Words and Nerds: Authors, books and literature.

Bold New Chapter: Bakers Lane Books Launches with $10,000 Fearless Prize to Support Emerging Women Writers 9th July 2025 — Australia’s publishing landscape welcomes a powerful new player with the launch of Bakers Lane Books, an independent publishing house committed to platforming bold, inclusive storytelling. Founded by long-time publishing veteran Ginny Grant, Bakers Lane Books will publish a select number of high-quality fiction and nonfiction titles each year, with a mission to support underrepresented and diverse Australian voices.

Date With A Debut is a podcast hosted by writer Nick Wasiliev: shining a light on debut authors, their incredible books, and their journeys to publication. This week, I sit down with Liann Zhang to discuss her debut novel, Julie Chan is Dead. Enjoy the show? Drop us a review, it really helps the show out! You can also support Date with a Debut on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/nickwasiliev/membership Subscribe on Podbean to never miss an episode: https://www.podbean.com/site/podcatcher/index/blog/3mRME5IMoSJx Date With a Debut is featured in the Australian literary platform Words & Nerds. Check out all shows on the platform here: https://danivee.com.au/podcasts/ BOOKS: Debut Feature: Julie Chan is Dead / Liann Zhang: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/VxKDZM Other Books Mentioned: Bat Eater / Kylie Lee Baker: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/JKAdJ7 Restaurant Kid / Rachel Phan: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/XmR9db Yellowface / Rebecca F. Kuang: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/Bn9dxW Such a Fun Age / Kiley Reid: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/095KmE PRODUCTION NOTES: Host: Nick Wasiliev Guest: Liann Zhang Editing & Production: Nick Wasiliev Podcast Theme: ‘Chill’ by Sakura Hz Production Code: 3:11 Episode Number: #45 Additional Credits: Dani Vee (Words & Nerds), Natalia Facelli (Bloomsbury) FOLLOW NICK WASILIEV (+ DATE WITH A DEBUT): A LITTLE IDEA PODCAST: Feed WEBSITE: www.nicholaswasiliev.com YOUTUBE: @NickWasiliev_Official INSTAGRAM: @nickwasiliev TWITTER/X: @Nick_Wasiliev FACEBOOK: Nick Wasiliev TIKTOK: @nickwasiliev © 2025 Nick Wasiliev and Breathe Art Holdings ‘Date With A Debut’ is a Words and Nerds and Breathe Art Podcasts co-production recorded and edited on Awabakal Country, and we pay our respects to all elders past and present.

Dani Vee and Amelia Mellor chat about her new book Ocean Forged, The Wicked Ship. They chat about the lengths one goes to for research such as swimming with sharks and scuba diving on shipwrecks. They also talk about the greatest challenges when writing fantasy, and creating evil villains.

Date With A Debut is a podcast hosted by writer Nick Wasiliev: shining a light on debut authors, their incredible books, and their journeys to publication. This week, I sit down with Sinéad Stubbins to discuss her debut novel, Stinkbug. Enjoy the show? Drop us a review, it really helps the show out! You can also support Date with a Debut on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/nickwasiliev/membership Subscribe on Podbean to never miss an episode: https://www.podbean.com/site/podcatcher/index/blog/3mRME5IMoSJx Date With a Debut is featured in the Australian literary platform Words & Nerds. Check out all shows on the platform here: https://danivee.com.au/podcasts/ BOOKS: Debut Feature: Stinkbug / Sinéad Stubbins: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/yqvZmy Other Books Mentioned: Woo Woo / Ella Baxter: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/mOv42Z Brother of the More Famous Jack / Barbara Trapido: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/DymWkq The Animals In That Country / Laura Jean McKay: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/QjXY6z PRODUCTION NOTES: Host: Nick Wasiliev Guest: Sinéad Stubbins Editing & Production: Nick Wasiliev Podcast Theme: ‘Chill’ by Sakura Hz Production Code: 3:10 Episode Number: #44 Additional Credits: Dani Vee (Words & Nerds), Ariane Ryan, Dana Anderson (Affirm Press) FOLLOW NICK WASILIEV (+ DATE WITH A DEBUT): A LITTLE IDEA PODCAST: Feed WEBSITE: www.nicholaswasiliev.com YOUTUBE: @NickWasiliev_Official INSTAGRAM: @nickwasiliev TWITTER/X: @Nick_Wasiliev FACEBOOK: Nick Wasiliev TIKTOK: @nickwasiliev © 2025 Nick Wasiliev and Breathe Art Holdings ‘Date With A Debut’ is a Words and Nerds and Breathe Art Podcasts co-production recorded and edited on Awabakal Country, and we pay our respects to all elders past and present.

Episode 756. Get ready for a shot of adrenaline with this high octane interview between Dani Vee and Gabe Bergmoser chatting about his new thriller High Rise. They chat about the immediacy of first person present tense and his high stakes meeting with publishing Queen Catherine Milne and how Gabe wrote High Rise without a plan. Gabriel Bergmoser can never write a boring book and nor can he ever give a boring interview. Strap in, and get ready for a fast paced chat full of literary thriller goodness.

