And that's a wrap!
What I learned in my first year as a published novelist
It’s both difficult and easy to believe that we’re approaching the end of 2025. It’s been a terrible year in so many ways, and a beautiful one in other ways. I’ve had to make decisions and choices about how to engage with the world, while looking after my mental health and capacity to show up for myself and others.
I set myself an intention this year. The intention didn’t arrive fully formed at the beginning of 2025; rather it developed over the first few months and I created some internal space for it to take shape. My intention was to keep my curiosity alive so I can keep learning, and to follow opportunities / take chances that open up my life. With this in mind, it was easy not to let rejections get me down. Every time I pitched my work somewhere, or decided to try something new in my counselling practice, it led to a new experience, regardless of the outcome.
I love this way of being, and I am holding it firmly and humbly going into next year and beyond. These intentions have brought incredible experiences this year. I published my first novel, An Onslaught of Light. I pitched myself to festivals, libraries and created opportunities for author talks. I applied for writing residencies, and wrote the first draft of a new manuscript. I accepted an invitation from my amazing co-hosts Madeleine Cleary and Tina Strachan to join The Book Deal podcast as a regular host.
I signed a contract for my second novel with Pantera Press (more on this in the new year) which will be published early 2027. I brought my love and passion for therapy and writing together in a workshop I will be teaching in March at Writing NSW. I said yes to sharing a new space in 2026 with another somatic therapist and I can’t wait to work with my clients in a space that is set up for this wonderful work.
I’ve read some incredible books this year and have been part of the Debut Crew 2025, celebrating both near and afar with authors when their books were released.
Writing this final newsletter for 2025, I have been reflecting on what I would like to share through this medium next year and the combining of mental health and writing feels right to me. There will always be book talk as I share my current and upcoming reads, and it feels good to incorporate what I’m seeing in my therapeutic work, how I use what I know in my own life, alongside that.
Thank you for subscribing to my newsletter. Thank you for buying books, borrowing books, listening to audiobooks, and showing up for all the debut authors in whatever way felt right for you. I appreciate the love I’ve received for An Onslaught of Light, and am deeply grateful that you chose to spend your time and money reading it.
I just finished I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. I am currently reading All Fours by Miranda July, and listening to Mary Beard’s Women and Power : A Manifesto. On my to-read list is The Hiding Place by Kate Mildenhall, Misinterpretation by Ledia Xhoga, and All Women Want by Alyx Gorman.
And now, to finish our debut year, here are the authors, their debuts and what they’re reading.
Libby Iriks - Home to the Heart Country
Home to the Heart Country, published by HQ Fiction on 25 November, is about a socially anxious woman who travels to a small town to claim an inheritance from an aunt she never knew she had.
About the author: Libby Iriks writes about women who yearn for acceptance and belonging and the men who see their true value and worth.
What was the best/most surprising aspect of the publishing process?
I received my publication offer only eleven months ago, so the whole publishing process has whizzed by! I was expecting it to take much longer.
How are you celebrating the release of your book?
I plan to indulge in some “me time” before the publicity chaos begins. I’ll go for a beach walk in the morning and grab brekkie at a cafe with a view. In the afternoon, I’ll head to my local bookstore to see if I can snap my first shelfie!
What supported you during the publishing process?
Connecting with other debut authors has been invaluable. It’s been great to share and celebrate our successes with one other, as well as the more stressful moments when things don’t go quite the way we expected.
Where can people buy your book? How can people find attendance information for your launch(es)?
Buy links can be found here: https://www.harpercollins.com.au/9781038955852
All events are listed here: https://www.libbyiriks.com/events
What are you reading right now?
Pictures of You by Emma Grey.
Brooke Crawford - Better Than the Real Thing
Better Than the Real Thing, published by HQ Fiction on 25 November, is about Melbourne teacher Netta Phillips who is staring down the barrel of her fortieth birthday with months’ worth of negative pregnancy tests behind her, her relationship in the bin and a mortgage she can’t afford. When she unexpectedly finds the childhood diary of notoriously private celebrity musician Morrison ‘Mo’ Maplestone, things get even messier. Mo’s desperate to keep the diary’s dark contents hidden, and and he’s willing to pay Netta handsomely to personally return it to him in London. When necessity bites, Netta reluctantly accepts Mo’s offer and life quickly becomes even more complicated.
