Festival preparation, public speaking tips and embarrassing mothers
The Book Deal podcast, hosts Tina Strachan, Madeleine Cleary, and Natasha Rai dive deep into the intricacies of securing book deals, managing writing schedules, and preparing for festivals. The conversation includes insights from experienced authors on pitching to festivals, the balance of self-care, and practical advice to handle writing burnout. They also share humorous and touching personal stories about family support and navigating audience interactions. Special announcements include a live event in Sydney featuring bestselling author Hayley Scrivenor and an exciting book giveaway. Tune in for valuable writing tips, festival prep advice, and much more.Book tickets for Christmas with The Book Deal live episode November 25 2025 at Writing NSW here.00:00 Welcome to the Book Deal Podcast00:56 Special Christmas Episode Announcement02:25 Technical Difficulties and Catching Up02:41 The Importance of Self-Care for Writers07:37 Upcoming Writing Festival and Tips09:31 Navigating Festival Invitations and Pitches19:05 Preparing for Festivals and Public Speaking25:08 Handling Unexpected Questions26:51 Coping with Stage Fright28:51 Funny Mum Stories35:08 Daily Routines and Time Management45:26 Final Tips and Wrap-UpJoin our Patreon community for less than the cost of a coffee per month and support the pod! Your contribution will go to directly paying our sound producer, Brogan, and to help us bring you the conversations with industry professionals you love. Follow The Book Deal podcast on Instagram The Book Deal podcast (@the_book_deal_podcast) • Instagram photos and videosYou can find out more about Tina, Madeleine and Natasha and follow their journeys here: Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videosTina Strachan children's book authorMadeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videosMadeleine Cleary | AuthorNatasha Rai (@raiwriting) • Instagram photos and videosNatasha Rai | Author | Mentor If you want to stay in the know, sign up to Madeleine, Tina and Natasha's newsletters for the latest news first. Madeleine: Subscribe here...
--------
46:26
--------
46:26
Kate Mildenhall on publishing and resilience, publicity tips and what it means to be a good industry citizen
Kate Mildenhall on publishing and resilience, tips for interviewing other writers and what it means to be a good industry citizenMadeleine interviews acclaimed and bestselling author Kate Mildenhall. Kate gives an honest account of her journey to publication, detailing the rejections and the success along the way. Kate's latest novel, THE HIDING PLACE (November 2025, S&S), described as 'White Lotus meets The Slap, is a razor-sharp literary thriller about what happens when good people make bad decisions. Kate discusses themes like land ownership, the environment, and the evolving dynamics of long-term friendships. Kate offers valuable tips for writers navigating publicity, handling interviews, and maintaining the momentum in their writing careers. This engaging and generous chat is a must-listen for aspiring authors and literary enthusiasts.00:00 Welcome to the Book Deal Podcast00:56 Introducing Kate Mildenhall04:04 Kate's Journey to Becoming an Author13:37 The Rollercoaster of Publishing19:26 Navigating Rejection and Finding Success29:27 Tips for Authors on Publicity and Interviews34:45 Setting Boundaries in Publicity37:18 Discussing 'The Hiding Place'40:02 From Hummingbird to The Hiding Place41:06 Camping Memories and Inspirations49:40 The Challenges of Writing Multi-POV57:29 Themes of Land Ownership and Environmentalism01:03:50 Future Writing Plans and Dreams01:07:31 Final Tips for WritersJoin our Patreon community for less than the cost of a coffee per month and support the pod! Your contribution will go to directly paying our sound producer, Brogan, and to help us bring you the conversations with industry professionals you love. Follow The Book Deal podcast on Instagram The Book Deal podcast (@the_book_deal_podcast) • Instagram photos and videosYou can find out more about Tina, Madeleine and Natasha and follow their journeys here: Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videosTina Strachan children's book authorMadeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videosMadeleine Cleary | AuthorNatasha Rai (@raiwriting) • Instagram photos and videosNatasha Rai | Author | Mentor If you want to stay in the know, sign up to Madeleine, Tina and Natasha's newsletters for the latest news first. Madeleine: Subscribe here...
