The Whole Truth: Motherhood and the Writing Life

• The Art of Storytelling with Ayesha Inoon

  In this episode, Nadia Mahjouri welcomes the insightful Ayesha Inoon, a Sri Lankan Australian writer whose debut novel, Untethered, has garnered critical acclaim. Aisha shares her journey as an immigrant and a mother, reflecting on the complexities of navigating identity and belonging in a new country. They discuss the inspiration behind Untethered, which explores the life of Zia, a young woman who faces the challenges of starting anew in Australia while grappling with her past. Aisha opens up about her experiences as a mother, the isolation that can come with raising children away from cultural support, and how these experiences have shaped her writing. As they delve into Aisha's creative process, they also touch on her highly anticipated second novel, Sisters of Serendip, set for release in June 2026. This episode is a heartfelt exploration of motherhood, creativity, and the stories that connect us across cultures.WHO IS YOUR HOST?Nadia Mahjouri is the author of Half Truth, her debut novel released on Feb 11, 2025. Available NOW!!!Nadia Mahjouri is a therapist at The Holding Space Counselling. If you would like to reach out for support, you can book an appointment online. Nadia works face to face in nipaluna or online everywhere.Her website is www.nadiamahjouri.com.au and you can find her on Instagram @nadiamahjouri or sign up for her newsletter The Whole Truth: Stories of Ache and EcstasyOr you can email [email protected] to Ayesha Inoon and her debut novel UntetheredDiscussion on the themes of identity and belonging in Aisha's writingExploring the immigrant experience and motherhood in a new countryAisha's reflections on cultural support and isolation in parentingInsights into Aisha's creative process and her journey as a writerPreview of Aisha's upcoming novel Sisters of SerendipConclusion and thoughts on the intersection of motherhood and creativity🔑 Episode KeywordsMotherhood, Writing Life, Ayesha Inoon, Untethered, Immigrant Experience, Cultural Identity, Parenting, Creative Process, Australian Literature, Sisters of Serendip

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• Anna Snoekstra on Navigating Motherhood, Writing, and the Art of the Audio Novella

  In this episode, Nadia Mahjouri is joined by the vibrant Anna Snoekstra, an internationally bestselling author who shares her journey through motherhood and writing. With six novels published in over 20 countries, Anna's latest works include her novel The Ones We Love and the audio novella The End of the Ski Season. The conversation dives into the complexities of balancing creativity with the demands of motherhood, as Anna reflects on how her experiences as a mother have influenced her storytelling. They explore themes of identity, isolation, and the transformative nature of writing during the early years of parenting. Anna's candid insights reveal the joys and challenges of navigating the writing life while raising young children, and how the creative process can serve as an escape during the repetitive tasks of motherhood. This episode is a heartfelt exploration of the intersections between creativity, motherhood, and the stories that shape us.WHO IS YOUR HOST?Nadia Mahjouri is the author of Half Truth, her debut novel released on Feb 11, 2025. Available NOW!!!Nadia Mahjouri is a therapist at The Holding Space Counselling. If you would like to reach out for support, you can book an appointment online. Nadia works face to face in nipaluna or online everywhere.Her website is www.nadiamahjouri.com.au and you can find her on Instagram @nadiamahjouri or sign up for her newsletter The Whole Truth: Stories of Ache and EcstasyOr you can email [email protected] to Anna Snookstra and her journey as an authorDiscussion on balancing motherhood and writingInsights into the themes of The Ones We Love and The End of the Ski SeasonExploration of identity and isolation in motherhoodAnna's reflections on the creative process during parentingThe impact of motherhood on storytellingConclusion and thoughts on future projects🔑 Episode KeywordsMotherhood, Writing Life, Anna Snoekstra, The Ones We Love, The End of the Ski Season, Creative Process, Identity, Isolation, Australian Literature, Audio Novella, Balancing Parenthood

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• Emily Tsokos Purtill on Writing Motherhood Across Generations

