Culture 101

Brett Austin wrote his first novel in retirement, starting with a Google search

July 26, 2026·7 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Brett Austin decided, after retiring in his late 60s, to try writing a novel. His first step was typing "how do you write a novel" into Google. His debut, Flood Zone, is a Coromandel-set crime thriller built around climate change, a suspicious subdivision on flood-prone land, and the kinds of wealth and power that make things disappear. He joins Culture 101 with advice for anyone thinking about having a go: don't wait.

Podzilla Summary coming soon

Sign up to get notified when the full AI-powered summary is ready.

Get Free Summaries →

Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.

Listen to This Episode

Get summaries like this every morning.

Free AI-powered recaps of Culture 101 and your other favorite podcasts, delivered to your inbox.

Get Free Summaries →

Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.