Date With A Debut is a podcast hosted by writer Nick Wasiliev: shining a light on debut authors, their incredible books, and their journeys to publication. This week, I sit down with Daniel Nour to discuss his debut novel, How to Dodge Flying Sandals and Other Advice for Life. Enjoy the show? Drop us a review, it really helps the show out! You can also support Date with a Debut on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/nickwasiliev/membership Subscribe on Podbean to never miss an episode: https://www.podbean.com/site/podcatcher/index/blog/3mRME5IMoSJx Date With a Debut is featured in the Australian literary platform Words & Nerds. Check out all shows on the platform here: https://danivee.com.au/podcasts/ BOOKS: Debut Feature: How to Dodge Flying Sandals and Other Advice for Life / Daniel Nour: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/BnVNEL Other Books Mentioned: Song of Solomon / Toni Morrison: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/LKyjXY On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous / Ocean Vuong: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/09MgGJ Funny Ethnics / Shirley Le: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/RGNARN Dirt Poor Islanders / Winnie Dunn: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/DyZYQ2 The Tribe / Michael Mohammed Ahmad: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/AP1dER The Lebs / Michael Mohammed Ahmad: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/XmvgNM The Other Half of You / Michael Mohammed Ahmad: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/2aLo5G PRODUCTION NOTES: Host: Nick Wasiliev Guest: Daniel Nour Editing & Production: Nick Wasiliev Podcast Theme: ‘Chill’ by Sakura Hz Production Code: 3:9 Episode Number: #43 Additional Credits: Dani Vee (Words & Nerds), Ariane Ryan (Affirm Press) FOLLOW NICK WASILIEV (+ DATE WITH A DEBUT): A LITTLE IDEA PODCAST: Feed WEBSITE: www.nicholaswasiliev.com YOUTUBE: @NickWasiliev_Official INSTAGRAM: @nickwasiliev TWITTER/X: @Nick_Wasiliev FACEBOOK: Nick Wasiliev TIKTOK: @nickwasiliev © 2025 Nick Wasiliev and Breathe Art Holdings ‘Date With A Debut’ is a Words and Nerds and Breathe Art Podcasts co-production recorded and edited on Awabakal Country, and we pay our respects to all elders past and present.

Everything I Know About Publishing - Dani Vee and Adam Wallace - Part 2

Date With A Debut is a podcast hosted by writer Nick Wasiliev: shining a light on debut authors, their incredible books, and their journeys to publication. This week, I sit down with Thomas Vowles to discuss his debut novel, Our New Gods. Enjoy the show? Drop us a review, it really helps out! You can also support Date with a Debut on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/nickwasiliev/membership Subscribe on Podbean to never miss an episode: https://www.podbean.com/site/podcatcher/index/blog/3mRME5IMoSJx Date With a Debut is featured in the Australian literary platform Words & Nerds. Check out all shows on the platform here: https://danivee.com.au/podcasts/ BOOKS: Debut Feature: Our New Gods / Thomas Vowles: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/Z6vye0 Other Books Mentioned: Narrow Rooms / James Purdy: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/XmvXvy What Belongs to You / Garth Greenwell: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/BnV2V0 Bryan Washington Collection: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/WyvGvO OTHER LINKS: Author Website: https://www.thomasvowles.com/ PRODUCTION NOTES: Host: Nick Wasiliev Guest: Thomas Vowles Editing & Production: Nick Wasiliev Podcast Theme: ‘Chill’ by Sakura Hz Production Code: 3:8 Episode Number: #42 Additional Credits: Dani Vee (Words & Nerds), Sarah Valle (University of Queensland Press) FOLLOW NICK WASILIEV (+ DATE WITH A DEBUT): A LITTLE IDEA PODCAST: Feed WEBSITE: www.nicholaswasiliev.com YOUTUBE: @NickWasiliev_Official INSTAGRAM: @nickwasiliev TWITTER/X: @Nick_Wasiliev FACEBOOK: Nick Wasiliev TIKTOK: @nickwasiliev © 2025 Nick Wasiliev and Breathe Art Holdings ‘Date With A Debut’ is a Words and Nerds and Breathe Art Podcasts co-production recorded and edited on Awabakal Country, and we pay our respects to all elders past and present.

Episode 752: Everything I Know About Publishing with Adam Wallace and Sue Whiting PART 1 🩷 Dani Vee chats to Sue Whiting and Adam Wallace about their journey into publishing. ⭐️ How to start your writing career ⭐️ Dealing with rejection in a positive way ⭐️ Follow the energy ⭐️ Creativity is playing ⭐️ How publishing is always changing ⭐️ Being open to ideas and being easy to work with

Everything I Know About Publishing - TAKEOVER with Deborah Abela, Sarah Armstrong, Lian Tanner and Zanni Louise

