James and Ashley Stay at Home

In episode 126, internationally bestselling author Christian White describes, in graphic detail, how he thinks of his readers as lobsters. He also shares how his grandmother convinced him to fear trees (but only at night) and why he finds comfort in horror stories, like his latest novel, The Long Night. Plus, he shares his one key takeaway – and it's not what you'd expect. Christian White is an Australian author and screenwriter whose credits include feature film Relic and Netflix series Clickbait. His debut novel The Nowhere Child was one of Australia's bestselling debut novels ever, with rights sold in 17 international territories and a major screen deal. The Wife and the Widow, Wild Place and The Ledge were all instant bestsellers. The Long Night is his fifth novel. Find The Long Night and Christian's other books at Booktopia or from your local bookshop or library. Books and authors discussed in this episode: Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz The Gambler by JP Pomare The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden Different Seasons by Stephen King -The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King Four Past Midnight by Stephen King Bag of Bones by Stephen King Aubrey Wants to Die by Pip Knight (aka Pip Drysdale from ep 113) Upcoming events: Ashley is teaching Year of the Novel for Writing NSW starting 4 February 2026 Like, Follow, Die launches in Brisbane at Avid Reader on Saturday 14 March Ashley is Teaching Unexpected Editing Strategies in person at Avid Reader on Sunday 15 March James is teaching Setting & Landscape for Writers at the Woolshed on Saturday 21 March Ashley is teaching Online: Crime Writing for Faber Academy starting 12 May Learn more about Ashley's thrillers, Dark Mode and Cold Truth, and get your copies from your local bookshop or your library. Plus check out Like, Follow, Die from Audible. Learn more about James's award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy from your local bookshop or your library. Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

It's that time of year again! (Well, almost … it's actually a bit early.) Collected here is a varied selection of 2025's 'What Are You Reading' book recommendations, nice and early so you can get your Christmas shopping started sooner rather than later! Books and authors discussed in this episode: From ep. 110 Translations by Jumaana Abdu (Michelle See-Tho) The Profound Benefits of a Stint in Prison by Andrew Hamilton (Ashley) The Third Realm by Karl Ove Knausgård (James) From ep. 111 Everyone and Everything by Nadine Cohen (Ashley) My Dream Time by Ash Barty (James) From ep. 112 The Lady's Handbook to Her Mysterious Illness by Sarah Ramey (Ashley) From ep. 113 I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman (Pip Drysdale) From ep. 114 Girl in a Pink Dress by Kylie Needham (Lynne Ainsworth) Clare Keegan (Lynne Ainsworth) The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald (Lynne Ainsworth) We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer (James) Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra (James) Freedom by Lea Ypi (Ashley) From ep. 115 Anatomy of a Secret by Gerard McCann (Jay Martin) The Hollow Girl by Lyn Yeowart (Ashley) The Silent Listener by Lyn Yeowart (Ashley) Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams (Ashley) From ep. 117 The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler (Melenie Cheng) Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky, translated by Oliver Ready (James) Bat Eater (and other names for Cora Zheng) by Kylie Lee Baker (Ashley) From ep. 119 My First Book by Honor Levy (Nathan Dunne) The Age of Surveillance Capitalism by Shoshana Zuboff (James) Luminous by Silvia Park (Ashley) From ep. 120 Just Another Missing Person by Gillian McAllister (Michelle Prak) A Fortunate Life by AB Facey (Michelle Prak) Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt (Michelle Prak) Universality by Natasha Brown (James) The Last Victim by Tracy Hall and Summer Land (Ashley) From ep. 122 Falling TJ Newman (James & Ashley) Drowning by TJ Newman (James & Ashley) Worst Case Scenario by TJ Newman (James & Ashley) From ep. 123 She Rides Shotgun by Jordan Harper (Matt Rogers) Orbital by Samantha Harvey (James) Legend of a Suicide by David Vann (James) From ep. 124 Outback Cop by Neale McShane and Evan McHugh (Ashley) This episode Moderation by Elaine Castillo The Eyes are the Best Part by Monica Kim Molka by Monica Kim 'Salem's Lot and Cujo by Stephen King Upcoming events James is teaching Setting & Landscape for Writers at the Woolshed on Saturday 21 March, 2026 Learn more about Ashley's thrillers, Dark Mode and Cold Truth, and get your copies from your local bookshop or your library. Plus check out Like, Follow, Die from Audible. Learn more about James's award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy from your local bookshop or your library. Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

