The Writing Life

Today's episode mixes self-publishing and traditional publishing as we're talking with Nicola May, author of the Cockleberry Bay novels and the Ferry Lane Market series. After many years of highly successful self-publishing, in 2021 Nicola chose to sign with Hodder & Stoughton for her new trilogy. We find out why, and explore how she found success with her self-publishing business. Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Find out more: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Music by Bennet Maples.

On the show today we have Jarred McGinnis, talking about his debut 2021 novel ‘The Coward’. It's a fictional story with a protagonist also called Jarred, and in talking with Peggy Hughes on this podcast they unpick the curious boundary between fact and fiction in the book. Jarred is the co-founder of The Special Relationship, which was chosen for the International Literature Showcase in 2016. He was the creative director for ‘Moby-Dick Unabridged‘, a four-day immersive multimedia reading of Herman Melville’s ‘Moby-Dick’ at the Southbank Centre, involving hundreds of participants. His short fiction has been commissioned for BBC Radio 4 and appeared in respected journals in the UK, Canada, USA and Ireland. He is or has been an Associate Writer for Spread the Word, a mentor for the Word Factory, a fellow of the London Library’s T S Eliot Emerging Writer Programme and a Writer-in-Residence for First Story. Hosted by Simon Jones. Watch the East Anglian Book Awards 2021: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpzaScW1Ad4 Creative Writing Online courses: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/creative-writing-online/ Join our Discord community: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/join-our-discord-community/ Make a donation: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/support-us/ Title music by Bennet Maples.

In June 2021 we were joined by Derek Barretto, who was the translator in residence at Dragon Hall. Encouraged by a succession of brilliant language teachers, Derek thrives on a literary reading diet of English, Lusophone and occasionally Francophone fiction and non-fiction. He is an aficionado of classical and contemporary literature and a voracious reader of ancient and modern poetry and practising poet. A would-be literary translator looking to specialize in translation of Lusophone fiction and poetry, he has a keen interest in conveying the richness and variety of Portuguese literature to Anglophone readers. During his residency, Derek worked on a translation of ‘Madrugada Fria’ by Laura DaSilva, a contemporary Portuguese poet. On the podcast today he is talking with Rebecca DeWald. Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. The Visible Communities residency programme was supported by Arts Council England. Check out our online courses: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/creative-writing-online/ Put a reminder in for the East Anglian Book Awards: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/east-anglian-book-awards/ Music by Bennet Maples.

Jennifer Anne Champion is on the podcast this week talking to Rosy Carrick about her mix of poetry and embroidery. Jennifer is a poet, writer and educator and is cat-positive and was one of our Singapore writers in residence earlier in the year. Find out more: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/residencies/former-residents/ Nuraliah's pod: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/article/writing-fantasy-nuraliah-norasid/ Nazry's pod: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/article/nazry-bahrawi-in-conversation-with-vineet-lal/ Watch the Stitching Stories event: https://youtu.be/Tv6V1RcD8f4 Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Music by Bennet Maples.

Writer, performer, theatre maker and workshop leader Adam Z Robinson is on the podcast this week to discuss his work, how he's using Patreon and being forced to adapt to Covid-19 over the last 18 months. Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Find out more about what Adam's up to: https://adamzrobinson.com/ More on the East Anglian Book Awards announcement: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/article/eaba-category-winners-21/ Join our Discord: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/join-our-discord-community/ Music by Bennet Maples.

Editor, translator and co-founder of Kurumuru Books, Ella Micheler, joins us on the podcast to discuss the editing process, why books in translation for young readers are still so rare in the English language, and how writers can get the most out of their editors. Our early career resource packs are made possible by support from Arts Council England. Hosted by Simon Jones. Get more free resources: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/free-resources/ Join our Discord: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/join-our-discord-community/ Find out more about our Early Career Awards: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/early-career-awards/ Music by Bennet Maples.

Nuraliah Norasid is on the podcast this week, talking with Sally-Anne Lomas. Nuraliah is a writer, researcher and educator with a PhD in English Literature and Creative Writing from Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Her debut novel, The Gatekeeper, won the Epigram Books Fiction Prize in 2016 and the Best Fiction Title for the Singapore Book Awards in 2018. Sally-Anne is a writer, artist and filmmaker whose first novel, Live Like Your Head's On Fire, came out earlier this year. They talk about Nuraliah growing up in Singapore, the inspiration behind her early stories, how gaming has influenced her writing and how The Gatekeeper examines real world issues within its fantasy context. Hosted by Simon Jones. Find out more at https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Join our Discord: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/join-our-discord-community/ Music by Bennet Maples.

