Susan Midalia and Laurie Steed discuss their latest novels, Western Australian books to watch and the very special art of mentoring with Emma Young

Show Notes

In this special Love to Read Local edition of the Fremantle Press podcast, novelist, journalist and Fogarty Literary Award shortlister, Emma Young, interviews her writing mentor Laurie Steed as well as her writing mentor’s mentor, Susan Midalia. Sound complicated? It’s not, it’s awesome.

The podcast highlights the supportive network of Western Australian writers who, while working on their own craft and their own manuscripts, give back by helping less experienced writers develop their craft. The fact that Laurie and Susan have been particularly active in the mentoring space is strongly evident here as they discuss a long list of new and forthcoming Western Australian books they’re excited about – many of which they’ve read as early manuscripts.

Susan and Laurie are both avid and intelligent readers, and skilled writers of short stories, which get a special mention here. If you’ve ever thought a short story is just a precursor to a novel, think again. This podcast will help you understand why the short story is its very own art form!

Music: ‘Letter to a Daughter of St George’, from the Meat Lunch EP: Songs from Floaters. Written by Alan Fyfe. Performed by Trevor Bentley (guitar and vocals – @trevormb) and Chris Parkinson (harmonica). Produced by Blake Carnaby of Nuglife studios with impresario work by Benjamin P. Newton.

Producer: Claire Miller

Mastered and edited by: Aidan d’Adhemar

Sponsor: This show was made possible with a grant from the Copyright Agency's Cultural Fund

Show Notes

Other Episodes

Episode 4

Introducing Julie Sprigg, shortlisted for the 2018 City of Fremantle T.A.G. Hungerford Award

Episode 11

Holden Sheppard talks to David Whish-Wilson about his hard-hitting new crime novel True West and what it says about our right-wing past and our political present

Episode 9

This week in Love to Read Local we talk to Westerly Magazine editors Catherine Noske and Josephine Taylor about their own novels, the writing they love and the good, the bad and the brilliant parts of their day jobs as literary editors