The Book Deal

Tina Strachan, Madeleine Cleary & Natasha Rai
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Motivation and inspiration for emerging writers, helping them pave their own pathway to publishing success.

  1. 5d ago

    LIVE! With Agony Aunt Toni Jordan at the Emerging Writers Festival

    Recorded live at day one of the National Writers’ Conference at the Emerging Writers Festival 2026, this special Book Deal Podcast “agony aunt” session features bestselling author Toni Jordan answering anonymous questions from emerging and early-career writers. Jordan reframes rejection as a business decision, advises writers to focus on becoming “undeniable,” keep producing new work, and avoid perfectionism. She suggests denying real-life inspirations in fiction, warns that publishers can “love bomb” then provide limited support, and urges writers to ask clear marketing/publicity questions. Jordan explains the purpose of genre and comparison titles, offers strategies for managing self-promotion and public speaking, outlines etiquette and contractual realities for changing agents, and stresses that quitting a day job often takes years and luck. In a rapid “Chaos Round,” the panel discusses social media, agents, courses, AI, pitching, reviews, and career highlights, then takes audience questions on hurdles, writing for market, chapter length, and self-publishing vs traditional. 00:00 Podcast Intro 00:56 Conference Welcome 01:56 Meet Toni Jordan 03:52 Handling Rejection 09:45 Writing Real People 11:58 Publisher Support Reality 16:36 Genre and Comps 20:43 Self Promotion Without Cringe 23:44 Switching Literary Agents 29:23 Quitting the Day Job 34:56 Chaos Round Setup 36:00 Social Media For Writers 36:39 Agents And Negotiation 38:09 Feedback And Writing Courses 39:07 Why Not Use AI 40:19 Pitching At Events 42:00 Reviews And Awkward Questions 43:01 Career Highlights To Audience Q&A 44:26 Top Tips For Emerging Writers 46:17 Biggest Career Challenges 50:22 Writing For Market Vs Self 54:46 Chapter Length And Structure 58:36 Self Publishing Vs Traditional 01:01:33 Final Top Tip And Wrap Join our Patreon community for less than the cost of a coffee per month and support the pod! Your contribution will go to directly paying our sound producer, Brogan, and to help us bring you the conversations with industry professionals you love. Follow The Book Deal podcast on Instagram The Book Deal podcast (@the_book_deal_podcast) • Instagram photos and videos You can find out more about Tina, Madeleine and Natasha and follow their journeys here: Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos Tina Strachan children's book author Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos Madeleine Cleary | Author Natasha Rai (@raiwriting) • Instagram photos and videos Natasha Rai | Author | Mentor If you want to stay in the know, sign up to Madeleine, Tina and Natasha's newsletters for the latest news first. Madeleine: Subscribe here...

  2. Sep 23

    How rejections, agents, sleep-deprived writing and persistence led to Shara Curlett's blockbuster new series

    Tina Strachan interviews New Zealand author Shara Curlett during the launch of her new middle-grade fantasy series Protector of Beyond. Curlett describes book one’s premise—12-year-old Aldetris sparks, is transported to another realm, bonds with a magical creature, and faces trials to train at the Academy of Protectors—plus the creation of the four Gards and Fiercers with illustrator Jennifer Beam, and comps like Nevermoor, Percy Jackson, and Wings of Fire. She recounts a busy release month including publisher and bookstore visits, school presentations featuring a Guard-sorting activity, and events in Australia with QBD and Kinokuniya. Curlett outlines her persistence-focused journey from Welcome to Miracle to signing with Zeitgeist’s Samuel Bernard after publisher interest, her productivity habits (writing in small gaps, formerly on her phone), and confirms Protector of Beyond (book two) is drafted for September 2027. Her top tip: separate emotion from publishing because it’s a business and rejection isn’t personal. 00:00 Podcast Intro 00:56 Meet Shara Curlett 02:37 Protector of Beyond Premise 04:32 Worldbuilding Sparks 06:27 Comp Titles Vibes 08:29 Launch Tour Whirlwind 13:29 School Visit Secrets 17:36 From Miracle to Protector 22:37 Courses Craft Growth 25:54 Writing Over Rejection 26:31 Finding Time As A Mum 27:31 Writing In The Gaps 29:51 Compartmentalize And Capture Ideas 32:21 No Perfect Time To Write 34:34 Protector Pitch Breakthrough 36:11 Landing An Agent Fast 38:16 Do You Need An Agent 40:32 Tips For Querying Agents 43:06 Protector Two Update 45:41 Top Tip Publishing Is Business 50:54 Final Thanks And Wrap Join our Patreon community for less than the cost of a coffee per month and support the pod! Your contribution will go to directly paying our sound producer, Brogan, and to help us bring you the conversations with industry professionals you love. Follow The Book Deal podcast on Instagram The Book Deal podcast (@the_book_deal_podcast) • Instagram photos and videos You can find out more about Tina, Madeleine and Natasha and follow their journeys here: Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos Tina Strachan children's book author Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos Madeleine Cleary | Author Natasha Rai (@raiwriting) • Instagram photos and videos Natasha Rai | Author | Mentor If you want to stay in the know, sign up to Madeleine, Tina and Natasha's newsletters for the latest news first. Madeleine: Subscribe here...

