Between The Lines

Leanne Tran & Chelle Griffin
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Chelle and Leanne are avid readers, mothers, and both work therapeutically with families. We read the books, and share perspectives on how they can add value to your life.

  1. 2d ago

    Ep 80: Fertility, Friendship and the Stories We Don't Tell: Elisabeth Easther on Seed

    How do friendships survive when the people we love are experiencing the very thing we're desperately longing for, avoiding, grieving or questioning? In this episode of Between The Lines, we're joined by New Zealand actor, journalist, playwright and author Elisabeth Easther to discuss her novel Seed. The story follows four women navigating very different experiences of fertility, pregnancy and motherhood. Hilary desperately wants a baby. Maggie is happily navigating life as a single mother. Shelley is returning to work after having two children. And Virginia, who has spent her career caring for other people's babies, suddenly decides she wants one of her own. Their lives may look very different, but their experiences collide in ways that are funny, messy, uncomfortable and deeply human. Elisabeth shares how Seed grew from her own experiences of pregnancy loss and fertility treatment, alongside the very different reproductive experiences of women around her. While she was trying desperately to become pregnant, friends were experiencing unexpected pregnancies, miscarriage and abortion. Some felt unable to tell her what was happening in their own lives because they wanted to protect her. That experience planted one of the most compelling ideas in the novel: even among close friends, the things we don't say to protect one another can sometimes create distance instead. We talk about how fertility can completely change the dynamics of friendship, the strange transition from spending years trying not to become pregnant to suddenly desperately wanting pregnancy to happen, and the enormous variety of experiences hidden behind the seemingly simple question of whether someone wants children. And despite the subject matter, Seed is also very funny. Elisabeth brings warmth and humour to experiences that are complicated, painful and sometimes absurd. In this episode we discuss: The personal fertility experiences that inspired Seed Pregnancy loss and Elisabeth's experience of fertility treatment The many different ways women experience pregnancy and motherhood Why friends sometimes hide difficult news in an attempt to protect each other How fertility and parenting can change friendships Comparing ourselves with friends whose lives have taken different paths The complicated politics of parenting and even playdates Why humour belongs alongside grief and difficult experiences Writing four women whose lives and choices are very different Why the characters don't need identical happy endings How Seed travelled from novel to award-winning play and back to novel again Elisabeth's experience narrating the audiobook herself The value of editorial feedback and allowing a story to change Why authentic characters need flaws, uncertainty and hope Seed is a funny, compassionate and refreshingly honest exploration of friendship, fertility and the enormous gap between how we imagine our lives will unfold and how they actually do.

    Ep 80: Fertility, Friendship and the Stories We Don't Tell: Elisabeth Easther on Seed

  2. Sep 27

    Ep 79: Friendship, Regret and the Joy of Breaking the Rules: Mikki Brammer on Good Joy, Bad Joy

    Is it ever too late to discover a different version of yourself? In this episode of Between The Lines, we're joined by Australian author Mikki Brammer to discuss her wonderful new novel, Good Joy, Bad Joy. For more than eighty years, Joy and Hazel have been best friends. But while Hazel has lived boldly and adventurously, Joy has spent her life doing what was expected of her: being a devoted wife, loving mother and good neighbour. When Hazel is given only months to live, Joy begins to wonder whether playing it safe has meant missing out. What starts with a determination to live a little more boldly soon involves mischief, petty crime and a very late coming of age. But underneath all the fun is a deeply thoughtful story about friendship, ageing, identity and the ways we can continue to change throughout our lives. Mikki describes the novel as an ode to lifelong friendship, very late bloomers and the thrill of dabbling in a little mischief. We talk about the great romance of platonic love and the friends who don't just complement us, but show us parts of ourselves we haven't yet discovered. We also explore Joy's relationships with her husband and daughter, and the realisation that a lifetime spent avoiding conflict hasn't necessarily protected her relationships. Instead, saying the difficult things may be exactly what allows those relationships to deepen. In this episode we discuss: Joy and Hazel's extraordinary eighty-year friendship Why Mikki wanted to write about the great romance of platonic love Being a late bloomer and having more than one "coming of age" The difference between living through someone else's adventures and discovering what you're capable of yourself How our experiences with our own parents can shape the way we parent Conflict avoidance and why keeping the peace doesn't always create closeness Joy's unlikely friendship with her neighbour Rowan Ageing, invisibility and the boxes society places people in Challenging our assumptions about other people Regret as an invitation to change rather than something simply negative Why small, everyday regrets can matter more than the grand ones The idea of being "cautiously reckless" Why a quiet life can be every bit as meaningful as one lived loudly Mikki's first novel, The Collected Regrets of Clover, and the themes connecting the two books This is a conversation about friendship and ageing, but ultimately it's about possibility: remaining curious about ourselves, other people and the lives we might still choose to live.

