Interview Podcasts

Guest User

13 October 2014

Monday 6th October 2014

In conversation with Steven Lang at the 'Outspoken' literary event in Maleny, Queensland.

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Sally Piper on Instagram

I’m so proud and in awe of what @sharingwithfriends_foundation has achieved for older single women struggling to keep a safe and affordable roof over their heads. Pictured (left) is Susan Davies (President of SWF) and (right) Adrienne Irvine (Secretary of SWF) signing the 50-year tenure agreements for their First Five women following completion yesterday of their first co-housing project in Brisbane. It has taken SWF seven long years to reach this day with many setbacks and challenges along the way, but with the completion of this project they have initiated real and meaningful change for vulnerable older women living in insecure housing. It’s this kind of innovative thinking about how people want and can be housed that needs to be supported and expedited by local, state and federal governments right around the country. The remarkable work undertaken by this not-for-profit organization has provided not just the foundation stone to what can be done on the ground structurally, they have also provided a longterm workable solution that could assist a number of the 400,000 older single women who are just one unexpected bill or one rent hike away from homelessness every day in Australia. Safe, secure and affordable housing is a human right. Thank you Sharing with Friends for never losing sight of that.🏘️ #affordablehousingcrisis #housingisahumanright #insecurehousingtakesatoll

I picked up THE HIDING PLACE by @kmildenhall from @the_bright_bookshop while visiting there in preparation for a panel I’ll be sharing with Kate at the Lines in the Sand Literary Festival hosted by @frasercoastlibraries on 24 November. It’s a cracking read, a propulsive literary thriller with a cast of unique characters who pool funds to buy a rural smallholding where they can escape to from their city lives and bring more nature into theirs and their children’s lives, but things go quickly awry on the first weekend. I can’t wait to sit down with you Kate to talk about this and your other books and all things writing and craft! Here’s the blurb for our panel: ‘Drawing on their experiences as novelists, Kate and Sally will discuss the inspiration behind their books, their approaches to crafting memorable characters and compelling narratives, and the themes that shape their work. Hear about the realities of the writing life, the creative process behind bringing stories to the page, and the power of fiction to help us better understand ourselves and the world around us.’ It’s a free event but bookings are required, which you can do through the link in my bio. @uqpbooks #linesinthesandliteraryfestival #peoplelikeusnovel

Arrived in Mudgee to a town prettily pinked up for Cancer Awareness Month to help raise funds for the McGrath Foundation who place cancer care nurses in communities throughout Australia. I also made a visit to the very welcoming @booknestmudgee and had the best chat with Emma about books by local authors and those from further afield, plus The Book Nest’s involvement with the Mudgee Readers’ Festival held in August each year. I also made a list of Emma’s recs for the best pubs and wineries to visit in the area - an equally worthy public service on top of selling books to suit the interests of all readers! I love our indie bookshops and I’ve loved having the opportunity to visit so many of them on this road trip. Chapter 1 of the book tour ends very soon, but Chapter 2 will start on 2 November. More info about that soon. @uqpbooks #peoplelikeusnovel #booktour #roadtrip

Our first visit to Orange on Wiradjuri Country in the beautiful Towac Valley, a region lush with pastures, orchards and wineries as seen from the view at Pinnacles Lookout and Mt Canobolas/Gaanha-bula. And Orange is also home to the fabulous @collinsbooksellersorange who very kindly have in stock each of my novels. Special thanks to bookselling legends Mindy and Ash for the warm welcome, the great chat and top advice about the best pubs to visit in town.👌I’m loving these visits to towns in regional NSW. 🍇🍒🐄 @uqpbooks #peoplelikeusnovel #booktour #roadtrip

Final stop on my regional NSW book tour is in beautiful Bathurst with its wide streets, many trees and Mount Panorama, home to the Bathurst 1000. Huge thanks to Tori @bathurstlibrary for leading such a thoughtful conversation about PEOPLE LIKE US last night, to the audience for their fabulous questions and a special shout-out to Sam, bookseller extraordinaire from @booksplusbathurst. And now, I’m set up and ready to present my Nature Writing masterclass today. Love our libraries and all they enable for their communities. 📚♥️ @uqpbooks #peoplelikeusnovel #booktour #roadtrip

It’s been a beautiful day in Wagga Wagga. After starting the day with a fun chat with Sally Bryant on ABC Riverina, we set off along the Wiradjuri Walking Track beside the graceful Murrumbidgee River, past the Wagga Beach, more duck families, stunning bottlebrush bushes thick with bees and returning via the Marrambidya Wetlands and the stunning artwork of Wiradjuri Elder Aunty Kath Withers. And this evening I’m back at @waggalibrary where I’ll be sitting down with David Gilbey to chat about PEOPLE LIKE US. Perfect day👌 @uqpbooks #peoplelikeusnovel #booktour #roadtrip

On the road again after a fabulous weekend in Bright with dear friends. After crossing the mighty Murray River into NSW once more we made a short detour into Albury to visit the good people at Booktique Bookshop to sign copies of PEOPLE LIKE US. A big shout out to Michelle for the welcoming smile and great chat. We’ve arrived in Wagga Wagga now on Wiradjuri Country where I’ll be presenting my Nature Writing Masterclass at Wagga Library this evening. Tomorrow morning at 9:10am I’ll be having a quick chat with the good folk on ABC Riverina, and in the evening I’m very excited to be sitting down with David Gilbey, President of Booranga Writer’s Centre, back at Wagga Library where we’ll be in-conversation about PEOPLE LIKE US. Thrilled to have the opportunity to visit this beautiful town. @uqpbooks @booktique_albury @waggalibrary @debidogirubi @booranga #peoplelikeusnovel #booktour #roadtrip

Beautiful Bright on the Ovens River in Victoria and its many duck families. 🦆💙

It’s not often I see all four of the girls together in a bookshop, but a huge thanks to @qbdbooks in Dubbo for bringing them all together for me to sign. And a big shoutout to Claudia for the very friendly welcome. #loveourbookshops @uqpbooks #peoplelikeusnovel #booktour #roadtrip

Farewelled beautiful Tamworth this morning after a wonderful conversation yesterday @tamworthcitylibrary with the superstar interviewer @kristyreading, ABC New England North West Breakfast show presenter, about PEOPLE LIKE US. Special thanks to Jonathan Stilts for pulling the many threads together for this event and for the set up and spread of delicious food for my Nature Writing Masterclass afterwards. Top notch in every detail👌 And it was a real joy to meet and chat with such an avid community of readers and writers. Thanks to everyone who came along. @uqpbooks #peoplelikeusnovel #roadtrip #booktour