Meet Dani Vee, publisher at Larrikin House, whose latest book is Riley's Failproof Guide to Breaking a School Record, and her soon-to-be-released book is My Pet Croc. Dani shares her writing process but also provides insights into the children’s publishing industry, her role as a publisher and what she is looking for in a manuscript. Dani discusses the importance of finding the right voice, creative control, and the submission process for aspiring authors.
00:00 Introduction to the podcast and special series 02:14 Meet Dani Vee: Author, publisher, and podcaster 03:43 Riley's fail-proof guide to breaking a school record 05:02 From picture books to junior fiction 06:00 The creative process and challenges of writing 12:44 The magic of writing My Pet Croc 14:43 Transitioning from teaching to publishing 17:26 The role of a publisher in a small publishing house 20:52 Exploring different book genres 21:24 The story behind The Bogan Book Club 22:20 The importance of voice in publishing 23:33 Breaking stereotypes in literature 24:26 Defining the Larrikin voice 27:05 Submission process and common mistakes 32:13 Working with authors: Challenges and considerations 34:58 Evaluating submissions: Key questions 37:36 Future plans and writing aspirations 40:08 Conclusion and final thoughts
Dani Vee is host of the popular literary podcast Words and Nerds. With over 52,000 listeners every month and more than 500 episodes, the podcast has become a significant part of the Australian literary community. She has interviewed Matthew Reilly, Trent Dalton, Jackie French, Tara Moss, Andy Griffiths and many many more. Dani also works in publicity and acquisitions at Larrikin House. You can find her facilitating panels or presenting at literary festivals such as Somerset Storyfest, BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival, Kids YA Festival and The Sutherland Shire Writers’ Festival, as well as podcasting at literary events. Dani loves nothing more than reading Oscar Wilde with a cup of camomile tea and dark chocolate.
