August 10, 2025 • 22 mins
Benjamin Norris chats with best-selling author Sally Hepworth about the brand new ABC TV adaptation of her hit novel The Family Next Door.
In this episode, Sally shares what it was like seeing her characters brought to life, the casting choices that shaped the series, and the creative process of translating her page-turning twists into gripping television.
You’ll also hear behind-the-scenes stories from production and Sally’s thoughts on the performances that bring her story to a whole new audience. Whether you’ve read the book, love Aussie drama, or are fascinated by book-to-screen adaptations, this conversation is full of insight and charm.
The Family Next Door premieres 8pm AEST on ABC TV, with all episodes available to stream on ABC iview immediately after broadcast.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's in the news today, but it was actually on
TV Reload the podcasts deep that line. Welcome back to
TV Reload. My name is Benjamin Norris, and I'm very
excited today because on TV Reload I will be chatting
with best selling author Sally Hepworth about the brand new
ABCTV adaptation of a hit book something that I read
and loved, The Family next Door. We'll be diving into
(00:23):
the casting choices, the creative process of bringing her page
turner to the screen, and how the production team translated
the books Twists and Turns into a television series. Sally
also shares behind the scenes stories, her thoughts on the performances,
and what it's like seeing her characters come to life.
Whether you're a fan of the novel like me, a
(00:43):
lover of Ozzie drama, or just curious about a book
to screen adaptation, this conversation today is for you, and
I also want to let you know. The Family Nextdoor
premiers at eight pm Eastern Standard Time on ABCTV, with
all of the episodes being a veil straight after on
ABC iView, which is very exciting because hey, I pretty
(01:05):
much binge watched this, and so should you. Anyway, enjoy
the chat you are listening to TV reload, Can I
just quickly stay to start with? This is one of
my most anticipated TV series this year. I'd been so
excited about it when I heard it was in production
November December last year, and then I sometimes you get
excited about a show and you watch the first episode
(01:25):
and you get a bit disappointed. But I watched the
first four episodes in one sitting and then emailed ABC
to be like, you can't leave me hanging. I need
to see the end of this compelling.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Oh that's so nice to hear. Gosh, I hope that
other people feel like that, but we haven't had too
many responses yet, so that's just so lovely to hear.
I'm so glad.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
When you're writing a book and you know you've written
so many books and you're such a beloved Australian author,
do you get nervous about how it's going to be adapted?
Speaker 2 (01:58):
Well, I mean, this is the first time actually made
it as far as the screen, so I've had several
books adapted so in production as it were, and you know,
this one was kind of like the little chain that
could or the little engine that could you know, it
was just ticking along and then it made it to
the screen. Nervous, I guess it's just so important the
people that you team with. And I was less nervous
(02:21):
about this because I knew from the start that the
team was so fantastic that we're working on the adaptation.
I was also I am also an executive producer, which
means that I've been able to have a seat at
the table and kind of be involved in it. So,
you know, I mean, I don't know that I ever
had a power of veto, but if I did, I
definitely didn't need to use it. It was a really
(02:42):
collaborative process and it was you know, and I'm so
excited with how it turned out. I love it as well.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
You hear those horror stories where the writer the author
is in the room and they're being blocked out and
they don't get to say anything, and I would say
that seems like my nightmare.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Look, I don't think I ever had any delusions that
it was going to be completely faithful to the book.
I don't think that's what in my mind what it
was meant to be. It was meant to be. It's
a TV production, It's different we've got six episodes to
fill and so it needed to be more and I
guess I love you know, there were two characters outed
(03:19):
that became some of my favorite characters. And you know,
there was more story. It was it was I hope,
all the things people love about the book.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
But then but more there's the danger though of stripping
content and what gets you know, built in to sort
of make sure that it's six parts or eight parts,
can you know, pad it out, you know, or make
it a bit like filler. It's interesting, this is a
six part series and it never felt like that. Every
episode was rich and engaging and it did what we
(03:48):
need these TV series, these limited series to do and
make you compelled to watch the next episode.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Good. That's exactly how it should be, and that was
my belief. That was how it was. And you know,
we were so careful with how this was done. And
as I said that, the writers were fantastic and it
was really even in the parts where on a plot level,
there are some changes. On a thematic level, you know,
it's a story about it's a mystery with it, you know,
(04:15):
the same mysteries at the heart of it. It's about
suburban Australia. You know, it's set in a cul de
sac and it's about motherhood. It's about the parts of
ourselves that we don't show, that you're kind of behind
closed doors, and that's really where the novel started for me.
So yeah, I think it's I think it's even maybe
even better than the book. I hope. I hope that's
(04:36):
the feedback we get. I feel no. If that is
the feedback, I feel nothing but pright. You know. I
don't feel threatened by that at all.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
It's hard to live up to a book, I think,
but that's my upbringing. My mum was a child educator.