  3. Sep 16

    Andrea Mara on adapting a novel for TV and writing bestselling fiction

    This week, Madeleine chats with Irish author, Andrea Mara, about TV adaptations, getting permission to write, writing bestselling crime fiction, and her latest novel, Such a Nice Girl (Penguin Books Australia, 2026).  Andrea Mara is a number one Sunday Times, Irish Times and Kindle bestselling author, whose books have sold more than one million copies across all formats. The TV adaptation of her 2021 book, All Her Fault, aired in November 2025 to huge critical and audience acclaim, with Sarah Snook (Succession) playing the lead. It became the most-streamed TV show in America during the first week of its release. Her most recent novel, It Should Have Been You, won Irish Crime Novel of the Year at the 2025 An Post Book Awards. It was a No.1 bestseller in Ireland for six weeks, and a Top Ten Sunday Times bestseller in the UK. Her book No One Saw a Thing was a Sunday Times number one bestseller and has sold over half a million copies. Andrea lives in Dublin with her husband and three children.  You can find Andrea on Instagram @andreamaraauthor.  02:09 From blogging to novel writing 03:40 Getting permission to write 09:30 Landing a three book deal 10:59 Agents 17:52 All Her Fault  20:51 Filming in Melbourne & adaptations 31:01 Such A Nice Girl  33:22 Plotting 38:20 Domestic Suspense  41:44 Crime writing techniques 47:30 Wrap Up  Join our Patreon community for less than the cost of a coffee per month and support the pod! Your contribution will go to directly paying our sound producer, Brogan, and to help us bring you the conversations with industry professionals you love. Follow The Book Deal podcast on Instagram The Book Deal podcast (@the_book_deal_podcast) • Instagram photos and videos You can find out more about Tina, Madeleine and Natasha and follow their journeys here: Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos Tina Strachan children's book author Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos Madeleine Cleary | Author Natasha Rai (@raiwriting) • Instagram photos and videos Natasha Rai | Author | Mentor If you want to stay in the know, sign up to Madeleine, Tina and Natasha's newsletters for the latest news first. Madeleine: Subscribe here...

  4. Sep 9

    Shannon Kelly-White on writing fearlessly and owning your voice

    Madeleine chats with debut Aussie novelist, Shannon Kelly-White.  Shannon is a happy country girl who writes gritty, hopeful fiction about women who push back. Fascinated by freedom and spirit, she writes stories that blend fierce heart, a longing for connection, and a love of the landscapes that shaped her. A former nurse turned award- winning cookbook author turned novelist, she spends her days buried in books, accompanied by fluffy dogs and one opinionated orange cat. She lives in Yarrawonga with her most precious thing—her family. Shannon's debut novel, Billie King (HarperCollins Australia, July 2026), has been described as Leah Purcell's The Drover's Wife meets Trent Dalton. Madeleine loved it! A gusty colonial girl meets Australia's last female bushranger who is on a quest for revenge.  00:56 Introduction 01:33 Billie King 03:40 Inspiration  05:57 Finding Billie’s Voice 06:54 Kids are the best 10:52 From Nurse to Novelist 15:52 Mentorship 17:58 HarperCollins acquisition and editorial 22:26 Vulnerabilities 28:28 The setting 31:08 Writing flawed characters 41:08 Shannon's next novel 41:59 Writing historical fiction for a modern audience 43:55 Writing Routine 45:30 Top Tip Join our Patreon community for less than the cost of a coffee per month and support the pod! Your contribution will go to directly paying our sound producer, Brogan, and to help us bring you the conversations with industry professionals you love. Follow The Book Deal podcast on Instagram The Book Deal podcast (@the_book_deal_podcast) • Instagram photos and videos You can find out more about Tina, Madeleine and Natasha and follow their journeys here: Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos Tina Strachan children's book author Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos Madeleine Cleary | Author Natasha Rai (@raiwriting) • Instagram photos and videos Natasha Rai | Author | Mentor If you want to stay in the know, sign up to Madeleine, Tina and Natasha's newsletters for the latest news first. Madeleine: Subscribe here...

