Writing Podcast Episode 703: Molly O’Neill and her fantasy novel 'Nightshade and Oak'

Two thousand years ago in Britain, the historical figure of Boudicca famously revolted against the Roman Empire and carved a path across the land. This later sparked many myths and stories – including the new historical fantasy novel Nightshade and Oak by author Molly O'Neill. In this episode, Molly discusses her inspirations for telling this story and the experience of writing and editing it. She also shares her take on blending science and creativity and the joys of writing under contract. 00:00 Welcome 06:18 Writing tip: Block in time for your writing 08:12 WIN!: The Ironbark Promise by Léonie Kelsall 9:56 Word of the week: 'Parvenu' 10:22 Writer in residence: Molly O'Neill 10:57 Molly explains her new book, Nightshade and Oak 12:42 Landing on the point of view character 18:08 How Molly fits writing into her geologist life 21:53 Balancing science and creativity 23:04 The importance of accurate physics in writing 23:53 Molly's prolific reading and reviewing pastime 25:44 Backing yourself as an author 26:40 Landing her first publishing deal 28:10 The pressure of writing under contract 30:19 Engaging with readers and book clubs 31:34 Upcoming projects and genre exploration 33:23 A writing tip on editing 34:26 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

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Writing Podcast Episode 703: Molly O’Neill and her fantasy novel 'Nightshade and Oak' is an episode from So you want to be a writer by Australian Writers' Centre.

This episode is 40:16 long.

This episode was published on Feb 9, 2026.

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