  💬 Show NotesIn this episode, Nadia Mahjouri sits down with the talented Emily Tsokos Purtill, whose debut novel, Matia, won the 2025 Western Australian Premier's Book Award for an emerging writer. Emily shares her inspiring journey as a writer and mother, discussing the challenges of penning an intergenerational story while balancing her legal career and family life. They delve into the rich tapestry of Greek heritage woven throughout Matia, exploring themes of identity, cultural folklore, and the evolution of traditions across generations. Emily reflects on how motherhood has shaped her writing and the importance of community support in navigating the complexities of the creative process. This episode is a heartfelt conversation about the intersections of motherhood, creativity, and the stories that define us.WHO IS YOUR HOST?Nadia Mahjouri is the author of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Half Truth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, her debut novel released on Feb 11, 2025. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Available NOW!!!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Nadia Mahjouri is a therapist at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Holding Space Counselling⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you would like to reach out for support, you can book an appointment online. Nadia works face to face in nipaluna or online everywhere.Her website is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.nadiamahjouri.com.au⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and you can find her on Instagram @nadiamahjouri or sign up for her newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Whole Truth: Stories of Ache and Ecstasy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Or you can email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KeywordsIntroduction to Emily Tsokos Purtill and her debut novel MatiaDiscussion on the intergenerational themes in MatiaExploring the influence of Greek heritage on Emily's writingThe challenges of writing while balancing motherhood and a legal careerThe importance of community support in the writing journeyInsights into the creative process and the evolution of traditionsEmily's reflections on motherhood and its impact on her storytellingConclusion and thoughts on future writing projects🔑 Episode KeywordsMotherhood, Writing Life, Emily Tsokos Purtill, Matia, Greek Heritage, Intergenerational Stories, Writing Community, Creative Process, Balancing Parenthood, Australian Literature, Cultural Folklore

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• Emma Mugglestone on What Happens In The Long Run, When An Indie Author Goes Trad

  In this episode, Nadia Mahjouri chats with the delightful Emma Mugglestone, a Melbourne-based author whose debut novel, In the Long Run, was released in August 2025. Emma shares her journey from indie author to traditional publishing, revealing the challenges and triumphs of navigating the writing world while balancing motherhood. They discuss the intricacies of crafting characters, the importance of community in writing, and the unique pressures that come with publishing a first novel. Emma's passion for storytelling shines through as she delves into the themes of her book, which features a charming romance between two runners, and reflects on how her own experiences as a mother influence her writing. This episode is a heartfelt exploration of creativity, motherhood, and the power of supportive writing communities.WHO IS YOUR HOST??Nadia Mahjouri is the author of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Half Truth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, her debut novel released on Feb 11, 2025. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Available NOW!!!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Nadia Mahjouri is a therapist at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Holding Space Counselling⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you would like to reach out for support, you can book an appointment online. Nadia works face to face in nipaluna or online everywhere.Her website is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.nadiamahjouri.com.au⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and you can find her on Instagram @nadiamahjouri or sign up for her newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Whole Truth: Stories of Ache and Ecstasy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Or you can email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Introduction to Emma Mugglestone and her debut novelDiscussion of the transition from indie to traditional publishingExploring the themes of In the Long RunChallenges of writing while balancing motherhoodImportance of community in the writing worldInsights into character development and storytellingConclusion and reflections on creativity and motherhood🔑 Episode KeywordsMotherhood, Writing Life, Emma Mugglestone, In the Long Run, Romance, Indie Author, Traditional Publishing, Writing Community, Character Development, Melbourne Authors, Australian Literature, Creative Process, Balancing Parenthood, Women's Fiction

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• Megan Dalla Camina on Fighting the Inner Critic and Helping Women Rise

  Megan Dalla Camina is an author, founder, PhD researcher, and guide for women ready to reclaim their power, trust their wisdom, and create lives of meaning, impact, and deep connection. In this conversation we discuss how to fight the inner critic and manage to keep writing in the messy middle of motherhood, work and life!WHO IS YOUR HOST??Nadia Mahjouri is the author of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Half Truth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, her debut novel released on Feb 11, 2025. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Available NOW!!!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Nadia Mahjouri is a therapist at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Holding Space Counselling⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you would like to reach out for support, you can book an appointment online. Nadia works face to face in nipaluna or online everywhere.Her website is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.nadiamahjouri.com.au⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and you can find her on Instagram @nadiamahjouri or sign up for her newsletter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Whole Truth: Stories of Ache and Ecstasy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Or you can email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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