81 | 'A good-hearted kid in a difficult environment,' with Mark Brandi author of 'Southern Aurora'

James and Ashley Stay at Home

Mark Brandi is the author of four novels, including his latest, Southern Aurora. He joins us to discuss how a short story he began in 2015 became his newest novel, his choice to set the story in rural Australia in the 1980s, and how he writes so convincingly from a child's point of view. We also talk about sustaining yourself creatively over multiple books.

Plus, who's going to die first – Ashley or James? Is one of us dead already? Listen to find out!

Mark Brandi's bestselling novel, Wimmera, won the coveted British Crime Writers' Association Debut Dagger, and was named Best Debut at the 2018 Australian Indie Book Awards. Mark's second novel, The Rip, was published to critical acclaim in 2019, and his third novel, The Others, was shortlisted for the Best Fiction prize in the 2022 Ned Kelly Awards. His fourth novel is Southern Aurora. He graduated with a criminal justice degree and worked in the justice system before changing direction and deciding to write.

Get your copy of Southern Aurora online or from your local bookshop.

Upcoming events

• Ashley is conversation with Hayley Scrivenor about Dark Mode at Penrith Library, Monday 7 August, 6.30 pm
• Ashley and James in conversation about Dark Mode at Mona Vale Library, Tuesday 8 August, 7pm
• Ashley is in conversation with Petronella McGovern about Dark Mode at Concord Library, Thursday 10 August, 6.00pm
• South Coast Writers Festival, 18-20 August, Wollongong Town Hall – see Ashley and James in person!
• Building Suspense in Writing – Ashley is teaching this online workshop through Writers Victoria, Sunday 27 August, 10am-4pm
• Crafting Narrative Drive – an in-person workshop with Ashley at Avid Reader in Brisbane, Sunday 26 November, 10am-1pm

Books and authors discussed in this episode:

• Sofie Laguna;
• Tony Birch;
• Brilliant Lies by David Williamson;
• Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller;
• Summer of the Seventeenth Doll by Ray Lawler;
• A Swim in the Pond in the Road by George Saunders;
• Lee Kofman (from ep 76);
• Kate Mildenhall (from ep 13);
• Sarah Sentilles (from ep 50);
• From Bhutan to Blacktown by Om Dhungel

Ashley's psychological thriller 'Dark Mode' is out now! Learn more about it and get your copy.

James' novel 'Denizen' is out now! Learn more about it and get your copy.

Get in touch!

• ashleykalagianblunt.com
• jamesmckenziewatson.com
• Twitter: @AKalagianBlunt + @JamesMcWatson
• Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson