Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we're joined by Australian crime writer Dinuka Mackenzie, who shares her journey from environmental planner to author, her writing process, and insights into her series featuring Detective Kate Miles. Discover how she crafts suspense, develops characters, and explores themes of family, identity, and resilience. Dinuka's books The Torrent (Kate Miles, book one)Taken (Kate Miles, book two)Tipping Point (Kate Miles, book three)She Lied First (standalone, released July 2026)Key Topics Dinuka Mackenzie's transition from environmental planning to writingThe creation and development of the Kate Miles seriesBalancing series and standalone novelsResearch and authenticity in crime fictionCharacter-driven storytelling and emotional depthRaising stakes and maintaining suspenseRepresentation of multicultural Australia in her booksWriting process: from first draft to publicationReader feedback and its impact on her writingFuture projects and genre explorationChapters Introduction and guest backgroundThe journey from environmental planner to authorWriting the first draft and industry learningsReactions to her debut and early successDeep dive into the Kate Miles seriesThemes of family, loyalty, and personal struggleWriting the third Kate Miles novel, Tipping PointKeywords Crime fiction, Australian authors, writing process, character development, series writing, psychological thriller, crime series, author interview, storytelling, crime novels Booktopia Affiliate Program The Kill City Podcast is a part of the Booktopia Affiliate Program, meaning that when you purchase a book from Booktopia using one of the above the links, we get a small commission. Or as they'd say in the crime world, a kick back! At the Kill City Podcast we love celebrating and promoting the work of Australian writers, publishers and bookstores, and we hope you do too. Disclaimer The episode transcripts are auto-generated, and while all efforts are made to ensure their accuracy, there may be some instance of incorrect spelling and/or errors in the accuracy. www.killcitypodcast.com.au