About the author: Brooke Crawford is an emerging author of feel-good contemporary fiction, whose work has been recognised in writing competitions in Australia, New Zealand and the United States. Brooke won the Romance Writers of Australia’s Opal Award in 2024, has post-graduate qualifications in professional writing from Deakin University, and studied novel writing under the guidance of Australian author Josephine Moon. Having previously worked in public relations, creative account management, advertising and education, she now runs a successful copywriting business from her home in Melbourne, where she lives with her partner and their three children.
What was the best/most surprising aspect of the publishing process?
I loved the editing process! By the time I’d submitted the manuscript, I was confident I’d gotten it as good as I could on my own, but I knew it wasn’t ready for public consumption yet. Receiving and incorporating structural and copy edit feedback helped me make the story into something I’m really proud of.
How are you celebrating the release of your book?
Hopefully with a long, interrupted sleep! Ha! Who am I kidding. I have three kids. But seriously, I’m celebrating with a launch party at a local pub and then have events lined up for early next year.
What supported you during the publishing process?
The team at HQ have been incredibly supportive of me and my writing since the moment I signed, but it’s the support at home that’s really made the difference. My partner has been my biggest champion and the kids have done their best to tolerate my (frequently) closed door! Another huge source of support has been the writing community and the beautiful people who hang out in the bookish corners of Instagram. I’ve been blown away by how encouraging people have been, well before I had a publishing deal.
Where can people buy your book? How can people find attendance information for your launch(es)?
Better than the Real Thing is available in paperback at all the large bookstore chains, independent bookstores, Big W and via online retailers. It’s also available to purchase as an e-book and audio book.
What are you reading right now?
Right now, I’m reading Power Moves by Leesa Ronald. I loved her 2024 debut, Special Delivery, so I’m very excited she’s written another—and has another one coming in 2026!
Geoff Parkes - When the Deep Dark Bush Swallows You Whole
When the Deep Dark Bush Swallows You Whole, Penguin Random House, 2nd December (B Format release). Working long, punishing hours as a wool-presser in his summer university break, budding lawyer Ryan Bradley returns to his home town in New Zealand’s rugged King Country, haunted by the memories of his secret lover, Sanna, a Finnish backpacker working in the shearing gang, vanishing without trace at the end of the last shearing season. When her sister Emilia arrives determined to get answers the police have failed to provide, Ryan is forced to confront his relationship with the town and old friends, and the pledge he made to Sanna before she disappeared.
About the author: Growing up in rural New Zealand, now residing in Melbourne, Geoff enjoyed a successful business career before combining this with his love of writing. Since 2012 he has written a weekly column for prominent on-line sports site ‘The Roar’, and has published two non-fiction books on rugby. When the Deep Dark Bush Swallows You Whole is his debut crime fiction novel.
What was the best/most surprising aspect of the publishing process?
How collaborative the process is and how many people there are enthusiastic and willing to help try to make the book a success.
How are you celebrating the release of your book?
By knuckling down trying to meet a submission deadline for the first draft of book three (Book two, The First Law of the Bush, is due for publication on January 6th, 2026).
What supported you during the publishing process?
My agent Catherine Wallace of High Spot Literary, publishing editor Bev Cousins of PRH, and everyone across the PRH team in Australia and New Zealand.
Where can people buy your book? How can people find attendance information for your launch(es)?
The novel is available in paperback, e-book and audio through all major retailers.
What are you reading right now?
Travelling, a biography of Joni Mitchell by Ann Powers. It’s probably something I shouldn’t own up to, but while I read and enjoy fiction and crime fiction, I tend to gravitate more to non-fiction, particularly geo-political and sociology related.
I hope you’ve enjoyed hearing from our fabulous 2025 debut authors. You now have a whole year’s worth of books to choose from! You can support them in the following ways:
Buy their book from your local independent bookshop for yourself and for others. Books make great gifts for all ages!
Borrow their book from the library.
Attend an event to hear them speak about their book.
Post on your socials.
Tell your friends, family and colleagues about the book.
Set these titles for your next bookclub meeting.
Happy reading, happy celebrations, happy resting over the upcoming season. Happy new year. You’ll hear from me in January.
Natasha
Congratulations on an incredible year. I love this direction for your newsletter. X
I have loved following what you've been up to this year. It's been a joy to read your first novel, see you on stage and hear your podcast interviews! Congratulations on a wonderful year and I am thrilled with all you have planned for the year ahead too.