Christian White talks to Cheryl about how becoming a parent has reshaped his writing and expanded his worldview, the influence his daughter now has on his creative process, and the unforgettable moment he spotted a stranger reading one of his novels in the wild. His latest book, The Long Night, is out now.

---

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rachel Perkins talks to Cheryl about the continuing impact of colonisation on First Nations communities, the extraordinary legacy of her father, Charles Perkins, and his lasting influence on Australia. Rachel also speaks about the importance of the Aboriginal Australian flag as a symbol of identity and unity, and shares insights from The Australian Wars, the book she co-edited with Stephen Gapps, Mina Murray and Henry Reynolds. The Australian Wars is out now.

---

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to episode #11 of Book Chat with Cheryl Akle and Caroline Overington, where they discuss the impact of Australian literature, Caroline's writing journey, her thoughts on the rise of audiobooks, and the enduring appeal of traditional storytelling.

---

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Loubna Haikal talks to Cheryl about their Lebanese heritage, displacement, immigration and the quiet beauty of cooking with others. She also reflects on the collaborative process behind Don’t Ask the Trees for Their Names, the powerful collection she edited and co-wrote with eight other Arab women. The book is out now.

---

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrew Sloan talks to Cheryl about the human experience, the role of therapy, the future of our society and the inspiration behind his new book, Why Things Feel F*cked, which is out now.

---

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Heather Rose talks to Cheryl about how worldviews have changed over time, discovering the story behind her latest book, A Great Act of Love, the moment she knew she wanted to be a writer, the influence of her father, and the difference between writing for children and adults. A Great Act of Love is out now.

---

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Omar El Akkad joins Cheryl to discuss his latest book, One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This. Together, they explore his experiences reporting from places like Guantánamo Bay, examine the dangerous allure of ignorance, and reflect on the Gaza War and how it has shaped both their lives and the world. One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This is out now.

---

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Susan Wyndham talks to Cheryl about researching her latest book Elizabeth Harrower: The Woman in the Watch Tower, how her mother’s love of books shaped her own, her career in journalism, and her path to becoming one of Australia’s leading literary editors. Elizabeth Harrower: The Woman in the Watch Tower is out now.

---

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jessica Mansour-Nahra talks to Cheryl about writing her debut novel, The Farm, how her love of storytelling began, and the emotional challenges she experienced while pregnant. She shares what the publishing journey looked like for her and talks about the deep connection between creativity and motherhood. The Farm is out now.

---

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marika Sosnowski talks to Cheryl about how her background in law shapes her writing and the challenges of merging academic insight with creative expression. She shares her deeply personal and complex writing process, the role of human connection in her work, and how legal systems can shift depending on who is interpreting them. Her debut collection, 58 Facets, is out now.

---

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Greg Haddrick talks to Cheryl about his acclaimed career in film and television, what drew him to the chilling real-life case of The Mushroom Murders, the complexities of covering the high-profile Erin Patterson trial, and the challenges faced by jurors. His latest book, The Mushroom Murders, is out now.

---

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris Hammer talks to Cheryl about his lifelong love of writing and how his career in journalism, including international reporting for Dateline, shaped his storytelling. He reflects on developing his craft, transitioning from nonfiction to fiction, and how fellow author Benjamin Stevenson helped bring Scrublands to life. His latest novel, Legacy, is out now.

---

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Soren Tae Smith talks to Cheryl about the deeply personal process of writing her memoir, Honey from the Ground. She reflects on the loss of her son, the ongoing journey through grief, and the emotional challenges of continuing to parent after such a profound loss. She also shares how she discovered her desire to write, her love of novellas, and the role storytelling has played in her healing. Her memoir, Honey from the Ground, is out now.

---

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Award-winning author Tim Winton joins Cheryl to talk about his first nonfiction book for children, Ningaloo. He shares fascinating facts about the iconic reef and its diverse marine life, the creative challenges of making science both fun and visually engaging, and reflects on why this story is important to him and his hopes for the future. Ningaloo, which was illustrated by Cindy Lane, is out now.

---

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Craig Silvey talks to Cheryl about the challenges he faced while writing his latest book, the ways his children have changed his life, the lasting impact of Jasper Jones, how he began writing books in high school, and how his career has evolved over the years. His newest book, Runt #2: Runt and the Diabolical Dognapping, is out now.

---

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Garry Disher talks to Cheryl about his pride in being an Australian author, his book tours in Germany, what sets his Hirsch series apart from other crime novels, and the complexities of Australia’s police forces. His latest book, Mischance Creek, is out September 30, 2025.

---

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Allison Rushby talks to Cheryl about the differences between writing historical fantasy and middle grade fiction, her career before becoming an author, 25 years of writing books, and the highs and lows of publishing her latest novel, Slashed Beauties, which is out now.

---

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris Hammer (Scrublands, The Valley) and Caroline Overington (Last Woman Hanged, The Cuckoo's Cry) talk about Australian books, self-publishing and how their books have changed over time. Learn more about the two authors, how the TV adaptation of Scrublands has impacted Chris, Caroline's work at The Australian, and as always, the book industry in this new episode of Authors on Authors.

---

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Melina Marchetta (Looking for Alibrandi, The Piper's Son) and Tess Woods (The Venice Hotel, Beautiful Messy Love) have a chat about Melina's career, Venice and the difficulties of writing different genres. Learn more about the two authors, the importance of Looking for Alibrandi, not only for Melina, but also for Tess, and as always, the book industry in this new episode of Authors on Authors.

---

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jackson Harvey & Alex Towler talk to Cheryl about their LEGO® exhibition in Sydney, how they first met, what goes into creating their impressive builds, the impact LEGO® has had on their careers and lives, and the highs and lows of life on a press tour. Their book A New World Rises: Tales of a LEGO® Future, which they co-wrote with Cristy Burne, is out now!

---

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.