She worked in primary schools and it was and also
was a big reader herself, but it was very important
for us as children to read books. So I grew
up in reading novels from a very early age. And
I very rarely believe that I've ever seen a TV
(05:03):
or a movie that lives up to my expectations. However,
what I want to say to you at that is
just how much I felt that this book was adapted
correctly and had that tone and also that warmth that
I wanted it to have.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Yeah, I'm glad to hear that I have to preface
my dog is snoring and I can't put it up
at just then she'll be barking. So if you suddenly
hear a snore, it's not me honestly.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
As long as we don't have to pay your dog
to be a.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Guest, she comes with the territory. Look. I think some
of the adaptations I have seen ones that haven't lived
up to the hype. I have seen ones that have.
I thought leon Murriarty's Big Little Lies was a great
example of I mean, some people weren't happy with it
being set out of Australia. I think it could have
been done just as well here, but that wasn't completely
(05:52):
faithful to the book. It was a new telling of
the story with the same characters, the same mystery at
the heart, but it was made more and it was
so beloved. I think that was an example of being
done well. I know Leonne was happy with it, and
obviously people loved it. Like you, I grew up with that.
My mum was a teacher. She was an English teacher,
and I grew up, you know, as a frequent flyer
(06:15):
at my library with a strong belief that books are best.
And I was probably the one mostly in my family
who loved books, but also you know, loved the screen,
and you know, sort of all of the dream My
first love, I have to say, will always be the books.
I love the written word. That's you know, I think
that's what I bring to it. But this feels like
the whole thing. Now I've got to have the book
(06:37):
and then work on this adaptation, which was a huge
learning curve, and hopefully now you know, now we've got
this amazing end product on the screen.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
I feel like it would be addictive now that you've
written these books, because you've got so many of them.
I think you first published in twenty fourteen and you've
got something like eleven books. Forgive me if I've got
that wrong, but a lot of it that's right. And
I just think now that you've got this one across
the line, and it has been made with respect to
its origins, and it's been done so well, I feel
(07:07):
like you're now going to want to tick them all off.
And I did look today that you've been optioned with
made up stories with Bruno pop Andrea with some of
the other books, So that's great.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Brune is fantastic and she's and also Asha Ketty is
attached to the soul Mate with Bruner, which is just
I mean, what a dream. She's just this most amazing woman.
So I mean, I hope that you never know with
these things, do you, because options happen and then nothing
comes from it. But Brune is a force. So I
(07:39):
think I'm hopeful that those two, the Darling Girls and
the Soulmate will come to the screen as well.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
Okay, wait, you know, I want to know if you know,
I'm going to pull back on something I was mentioning
before about how the episodes land with that compelling nature
to watch the next episode. I wonder, now that you've
had a book made into a TV series, do you
think you're going to have that in mind when you
write books moving forward? Do you think, oh, this book,
of course you're writing it is this is your passion
(08:05):
to be a novelist and author, you know, But will
that be in the back of your mind? Now that's
sort of like you're going this could be six parts,
so I need to have a clanger here, you know,
at page thirty eight, does that come into your mind? Now?
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Yeah, I understand the question. I think the answer is
I was already writing like that you know, and not
for the screen, but just I always say, you know,
I don't have any great, you know, literary kind of aspirations.
My goal when I write novels is to entertain and
that's always been my number one goal. And if I
can do other things through it and find some wisdom
(08:39):
and create some empathy, then I'm delighted. But my first goal,
and my most important goal, is to entertain people or
give them some escapism. And so I like to think
that I have. I've always I've loved a cliffhanger at
the end of a chapter. That's kind of one of
my you know, I think I'm known for it. I
love a short chapter. Compulsive is what I try to do.
(09:01):
And I think perhaps that's one of the reasons that
my books have appealed to the you know, as a
good adaptation option for people. So would it change it.
I don't think so, because, as I said, I've really
one thing I've really learned more through this is that
they're different. TV and film are different, and I don't
(09:24):
think even if I wrote it with that in mind,
it would still have to be rewritten as a screenplay.
And books that have been like you can do anything
with any kind of book. So I think my books
have been going quite well, so I think I'll stick
to the way I mean, I hope. I don't think
I could do them any other way. I really I
don't think.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
So I do the thing that I like about you
the most. And you know, congratulations on doing this interview,
which I've actually listened to you twice now, the one
that you did with Kate Lambrook. I thought was really
interesting because I thought who you were and this sounds ridiculous.
So be aware that I realized this sounds ridiculous because
you are who you are. You represent yourself very well,
but who you were in that interview was sort of
the first time i'd heard you voicing yourself. With the
(10:09):
nature of your storytelling about family and the vulnerability that
is in your writing just it echoes the whole way
through them. When I heard this interview, I was like, yeah,
I could hear all of that vulnerability, I could hear
all of that consciousness about community. So yeah, I don't know.
I just wanted to bring that interview up because I
just thought it was amazing.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
That's not silly or stranger or whatever you said it was.