AE Warren's science fiction books Subject Twenty One and The Hidden Base were released earlier this year by Del Rey but began life in self-published form several years earlier. On the podcast today, Amy traces her journey from new writer to self-publisher and now traditional publishing. Regardless of which form of publishing interests you, you'll find useful tips in Amy's detailed conversation with Simon. Meanwhile, Flo Reynolds joins us on the pod to introduce the brand new Book Club Book: The House of One Hundred Clocks by AM Howell. Find out more here: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/the-ncw-book-club/ Hosted by Steph McKenna and Simon Jones. Join our Discord community: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/join-our-discord-community/ Get our newsletter: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/newsletters/ Music by Bennet Maples.

Jenn Ashworth is on the podcast this week to discuss her writing across fiction and non-fiction, taking in projects Ghosted: A Love Story and Notes Made While Falling. It's a detailed, honest conversation about Jenn's writing life. Flo Reynolds is asking the questions. Hosted by Simon Jones, Steph McKenna and Roisin Batty - who introduce the episodes by taking a look at their latest reads and how the pandemic is affecting fiction across books and TV. Check out our event with Sarah Hall AND Sarah Perry, celebrating the launch of Burntcoat - https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/whats-on/hall-perry/ Join our Discord: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/join-our-discord-community/ Join our newsletter: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/newsletters/ Title music by Bennet Maples.

In June 2021, we welcomed three writers and translators from Singapore in virtual residence in Norwich, with the support of the National Arts Council of Singapore. Nazry Bahrawi was one of them - a literary translator, critic and academic at Singapore University of Technology and Design. Vineet Lal is our fourth Visible Communities virtual translator in residence. Vineet is a literary translator from French to English, based in Scotland. In 2010 he was awarded one of the first-ever Mentorships in Literary Translation by the British Centre for Literary Translation. We're excited to have Vineet and Nazry on the podcast today discussing some of the biggest debates in translation. Don't miss this article by Vineet: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/article/emerging-translator-mentorships-ten-years-on/ Translation as a Creative Act featuring Nazry: https://youtu.be/z-J4maoKkYo Our first podcast with Sarah Ardizzone: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/article/creating-trust-between-a-translator-and-writer/ Sarah's pod on how to become a literary translator: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/article/how-to-become-a-literary-translator/ Join our Discord: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/join-our-discord-community/ We're a non-profit. You can donate to us here: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/support-us/ Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Music by Bennet Maples.

W.G. Sebald wrote books including The Emigrants, Austerlitz and The Rings of Saturn, and mixed fiction, history, autobiography and photography . Carole Angier has now published the first biography of Sebald, Speak, Silence: In Search of W.G. Sebald, and is on the podcast today talking to Alice Kent. They go into fine detail about Carole's research, her methods for structuring a biography and the on-going ethical debates around writing about someone's life. Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Join our Discord community: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/join-our-discord-community/ Sign up to our newsletter: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Music by Bennet Maples.

Fresh from the Noirwich Crime Writing Festival comes Megan Abbott's astonishing lecture about the power of crime fiction and true crime to influence and reflect society, and the ethics and responsibilities of being a crime writer. Why has so much crime writing focused on the perpetrator, not the victim? How can representation in the genre improve, and why does it matter? Megan is the award-winning author of nine crime novels, including the just published The Turnout, and the bestselling You Will Know Me and Dare Me. Her work has won or been nominated for the CWA Steel Dagger, the International Thriller Writers Award, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and five Edgar awards. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Guardian, Paris Review and the Wall Street Journal. She is also the author of The Street Was Mine, a study of hardboiled fiction, and film noir. She received her Ph.D. in American literature from New York University. A writer on HBO’s highly acclaimed The Deuce, she recently served as co-showrunner and co-creator of Dare Me, which completed its first season on the USA Network and Netflix internationally. Introduced by Henry Sutton, co-director of Noirwich and professor of creative writing at the University of East Anglia. Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Watch the extended video version of the lecture, including a Q&A between Megan and Henry: https://youtu.be/X2J4pBgPyTY More about Noirwich: https://noirwich.co.uk/ Sign up to our newsletter: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW More about Steph's Stephen King Zine, Outsider: https://outsiderzine.bigcartel.com/product/outsider-vol-1 Music by Bennet Maples.

We have a new Early Career Writers' Resource Pack, and it's all about STRUCTURE. On the podcast we're thrilled to have journalist Chitra Ramaswamy interviewing Rebecca Watson about her stunning debut Little Scratch, which was shortlisted earlier this year for the Desmond Elliott Prize. Rebecca details the book's unique design and how the story and its structure are inseparable. Find more resources on 'Structure' here: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/pack-7-structure/ Our resouce packs are available for free thanks to support from Arts Council England. Meanwhile, Simon and Steph celebrate the launch of the 2021 Noirwich Crime Writing Festival, which you can attend virtually here: https://noirwich.co.uk/ Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Music by Bennet Maples.