In episode 124, urban ecologist and past guest Darryl Jones returns to discuss the power of nature to heal your brain and other topics from his latest book, (Be)Wilder, which delves into elephants in Thailand, bearded pigs in Borneo, and conservationist farmers in the Snowy Mountains. Darryl also speaks about the recent brain surgery he underwent as treatment for Parkinson's, and the story of how the disease got its name. Darryl Jones is a Professor of Ecology at Griffith University in Brisbane, where for over 30 years he has been investigating the many ways that people and wildlife interact. He is particularly interested in why some species have been so successful in urban landscapes while many others have not, and how best to deal with the ensuing conflicts. His books include Getting to Know the Birds in Your Neighbourhood, Feeding the Birds at Your Table and Curlews on Vulture Street, which we spoke to him about in J&A Stay at Home episode 67. Find Darryl at Brisbane Writers Festival or any of his upcoming events. Books & authors discussed in this episode: Mark Cocker Enchantment by Birds by Russell McGregor Apeirogon by Colum McCann Ghost Cities by Siang Lu Outback Cop by Neale McShane and Evan McHugh Upcoming events Ashley is at the Mount Beauty Writers Festival on Saturday 18 October James is speaking with Christian White at Manly Library on Sunday 2 November Ashley is teaching crime writing at Gosford Library on Monday 10 November James is teaching Setting & Landscape for Writers at the Woolshed on Saturday 21 March, 2026 Learn more about Ashley's thrillers, Dark Mode and Cold Truth, and get your copies from your local bookshop or your library. Plus check out Like, Follow, Die from Audible. Learn more about James's award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy from your local bookshop or your library. Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

How do you write thirty-five novels in a decade and sell a million copies while doing it? Bestselling author Matt Rogers is here to share his secrets. Matt began writing fiction at age six, then dropped out of university to pursue writing full time. He discusses the differences in traditional and self-publishing, how his obsession with philosophy has bled into his thriller writing, and why he believes quantity leads to quality. Matt Rogers is the internationally bestselling author of the Dante Jacoby series. Matt began self-publishing at the age of 18, and in the following eight years he single-handedly wrote and marketed more than 35 thriller novels. His books have collectively sold over one million copies. 'The Forsaken' is his debut novel for Simon & Schuster. Books & authors discussed in this episode: Henry David Thoreau Eragon by Christopher Paolini Lee Child 'Things that aren't doing the thing' from Strangest Loop The War of Art by Steven Pressfield She Rides Shotgun by Jordan Harper Denizen by James McKenzie Watson Orbital by Samantha Harvey Legend of a Suicide by David Vann Upcoming events: James is speaking to Siang Lu, winner of the Miles Franklin Award and previous podcast guest at the State Library for SWF on October 2 Ashley is at the Mount Beauty Writers Festival on Saturday 18 October Ashley is teaching crime writing at Gosford Library on Monday 10 November Learn more about Ashley's thrillers, Dark Mode and Cold Truth, and get your copies from your local bookshop or your library. Plus check out Like, Follow, Die from Audible. Learn more about James's award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy from your local bookshop or your library. Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson

In episode 122, Ashley asks fellow crime fiction fan and podcaster what it's like to find yourself as a fictional character in a new novel from one of your favourite authors. Felix 'Flex' Shannon shares his experience of being fictionalised in the latest mystery novel from Sulari Gentill, Five Found Dead. Hear from Sulari in ep 121! Felix Shannon is a radio presenter, producer, technician and educator. Together with Benjamin Herder, Felix hosts the crime and mystery fiction podcast Death of the Reader. Books & authors discussed in this episode: All the Tears in China by Sulari Gentill After She Wrote Him by Sulari Gentill Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill Benjamin Stevenson When They Cry by Ryukishi07 Denizen by James McKenzie Watson Kill Your Husbands by Jack Heath Learned Behaviours by Zeynab Gamieldien The Scope of Permissibility by Zeynab Gamieldien All the Missing Children by Zahid Gamieldien (from ep 102) Falling TJ Newman Drowning by TJ Newman Worst Case Scenario by TJ Newman I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt Chris Hammer Upcoming events: Ashley is teaching a one-day narrative drive workshop for Writers at the Woolshed on Thursday 11 September and providing manuscript feedback sessions on Friday 12 September Ashley is doing one-on-one manuscript assessments for BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival on Saturday 13 September (only two spots available!) James is teaching Writing Setting and Landscape at Writing NSW on Saturday 20 September Ashley is teaching Online: Crafting Memoir for Queensland Writers Centre on Sunday 28 September James is speaking to Siang Lu, winner of the Miles Franklin Award and previous podcast guest at the State Library for SWF on October 2 Join Ashley and podcast fav Hayley Scrivenor for the Mystery and Mayhem Readers Retreat at the 5-star Tamborine Mountain Glades, 3-5 October Ashley is at the Mount Beauty Writers Festival on Saturday 18 October Learn more about Ashley's thrillers, Dark Mode and Cold Truth, and get your copies from your local bookshop or your library. Plus check out Like, Follow, Die from Audible. Learn more about James's award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy from your local bookshop or your library. Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson