Welcome to a special series of episodes, where WestWords Academy alumni interview their favourite creatives.

In this episode, Academy alumni Elizabeth speaks to Trish Bolton about the release of her debut novel Whenever You're Ready. Trish details her journey to publication, how to build a CV as an emerging writer, upending ageist stereotypes, and together they discuss the changing attitudes towards grief.

Trish Bolton is a Melbourne writer whose words have appeared in Overland, New Matilda, The Big Issue, The Age, Sunday Age, Sydney Morning Herald and Canberra Times. Whenever You're Ready is her debut novel.

Elizabeth Walton is a freelance writer, musician, and photographer. Elizabeth has contributed writing to The Guardian, New York Times, ABC, The London Reader, ArtsHub, OzArts, The Australian, Huffpost, Penguin Books, The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, Reuters, WIN TV, The Independent, Timber and Steel as well as newspapers and magazines in Europe, North America, Australia and Asia.