The Bookshelf: ABC RADIO NATIONAL
ABOUT THE SHOW
Joining the hosts of ABC Radio National’s The Bookshelf, these phenomenal authors discuss their most recent novels and the books and writers who inspire them. With voting underway for ABC’s Top 100 Books of the Century, these writers make the case for their favourites (and who knows, maybe someone will nominate one of their own books).
PART OF BRISBANE WRITERS FESTIVAL
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Toni Jordan has worked as a molecular biologist, quality control chemist, TAB operator and door-to-door aluminium siding salesperson. She is the author of the international bestseller Addition, which was longlisted for the Miles Franklin Award and has been adapted into a feature film, in cinemas in 2026. Her novel Nine Days was awarded Best Fiction at the 2012 Indie Awards and was named in Kirkus Review’s top 10 Historical Novels of 2013; Our Tiny, Useless Hearts, was longlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award; and her two Schnabel family novels, Dinner with the Schnabels and Prettier if She Smiled More, were critically acclaimed. Toni has been published widely in newspapers and magazines. She holds a Bachelor of Science in physiology and a PhD in Creative Arts and lives in Melbourne. Tenderfoot is her eighth novel.
Zeynab Gamieldien is a writer living on Bidjigal land whose work has been featured in publications such as The Guardian and The Griffith Review. Her work has been shortlisted for the Rachel Funari Prize for Fiction and her fiction manuscript won the inaugural Westwords/Ultimo Prize in 2022. Her debut novel, The Scope of Permissibility, was published by Ultimo Press in 2023. Her second novel, Learned Behaviours, will be published by Ultimo Press in July 2025.
Patrick Holland is a novelist, short story writer and professor of writing at Hong Kong Baptist University with an interest in aesthetics, and the sacred in the age of supermodernity. He is the author of eight books including The Mary Smokes Boys (2010), currently being made into a feature film, and The Darkest Little Room (2014), published in 2020 as La Donna del Club 49: Un noir in Vietnam by O Barro O Edizioni. His writing has been described as “lyrical minimalism” and his books have been recognised by such as the Miles Franklin Award, the Dublin Literary Award, the International Scott Prize and the Commonwealth Writers Prize, and have been published, performed and broadcast in Australia, the USA, the UK and Ireland, Italy, Hong Kong, China and Japan. His newest novel, Oblivion, is published by Transit Lounge.
Kate Evans is the co-host (with Cassie McCullagh) of ABC Radio National’s weekly review program, The Bookshelf; and is part of the ABC’s new yearly Top 100 Books countdown; as well as writing regular reviews and essays and appearing on TV as a critic. She also regularly interviews writers onstage, and has a PhD in cultural history.
Cassie McCullagh co-hosts The Bookshelf with Kate Evans on ABC Radio National, a weekly review of the latest Australian and international fiction and is also presenter of The Books That Changed Us, ABC RN’s series on landmark books of the 20th century, and Best of the Festivals which highlights of Australia’s literary and specialist festivals. Cassie has also presented ABC Sydney’s Focus program, and ABC RN’s Life Matters, and reported on books, arts and popular culture. Prior to joining the ABC, Cassie worked in print journalism as a feature writer, news reporter and columnist.
Eric Puchner is the author of the new novel Dream State, an Oprah’s Book Club pick and a New York Times bestseller. His other books include the novel Model Home, a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award, and two collections of short stories, Last Day on Earth and Music Through the Floor, a finalist for the New York Public Library’s Young Lions Award. His work has appeared in GQ, Granta, McSweeney’s, The Best American Short Stories, and many other places. He has received an Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. An associate professor at Johns Hopkins University, he lives in Baltimore with his wife, novelist Katharine Noel, and their two children.
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ABOUT THE ARTIST
Toni Jordan has worked as a molecular biologist, quality control chemist, TAB operator and door-to-door aluminium siding salesperson. She is the author of the international bestseller Addition, which was longlisted for the Miles Franklin Award and has been adapted into a feature film, in cinemas in 2026. Her novel Nine Days was awarded Best Fiction at the 2012 Indie Awards and was named in Kirkus Review’s top 10 Historical Novels of 2013; Our Tiny, Useless Hearts, was longlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award; and her two Schnabel family novels, Dinner with the Schnabels and Prettier if She Smiled More, were critically acclaimed. Toni has been published widely in newspapers and magazines. She holds a Bachelor of Science in physiology and a PhD in Creative Arts and lives in Melbourne. Tenderfoot is her eighth novel.
Zeynab Gamieldien is a writer living on Bidjigal land whose work has been featured in publications such as The Guardian and The Griffith Review. Her work has been shortlisted for the Rachel Funari Prize for Fiction and her fiction manuscript won the inaugural Westwords/Ultimo Prize in 2022. Her debut novel, The Scope of Permissibility, was published by Ultimo Press in 2023. Her second novel, Learned Behaviours, will be published by Ultimo Press in July 2025.
Patrick Holland is a novelist, short story writer and professor of writing at Hong Kong Baptist University with an interest in aesthetics, and the sacred in the age of supermodernity. He is the author of eight books including The Mary Smokes Boys (2010), currently being made into a feature film, and The Darkest Little Room (2014), published in 2020 as La Donna del Club 49: Un noir in Vietnam by O Barro O Edizioni. His writing has been described as “lyrical minimalism” and his books have been recognised by such as the Miles Franklin Award, the Dublin Literary Award, the International Scott Prize and the Commonwealth Writers Prize, and have been published, performed and broadcast in Australia, the USA, the UK and Ireland, Italy, Hong Kong, China and Japan. His newest novel, Oblivion, is published by Transit Lounge.
Kate Evans is the co-host (with Cassie McCullagh) of ABC Radio National’s weekly review program, The Bookshelf; and is part of the ABC’s new yearly Top 100 Books countdown; as well as writing regular reviews and essays and appearing on TV as a critic. She also regularly interviews writers onstage, and has a PhD in cultural history.
Cassie McCullagh co-hosts The Bookshelf with Kate Evans on ABC Radio National, a weekly review of the latest Australian and international fiction and is also presenter of The Books That Changed Us, ABC RN’s series on landmark books of the 20th century, and Best of the Festivals which highlights of Australia’s literary and specialist festivals. Cassie has also presented ABC Sydney’s Focus program, and ABC RN’s Life Matters, and reported on books, arts and popular culture. Prior to joining the ABC, Cassie worked in print journalism as a feature writer, news reporter and columnist.
Eric Puchner is the author of the new novel Dream State, an Oprah’s Book Club pick and a New York Times bestseller. His other books include the novel Model Home, a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award, and two collections of short stories, Last Day on Earth and Music Through the Floor, a finalist for the New York Public Library’s Young Lions Award. His work has appeared in GQ, Granta, McSweeney’s, The Best American Short Stories, and many other places. He has received an Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. An associate professor at Johns Hopkins University, he lives in Baltimore with his wife, novelist Katharine Noel, and their two children.
