Things Should Be" is a fierce & amusing deconstruction of millennial angst & mother issues, questioning what it takes to get, be & stay married amid a family in constant disarray. In conversation we reflect on Bridie's own family; becoming a hashtag when the Prime Minister tells you to "calm down"; the bad wrap of the millennial generation; and the influences that have forged her journalism career.  You can find Bridie's writing at...

Professor Toby Walsh is one of the world's leading researchers in Artificial Intelligence & recently returned from lobbying the UN to ban lethal autonomous weapons, aka Killer Robots.In his book "It's Alive", Toby considers the broader societal and philosophical questions of what happens when robots think and will they really fill our battlefields, take our jobs and eventually rule the world. You can follow Professor Toby Walsh on Twitter @tobywalsh

Journalist Eileen Ormsby was accused of running the world's most successful Murder-For-Hire website, following her investigation into the scams, drug markets and hurtcore sites of the Dark Web. Working with white-hat hackers, Eileen has become an authority on the darkest areas of this hidden online world, exposing the vices, blackmail and murders conducted away from the spying eyes of the global security services. Everything is true. Eileen's book The Darkest Web is available now and Eileen...

Journalist and author Caroline Baum's memoir 'Only' is a fascinating insight into growing up an only child in a world of privilege to controlling parents. In conversation Caroline shares the conspiracy of being the lost child of JFK; how MI5 & the KGB came to sit outside her London home; & the challenges of being the precious cargo of immigrant parents escaping their own secretive worlds of grief. This is an intimate and long conversation exploring Caroline's life and the techniques...

Jack Heath is the author of more than 20 novels, with his most recent thriller "Hangman" an international success. Featuring a cannibal working for the FBI, Jack explains the fine line between anti-hero and deplorable. In conversation, we explore his publishing career writing for children; what he learned from Brett Easton Ellis; a date at the morgue; and the many influences driving him to break with tradition wherever he reads it. You can find Jack on Twitter: @jackheathwriter

Robert Lukins' debut novel The Everlasting Sunday is an eloquently sorrowful tale of a manor house for troubled boys, set within London's great freeze of December 1962. In conversation, Robert shares the driving forces of his need to create something beautiful from shadowy ruins, his use of rare and evocative language, and the powerful isolation and compulsion of a life spent writing. Robert can be found on Twitter @robertlukins

Up to 80 gay men were murdered along Sydney's beaches during the 70s, 80s & 90s, with their cases remaining unsolved or excused as suicides. Duncan McNab's award winning 'Getting Away With Murder' digs into the stunningly dark history of a homophobic NSW Police Force & the numerous cases of poor judgement, lost evidence & miscarriages of justice committed at a peak of anti-gay violence in the harbour city. Duncan is a former police officer, journalist and the author of 10...

Author & Walkley Award winning journalist Catherine Fox outlines the economic benefits & societal need for equality in the workplace. Her deeply researched & optimistic book "Stop Fixing Women" challenging the belief corporate women haven't 'leaned in' & taken advantage of their opportunities. In conversation we discuss: the daughter syndrome; the #MeToo movement; the unconscious bias of employment practices; & the leaders forcing genuine change across industry & the...

Walkley Award winning political correspondent Michael Brissenden's first fictional work 'The List' is a dark tale of domestic terrorism, tapping into the racist flashpoint of the Cronulla riots & the increasing threat of Sydney-raised jihadists. In conversation we discuss his life in Moscow covering the insanity of the Yeltsin regime; the draw of young Australians to the Yugoslav wars; the balance between media & Government agendas; and the need for absolute truth in reporting. 

Gabby Tozer's hit novels The Intern, Faking It, & Remind Me How This Ends capture the doubts, ambitions and romantic failings of 20-something life. Her work connecting with  the global YA market in search of real stories reflecting their lives and losses. In conversation Gabby shares her personal struggle of balancing success with ambition, revealing how an understanding of her own anxieties has led to a richer, more fulfilling life and career. Follow Gabby on Twitter @gabrielletozer

Hugh Riminton is one of Australia's most experienced foreign correspondents. Blown up, shot at & first-on-scene at some of the world's most terrifying disasters, Hugh's autobiography 'Minefields - A Life in the News Game', is a richly entertaining & deeply empathetic global adventure. We discuss: the dangers of self-assumed power; being held at gunpoint; bribing his way into Moscow; the joy of Mandela; & an agreement to one last war. WARNING: We also briefly discuss the Aramoana...

International bestseller R.A Spratt is the creator of the Friday Barnes and Nanny Piggins kids book series. With a love of the absurd and a rapid-fire wit, Rachel started her career writing political comedy before making the unexpected leap into kids TV and becoming a global writing star. In conversation, Rachel shares how 10 jokes broke her into writing for Good News Week; the black humour of the Clinton era; the joys of writing for a boisterous anarchic pig; how to break the rules of kids...