Episode 5
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
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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.
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