93 episodes

Through discussions and interviews with writers, artists and health professionals, author friends James McKenzie Watson and Ashley Kalagian Blunt explore the big questions: how do books get written? How do people navigate life with chronic illness? And just what ARE you reading? Hosted by James McKenzie Watson, winner of the 2021 Penguin Literary Prize, and Ashley Kalagian Blunt, author of 'Dark Mode.'

James and Ashley Stay at Home James McKenzie Watson and Ashley Kalagian Blunt

    • Arts
    • 5.0 • 27 Ratings

Through discussions and interviews with writers, artists and health professionals, author friends James McKenzie Watson and Ashley Kalagian Blunt explore the big questions: how do books get written? How do people navigate life with chronic illness? And just what ARE you reading? Hosted by James McKenzie Watson, winner of the 2021 Penguin Literary Prize, and Ashley Kalagian Blunt, author of 'Dark Mode.'

    Cloning, shame and principles – James shares tips on writing character

    Cloning, shame and principles – James shares tips on writing character

    Throughout their writing careers, James and Ashley have each picked up some excellent writing tricks, plus developed a few of their own. In the coming months, they’ll each share a few of their most effective writing techniques, starting with James’ shortcut to compelling characters. 
    British science-fiction author Karen Traviss writes remarkably nuanced characters. She also writes remarkably quickly, once tapping out 37,000 words in two days. In this episode, James delves into one of Traviss's novels to understand what makes her characters so compelling. He then shares the four questions he now always asks himself about his characters before writing. 
    Plus, we talk about the latest novel from one of our very first guests.  
    You can find a summary of James’ tips here. 
    You can find Karen Traviss’ wildly entertaining and informative FAQ page here. 
    Books and authors discussed in this episode
    Gears of War: Aspho Fields by Karen Traviss; The Corrections by Jonathon Franzen; The Walking Dead (series) by Robert Kirkman;  Red River Road by Anna Downes;  The Consultant by Im Seong Sun, translated by An Seon Jae Upcoming events

    Ashley is teaching Crafting Narrative Drive as part of the Newcastle Writers Festival on Friday 5 April, 10am-4pm  See Ashley in conversation with Mirandi Riwoe at Newcastle Writers Festival, Saturday 6 April Ashley is teaching Writing Crime Fiction, a six-week online course with Faber starting 15 May 2024  Ashley is teaching Pathways to Publication for Writing NSW on Saturday 15 June, 10am-4pm Learn more about James' award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy here or from your local bookshop. 

    Learn more about Ashley's psychological thriller Dark Mode and get your copy here or from your local bookshop. 

    Get in touch!
    ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

    • 31 min
    Tricking yourself into writing with Adele Dumont, author of 'The Pulling'

    Tricking yourself into writing with Adele Dumont, author of 'The Pulling'

    ’I kept this condition very, very secret from everybody.’
    Adele Dumont's remarkable new memoir, The Pulling, details her life with trichotillomania — a mental health condition that, at times, has consumed her life.
    In this episode, she discusses the unique writing process that enabled her to put long-held secrets first on the page and then into the public sphere. She also describes the impact of revealing her illness through her memoir, especially to family and friends who knew nothing about her condition. We discuss the shame linked to trichotillomania and whether sharing her story has shifted this feeling.
    Adele Dumont is an Australian writer and critic. Her work has appeared in Griffith Review, Meanjin, Southerly, ABR, and Sydney Review of Books. Adele’s first book, No Man Is an Island, is an account of her experiences teaching English to asylum seekers in detention. Adele lives in Sydney, where she works as an English language teacher and examiner. 
    'Get your copy of The Pulling from Booktopia or your local bookshop.'
    Books and authors discussed in this episode:
    Lee Kofman (from episode 76); Helen Garner; Adele’s Guardian article; Annie John by Jamaica Kincaid; The Wolves of Eternity by Karl Ove Knausgård; Unfinished Business by Shankari Chandran (from episode 48) Upcoming events 
    Ashley is teaching Online Feedback: Manuscript Development for Writing NSW starting 4 March 2024 As part of Seniors Week, Ashley is teaching memoir writing at Glen Street & Warringah Mall Library, on 15 and 19 March Ashley is teaching Writing Crime Fiction, a six-week online course with Faber starting 15 May 2024  Learn more about Ashley's psychological thriller Dark Mode and get your copy here or from your local bookshop. 
    Learn more about James' award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy here or from your local bookshop.
    Get in touch!
    ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

    • 37 min
    How to save a life with Kylie Ladd, author of 'I'll Leave You With This'

    How to save a life with Kylie Ladd, author of 'I'll Leave You With This'