    Ep 79: Friendship, Regret and the Joy of Breaking the Rules: Mikki Brammer on Good Joy, Bad Joy

  3. Sep 13

    Ep 78: Motherhood, Identity and Reclaiming Your Wildness: Lauren Keegan on The Woman in the Seal Skin

    What happens to the parts of ourselves we put aside when we become who everyone else needs us to be? In this episode of Between The Lines, Leanne is joined by author and psychologist Lauren Keegan to discuss her haunting historical novel, The Woman in the Seal Skin. Set on the remote Orkney Islands in 1695, the novel follows Mali, a young woman raised on stories of selkies: shape-shifting women who shed their seal skins to walk on land. Mali has always done what is expected of her. Now married and expecting her first child, her life appears safe and predictable. But beneath it all is a yearning for the sea and for a part of herself she has never been allowed to fully know. Lauren shares how traditional selkie folklore inspired the novel, particularly the story of a woman whose seal skin is stolen, trapping her on land as a wife and mother until she eventually reclaims it and returns to the sea. From there, our conversation explores something that will feel familiar to many women: the tension between loving the people and roles in our lives and still yearning for something that belongs entirely to ourselves. We talk about motherhood and identity, the judgement placed on women who pursue their own needs, and why having something that brings us back to ourselves can be so important. We also explore the darker side of folklore. Who gets to tell the story? Who benefits from the version that survives? And what happens when stories about women are used to frighten them, control them or keep them small? In this episode we discuss: The selkie folklore that inspired The Woman in the Seal Skin Why Lauren chose Orkney in 1695 as the setting Motherhood and the yearning to retain a sense of self The impossible judgement women can face whether they prioritise their children or themselves Why our passions don't need to serve anyone else to be worthwhile Female oppression, violence and the ways stories can be used to control women How folklore can help communities explain loss, tragedy and things they don't understand The sea as a metaphor for emotion, thought, freedom and wildness Bessie as an outsider, healer and woman who has embraced her own wildness Lauren's work as a psychologist in perinatal and infant mental health and how her interest in women's experiences connects with her writing The relationship between nature, folklore and human experience across Lauren's novels This is a beautiful conversation about motherhood, identity and the parts of ourselves that continue calling to us, even when life has taught us to keep them quiet.

    Ep 78: Motherhood, Identity and Reclaiming Your Wildness: Lauren Keegan on The Woman in the Seal Skin

  4. Aug 30

    Ep 77: Belonging, Identity and Seeing Australia Differently: Tyree Barnette with Stolen Man on Stolen Land

    What does it mean to build a home in a country that isn't your own? In this episode of Between The Lines, we're joined by author Tyree Barnette to discuss his powerful memoir, Stolen Man on Stolen Land. After moving from North Carolina to Sydney, Tyree expected Australia to be familiar enough to feel like home. Instead, he found himself seeing both countries through a completely new lens. As a Black American living in Australia, he reflects on migration, race, belonging and identity with remarkable honesty, curiosity and compassion. Rather than offering easy answers, Tyree invites readers to sit with complexity. He shares what surprised him most about Australian culture, the similarities and differences between race relations in Australia and the United States, and how learning about Indigenous Australian history transformed his understanding of the country he now calls home. At its heart, Stolen Man on Stolen Land is a deeply personal story about leaving one home, finding another, and recognising that identity is shaped not only by where we come from, but by how willing we are to listen, learn and grow. In this episode we discuss: Tyree's journey from North Carolina to Sydney The joys and challenges of migration Race, identity and belonging across two countries Learning about Australia's Indigenous history The complexity of comparing Australia and the United States Why curiosity and empathy are more powerful than certainty Writing memoir with honesty, vulnerability and humour Finding home while holding space for difficult conversations This is a thoughtful conversation about identity, perspective and what happens when we begin to see both ourselves and our country through someone else's eyes.