I've had a really lovely I've had such lovely feedback
about that, and you're right, because usually when I'm talking
about things, I'm talking about my books, and it is
a different thing than talking about yourself. I was talking
earlier to someone about what do we owe people as
writers or as anyone as actors? Do we owe people
(10:51):
ourselves and our own story? And I don't think we do.
I don't think we owe anyone that. But I've always
felt like I have a real intimacy, for one of
a better word, with my readers, and you know, we're
kind of my words are alone with these people. And
when I meet people who read my books, they'll come
up and they'll confide things in me, or they'll email
(11:13):
me ways that their books, my books have touched them.
And often they'll come and say hello to me in
the street, and I feel they say, sorry, you don't
know me, and I think, well, I feel in a
way you know me, and the way that you're acting,
I feel a little bit like I know you. And
so I suppose it's not that I owe anyone anything,
but I feel comfortable sharing, you know, my truths. I hope,
(11:35):
as you would have heard in the interview, I wasn't.
I was very careful to not reveal anyone else's part
in it, certainly my children or my ex husband. But
the Golden Girls were delighted with their shout out that
chat went off, and it did, and in fact, a
lot of women have slewed into my DMS saying that
(11:55):
they want to be.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
A part of I'm a man, but I am a
gay man. I don't know if that helps more than welcome,
all right, because you know, it's so funny. I'm a
forty five year old, forty five year old male. It
wasn't until getting to this age that unpacking that and
the shame that some of my girlfriends have had about
divorce and where that has taken them is really comforting
(12:18):
when you hear other people going through the same thing.
And it's really comforting when you read your books to
read about Australian women and men, I guess, you know,
going through things that we all go through in life.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
I hope. So, I mean, that's that's my intention, both
with the books and the interviews. And you know, again
I said in the interview, I'm really lucky, but my
divorce was the most horrible thing that's happened.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
To me and share that's so eloquently as well, do
you know what I mean? Like I wanted to say
to you at the crux of all of this, I
wonder whether or not now this sounds ridiculous, This one
actually sounds ridiculous. Sorry, Sally, go through it. Maybe maybe
the divorce and the things that have happened into your
life have happened for a reason, because you have got
(13:00):
this ability to share your story in such a brilliant
way that I'm sure is helping people all around a strauss,
all around the world. Maybe there's a bit of a
gift in that.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Somehow that doesn't sound ridiculous. I agree, I think that
is what That's why we say, you know that super
young people can't really generally speaking, there's a few that
have broken through write books, you know, in the same way,
because you do have to have experienced you know, it's
the tortured artist, isn't it. And like guys, you know,
you have to have some life experience. You have to
(13:31):
have had your heart broken, you have to have been
on the bones of your ass. And like I said,
I've had normal ups and downs like everyone else, but
I haven't experienced the loss of a child, the loss
of a parent, some of those really big things, and
so yeah, we need we need bad so we can
(13:51):
have good. Like I've always thought that I'm.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
There's some company in that for you, because when I
was hearing you talking about your divorce and how heart
it was, and also just about how much you want
to be married, you know, your story is very compelling
in that regard. But I hope there's some small amount
of comfort that you're using your hardships for good.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
Oh there's you know what, there's huge comfort, And I
believe I'm in the right place now, you know, it's
not even just sort of hard things for the sake
of hard things. I'm in a much better place. And
much like carriacters in a book, I'm changed, you know,
Like you kind of say we're always the same. Maybe
in some ways we are. But I did always want
to be married. That was something I wanted. And now
(14:32):
despite the fact that I'm in a beautiful partnership. You know,
our partnership is completely different. Marriage and cohabitation and all
those things aren't what I want anymore. And not from
a place of fear, but from a place that I
really feel like I'm standing strong on my own. Maybe
I want love and passion and friendship, but all of
(14:55):
those things. But I've sort of realized that, you know,
you're born alone and you dialogue, and that sounds really
that sounds really sad, but I mean in it a
positive way, like you're your own greatest love, aren't you.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
I think we all need to start thinking abou ourselves
like that. You know, you often hear people talk about
how they treat others, but how they treat themselves also
should be important.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
Yes, And that's that. In fact, that is probably the
way I'm most changed. Is that is that self love thing.
It's not about baths or you know, massages, or it's
about how you treat yourself and how much you enjoy yourself.
And you know that you realize that your life isn't
necessarily a partnership with someone else. Your life is your life,
and that's you know that soulf love, isn't it.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
You catch up with your friends sometimes and they tell
you about their partner, Oh, that my partner's doing this,
and they're sort of trying to say that they want
to change their partner. And I often say to them,
you know, what you're talking about is something that you
cannot do. You cannot change another person, but who you
can change is yourself.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
So stick with that absolutely the truth. That's that's Mel Robbins.
Let them. We should have got there ahead of her.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
What would we do without Mel Robins? Anyway, I'm getting
to the end of this, but I just also thought
it was important to share with you. I was at
a media event the other day and we all share about,
you know, what shows we're getting to preview, what we're
looking forward to, And there was two women there that
I love like whenever I see them at an event,
I got oh, I love them. They're a great journalists.
