Writers On Ice

EPISODES: SEASON TWO

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Keeping up with crime writer J.P. Pomare

Somehow, Tania and Lucinda have managed to schedule an interview during the school holidays. The rink is PACKED. Luckily, award-winning crime author J.P. Pomare is as confident on the ice as he is with his prose. After a few hectic laps, Tania manages to catch up with J.P. to chat writing about race and class, the distractions of reviews and events, and ‘second book syndrome’.

You can read more about J.P. here.

Inspiration and opportunity cost – with Anna McGregor

Despite describing herself as, alternately, a ‘bumbling giraffe’ and ‘a broken down old farm-cart’, author/illustrator Anna McGregor gallops (ok, ambles) amiably around the rink, providing insights into workflow, building storytelling skills, ideas, inspiration and just plain hanging on in there.

Visit Anna’s website here.

Research, icy lakes and the love of a good dog – with Lucy Treloar

Due to a past back injury, author Lucy Treloar is interviewed rink-side. Lucinda is keen to pep things up with a few acrobatics, but Tania is too busy fan-girling to take this on (probably a good thing).

While the action may be in the background this interview is – like Lucy herself – a rare gem. It covers insights on research, dogs in fiction, the perils of icy Swedish lakes and the journey to getting published (or, sometimes, not).

Find out more about Lucy Treloar here.

Voice, memory and jelly people – with Nova Weetman

Despite (multiple) trepidations and a refusal to even try going backwards, Nova Weetman manages several circuits of the rink, while cheerily expounding on career choices, resilience, creating with friends, teamwork, jelly-people and plotting (or not).

Then we head to the Ice HQ café for a latté and in-depth discussion on: memoir; writing in place of therapy; and the sheer terror of putting a personal work out in the world.

A wonderfully generous interview with a bold, warm and hilarious author. Find out more about Nova here

History as a catalyst to writing – with Georgina Banks

Despite Lucinda’s hopes, Back to Bangka author Georgina Banks takes to the ice like a penguin to a glacier, even managing a passable two foot spin towards the end of the interview.

While learning her stroking and swizzling, Georgina reveals: the catalyst to starting ‘that book she was always going to write’; interweaving non-fiction and ‘creative’ writing, and the barriers to historical truth-telling.

You can find more about Georgina’s work here.

Collaboration, psych wards and visiting every bookshop in Oz – with Graeme Simsion and Anne Buist

Writers on Ice kicks off with a double whammy as writers Graeme Simsion and Anne Buist venture onto the ice to chat about writing process, main character energy and self-funded book tours.

While Lucinda skates around with a mobile camera, Tania presses Anne on what it’s REALLY like to work with Graeme.

Next, Graeme expounds on character background, authentic voice and supporting independent bookstores with Tania – while being urged by Lucinda to multi-task (ie. talk AND skate) on the ice.

Graeme’s site is here and Anne’s is here. And there’s some excellent writing advice from Graeme on Booktopia here.