1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,200 Speaker 1: I'm reading a great book at the moment called a 2 00:00:02,320 --> 00:00:06,400 Speaker 1: Cat called Q and the Magic Globe. It's written by 3 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:09,520 Speaker 1: Melody Horror. You remember Melody as a reporter in Adelaide 4 00:00:09,560 --> 00:00:12,720 Speaker 1: and weather presenter on Telly as well, who's turned into 5 00:00:12,760 --> 00:00:15,560 Speaker 1: an author. This is her second book, Melody Horror. 6 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:19,239 Speaker 2: Good morning, Oh, good morning, Matthews. Or is such a 7 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:20,920 Speaker 2: treat to be here with you? 8 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:24,400 Speaker 1: Thank you for coming on Meil. I'm loving the book. 9 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:26,279 Speaker 1: I got it yesterday. It came in the mail and 10 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:29,000 Speaker 1: I started reading it last night and I'm about halfway 11 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:33,200 Speaker 1: through and just loving the story. But it's not written 12 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:35,600 Speaker 1: for my age group. It's written for people quite a bit. 13 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:39,800 Speaker 2: Younger, it is. It is, although I did write it 14 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:42,120 Speaker 2: with adults in mind. Are true in quite a bit 15 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:45,240 Speaker 2: of humor into that book that you'll probably come across 16 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:48,280 Speaker 2: if you haven't done so already, Matthew. That is a 17 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:51,200 Speaker 2: little adults humor, but difficult to pick up if you're 18 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:55,560 Speaker 2: a kid. So yeah, the book is actually aimed at 19 00:00:56,040 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 2: eight to fourteen year olds really, so it's younger adults fiction. 20 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:03,920 Speaker 2: It's my first fictional book, and I had so much 21 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:09,319 Speaker 2: fun writing that book. After completing the memoir, you know 22 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 2: a dolphin called Jock, which was pretty emotional heavy going 23 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:17,600 Speaker 2: at times. I was in lockdown as everybody was, and 24 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:22,360 Speaker 2: decided just to escape into fantasy and write a book 25 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 2: that I thought up as a young girl. Actually, I'd 26 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 2: always loved snow globes and I'd love fantasy, and I 27 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:33,440 Speaker 2: thought up this idea of what would happen if if 28 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 2: you could actually go into the world that existed within 29 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:41,440 Speaker 2: a snow dome, and that idea never really left me, 30 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:45,520 Speaker 2: and of course during lockdown, I decided just to give 31 00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 2: it a crack and have a go at writing the 32 00:01:48,280 --> 00:01:51,120 Speaker 2: actual book. And one of the main characters in the book, 33 00:01:52,120 --> 00:01:55,120 Speaker 2: the Feline Hero if you like, is based on my 34 00:01:55,280 --> 00:02:02,240 Speaker 2: own rescue cab I Wonder that Couldn't Resist. And you know, 35 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:06,040 Speaker 2: his actual title in the book is Quasar of the Cosmos, 36 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:09,160 Speaker 2: because you know, he travels to the end of the 37 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:12,519 Speaker 2: galaxy to try and find a decent sandwich because he's 38 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:19,040 Speaker 2: obsessed with sandwiches. But yeah, I really wanted to introduce 39 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 2: the black cat because black cats get such a bad rap. 40 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:24,920 Speaker 2: They're the last ones to be adopted in shelters and 41 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:28,239 Speaker 2: people think that they're unlucky, and that's not the case, 42 00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:31,400 Speaker 2: they're beautiful, So it was important for me to weave 43 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:36,440 Speaker 2: in those sort of themes of looking after the environment 44 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:40,800 Speaker 2: and finding bravery and caring for the natural world and 45 00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:44,160 Speaker 2: finding magic in the natural world, as much as having 46 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:49,079 Speaker 2: a lot of fun with the actual storyline, the fantasy storyline, 47 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:52,800 Speaker 2: and introducing some really weird and wonderful animals into it 48 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 2: that really just came out of my brain. It's been fabulous, 49 00:02:56,400 --> 00:02:56,919 Speaker 2: a lot of fun. 50 00:02:57,080 --> 00:03:04,080 Speaker 1: I love this loss, the the writers, yeah, the fact 51 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:07,360 