From the Lighthouse

MQ PACE Indigenous Australian Fiction: Kate Milne on Barbed Wire and Cherry Blossoms & Song of the Crocodile

As part of this year's MQ PACE project on Indigenous Australian Fiction, Kate Milne discusses Barbed Wire and Cherry Blossoms by Anita Heiss (pronounced "Hice") and Nardi Simpson's Song of the Crocodile.

MQ PACE Indigenous Australian Fiction: Jasmine Oke on Enclave

As part of this year's MQ PACE project on Indigenous Australian Fiction, Jasmine Oke discusses Claire G. Coleman's Enclave with Indigenous artist and Macquarie University alumnus, Dylan Barnes. 

MQ PACE Indigenous Australian Fiction: Annie Paterson on The Old Lie

As part of this year's MQ PACE project on Indigenous Australian Fiction, Annie Paterson discusses Claire G. Coleman's The Old Lie as an example of Indigenous Speculative Fiction genre. 

Interview with Clint Caward on Love Machine

Join Michelle as she interviews Clint Caward as he discusses his award-winning novel Love Machine.

 

Clint Caward is a novelist and freelance writer who has written for Overland, Meanjin, Southerly and reviews books for national publications. He has been awarded multiple domestic and international residences, been shortlisted for The Walter Stone Life Writing Award and won The Jim Hamilton Unpublished Manuscript Award. His novel Love Machine is published by Penguin. He currently teaches novel writing at Macquarie University.

Interview with Kim Kelly on The Rat Catcher

This week, Michelle talks with Kim Kelly about her latest book, The Rat-Catcher—long-listed for the Australian Historical Fiction Prize. 

 

Kim Kelly is the author of twelve books, including the acclaimed novella Wild Chicory and bestselling novels The Blue Mile and Her Last Words. She is a book editor and reviewer as well, because too much narrative action is never enough. Her latest novella, The Rat Catcher: A Love Story, was shortlisted for Viva La Novella 2021, and longlisted for the 2022 Australian Historical Fiction prize. The Rat Catcher is published by Brio Books.  Kim lives and writes on Wiradjuri Country, in central-western New South Wales. 

The Rat Catcher is available in paperback and ebook and can be purchased from Booktopia here. The audiobook is available now. Find out more about Kim and her work here.

Interview with Xu Daozhi on Indigenous Cultural Capital: Postcolonial Narratives in Australian Children's Literature

How are Indigenous people represented in Australian children's literature? Xu Daozhi joins Stephanie to discuss her book Indigenous Cultural Capital: Postcolonial Narratives in Australian Children's Literature, which explores this very subject.

Meredith Lake's The Bible in Australia: A fascinating history of the part the Bible played in shaping Australia

Meredith Lake, award-winning historian, traces the impact of the Bible on Australian culture, from Tony Abbott's misuse of the Bible to discredit the science of climate change to the distinctively Australian irreverence for authority that saw the coining of the expressions 'bible-basher' and 'wowser'. Join Michelle Hamadache as she interviews Meredith Lake about the complex ways the Bible and its reception has shaped Australian literature, language and politics.

Lexi Freiman's Inappropriation

Lexi Freiman's debut novel, Inappropriation, is a hilarious biting satire on identity politics, social media, high school, cyborgs, and pretty much everything else you can imagine. This week, Stephanie chats to Lexi about her novel, writing funny books, feminism, and high school formals. 

Francis Webb: The Best Australian Poet You've Never Heard Of

Francis Webb is the best Australian poet you've never heard of. At least, that's what Dr Toby Davidson thinks. This week, Stephanie and Michelle discuss Australian poetry, cultural cringe, and Francis Webb's influence on the poets who came after him. This podcast also features recordings of Francis Webb reading his own poetry.