And we were all talking about your show and we're
(16:23):
all talking about which what we loved about it. Yeah,
and all of us talked about this one actress that
we were like just blown away by someone who's been
on TV for a long time. And I don't normally
do this because it's a difficult position for you to
be in because you can't pick favorites. But can you
guess who we would be talking about in the sense
of there was someone that you've got in the family
next door that is just phenomenal.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
Well, I mean, obviously Teresa Palmer is sensational as Isabelle.
I've always been a huge fan of hers, and I
think she's you know, she's the lead that comes in
and she's a standout. But you're right, like, I really can't.
I think Pip Northeast is amazing as Essie. I loved
a Bella as and I think you.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
Haven't named them yet.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Oh okay, well then okay. Catherine McClements is that.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
I mean, we've grown up with her, to be honest,
and you know, she's always been very good. But Survivors
came out on Netflix and she was in that, and
she was the standout for me, and then in this
I just keep looking at this actress and she's so
rich in her storytelling and so relatable, you know, and.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
So much of what she is in the series she
brought to that character like that didn't exist before Catherine
brought it, you know, that kind of quirky, kind of hippie.
She just brought it and she is. You're right, She's
magic to watch. And one of my favorite scenes of
the whole thing is Catherine dancing. I don't know if
you've got to that. I finished it all.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
I'm done. I've actually watched it twice, so forgive me
put a restraining order on me.
Speaker 2 (18:04):
You know, the bit where she's dancing, that was a
little bit of kind of Catherine just you know, throwing
that in and the directors going, you know, we're going
to keep that. So she's brilliant, she's magical. But all
of the actors and actresses were and they loved each other.
That was the best thing. I was on set a
few times and all of them were saying, Oh, we
(18:24):
just want to work with these people forever. The crew
as well, and the you know, everyone. It was really
special project.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
I always watched Teresa Palmer and Jane Harbor and thought
those two actresses need to work together. They need to
be sisters. But there's something about their nuances as actresses
that are quite similar. So it was really interesting to
see them both together.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
You know, yes, yes, you know. Jane Harbor was also
a stand out. They were all good.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
They're all good. We can't do that. We can't now
get into it. I tricked you into this. It was
more off the back of something else. So for anyone
this podcast, any of the actresses, you're all brilliant.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
It was just.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
I have to finish the podcast because I've run out
of time, but I finished with what is the secret?
What is something from behind the scenes of the production
of these of what show? I'm talking about? If you
can share something, and it's always hard because you've been
put on the spot. So I thought of asking you
about when you're so close because you wrote it and
then you're thinking about this being made into a TV series,
(19:26):
was there anything that you felt nervous about how it
would translate.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
I'm curious about that in particular.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
Maybe there's something in the fact that you know that
you might have been looking forward to seeing something that
you'd written. You know, there might have been a particular
scene or interaction.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
I was looking forward to seeing all of it. There
are a couple of scenes that or a couple of
parts that didn't make it where I was thinking, I
don't know how they're going to do that, and it
didn't end up being part of the story, which I
won't say because people might have read the book and
that might give something away. But I can't really isn't
(20:02):
that terrible? I can't really think of any secrets or
anything that I that I really missed. You know, the
thing that I take away most from my trip to set.
We're getting photos taken the day that I was there,
and there was a man there called Alessandro, and his
whole job was to blow us with a leaf blower,
so our hair was moving, and I was like, Alessandro,
(20:23):
I have never had a big head, I don't think,
but I now I am going to need someone to follow
me around with a leaf blower because my hair has
never looked better.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
That's the best secret. Actually, that's probably the best secret.
This is episode five hundred and sixty, and your leaf
blower story is actually good for leaf blowers because you
see that. Did you see Keith Blanchette was wearing that
T shirt I hate leaf blowers? Did you see that?
Speaker 2 (20:45):
Oh? No, I didn't. Well, she even met Alessandro.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
I live in a live in my own cul de Sac.
Now I live in Aparber building and it's my ultimate
pet peeve. As a podcaster is working from home and
then the leaf blower gets out and they all their
own leaf blowers, so we get it like six times
a day.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
Surely one person could be nominated to blow all the leaves.
Speaker 1 (21:08):
I'll get on to it. I'll be like Sally, this
amazing author she told me about the luxury of having
a leaf blow blown in my face? So can you
do that just to make me feel good about myself?
You heard it here first, you heard it here birth.
Can I just say thank you for being so generous
with your time. I can't wait for Australia to invest
in this show. And I'm in your audience to see
what happens with made up stories picking up those other
(21:30):
TV series. How exciting.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
Oh well, maybe we'll chat again, but yeah, hopefully, And yeah,
I hope Australia loves the show as much as I
do it as much as you do.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
Yeah, they will, they will. It's quite addictive. I even
said to one journalist who's very renowned for watching one episode,
I said, watch the family next door because you'll watch
it all and he rang me and said I was correct,
he watched all of it.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
So yes, good prediction.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
Enjoy chatting to the media. I have to let you go.