The inimitable Kate Mosse joins the podcast to talk about her work on The Women's Prize for Fiction and her career as an author of fiction and non-fiction. Talking with Sarah Bower, Kate discusses the Discoveries writer development programme (opening for applications this month!), how the context of the Women's Prize has changed over the years, why some people still expect the prize to justify its own existence, how she goes about the research for her historical fiction and the writing of her memoir An Extra Pair of Hands. Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Join our Discord: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/join-our-discord-community/ Noirwich Crime Writing Festival: https://noirwich.co.uk/ Creating Writing Online courses: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/creative-writing-online/ The Women's Prize for Fiction & Discoveries: https://www.womensprizeforfiction.co.uk/

Simon is joined on the pod today by Tom Whyman, author of Infinitely Full of Hope: Fatherhood and the Future in an Age of Crisis and Disaster. Part philosophical theory and part memoir, Tom wrote the book while awaiting the birth of his child and deals with the challenge of maintaining hope in increasingly desperate times. Meanwhile, Steph and Simon take a look at our Creative Writing Online courses, get over-excited about the books they're currently reading (Daisy Jones and the Six! Lumberjanes!) and Simon finds a way to shoehorn discussion of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power into the show. Check out our tutored online courses: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/creative-writing-online/ Join our Discord: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/join-our-discord-community/ Everything we do: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Music by Bennet Maples.

Lewis Buxton returns! Steph talks to Lewis about his new poetry collection Boy in Various Poses, which explores masculinity, mental health and sport. We're also very pleased to have The Writing Life's first references to Lizzo and The Meg. Lewis' poems have appeared in The Rialto, Ambit Magazine, Magma, Oxford Poetry and Ink, Sweat and Tears. In 2020 he won the Winchester Poetry Prize and has previously come third in the Magma Poetry Prize and been shortlisted for the Oxford Brookes International Poetry Prize and the York Literature Festival Prize. In 2018-19 he was selected as one of the Poetry School & Nine Arches Press Primers Volume 4 poets and was the recipient of the Literary Festival Bursary from the University of East Anglia. He is Director of TOAST, a live poetry event and workshops project. Working with the best poets in the UK, TOAST produces monthly events at The Norwich Arts Centre, is supported by the Arts Council England and has won a Norfolk Arts Award for supporting new writing. Check out out previous episode with Lewis: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/article/poetry-in-lockdown-with-lewis-buxton/ Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Music by Bennet Maples.

Literary translators Shash Trevett and Geetha Sukumaran talk about their collaboration on the work of Tamil poet Nillanthan and Shash's involvement with our Visible Communities translator in residence programme. Geetha Sukumaran is a poet and a bilingual translator. She has published two books in Tamil: Tharkolaikku parakkum panithuli (a Tamil translation of Sylvia Plath’s poems, 2013), and her own poems, Otrai pakadaiyil enchum nampikkai in 2014. Her English translation of Ahilan’s poetry, Then There Were No Witnesses, was published by Mawenzi House, Toronto (2018). She is the recipient of the SPARROW R Thyagarajan award for her poetry in Tamil. She is a doctoral student in the Humanities at York University, Toronto. Shash Trevett is a poet and a translator of Tamil poetry into English. She is a winner of a Northern Writers’ Award and her pamphlet From a Borrowed Land is published by Smith|Doorstop (2021). She is currently co-editing (with Vidyan Ravinthiran and Seni Seneviratne) an anthology of Tamil, English and Sinhala poetry from Sri Lanka and its diaspora communities. She is a 2021 Ledbury Critic and a Board Member of Modern Poetry in Translation. Workshop details: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/whats-on/workshop-nillanthan/ Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Music by Bennet Maples.

On the podcast this week is Olivia Hellewell, a translator from Slovene to English of literary fiction, children's fiction, and non-fiction. Olivia is talking to Rebecca DeWald, our Emerging Translator Mentorships Programme Manager. They discuss Olivia's route into literary translation, the challenges of making a living from translation, and the importance of translating cultural references. This is a treasure trove for anyone interested in translation and also contains a surprising amount of discussion about Wotsits. Olivia was BCLT's translator in residence earlier in the year. Meanwhile, Flo Reynolds is back on the pod to introduce the new NCW Book Club book - Sudden Traveller by Sarah Hall! Find out more and join up here: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/the-ncw-book-club/ Here's the Meet the World video mentioned during the conversation: https://youtu.be/U_7niLTXT0g And the Mythical English Reader video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8oFttUu2bI Join our Discord community! https://discord.gg/3G39dRW We'd love your support. Find out more and donate here; https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/support-us/ Music by Bennet Maples.

"Books are dead," so declares Elle Griffin, a journalist and debut writer who is preparing to serialise her first novel via a Substack newsletter. Not sure what Substack is, or why you'd publish a book via a newsletter? Disagree (or agree!) about the fate of books? Curious about whether serialised storytelling and publishing might be for you? Simon chats with Elle about emerging new (and returning!) forms and how they relate to traditional and self-publishing. Meanwhile, Steph and Simon discuss the new Creative Writing Online courses and the revealed 2021 line-up for the Noirwich Crime Writing Festival. Lots of useful links this week: Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Noirwich Crime Writing Festival: https://noirwich.co.uk/ Creative Writing Online courses: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/creative-writing-online/ Check out Elle's newsletter: https://ellegriffin.substack.com/ Simon's newsletter: https://simonkjones.substack.com/ This is Buttondown: https://buttondown.email/ Music by Bennet Maples.

