The Writing Deal: Natasha, Madeleine and Tina on being a 'good literary citizen'.

Tina Strachan, Madeleine Cleary, and Natasha Rai share their updates in March: somatic therapy training, writing and editing in the snatches, immersion time, journalling, book research and more. Plus they brainstorm what their promo boxes look like and chat about what they are reading.

They reflect on advice from HarperCollins Australia Head of Fiction, Catherine Milne, about 'bailing-up' publishers at events, the art/commerce balance, comparison titles. They also discuss what being a 'good literary citizen' actually means.

00:00 Podcast intro

00:56 Monthly catch up

02:43 Writing in snatches

04:34 Structural edits crunch

11:11 Promo boxes!

14:55 Tina's self-care journal

18:57 Workshops and events

20:05 Spiritualist church book research

22:53 Publisher Pitch Reflections

24:20 Art Meets Commerce

29:31 Being a Good Literary Citizen

37:39 What We Are Reading

41:56 Wrap Up And Support

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You can find out more about Tina, Madeleine and Natasha and follow their journeys here:

Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos
Tina Strachan children's book author
Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos
Madeleine Cleary | Author
Natasha Rai (@raiwriting) • Instagram photos and videos
Natasha Rai | Author | Mentor

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Natasha Rai interviews author Bridie Blake days before her rom-com debut The Boyfriend Clause releases. Blake pitches the novel: café owner Sabrina Fogarty enters a fake-dating deal with her broody neighbor, bestselling author Adam Whitaker, which escalates when he joins her family holiday to the UK. Blake discusses becoming a rom-com reader during the pandemic, her earlier years writing dark YA and suspense, and years of rejections, including a two-year US submission during COVID after signing a US agent. She explains developing The Boyfriend Clause from a “white lie,” outlining with a pitch and detailed plan, and choosing to publish in Australia so her dad could see it in bookstores. Text Publishing acquired it quickly, and Blake has submitted book two and is drafting book three.

00:00 Podcast Intro
00:56 Meet Bridie and Launch Day
02:34 Release Nerves and Social Media
04:08 Elevator Pitch The Boyfriend Clause
05:27 Why Romcoms Feel Good
08:59 From YA Darkness to Romcom
10:08 Writing Since Childhood
11:48 Resilience Through Rejection
14:51 Querying and US Agent Journey
18:28 Pandemic Submission Heartbreak
20:14 Switching Genres to Adult Romcom
20:49 Origin of The Boyfriend Clause
25:38 Pitch First Then Outline
30:04 Drafting Timeline and Agent Edits
31:37 Making It Australian
32:34 Americanize The Manuscript
33:18 US Submission Reality Check
34:55 Choosing Australia First
38:39 Dream Publisher Submission
41:18 Full Request To Offer
47:29 Editing And Next Books
52:48 US Vs Australia Publishing
54:36 Routine Craft And Feedback
59:33 Final Advice And Wrap

Join our Patreon community for less than the cost of a coffee per month and support the pod! Your contribution will go to directly paying our sound producer, Brogan, and to help us bring you the conversations with industry professionals you love.

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You can find out more about Tina, Madeleine and Natasha and follow their journeys here:

Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos
Tina Strachan children's book author
Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos
Madeleine Cleary | Author
Natasha Rai (@raiwriting) • Instagram photos and videos
Natasha Rai | Author | Mentor

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The Publishing Deal: Catherine Milne, Head of Fiction at HarperCollins, on Success, Bestsellers and Writing from the Heart

Catherine Milne has worked in publishing for many years, including with Penguin Books, Allen & Unwin, and since 2012, with HarperCollins, where she has been Head of Fiction since 2017. Her list is eclectic, ranging across fiction and non-fiction, but consistently award-winning and bestselling. It includes such successes as Trent Dalton, Julia Baird, Holly Ringland, Meg Mason, Jacqueline Maley, Alli Parker, Rebecca Armitage, Jacinta Parsons, Stan Grant, Rick Morton and Ben Crowe.

For more information about The Australian Fiction Prize, see here.

