Dear Rach & Soph
Episodes
Summer reading sorted! With these new releases from Q4 2025
03 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Due to manuscript deadlines and other commitments, it’s taken until now to bring you up to date with October and November new releases. But it’s j...
All about The Lucky Sisters
22 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
**SPOILER ALERT**If you haven’t read Rachael Johns’s latest novel, The Lucky Sisters, please be advised that in this bonus episode of our podcast,...
All about audiobooks from an audio insider, with guest Chiara Priorelli from Wavesound
02 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We recorded this episode in September, and Rachael was under the weather at the time, but she’s not any more! And she also talks about her latest no...
From self-publishing to series smash and new stories - with guest Lyla Sage
25 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When Rachael and I were offered the chance to have Lyla Sage as a guest on the podcast, we said yes straightaway. While our focus is Australian books ...
When a writer works for a writers festival - with guest Qin Qin
15 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Note from Sophie:This is an episode featuring me alone - not because Rachael lost her voice or anything else, but because my guest is Qin Qin, and I p...
How a respected journalist becomes a bestselling crime novelist - with guest Michael Brissenden
11 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Brissenden had a long career as an esteemed journalist (see bio below) and all the while was writing fiction, as we found out when we spoke to...
From emergency medicine to compelling fiction - guest Michelle Johnston
04 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
‘So I just get this tiny snapshot of extreme humanity at its most tempestuous or its most vulnerable almost … I obviously have had a lifetime of i...
From blogging to writing fiction - with guest Holly Brunnbauer
27 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This year Holly Brunnbauer released her first novel, What Did I Miss? - but it is far from her first attempt at writing (and not even her first fictio...
From helping others to healing through stories - guest Renae Black
20 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Renae Black (bio below) was a guest on the first season of Dear Rach & Soph, and at that time we talked about whether or not she needed a literary...
September 2025 new releases
17 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
These are the Australian books being released in September 2025 that we know about. There is no one central place to find out about book releases so w...
Writing, characters, pitching - we answer questions!
13 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When we started doing this podcast it was mainly us talking to each other. Then we started bringing guests onto the podcast and that has taken on its ...
Is there a ‘second novel syndrome’? With guests Saman Shad and Emma Pei Yin
06 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Two guests join me and Rachael Johns in this episode, and they are both fabulous (you can read their bios below). Emma Pei Yin has just released her f...
From marketing romance to writing romance - with guest Patrick Lenton
30 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Patrick Lenton is the author of the book of short stories A Man Made Entirely of Bats (2015), the book of comedic essays Uncle Hercules and Other Lies...
All about Lessons in Love at the Seaside Salon
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Each time one of us releases a book (separately) we devote an episode of Dear Rach & Soph to discussing the book - Sophie will interview Rachael a...
The ins, outs, ups and downs of romance writing - with guest Amy Barry
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As the Romance Writers of Australia conference is taking place this weekend, we thought it was a good time to publish the episode we recorded with Amy...
From historical fiction to Italian crime - with guest Kayte Nunn
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kayte Nunn’s previous books were mostly historical fiction, and there was often an element of intrigue, so the signs were there that she was heading...
August 2025 new releases
11 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
These are the new fiction releases in Australia for August 2025 – that we know about! We’re relying on information from authors and publishers, bu...
Living a fully creative life - with guest Maya Linnell
09 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Maya Linnell is a beloved author of seven novels, the latest of which is COCKATOO COVE (blurb below). Her writing life began with journalism, and she ...
Changing genres, changing lives - with guest Jess Kitching
02 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We never know where a conversation will go on this podcast, whether it’s us talking to each other or talking to a guest. While questions are prepare...
Writer therapy! With guest Ky Garvey
26 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Here’s the latest instalment of our ‘writer therapy’ and this time our guest is Ky Garvey (bio below), who volunteered herself for some of the t...
July 2025 new releases
20 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It’s a double episode today! That’s because we're late posting the July new releases. As it happens, Rachael recorded that one on her own, and as ...
From medical school to magical worlds - with guest Emma Clancey
19 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
‘Writing and healthcare aren’t that different. At their core it’s an interest in people and it’s an interest in telling and understanding stor...
Making a creative career change - with guest Miranda Nation
12 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Some people will make a change from a ‘conventional’ career path to a creative career; some will move from one form of creative practice to anothe...
Productivity, plot twists and personal growth: Inside Leonie Kelsall’s writing life
05 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Léonie Kelsall is the bestselling author of seven rural romance novels. Her eighth is The Path Through the Coojong Trees, has just been released...
The Biggest Disappointment - with guest Allison Tait
28 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is long and all of it worth your attention, mostly because Allison Tait - who writes as A.L. Tait - is one of the most dynamic people wor...
Writer 'therapy': Stuck in the draft! With guest Mona Farrokhi
21 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dear listeners-slash-viewers - or ‘liewers’, as Soph has taken to calling you - this episode was recorded in April and because Soph mentioned her ...
Writing fiction about a real person, with guest Kimberley Freeman
14 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kimberley Freeman is an award-winning writer in children’s, historical and speculative fiction under her birth name Kim Wilkins. She has written sev...
Your next favourite read might be in this episode!
07 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to our atypical episode in which co-hosts Rachael Johns and Sophie Green do not chat amongst ourselves or with guests but, instead, tell you a...
How to write 25+ books - with guest Karly Lane
01 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Karly Lane is the bestselling author of 25 rural romance novels - the latest of which is NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK (blurb below) - which have sold over 600...
Plotless novels, genre creep & the art of children's books: a masterclass from Danielle Binks
25 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It was Rach who suggested we invite award-winning children’s author, literary agent and writing teacher Danielle Binks onto the podcast. I know Dani...
A new literary agent talks book marketing - with guest Chloe Berry
18 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s episode wasn’t planned, in that the list of subjects Rachael Johns and I want to cover on the podcast did not include talking to a new...
Perfectionism and procrastination and writing crime - guest Dinuka McKenzie
11 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week we have a wonderful guest, Dinuka McKenzie, who was willing to talk about perfectionism and procrastination, paired subjects that have been ...
All the May 2025 book releases you need to know about!
03 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
New books mentioned in this episode:General fictionThe Remarkable Truth of Alfie Bains by Sarah Clutton (Allen & Unwin)Lonely Mouth by Jacque...
Why the World Needs Your Creativity | with guest Amie McNee
27 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There have been several well-known books written about creativity. The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron is a classic. Rachael and I talked about Elizab...
Season 3, episode 5 - Scrivener: The cases for - with guest Karina May
19 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
‘It’s solving overwhelm’. Our guest this week, novelist Karina May, is an experienced user of writing software Scrivener and the above is o...
Season 3, episode 4 - 'Writer therapy' with guest Emily Paull, author of The Distance Between Dreams
05 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Not that long ago I put a message on social media basically saying that Rachael Johns says she gets ‘writing therapy’ from me and asking if anyone...
Season 3, episode 3 - April new releases
29 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is our first episode dedicated to books that are being released, as we’d like you to know what’s coming out so you can find your next favouri...
Season 3, episode 2: Guest Catherine Greer on writing stories for women in later life
22 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We like to have a subject on Dear Rach & Soph, so when we learnt about Sydney author (originally from Canada) Catherine Greer and her novel T...
Season 3, episode 1: All the questions
15 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When we started Dear Rach & Soph last year, we named it that because we hoped readers (and writers) would send us questions. For this first episod...
Bonus episode: The Bad Bridesmaid
28 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rachael Johns has a brand new book! And it is called THE BAD BRIDESMAID. Those who read and loved Rachael’s novel THE OTHER BRIDGET, which was relea...
Dear Rach & Soph season 2, episode 15 - Christmas special with Rachael Treasure
14 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We had such a great time chatting to Rachael Treasure on episode 10 of this season that we thought, heyyyyy - let’s ask her back! And we also wanted...
Dear Rach & Soph season 2, episode 14 - Award winners and Christmas grinners
07 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week Rach and Soph discuss the Booker Prize-winning novel Orbital by Samantha Harvey and also delve into whether or not we usually read award-win...
Dear Rach & Soph season 2, episode 13 - Book promotion, Substack, all the things
30 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
From time to time on this pod and elsewhere Rachael Johns mentions her virtual assistant, Annie Bucknall. Through her business Well Creative Annie hel...
Dear Rach & Soph season 2, episode 12 - Do you read reviews of your own books?
23 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We like to have a subject to speak about on this podcast, even when we have a guest. Rach raised the idea of ‘do you read your own reviews?’ and s...
Dear Rach & Soph season 2, episode 11 - All about BookTok
16 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
BookTok is now an entrenched part of bookselling and publishing - it is not a temporary glitch, as it may have appeared to be during the pandemic when...
Dear Rach & Soph season 2, episode 10 - With special guest Rachael Treasure
09 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
From Sophie:I met Rachael Treasure for the first time in the middle of this year on the Gold Coast, as we were both attending authors at Rac...
Dear Rach & Soph season 2, episode 9 - Our favourite books ... that we've written
02 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Thanks to lovely reader Elaine in New Zealand, whom Rach and Soph both met at the RJ Book Club Readers Retreat on the Gold Coast this year, for this q...
Dear Rach & Soph season 2, episode 8 - Listener questions
26 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes Rachael Johns and I wonder if we have any listeners/viewers (well, not really - I can see the stats so I know you're out there, and thank yo...
Season 2, episode 7 - Craft books
19 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week we talk about writing craft books. Rach loves them - indeed, she collects them, and if you watch this episode on video you’ll see the coll...
Season 2, episode 6 - In which Soph is Rach's research subject
12 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dear Rach & Soph - podcastHosted by bestselling Australian novelists Rachael Johns and Sophie GreenRach is currently writing a book about twins wh...
Dear Rach & Soph season 2, episode 5 - Points of view
05 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast Rachael Johns and Sophie Green talk about points of view in novels: first, third - and the little-seen second (and Sophie cit...
Dear Rach & Soph season 2, episode 4 - Staying published, with guest Christine Wells
28 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week Rachael Johns and Sophie Green talk to author Christine Wells, and the theme is 'staying published' - that is, what it has taken for Christi...
Season 2, episode 3 - Writing spicy scenes
21 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Even if you don’t read spicy books, as they’ve come to be known, you’ve no doubt read spicy scenes in other books (and we're using the term ‘s...
Season 2, episode 2 - with guest Lainie Anderson
14 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we talk to Lainie Anderson, author of the new novel The Death of Dora Black: A Petticoat Police Mystery. We had a lovely time, as Lain...
Season 2, episode 1 - Grand ambition
07 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ambition is a tricky subject for Australians - our Tall Poppy Syndrome is alive and well, and when you combine that with lingering Cultural Cringe, fo...
Bonus episode: Art Hour at the Duchess Hotel
17 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When we recorded our first episode of our podcast, Dear Rach & Soph, earlier this year, we talked about her then-new novel The Other Bridget. So e...
Episode 17 - Trusting the magic
15 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When we started this podcast we don’t think either of us had a single thought about how long it might go for - probably not this long! It's hard to ...
Episode 16 - Entering competitions and publishing first novels
09 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is the penultimate episode of the first season of Dear Rach & Soph - Rachael and Sophie both have books to write, so we need to focus on thos...
Episode 15 - Fitting it all in (with special guest Ashleigh Barton)
01 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
**NB This episode was recorded in April so our intro chat will be out of sync with recent episodes.**This week we have a wonderful guest: children’s...
Episode 14 - Good rejections, bad rejections, and submissions in general
25 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Rejections are par for the course for all writers, whether they’ve been published or not. Even once you have a publisher they may reject your next i...
Episode 13 - Retirement energy (with special guest Fiona Palmer)
18 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A little while ago Rachael Johns suggested we do an episode on ‘retirement energy’ after one of her favourites, Elin Hildebrand, announced she was...
Episode 12 - The tricky writing bits
12 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Rachael Johns and Sophie Green talk about the parts of writing that we may or may not find tricky: no, not the existential stuff like ...
Episode 11 - All about agents (with special guest Renae Black)
04 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Rach and Soph talk about their Farmer Wants a Wife viewing, Rach asks Soph if she'd ever write a country music novel and we have a spe...
Episode 10 - Listener questions!
28 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week bestselling authors Rachael Johns and Sophie Green answer a couple of listener questions - one from a writer we’ll call Mindy, as she wish...
Episode 9: Authors and social media (with special guests Natasha Lester and Jack Heath)
20 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Rachael Johns decided to scale back her presence on social media for a little while - not leaving it entirely but restricting how much time she spent ...
Episode 8: Rejections, submissions, and the editorial process
13 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The editorial process is something every published author goes through but which time and repetition tends not to ameliorate … alas! In this ep...
Episode 7: Imposter syndrome (with special guest Amanda Knight)
07 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When Soph met author Amanda Knight at an event in Sydney for Rach's THE OTHER BRIDGET they chatted about the podcast that Rach and Soph had already st...
Episode 6: Rules, no rules, and the role of panic
30 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We're up to episode 6! How did that happen? In this episode Rach and Soph talk about their writing processes; whether they follow rules when they writ...
Episode 5: Reading while writing
23 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's episode bestselling novelists Rachael Johns and Sophie Green answer another listener question, about whether they read other people's b...
Episode 4: We have listener questions!
16 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the fourth episode of Dear Rach & Soph, Rachael Johns and Sophie Green answer some listener questions about motivation and getting unstuck. And...
Episode 3: Why we write
09 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the third episode of Dear Rach & Soph, Rachael Johns and I talk about her recent book tour for her latest novel, The Other Bridget; my copy edi...
Episode 2: A strange thing to have in common
02 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When bestselling authors Rachael Johns and Sophie Green met in person for the first time - in Sydney, early in February - they discovered that they ha...
Episode 1: The Other Bridget
25 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For this first episode Rach and Soph talk about The Other Bridget, Rach's latest novel, published in 2024. And they talk about a few other things too,...