Speaker 1: that it's a snow globe as well, and the premise, 52 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:10,640 Speaker 1: without giving anything away, the premise is the image in 53 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:14,800 Speaker 1: the snow globe changes. And I did wonder as I 54 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:18,120 Speaker 1: got to that bit whether the book would have more 55 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:20,320 Speaker 1: than one adventure in it, and halfway through I've come 56 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:22,680 Speaker 1: to the conclusion the point i'm at it's probably just 57 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 1: the one, although don't tell me if it's not. However, 58 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:29,440 Speaker 1: it raises the possibility of sequels either way. 59 00:03:31,440 --> 00:03:35,400 Speaker 2: It does. It's funny you should ask that, actually, because 60 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 2: the publishers, which is a small indie publisher in the US, 61 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:44,320 Speaker 2: which I went with because they really have an environmental ethos. 62 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 2: You know, it's a startup company. I really wanted to 63 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:49,120 Speaker 2: support them. Have asked me the same thing. You know, 64 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:51,600 Speaker 2: you're going to write a sequel, and I'd love to. 65 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 2: I'd just have to juggle all the practicalities of working 66 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 2: with indulging in my writing. I'd love to. But I 67 00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 2: think the sequel will probably include more marine weird and 68 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:08,840 Speaker 2: wonderful marine animals and the ocean, which of course, you 69 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:12,120 Speaker 2: know is my first love. Although Q will not want 70 00:04:12,160 --> 00:04:14,800 Speaker 2: to get wet, which is going to be very interesting 71 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:16,920 Speaker 2: and makes a lot of fun. Yeah, so that's sort 72 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:19,520 Speaker 2: of brewing in my brain actually that you Yeah. 73 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:24,080 Speaker 1: Okay, very good, very good. The ecology is obviously important, 74 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:27,119 Speaker 1: and there's a theme there because the main character's dad 75 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:30,479 Speaker 1: is an arborist intent on saving trees. So you've got 76 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:33,240 Speaker 1: that theme running through, Yes, I have. 77 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:35,800 Speaker 2: That was important for me, as you know, I've really 78 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:38,960 Speaker 2: some of the themes in the book actually very similar 79 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:42,080 Speaker 2: to some of the themes in my memoir, you know, connecting 80 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:44,360 Speaker 2: with the natural world and the importance is caring for 81 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:48,279 Speaker 2: it and caring for animals actually, and trees and trees 82 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:51,200 Speaker 2: are important part of that book, and I wanted to 83 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:55,719 Speaker 2: include that theme. But I also, you know, wanted to 84 00:04:55,800 --> 00:05:01,480 Speaker 2: include this whole idea of not hearing land for the 85 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:06,720 Speaker 2: sake of planting huge amounts of crops. In this case, 86 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:08,599 Speaker 2: I won't go into it, but it's something called a 87 00:05:08,640 --> 00:05:11,880 Speaker 2: pirate pre But that came about because I was reading 88 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:15,640 Speaker 2: an article about this particular type of tree being cleared 89 00:05:15,720 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 2: in Africa and the elephants no longer having any places 90 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:25,480 Speaker 2: to go, and all these trees were planted in their place, 91 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:29,280 Speaker 2: and it caused a devastation over there. And I've been 92 00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:34,599 Speaker 2: to obviously Asia, where I've flown over plantations of palm oil, 93 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:40,240 Speaker 2: which is thousands of kilometers of palms, and so I 94 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:45,279 Speaker 2: do worry about the destruction of rainforest and you know, 95 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 2: native plantations for agricultural crops and that type of thing. 96 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:52,480 Speaker 2: So yeah, it has that thing going through it as well, 97 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:56,560 Speaker 2: without it being too pushy. I didn't want to be, 98 00:05:56,760 --> 00:05:59,200 Speaker 2: you know, I didn't. I wanted this book to be fun. 99 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:03,160 Speaker 2: I wanted it to be an adventure, but have those 100 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:06,359 Speaker 2: serious themes as an underlying things really not just not 101 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:06,960 Speaker 2: in your faith? 