A novel in stories and exploring family dynamics with Emma Darragh

Emma Darragh spends most of her time on Gadigal and Dharawal Lands. She holds a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Wollongong, where she works as a sessional academic. Her writing has appeared in numerous Australian publications, including Cordite, Westerly, Meniscus, TEXT, and The Big Issue Fiction Edition. Emma’s debut novel-in-stories, Thanks for Having Me, is published by JOAN.

Our interview begins at  25:00

We've got a Substack publication now! On the last day of the month, we share recommendations for two things we reckon you should read/watch/listen to. The beauty of Substack is you can revisit all our old editions and comment on our episode updates to share your thoughts. Come say hi!

Mini book club: Prima Facie by Suzie Miller

Tessa has built a prestigious career as a barrister, a world away from her working-class roots. But when she is raped on a date with a colleague, she must reckon with everything she's believed about the law and justice. This is a stunning, thought-provoking and emotional novel.

Michelle received a copy for review from the publisher in the UK.

In this interview, we chat about:

• The story cycle format of Thanks for Having Me
• How the character of Vivienne inspired the novel
• How you structure a novel that's intentionally meant to be read out of order and the way Emma approached the writing process
• Emma's journey to publication

Books and other things mentioned:

• The Work by Bri Lee
• RBG (play by Suzi Miller)
• Eggshell Skull by Bri Lee
• Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
• A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
• Dubliners by James Joyce
• Alice Munro (author)
• Rubik by Elizabeth Tan
• The Flight of Birds by Joshua Lobb

Follow @emmaldarragh on Instagram.

Thanks for Having Me is available in Australia now. Thank you to the publisher for providing copies in preparation for the interview.

Connect with us on Instagram: @betterwordspod