Benjamin Law is a Guest Curator for this years Sydney Writers' Festival. Ben joins Andrew to talk books, writing and how the stories we tell help shape the world we live in.

In The Bell of the World Sarah Hutchison journeys to Ngangahook, a bush property near Geelong. Ngangahook is run by her Uncle Ferny and Sarah is there to rediscover herself after drifting from her days in an English boarding school. Surrounded by nature, Sarah the world as distinct from the trappings of ‘society’. Ngangahook attracts the unconventional and Sarh begins to infuse her poetry and music with elements plucked from her surroundings.

In this special presentation Felix Shannon, host of Death of the Reader sits down with Pip Williams to discuss her new novel The Bookbinder of Jericho.

Song of the Crocodile is a generational tale. Across decades of the mid-twentieth century the reader travels alongside members of the Billymil family and their lives in Darnmoor. The book is a fiction about the very real stories of dispossession, oppression, often outright murder that are woven throughout the history of this country. Too often understood but rarely told.

Addi Road Writers' Festival is now in its third year. Festival Artistic Directors Mark Mordue and Sheila Ngọc Phạm join Andrew on the show to talk about their festival theme for 2023 ‘Inner Worlds’ and creating an unofficial fringe to the Sydney Writers’ Festival.

The Final Draft podcast is all about books, writing and literary culture. We're dedicated to exploring Australian writing, looking into the issues that drive our storytelling to discover more from the books you love. This week's Book Club features an exclusive reading from Sarah Holland-Batt's The Jaguar

Tommy Llewelyn’s got a problem. Tommy wakes up every fifth of January to a world that's forgotten him. Each year his life resets; No records, no belongings, no memories. No trace Tommy ever existed. It’s a problem Tommy’s been enduring ever since he was born and the universe is showing no sign of letting up. When Tommy meets Carey Price though, everything changes. The universe still seems to be out to get him but Tommy’s finally got a reason to fight back. This time he’s going to be remembered.

It is the early twentieth century and Europe is in a state of unrest. German ambition and growing naval power threatens the balance of power in the region and across the world. With an aging, ailing navy holding it back Britain finds itself vulnerable on the high seas and at home. Love, Oil, and the Fortunes of War is the story of three unique, disparate individuals and the role they played in modernizing ancient battleships and changing the course of history…

In The Quiet and The Loud Fox again takes us into the messy, complex and wonderful world of being young, showing the reader that while it will present us with seemingly immense problems it will also surround us with people who can support us.

Sydney Writers Festival returns this May! The festival is annual gathering of writers from Australia and across the world. It’s been described amongst the best writers festivals in the world with hundreds of writers across events Sydney wide. Festival Artistic Director Ann Mossop joins Andrew on the show to chat books, programs and how to curate ideas.

Tommy Llewelyn’s got a problem. Every year on the fifth of January his life resets. No records, no belongings, no memories. No trace Tommy ever existed. It’s a problem Tommy’s been enduring ever since he was born and the universe is showing no sign of letting up. When Tommy meets Carey Price though, everything changes. The universe still seems to be out to get him but Tommy’s finally got a reason to fight back. This time he’s going to be remembered.

Ayat’s mother is dying. It has been six years since the two have been together, a rift seemingly impossible to heal. But now Ayat has received a call from her sister Laila; their mother doesn’t have long to live and somehow they must reconcile. To reunite as a family.

Natsuki Sasamoto is certain she’s a wizard. She’s certain she’s not a part of the world of her family and developing her powers seems a sensible way to escape their world. On their annual trip to the families home in the mountains Natsuki’s cousin Yuu confides that he is in fact an alien. It’s a fact Natsuki takes in her stride, confident Yuu is from the same planet as her plush Hedgehog Piyyut. Natsuki and Yuu pledge their love to each other and survive their lives in the real world on the promise that they will reunite at the family’s annual gathering where they will be picked up by a ship from Yuu’s home planet.

Sylvia has just dropped a bombshell on her parents; she’s dropping law to focus on her writing. It’s a blow few parents are equipped to take and Sylvia’s parents are only too quick to remind her of their struggles fleeing Vietnam for a better life in Australia. As Sylvia’s father points out the perilous future awaiting artists (he’s not quite so polite in his phrasing) Syliva takes us on a trip through her life and the perennial clash between her dreams and the expectations of her family and community.

