Book Matters
A monthly podcast about books and the people who write them. Packed with reading recommendations, author interviews and insightful advice on finding books for you and your family from the helpful staff at Connected Libraries.
Episodes
In this episode Janine speaks to Petronella McGovern about her new novel 'Every Time She Wakes', a taut, time-bending thriller about family, identity and defying fate.
We last spoke to her back in 2022, and if you want to know more about Petronella you can find this in our episode library.
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In this episode Sam speaks with Georgia Harper about her new novel 'Dove' - a thought provoking, nuanced and utterly original psychological thriller exploring power and gender, set against the backdrop of 1990's small town Queensland.
One day, after a row with her neighbour turns violent, Dove writes a provocative question on the wall of her property, ‘What would you do if you had a whole day on Earth free of men?’
What s...
In this episode Tim speaks with Melbourne author Fiona Hardy about her writing and her new novel 'Old Games' a pacey, off-beat Aussie crime story about two best female friends and investigators unravelling the private lives of Melbourne's celebrity sportspeople.
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Today we speak with two very different authors on the podcast. Rachel Fox McLeod chats with Courtney about her debut novel 'Disgraceful' - ahilarious and moving debut novel about a woman who writes a ‘f*ck-it’ list to reclaim herself after her marriage unexpectedly implodes.
Then Sam speaks with Hannah Gould about her thought-provoking book 'How to Die in the 21st Century' - If you have ever wondered abou...
Today we invite back Adelaide writer Victoria Purman onto Book Matters to chat about her new novel The Marriage Trap - A charming but pointed look at the tumultuous extraordinary decade of the 1960s, and the effects of the pill, rebellion and new ideas on ordinary Australian women as alongside shorter skirts and the Beatles. We hope you enjoy!
In this episode we are bringing back one of our most popular writers to see what they have been up to since we last spoke with them.
We spoke to Fiona Lowe in 2021 about her novel 'A Home Like Ours' so it was great to bring her back to chat about her latest novel 'The Drowning'.
We hope you enjoy.
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On Book Matters today we have two amazing Australian writers. Janine speaks with Mercedes Mercier about her newest novel The Couple's Retreat, then Kiara speaks with Kathy Lette about her new novel The Sisterhood Rules.
We hope you enjoy!
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On the podcast today Courtney speaks with Brisbane writer Shailee Thompson about her debut novel “How to kill a guy in ten dates” – a sharp and entertaining novel that blends humor, suspense and modern-day dating in unexpected ways.
Sam then chats to Courtney Peppernell about her new novel “The Last Poem” - a moving and heart-rending debut about a grieving woman who moves to a charming small town...
In this episode Janine speaks with Adelaide writer Rebecca Heath about her latest novel 'The Last Encore' - a gripping, claustrophobic Australian thriller with a killer twist.
Kiara then chats to Victorian author Susi Fox about her new novel 'The OtherChild',a compelling psychological suspense novel about mistrust, coercion and fear of betrayal.
We hope you enjoy.
Here at Book Matters, we are taking a well-earned break over the summer holidays but we have some recordings of our Live In Conversation events held at the library during 2025.
We welcomed Chris Hammer to the library in October where he spoke to a large audience about his new novel Legacy which sees the return of his popular character Martin Scarsden.
The audio quality is a little compromised, but we are sure you will enjoy list...
During the year we hosted some fabulous live author events at Connected Libraries! For our Summer Series we are proud to give you the recording of our event with internationally bestselling Melbourne author Jane Harper who chats with Courtney about her writing process and her latest novel Last One Out.
We hope you enjoy!
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For our last episode of Book Matters for the year we have two great interviews for you.
Both are Australian authors, and their books are ideal for Christmas gifts and to take away on your summer holiday.
Courtney speaks with Libby Iriks about her novel "Home to the Heart Country" – a heartfelt small-town romance set in Western Australia exploring themes of belonging, social anxiety and neurodivergence.
Then Janine chats with deb...
Welcome to Back to Chat, a special episode of Book Matters!
On today’s special episode we are celebrating five years of Book Matters with a familiar and much-loved guest. That’s right—we’re bringing back one of our most popular authors for a return visit!
Please join us as we catch up, see what’s new and dive into their stories—both on and off the page—that continue to inspire our book ...
On this episode of Book matters we have some interesting interviews for you.
Kiara speaks with Melbourne author Toni Jordan about her new novel ‘Tenderfoot’ - an exquisite and bittersweet read that brings back memories of growing up in Australia in the 1970s wherein a 12-year-old girl from a family of gamblers and greyhound racers grapples with adulthood as her home life disintegrates.
Then Sam chats with New Zealand writ...
On Book Matters this month Janine talks to Jessica Mansour-Nahra about her gripping gothic domestic thriller "The Farm" It asks confronting questions about women's bodies, what is expected of them, and who is really in control.
Then Kiara speaks with Jess Kitching about her novel "The Life Experiment" a poignant, life-affirming love story about two people whose lives are turned upside down when they enter an experiment that pr...
On Book Matters this month Sam chats to Kate Halfpenny about her memoir Boogie Wonderland, when Covid lockdowns hit Melbourne, metropolitan midlife couple Kate and Chris decide to make a sea change and move to a small coastal town to ease financial pressures and live out the beach lifestyle many of us dream of. But they didn't give much thought to just how different it would be.
Then Kiara talks to Sinead Stubbins about her novel St...
On Book Matters today Janine chats to Adelaide writer Leonie Kelsall. We chat about her latest rural fiction novel, The path through the Coojong trees. We also talk about her writing and why she also writes under a pseudonym Courtney then chats to Victorian crime writer Matt Rogers who has self published 36 novels and how he has transitioned to being traditionally published. We hope you enjoy!
Welcome to Back to Chat, a special episode of Book Matters!
On today’s special episode we are celebrating five years of Book Matters with a familiar and much-loved guest. That’s right—we’re bringing back one of our most popular authors for a return visit!
Please join us as we catch up, see what’s new and dive into their stories—both on and off the page—that continue to inspire our book ...
On the podcast today Courtney chats with Melbourne author Jodi McAlister about her rom-com – “An Academic Affair” - a charming new romance about two English professors who embark on a fake relationship…only to discover that it may be harder to pretend than they realized. Then Sam speaks with NSW writer Sarah Clutton about her novel “The Remarkable Truths of Alfie Bains” - a heart-warming s...
On this special NAIDOC Week episode, our local history librarian Kate speaks with Lenora Thaker - a proud Meriam and Wagedagam woman born and living on Gimuy-Walubarra Yidinji country in Far North Queensland. They chat about her historical novel, 'The Pearl of Tagai Town' a sweeping, heart-warming and ultimately triumphant story of the life of a young Torres Strait Islander woman from Tagai Town, a shantytown on the northeas...
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