Not the Plot

Teena
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Conversations about books, art and living a creative life.

  1. 5d ago

    Mark Carthew - Celebrating language, humour and wordplay

    Send us Fan Mail Dr Mark Carthew is an award-winning Australian children’s author, poet, editor, musician and educator well known for his books and series celebrating language, humour and wordplay.  His picture books The Gobbling Tree, ill. by Susy  Boyer and The Thing That Goes Ping! ill. by Shane McG, were both awarded the prestigious Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Award.  Mark has extensive experience in trade and education editing and publishing with over 100 + books, as well as numerous anthologies, poems and songs published with Australian and international publishers. In this episode of Not the Plot, Mark chats with Teena Raffa-Mulligan about the joys of creating, where the magic happens and how song writing influenced and complements his picture book career. He also shares an insight into why he has taken on a new publishing challenge.  Mark's top tips for aspiring picture book creators: * Do your research into what publishers want and what's working in the market. * Find the right person to talk to and do your best to hook their interest.  * Leave it to the publisher to team up author and illustrator.  Find out more about Mark:  https://www.markcarthew.com.au/ https://www.instagram.com/mark.carthew/ Thank you for listening. Find out more about Not the Plot host Teena Raffa-Mulligan at https://www.teenaraffamulligan.com or follow her FB author page https://www.facebook.com/TeenaRaffaMulligan You can also sign up for her occasional newsletter at http://bit.ly/2gqsJz3

    Mark Carthew - Celebrating language, humour and wordplay

  2. Nov 2

    Rebecca Green - Novel prize rewards commitment

    Send us Fan Mail Rebecca Green has worked as a journalist, book reviewer and school librarian. She is inspired by the unusual and writes children’s books that celebrate differences. Rebecca grew up in country Victoria reading horse books, dreaming of owning a horse and riding whenever she could. After discovering zorses, the offspring of a horse and a zebra, Rebecca started dreaming about owning one. In 2025 Rebecca won the Spiers Prize for her middle grade novel A Girl, a Boy, a Horse and a Zorse. Rebecca has also won a Maurice Saxby Mentorship and the Sutherland Shire Picture Book Manuscript Prize.  In this episode of Not the Plot, Rebecca chats with Teena Raffa-Mulligan about country living, how her prize-winning novel evolved and staying inspired throughout the long path to publication.  Rebecca offers this advice to aspiring authors: * Sit down and write * Read * Go to writing events * Connect with like-minded friends Follow Rebecca here:  https://www.instagram.com/rebecca_green_author/ Thank you for listening. Find out more about Not the Plot host Teena Raffa-Mulligan at https://www.teenaraffamulligan.com or follow her FB author page https://www.facebook.com/TeenaRaffaMulligan You can also sign up for her occasional newsletter at http://bit.ly/2gqsJz3

    Rebecca Green - Novel prize rewards commitment

  3. Oct 26

    Dannika Patterson - Sparking wonder in young readers

    Send us Fan Mail Dannika Patterson, a Brisbane-based children’s author, workshop presenter, and former journalist. Her books aim to uplift, empower, and spark wonder, while gently opening conversations about big ideas. In this episode of Not the Plot, Dannika chats with host Teena Raffa-Mulligan about the challenge of finding publishers, the experience of working with an illustrator, her thoughts on rejection and the importance of connection with a supportive community.  She also shares the interesting back story to her newest picture book, Duck Duck Bruce and how she came to edit the text from 1000 words to just 21.  Find out more about Dannika: https://dannikapatterson.com/ https://www.instagram.com/dannikapatterson/ https://www.facebook.com/dannikapattersonbooks/ Thank you for listening. Find out more about Not the Plot host Teena Raffa-Mulligan at https://www.teenaraffamulligan.com or follow her FB author page https://www.facebook.com/TeenaRaffaMulligan You can also sign up for her occasional newsletter at http://bit.ly/2gqsJz3

    Dannika Patterson - Sparking wonder in young readers

  4. Oct 16

    Adam Ouston - Challenging conventions in fiction

    Send us Fan Mail Adam Ouston is a writer of fiction and non-fiction, and the recipient of the 2014 Erica Bell Literary Award as well as the manuscript prize at the Tasmanian Premier’s Literary Awards in 2017. He holds a PhD and has worked as a copywriter, editor and bookseller. As a musician he performs as Costume. Adam lives in Hobart, Tasmania. His latest novel, Mine, about a poet trapped down an abandoned mine in the mountain rainforests of Tasmania, has been attracting critical acclaim since it was released in August.  In this episode of Not the Plot, Adam chats with host Teena Raffa-Mulligan about his creative process, why he chose an unusual format for his latest novel and the challenges in creating a full-length work without conventional punctuation.   He offers the following advice for aspiring authors: * Work on what inspires and excites you. * Don't pay much attention to what anyone else is doing. * Find the pleasure in the doing. Find out more about Adam: https://www.instagram.com/adam.ouston/ Thank you for listening. Find out more about Not the Plot host Teena Raffa-Mulligan at https://www.teenaraffamulligan.com or follow her FB author page https://www.facebook.com/TeenaRaffaMulligan You can also sign up for her occasional newsletter at http://bit.ly/2gqsJz3