102 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:09,839 Speaker 1: Yeah, no, and they're not, but I did. I didn't 103 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:13,479 Speaker 1: know about the African situation, but certainly what I'm reading 104 00:06:13,480 --> 00:06:15,520 Speaker 1: in the book did remind me of of Asia and 105 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:18,600 Speaker 1: the palm plantations, no doubt about that. So I think 106 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:21,560 Speaker 1: we've all heard about that and the that that's a 107 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 1: terrible situation anyway, creating palm oil ultimately. 108 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, what we animal? Yes, well, you know, biodiversity is 109 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:33,880 Speaker 2: really important, not just for humans but for all the 110 00:06:33,920 --> 00:06:36,200 Speaker 2: other species that we share the planet with. And I'm 111 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:38,840 Speaker 2: not saying that we shouldn't grow things at all, but 112 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 2: I think it's really important to maintain biodiversity, and not 113 00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:48,559 Speaker 2: just for the animals, but also for us ultimately, really, 114 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:52,480 Speaker 2: because we're all interconnected in some ways, shape or form 115 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:54,000 Speaker 2: on this place we call home. 116 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:57,400 Speaker 1: Absolutely. Now, once again, like your first book, I am 117 00:06:57,440 --> 00:07:03,719 Speaker 1: reading this thinking this would make a great film. 118 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:09,440 Speaker 2: C G. I again, maybe a great animated film. Look, 119 00:07:09,520 --> 00:07:13,120 Speaker 2: of course I agree with you, Matthew, but you know, 120 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:15,600 Speaker 2: I've yet to have the approach, but you never know, 121 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:18,720 Speaker 2: I think it would be a lot of fun. And 122 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:21,000 Speaker 2: you know, what you can do with AI these days 123 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:23,520 Speaker 2: is quite remarkable. Although I have to say I'm really 124 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:27,640 Speaker 2: proud of the fact that the book contains hand drawn illustrations. 125 00:07:27,640 --> 00:07:31,360 Speaker 2: None of it is generated by AI, and that's all 126 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:35,520 Speaker 2: been done by a wonderful Adelaide artist called Angelique Spelt 127 00:07:35,960 --> 00:07:39,640 Speaker 2: who got maybe a longtime friend of mine and one 128 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 2: others and she handrew all of the artworks. So it's 129 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:47,280 Speaker 2: really a wonderful collaboration and cut offs to her for 130 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:48,880 Speaker 2: really bringing it to life. 131 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:51,880 Speaker 1: Cute cover. I love the cover. So okay, now it 132 00:07:51,960 --> 00:07:53,560 Speaker 1: must have been fun to write, as you say it 133 00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:57,840 Speaker 1: has been. I can imagine that. And what a better 134 00:07:58,080 --> 00:08:00,280 Speaker 1: thing to do in COVID than sit down and write 135 00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:01,840 Speaker 1: a book when you're locked up there as you are 136 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:06,400 Speaker 1: and were in Melbourne obviously, so you're working on another 137 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:08,800 Speaker 1: project though? Is it another that? Do? Am I right 138 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:10,200 Speaker 1: in saying there's another book on the way? 139 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:13,960 Speaker 2: Yes, you're right. It would have been three books in 140 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 2: three years, so it's been quite a busy time for me. Yes. 141 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:20,760 Speaker 2: That book is called Sheltered and that's coming out in 142 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:24,440 Speaker 2: September and that's been published by Ultimate Press here in Australia, 143 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:28,720 Speaker 2: so a lovely company. And that is a book about 144 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:33,079 Speaker 2: real life love stories between people and their adopted animals. 