In this special live episode of Between The Lines, Chelle and Leanne sit down with Australian crime author Fiona Tarr at the Sunshine Coast Fiction Festival to talk about her gripping, atmospheric novels.

Fiona writes crime fiction set in distinctly Australian landscapes - from remote tropical towns to outback mining communities - where secrets run deep and the past is never far behind.

We discuss two of her novels:

Grave Regret, which follows detective Dawn Grave as she returns to the town tied to her traumatic past when her sister goes missing, and Her Buried Bones, where a young constable arrives in an outback opal town searching for answers about her family, only to uncover a suspicious death and a trail of buried secrets.

Across both stories, Fiona explores what happens when personal history collides with professional duty, and how the truth can be both dangerous to uncover - and impossible to ignore.

• Writing crime fiction set in uniquely Australian environments
• Creating strong, complex female investigators
• How personal backstories shape investigative decisions
• The role of small towns in building tension and secrecy
• Balancing personal stakes with crime-driven plots
• Why secrets - both personal and communal - sit at the heart of great crime fiction

• The impact of the past on the present
• Family, loyalty and unresolved trauma
• Power dynamics in small communities
• Corruption, silence and hidden truths
• The tension between doing your job and following your instincts

Grave Regret is a small-town Australian crime novel following detective Dawn Grave as she returns to her hometown to investigate her sister's disappearance — a case that forces her to confront the trauma she's spent decades trying to forget.

Her Buried Bones is set in an outback opal mining town, where a young constable investigating a suspicious death uncovers secrets that may be linked to her own family's past.

Both novels combine strong settings, layered characters and steadily building tension.

Fiona Tarr is an Australian crime author known for writing atmospheric mysteries set in rural and remote communities. Her work focuses on strong female leads, complex personal histories and the hidden dynamics within small towns.

Chelle and Leanne created Between The Lines because they love books and great conversations — and wanted to share both with you.

📚 Listen to the podcast for author interviews and reading inspiration

📦 Or join our online book club, where we deliver books to your door and a book club to your reading nook

In this episode of Between The Lines, Chelle and Leanne chat with internationally bestselling author Courtney Peppernell about her latest novel The Last Poem - a moving story about grief, identity and the possibility of starting again.

The novel follows Wren Paisley, a successful poet whose life is shattered by the sudden loss of her fiancée, Lucy. Overwhelmed by grief and public attention, she leaves everything behind and finds herself drawn to the small town of Everston, Colorado - a place where no one knows her and she can begin again.

There, she quietly rebuilds her life. She changes her name, renovates an old Victorian house, and slowly becomes part of a local grief support group that centres around poetry.

For the first time since her loss, she begins to feel a sense of connection — to the town, to the people around her, and possibly to a new kind of love. But as her past begins to catch up with her, she is forced to confront whether she can truly leave her old life behind.

In our conversation with Courtney, we explore:

• How grief shapes identity and the process of starting over
• The role of poetry in healing and connection
• Why modern poetry resonates so deeply with readers today
• Writing in a way that feels accessible, emotional and real
• How Courtney's own readers influenced the creation of this story

We also found ourselves completely drawn into the setting — and may or may not have added the town that inspired Everston, Colorado to our growing "to be visited" list.

This is a heartfelt conversation about loss, healing and the quiet ways we begin again.

Courtney Peppernell is an internationally bestselling Australian author, best known for her Pillow Thoughts series and other works exploring love, healing and self-discovery.

Her books have sold millions of copies worldwide and have been translated into multiple languages. Courtney lives on the South Coast of NSW and continues to create work that fosters connection, reflection and emotional healing.

Chelle and Leanne created Between The Lines because they love books and great conversations — and wanted to share both with you.

📚 Listen to the podcast for author interviews and reading inspiration

📦 Or join our online book club, where we deliver books to your door and a book club to your reading nook

https://www.betweenthelinesaustralia.com/bookclub2026

In this episode of Between The Lines, Chelle and Leanne sit down with Australian wellness expert Sharon Kolkka to talk about her book How to Be Well, co-written with integrative medicine specialist Dr Karen Coates.

This conversation is a gentle but powerful reminder that many women are living in a constant state of busyness — juggling work, family and endless to-do lists — while slowly becoming overwhelmed, exhausted and disconnected from their own wellbeing.

How to Be Well offers a different way forward.

Through a practical and compassionate approach, Sharon and Karen introduce a framework to help women better understand their current state of health, whether they are thriving, surviving or depleted, and what small, meaningful steps they can take to move towards greater energy, balance and resilience.

In our conversation with Sharon, we explore:

• Why so many women are feeling overwhelmed and burnt out

• The signs that you may be running on empty (even if you've normalised it)

• The idea of assessing whether you are thriving, surviving or depleted

• The importance of emotional wellbeing alongside physical health

• A more holistic, realistic approach to self-care

• How small, consistent changes can support long-term wellbeing

Sharon brings decades of experience in women's health and emotional wellbeing to this conversation, sharing insights in a way that feels both grounded and achievable.

This episode is a thoughtful invitation to pause, reflect and consider what it might look like to take better care of yourself - not perfectly, but intentionally.

If you've been feeling overtired, stretched too thin, or like your own needs have slipped to the bottom of the list, this conversation will resonate.

How to Be Well is a practical and compassionate guide for women who want to improve their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.

Blending science with real-life strategies, the book introduces a five-pillared approach to wellness and a personal health audit to help you understand your current state and take steps towards greater energy, vitality and resilience.

Sharon Kolkka is one of Australia's most trusted wellness experts, with over 40 years of experience in emotional wellbeing, stress resilience and women's hormonal health.

She has worked as an executive leader in award-winning wellness retreats and has supported thousands of women through transformative health programs. Sharon is a highly regarded speaker known for making complex health information accessible, practical and empowering.

AND IF YOU LOVE DISCUSSING BOOKS:

Join our bookclub here for insider author chats: https://www.betweenthelinesaustralia.com/bookclub2026