The Worm Hole Podcast

Charlie and Midge Raymond (Forgetting English; My Last Continent; also Everyday Writing; Everyday Book Marketing) discuss the current situation in Antarctica and the balance of keeping it clean whilst allowing research and tourism, environmental and climate changes in the same location, and being followed to the toilet by a penguin. Some podcast apps do not show description links properly unless the listener subscribes to the podcast. If you can't click the links below and don't wish to subscribe, copy and paste the following address into your browser to access the episode's page on my blog: http://wormhole.carnelianvalley.com/the-worm-hole-podcast/podcast-episode-22-midge-raymond Amongst other places, Midge's fiction has appeared in TriQuarterly, American Literary Review, Bellevue Literary Review, the Los Angeles Times magazine, the Chicago Tribune, and Poets & WritersMidge's blog Ashland Creek Press The Siskiyou Prize Information on John Yunker's The Tourist Trail Information on Three Ways To Disappear by Katy Yocom The Center for Ecosystem Sentinels and their mailing list You can contact the show at books@carnelianvalley.com Question Index 00:50 You have a background in publishing? 01:48 What genres did you work on? 02:54 Tell us about Ashland Creek Press 06:11 You have published a couple of books on writing?... 14:39 You have lots of locations and languages in Forgetting English: are you a big traveller? 16:26 What is it about travel and life choices that got to you in terms of your short stories? 18:08 Was there a particular reason for situating the last story at the end? 27:38 Have you been to Antarctica? 30:44 How do people balance visiting and research in Antarctica with the fact that it is causing damage? 33:05 The health and lives of penguins – are we looking at something we can change, going forwards? 34:55 How did the lifestyle of birds, penguins, influence the way you constructed Deb and Keller’s relationship? 38:07 Tell us about the roles of Kate and Richard in the book 39:51 Keller has experienced a lot of losses- where did he come from? 42:11 What’s next? 43:23 If you could, would you have a penguin as a pet? Purchase Links Everyday Writing: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Barnes & Noble IndieBound Indigo Chapters Everyday Book Marketing: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Barnes & Noble IndieBound Indigo Chapters Forgetting English: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Barnes & Noble IndieBound Indigo Chapters My Last Continent: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Barnes & Noble IndieBound Indigo Chapters I am an Amazon Associate and earn a small commission on qualifying purchases.  Likewise IndieBound. Photograph used with permission from the author.  

Charlie and Peter Ho Davies (The Ugliest House In The World; Equal Love; The Welsh Girl; The Fortunes) discuss moving as a writer from Britain to the US, Welsh with English as a second language, the first Chinese Americans, Hollywood star Anna May Wong, and the impact - then and now - of the murder of Vincent Chin. Some podcast apps do not show description links properly unless the listener subscribes to the podcast. If you can't click the links below and don't wish to subscribe, copy and paste the following address into your browser to access the episode's page on my blog: http://wormhole.carnelianvalley.com/the-worm-hole-podcast/podcast-episode-21-peter-ho-davies Information about the Brighton Pavillion chinoiserie panels Wikipedia’s article on The Thief of Bagdad Wikipedia’s article on Shanghai Express Anna May Wong documentary footage (what Peter used in his story) A section from the 'Who Killed Vincent Chin' 1987 documentary A selection of clips from 'Who Is Vincent Chin' Annie Tan and Helen Zia (maker of the '87 documentary) discuss Vincent's importance to Asian Americans Vincent Chin trial reenactment You can contact the show at books@carnelianvalley.com Question Index 00:50 Tell us about your background, your journey to publication 02:06 What courses do you teach? 06:09 Tell us about The Ugliest House In The World and Equal Love 15:32 What was it like writing the sentence beginning 'But the lights came up' (wherein an investigator for the allies considers whether he might not have joined the Nazis)? 16:45 Who was the most important character in The Welsh Girl to write about? 18:55 What led you to write about the D-Day period? 22:32 In The Welsh Girl, English is a second language - how far was this the case in reality? 24:15 (On the context of the Welsh concept of 'cynefin') 25:49 (The Fortunes - Peter talks about the novellas and short stories in the context of the format) 28:01 Why did Chinese people (first) emigrate to America? 30:49 When did things improve for the first Chinese women in America? 31:51 How widespread was chinoiserie and did people ever turn to real Chinese decorations? 36:51 Can you give us a brief overview of Anna May Wong's journey in the film industry? 42:31 Is Vincent Chin's story well known in America? 45:32 (Peter talks about John's character - fact and fiction - from the fourth story in The Fortunes) 49:22 Is there any significance to Zhen and Jia, names mentioned together in three of the stories? 54:28 Tell us about your next book Purchase Links The Welsh Girl: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble IndieBound The Fortunes: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble IndieBound Indigo Chapters A Lie Someone Told You About Yourself: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble IndieBound Indigo Chapters I am an Amazon Associate and earn a small commission on qualifying purchases.  Likewise IndieBound. Photograph used with permission from the author.