145 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:38,640 Speaker 2: And it's really got the theme again of connecting with 146 00:08:38,800 --> 00:08:42,320 Speaker 2: our animal friends and it's certainly in some cases actually 147 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:46,240 Speaker 2: being saved by them in some way. And you know, 148 00:08:46,480 --> 00:08:49,760 Speaker 2: I love writing that book because I was listening to 149 00:08:50,320 --> 00:08:54,160 Speaker 2: everyone's stories and I went on journeys with them and 150 00:08:54,200 --> 00:08:57,600 Speaker 2: I cried and I laughed, And this book was really 151 00:08:57,640 --> 00:09:02,320 Speaker 2: brought about because you know, the situation here in Australia 152 00:09:02,360 --> 00:09:05,920 Speaker 2: with with shelters and animal charities, it's really tough. It's 153 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:09,480 Speaker 2: been really tough with in post COVID cost of living crisis, 154 00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:13,120 Speaker 2: thousands and thousands of animals, you know, getting ending up 155 00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:15,720 Speaker 2: in these places. And I wrote the book in the 156 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:18,760 Speaker 2: hope that it will encourage more people to consider adopting 157 00:09:19,240 --> 00:09:21,720 Speaker 2: an animal. And we're not just talking about dogs and 158 00:09:21,760 --> 00:09:26,520 Speaker 2: cats here. I've got berrets in their horses, donkeys, so 159 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:31,000 Speaker 2: really all companion animals. And so that book's yeah out 160 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 2: in September, and I really do hope it will encourage 161 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:36,840 Speaker 2: others to consider adopting an animal. 162 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:38,959 Speaker 1: All right. In the meantime, a cat court named Q 163 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:42,040 Speaker 1: that's out now available in board bookstores. 164 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:47,160 Speaker 2: It's available online actually that publishers in Australia, so anyone 165 00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:50,040 Speaker 2: can go to the publisher's website, twelve Willow's Press, but 166 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:52,559 Speaker 2: you can actually just type in the name of the 167 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:58,520 Speaker 2: book and it comes up everywhere. Excell So take your choice. 168 00:09:58,840 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 2: Of course, you can order, you know, as an need 169 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:05,320 Speaker 2: book called paperback. But and I actually am working to 170 00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:07,920 Speaker 2: get it into some bookstores here in Australia. It is 171 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:11,080 Speaker 2: a bit tricky because it is a US publisher, but 172 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:14,840 Speaker 2: I think some independent bookstores will take it up. And 173 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:19,079 Speaker 2: if not, well it's certainly available everywhere online. And yeah, 174 00:10:19,120 --> 00:10:20,920 Speaker 2: it's a lot of fun. There's a bit of escapism, 175 00:10:21,720 --> 00:10:23,640 Speaker 2: but with a slightly serious men. 176 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:26,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, no, it's good. It's, as I said, thoroughly enjoyable. 177 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:30,560 Speaker 1: Mill and a cat Nam Q. So that a US publisher. 178 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:33,120 Speaker 1: Is it available in the US then in bookstores there 179 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:34,480 Speaker 1: because you know it's great? 180 00:10:35,880 --> 00:10:40,080 Speaker 2: Yes, yeah, he's actually the publishing company. As I said, 181 00:10:40,080 --> 00:10:44,160 Speaker 2: it's a small independent company, but they're working with bookstores 182 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:46,960 Speaker 2: around America to get it in there and in fact online. 183 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:50,280 Speaker 2: This morning I had a look and it's in Walmart. Wow, 184 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 2: that's a big time Yeah, yeah, Walmart. It's is great. 185 00:10:56,280 --> 00:10:59,840 Speaker 1: It's terrific, as great as getting it into Aussie bookstores gus. 186 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:02,200 Speaker 1: I mean, that's wonderful. But gee, if you crack that market, 187 00:11:02,200 --> 00:11:04,600 Speaker 1: you're in the big league. 188 00:11:04,840 --> 00:11:08,600 Speaker 2: Well, we're working on it, mate, working on it. The 189 00:11:08,679 --> 00:11:10,880 Speaker 2: working progress, like everything else. 190 00:11:11,480 --> 00:11:14,080 Speaker 1: Melody, great chatting with you again. Look forward to having 191 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:16,319 Speaker 1: a talk with you on your next book as well, 192 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:18,480 Speaker 1: in a couple of months time. That'll be tremendous. But 193 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:21,240 Speaker 1: this is a so far one hundred and twenty six pages, 194 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:23,280 Speaker 1: I think from memory last night I got into it 195 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:25,520 Speaker 1: and looking forward to the rest of it. About that 196 00:11:25,559 --> 00:11:28,679 Speaker 1: many to go, so I'll look forward to finishing it 197 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:31,280 Speaker 1: off today or tomorrow. A cat named cue Melody horraor 198 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:32,920 Speaker 1: great speaking with you again. 199 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:36,440 Speaker 2: Lovely chatting with you with Thourys Matthew. Such a treat. 200 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:38,600 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for your ongoing support. 201 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:40,840 Speaker 1: All the best. We'll chat again, Melody Horror