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From the Lighthouse is a literary podcast published out of the Department of English at Macquarie University. Your hosts Dr Stephanie Russo and Dr Michelle Hamadache love to talk about anything to do with books, from the latest bestsellers and prize-winners, film and television adaptations of books to bookish news. Join us as we chat all things literary. For more information visit the MQ English Department webpage at www.engl.mq.edu.au
Episodes

Wednesday Oct 08, 2025
Revelation Beach - An Interview with Susan Francis
Wednesday Oct 08, 2025
Wednesday Oct 08, 2025
Join Michelle as she discusses Susan Francis's new novel Revelation Beach. The novel unflinchingly searches for answers to the brutal murders of the journalists known as the Balibo Five; its publication date coincides with the 50th Anniversary of their deaths. Revelation Beach is Susan Francis's second book. Her first, The Love that Remains was a Varuna PIP finalist.
Trigger warning: This podcast discusses a violent period of history, the Indonesian invasion of Timor Leste, and includes references to state-condoned torture and rape.

Monday Jul 28, 2025
Lost Origins: An Interview with Chris Kulp
Monday Jul 28, 2025
Monday Jul 28, 2025
Join Michelle as she talks with science fiction author Dr Chris Kulp about his latest novel Lost Origins: Book 1 The Majestic Chronicles, a rollicking space opera with heart and AI. Chris is a professor of physics at the University of Lycoming and the 2022 winner of the Mike Resnick Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Short Story by a New Author. His fiction has appeared in Galaxy's Edge magazine. He has also co-authored nearly 30 scientific articles and one textbook.

Wednesday Oct 18, 2023
MQ PACE: Michelle Council interviews Clémence Michallon about The Quiet Tenant
Wednesday Oct 18, 2023
Wednesday Oct 18, 2023
As part of this year's MQ PACE project, Michelle Council interviews journalist and best-selling author, Clémence Michallon, about her novel, The Quiet Tenant.

Wednesday Apr 01, 2020
Comfort Texts for a Brave New World
Wednesday Apr 01, 2020
Wednesday Apr 01, 2020
The world is in a very strange place right now, and we're in need of serious distraction. Jimmy, Kirstin and Stephanie take you through their favourite comfort books, television shows, movies and podcasts.

Wednesday Oct 16, 2019
Interview with Diana Plater on her first novel, Whale Rock
Wednesday Oct 16, 2019
Wednesday Oct 16, 2019
Diana Plater, professional travel writer, journalist, and now novelist, discusses her first novel, Whale Rock, a sensuous exploration of mothering and loss and what it means to be a middle-aged woman in multi-cultural Sydney.
Credit for the pic of Diana: Sylvia Karschies.
Whale Rock by Diana Plater is available at:
https://themoshshop.com.au/collections/new-releases/products/whale-rock-by-diana-plater;
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/924932
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07NYHWNTR

Wednesday Mar 13, 2019
Jenna Guillaume's What I Like About Me: A Daggy Caravan Park Romance
Wednesday Mar 13, 2019
Wednesday Mar 13, 2019
Jenna Guillaume's debut novel, What I Like About Me, is a YA romantic comedy set at that most Australian of settings: the daggy caravan park. This week, Stephanie is joined by Jenna to discuss romance, body positivity, beauty pageants, Twitter, Dirty Dancing, and why all dresses should have pockets.
Jenna's Twitter account is @JennaGuillaume and her novel What I Like About Me is available at all good bookshops now.

Wednesday Feb 20, 2019
Best Books of 2018 (re-uploaded)
Wednesday Feb 20, 2019
Wednesday Feb 20, 2019
This week, Stephanie, Michelle and Jimmy finally gather to talk about their favourite books (and film!) of 2018. Jimmy talks crime movies, Michelle talks about her love of deep, depressing books, and Stephanie cheats wildly.

Wednesday Sep 05, 2018
Wednesday Sep 05, 2018
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.

Wednesday Aug 22, 2018
Adam Courtenay's The Ship that Never Was
Wednesday Aug 22, 2018
Wednesday Aug 22, 2018
Part colonial history, part biography of James Porter, a convict transported to Van Diemen's Land under the rule of the tyrannical Governor Arthur, The Ship that Never War is a story of human tenacity and ingenuity in the face of unimaginably harsh conditions. Join Michelle Hamadache as she talks with Adam Courtenay about the incredible but true story of a group of convicts who stole a brand new ship from Macquarie Harbour and sailed it all the way to Chile.
For more info and some bonus materials, visit our website at: https://www.fromthelighthouse.org

Wednesday May 16, 2018
I'll Be Gone in the Dark: or The Golden State Killer's Walk into the Light
Wednesday May 16, 2018
Wednesday May 16, 2018
If you follow true crime news, you'll know that the Golden State Killer was recently arrested, over forty years after his crime spree began. This week, Jimmy and Stephanie discuss the book that many people believe was responsible for renewed interest in this case: Michelle McNamara's posthumously published I'll Be Gone in the Dark.