Charlie and Tracy Rees (Amy Snow; Florence Grace; The Hourglass; Darling Blue; The House At Silvermoor) discuss Richard, Judy, Dickens, Austen, and Bronte - not all at once - coffee houses in Victorian times, landslides and hourglasses, changes to the Yorkshire mines in the late 1800s to early 1900s, and the inclusion of the average person in historical fiction. Some podcast apps do not show description links properly unless the listener subscribes to the podcast. If you can't click the links below and don't wish to subscribe, copy and paste the following address into your browser to access the episode's page on my blog: http://wormhole.carnelianvalley.com/the-worm-hole-podcast/podcast-episode-20-tracy-rees You can contact the show at books@carnelianvalley.com Question Index 00:58 Tell us about Richard and Judy 02:48 You had a background in non-fiction publishing… 04:32 Dickens’ influence, or Austen, Brontë? 05:51 Who are your favourite non-classical authors? 12:03 Who came first, Aurelia or Amy? 12:36 Was including the ‘average person’ in your books always part of the plan? 13:55 Did you ever get to researching how coffee culture was in the Victorian period? 14:44 So your library has expanded vastly since you became a writer? 15:01 Do we have any idea how many children were abandoned or how many women had trouble in that period? 17:32 What was behind the idea to use Florence’s name as the title (of Florence Grace)? 18:49 What was the inspiration for the Grace family? 19:46 Houses are important in this book – where did Heron’s Watch come from? 20:47 When did you conceive the idea of a landslide as like an hourglass? 22:13 What had you deciding to look at mother-daughter relationships? 24:37 Why did you choose to tell Darling Blue over the course of a year? 25:52 The Camberwells taking in working class Delphine – were there many families in the 1920s that would have done similar? 26:54 Was the concept of the letters based on anything you’d heard before? 27:47 Did you find out anything interesting in regards to women in the 1920s becoming reporters? 31:09 Did the mining strike coverage in Darling Blue inspire The House at Silvermoor? 32:26 The House at Silvermoor contains your first male narrative – was that interesting to do? 38:20 Were there good mine owners as there are in the book? 40:09 Does the thread of owners changing the mines for the better align with the reality? 41:17 What happened to the horses – were they ever able to leave the mines? 42:15 Will you go back to any of the periods you’ve already covered? 43:06 So was your agent meaning you when she was saying someone should write about mining? 43:23 What is your favourite period to write about? 44:11 Do you ever see yourself going back further in history? 45:10 What’s next? Purchase Links Amy Snow: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble IndieBound Indigo Chapters Florence Grace: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble IndieBound Indigo Chapters The Hourglass: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Darling Blue: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble The House At Silvermoor: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble IndieBound Indigo Chapters I am an Amazon Associate and earn a small commission on qualifying purchases.  Likewise IndieBound. Photograph used with permission from the author. Credit: Ludwig Esser.

