Ep 55: The Butterfly Women: Melbourne’s Hidden Histories & Murder Mysteries with Madeleine Cleary
Release Date: 09/07/2025
Ep 62: Three Women. Three Eras. One Enduring Story. Three Juliets with Minnie Darke
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Ep 61: When the Past Refuses to Stay Buried: Burning Mountain with Darcy Tindale
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BOOKCLUB SPECIAL: Someone Else's Child
Between The Lines
If you’d like to join our book discussions, you’re always welcome inside the Between the Lines Book Club. The details are in the show notes. Join us for the next chapter. BOOKCLUB SPECIAL: Someone Else's Child with Kylie Orr Step into this thoughtful and engaging conversation as Chelle sits down with author Kylie Orr to talk about her debut novel Someone Else’s Child and the long, winding road to becoming a published author. Together, they explore the heart of the novel, female friendship, community generosity, moral grey areas, and the emotional complexity that emerges...
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Ep 60: The audacity to be free with Hana Assafiri
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Ep 59: One Mistake That Changes Everything: The Mix-Up by Kylie Ladd
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BOOKCLUB SPECIAL: Winter of the Wolf
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Ep 58: Is This Still the Life I Want? Boogie Wonderland with Kate Halfpenny
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If you’d like to join our book discussions, you’re always welcome inside the Between the Lines Book Club. The details are in the show notes. Join us for the next chapter. Is This Still the Life I Want? Boogie Wonderland with Kate Halfpenny In this Between the Lines episode, we’re talking about Boogie Wonderland — a novel that captures that very specific moment many of us remember all too well: COVID-19 upheaval, career burnout, relationship strain, and the quiet (or not so quiet) question of “Is this still the life I want?” Set against the backdrop of a sea change,...
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BOOKCLUB SPECIAL: Dear Digital We Need to Talk
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Dear Digital, We Need to Talk: Reclaiming Our Human Operating System with Dr. Kristy Goodwin In this insightful and energising conversation, Chelle and Leanne sit down with digital wellbeing expert Dr. Kristy Goodwin to unpack her book Dear Digital, We Need to Talk — a science-backed guide to navigating technology in a way that honours how our brains and bodies are actually designed to function. Drawing on neurobiology, peak-performance research, and years of working with high achievers, Kristy explains why so many of us feel constantly “switched on but powered down,” and how small,...
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BOOKCLUB SPECIAL: Cactus Pear for my Beloved By Samah Sabawi
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Stories We Inherit: Reading “Cactus Pear for My Beloved” by Samah Sabawi Step into this deeply moving conversation as Chelle and Leanne sit down with the book club to discuss Cactus Pear for My Beloved by Samar Sabawi — a poetic, powerful story born from exile, memory, and love. Drawing from her father’s life and her own research on transgenerational trauma, Sabawi captures what it means to inherit both loss and hope across generations. In this episode, the group reflects on the book’s unique structure — part memoir, part fiction — and how it bridges history with humanity. From...
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Ep 57: The Bookshop Detectives by Gareth & Louise Ward
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The Bookshop Detectives by Gareth & Louise Ward Step into the charming world of The Bookshop Detective with Chelle and Leanne as they chat with authors (and real-life couple) Louise and Gareth Ward — owners of Wardini Books in New Zealand and the creative minds behind the Tea and Cake and Death series. Blending their backgrounds as former UK police officers with their love of storytelling, they’ve created a cozy crime world where mystery meets heart, humour, and a touch of small-town chaos. In this episode, they share the real-life inspiration behind their beloved characters Garth,...
info_outline- The real-life family history that inspired The Butterfly Women—and how Madeleine’s infamous ancestor became a character in her novel
- What it took to research Melbourne’s notorious Little Lon district (spoiler: years of digging through archives and old newspapers!)
- The challenges and joys of balancing historical accuracy with page-turning storytelling
- How the book evolved from a quiet literary novel to a full-on murder mystery, complete with red herrings and footy-mum sleuths
- The power and agency of women—even in the toughest circumstances—and the entrepreneurial spirit of Melbourne’s brothel keepers
- Madeleine’s writing process, from train commutes to tight deadlines, and her advice for aspiring authors
- A sneak peek at Madeleine’s next project, inspired by another family mystery
What’s your favourite historical fiction set in Australia, or a family story you wish someone would turn into a novel? Share your thoughts with us on Instagram or in the book club!