The Debut in the Spotlight this week is Sophie Stern, with her debut novel What is Left For Us (Penguin, March 2026).

00:00 Welcome to Book Deal

01:50 Catherine's start in publishing

06:12 The slush pile

08:35 Approaching publishers

10:21 Pitching

17:22 Inside Acquisitions Meetings

22:30 Second Book Pressure

25:48 Writing for Love

26:55 Debut in the Spotlight: Sophie Stern

28:11 Defining Success

29:44 Advances

33:26 Marketing Myths Breakouts

36:23 Case Study Sorrow & Bliss

41:20 State of the industry

47:54 The Australian Fiction Prize

52:49 Final Tip

Join our Patreon community for less than the cost of a coffee per month and support the pod! Your contribution will go to directly paying our sound producer, Brogan, and to help us bring you the conversations with industry professionals you love.

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You can find out more about Tina, Madeleine and Natasha and follow their journeys here:

Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos
Tina Strachan children's book author
Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos
Madeleine Cleary | Author
Natasha Rai (@raiwriting) • Instagram photos and videos
Natasha Rai | Author | Mentor

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Tina Strachan interviews author Amy Doak about her YA mystery thriller What Have They Done to Liza McLean?, pitched as a twisty story set at an elite boarding school with dual viewpoints and secrets leading to a death. Amy discusses crafting one-liners using comp titles to convey “vibe,” avoiding overthinking, and balancing the ongoing Eleanor Jones series (book four, Eleanor Jones Is Not Drowning, due in July) with writing a standalone to avoid being a “one trick pony.” She shares her publishing journey: an unsellable adult action-adventure manuscript, writing Eleanor Jones for her teenage self and niece, pitching agents, submitting to Penguin’s open window, and being selected after an editor spotted her pages at the printer; she signed with agent Alex Adsett, who negotiated a two-book deal. Debut Spotlight features Amanda Hewitt’s contemporary romance The Last Resort (Echo Publishing), about Abby’s solo holiday fling with Nick that becomes complicated when he buys her hotel chain; it was the only manuscript signed from 300 submissions in August 2024.

00:00 Podcast Intro
00:56 Meet Amy And The New Book
01:17 Story Pitch And Premise
02:19 One Liner And Comp Titles
05:45 Eleanor Jones Vs Standalone
08:43 Keep Writing While Waiting
11:52 Writing Habits And Process
13:50 Plotting Mysteries And Clues
16:16 Standalone Or Sequel Plans
18:16 Origin Story And First Drafts
21:42 Rejections And Market Fit
24:52 Penguin Submission Breakthrough
28:35 Signing With An Agent
29:05 Book Deal Spotlight
31:01 Pitching Agents Vs Publishers
34:15 Why Pitch Sessions Matter
37:15 Defining The YA Market
41:13 Kids Reading Up Too Fast
43:40 Romance Spice And Labels
46:10 BookTok And Going Viral
47:23 Writing In The Cracks
53:06 Top Tip Be Kind
56:21 Podcast Wrap Up

Join our Patreon community for less than the cost of a coffee per month and support the pod! Your contribution will go to directly paying our sound producer, Brogan, and to help us bring you the conversations with industry professionals you love.

Follow The Book Deal podcast on Instagram The Book Deal podcast (@the_book_deal_podcast) • Instagram photos and videos

You can find out more about Tina, Madeleine and Natasha and follow their journeys here:

Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos
Tina Strachan children's book author
Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos
Madeleine Cleary | Author
Natasha Rai (@raiwriting) • Instagram photos and videos
Natasha Rai | Author | Mentor

