JP Pomare is a bestselling, award-winning author originally from New Zealand and who now lives in Australia. His first novel, 'Call Me Evie', published in 2018, won the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best First Novel, while 'Tell Me Lies' - his third novel, became a #1 Audible Bestseller and was shortlisted for the Ngaio Marsh Best Crime Novel award along w…

Courtney Collins is an accomplished author screenwriter producer and podcaster. Her first novel, 'The Burial' was published back in 2012 in ten countries and shortlisted for multiple prizes - including the NSW Premiers Literary award and the Stella Prize. Courtney’s second novel, ‘Bird’ has just been released by Hachette Australia. To say that this…

Listeners, some of you may recall back in March of this year, I decided to mix things up a little on the podcast, by interrogating a panel of bookish experts about what they were reading. Because, let’s face it, as much as I would like to think of myself as an authority on what Australians read, the truth is - my reading is mostly guided by what I’…

Few of us who have a keen interest in history and literature - particularly Australian history and literature - will not have heard of Henry Lawson and his short story - 'The Drover’s Wife'. First published in 1892, Lawson’s story centres on an unnamed woman living in the outback, in an isolated hut, with her four children while her husband is away…

The best kind of YA novels are the ones that appeal to a broad audience. Ones that teenagers, younger and older adults alike can relate to on a multitude of levels. In my time as a podcaster I’ve been fortunate to encounter some truly engaging, highly relevant YA stories that offer a glimpse into the lives of young adults and the issues they face m…

Sandie’s sixth novel, 'The Lyrebird Lake Ladies Choir' (Penguin) is a moving and empowering story about three women set between 1973 and the present day. It explores deeply emotional and confronting issues in a heartfelt, sensitive and hopeful way - in true Sandie Docker style. Sandie’s debut novel 'The Kookaburra Creek Cafe' was published back in …

Nicola Moriarty’s brand new novel ‘Every Last Suspect’ has just been released by HarperCollins Australia. And what an absolute cracker it is!! For those who are not familiar with Nicola or her writing, she is a Sydney-based novelist and copywriter whose previous works include: 'Those Other Women', 'The Fifth Letter', 'The Ex' and 'You Need to Know'…

It's been a long five years since I last chatted with BM Caroll. In the time since, she has written another four novels - one of which is her newest release 'One of Us is Missing' published by Affirm Press. A thoroughly gripping novel that follows the O'Sullivan family after the unimaginable happens: one of them goes missing during a a Cold Play Co…

We drop this special episode in honor of our recently completed Spring Conference at Polar Park in Worcester, home of the Worcester Red Sox. Some familiar faces drop by the podcast, including MassCUE Board member TJ Carron, and MassCUE SIG Leader Mike Tinker, as well as JFY Networks Gary Kaplan talking about a brand new AI tool used to assess stude…

Barbara Sumner is a writer and filmmaker from New Zeleand who’s debut novel, The Gallows Bird has just been published by Pantera Press. Whilst The Gallows Bird is Barbara’s debut foray into fiction, she is no stranger to storytelling. Barbara’s career has covered production of three highly acclaimed feature documentaries, stints in journalism and t…

‘To Sing of War’ is a novel by Catherine McKinnon - the Miles Franklin Award shortlisted author of Storyland- set in the final months of WW2. An epic story that examines the events in the lead-up to the United States’ decision to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki - ending the war in the Pacific and leading to Japan’s surrender. Taking …

Pip Fioretti is a Sydney-based author who has been writing fiction since 2006 alongside a career in visual arts. In the 2021 Sydney lockdown and inspired by walks she’d taken though the arid rangelands of western NSW, Pip wrote the first draft for a novel that would become her first crime novel - 'Bone Lands'. Released by Affirm Press at the end of…

Thank you for checking out our Better Together virtual panel discussion, AI: Impact on Education, featuring educational organizations from across the Commonwealth. We hope you will enjoy the discussion. As we said during the event, this is just the beginning of the conversation about AI in education and we look forward to learning and growing along…