Funny Ethnics opens with Sylvia Nguyen dropping a bombshell on her parents; she’s dropping out of law school to focus on her writing. It’s a blow few parents are equipped to take and Sylvia’s parents are no exception. Sylvia has prepared a speech in English and Vietnamese to reassure them she is not turning her back on her culture, but they are prepared to point out her mistakes bilingually. Sylvia’s dilemma is one faced by many second generation children of migrants. Somehow though, knowing that she is well supported amongst the diaspora populations of Western Sydney is small consolation as Sylvia tries to live with her feet in both worlds.

Until three months ago Sean had never even had a steady boyfriend. Now a drawer full of fancy undies and an ill advised moment with a bottle of mouthwash have him thinking he might never again. Sean’s been out for years and relationships, let alone marriage are not things he sees in his future. But it feels like the whole world is talking about gays getting married while all Sean wants is his six-pack back. When Sean meets William he discovers a new world. One of long term relationships and dogs you call your kid. It’s a million miles from Sean’s life but it’s got him wondering if it’s possible there’s more to life than Grindr and hookups? Sean’s finally looking to the future, but inevitably that means he’ll have to come to terms with the past. 

Limberlost is set across a long summer in Tasmania’s north. While war rages in Europe and the Pacific, life on Limberlost carries on, haunted by the echoes of young men gone to fight. Ned is left at home with his father and sister Maggie, too young to fight, while his brothers enlist in the war. Ned is aware of their bravery and duty but struggles to reconcile himself to their absence and his own dislocation in the family hierarchy. Ned busies himself hunting rabbits. To provide pelts to make slouch hats for the soldiers is his justification, but really Ned dreams of buying a boat and setting free on the open water.

Abbie isn’t a bad mum. Like so many parents she is exhausted, overworked, trying her best when one day someone takes advantage and steals her daughter Sarah from a busy street market. Six years later and Abbie has another life. She can never move on from that tragic day but she is trying. That is until a phone call offers the tantalizing hope; knowledge of Sarah. All Abbie has to do is blow up her life…

Paul Dalgarno is the critically acclaimed author of Poly. In this special bonus episode Paul sits down with 2ser Producer Irene Diakanastasis to discuss his incredible new novel A Country of Eternal Light.

When a body is found on the banks of the Murray River, Detective Zoe Mayer is called up from Melbourne to investigate. Despite the violence of the scene and the victim’s ties to organised crime no one seems to know anything. As more bodies pile up, Zoe realizes she will have to make a breakthrough soon before a gang war erupts within the communities skirting the NSW/Victoria border.

In late 2017 people across Australia are debating, marching and furiously returning their postal ballots in the Marriage Equality Postal Survey. Sean’s is stuck to the fridge and he’s not sure if he’ll get to it. Sean’s been out for years and marriage is not something he sees in his future. Until three months ago he’d never even had a steady boyfriend. But when that chapter of his life comes to an unceremonious end, Sean finds himself thinking differently. Is it possible there’s more to life than Grindr and hookups? Sean’s finally looking to the future, but inevitably that means he’ll have to come to terms with the past.

Five friends, all bound by love and history. One year ago everything changed. Now as they orbit each other’s worlds can they come together and find the strength to carry on?

In the book, Beard argues that women have been systematically excluded from positions of power throughout history, and that this exclusion continues to the present day. Women and Power takes examples from ancient Greece and Rome, as well as more recent events, to show how women's voices have been silenced and their contributions disregarded.

As Brooke arrives in Melbourne and into her first share house she is ready for life. She’s planned for every eventuality and has a list to back up her plan in case the worst still happens. Best of all she’s hours away from her hometown and everyone who knows she’s the sensible, listmaking girl. Even better, she's a whole world away from her old life and THE event that defined her whole life in high school. Yep, Brooke is really going to make something of her new life. That is until she meets her new housemate Jesse and suddenly high school comes rushing back to find her.

Billie is working her way towards becoming a lawyer. Only hitch is it looks like her actions may have blown her latest case, letting abusive douche Dr Samuel Grange go free. Drinking away her sorrows should have helped but instead Billie has woken up in a strange apartment with less than the desirable amount of memory from the night before. Putting that seemingly trivial mystery to the side Billie has to figure out how to pay her rent now that her job’s on the line. Oh, and she also has to figure out how to serve some serious extrajudicial justice onto Samuel Grange before some other woman becomes his next victim. Cue… Billie is going to be The Next Girl