And thanks to Rob as well for being in the
background and organizing this and Peter Peter also.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
Was Peter and everyone that was involved.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
Thank you amazing. All right, look after yourself, cheers, chat,
no worries it all.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
H
It's in the news today, but it was actually on
TV Reload the podcasts deep that line. Welcome back to
TV Reload. My name is Benjamin Norris, and I'm very
excited today because on TV Reload I will be chatting
with best selling author Sally Hepworth about the brand new
ABCTV adaptation of a hit book something that I read
and loved, The Family next Door. We'll be diving into
(00:23):
the casting choices, the creative process of bringing her page
turner to the screen, and how the production team translated
the books Twists and Turns into a television series. Sally
also shares behind the scenes stories, her thoughts on the performances,
and what it's like seeing her characters come to life.
Whether you're a fan of the novel like me, a
(00:43):
lover of Ozzie drama, or just curious about a book
to screen adaptation, this conversation today is for you, and
I also want to let you know. The Family Nextdoor
premiers at eight pm Eastern Standard Time on ABCTV, with
all of the episodes being a veil straight after on
ABC iView, which is very exciting because hey, I pretty
(01:05):
much binge watched this, and so should you. Anyway, enjoy
the chat you are listening to TV reload, Can I
just quickly stay to start with? This is one of
my most anticipated TV series this year. I'd been so
excited about it when I heard it was in production
November December last year, and then I sometimes you get
excited about a show and you watch the first episode
(01:25):
and you get a bit disappointed. But I watched the
first four episodes in one sitting and then emailed ABC
to be like, you can't leave me hanging. I need
to see the end of this compelling.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Oh that's so nice to hear. Gosh, I hope that
other people feel like that, but we haven't had too
many responses yet, so that's just so lovely to hear.
I'm so glad.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
When you're writing a book and you know you've written
so many books and you're such a beloved Australian author,
do you get nervous about how it's going to be adapted?
Speaker 2 (01:58):
Well, I mean, this is the first time actually made
it as far as the screen, so I've had several
books adapted so in production as it were, and you know,
this one was kind of like the little chain that
could or the little engine that could you know, it
was just ticking along and then it made it to
the screen. Nervous, I guess it's just so important the
people that you team with. And I was less nervous
(02:21):
about this because I knew from the start that the
team was so fantastic that we're working on the adaptation.
I was also I am also an executive producer, which
means that I've been able to have a seat at
the table and kind of be involved in it. So,
you know, I mean, I don't know that I ever
had a power of veto, but if I did, I
definitely didn't need to use it. It was a really
(02:42):
collaborative process and it was you know, and I'm so
excited with how it turned out. I love it as well.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
You hear those horror stories where the writer the author
is in the room and they're being blocked out and
they don't get to say anything, and I would say
that seems like my nightmare.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Look, I don't think I ever had any delusions that
it was going to be completely faithful to the book.
I don't think that's what in my mind what it
was meant to be. It was meant to be. It's
a TV production, It's different we've got six episodes to
fill and so it needed to be more and I
guess I love you know, there were two characters outed
(03:19):
that became some of my favorite characters. And you know,
there was more story. It was it was I hope,
all the things people love about the book.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
But then but more there's the danger though of stripping
content and what gets you know, built in to sort
of make sure that it's six parts or eight parts,
can you know, pad it out, you know, or make
it a bit like filler. It's interesting, this is a
six part series and it never felt like that. Every
episode was rich and engaging and it did what we
(03:48):
need these TV series, these limited series to do and
make you compelled to watch the next episode.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Good. That's exactly how it should be, and that was
my belief. That was how it was. And you know,
we were so careful with how this was done. And
as I said that, the writers were fantastic and it
was really even in the parts where on a plot level,
there are some changes. On a thematic level, you know,
it's a story about it's a mystery with it, you know,
(04:15):
the same mysteries at the heart of it. It's about
suburban Australia. You know, it's set in a cul de
sac and it's about motherhood. It's about the parts of
ourselves that we don't show, that you're kind of behind
closed doors, and that's really where the novel started for me.
So yeah, I think it's I think it's even maybe
even better than the book. I hope. I hope that's
(04:36):
the feedback we get. I feel no. If that is
the feedback, I feel nothing but pright. You know. I
don't feel threatened by that at all.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
It's hard to live up to a book, I think,
but that's my upbringing. My mum was a child educator.
She worked in primary schools and it was and also
was a big reader herself, but it was very important
for us as children to read books. So I grew
up in reading novels from a very early age. And
I very rarely believe that I've ever seen a TV
(05:03):
or a movie that lives up to my expectations. However,
what I want to say to you at that is
just how much I felt that this book was adapted
correctly and had that tone and also that warmth that
I wanted it to have.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Yeah, I'm glad to hear that I have to preface
my dog is snoring and I can't put it up
at just then she'll be barking. So if you suddenly
hear a snore, it's not me honestly.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
As long as we don't have to pay your dog
to be a.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
Guest, she comes with the territory. Look. I think some
of the adaptations I have seen ones that haven't lived
up to the hype. I have seen ones that have.