  5. Sep 2

    Literary agent, Grace Heifetz, on how to get published and championing Aussie authors

    The Book Deal podcast interviews Australian literary agent Grace Heifetz about her career and advice for writers seeking traditional publication. Heifetz discusses founding A4 Literary in late 2024 with colleagues across Sydney and Melbourne to create space for new industry talent, take on more writers, and keep Australian authors primarily represented in Australia. She describes her background in arts and her long tenure at Curtis Brown, her approach to agenting as a big-picture structural reader, and the “matchmaking” of pairing manuscripts with the right publishers. She explains submission realities—capacity limits, reading time, sharing promising work with colleagues, and the importance of following guidelines, researching agents, and submitting finished, polished fiction manuscripts. Heifetz addresses market challenges, changing sales expectations, reduced international buy-ins, publisher consolidation, and the need for arts funding, while encouraging optimism, writer involvement options in screen adaptations, and emphasizing patience, perseverance, and focusing on the work over trends. 00:00 Podcast Introduction 00:43 Meet Agent Grace 02:13 Why Start A4 05:58 Taking The Leap 07:31 Defining Next Gen 08:45 Grace Origin Story 12:17 First Clients Lessons 14:40 Matchmaking Manuscripts 15:50 Reading Submissions Reality 18:48 Finding The Right Agent 20:27 Quotas And List Curation 21:23 Debut Versus Established 21:58 Sales Numbers Reality Check 24:55 Submission Guidelines That Matter 25:52 Finish the Manuscript First 27:26 Reasons for Publishing Optimism 29:49 Selling Australian Books Overseas 32:23 Economy and Publisher Consolidation 35:44 Book Adaptations and Author Involvement 38:46 Future Hopes for Publishing 40:38 Patience and Writing From Heart 42:57 Building a Long Term Career 44:05 Final Thanks and Sign Off Join our Patreon community for less than the cost of a coffee per month and support the pod! Your contribution will go to directly paying our sound producer, Brogan, and to help us bring you the conversations with industry professionals you love. Follow The Book Deal podcast on Instagram The Book Deal podcast (@the_book_deal_podcast) • Instagram photos and videos You can find out more about Tina, Madeleine and Natasha and follow their journeys here: Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos Tina Strachan children's book author Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos Madeleine Cleary | Author Natasha Rai (@raiwriting) • Instagram photos and videos Natasha Rai | Author | Mentor If you want to stay in the know, sign up to Madeleine, Tina and Natasha's newsletters for the latest news first. Madeleine: Subscribe here...

  6. Aug 26

    What we have learned (and observed) after 100 episodes of Book Dealin'

    We've hit 100 episodes! Thank you so much for supporting us over the last two years. We couldn’t have done it without you. In our 100th episode, we reflect on two years of interviews with authors and publishing professionals. From meditation to tax, we've covered a lot and we're excited for all the tips and tricks to come. If you'd like to submit a question for our Agony Aunt, Toni Jordan, as part of our upcoming live episode as part of the Emerging Writers' Festival, then you can do so here. Even if you're not attending live, do submit all your anonymous questions and we'll try to get to them on the show! Tickets to our live event are also available here.   00:00 Podcast Intro 00:43 Celebrating 100 Episodes 02:27 Looking Back at Episode One 04:37 Edits, edits, edits 07:07 Why Rewriting Matters 12:28 Book Week  13:08 Book Week  14:08 School Visit Survival Tips 16:40 Emerging Writers Festival  18:36 Patreon Favorite Episodes 22:57 Meditation, Mindfulness, Reset 27:07 Lessons From 100 Episodes 34:49 Thanks And Farewell Join our Patreon community for less than the cost of a coffee per month and support the pod! Your contribution will go to directly paying our sound producer, Brogan, and to help us bring you the conversations with industry professionals you love. Follow The Book Deal podcast on Instagram The Book Deal podcast (@the_book_deal_podcast) • Instagram photos and videos You can find out more about Tina, Madeleine and Natasha and follow their journeys here: Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos Tina Strachan children's book author Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos Madeleine Cleary | Author Natasha Rai (@raiwriting) • Instagram photos and videos Natasha Rai | Author | Mentor If you want to stay in the know, sign up to Madeleine, Tina and Natasha's newsletters for the latest news first. Madeleine: Subscribe here...

