WRITER 632: Meet Ryan Butta, author of the new biography, ‘The Bravest Scout at Gallipoli’

Meet Ryan Butta, author of the new biography, The Bravest Scout at Gallipoli – a previously untold story of one of Australia’s forgotten wartime heroes. In this lively and interesting conversation, Ryan shares what led him to tell this particular story, his research process and other fascinating stories from here and overseas that inadvertently prepared him for a life as a published author.

You can listen to the episode below, on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, or add the podcast RSS feed manually to your favourite podcast app.  

00:00 Introduction and host welcome
00:19 Upcoming travel writing course
00:38 Special bonuses for enrollees
05:42 Writing tip: Imagination game
09:42 Win: Diving, Falling by Kylie Mirmohamadi
11:32 Word of the week: Imbrication
14:12 Interview with Ryan Butta
28:36 Organising research and writing process
30:13 Starting the writing journey
31:23 From fiction to nonfiction
34:18 Pitching and publishing success
36:54 Challenges and realities of being published
39:51 New projects and future plans
45:48 Passion and motivation in writing
49:50 Top tips for nonfiction writing

Links mentioned in this episode

Writer in residence: Ryan Butta

After starting out life on the opal fields of western NSW, Ryan was raised among the vineyards and horse studs of the Hunter Valley. His first work of historical non-fiction, The Ballad of Abdul Wade, recounted the previously untold story of the Afghan men that came to Australia in the1800s to work in the mining and wool industries. The Ballad of Abdul Wade was longlisted for the Indie Book Awards non-fiction book of the year for 2023. Ryan's latest work, The Bravest Scout at Gallipoli, retells the remarkable life story of Harry Freame, a Japanese-Australian adventurer, soldier of fortune, Anzac, orchardist and spy.

Ryan's feature writing has appeared in the Good Weekend Magazine and he is a regular contributor to Galah Press, writing about the people and places of regional Australia. Ryan’s works of historical non-fiction look to reveal and understand the hidden and forgotten stories of Australia and the Australians who, like his own family, came across the seas to make their home here. Ryan believes that only by dismantling the myths of the past can we build the country of the future. Ryan now lives on Dharawal country on the NSW South Coast.

Follow Ryan on Twitter and Instagram.

Follow Affirm Press on Twitter and Instagram.

This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers' Centre and our course Novel Writing Essentials.

Find out more about your host, Valerie Khoo (@valeriekhoo on Twitter and @valeriekhoo on Instagram).

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