Karen and Irma chat about book to film adaptations, and recommend recent reads in their new Book Chat segment.

Then Irma talks to Upswell Founder and Publisher Terri-ann White about the current state of the publishing industry and what needs to change, why she thinks too many books are being published, why she believes there is not enough risk-taking happening, the cult of the writer and its impact on the publicity demands placed on authors, how shame and guilt pervade the industry, the devastating experience of discovering her first book with Upswell contained plagiarism and the subsequent high of publishing an award-winning book by Josephine Wilson, and why booksellers are magic.

About Terri-ann

Terri-ann White was Director and Publisher at UWA Publishing for 14 years until 2020. Prior to this, she founded and directed a cross-disciplinary research centre at UWA, taught literature and writing in universities, was a bookseller for 16 years, and organised ‘ideas’ festivals. In 2021 she founded independent publishing house Upswell in Perth.

Karen and Irma chat about foreign rights deals, and Irma shares some shocking stats.

Then Irma chats to Graeme Simsion and Anne Buist about how a conversation between them on their first wedding anniversary was pivotal in Anne’s career, the low of splitting with Graeme’s publisher after the three Rosie Project books, how they manage the process of planning and writing books together, why they think their book tour to 400 bookshops made no difference to sales, what does impact sales and tips for how to secure publicity that works, the ups and downs of The Rosie Project movie, and the most meaningful reader feedback.

About Graeme & Anne

Graeme Simsion and Anne Buist are partners in both life and writing. Together they have written four books, the latest being The Oasis, which is the second Menzies Mental Health novel. And separately they both have established individual careers.

Graeme is a screenwriter, playwright, and former IT consultant, and his debut novel, The Rosie Project, was an international bestseller. He followed it up with two sequels, and the standalone The Best of Adam Sharp, a collection of short stories, two data modelling books and the writing guide, The Novel Project.

Anne has published five psychological thrillers – four in the Natalie King series, and the standalone The Long Shadow. She also has over 40 years of clinical and research experience in perinatal psychiatry.

In this episode Irma and Karen chat about how a two-book deal was secured via an explosive Booktok profile, after which they discuss recent reads that they’ve enjoyed.

Then Karen talks to Markus Zusak about his family of storytellers and his early steps as a writer, how to use your writing heroes to start on the journey of developing your own voice, the excitement of having his first book published, how The Book Thief arose from three separate ideas that came together like a volcanic eruption, how the success of that book landed in his life and impacted his future work, how you know when you’ve found the right spark in writing, his affection for Bridge of Clay, and how much he enjoyed writing Three Wild Dogs and the Truth.

About Markus

Markus Zusak is the award-winning internationally bestselling author of six novels, including The Book Thief, Bridge of Clay and The Messenger. His books have been translated into more than fifty languages, and two of them have been adapted to film, television and theatre.