Charlie and Sofie Laguna (One Foot Wrong; The Eye of the Sheep; The Choke; the forthcoming Infinite Splendours) discuss beginning with acting, writing from a child’s perspective and not labelling those who are different, bad fictional parents, not liking John Wayne… and we have the inaugural reading of Sofie’s October release. Some podcast apps do not show description links properly unless the listener subscribes to the podcast. If you can't click the links below and don't wish to subscribe, copy and paste the following address into your browser to access the episode's page on my blog: http://wormhole.carnelianvalley.com/the-worm-hole-podcast/podcast-episode-19-sofie-laguna Wikipedia's article on the Murray River Dean Martin: My Rifle, My Pony, and Me Question Index 01:03 You studied law, then became an actor and a playwright; tell us more about your background 04:59 Were you in pantos? 09:40 You started with children's literature - when did you decide to add adult fiction into the mix? 17:01 What is behind your decision to rarely reveal any names of conditions the characters might have? 20:47 Did you ever want to switch the main characters' parents for nice ones? 28:01 What draws you to the type of endings you write? 30:10 Tell us about the Murray River that features in The Choke 33:06 Is there a particular reason you set your books in decades past? 34:51 Tell us more about Infinite Splendours 40:47Do you like John Wayne films? Purchase Links One Foot Wrong: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Amazon Australia Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble IndieBound Indigo Chapters The Eye of the Sheep: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Amazon Australia Waterstones Hive The Choke: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Amazon Australia Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble IndieBound I am an Amazon Associate and earn a small commission on qualifying purchases.  Likewise IndieBound. Photograph used with permission from the author.

Please note: this episode includes discussion of sexual content, and the second reading includes a sex scene. There is some noise in this episode: headphones are recommended. Charlie and Abubakar Adam Ibrahim (The Whispering Trees; Season of Crimson Blossoms) discuss Nigeria at this time, publishing a novel on a very controversial subject and reactions to it, effects of grief, and looking at cultural expectations of women as the generations change. Some podcast apps do not show description links properly unless the listener subscribes to the podcast. If you can't click the links below and don't wish to subscribe, copy and paste the following address into your browser to access the episode's page on my blog: http://wormhole.carnelianvalley.com/the-worm-hole-podcast/podcast-episode-18-abubakar-adam-ibrahim Dreams and Assorted Nightmares on the publisher's page The Daily Trust Question Index 01:31 How are you all doing in Nigeria at the moment? 03:27 Tell us about your background 07:30 Tell us about your work at The Daily Trust 13:00 Do you prefer the first or third person? 15:00 Was Season Of Crimson Blossoms difficult to publish? 22:10 Was is going through Binta’s mind as she makes her decision? 23:29 Tell us about Reza’s situation in life 24:53 Tell us about the theme of grief 33:08 Was the contrast between Fa’iza and Binta, a young woman and an older woman, something you were looking at? 36:35 Tell us about Dreams And Assorted Nightmares Purchase Links The Whispering Trees: Publisher's website Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble IndieBound Indigo Chapters Roving Heights Season of Crimson Blossoms: Publisher's website Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble IndieBound Indigo Chapters Roving Heights I am an Amazon Associate and earn a small commission on qualifying purchases.  Likewise IndieBound. Photograph used with permission from the author. Credit: Jill Jennings.

Charlie and Roselle Lim (Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune; Vanessa Yu's Magical Paris Tea Shop) discuss weaving culture, mental illness, and magic into your fiction, an aid for your eyes when chopping onions, and children you excitedly take to tourist attractions who wonder what you see in them. Some podcast apps do not show description links properly unless the listener subscribes to the podcast. If you can't click the links below and don't wish to subscribe, copy and paste the following address into your browser to access the episode's page on my blog: http://wormhole.carnelianvalley.com/the-worm-hole-podcast/podcast-episode-17-roselle-lim Fresh Fiction's review of Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune, as quoted Question Index 02:03 Tell us about your writing background 03:45 Is Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune one big metaphor? 05:27 You have a particular love of words?... 06:09 Was Natalie always planned to be unsure of herself? 06:53 How did your relationship with your own mother influence the novel? 07:51 What's your favourite meal to make? 08:55 Have you had experience yourself of food solving, or helping to solve, a problem? 11:16 What was behind the decision to incorporate recipes into the narrative? 12:37 Does chewing mint gum help when chopping onions? 13:14 Was the thread about outsiders, trying to disrupt for their own gain, based on a particular event? 14:09 Introduce us to San Francisco's Chinatown 15:24 Do you love classical music? 16:12 Was the romance between Natalie and Daniel always in the book? 17:26 How much was filial piety in your mind when writing? 18:53 Is Vanessa Yu Miss Yu from Natalie Tan? 19:20 (We discuss Paris and London - Roselle went there to research Vanessa Yu's Magical Paris Tea Shop) 25:28 Did you ever wonder about using a different name to Natalie, given that that is your daughter's name? 32:25 Vanessa Yu - is it fair to say this is a very different book to Natalie Tan? 33:09 Are you writing your next book? 33:35 Natalie Tan has been optioned for a TV show... Purchase Links Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble IndieBound Indigo Chapters Vanessa Yu's Magical Paris Tea Shop: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Barnes & Noble IndieBound Indigo Chapters I am an Amazon Associate and earn a small commission on qualifying purchases. Photograph used with permission from the author. Credit: Shelley Smith.