I thought leon Murriarty's Big Little Lies was a great
example of I mean, some people weren't happy with it
being set out of Australia. I think it could have
been done just as well here, but that wasn't completely
(05:52):
faithful to the book. It was a new telling of
the story with the same characters, the same mystery at
the heart, but it was made more and it was
so beloved. I think that was an example of being
done well. I know Leonne was happy with it, and
obviously people loved it. Like you, I grew up with that.
My mum was a teacher. She was an English teacher,
and I grew up, you know, as a frequent flyer
(06:15):
at my library with a strong belief that books are best.
And I was probably the one mostly in my family
who loved books, but also you know, loved the screen,
and you know, sort of all of the dream My
first love, I have to say, will always be the books.
I love the written word. That's you know, I think
that's what I bring to it. But this feels like
the whole thing. Now I've got to have the book
(06:37):
and then work on this adaptation, which was a huge
learning curve, and hopefully now you know, now we've got
this amazing end product on the screen.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
I feel like it would be addictive now that you've
written these books, because you've got so many of them.
I think you first published in twenty fourteen and you've
got something like eleven books. Forgive me if I've got
that wrong, but a lot of it that's right. And
I just think now that you've got this one across
the line, and it has been made with respect to
its origins, and it's been done so well, I feel
(07:07):
like you're now going to want to tick them all off.
And I did look today that you've been optioned with
made up stories with Bruno pop Andrea with some of
the other books, So that's great.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Brune is fantastic and she's and also Asha Ketty is
attached to the soul Mate with Bruner, which is just
I mean, what a dream. She's just this most amazing woman.
So I mean, I hope that you never know with
these things, do you, because options happen and then nothing
comes from it. But Brune is a force. So I
(07:39):
think I'm hopeful that those two, the Darling Girls and
the Soulmate will come to the screen as well.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
Okay, wait, you know, I want to know if you know,
I'm going to pull back on something I was mentioning
before about how the episodes land with that compelling nature
to watch the next episode. I wonder, now that you've
had a book made into a TV series, do you
think you're going to have that in mind when you
write books moving forward? Do you think, oh, this book,
of course you're writing it is this is your passion
(08:05):
to be a novelist and author, you know, But will
that be in the back of your mind? Now that's
sort of like you're going this could be six parts,
so I need to have a clanger here, you know,
at page thirty eight, does that come into your mind? Now?
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Yeah, I understand the question. I think the answer is
I was already writing like that you know, and not
for the screen, but just I always say, you know,
I don't have any great, you know, literary kind of aspirations.
My goal when I write novels is to entertain and
that's always been my number one goal. And if I
can do other things through it and find some wisdom
(08:39):
and create some empathy, then I'm delighted. But my first goal,
and my most important goal, is to entertain people or
give them some escapism. And so I like to think
that I have. I've always I've loved a cliffhanger at
the end of a chapter. That's kind of one of
my you know, I think I'm known for it. I
love a short chapter. Compulsive is what I try to do.
(09:01):
And I think perhaps that's one of the reasons that
my books have appealed to the you know, as a
good adaptation option for people. So would it change it.
I don't think so, because, as I said, I've really
one thing I've really learned more through this is that
they're different. TV and film are different, and I don't
(09:24):
think even if I wrote it with that in mind,
it would still have to be rewritten as a screenplay.
And books that have been like you can do anything
with any kind of book. So I think my books
have been going quite well, so I think I'll stick
to the way I mean, I hope. I don't think
I could do them any other way. I really I
don't think.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
So I do the thing that I like about you
the most. And you know, congratulations on doing this interview,
which I've actually listened to you twice now, the one
that you did with Kate Lambrook. I thought was really
interesting because I thought who you were and this sounds ridiculous.
So be aware that I realized this sounds ridiculous because
you are who you are. You represent yourself very well,
but who you were in that interview was sort of
the first time i'd heard you voicing yourself. With the
(10:09):
nature of your storytelling about family and the vulnerability that
is in your writing just it echoes the whole way
through them. When I heard this interview, I was like, yeah,
I could hear all of that vulnerability, I could hear
all of that consciousness about community. So yeah, I don't know.
I just wanted to bring that interview up because I
just thought it was amazing.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
That's not silly or stranger or whatever you said it was.
I've had a really lovely I've had such lovely feedback
about that, and you're right, because usually when I'm talking
about things, I'm talking about my books, and it is
a different thing than talking about yourself. I was talking
earlier to someone about what do we owe people as
writers or as anyone as actors? Do we owe people
(10:51):
ourselves and our own story? And I don't think we do.
I don't think we owe anyone that. But I've always
felt like I have a real intimacy, for one of
a better word, with my readers, and you know, we're
kind of my words are alone with these people. And
when I meet people who read my books, they'll come
up and they'll confide things in me, or they'll email
(11:13):
me ways that their books, my books have touched them.