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Tina Strachan, Madeleine Cleary, and Natasha Rai discuss recent author life updates and practical publishing-event etiquette. Tina shares launching book three of the Wilder Zoo series, “Neeka and the Great Search,” and they discuss gift ideas for in-conversation partners, the importance of stocking and pitching the partner’s books, and not feeling pressured to spend much. Tina talks about adjusting to a new writing routine, realizing she can’t sustain full-day creativity. Madeleine describes February becoming busier after a calm January, plans to restrict social media, and mentions discovering an unauthorized Melbourne walking tour based on her novel “The Butterfly Women,”. Natasha shares submitting book two to her publisher and reflects on how writing later books feels different from a first book, including higher expectations, risk-taking, and fluctuating confidence, and the group discusses how routine changes can affect creativity and productivity and how drafts can swing between feeling “terrible” and “good.” They talk about social media’s addictive design and strategies to limit it, and Natasha outlines her portfolio career schedule combining writing blocks, counseling work, and shifts at Roaring Stories bookstore. The conversation touches on the value of unpaid writing-related work, the difficulty of earning a living from writing alone, and measuring success beyond sales. They also promote applications for the Magnetic Island “Writers on the Reef” program through James Cook University (with flights and a stipend mentioned), and float the idea of a future Book Deal Podcast writers’ retreat.

00:00 Podcast Intro
00:43 Welcome and Acknowledgement
00:56 Tina Launches Book Three
02:09 Gifts for In Conversation
06:56 Tina Finds a Routine
10:46 Mads Social Media Rules
12:18 Unexpected Walking Tour
14:59 Tash Submits Book Two
18:00 Writing Sequels and Pressure
25:41 Routine Changes and Creativity
28:18 Daily Writing Without Guilt
29:01 When Books Flow or Fight
30:44 Time Blocks and Trust
32:07 Rest as Productivity
33:02 Tasha’s Portfolio Routine
33:50 Beating Instagram Dopamine
39:40 What Portfolio Careers Mean
42:08 Value Beyond Sales
47:27 Magnetic Island Residency Plug
48:57 Planning a Podcast Retreat
50:19 Embrace the Poo Finale

Join our Patreon community for less than the cost of a coffee per month and support the pod! Your contribution will go to directly paying our sound producer, Brogan, and to help us bring you the conversations with industry professionals you love.

Follow The Book Deal podcast on Instagram The Book Deal podcast (@the_book_deal_podcast) • Instagram photos and videos

You can find out more about Tina, Madeleine and Natasha and follow their journeys here:

Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos
Tina Strachan children's book author
Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos
Madeleine Cleary | Author
Natasha Rai (@raiwriting) • Instagram photos and videos
Natasha Rai | Author | Mentor

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Natasha Rai explores the inspiring stories behind anticipated debut books of 2026 in her interview with Sophie Stern, Leearna Shaw, and Inessa Jackson, members of the 'Debut Crew 2026.' The authors share their elevator pitches, writing processes, publishing journeys, and how competitions boosted their confidence. They also discuss preparing for their book launches, navigating public speaking anxieties, and building supportive writing communities. Ultimately, the episode offers valuable advice for budding writers on maintaining perseverance and finding joy in the creative process.

00:00 Welcome to The Book Deal Podcast
01:00 Introducing the Debut Crew 2026
03:32 Leearna Shaw's Elevator Pitch
06:28 Inessa Jackson's Elevator Pitch
09:00 Sophie Stern's Elevator Pitch
10:56 The Journey to Becoming a Published Author
23:33 The Supportive Community of Debut Crew 2026
25:00 Signing the Book Deals
35:39 Understanding the Editing Process
36:55 Navigating the Publishing Journey
38:09 Dealing with Long Lead Times
39:29 The Acquisition Process
40:51 Receiving ARCs and Final Copies
41:52 Balancing Writing with Life
47:56 Finding Inspiration for Writing
52:08 Preparing for Publication
01:01:09 Building a Writing Community
01:04:38 Top Tips for Aspiring Writers

Join our Patreon community for less than the cost of a coffee per month and support the pod! Your contribution will go to directly paying our sound producer, Brogan, and to help us bring you the conversations with industry professionals you love.

Follow The Book Deal podcast on Instagram The Book Deal podcast (@the_book_deal_podcast) • Instagram photos and videos

You can find out more about Tina, Madeleine and Natasha and follow their journeys here:

Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos
Tina Strachan children's book author
Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos
Madeleine Cleary | Author
Natasha Rai (@raiwriting) • Instagram photos and videos
Natasha Rai | Author | Mentor

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Alli Parker and Mark Mupotsa-Russell on finding success with your second book

In this episode, Madeleine chats second books with Alli Parker and Mark Mupotsa-Russell. Is second book syndrome a thing? Is it harder or easier to publish a second time?

