Welcome to episode 122 of Sweetman Podcast with support from our sponsors – T Leaf T, Yeastie Boys and Le Petite Chocolat.

Given her proximity to where the podcast takes place – she lives four or five houses down the road from me – it feels like it’s taken forever to get Pip Adam on the podcast. It didn’t take winning New Zealand’s biggest literary fiction award to do it – but that seemed like great timing (and you can read from one of the judges, here, why she deserved to win the prize).

Pip has written three great books, one of short stories, two novels. She’s already hard at work on book number four. She’s also a writing teacher and podcaster, an enthusiastic member of Wellington’s literary community.

I first met Pip online, via mutual Facebook friends I guess. – we talked about trashy, arty movies. We talked about books and music. We then found out we lived in the same street. She knew some of my writing. I’d read her excellent book of short stories. Our kids are at the same school.

And then I was invited to guest on an episode of her podcast.

Finally I get to return the favour, or return-ask-for-a-favour. Pip’s podcast is a regular chat with writers, or at least always concerned with literary news and pursuits. From book launches and interviews to revisiting old classics, Better Off Read is essential listening if you’re a fan of books and podcasts.

It was great to finally connect with Pip for the podcast. We’ve have a few versions of chats like this. But here she reflected somewhat on the prize-win and any pressures she now faces going into the next book. We talked too about the mixed reviews and criticism of her works. As well, we talked about her upbringing and the range of pop-culture events (film, TV, music) that she draws on as well as literary influences.

So, here is episode 122 of Sweetman Podcast, my conversation with Wellington author Pip Adam.
https://betterreadnz.wordpress.com/