Mary-Lou Stephens talks to Cheryl about her journey from radio to writing, the joy of slow travel, and how her experiences inspire her creative projects like jam-making and crumpet-baking. Her latest novel, The Jam Maker, is out now.

About The Author

Mary-Lou Stephens was born in Tasmania, studied acting at The Victorian College of the Arts and played in bands in Melbourne, Hobart and Sydney.

Eventually, she got a proper job – in radio, where she was a presenter and music director, first with commercial radio and then with the ABC.

She received great reviews for her memoir Sex, Drugs and Meditation (Pan Macmillan, 2013), the true story of how meditation changed her life, saved her job, and helped her find a husband.

Her debut novel, The Last of the Apple Blossom (2021) made the Better Reading Top 100, and her second novel The Chocolate Factory (2024) was a best seller. Her latest release is The Jam Maker.

Mary-Lou has worked and played all over Australia. Now she’s traveling the world with her husband, slowly, and writing, mostly.