Charlie and Isla Morley (Come Sunday; Above; The Last Blue) discuss growing up and travelling back to South Africa, creating a negative heroine, the 1800s medical phenomenon wherein people were literally blue, and what it's like owning five tortoises. Some podcast apps do not show description links properly unless the listener subscribes to the podcast. If you can't click the links below and don't wish to subscribe, copy and paste the following address into your browser to access the episode's page on my blog: http://wormhole.carnelianvalley.com/the-worm-hole-podcast/podcast-episode-16-isla-morley Image of the Fugate family, as mentioned Cathy Trost's article 'The Blue People of Troublesome Creek' Question Index 01:03 Can you tell us more about your background in South Africa? 03:04 How did novel writing come about? 08:05 You've lived in several places - can you tell us about your journey? 11:12 Have you been back to South Africa? 13:48 Have you ever considered writing a memoir? 15:34 Come Sunday's Abbe isn't a nice person; why did you want to create her? 17:41 Why was grief important to explore? 18:19 When did you decide to incorporate Christianity? 20:19 Was narrative style always in your mind? 22:08 Why poetry? 23:38 Was African mythology, used in the book, something you experienced in childhood? 29:01 Was it daunting to have so much of Above set underground? 31:31 Would it be fair to assume that the book will continue to be an outlier as you move forward? 33:48 When did the idea of going along with Dobb's idea of what's going on come into your process of writing? 42:02 Tell us about the medical background to The Last Blue 46:48 Am I barking up the wrong tree thinking the concept of blue people as per your book has to do with commentary on racial discrimination in history? 51:31 How important is the narrative of women to you? 52:34 Is there any interesting fact you can share with us about photography in the 1930s? 55:15 What's next? 55:54 What's it like having five tortoises? Purchase Links Come Sunday: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble IndieBound Above: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble IndieBound The Last Blue: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble IndieBound I am an Amazon Associate and earn a small commission on qualifying purchases. Photograph used with permission from the author.

Charlie and Terri Fleming (Perception) discuss looking at the further lives of Mary and Kitty Bennet, working with Austen's original stories and prose, Mr and Mrs Bennet's relationship, and organising bookshelves. Some podcast apps do not show description links properly unless the listener subscribes to the podcast. If you can't click the links below and don't wish to subscribe, copy and paste the following address into your browser to access the episode's page on my blog: http://wormhole.carnelianvalley.com/the-worm-hole-podcast/podcast-episode-15-terri-fleming The Romantic Novelists' Association website Question Index 00:37 Tell us about your background - writing and Australia 00:59 Have you been able to write articles regardless of the career switch? 03:12 Why Pride and Prejudice? 04:06 Who are you other favourite writers? 04:49 How long have you been a member of the RNA? 05:50 Were your initial thoughts for your book different to how it played out? 08:41 Did it take time to get the balance between your own Mary and Austen's just right, and were you worried about the reception? 15:09 How did you go about creating the gentlemen? 17:11 Was there anything difficult about using Pride and Prejudice as a base? 24:43 What was the best part of writing Kitty's story? 27:08 Did you find anything out about Pride and Prejudice that readers may not know? 29:10 What's your opinion on the dynamic between Mr and Mrs Bennet? 32:36 How do you organise your bookshelves? 34:15 What's next? Purchase Links Perception: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble I am an Amazon Associate and earn a small commission on qualifying purchases. Photograph used with the permission of the author.