Date With A Debut is a podcast hosted by writer Nick Wasiliev: shining a light on debut authors, their incredible books, and their journeys to publication. This week, I sit down with Nadia Mahjouri to discuss her debut novel, Half Truth. Enjoy the show? Drop us a review, it really helps out! You can also support Date with a Debut on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/nickwasiliev/membership Subscribe on Podbean to never miss an episode: https://www.podbean.com/site/podcatcher/index/blog/3mRME5IMoSJx Date With a Debut is featured in the Australian literary platform Words & Nerds. Check out all shows on the platform here: https://danivee.com.au/podcasts/ BOOKS: Debut Feature: Half Truth / Nadia Mahjouri: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/vPgdrd Other Books Mentioned: Heartsease / Kate Kruimink: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/XmWJRX The Kite Runner / Khaled Hosseini: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/mOkdBe The God of Small Things / Arundhati Roy: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/POqG9z The Dictionary of Lost Words / Pip Williams: https://booktopia.kh4ffx.net/VmRrR6 OTHER LINKS: The Whole Truth Podcast: https://bit.ly/4lvagxS PRODUCTION NOTES: Host: Nick Wasiliev Guest: Nadia Mahjouri Editing & Production: Nick Wasiliev Podcast Theme: ‘Chill’ by Sakura Hz Production Code: 3:7 Episode Number: #41 Additional Credits: Dani Vee (Words & Nerds), Tessa Robinson and Hannah Ludbrook (Penguin Random House Australia) FOLLOW NICK WASILIEV (+ DATE WITH A DEBUT): A LITTLE IDEA PODCAST: Feed WEBSITE: www.nicholaswasiliev.com YOUTUBE: @NickWasiliev_Official INSTAGRAM: @nickwasiliev TWITTER/X: @Nick_Wasiliev FACEBOOK: Nick Wasiliev TIKTOK: @nickwasiliev © 2025 Nick Wasiliev and Breathe Art Holdings ‘Date With A Debut’ is a Words and Nerds and Breathe Art Podcasts co-production recorded and edited on Awabakal Country, and we pay our respects to all elders past and present.

Episode 751: Everything I Know About Publishing - a NEW SERIES - focused on what the best in the biz know about publishing 🩷 Today Dani Vee chats to Jacqueline Harvey who has created a long and successful career writing children’s books 🩷 ⭐️ Writing for a changing market ⭐️ How to create a long career as a writer ⭐️ The importance of reading aloud to children ⭐️ How to speak up when you’re a new author ⭐️ The importance of work ethic and community ⭐️ Generosity as an author Listen now 🎉

Episode 750: Dani Vee and Ashleigh Barton chat about her new picture book Hedgehog or Echidna. They chat about writing a non-fiction picture book, creating great rhyme, and how to publicise your book. They also chat about developing ideas, and they come up with brand new picture book ideas! Listen now!

Dani Vee chats to Nick Croydon, debut author of The Turing Protocol and CEO of QBD Books. They talk about his passion for history, maths and fiction, and how to balance historical facts and fiction. They discuss the 'what if' factor and how this idea could impact the world. Themes of moral ambiguity during wartime is explored, as well as the social issues of the time. Nick tells Dani about what he's learnt about writing and the book industry as CEO of QBD, and the answer on everyone's mind, is the book finally dead? Nick's steadfast belief in the book industry and our need for storytelling is a refreshing take on the current climate of low literacy rates. It's all about the resilience of the book! 'Great questions. A beautiful interview.' Nick Croydon.

Dani Vee with Ali Berg and Michelle Kalus - Romance tropes, feminism and romance novels, platonic soulmates and Love Overdue

TAKEOVER: Rory H Mather chats to Sarah Speedie, Sharna Carter and Toni D'Alia - Picture Books Special

Dani Vee and Pip Smith - Knowing history, finding empathy and The Pull of the Moon

In this special takeover episode – Kristin Darell and Zena Shapter chat about the pros and pitfalls of writing for different ages. From co-authoring a middle grade book to writing best-selling junior fiction and award-winning YA and adult novels, they discuss how they adjust their writing styles to suit the audience – and each other! What considerations and adjustments do you have to make? How do you know where your story or article fits? They also discuss the power of networking and sharing the writing journey to create the foundation of a long-lasting and successful writing career. Books discussed by Kristin: Taronga presents series (Penguin Kids Australia, 2024) – https://www.penguin.com.au/books/taronga-presents-poo-at-the-zoo-9781761347436 Football Fever series (Penguin Kids Australia, 2022–23) – https://www.penguin.com.au/books/football-fever-1-the-kick-off-9781761048067 Books discussed by Zena: When Dark Roots Hung (MidnightSun, 2023) – https://midnightsunpublishing.com/shop/books/when-dark-roots-hunt/ When Dark Waters Burn (MidnightSun, 2025) – https://midnightsunpublishing.com/2025/01/when-dark-waters-burn/ Co-authored middle grade discussed: Into Tordon (MidnightSun, 2016) – https://midnightsunpublishing.com/shop/books/into-tordon/

Dani Vee and Ingrid Laguna chat about being kind to yourself, owning who you are, an unreasonable fear of sharks, confessions of a lie they've told, creativity and anxiety, the impact of AI and Edie Tells a Lie.

Dani Vee and George Ivanoff chat about rejections as an established author, dinosaurs and his new book You Choose Mega: Prehistoric Peril