Write Angles: Unfiltered Voices, Episode 7: Darren Arnott

From Curiosity to Published: Darren Arnott on Unearthing Hidden Histories

Ever wondered how a walk through your local neighbourhood could spark an award-nominated historical book? In this episode, we chat with Darren Arnott – author, researcher and self-described “curious mind with too many tabs open” – about how he stumbled into the world of historical fiction and hasn’t looked back since.

This one’s for the emerging authors, the history buffs, and the readers who believe there’s always more to the story. Darren takes us through his unexpected journey from IT professional to published author, sharing the gritty details of what it really takes to research, write and market a powerful historical novel.

🔍 What we covered:
• Why curiosity is a secret superpower – if you know when to pull the plug
• The art of emotional archaeology – bringing human stories to the surface
• From court transcripts to love letters – how primary sources shaped his work
• Darren’s home-office method: bullet lists to sections to chapters
• The indie author’s hustle – including a 120-person book launch he organised himself!
• Public speaking fears, monthly accountability check-ins, and how a peer group kept the momentum going
• What Darren learned from Hazel Edwards’ mentoring program
• Darren's new project: 19th-century French historical cybercrime (yes, really)

Darren doesn’t sugarcoat the process. He talks honestly about self-discipline, the importance of community, and the surprising magic that can happen when you follow your curiosity just far enough.

✨ Pull-quotes worth scribbling down:
• “Emotional archaeology is the glue that binds dates and facts to people.”
• “Just start – a bullet list can become a book.”
• “Nerves mean you care.”
• “Surround yourself with wonderful people.”

📚 You can find Darren’s books, including No Regard for the Truth, at darrenarnott.com or in-store at Dymocks (Knox City & Westfield), plus all the major online retailers.
📬 Want to connect with Darren?
• Email: darren@darrenarnott.com
• Bluesky: darrenarnott.bsky.social
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/darrenarnott
• X: @darrenarnott

👇 If you're dreaming of writing your own book or just love a story that digs a little deeper – this one's for you.

🎧 Listen now and don’t forget to follow, rate and share the podcast so more emerging authors and readers can find us!

#HistoricalFiction #AuthorLife #WritersCommunity #PodcastForWriters #AustralianAuthors #JustStart #EmotionalArchaeology