Art, history, lies and family secrets are at the heart of another stunning debut Aussie novel I recently had the utter pleasure of reading. Lisa Medved’s mesmerising novel, The Engraver’s Secret is the story of two women linked over the span of 400 years through a mysterious map and a family secret. Set between Antwerp in the Spanish Netherlands in…

Any book that explores the role fate plays in our lives is always going to be one I will enjoy. So it was with great interest that I read Rhianna King's and brilliant debut novel ‘Birds of a Feather’ published at the end of March by Affirm Press. Rhianna is a Melbourne-based author who has spent more than two decades working as a communicator in th…

Debut Australian novelists are enjoying their heyday at the moment. It seems that every other day I’m learning about another fabulous Aussie writer ticking getting published off their bucket list. Moreover, the quality of these stories are simply outstanding. None more so than the debut novel from my next guest author. Maxine Fawcett is a Sydney-ba…

Welcome back to the Get a CUE Podcast! It's been a while, but we're back with MassCUE's brand new Director of Operations Kyra Hunter. We talk about her new role, planning events in venues large and small, the differences between non-profit and for-profit event planning, the importance of a good song as a backing track, and much more. Join us, won't…

Regular listeners might remember a few years back I welcomed debut novelist Kelli Hawkins to the podcast. Kelli is a Newcastle-based author who landed a rare four-book deal with HarperCollins for two adult books and two children’s books in 2020. Back then we were chatting about her bestselling gripping psychological thriller - Other People’s Houses…

Listeners, as you can imagine I read a lot of books. Mostly Australian fiction - given that this is the genre on which the Talking Aussie Books podcast was founded. I do try and read the international titles everyone is talking about (I think Yellowface was the latest) and then of course, I throw in a couple of non-fiction titles for good measure. …

The Black and Bright Festival is a literary festival dedicated to the diverse expressions of First Nations storytelling. Established in 2016 this four-day festival is based in Naarm (Melbourne) and covers all genres from oral stories, novels, to plays and poetry. With over 60 first nations artists set to appear at the upcoming festival between 14 a…

Jane Tara is an author and wanderer who is best known in Australia for her role as general manager of Better Reading - one of Australia's largest online book communities. Jane is the author of more than 100 books, several plays and five novels. Recently, Jane's new novel, 'Tilda is Visible' was released by Affirm Press. A wonderfully surprising, qu…

Dervla McTiernan is an international best-selling critically acclaimed author of 4 novels (think of The Ruin, The Scholar and The Murder Rule) as well as several audio novellas. Since becoming published in 2018, Dervla's books have regularly graced Amazon bestseller lists. She has won a Ned Kelly Award, a Davitt Award and a Barry Award and has been…

Today listeners I’m introducing you to another author whose gorgeous debut novel, called ‘All the Golden Light’ has just been published by HarperCollins. A richly detailed, sweeping historical novel, 'All the Golden Light' is a snapshot of life for one woman living on the south coast of NSW at the tail end of WWI. A time of darkness, deprivation an…

Liz Foster is a Sydney-based author originally from Britain who began her writing journey some seven years ago. 'The Good Woman’s Guide to Making Better Choices', published by Affirm Press is her first novel. And listeners, it’s a cracker. A thoroughly enjoyable read about marriage, parenting, fraud, infidelity and…of all things…goat’s cheese! I wa…

Michelle Upton in a Brisbane-based author whose first novel ‘Terms of Inheritance’ was shortlisted for the Banjo Prize in 2021. A little over 12 months later 'Terms of Inheritance' was published by HarperCollins Australia. And I can see why. With a strong hook and a cast of strong, vibrant female characters, this was one heck of a good story. Hard …