This is an episode full for heart, craft, strategy, lessons learned, screenwriting tips for novelists and self-care and is useful for a writer at any stage of their journey.

The Wolf Who Cried Boy by Mark Mupotsa-Russell (Affirm Press)

Until The Red Leaves Fall by Alli Parker (HarperCollins Australia)

You can listen to Mark and Alli's earlier episodes on the pod here:

The Debut Year in Review (with Mark)

Alli Parker on how to be a bestseller

00:00 Introduction to the Book Deal Podcast

00:56 Meet the Guests: Alli Parker and Mark Mupotsa-Russell

02:28 Second books

08:36 The Wolf Who Cried Boy

17:18 Until the Red Leaves Fall

19:11 Exploring Themes and Characters

23:12 Writing Techniques and Storytelling Approaches

36:12 Exploring Character Depth and Heroism

39:41 Publishing Your Second Book: Lessons Learned

40:43 Balancing Art and Commerce in Writing

45:10 Marketing Strategies for Authors

47:05 Self-care

48:32 Managing Book Events and Publicity

53:59 Screenwriting Tips for Novel Writing

01:06:46 Top Tips for Writers

01:12:32 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Join our Patreon community for less than the cost of a coffee per month and support the pod! Your contribution will go to directly paying our sound producer, Brogan, and to help us bring you the conversations with industry professionals you love.

Follow The Book Deal podcast on Instagram The Book Deal podcast (@the_book_deal_podcast) • Instagram photos and videos

You can find out more about Tina, Madeleine and Natasha and follow their journeys here:

Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos
Tina Strachan children's book author
Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos
Madeleine Cleary | Author
Natasha Rai (@raiwriting) • Instagram photos and videos
Natasha Rai | Author | Mentor

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Tina Strachan interviews renowned science fiction and fantasy author Amie Kaufman. The conversation covers Amie's new book 'Red Star Rebels,' the writing journey, and the significance of comp titles. Amie discusses the realities of bestseller lists, the importance of celebrating small wins, and practical advice on managing social media and newsletters. This insightful episode is a must-listen for aspiring and debut authors, offering a blend of inspiration, practical tips, and industry know-how. Also featured is an introduction to Olivia Tolich and her upcoming rom-com 'Side Character Energy.'

00:00 Welcome to The Book Deal Podcast
00:57 Introducing Amie Kaufman
02:32 Amie Kaufman on Writing and Publishing
06:51 The Importance of Comp Titles
19:19 Celebrating Book Launches
19:45 Bestseller Lists and Awards
31:57 Longevity in Book Marketing
36:26 Olivia Tolich's debut book 'Side Character Energy'
36:50 Author's Journey: From Rejections to Success
37:46 Navigating the Publishing World
41:39 The Importance of Writing Communities
43:25 Connecting with Readers
44:51 The Power of Newsletters
55:46 Balancing Writing and Social Media
01:00:38 Time Management and Self-Care for Writers
01:08:00 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Join our Patreon community for less than the cost of a coffee per month and support the pod! Your contribution will go to directly paying our sound producer, Brogan, and to help us bring you the conversations with industry professionals you love.

Follow The Book Deal podcast on Instagram The Book Deal podcast (@the_book_deal_podcast) • Instagram photos and videos

You can find out more about Tina, Madeleine and Natasha and follow their journeys here:

Tina Strachan (@td_strachan) • Instagram photos and videos
Tina Strachan children's book author
Madeleine Cleary (@madeleineclearywrites) • Instagram photos and videos
Madeleine Cleary | Author
Natasha Rai (@raiwriting) • Instagram photos and videos
Natasha Rai | Author | Mentor

If you want to stay in the know, sign up to Madeleine, Tina and Natasha's newsletters for the latest news first.
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