    Ep 77: Belonging, Identity and Seeing Australia Differently: Tyree Barnette with Stolen Man on Stolen Land

  5. Aug 16

    Ep 76: Secrets, Scandal and Australia's First Casino: Mary-Lou Stephens on The Hobart Hotel

    What happens when one place witnesses two extraordinary moments in history? In this episode of Between The Lines, we're joined by bestselling Australian author Mary-Lou Stephens to discuss The Hobart Hotel, a dual-timeline historical novel inspired by the remarkable history of the Rest Point site in Hobart. Travelling between pre-war Tasmania in 1939 and the opening of Australia's first legal casino in 1973, the novel follows two women whose lives become unexpectedly connected across time. As they navigate love, ambition, family expectations and life-changing decisions, the story explores how ordinary people are often at the heart of history's biggest moments. Mary-Lou shares the fascinating real-life events that inspired the novel, why she was drawn to the controversy surrounding Australia's first casino, and how she balances historical fact with compelling fiction. We also discuss writing complex female characters, the joy of uncovering forgotten stories, and why setting can become a character in its own right. In this episode we discuss: The real history behind Australia's first legal casino Why the Rest Point site inspired an entire novel Writing dual timelines across 1939 and 1973 Creating ordinary women who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances Researching Tasmanian history and bringing it vividly to life Exploring controversial historical events without judging either side How travel, place and history continue to inspire Mary-Lou's writing The enduring appeal of historical fiction rooted in real events Whether you love Australian historical fiction, dual timelines, or stories about resilient women finding their own path, this conversation offers a fascinating glimpse into the research and storytelling behind The Hobart Hotel.

    Ep 76: Secrets, Scandal and Australia's First Casino: Mary-Lou Stephens on The Hobart Hotel

  6. Aug 2

    Ep 75: More Than a Vampire Romance: Lily Crozier on Vow of Eternal Night

    What makes someone a monster: what they are, or the choices they make? In this episode of Between The Lines, we're joined by debut author Lily Crozier on the publication day of her gothic vampire romance, Vow of Eternal Night. The novel follows Clara Wagner, a young woman who has always known monsters are real. When she is abducted by the feared vampire Prince Rayleigh and forced into a betrothal, Clara is given an impossible choice: break his curse before the end of the year or become his bride for eternity. Lily shares how she set out to write the vampire romance she wanted to read, filled with dangerous vampires, gothic castles, sweeping romance and atmospheric historical detail. But beneath the irresistible fantasy premise is a story about identity, autonomy and the choices people make when they hold power. We discuss why the true monsters in the story are not always the vampires, and how human greed and cruelty can be far more frightening than anything supernatural. Lily also explains why it was important for Clara to remain an individual within the romance, and for Clara and Rayleigh's relationship to be built between two equals rather than one person losing themselves in the other. In this episode, we discuss: Writing an atmospheric vampire romance with gothic, old-world influences The vampire folklore of Austria, Germany and Hungary Why Lily wrote the book she desperately wanted to read The difference between being seen as a monster and choosing to behave monstrously Power, trauma and personal responsibility Clara's journey towards self-identity and autonomy Creating a romance between two equal, fully realised individuals Why the book may appeal to readers who grew up loving Twilight but now want something richer and more empowering Lily's journey from unfinished manuscripts to publishing her debut novel Vow of Eternal Night delivers the addictive pull and romantic tension readers love in vampire fiction, while offering a thoughtful exploration of identity, equality and what truly defines a person.

