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. 2d ago

    SPECIAL EP: School Author Talks - Everything You Need to Know (Part 1)

    This special “mega ep” of The Book Deal Podcast, hosted by Tina Strachan, focuses on how to deliver successful school author visits ahead of August Book Week, featuring advice from Sarah Armstrong, Zanni Louise, Peter Carnavas, and Carla Salmon (with a second episode to follow). The guests describe the talks and workshops they offer, how they structure sessions to hold students’ attention, and what to avoid, emphasising interaction, storytelling, visuals, chunking content, and being authentic rather than “talking at” kids. They share practical strategies such as microphones, props, harmonicas, icebreakers, and provocative questions, plus contingency planning for tech failures, organisation and communication with schools, and building bookings through relationships, agencies, mailouts, bookshops, festivals, and school-linked associations. They also recount challenges, disasters, and memorable student questions, and stress gratitude to teachers and librarians and the impact of meeting young readers. 00:00 Podcast intro 00:56 School visits special 03:09 Sarah Armstrong begins 04:18 Workshops and talks 06:11 Hooking the audience 07:40 Props and pacing 09:19 Tech fails and recovery 10:48 Booking school visits 13:06 Smooth visit logistics 15:35 Zanni Louise begins 16:58 Tailoring by age 20:07 Teen icebreakers 21:10 Games and engagement 22:56 Errol performance bit 24:05 Advice for beginners 26:29 Present Your True Style 27:09 New Books and Community Theme 28:14 Resilience on the Road 30:28 Peter on Reader Connection 32:23 Talks Workshops and Demos 34:51 Structure Hooks and Signals 37:20 What to Avoid and Adapt 40:15 Booking Visits and Logistics 43:34 Carla Overprepares for Tech 49:58 Provocations Branding and Behavior 53:29 Finding Schools and Closing Advice 56:08 Podcast Wrap and Support 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. Jul 15

    Are too many books being published and is community the key to increased readers? Plus the joy of book boxes! Catch up with Tina and Natasha.

    Hosts Tina Strachan and Natasha Rai catch up. Natasha shares being highly commended for a Varuna fellowship (amid 812 entries), explains Varuna as the National Writers’ House in Katoomba, and discusses upcoming copy edits for The Bride Price, preparation for Melbourne’s QLit Festival, and a four-hour “complicated characters” workshop at Hunter Writers Centre on 25 July. Tina describes a quieter month with school-holiday outings, catching up on admin, and reflecting on daily writing habits via Stephen King’s 2,000-words-a-day routine. They discuss promotional book boxes, including a Penguin Random House box for Shara Curlett’s middle-grade fantasy Protector of Beyond (out in September), and what authors might include in their own. They also unpack a Guardian article arguing Australia is publishing too quickly, talk shelf-life realities, the role of community and independent booksellers, and offer practical promotion ideas. They highlight NSW “Stories Matter” fellowships ($50,000; closes 27 July) and The Wheeler Centre’s The Next Chapter (stipend and mentorship; closes 31 July), and end by encouraging writers to keep writing for joy. 00:00 Podcast intro and hosts 00:56 Catch-up and Varuna news 02:07 What is Varuna 04:42 Edits festivals and workshop prep 06:25 Tina holiday reset 08:08 Stephen King writing habit 12:18 Back to routine and topics 12:40 Promotional book boxes 16:34 DIY book box ideas 18:10 Guardian debate too many books 19:13 Too Many Books Debate 20:39 Readers Bookstores Squeeze 21:07 Rose Red Bookshop Hope 22:12 Community Over Commodity 26:24 Shelf Life Three Months 28:35 Bookseller Reality Check 29:24 Tips Readers And Writers 31:38 Keep Books Selling Longer 36:07 Remember Why You Write 37:47 Fellowships And Grants 39:51 Final Writing Pep Talk 41:11 Podcast Farewell Outro 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. Jul 8

    Jessie Tu on writing real characters, obsession with older women and being seen as an author