After more than 260 interviews to this point and attendance at bookish events too numerous to count, I meet a lot of Australian authors. Some are well into their writing careers, others are just at the start or trying to break in like me while many are somewhere in the middle. So when someone I know - someone who has been trying to get published fo…

This episode of the Get A CUE Podcast features Jen Dawson and Danielle Rourke from CDW’s eSports division and we spent the time talking about the growth of eSports, eSports in the EDU space, how schools can get started with an eSports program, the most popular games offered, and CDW’s offerings in the scholastic eSports field. Contact them at espor…

It’s impossible not to be excited about interviewing an author whose career I have been fortunate to witness from it’s infancy. From the first interview I conducted with this author more than five years ago until now, this woman’s skill as a storyteller has simply gone from strength to strength. With 4 bestselling books under her belt now, Tania Bl…

Get a CUE Live from the 2023 MassCUE Fall Conference at Gillette Stadium on October 18 and October 19, 2023, featuring guests Greg and Jeff from Fortinet, Tom Driscoll from EdTech Teacher, Karen Winsper and Colleen Terrill from the Influence and Advocacy committee of MassCUE, TJ Carron from Bay Path Regional, and Erika Sandstrom the GreenScreen Gal…

Steve Matthews is the author of the bestselling Hitler trilogy: Hitler’s Brothel, Hitler’s Assassins and Hitler’s Resurrection. Each of these books are based on true events - constructing unique narratives and perspective around the horrific deeds and atrocities committed by the Nazi regime in World War II. It was following the publication of Hitle…

MassCUE 2023 Fall Conference keynote speaker Dr Liza Talusan drops by the podcast to talk about Diversity and Identity work in schools from Pre K through college, how her professional positions and schooling have shaped her, and a preview of her keynote speech that will kick off the conference! You can find Dr Talusan and her work at lizatalusan.co…

A very special double episode for Get a CUE features MassCUE Executive President Chris Gosselin giving us a full preview of the Fall Conference including updates to Gillette Stadium. The second half of the episode features MassCUE Professional Learning and Program Coordinator Jen Thomas talking about Building Capacity through Digital Equity, MassCU…

Kell Woods in an Australian historical fantasy author whose debut novel has just been released in Australia/New Zealand, the UK and the US. Called ‘After the Forest’ Kell has written a rich, compelling and utterly remarkable fairytale retelling. Set in the Black Forest of Wurrtemberg during the mid-17th century, the story picks up 15 years after Gr…

Welcome to season 6 of the Get A CUE Podcast! In the first episode of the new season, Brandon sits down with Pembroke Science Curriculum Coordinator Jonathan Shapiro to talk AI in the EDU space. They discuss ways teachers, students, and administrators can leverage the emerging technology and some potential pitfalls for districts. --- Send in a voic…

Shelley Burr is an award-winning Australian author whose debut novel ‘Wake’ was a top five bestseller. Published in the US and the UK as well as here in Australia, 'Wake' won the CWA Debut Dagger Award in 2019 (a UK award for an unpublished writer), it was shortlisted for the Indie Book Awards Debut Novel Award, the Kill Your Darlings Unpublished M…

Steph Vizard is a Melbourne-based writer who won the 2022 Banjo Prize with her then unpublished manuscript 'The Love Contract'. Twelve months on and that book has now been published by HarperCollins. I have no doubt that readers will fall in love with this charming story about enemy neighbours - Zoe and Will - who reluctantly come to the realisatio…

Jane Harrison is an award-winning playwright and novelist as well as Festival director whose work has been performed across Australia and internationally. Jane is descended from the Muruwari people and believes stories have the power to strengthen cultural connection. Jane’s YA novel ‘Becoming Kirrali Lewis’ won the 2014 Black & Write Prize and tha…

Memorable books are the ones that make me feel something. Books that make me laugh or hold my breath with anticipation; stories that make me feel hopeful and most of all... the books that make me cry. These are the ones that become indelibly printed on my heart. ‘Saving Charli’ (Scholastic Australia) written by Victorian-based author, Di Walker is …

