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What happens when an academic career, a lifelong love of suspense, and one of Tasmania’s most enduring mysteries collide?
In this episode of Beyond the Plot Podcast, I speak with Australian author Riley James — the pen name of academic Jackie Broad — about writing thrillers, life in academia, and the inspiration behind her upcoming novel, The Wreck.
Riley takes us from her book-loving childhood in Tasmania through journalism, a PhD, and a long academic career researching the history of women’s philosophy. She explains why she keeps her academic and fiction writing separate, and how journalism taught her one of the most important lessons of her writing life: draft first, edit later.
We also explore Riley’s lifelong fascination with horror, suspense and survival stories, including her very first unpublished novel — a werewolf story inspired by Tasmania’s thylacine.
At the heart of the conversation is The Wreck, a survivalist thriller inspired by the mysterious 1978 disappearance of pilot Frederick Valentich over Bass Strait. Riley talks about transforming that real-life mystery into a story of isolation, survival and human nature, set against the harsh and mythic landscape of Bass Strait and Tasmania.
We discuss character creation, writing process, Hobbes and human nature under pressure, and why Riley wants readers to be scared, entertained and left wondering what really happened.
- Riley James explains her pen name and why she separates her academic and fiction writing.
- Growing up in Tasmania and discovering a love of books through the local library.
- How journalism and sub-editing taught Riley to write clearly and edit ruthlessly.
- Her academic career researching the history of women’s philosophy.
- The early horror and suspense influences behind her fiction.
- The unpublished werewolf story inspired by the thylacine.
- Why survivalist thrillers appeal to Riley.
- How the mysterious disappearance of Frederick Valentich inspired The Wreck.
- Bass Strait, shipwrecks, mutton birds and Tasmania’s gothic atmosphere.
- Writing Marlin and exploring loneliness, resilience and storytelling.
- Hobbes, survival and human behaviour under extreme pressure.
- Riley’s approach to plotting, character motivation and drafting.
- What she hopes readers feel when they finish The Wreck.
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