Tommy Sissons chats to Sam Ruddock on the podcast about his book A Small Man's England, a prose-polemic exploration of white, working class masculinity. Under discussion are the techniques Tommy uses to explore his argument as well as the core themes at the heart of the book. Meanwhile Simon and Steph talk about the newly announced Escalator talent development scheme for emerging writers, now open for applications to under-represented writers in the East of England: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/escalator/ Continue the conversation on Discord: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Sign up to our newsletter: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/newsletters/ Music by Bennet Maples.

This week we have a special episode for anyone considering or embarking on a career as a literary translator. Sarah Ardizzone, translator and mentor, guides us through a detailed, nuts-and-bolts exploration of what it takes to be a literary translator. Sarah is joined by Rosie Eyre, a recent mentee on our Emerging Translator Mentorships programme, and Jamie Lee Searle, who was a mentee ten years ago. Together they explore the challenges of the industry and share tips on how to break in. Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna, who talk abut the upcoming Time To Write workshops for young writers. Find out more here: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/working-with-schools/workshops-for-young-people/ Join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Find out more about what we do: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Music by Bennet Maples.

Tsitsi Dangarembga is a novelist, playwright and filmmaker who joins us on the pod today to discuss her groundbreaking work and its influence on readers. Tsitsi is the author of Nervous Conditions, which in 1988 was the first book to be published in English by a black woman from Zimbabwe and won the Commonwealth Writers Prize, and its sequels The Book of Not (2006) and This Mournable Body (2018). She was shortlisted in 2020 for the Booker Prize. Tsitsi lives in Harare and is the director of the Institute of Creatve Arts for Progress in Africa Trust. Asking the questions is Molly-Rose Medhurst, student writer and activist who worked with us as an intern earlier in 2021. Take a look at an article she wrote: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/article/must-reads-for-lgbt-history-month/ Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Join our Discord community! https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Music by Bennet Maples.

William Ryan is the author of historical crime fiction novels, including the Captain Korolev series. William joins us on the pod to talk about his latest project, the Writers' & Artists' Guide To How To Write. It's a nuts-and-bolts framework for writing a book, avoiding common mistakes and asking yourself the right questions up front. Meanwhile we talk about the Early Career Awards winner announcements. Find out about the winners of the 2021 Desmond Elliott Prize, UEA New Forms Award and Laura Kinsella Fellowship here: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/early-career-awards/ Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Music by Bennet Maples.

Award-winning poet and short story writer Jen Campbell is on the pod to discuss her prolific work in children's fiction, non-fiction and poetry as well as how she built an online platform for her writing across YouTube, Patreon, a podcast and more. Jen's tips on being productive (and forgiving yourself when you're not) and how to make the internet work for you and invaluable. Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna, who look back at the week's International Literature Showcase and get giddy with excitement for the reveal of the Early Career Awards winners next week! Check out the ILS commissions and videos: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ils/ Early Career Awards: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/early-career-awards/ Jen's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/jenvcampbell Music by Bennet Maples.

Something of a minisode this week, as Steph and Simon pick their favourite podcast episodes since lockdown began in the UK in March 2020. They also dive into the International Literature Showcase, which next week reveals its new list of unmissable writers courtesy of Kei Miller! Let's do some links: Discover 50 umissable writers at the International Literature Showcase: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/international-literature-showcase-2021/ Book for Joy Francis' keynote: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/whats-on/recovery-reimagining-literature/ Book for Innovation & Enterprise in the Literature Sector: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/whats-on/innovation-enterprise/ Book for Kei Miller presents... https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/whats-on/kei-miller-presents/ And here are Steph and Simon's podcast picks: J. Michael Straczynski on becoming a writer: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/article/j-michael-straczynski-on-becoming-a-writer-staying-a-writer/ Greg Kasavin on HADES: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/article/writing-hades-with-greg-kasavin/ Richard Lambert and Wolf Road: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/article/what-happens-when-covid-19-cancels-your-book-launch/ Sonia Faleiro's non-fiction: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/article/writing-creative-non-fiction-with-sonia-faleiro/ Crowdfunding with Tom Cox: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/article/crowdfunded-publishing-with-tom-cox/ A Delicate Sight with Max Porter and Sam Winston: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/article/podcast-reveal-a-delicate-sight/ Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Find out more about what we do: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Music by Bennet Maples.