--------
1:10:12
--------
1:10:12
Believing in yourself and the benefits of constant learning with Valerie Khoo, CEO of the Australian Writers Centre
Join our Patreon community for less than the cost of a coffee per month and support the pod! Your contribution will go to directly paying our sound producer, Brogan, and to help us bring you the conversations with industry professionals you love. Follow The Book Deal podcast on Instagram The Book Deal podcast (@the_book_deal_podcast) • Instagram photos and videosYou can find out more about Tina, Madeleine and Natasha and follow their journeys here: Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videosTina Strachan children's book authorMadeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videosMadeleine Cleary | AuthorNatasha Rai (@raiwriting) • Instagram photos and videosNatasha Rai | Author | Mentor If you want to stay in the know, sign up to Madeleine, Tina and Natasha's newsletters for the latest news first. Madeleine: Subscribe here...
--------
32:00
--------
32:00
Nadia Mahjouri on finding writing support and submitting work to as many opportunities as possible
Natasha Rai interviews Nadia Mahjouri, a Moroccan Australian writer, about her debut novel 'Half Truth'. Nadia shares the journey of crafting her novel from mixing memoir and fiction, drawing from her personal experiences to the trials and triumphs of securing a book deal. She discusses her creative process, the challenges of fictionalizing real events, and the importance of emotional truth in storytelling. Nadia also provides valuable advice on how to navigate the writing and publishing process, emphasizing the significance of persistence, seeking feedback, and the willingness to put one's work out there despite the setbacks.00:00 Welcome to the Book Deal Podcast00:56 Introducing Nadia Mahjouri02:00 Nadia's Debut Novel: Half Truth04:19 The Journey of Writing Half Truth06:50 From Memoir to Fiction13:56 The Path to Publication14:03 Claiming the Writer Identity25:21 Building a Writing Community28:01 Post-Assessment Actions28:32 Navigating Feedback and Courses30:56 The Road Trip and Penguin Submission32:12 Facing Rejections and Ghosting33:36 Literary Speed Dating and Agent Search37:19 Publishable Program and Mentorship39:37 Final Offers and Negotiations45:46 Reflections and Advice for Writers49:25 Closing Thoughts and IntentionsJoin our Patreon community for less than the cost of a coffee per month and support the pod! Your contribution will go to directly paying our sound producer, Brogan, and to help us bring you the conversations with industry professionals you love. Follow The Book Deal podcast on Instagram The Book Deal podcast (@the_book_deal_podcast) • Instagram photos and videosYou can find out more about Tina, Madeleine and Natasha and follow their journeys here: Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videosTina Strachan children's book authorMadeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videosMadeleine Cleary | AuthorNatasha Rai (@raiwriting) • Instagram photos and videosNatasha Rai | Author | Mentor If you want to stay in the know, sign up to Madeleine, Tina and Natasha's newsletters for the latest news first. Madeleine: Subscribe here...
--------
52:17
--------
52:17
Editing: spreadsheets, reading backwards, rulers and when readers point out errors
Hosts Tina Strachan, Madeleine Cleary, and Natasha Rai catch up on their busy lives, upcoming events, and delve into a detailed discussion about their editing processes and tips. They provide personal experiences, practical advice like using a ruler to read line by line, and even reading a manuscript backward to catch errors. Special shout-outs include celebrating Dyslexia Awareness Month and recognizing their supportive patrons, with a particular mention of Christine Newell. Additionally, Rebecca Grant shares insights into her new picture book, Potion Commotion.00:00 Welcome to the Book Deal Podcast00:29 Meet the Hosts01:33 Upcoming Live Episode Plans02:55 Listener Stats and Shoutouts05:42 Author Burnout and Health09:03 Event Preparations and Challenges17:12 The Importance of Printing Out Your Manuscript20:11 Rebecca Grant Introduces 'Potion Commotion'21:28 Using Spreadsheets for Plotting and Structuring24:38 Editing Failures and Lessons Learned29:59 Top Tips for Editing Your Manuscript35:04 Dyslexia Awareness and Special Formats35:44 Thank You to Our SupportersJoin our Patreon community for less than the cost of a coffee per month and support the pod! Your contribution will go to directly paying our sound producer, Brogan, and to help us bring you the conversations with industry professionals you love. Follow The Book Deal podcast on Instagram The Book Deal podcast (@the_book_deal_podcast) • Instagram photos and videosYou can find out more about Tina, Madeleine and Natasha and follow their journeys here: Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videosTina Strachan children's book authorMadeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videosMadeleine Cleary | AuthorNatasha Rai (@raiwriting) • Instagram photos and videosNatasha Rai | Author | Mentor If you want to stay in the know, sign up to Madeleine, Tina and Natasha's newsletters for the latest news first. Madeleine: Subscribe here...
New Zealand