Veronica Lando is a crime writer who burst onto the Australian literary scene a couple of years ago when her then unpublished manuscript won the 2021 Banjo Prize. That manuscript 'The Whispering' was published by HarperCollins in 2022 to widespread acclaim. This year, Veronica's second book 'The Drowning Girls' was also published by HarperCollins. …

Philippa Kaye is a mother, educator, and now published novelist who lives on the Central Coast of NSW and was inspired to write her debut novel, 'Girl Detectives Just Wanna Have Fun' during COVID. Set in 1984, 'Girl Detectives Just Wanna Have Fun' is a pacy mystery novel flavoured with lots of fun eighties nostalgia - big hair, short skirts and sho…

Lucy Lever is a former social worker who lives in the bush on Sydney’s coastal fringe with her husband. As proof that it is never too late to follow your dreams, Lucy decided to give creative writing a go later in life. The result is 'Mystic Ridge' published earlier this month by HQ Fiction. It was on her frequent visits to family on the NSW North …

Since first meeting Vanessa McCausland back in 2020, I have marvelled at her gift for evocative and unforgettable story-telling. First through the Lost Summers of Driftwood, then The Valley of Lost Stories, again with the The Beautiful Words and now…Dreaming in French. Not only is Vanessa a warm, lovely person and supportive member of the Australia…

Kelly Rimmer is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of 13 novels. Writing both historical and contemporary novels, Kelly’s titles include The German Wife, The Warsaw Orphan, The Things We Cannot Say and Truths I Never Told You. Kelly has sold more than 2 million books to date. And her work has been translated into…

Listeners, a couple of weeks ago I was at the annual Bellingen Readers and Writers Festival and had the joy of interviewing an author whose career I have been watching for a few years now. And recently, I got to do it all over again. Paul Dalgarno is a Melbourne-based author of two novels and two non-fiction titles. Born and raised in Scotland, Pau…

I first interviewed Jennifer McKenzie Dunbar back in April 2020, just after she'd self-published her debut novel, 'Vivaldi's Lost Concerto'. And what a debut it was. So much fascinating research and detail coloured the historical thread of the narrative of that book along with the harrowing experiences of a contemporary woman who had been through t…

Phillipa Nefri Clark is an Australian author based in country Victoria and a USA Today best-selling author of more than 20 novels. Her writing is not only prolific but spans a number of different genres - from romance, to mystery and crime thrillers. Earlier this year I was offered the opportunity to read the first of Phillipa's Detective Liz Moorl…

For our Golden 50th Episode Spectacular, Chris Gosselin takes over the podcast to interview Brandon and we talked about the first 50 episodes of the podcast. Special guests Jared Perrine (Narragansett Regional), Colleen Terrill (Seekonk), and Karen Winsper (Norton) join to talk about their favorite memories and great conversations and moments from …

Robyn Cadwallader is an award winning Canberra-based author - with three historical novels to her name, along with poems, prize-winning short stories and a non-fiction book based on her PhD thesis about virginity and female agency in the Middle Ages. Robyn’s first novel, ‘The Anchoress’ was published in 2015 to critical acclaim and was awarded the …

Kim Lock is an internationally published, bestselling author of five novels that include 'Peace Love and Khaki Socks', 'Like I Can Love', 'The Three of Us' and 'The Other Side of Beautiful'. Living in regional South Australia with her family, Kim’s writing as appeared in Kill Your Darlings, The Guardian, Daily Life and The Sydney Morning Herald amo…

Megan Rogers is a debut novelist with impeccable credentials. Starting her working life as an editorial assistant at Allen & Unwin before taking up a position in Marketing at the State Library of Victoria Megan has a PhD in Creative Writing as well as a Bachelor of Arts/Science, a Diploma of Professional Writing and Editing, a Graduate Diploma in P…