Joe Michael Straczynski is the creator of influential science fiction classic Babylon 5; he has worked extensively for Marvel and DC comics, was nominated for a BAFTA for his screenplay Changeling, directed by Clint Eastwood; co-created Sense8 with the Wachowskis for Netflix; worked on the screenplay for the first Thor movie, helping to shape what is now the Marvel Cinematic Universe; and in the 80s worked on Murder, She Wrote, The Twilight Zone and animated shows such as He-Man and the Master of the Universe and The Real Ghostbusters. His novel Together We Will Go is out in 2021. He has won the Inkpot Lifetime Achievement Award, the Ray Bradbury Award, the Eisner Award, the Hugo Award (twice), the Saturn Award and many more. His bio also mentions that he is a terrible singer, an abysmal dancer and that he sucks at poetry. Joe is on the show this week to talk about Becoming A Writer, Staying A Writer: The Artistry, Joy and Career of Storytelling, his new book on writing which is out now. Simon is very, very excited. Hosted by Simon Jones and Vicki Maitland. Find out more about what we do: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Join our Discord writing community: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Listen to our episode with Thomas McMullan talking about The Last Good Man: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/article/ambiguity-and-metaphor-with-thomas-mcmullan/ Music by Bennet Maples.

Jessie Greengrass is on the pod to discuss her latest novel The High House. Jessie is an award-winning writer and was selected by Elif Shafak for the 2019 International Literature Showcase. Asking the questions is Vicki Maitland. Meanwhile, Simon and Steph look back at the City of Literature festival (which you can catch up on here: http://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/cityoflit-21/ ) and look forward to the upcoming Early Career Awards and 2021 International Literature Showcase featuring a new list of incredible writers selected by Kei Miller. Book for the (free!) big reveal of Kei's new list: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/whats-on/kei-miller-presents/ Find out more about the International Literature Showcase: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ils/ Join our Discord server: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Music by Bennet Maples.

In the final episode of our Imagining the City series, author and artist Lynn Buckle joins us from Dublin to talk to Flo Reynolds about writing her first book, feeling like a fraud and how to write positively about the climate crisis. Lynn's first novel, The Groundsmen, was published in 2018 by époque press. Nominated for the Republic of Consciousness Prize, it was listed as Easons Best of Irish Literature and featured in a year-long book tour of Ireland and the UK. What Willow Says was published in May 2021 - find out more here: https://www.epoquepress.com/what-willow-says Meanwhile, Simon and Steph talk about the Norfolk & Norwich Festival and having writers back in the building at Dragon Hall. Find out more here: http://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/cityoflit-21/ Join our Discord writing community! https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Music by Bennet Maples.

Three writers reflect on the atmospheric pressure of the year they’ve just had in Weather With You – a series of three written commissions and podcasts that address what it means to be a writer today, and why we write. Abir Mukherjee is the Times bestselling author of the Sam Wyndham series of crime novels set in Raj era India. His debut, A Rising Man, won the CWA Endeavour Dagger for best historical crime novel of 2017 and was shortlisted for the MWA Edgar for best novel. His second novel, A Necessary Evil, won the Wilbur Smith Award for Adventure Writing and was a Zoe Ball Book Club pick. His third novel, Smoke and Ashes, was chosen by the Sunday Times as one of the 100 Best Crime & Thriller Novels since 1945. Abir grew up in Scotland and now lives in London with his wife and two sons. Part of the City of Literature festival. Find out more: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/cityoflit-21/ More about Weather With You: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/open-doors/weather-with-you/

Three writers reflect on the atmospheric pressure of the year they’ve just had in Weather With You – a series of three written commissions and podcasts that address what it means to be a writer today, and why we write. Derek Owusu is a writer, poet and podcaster from north London. He discovered his passion for literature at the age of twenty-three while studying exercise science at university. Unable to afford a change of degree, Derek began reading voraciously and sneaking into English Literature lectures at the University of Manchester. Derek edited and contributed to Safe: On Black British Men Reclaiming Space. That Reminds Me, his first solo work, won the Desmond Elliott Prize 2020. Part of the City of Literature festival. Find out more: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/cityoflit-21/ More about Weather With You: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/open-doors/weather-with-you/ Image (c) Josima Senior.

Three writers reflect on the atmospheric pressure of the year they’ve just had in Weather With You – a series of three written commissions and podcasts that address what it means to be a writer today, and why we write. Kerri ní Dochartaigh was born in 1983, in Derry-Londonderry at the border between the North and South of Ireland. She read English Literature and Classical Civilisation at Trinity College Dublin and trained as a Waldorf teacher in Edinburgh. She taught in Edinburgh and Bristol, before returning to Ireland in her early thirties. She writes about nature, literature and place for the Irish Times, Dublin Review of Books, Caught by the River and others. She now lives in a railway cottage in the very heart of Ireland. Thin Places is her first book. Part of the City of Literature festival. Find out more: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/cityoflit-21/ More about Weather With You: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/open-doors/weather-with-you/ Image (c) Manus Kenny.