  7. Aug 19

    How to create best selling survival thrillers and writing for all ages with Sarah Armstrong

    Tina Strachan interviews award-winning children’s author Sarah Armstrong about the wide recognition of her middle-grade survival thriller Run (including CBCA, Davitt, REAL, ABIA listings and Amazon bestseller status) and why pacey, “Trojan horse” thrillers can engage both reluctant and enthusiastic readers while carrying deeper themes. They discuss boys and literacy, emphasising socioeconomic factors, reading role models (especially dads), and how gatekeepers and book covers can influence perceptions. Armstrong introduces her new novel The Wave, about 13-year-old Max facing an unexpected tsunami while searching for his dog, and weaving in local housing and tourism pressures. She shares advice on creating vivid settings, transitioning from adult fiction and journalism to kidlit, finding supportive critique groups, her upcoming online writing courses and Substack, and her key tip: embrace major rewrites and use structure tools like Save the Cat. 00:00 Podcast Intro 00:56 Meet Sarah Armstrong 01:40 Run Awards Buzz 02:29 Why Run Works 04:57 Boys and Reading 10:28 Dads Reading Idea 11:09 New Book The Wave 12:07 Themes and Trojan Horse 13:45 Writing Vivid Settings 18:27 From Adult to Kid Lit 20:37 Why Write for Kids 22:07 Publishing the Switch 22:40 Sticking With Kid Lit 23:01 Agents And Publishing Path 23:44 Switching Genres Confidence 24:08 Online Writing Courses 26:21 Self Paced Learning Benefits 27:01 Inside The Critique Group 30:21 Finding Your Own Group 32:55 Giving And Taking Feedback 36:23 What Sarah Writes Next 37:41 Rewriting Makes The Story 39:41 Structure Tools Save The Cat 41:22 Thanks And Wrap Up Join our Patreon community for less than the cost of a coffee per month and support the pod! Your contribution will go to directly paying our sound producer, Brogan, and to help us bring you the conversations with industry professionals you love. Follow The Book Deal podcast on Instagram The Book Deal podcast (@the_book_deal_podcast) • Instagram photos and videos You can find out more about Tina, Madeleine and Natasha and follow their journeys here: Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos Tina Strachan children's book author Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos Madeleine Cleary | Author Natasha Rai (@raiwriting) • Instagram photos and videos Natasha Rai | Author | Mentor If you want to stay in the know, sign up to Madeleine, Tina and Natasha's newsletters for the latest news first. Madeleine: Subscribe here...

  8. Aug 12

    The Writing Deal: Tina checks in on Madeleine and Natasha in the editing trenches

    Tina Strachan interviews Madeleine Cleary and Natasha Rai about being deep in the editing trenches for their second books while juggling demanding jobs and family commitments, including tight three-week deadlines for structural and copy edits. Madeleine describes balancing edits with commuting and recharging through social outings, while Natasha focuses on long, immersed editing days. They reflect on guilt, asking for extensions, self-doubt, and how editing teaches them to improve the book, emphasising that multiple rounds mean the team cares. Tina shares children’s Book Week event prep and they announce a live podcast at the Emerging Writers’ Festival on 12 September at the Wheeler Centre with Toni Jordan as “agony aunt,” including anonymous question submissions. The episode includes a plug for Lisa Nan Joo’s debut novel Mother Waters. Link to Emerging Writers Festival event: The Book Deal Podcast EWF Edition  00:00 Podcast Intro 00:56 Editing Trenches Catchup 02:14 Mads Deadline Juggle 04:09 Footy Break Productivity 06:23 Tash Copy Edit Marathon 09:33 Asking For Extensions 10:33 Editing Teaches The Book 12:56 Process Doubts And Reassurance 15:24 Outside View Of The Dip 16:18 Editing Process Reality Check 16:51 Debut Novel Spotlight 19:39 Live Podcast Announcement 20:58 Submitting Questions and Tickets 23:04 Editing Tips and Mindset 25:22 Birthing a Book Metaphor 26:48 Magnetic Island Episode revisit 27:52 Wrap Up and Farewell Join our Patreon community for less than the cost of a coffee per month and support the pod! Your contribution will go to directly paying our sound producer, Brogan, and to help us bring you the conversations with industry professionals you love. Follow The Book Deal podcast on Instagram The Book Deal podcast (@the_book_deal_podcast) • Instagram photos and videos You can find out more about Tina, Madeleine and Natasha and follow their journeys here: Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos Tina Strachan children's book author Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos Madeleine Cleary | Author Natasha Rai (@raiwriting) • Instagram photos and videos Natasha Rai | Author | Mentor If you want to stay in the know, sign up to Madeleine, Tina and Natasha's newsletters for the latest news first. Madeleine: Subscribe here...

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About

Motivation and inspiration for emerging writers, helping them pave their own pathway to publishing success.

Information

  • Creator
    Tina Strachan, Madeleine Cleary & Natasha Rai
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    106
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Book Deal
  • Show Website
    The Book Deal

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