    Adam Ouston - Challenging conventions in fiction

  5. Oct 9

    Annette Pesek - Drawn to creating botanical art

    Send us Fan Mail Annette Pesek has been drawing and painting since she was old enough to hold a pencil and paintbrush. Upon completing a Maths/Science Education degree at Melbourne University, she attended watercolour classes with Melbourne based realist artist Walter Magilton. After a few years she turned to Botanical Illustration, as she discovered this was her true passion. She then attended regular classes with Melbourne based botanical artist Terry Napier, until she moved to WA in 2019. Annette has exhibited her works at the Melbourne Royal Botanic Gardens’ by-selection-only Natural History and The Art of Botanical Illustration exhibitions (Also represented October in the 2018 Botanical Illustration calendar), Rotary Art Shows and other varied community art shows, and takes commissions. She now immerses herself in creative/artistic endeavours and having completed Diplomas in Interior Design and also Holistic Integrated Creative Art Therapy, some of her time is also spent working in these areas. She also regularly runs Botanical Illustration Workshops in local art centres. Annette has been completely mesmerised by the diversity of WA’s flora/fauna, upon which she now tries to focus much of her work so that people all over Australia and elsewhere can enjoy and appreciate its unique beauty. In this episode of Not the Plot Annette chats with Teena Raffa-Mulligan about how she discovered her passion for botanical art, what this area of art has taught her about herself, perfectionism, and being open to learning from others.  Her top tips for aspiring artist are: * Use quality materials. * Make time to practise. * Enjoy the process. Thank you for listening. Find out more about Not the Plot host Teena Raffa-Mulligan at https://www.teenaraffamulligan.com or follow her FB author page https://www.facebook.com/TeenaRaffaMulligan You can also sign up for her occasional newsletter at http://bit.ly/2gqsJz3

    Annette Pesek - Drawn to creating botanical art

  6. Sep 27

    Geoffrey Gates - Meeting a novel challenge

    Send us Fan Mail Geoffrey Gates is an educator, author and songwriter. After university, he taught in London and Hamburg for nine years before returning to Sydney. Geoffrey’s short fiction and essays have appeared in such literary journals as Southerly, LINQ, and Australian Literary Studies. He was awarded a Varuna Fellowship in 2023 for his third novel The Phantom Surrealist which was recently released by Transit Lounge. Geoffrey lives in Sydney with his family and a labrador named Bernie. In this episode of Not the Plot Geoff speaks with Teena Raffa-Mulligan about finding the time and space to write, bringing the settings of his fiction to life through travel, and the role music plays in his creative life.  https://www.facebook.com/gatesywriter/ https://www.instagram.com/gatesywriter/ Thank you for listening. Find out more about Not the Plot host Teena Raffa-Mulligan at https://www.teenaraffamulligan.com or follow her FB author page https://www.facebook.com/TeenaRaffaMulligan You can also sign up for her occasional newsletter at http://bit.ly/2gqsJz3

    Geoffrey Gates - Meeting a novel challenge

  7. Sep 11

    Catherine de Saint Phalle - Finding essential truth

    Send us Fan Mail Catherine de Saint Phalle was born in London, spent her first years in Sussex, England and then lived in Paris and the South of France before moving to Australia in 2003.  She has had six books published in France. Her fifth book with Australian publisher Transit Lounge, The Hurt, was released in August and has been described as ‘a remarkably honest and captivating work of literature.’ In this episode of Not the Plot Catherine shares an insight into why and how she writes, discusses the difference between memoir and auto-fiction, the personal nature of writing, and ‘getting yourself out of the way’ to find the essential truth through written expression.  Follow her on FB: https://www.facebook.com/catherine.desaintphalle/   Thank you for listening. Find out more about Not the Plot host Teena Raffa-Mulligan at https://www.teenaraffamulligan.com or follow her FB author page https://www.facebook.com/TeenaRaffaMulligan You can also sign up for her occasional newsletter at http://bit.ly/2gqsJz3

    Catherine de Saint Phalle - Finding essential truth

  8. Sep 2

    Veronica Rooke - Balancing creativity and practicality for artistic success

    Send us Fan Mail Veronica Rooke can trace her artistic career back to her first year in primary school when she started writing and illustrating wacky stories and announced she was going to be an artist. At the time no one appreciated her crayon masterpieces, said she was a bit weird and suggested a different career choice might be more appropriate. Veronica chose not to listen to her critics, followed her dream and went on to become a cartoonist, comic creator, graphic artist, book cover designer, picture book illustrator, workshop presenter and story mentor.  In this episode of Not the Plot she chats with host Teena Raffa-Mulligan about overcoming obstacles, balancing creativity and practicality, and the joy she finds in creating artwork for clients.  Her message to anyone contemplating a creative path is: Be more stubborn than the problem you're facing, and do the hard stuff because that's how you will learn and grow. Thank you for listening. Find out more about Not the Plot host Teena Raffa-Mulligan at https://www.teenaraffamulligan.com or follow her FB author page https://www.facebook.com/TeenaRaffaMulligan You can also sign up for her occasional newsletter at http://bit.ly/2gqsJz3

    Veronica Rooke - Balancing creativity and practicality for artistic success
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About

Conversations about books, art and living a creative life.

Information

  • Creator
    Teena
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    66
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Not the Plot
  • Show Website
    Not the Plot