Icelandic writer Valur Gunnarsson joins Sarah Bower to discuss his work, with a focus on alternate histories. He is best known as a writer of creative historical fiction; his first novel was a Viking fantasy and his third an alternative history where the Germans invade Iceland in World War II. Meanwhile, his second novel was a piece of autofiction set in the aftermath of the economic collapse of 2008. His fourth book, Bjarmalönd, is set in the former Soviet Union. He also co-founded Grapevine magazine and has made three albums and a poetry book. Valur was in town virtually as part of our Imagining the City residencies, which you can find out about here: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/imagining-the-city/ Meanwhile, Simon and Steph get over-excited about recording the first podcast IN DRAGON HALL since March 2020. While some Covid-19 rules remain in place, this week marks the first public event held in the building since the start of lockdown. As such, the centre is a hive of activity - as you'll hear in the background of this episode. We're also launching the City of Literature programme as part of the Norfolk & Norwich Festival this week. Find out all about it and book your (FREE!) tickets here: http://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/cityoflit-21/ Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna Join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Find out more about what we do: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Music by Bennet Maples.

In the third of our Imagining the City podcasts, New Zealand writer Liz Breslin talks to British academic and poet Tiffany Atkinson about writing communities and how writing can help you discover yourself. Liz also reads two of her poems, including one from her new collection, In Bed with the Feminists. Flo Reynolds also jumps on the pod to introduce the next Book Club book, In Other Words by Jhumpa Lahiri. Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. BCLT Event with Jhumpa: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/whats-on/sebald-lecture-jhumpa-lahiri/ Our City of Literature events: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/cityoflit-21/ Imagining the City resources: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/imagining-the-city/ Join the Discord community: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Music by Bennet Maples.

Our Imagining the City series continues with virtual writer in residence Marcin Wilk, at home in Krakow, talking to bookseller Joe Hedinger from Norwich's famous Book Hive bookshop. Marcin is a non-fiction writer and has written two biographies of famous Polish women and a history of Poland in the year before World War 2. They talk about writing in the pandemic, Polish culture and history, how to be organised when you're very busy, his love of Virginia Woolf and much more. Audio quality is a little lower than usual due to irritating technical glitches - apologies You can find out more about Imagining the City and read Marcin's articles here: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/imagining-the-city/ Find out more about our City of Literature strand at the Norfolk & Norwich Festival: http://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/cityoflit-21/ Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Music by Bennet Maples.

Writer Vahni Capildeo stayed with us in a virtual residency back in February and is joined in this week's episode by Jeremy Noel-Tod, editor, critic and Senior Lecturer in Literature at the University of East Anglia. Together they discuss Vahni's work, the inspiration found in places like Norwich and Edinburgh, the influence of Julian of Norwich and much more besides - all while enjoying an imaginary afternoon tea at the Maid's Head Hotel. We recommend reading Lighthouse and Anchorage by Vahni before listening to this episode: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/article/lighthouse-and-anchorage-journal-entries/ Vahni stayed with us as part of the month-long Imagining the City event, which you can find out about here: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/imagining-the-city/ Hosted by Steph McKenna and Simon Jones Read Keeping A Writerly State of Mind: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/article/keeping-a-writerly-state-of-mind-two-reflections/ Read Five Everyday Writing Tips for any Writer: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/article/five-everyday-writing-tips-for-any-writer/ Did you know you can buy All Shall Be Well prints to help fund our work and remember Julian of Norwich? https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/article/buy-a-julian-of-norwich-screen-print/ Join our free Discord community and let us know your favourite biscuit: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Music by Bennet Maples.

Winner of the BBC Short Story Award in 2019, Jo Lloyd has now published her collection The Earth, Thy Great Exchequer, Ready Lies, and joins Chris Gribble on the pod to discuss her work, the challenges of going from one award-winning story to an entire collection, how the American short fiction market differs from the UK and why she prefers editing to writing. Meanwhile, NCW programme director Peggy Hughes explores our hugely exciting City of Literature line-up for the 2021 Norfolk & Norwich Festival, most of which can be enjoyed online and entirely for free! Main interview begins at 15:00. Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Book your (free!) City of Literature events: http://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/cityoflit-21/ Join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Music by Bennet Maples.

Writer and illustrator Neill Cameron is on the pod to talk about his debut novel Freddy Vs School, the long-running comic series MEGA ROBO BROS and contributing to fab weekly children's comic The Phoenix. Neill discusses how he got into comics and writing for younger readers, how he works complex themes into accessible stories, making the comics form easy for new readers and why fart jokes and punchy robots are every bit as important as the serious stuff. Meanwhile, Simon pretends that he gets The Phoenix for his son to read. ALSO on the pod today is Flo Reynolds, making a return to intro the latest Book Club book in the form of Abir Mukherjee's A Rising Man. Find out more here: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/the-ncw-book-club/ Hosted by Steph McKenna and Simon Jones. Join our Discord and say hello! https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Check out the amazing NNF City of Literature programme: http://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/cityoflit-21/ Find out more about what we do at https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Listen to our earlier pod with Anni Domingo: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/article/anni-domingo-on-the-writing-of-breaking-the-maafa-chain/ Music by Bennet Maples.