And often they'll come and say hello to me in
the street, and I feel they say, sorry, you don't
know me, and I think, well, I feel in a
way you know me, and the way that you're acting,
I feel a little bit like I know you. And
so I suppose it's not that I owe anyone anything,
but I feel comfortable sharing, you know, my truths. I hope,
(11:35):
as you would have heard in the interview, I wasn't.
I was very careful to not reveal anyone else's part
in it, certainly my children or my ex husband. But
the Golden Girls were delighted with their shout out that
chat went off, and it did, and in fact, a
lot of women have slewed into my DMS saying that
(11:55):
they want to be.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
A part of I'm a man, but I am a
gay man. I don't know if that helps more than welcome,
all right, because you know, it's so funny. I'm a
forty five year old, forty five year old male. It
wasn't until getting to this age that unpacking that and
the shame that some of my girlfriends have had about
divorce and where that has taken them is really comforting
(12:18):
when you hear other people going through the same thing.
And it's really comforting when you read your books to
read about Australian women and men, I guess, you know,
going through things that we all go through in life.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
I hope. So, I mean, that's that's my intention, both
with the books and the interviews. And you know, again
I said in the interview, I'm really lucky, but my
divorce was the most horrible thing that's happened.
Speaker 1 (12:39):
To me and share that's so eloquently as well, do
you know what I mean? Like I wanted to say
to you at the crux of all of this, I
wonder whether or not now this sounds ridiculous, This one
actually sounds ridiculous. Sorry, Sally, go through it. Maybe maybe
the divorce and the things that have happened into your
life have happened for a reason, because you have got
(13:00):
this ability to share your story in such a brilliant
way that I'm sure is helping people all around a strauss,
all around the world. Maybe there's a bit of a
gift in that.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Somehow that doesn't sound ridiculous. I agree, I think that
is what That's why we say, you know that super
young people can't really generally speaking, there's a few that
have broken through write books, you know, in the same way,
because you do have to have experienced you know, it's
the tortured artist, isn't it. And like guys, you know,
you have to have some life experience. You have to
(13:31):
have had your heart broken, you have to have been
on the bones of your ass. And like I said,
I've had normal ups and downs like everyone else, but
I haven't experienced the loss of a child, the loss
of a parent, some of those really big things, and
so yeah, we need we need bad so we can
(13:51):
have good. Like I've always thought that I'm.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
There's some company in that for you, because when I
was hearing you talking about your divorce and how heart
it was, and also just about how much you want
to be married, you know, your story is very compelling
in that regard. But I hope there's some small amount
of comfort that you're using your hardships for good.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
Oh there's you know what, there's huge comfort, And I
believe I'm in the right place now, you know, it's
not even just sort of hard things for the sake
of hard things. I'm in a much better place. And
much like carriacters in a book, I'm changed, you know,
Like you kind of say we're always the same. Maybe
in some ways we are. But I did always want
to be married. That was something I wanted. And now
(14:32):
despite the fact that I'm in a beautiful partnership. You know,
our partnership is completely different. Marriage and cohabitation and all
those things aren't what I want anymore. And not from
a place of fear, but from a place that I
really feel like I'm standing strong on my own. Maybe
I want love and passion and friendship, but all of
(14:55):
those things. But I've sort of realized that, you know,
you're born alone and you dialogue, and that sounds really
that sounds really sad, but I mean in it a
positive way, like you're your own greatest love, aren't you.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
I think we all need to start thinking abou ourselves
like that. You know, you often hear people talk about
how they treat others, but how they treat themselves also
should be important.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
Yes, And that's that. In fact, that is probably the
way I'm most changed. Is that is that self love thing.
It's not about baths or you know, massages, or it's
about how you treat yourself and how much you enjoy yourself.
And you know that you realize that your life isn't
necessarily a partnership with someone else. Your life is your life,
and that's you know that soulf love, isn't it.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
You catch up with your friends sometimes and they tell
you about their partner, Oh, that my partner's doing this,
and they're sort of trying to say that they want
to change their partner. And I often say to them,
you know, what you're talking about is something that you
cannot do. You cannot change another person, but who you
can change is yourself.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
So stick with that absolutely the truth. That's that's Mel Robbins.
Let them. We should have got there ahead of her.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
What would we do without Mel Robins? Anyway, I'm getting
to the end of this, but I just also thought
it was important to share with you. I was at
a media event the other day and we all share about,
you know, what shows we're getting to preview, what we're
looking forward to, And there was two women there that
I love like whenever I see them at an event,
I got oh, I love them. They're a great journalists.
And we were all talking about your show and we're
(16:23):
all talking about which what we loved about it. Yeah,
and all of us talked about this one actress that
we were like just blown away by someone who's been
on TV for a long time. And I don't normally
do this because it's a difficult position for you to
be in because you can't pick favorites. But can you
guess who we would be talking about in the sense
of there was someone that you've got in the family
next door that is just phenomenal.
