Connected Libraries Book Matters Podcast
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 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 Other Child', 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 listening...
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...
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 world.
It’s a full-circle moment, and we’re thr...
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 writer & poe...
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 a...
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 nov...
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 world.
It’s a full-circle moment, and we’re thr...
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 story of family, relationships and being tr...
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 nor...
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 world.
It’s a full-circle moment, and we’re thr...
On Book Matters today, Courtney speaks with Sydney paramedic Sally Gould about her memoir Frog, an intimate look at the human cost of the job and the cumulative effect of trauma. Sally shares a personal story which offers a heartfelt tribute to the resilience, courage and camaraderie that define the high-stakes world of emergency medicine. Then Janine chats with South Australian crime writer Michelle Prak, we talk about her writin...
Today on Book Matters we are celebrating Australian crime fiction by chatting to Sydney writer Jane Caro about her compelling and fascinating new mystery novel Lyrebird, which brings a detective out of retirement to investigate a 20-year-old cold case. We hope you enjoy.
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On Book Matters today Kate speaks with Melbourne author Madeliene Cleary about her new historical fiction novel “The Butterfly Women” which shines a light on Melbourne in 1863, the goldrush and the brothels that operated in that era. Then Janine speaks with Sydney author Lauren McKellar about her new novel “The Calendar Mums” - a warm, funny and heartbreaking book about what it means to be a mother. We hope you enjoy.
On the podcast today Sam chats to Sydney author Catherine Greer about her novel The Bittersweet Bakery Café which sheds light on the complex lives of women, then Kiara speaks with Victoria Brownlee who describes herself as an Eater/Drinker/Writer, about her new novel Eat Your Heart Out.
We hope you enjoy.
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Connected Libraries Facebook Page
In a nook with a book Facebook Group
Connected Librari...
On the podcast this month Janine speaks with Sydney author Vanessa McCausland about her new release “The Last Illusion of Paige White” a haunting, compelling and beautifully written novel about two women, a tragedy on the lake, and secrets beneath the surface.
Kiara then chats with Ella Ward about her first novel "The Cicada House" - a heartfelt and feel-good time-travelling love story set in London and Australia.
On the podcast this month Janine speaks with author Kylie Ladd about her new release "The Mix-Up" - A beautifully told and thought-provoking novel about a mix-up that leaves two children wondering who they really are and where they belong . . . Sam then chats to Darwin based writer Leonie Norrington about her book – A Piece of Red Cloth, A powerful, unique novel based on the oral history of the Yolngu people from north-e...
Here at Book Matters we are taking a well-earned break over the holiday period but in the meantime we have put together some great listening in our best in-conversation events held during the year.
Back in October we were fortunate to have well known crime writer and winner of three Ned Kelly awards, Candice Fox here at Bunjil Place. Fellow crime writer and local girl Kerryn Mayne interviewed Candice about her writing, her collabo...
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