    'The whole concept of transplantation still blows me away. There is something a bit magical about it. But as with most things people do, it can also find ways to blow up in people’s faces.' 
    Author and neuropsychologist Kylie Ladd joins us to speak about her latest book, 'I'll Leave You with This.' She shares her research into the incredible science of human organ and tissue donation, and the family tragedy that inspired her beautiful novel. 
    Plus, you'll never guess what James is reading! 
    Kylie Ladd is a novelist, psychologist and freelance writer. Her novels have been published in Australia and overseas, and her short works appear widely across Australia. She holds a PhD in neuropsychology.
    Get your copy of 'I'll Leave You with This' from Booktopia or your local bookshop.
    You can register to become an organ donor online. 
    Books and authors discussed in this episode:
    The Vitals by Tracy Sorensen;  The Wolves of Eternity by Karl Ove Knausgård; Red River Road by Anna Downes (from episode 5); A Mother’s Reckoning by Sue Klebold;  Andrew Solomon;  Dani Vee, host of the Words and Nerds Podcast Upcoming events 
    Ashley is teaching Online Feedback: Manuscript Development for Writing NSW starting 4 March 2024 Ashley is teaching Writing Crime Fiction, a six-week online course with Faber starting 15 May 2024  Learn more about Ashley's psychological thriller Dark Mode and get your copy here or from your local bookshop. 
    Learn more about James' award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy here or from your local bookshop.
    Get in touch!
    ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

    • 38 min
    Bonus ep! Learn how to run a writers group with Ashley Kalagian Blunt

    Bonus ep! Learn how to run a writers group with Ashley Kalagian Blunt

    If you listen to James and Ashley Stay at Home, you know that both Ashley and James credit much of their skill development to their writers group. And they're not the only ones! You can hear rom com author Jonathon Shannon talk about what he learned from the group, as well as literary fiction author Amy Lovat. Like Ashley and James, they joined as aspiring writers, and their manuscripts have gone on to be published.   
     
    Ashley's such a big fan of writers groups, she's put together a new on-demand workshop on the topic – and this short bonus ep tells you all about it. 
     
    This one-hour course covers everything from how to find a group near you, or start or your own, how to give and receive feedback, and how to know when your group isn't working and what to do about it.  
     
    Find Ashley's course, Get the Most from Writing Groups and Get Published at Bold Authors.  
    Learn more about Ashley's psychological thriller Dark Mode and get your copy here or from your local bookshop.
    Learn more about James' award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy here or from your local bookshop.
    Upcoming events 
    Ashley is teaching Online Feedback: Manuscript Development for Writing NSW starting 4 March 2024 Ashley is teaching Writing Crime Fiction, a six-week online course with Faber starting 15 May 2024 Get in touch!
    ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Twitter: @AKalagianBlunt + @JamesMcWatson Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

    • 5 min
    'I was going to ask this privately, but...' - James and Ashley at the Boorowa Literary Festival

    'I was going to ask this privately, but...' - James and Ashley at the Boorowa Literary Festival

    The tables are turned! Recorded live at the Inaugural Boorowa Literary Festival, festival director, book lover, and all-round excellent human Jeremy Clarke interviews James and Ashley. 
     
    Learn more about the Absolutely Superb Bibliothèque and Occasional Wine Bar and its upcoming literary events here!
     
    Hear the James and Ashley Stay at Home origin story! Discover the connection between wine bars and readers. Plus, get an answer to the classic question, 'You’ve just had a farm visit – how was it?'  
     
    Learn more about Ashley's psychological thriller Dark Mode and get your copy here or from your local bookshop. 
     
    Learn more about James' award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy here or from your local bookshop.
     
    Upcoming events
    Ashley is teaching Online Feedback: Manuscript Development for Writing NSW starting 4 March 2024 Ashley is teaching Writing Crime Fiction, a six-week online course with Faber starting 15 May 2024   
    Books and authors discussed in this episode
    The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes The Great Escape from Woodlands Nursing Home by Joanna Nell Mistakes and Other Lovers by Amy Lovat (from ep 83) Bound to Happen by Jonathon Shannon (from ep 84)
    Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Twitter: @AKalagianBlunt + @JamesMcWatson Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

    • 35 min
    The Bed on a Plinth Awards: The best books we read in 2023

    The Bed on a Plinth Awards: The best books we read in 2023

    It's books wrap-up season! James and Ashley are getting on the bandwagon and discussing their favourite reads from 2023 in the first annual 'Bed on a Plinth Awards.'
    Books and authors discussed in this episode (warning: spoilers!):
    Dark Mode by Ashley Kalagian Blunt Crushing by Genevieve Novak The Sun Walks Down by Fiona McFarlane Desire by Jessie Cole Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo A Swim in a Pond in the Rain by George Saunders The Wych Elm by Tana French When One of Us Hurts by Monica Vuu Fire with Fire by Candice Fox Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier  The Push by Ashley Audrain  The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward  Learn more about Ashley's psychological thriller Dark Mode and get your copy here or from your local bookshop.
    Learn more about James' award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy here or from your local bookshop.
    Upcoming events 
    Ashley is teaching Online Feedback: Manuscript Development for Writing NSW starting 4 March 2024 Ashley is teaching Writing Crime Fiction, a six-week online course with Faber starting 15 May 2024 Get in touch!
    ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Twitter: @AKalagianBlunt + @JamesMcWatson Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

    • 22 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
27 Ratings

27 Ratings

Engaged author ,

Excellent and always on point

One of my favourite writing podcasts. James and Ashley are excellent hosts and so funny!

PowerRanger09 ,

A must-listen

James and Ashley Stay at Home is one of my all-time favourite podcasts. Such a wonderful resource for writers, and anyone with a body, or a mind!

Jacinta Dietrich ,

Must listen!!

Ashley and James are absolutely hilarious and should be top of your list!! Great banter, awesome guests and wonderful discussion.

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