    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. Jul 1

    Kayte Nunn on writing bestselling fiction across genres and publishers

    Kayte Nunn is the bestselling author of nine novels, including The Botanist’s Daughter, The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant, The Silk House and The Last Reunion. Kayte grew up in England and the US, before moving to Australia. She has had a diverse career working in publishing, editing, and magazines, including as the former editor of Gourmet Traveller WINE magazine. Madeleine chats with Kayte about writing the book that calls to you, how to be disciplined and resilient, switching lanes and genres (even when you are a bestseller and have a 'brand', and lots of tips for good routines and writing. And of course we discuss Kayte's latest twisty new novel, The Yacht,  a page-turning crime thriller set on a superyacht in Mallorca. * THE YACHT A man on the edge. A woman hell-bent on revenge. A cheating husband. A desperate wife. A property empire on the brink of collapse. A family at loggerheads. A predator hiding in plain sight. Who will sink and who will swim? Three generations of a billionaire family are taking their new superyacht on its maiden voyage. But when the yacht sinks, each of them has a different part to play, in this addictive, twist-filled thriller. Check out The Yacht here. * Kayte recommends reading The Emotional Craft of Fiction: How to Write the Story Beneath the Surface by Donald Maass.  Our Debut in the Spotlight this week is The Picasso Ransom by A.T Prewett. Thank you to HarperCollins Australia for sponsoring this episode. 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. Jun 24

    Sarah Clutton shares how travelling the world and 'trusting the process' helped her create The Bookshop of Buried Pasts

    Tina Strachan interviews author Sarah Clutton about her new novel ‘The Bookshop of Buried Pasts’. Clutton outlines the story of antiquarian book dealer Phyllida Banks, who disappears and leaves her granddaughter Lottie to run their Southern Highlands bookshop and find a man named Francis, leading to a Cambridgeshire mystery tied to an unsolved 50-year-old crime, family secrets, spirituality, and threads of witches and Celtic mythology across 1960s–70s timelines. She discusses the setting’s inspiration from Berrima and Australia’s first “book town” region, the showstopping cover design, and the title’s evolution. Clutton shares research experiences, including a death doula course and travel to English manor houses, Devon’s Clovelly, Scotland, and Shetland, and offers advice to aspiring authors: take craft courses and become open to critique.   00:00 Podcast Intro 00:56 Meet Sarah Clutton 01:39 New Book Overview 03:38 Southern Highlands Setting 06:10 Book Town Inspiration 06:49 Cover Art Breakdown 10:47 Title Origins 14:10 Death Doula Research 21:06 Phyllida Character Themes 22:54 Stalking Idea Process 24:33 Trusting the Draft 26:05 Travel As Research 27:03 Themes Of Agency 28:41 Hunting Manor Houses 29:44 Clovelly Village Magic 33:33 Scotland Estate Access 35:08 Mythology DNA Witchcraft 38:32 Daily Writing Reality 39:43 Drafting Through Discomfort 44:30 Tips For Aspiring Authors 46:27 Late Start Publishing Journey 51:17 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...

  6. Jun 17

    The Writing Deal: It's EOFY! Natasha, Tina & Madeleine discuss the business of being an author

    Tina, Madeleine and Natasha catch up and discuss: Natasha's successful workshop on creativity and the nervous system, and how to get the most from creative flow. Natasha's title of her second book (!)All things small business: accounting, expenses, BAS, GST, mileage, super, income averaging, receipts. We go into the nitty gritty of running your own author business.Please do your research and always seek professional financial advice. Our listeners recommended the below specialist accountants for writers: Real ThielKylie Thompson at Sorrento StrategicMatthew Tucker from Creative CrunchersThis week's Debut in the Spotlight is Disgraceful (Simon & Schuster, 2026) by Rachel Fox McLeod. 00:56 We catch up 01:39 Natasha's workshop chat 11:08 Tina is tinkering 18:19 Natasha reveals her second book title! 27:17 Debut in the Spotlight 28:24 The business behind the books 31:26 Accounting 35:26 Recording travel 42:48 GST, BAS And invoicing 46:27 Income Averaging and ABNs 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. Jun 10

    Emily Maguire on non-fiction vs fiction writing, overcoming discouragement and practicalities of sustaining a writing life

