Michael Williams

There’s a trick Christos Tsiolkas does in his eighth novel, The In-Between. At several points in the action, as the central drama plays out in the foreground, the focus drifts away. Tsiolkas brings our attention instead to a passing youth on …

Michael sits down with author Charlotte Wood to discuss her new book, Stone Yard Devotional, and she shares the psychic catastrophe that informed its final form.

This week, Michael sits down with Trent to discuss this new work, where his boundless enthusiasm comes from, and much more.

Michael sits down with Robyn Davidson, famed author of Tracks (1980), to discuss fear, loneliness and how she completed her self-proclaimed “impossible memoir” Unfinished Woman.

Michael talks with David about shame – both personal and national – and why his family agreed that he had to write Killing for Country.

Michael sits down with Melissa for a conversation about her new book, Edenglassie, and they discuss history, eccentric characters, and why writing a love story is a revolutionary act.

Michael chats with him about his life and career, and George reveals the three words that made him a writer.

Michael speaks with Daniel about what 30 years in broadcast journalism has taught him about art, life, and being brave.

Michael sits down with Eleanor to discuss her latest book and the dangers of feeling ideologically certain.

Michael heads to Kate's house to discuss her latest novel, Restless Dolly Maunder, and why she is preparing for the chance that someday someone’s going to rifle through her life and make up their own stories.

Sarah discusses how reading that book challenged her expectations and why many people who own Peter Carey's work might be surprised to discover what his books are actually saying.

This week Daniel Lavery chats with Michael about writing Slate’s long running advice column Dear Prudence.

Long before she was hosting 7:30 on the ABC, Leigh Sales dreamed of becoming a novelist.

Christos joins Michael for a discussion on how becoming part of the literary establishment has changed the author, why he finds bodies endlessly fascinating, and his forthcoming book The In-Between.

This week, two-time Pulitzer prize winning author Colson Whitehead joins us for a discussion about his latest novel Crook Manifesto and why he loves a doomed heist.

Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens is the book Shankari Chandran always wanted to write.

Award-winning writer and historian Tony Birch grew up listening to stories from his nan, Alma.

Anna Funder has a habit of writing about humans in extremis: under the Stasi, then the Nazis, and now, she's taken on the patriarchy in her new book Wifedom: Mrs Orwell's Invisible Life.

This week, she invites us over for cake and conversation about what she’s writing about, how she solves problems and the inspiration she gets from watching her grandson’s footy training.

In her latest book, Miles Franklin winner Anna Funder rescues George Orwell’s first wife, Eileen O’Shaughnessy, from the shadows of incuriosity.

Editor of The Monthly Michael Williams on whether the Albanese government’s arts policy can revive the sector.

We’ve invited writer and critic Clem Bastow to share some of her favourite releases.