Luddite Sessions

Luddite Sessions

by Literary Luddite

Season 1

Ballet, books, and dying offstage with Ariane Beeston, author of Don't Forget to Smile

This video discusses sensitive themes, if you need support: Butterfly National Helpline 1800 ED HOPE (1800 334 673), chat/email at www.butterfly.org.au Bravehearts information and support line (1800 272 831) Blueknot helpline: https://blueknot.org.au/survivors/blue-knot-helpline/ For mental health crisis support, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 (available 24 hours, 7 days a week) Buy Don’t Forget to Smile here: https://www.blackincbooks.com.au/books/dont-forget-smile also check out Ariane's memoir, Because I'm Not Myself You See here: https://www.blackincbooks.com.au/books/because-im-not-myself-you-see You can follow Ariane on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/arianejbeeston/) Ariane recommends: Turning Pointe by Choe Angyal Carly-Jay Metcalfe’s article in The Australian: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/culture/writing-my-memoir-about-illness-and-grief-almost-destroyed-me/news-story/ea026095b921f01748f3dc38128aea78 These interviews with Sigrid Nunez about her love of ballet: https://noveldialogue.org/2021/10/14/2-3-because-i-couldnt-be-a-dancer-sigrid-nunez-and-tara-menon-jp/ https://booth.butler.edu/2026/07/01/a-conversation-with-sigrid-nunez/ Support my work by subscribing to my newsletter: literaryluddite.com Follow me on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/literary.luddite/) and TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@literary.luddite)

Why Pip Finkemeyer Stopped Scrolling

Buy One Story here: https://publishing.hardiegrant.com/en-au/books/one-story-by-pip-finkemeyer/9781761152047 You can follow Pip on Instagram here (https://www.instagram.com/pipfink/) but I recommend checking out her website (https://pipfinkemeyer.com/ ) instead! Her playlist for One Story is here: https://music.apple.com/au/playlist/one-story-playlist-for-literary-luddite/pl.u-jV89bepTDAe1lN Pip recommends: - Disgrace by J. M. Coetzee - I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman. - A Manual For Cleaning Women by Lucia Berlin - So Late in the Day by Claire Keegan - https://www.reddit.com/r/digitalminimalism/ - Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World (a film I personally cannot wait to see but haven’t found Sydney screenings for!) - Calling your mates instead of texting them One Story is the Offline Book Club pick for October. Tickets will go on sale on Monday evening, with links being sent first to newsletter subscribers. Support my work by subscribing to my newsletter: literaryluddite.com Follow me on Instagram (@literary.luddite) and TikTok (@literary.luddite)

Eulogising Millennial Optimism with Jordan Prosser

Blue Giant is described as "an unruly eulogy for millennial optimism – a deranged love letter to a generation torn between helplessness and selfishness." It follows Abby, who's (several) dream careers have gone up in flames. For her next mission, she's decided to enter a competition to be the person sent on a one-way mission to colonise Mars by a tech entrepreneur. Purchase your copy here: https://www.uqp.com.au/books/blue-giant or from your local bookstore! Follow Jordan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jordanprosser Details of Jordan's book tour events can be found here: https://linktr.ee/jordanprosser Support my work by subscribing to my newsletter: www.literaryluddite.com Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/literary.luddite/ and TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@literary.luddite If you’re interested in joining the book club, a silent reading session, or journal club follow me on Instagram for more details or check out the links in my LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/literaryluddite

Saving your best posts for the book with Chris Ames, author of I Made This Just For You

When asked if he had anything he would like to promote in this description, Chris said "Just the book... Listen to jazz, it makes you feel angry happy. Have children, they make you feel hopeful about the future. And listen to your own work along walks on the river. Those are my big three. And log off". Buy Chris' book: I Made This Just For You here Chris does not have social media, but he does have a great website Follow me on Instagram and TikTok (@literary.luddite on both) Support my work by subscribing to my newsletter or coming along to an event in Sydney (tickets here)

Resisting the exceptionalism narrative with Zeynab Gamieldien, author of Learned Behaviours

Thrilled to have the chance to chat to the author of the second novel my book club have discussed! Zeynab Gamieldien is an award-winning novelist based in Gadigal/Sydney, Australia. Buy Learned Behaviours here Zeynab’s website is here: https://zeynabgamieldien.com/ Follow me on Instagram and TikTok (@literary.luddite on both) Support my work by subscribing to my newsletter or coming along to an event in Sydney (tickets here)

All the Juicy details with memoirist Sheree Joseph

Sheree’s iconic Instagram is here Juicy - the memoir about how to life life in the wreckage of expectations is one woman's story of emerging through heartbreak and grief to reclaim life on her own terms. Buy your copy of Juicy here Follow me on Instagram and TikTok (@literary.luddite on both) Support my work by subscribing to my newsletter or coming along to an event in Sydney (tickets here)

Romance writing, revenge, and lost idealism with Jessy Wu, author of Good Intentions

Jessy Wu's debut book, Good Intentions, tackles what she's learned through a vibrant career in venture capital, strategic communications, and being an 'irrepressible gadfly' according to the AFR. We chat about why she chose romance to tell this story of truth, power, and what it costs to do the right thing as well as what she thinks can be done about the future of journalism and what's next on her varied dance card. Details of Jessy's book and upcoming events: https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/?auth... Follow me on Instagram and TikTok (@literary.luddite on both) Support my work by subscribing to my newsletter or coming along to an event in Sydney (tickets here)

Obsession, AI, and writing with Laura-McPhee Browne, author of Worry Doll

My chat with Laura McPhee-Browne, author of Worry Doll, out now from Scribe Publications. Worry Doll is a sapphic tale of desire, memory, and the delusion of love. It is also, as Laura alludes to, very creepy. I had to go outside and finish my copy in the sunshine because I was STRESSED. Laura’s LinkTree with event info and her socials: https://linktr.ee/laurahelenmb Follow me on Instagram and TikTok (@literary.luddite) Support my work by subscribing to my newsletter: https://www.literaryluddite.com/

How to Write an Addictive Novel with Sarah Walker, author of the Water Takes

My chat with Sarah Walker about the inspiration behind her novel The Water Takes, it's connections to Geelong and Helen Garner, and her tips on surviving the apocalypse. Sarah’s interview with Ramona Magazine: https://ramonamag.com/2026/04/writing-the-unruly-sarah-on-fear-fiction-and-floods/ The book I referenced is actually ‘Notes from an Apocalypse' by Mark O'Connell (I was close!) Purchase The Water Takes from your local bookstore on online here: https://www.simonandschuster.com.au/books/The-Water-Takes/Sarah-Walker/9781761633324 Follow me on Instagram and TikTok (@literary.luddite on both) Support my work by subscribing to my newsletter or coming along to an event in Sydney (tickets here)