Natasha Rai interviews Nadia Mahjouri, a Moroccan Australian writer, about her debut novel 'Half Truth'. Nadia shares the journey of crafting her novel from mixing memoir and fiction, drawing from her personal experiences to the trials and triumphs of securing a book deal. She discusses her creative process, the challenges of fictionalizing real events, and the importance of emotional truth in storytelling. Nadia also provides valuable advice on how to navigate the writing and publishing process, emphasizing the significance of persistence, seeking feedback, and the willingness to put one's work out there despite the setbacks.

00:00 Welcome to the Book Deal Podcast

00:56 Introducing Nadia Mahjouri

02:00 Nadia's Debut Novel: Half Truth

04:19 The Journey of Writing Half Truth

06:50 From Memoir to Fiction

13:56 The Path to Publication

14:03 Claiming the Writer Identity

25:21 Building a Writing Community

28:01 Post-Assessment Actions

28:32 Navigating Feedback and Courses

30:56 The Road Trip and Penguin Submission

32:12 Facing Rejections and Ghosting

33:36 Literary Speed Dating and Agent Search

37:19 Publishable Program and Mentorship

39:37 Final Offers and Negotiations

45:46 Reflections and Advice for Writers

49:25 Closing Thoughts and Intentions

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