    Natasha Rai interviews author Emily Maguire about her Queensland Literary Award–winning, Prime Minister’s Literary Award–shortlisted novel Rapture, inspired by a 1,000-year-old legend of a woman disguising herself as a man, rising through monastic ranks, and becoming pope. Maguire contrasts nonfiction research—structured around a topic and intended conclusions—with fiction research driven by deep point of view and character questions, and describes collecting sparks like art and journaled observations. She recounts early discouragement from a teacher, her first publication journey via mailed submissions and an ASA mentorship, and how international rights sales launched her career despite poor local reviews. Maguire discusses navigating tough edits, learning that “a novel is made in the rewriting,” choosing trusted readers, teaching writing without gatekeeping craft jargon, and practical realities of sustaining an Australian writing life amid industry pressures, including AI, while emphasizing writing regularly and revising deeply. 00:00 Podcast Intro 00:56 Meet Emily Maguire 02:27 Elevator Pitch Rapture 03:28 Research Fiction vs Nonfiction 06:03 Finding Story Sparks 08:36 A Life of Reading 09:43 Becoming a Writer 12:32 First Publication Journey 16:55 Persistence and Doubt 20:55 Handling Editorial Feedback 25:55 Learning Deep Revision 30:55 When to Share Drafts 31:52 Trusted Reader Process 33:16 When a Draft Fails 34:49 Finding Trusted Readers 35:53 Feedback That Helps 40:59 Teaching Through Dialogue 43:55 Craft Terms Dont Matter 47:28 Market Identity Anxiety 51:08 Sustaining Writing Career 56:14 Write Then Revise 58:14 Podcast 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. Jun 3

    Rebecca Lim on genre-hopping, rejection and the joy of 'having no brand'

    Content warning: Please note this episode contains brief references to crimes against children, including mentions of historical cases and industry terminology. These topics are not discussed in detail, but listener discretion is advised. Not suitable for younger audiences. Madeleine interviews beloved Australian author, Rebecca Lim. Rebecca is an Australian writer, editor and lawyer, and the author of over twenty books, including Tiger Daughter (a Kirkus, Amazon and Booklist Best Book, CBCA Book of the Year, and Victorian Premier’s Literary Award-winner), Two Sparrowhawks in a Lonely Sky (NSW History Award-winner) and the bestselling Mercy. Her work has been twice shortlisted for the NSW Literary Awards and Margaret and Colin Roderick Literary Award, shortlisted for the Queensland Literary Awards and ARA Historical Novel Prize, shortlisted multiple times for the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, Aurealis Awards and Davitt Awards, longlisted for the David Gemmell Legend Award and the Tasmanian Literary Awards, and has been optioned for film. Rebecca talks to us about: why being a publishing flake might be a good thingrejections and the financial realities of being an authorhaving no brand (but loving what you do)how she balances life as a corporate lawyer, mother, dog owner and writer (and a little spoiler, her advice includes the use of toilet paper rolls).The Graduate (Affirm Press, 2026) A razor-sharp revenge thriller that blows the whistle on the cutthroat world of corporate law.  New graduate Fei Fei Chou is an outlier at her prestigious law firm. She's too quiet. She wears too much makeup. She’s only here because the boss has a thing for Asians. But Fei isn’t here to climb the corporate ladder – she’s here for revenge.  Thirty years ago, three schoolgirls were kidnapped and abused by a man who’s never been identified. The information Fei needs to find him is buried somewhere in the firm’s records. Deliberately placing herself in harm’s way, Fei will uncover a secret history of power and privilege that haunts not only her firm, but the nation itself. Taut, riveting and blackly humorous, The Graduate is a mesmerising legal thriller and a masterfully dark crime debut from a beloved Australian writer. Our Debut in the Spotlight this week is Lit by Anna Woods (Allen & Unwin, 2026). 00:51 Meet Rebecca Lim 02:33 Early Writing  08:46 Quitting Law For Writing 10:23 Genre Hopping  13:56 The Graduate  32:24 Debut in the Spotlight 33:45 Editing 40:20 Writing Adults Vs Kids 42:37 Balancing life 43:52 Burnout And Career Breaks 50:58 Feedback And Resilience 54:31 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...

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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
    96
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Book Deal
  • Show Website
    The Book Deal

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