Totally Lit!

Host Ky Garvey interviews children’s author Janeen Brian about her new picture book Somewhere You Can Dream, her early TV work (including Humphrey Bear), collaboration with illustrators, writing habits, and the importance of persistence, community, and hope for emerging writers. She also discusses upcoming projects like Water Baby and offers practical tips for writers starting out.

About the book:

F...

Host Ky Garvey talks with Lauren Williams about her debut novel Neighbourhood Watch — a darkly comic, Melbourne-set thriller inspired by a real scarecrow competition. The episode explores the book's plot (a judge's body arranged as a scarecrow), Detective Sergeant Priyanka Powell's investigation, and the sisters Emma and Margot grappling with the fallout and corruption close to home.

They also discuss Williams's journey from ...

Host Ky Garvey interviews thriller author Matt Rogers about his new book The Damned (the sequel to The Forsaken), his transition from years of successful self-publishing to traditional publishing with Simon & Schuster, his writing and editing process, thoughts on AI and the industry, and practical advice for aspiring writers.

About the Book: Retired assassin Logan Booth is ready to settle down – but Jacinta Murphy, t...

Martin Evans, known online as This_Chubby_Bois Life, shares his journey from an on-again/off-again reader to a thriving Bookstagram and BookTok creator who champions indie and traditional authors, builds meaningful friendships, and navigates the highs and lows of content creation.

The episode highlights Martin’s community-driven work with Chapters for Change, his passion for supporting literacy and authors, and how bookish ev...

Lauren recounts her journey from viral Wattpad success to signing with Penguin, explaining how she moved from self-publishing to traditional publishing and now writes across multiple romance subgenres.

She also discusses balancing a day job, motherhood and social media, shares launch and marketing experiences, and offers practical advice to aspiring authors to keep writing and get the first draft down.

About the author: Lauren Jack...

Host Ky Garvey interviews K D Aldyn about her new crime thriller You Girls Play Nice, exploring themes of female rage, revenge and loyalty as four friends’ hypothetical murders are replicated in real life. They discuss Katie’s writing process across genres, her publishing journey, and personal insights from life on the road and living with dyscalculia and mild synesthesia.

About the book: When their best friend is ...

Author Dinuka McKenzie joins host Ky Garvey on Totally Lit to talk about her Kate Miles series, her upcoming standalone SHEER LIGHT FIRST, and her work as an ambassador for Chapters for Change.

They discuss the Chapters for Change readathon—how to register, how teams and social media boost participation, and how the fundraising supports community-led literacy projects in Cambodia.

You can register for the 2026 Chapters for Ch...

Host Ky Garvey interviews debut author Inessa Jackson about her award-winning crime novel Devil Mountain, a small-town police procedural with a creepy, witchy twist. They discuss the grisly murder that kicks off the story, the themes of misogyny and power, and how folklore and Wiccan practice inform the mystery.

Inessa shares her ten-year writing journey, the surprising moment she won the Verena mentorship, working with her publish...

Host Ky Garvey interviews Mary Colussi, the 2025 Penguin Literary Prize winner, about her debut novel Touch Grass — a near‑future speculative story in which a woman wakes up as a cactus and consciousness‑swapping becomes an endemic phenomenon. They discuss the book's themes of derealisation, digital life versus material reality, and the strange, humane humour behind the premise.

Mary describes her writing and editing process,...

Host Ky Garvey interviews Samantha Ross about her debut novel Impossible Springs—covering her journey to being published by Penguin, the practice of manifesting alongside scientific insight, and the novel’s magical-realism telepathy concept inspired by family and her grandmother’s mediumship.

They also discuss 90s music influences, Ross’s industry experiences, practical advice for emerging writers, book-laun...

Host Ky Garvey interviews author Anna Johnson about her new novel 'When Lemons Give You Life', following retired Michelin-star chef Griff Barlow as cooking brings purpose, community and long-buried secrets to light. They discuss themes of aged care, LGBTIQ+ communities, midlife ADHD, family reconciliation, Anna’s background in aged care and public health, her writing and publishing journey, and the book’s screen interes...

Host Ky Garvey interviews author Lauren Keegan about her new historical novel, The Woman In The Seal Skin, set in 1690s Scotland. They explore selkie folklore and research, the novel’s themes of motherhood, domestic violence and the pull to the sea, and Keegan’s path to publication including mentorship, craft work and practical tips for aspiring writers.

The conversation also covers balancing creative life with parentin...

Host Ky Garvey talks with Troy Hunter about his debut YA crime series - Gus and the Missing Boy and sequels, the shift from adult to YA storytelling, and the craft decisions that shape teen-focused mysteries.

They discuss Agatha Christie’s influence, engaging young readers - especially boys, school responses to the books, writing advice -finishing drafts and joining writing groups, and the rewards and realities of publishing ...

Mercedes Mercier discusses her new novel Couples Retreat, a locked-room crime novel set on Kangaroo Island about rookie officer Emily Quinn and a weekend of wealthy guests cut off by a storm after a murder. The episode covers Mercier’s criminal-justice background, true-crime inspiration, research and setting, writing while raising twins, character development, mentoring services, and launch events.

About the author: 

Mer...

In this episode, Courtney Pepinnell discusses her debut novel The Last Poem, the transition from poetry to fiction, themes of grief and healing, writing American settings as an Australian author, and her journey from self-publishing to traditional publishing.

About the author: Courtney Peppernell is an internationally best-selling author from Australia, known for her deeply moving poetry and storytelling. Her beloved Pillow Thought...

Host Ky Garvey talks with Jane Sullivan about the origin and rapid growth of Birds of a Feather Book Club, her partnership with Rebecca Sparrow, and their mission to help women fall back in love with reading. They discuss community-building, supporting remote readers, author events, the challenges of monetising a book club, and new initiatives like a romance-only subgroup.

This episode celebrates reading as nourishment for mental h...

On this episode of Totally Lit, host KyGarvey speaks with author Edwina Shaw about her new book Dear Madman, which investigates a century-old family tragedy in the Lockyer Valley and the murder that has haunted generations.

They discuss Shaw's years of research, the book's dual narrative voices, access to archives and mental health files, and the surprising discoveries about the perpetrator and his past. The conversation also explo...

Join Ky Garvey as she chats with Sophie Stern, whose debut novel 'What Is Left for Us' traces two estranged sisters returning to their grandmother's crumbling Bondi clifftop house. The episode explores family secrets, alternating timelines, a vivid sense of place and the environmental threat of coastal erosion that frames the story.

Sophie shares her path to becoming a writer — taking permission to write, being shortlisted fo...

Host Ky Garvey interviews Lawrey Goodrick about his illustrated middle‑grade book Half‑Life, a lively AA battery adventure following Half and his friend Hope as they explore science, history and identity.

The episode covers the book's STEM themes, neurodiversity and mental‑wellbeing, Laurie’s creative and publishing journey, his illustration process, and practical tips for aspiring authors.

Lawrey Goodrick– Hawkeye Publ...