Emily Paull on "retiring" from writing and her 17-year journey to publishing The Distance Between Dreams

Emily Paull is a Western Australian librarian, author and book reviewer. Having formerly worked in bookselling, Emily is an avid reader and a big supporter of the WA writing community who regularly moderates author interviews around Perth. She is the author of the historical novel, The Distance Between Dreams (Fremantle Press, 2025) and the short story collection, Well-Behaved Women (Margaret River Press, 2019). The Distance Between Dreams was shortlisted for the 2023 Fogarty Literary Award under the working title 'The Dreamers.' Emily was also highly commended for the 2021 Fogarty Literary Award for her manuscript, 'The Good Daughter.

Emily shares the highs and lows of her 17-year journey to publication, including the inspiration behind her works, the significance of setting, and the importance of place in historical fiction. They discuss Emily’s experiences with the publishing industry, her role as a book reviewer and librarian, and the value of libraries for authors. Emily also offers practical advice for writers at every stage of their journey and emphasises the importance of community and persistence in the literary world.

You can subscribe to Emily's Substack here.

This week's Debut in the Spotlight is Darcy Green with their debut novel, After the Siren (Penguin, September 2025),

00:55 Introducing Emily Paull
01:37 Emily's Journey in the Book Industry
04:58 The Reality of Being a Writer
08:40 The Long Road to Publication
19:07 Short Stories
27:59 The Fogarty Literary Award
30:35 The Distance Between Dreams
33:07 Darcy Green's Debut Novel
34:24 The Fogarty Award Journey
40:23 Historical Research and Fremantle's Significance
45:47 Writing About the Thai-Burma Railway
49:25 Tips for Authors Working with Libraries
58:44 Becoming a Book Reviewer
01:02:16 Final Thoughts and Top Tips for Writers

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