What is The Last Good Man about? When Duncan Peck arrives at a remote village in Dartmoor, he immediately notices the wall towering over it and displaying messages written by the inhabitants. Simon read it as a metaphor for social media and online discourse, Thomas references anonymous, public writing in China, and the book remains resolutely ambiguous. Thomas joins us on the pod to discuss the balance of information needed to keep a book ambiguous, with the discussion taking in everything from Gamergate, Twitter, the concept of 'lore', the differences between stage and page, the curious magic inherent to the act of reading and his use of third person present tense to create an unsettling atmosphere. Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Find out more about what we do: http://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Music by Bennet Maples. Photo by Jonathan Rin.

BAFTA Award-winning writer and games designer Greg Kasavin joins the pod to talk about his work at Supergiant Games, focusing on the critically acclaimed smash hit HADES. The game won five BAFTA awards last week and we spoke to Greg about how he got into writing for games, his background in journalism and how Supergiant strive to merge narrative and gameplay mechanics. Essential listening for anyone interested in interactive fiction, games and narrative design. Hosted by Steph McKenna and Simon Jones. Find out more at https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Music by Bennet Maples.

Tom Cox is on the pod talking about his TWO new books out this year, Notebook (out now!) and Villager (out later!). Tom talks to Steph about the inspiration behind his books, including having his backpack stolen and finding himself stranded in Bristol, the importance of place in his writing (and life) and why he turned to Unbound to publish his most recent work. It's a funny, informative and honest look back at an unusual career. As Tom says, "I'm a bit hard to sum up." Hosted by Steph McKenna and Simon Jones, who also introduce the judges for the 2021 UEA New Forms Award and Laura Kinsella Fellowship (you'll never guess), plus the brand new Writer's Toolkit Online courses for poets and fiction writers. Here's some useful links: UEA New Forms Award: http://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/uea-award/ Laura Kinsella Fellowship: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/laura-kinsella-fellowship/ All of our Writer's Toolkit Online courses (including the free ones!): https://courses.nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Some places are still available on our premium Creative Writing Online courses: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/creative-writing-online/ Tom's website: https://tom-cox.com/ The Unbound crowdfunding page for Villager: https://unbound.com/books/villager/ Join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Music by Bennet Maples.

Writer and actor Anni Domingo is on the pod to talk about her debut novel Breaking the Maafa Chain, the remarkable true story of Sara Forbes Bonetta. Anni discusses adapting historical research into a fictionalised retelling, how Covid-19 has disrupted her acting work and how being on our Escalator talent development scheme in 2019 helped develop her writing. Meanwhile, Simon and Steph talk about our exciting online writing courses and get distracted by the presence of a millionaire shortbread from nearby cafe Smokey Barn. If you're ever in the vicinity of Dragon Hall in Norwich, do pay them a visit! Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Useful links: Creative Writing Online courses: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/creative-writing-online/ Donate to Escalator: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/escalator-donations-2020/ Join our free Discord community: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Music by Bennet Maples.

Author and journalist Sonia Faleiro joins us to discuss The Good Girls: An Ordinary Killing, her new narrative non-fiction book which examines the killing of two teenage girls in India in 2014. Sonia talks to Steph about her route into journalism and how she researches complex topics and then translates them into engaging narratives. It's a conversation packed full of practical advice for non-fiction writers and is also a fascinating discussion of the core themes of The Good Girls. Content warning: Please do note that this podcast includes discussion of sexual violence throughout which listeners may find distressing. Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Some useful links Join our free Discord community: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Dragon Hall Debates events: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/dragon-hall-debates/ Our mentoring programme: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/mentoring/ Podcast episode featuring mentor Katri Scala: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/article/how-mentoring-can-help-your-writing/ Browse the Creative Writing Online catalogue: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/creative-writing-online/ Music by Bennet Maples. Photo by Jonathan Ring.

Writer and broadcaster Horatio Clare is on the pod this week to talk to Peggy about his latest book, Heavy Light: A Journey Through Madness, Mania and Healing. It is the story of Horatio's own breakdown: a journey through mania, psychosis and treatment in a psychiatric hospital, and onwards to release, recovery and healing. On the podcast he discusses the writing of the book and how he approached translating his real experiences into book form. Content note: This podcast discusses mental health and attitudes towards treatments. If you are affected by anything discussed on the podcast or want to know more we recommend seeking professional advice. These websites include good resources: Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/ Rethink: https://www.rethink.org/ And for lots of international links: https://checkpointorg.com/global/ Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Peggy Hughes asking the questions. Join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Book for our Editor Insights event: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/whats-on/editor-insights-with-ella-micheler/ Music by Bennet Maples Photo (c) Caroline Flinders