    Ep 75: More Than a Vampire Romance: Lily Crozier on Vow of Eternal Night

  7. Jul 19

    Ep 74: Bad Girls Make Great Detectives: Fiona Hardy on Old Games

    Bad Girls Make Great Detectives: Fiona Hardy on Old Games In this episode of Between The Lines, Chelle and Leanne sit down with Melbourne author Fiona Hardy to talk about her latest crime novel Old Games — a fast-paced and offbeat Australian mystery set across Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula. Before we dive into crime fiction, we begin by uncovering Fiona's own criminal past… which involves stealing a single chocolate freckle from a milk bar at the age of seven. From there, the conversation turns to Hardy's love of crime writing and why she wanted to create a story centred on two morally flexible female private investigators instead of the traditional male detective. In Old Games, best friends Alice and Teddy make a living fixing problems no one else wants to deal with. When they're hired to track down the stolen ashes of a famous tennis player, what seems like a strange but simple job quickly spirals into a tangled web of secrets, lies, and danger. As they chase clues through Melbourne and along the Mornington Peninsula, Alice and Teddy discover that everyone connected to the late sports star is hiding something — and the deeper they dig, the riskier the investigation becomes. In our conversation with Fiona, we explore: Why crime fiction continues to captivate readers The joy of writing flawed and morally suspect female characters The friendship dynamic between Alice and Teddy Writing crime set in recognisably Australian settings The appeal of Aussie crime novels If you love crime fiction with sharp dialogue, strong female characters, and plenty of twists, this episode — and this book — is for you. About the Book Old Games by Fiona Hardy is a pacey Australian crime novel about two private investigators tasked with retrieving the stolen ashes of a famous tennis star. What begins as a routine job quickly turns complicated when everyone connected to the deceased sportsman appears to be hiding something. As Alice and Teddy dig deeper into Melbourne's sporting and celebrity circles, secrets unravel and the danger begins to escalate. About the Author Fiona Hardy is a Melbourne-based writer, bookseller, and reviewer. Her previous crime novel Unbury the Dead was shortlisted for the Ned Kelly Awards. Fiona is also an award-winning author of books for younger readers, including How to Make a Movie in 12 Days (a CBCA Notable Book) and How to Write the Soundtrack to Your Life, which won the 2021 Children's Peace Literature Award. Despite writing about crime, Fiona's real-life criminal history is relatively minor — consisting of stealing a single chocolate freckle from a milk bar when she was seven years old. Join Our Book-Loving Community Chelle and Leanne created Between The Lines because they love books and great conversations — and wanted to share both with you. Listen to the podcast for author interviews and book chats that help you discover your next great read. Join our online book club, where we deliver books to your door and a book club to your reading nook.

    Ep 74: Bad Girls Make Great Detectives: Fiona Hardy on Old Games

  8. Jul 5

    Ep 73: Murder, Motherhood and Baby Rhyme Time: Penny Tangey on What Rhymes with Murder?

    In this episode of Between The Lines, Chelle and Leanne chat with Australian author Penny Tangey about her delightfully funny cosy crime novel What Rhymes with Murder? The story begins with Frida, an exhausted new mother searching for something to break up the sleep-deprived blur of early parenthood. When she attends Baby Rhyme Time at her local library, it feels like a small but meaningful step back into the world. Then someone screams… and a body hits the floor. Suddenly the library becomes a crime scene, and Frida finds herself drawn into an unexpected amateur investigation alongside a group of unlikely sleuths. Between gossip sessions and plenty of coffee at their local café, the group begin piecing together what happened — without realising just how close they might be to danger. In our conversation with Penny, we talk about: The inspiration behind What Rhymes with Murder? Writing cosy crime with humour and heart The chaotic and identity-shifting experience of early motherhood How libraries and community spaces bring people together Creating an amateur detective who feels real, relatable and funny Penny Tangey brings warmth, wit and sharp observation to this story, blending murder mystery with the messy reality of new parenthood. If you enjoy cosy crime with quirky characters and plenty of humour, this is a great one to add to your reading list.   About the Author Penny Tangey is a librarian, mother and former stand-up comedian living in East Melbourne. She has written several children's books with UQP, including As Fast As I Can, which won a Queensland Literary Award and the Readings Children's Book Prize. Her middle-grade novel Music Camp was published in 2025. What Rhymes with Murder? is her first novel for adults.   Join Our Book-Loving Community Chelle and Leanne created Between The Lines because they love books and great conversations — and wanted to share both with you. 📚 Listen to the podcast for author interviews and reading inspiration. 📦 Or join our online book club, where we deliver books to your door and a book club to your reading nook. https://www.betweenthelinesaustralia.com/bookclub2026

    Ep 73: Murder, Motherhood and Baby Rhyme Time: Penny Tangey on What Rhymes with Murder?
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About

Chelle and Leanne are avid readers, mothers, and both work therapeutically with families. We read the books, and share perspectives on how they can add value to your life.

Information

  • Creator
    Leanne Tran & Chelle Griffin
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    90
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2023
  • Show Website
    Between The Lines

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