Speaker 2 (16:45):
Well, I mean, obviously Teresa Palmer is sensational as Isabelle.
I've always been a huge fan of hers, and I
think she's you know, she's the lead that comes in
and she's a standout. But you're right, like, I really can't.
I think Pip Northeast is amazing as Essie. I loved
a Bella as and I think you.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
Haven't named them yet.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Oh okay, well then okay. Catherine McClements is that.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
I mean, we've grown up with her, to be honest,
and you know, she's always been very good. But Survivors
came out on Netflix and she was in that, and
she was the standout for me, and then in this
I just keep looking at this actress and she's so
rich in her storytelling and so relatable, you know, and.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
So much of what she is in the series she
brought to that character like that didn't exist before Catherine
brought it, you know, that kind of quirky, kind of hippie.
She just brought it and she is. You're right, She's
magic to watch. And one of my favorite scenes of
the whole thing is Catherine dancing. I don't know if
you've got to that. I finished it all.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
I'm done. I've actually watched it twice, so forgive me
put a restraining order on me.
Speaker 2 (18:04):
You know, the bit where she's dancing, that was a
little bit of kind of Catherine just you know, throwing
that in and the directors going, you know, we're going
to keep that. So she's brilliant, she's magical. But all
of the actors and actresses were and they loved each other.
That was the best thing. I was on set a
few times and all of them were saying, Oh, we
(18:24):
just want to work with these people forever. The crew
as well, and the you know, everyone. It was really
special project.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
I always watched Teresa Palmer and Jane Harbor and thought
those two actresses need to work together. They need to
be sisters. But there's something about their nuances as actresses
that are quite similar. So it was really interesting to
see them both together.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
You know, yes, yes, you know. Jane Harbor was also
a stand out. They were all good.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
They're all good. We can't do that. We can't now
get into it. I tricked you into this. It was
more off the back of something else. So for anyone
this podcast, any of the actresses, you're all brilliant.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
It was just.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
I have to finish the podcast because I've run out
of time, but I finished with what is the secret?
What is something from behind the scenes of the production
of these of what show? I'm talking about? If you
can share something, and it's always hard because you've been
put on the spot. So I thought of asking you
about when you're so close because you wrote it and
then you're thinking about this being made into a TV series,
(19:26):
was there anything that you felt nervous about how it
would translate.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
I'm curious about that in particular.
Speaker 1 (19:33):
Maybe there's something in the fact that you know that
you might have been looking forward to seeing something that
you'd written. You know, there might have been a particular
scene or interaction.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
I was looking forward to seeing all of it. There
are a couple of scenes that or a couple of
parts that didn't make it where I was thinking, I
don't know how they're going to do that, and it
didn't end up being part of the story, which I
won't say because people might have read the book and
that might give something away. But I can't really isn't
(20:02):
that terrible? I can't really think of any secrets or
anything that I that I really missed. You know, the
thing that I take away most from my trip to set.
We're getting photos taken the day that I was there,
and there was a man there called Alessandro, and his
whole job was to blow us with a leaf blower,
so our hair was moving, and I was like, Alessandro,
(20:23):
I have never had a big head, I don't think,
but I now I am going to need someone to follow
me around with a leaf blower because my hair has
never looked better.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
That's the best secret. Actually, that's probably the best secret.
This is episode five hundred and sixty, and your leaf
blower story is actually good for leaf blowers because you
see that. Did you see Keith Blanchette was wearing that
T shirt I hate leaf blowers? Did you see that?
Speaker 2 (20:45):
Oh? No, I didn't. Well, she even met Alessandro.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
I live in a live in my own cul de Sac.
Now I live in Aparber building and it's my ultimate
pet peeve. As a podcaster is working from home and
then the leaf blower gets out and they all their
own leaf blowers, so we get it like six times
a day.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
Surely one person could be nominated to blow all the leaves.
Speaker 1 (21:08):
I'll get on to it. I'll be like Sally, this
amazing author she told me about the luxury of having
a leaf blow blown in my face? So can you
do that just to make me feel good about myself?
You heard it here first, you heard it here birth.
Can I just say thank you for being so generous
with your time. I can't wait for Australia to invest
in this show. And I'm in your audience to see
what happens with made up stories picking up those other
(21:30):
TV series. How exciting.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
Oh well, maybe we'll chat again, but yeah, hopefully, And yeah,
I hope Australia loves the show as much as I
do it as much as you do.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
Yeah, they will, they will. It's quite addictive. I even
said to one journalist who's very renowned for watching one episode,
I said, watch the family next door because you'll watch
it all and he rang me and said I was correct,
he watched all of it.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
So yes, good prediction.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
Enjoy chatting to the media. I have to let you go.
And thanks to Rob as well for being in the
background and organizing this and Peter Peter also.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
Was Peter and everyone that was involved.
Speaker 1 (22:04):
Thank you amazing. All right, look after yourself, cheers, chat,
no worries it all.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
H
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