Translator William Gregory joins us on the pod to discuss translating for the stage, how he started his professional career and the challenges of working on translated material in the UK. William was a (virtual) translator in residence at BCLT from October 2020 to January 2021, and ran the theatre translation workshop during 2020’s BCLT Summer School. On the other side of the conversation is special guest interviewer Sue Healy, Literary Manager at the Finborough Theatre in London. It's a wide-ranging conversation full of practical tips for early career translators and fascinating insights for anyone who enjoys a diverse mix of entertainment. Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna, who tease upcoming episodes, talk about their current reads and reminisce about people bringing cakes into the office. Find out more: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ BCLT: http://www.bclt.org.uk/ Join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Music by Bennet Maples. Thumbnail photo by Felix Mooneeram on Unsplash

We talk to author Stephen Michael Shearer and director John Hay about To Olivia, the film adaptation of Stephen's book An Unquiet Life. Focusing on the lives of Patricia Neal and Roald Dahl, the film stars Hugh Bonneville and Keeley Hawes and is available on Sky Cinema and Now TV from 19 February 2021. Stephen and John talk about the process of adapting the book and how the collaborative nature of filmmaking influences and changes the source material. Peggy Hughes is asking the questions. Meanwhile Steph and Simon take another look at the new Early Career Writer's Resource Pack, 'Dialogue' and, inevitably, complain about the weather. Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Find out more about what we do: http://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Check out the free Dialogue pack: http://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/pack-6-dialogue/ Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Produced and edited by Simon Jones. Music by Bennet Maples. To Olivia, a Sky Original film, available on Sky Cinema and Now TV from 19th February.

Author Chris Beckett joins us this week to explore styles of dialogue in literature and how Chris uses it in his novel Two Tribes. Covering topics as wide-ranging as conversation-as-animal-grooming to Brexit, Chris shares his tips and insight into how humans interact and different ways of capturing that on the page. Asking the questions is Sam Ruddock of Gatehouse Press and Story Machines Productions. This episode is part of our Early Career Writer's Resource Pack focusing on dialogue in prose fiction, scriptwriting and comics. Find more from Hannah Berry, Femi Kayode, Carys Davies and Taylor Beidler at https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/pack-6-dialogue/ Made possible by support from Arts Council England. Hosted by Steph McKenna and Simon Jones. Find out more about what we do: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ More on our Early Career Awards: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/early-career-awards/ Music by Bennet Maples.

Debut author Jon Ransom shares his tips for avoiding writer's block, the importance of deadlines, why he avoids using word counts to judge progress, securing an agent during Covid-19 lockdown and how the Escalator talent development programme helped him complete his first novel The Whale Tattoo, which is due to be published by Muswell Press in 2022. If you'd like to support new voices you can donate to this year's Escalator here: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/escalator-donations-2020/ MEANWHILE! Simon and Steph are joined by Flo Reynolds to introduce the new Book Club book. Listen to find out what we're reading and then join in the chatter on Discord at https://discord.gg/3G39dRW Also under discussion are the daily writing prompts we're publishing through February, courtesy of our amazing UNESCO writers in residence. Find out more and get involved here: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/imagining-the-city/ Hosted by Steph McKenna and Simon Jones. Music by Bennet Maples.

We're very pleased to finally have Kate Worsley guest on the pod, author of She Rises, discussing her route to publication, her time on our Escalator talent development scheme, how she has benefited from mentoring and the impact of Covid-19 on her work. Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Donate to the 2021 Escalator scheme: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/escalator-donations-2020/ Join our Discord community chat: https://discord.gg/3G39dRW More about what we do: http://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Music by Bennet Maples.

"The world of the imagination is being diminished by the day, with theatres dark, cinemas closed, and actors and musicians encouraged to retrain in more ‘viable’ professions, so books are more vital than ever, bringing us together safely at a time when we have never felt more isolated." The wonderful Nicola Upson returns to the podcast to talk about her early career, finding her confidence and how the Escalator talent development scheme helped to demystify the publishing industry. We're currently fundraising for Escalator so that we can help as many new writers as possible. To find out more and donate head over here: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/escalator-donations-2020/ Find out more about our Start Writing Crime Fiction course and join the waiting list: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/whats-on/introduction-to-crime-fiction/ Hosted by Simon Jones and Steph McKenna. Music by Bennet Maples.

Escalator needs your help! Our talent development scheme has helped 10 writers every year since 2004 but austerity and funding challenges means we can only fund 6 places in 2021. If you'd like to donate to help us help more writers, visit https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/escalator-donations-2020/ On the podcast is previous Escalator participant Owen Nicholls, whose debut novel was published in 2019. Owen talks about shifting from screenwriting to novels, how he completed his first book and how Escalator helped him on the road to creating Love, Unscripted. Simon also talks to Owen about surreptitiously enjoying the film Garden State. Meanwhile, Steph and Simon are joined by the inimitable Vicki Maitland to talk about Chrysalis, a fantastic mini-festival created by the Lit from the Inside group of young arts professionals. Find out more: https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/chrysalis/ More on what we do: http://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe! Music by Bennet Maples.