Charlie and Zoe Duncan (The Shifting Pools) discuss coping with and healing from war trauma in reality and fiction, the use and power of dreams, employing various styles and formats, and how fascinating reader interpretations can be. Some podcast apps do not show description links properly unless the listener subscribes to the podcast. If you can't click the links below and don't wish to subscribe, copy and paste the following address into your browser to access the episode's page on my blog: http://wormhole.carnelianvalley.com/the-worm-hole-podcast/podcast-episode-14-zoe-duncan Interview with Danuta Kean for Mslexia magazine On Cornwall and Enanti Article in The Times about Zoe's life and work Question Index 00:46 How long have you been writing? 01:55 Favourite poet? 02:40 Tell us about your childhood (that relates to the book) 03:53 What was it like being in England? 08:32 Is there a reason for the lack of a name for the place Eve lives in? 09:41 How did you come to use Enanti as Eve's coping method? 11:08 How do you see the ending, do you have an answer for it for yourself? 12:53 Was water always to be the healing element? 14:32 The style and structure - what was the purpose of it? 19:23 Was Time something you were thinking about when writing? 21:04 What did you learn about dreams in the context of the subconscious? 24:00 Was the idea of womanhood, sisters, siblings, a theme? 31:04 There is so much hope in the book... 31:48 What did you want readers to take away? 33:47 What is the impact of long-term trauma and grief if not dealt with? 36:07 Was the book cathartic for you? 37:40 What's next? 39:56 (Given everything we've discussed) it must have been busy in your head whilst you were writing? Purchase Links The Shifting Pools: Publisher's website Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble I am an Amazon Associate and earn a small commission on qualifying purchases. Photograph used with the permission of the author. Credit: Ashvin Mistry.

Charlie and Dan Richards (Holloway, The Beechwood Airship Interviews, Climbing Days, Outpost) discuss asking to join well-known people for lunch and producing fascinating interviews for your book, travelling the less beaten paths of your mountaineering great-great aunt, finding society in isolated places, and looking ahead to how we might continue to approach humanity's harming of nature after the benefits to scaling back have been shown by this current crisis. Some podcast apps do not show description links properly unless the listener subscribes to the podcast. If you can't click the links below and don't wish to subscribe, copy and paste the following address into your browser to access the episode's page on my blog: http://wormhole.carnelianvalley.com/the-worm-hole-podcast/podcast-episode-13-dan-richards Dan’s articles at Caught by the River 'Dream ticket – the night train from Cologne to Vienna’ ‘My search for the real Moominland’ BBC Radio 4: Start the Week – Life in the Wilderness Wikipedia’s entry for Dorothy Pilley (includes photographs) Second-hand copies of Dorothy’s memoir on AbeBooks (there are a couple of 1935 and 1965 editions on there) Question Index 00:46 How did you get into writing, specifically the type you do? 02:39 The first book to be written was the second published… 03:37 Tell us about the interviewing process for The Beechwood Airship Interviews 07:43 Has this book had a knock-on affect on your further work in ways we may not pick up on? 08:56 These books are a mixture of travel/adventure (and so on) and there’s a lot of your personality there… 10:11 Tell us about mountaineer Dorothy Pilley and how she inspired you 15:00 How did the women mountaineers of the time help future generations? 18:58 Is Dorothy’s 1935 memoir available to purchase? 19:51 What was the easiest part of your Climbing Days adventure? 22:26 What did you learn about yourself? 27:27 What draws you to the wilderness? 27:57 You talk about our human destruction of nature – what do you hope will happen following this time that we’re living in right now? 31:01 Tell us about the supernatural aspect of the first outpost; did you experience anything yourself? 34:27 In all the outposts you went to, what surprised you the most? 35:11 How did the social aspect of these otherwise isolated places impact your experience of it? 38:52 What’s next? Purchase Links Holloway: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive The Beechwood Airship Interviews: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Barnes & Noble Climbing Days: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Outpost: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble I am an Amazon Associate and earn a small commission on qualifying purchases. Photograph used with the permission of the author.

Charlie and Weike Wang (Chemistry) discuss having both a scientific – in epidemiology no less! – and a writer background, making use of extracts and white space and preferring them beyond more long-form prose, the difficulties of studies and incorporating friends’ experiences in your stories, and fictional dogs who are inherently important to the text. Some podcast apps do not show description links properly unless the listener subscribes to the podcast. If you can't click the links below and don't wish to subscribe, copy and paste the following address into your browser to access the episode's page on my blog: http://wormhole.carnelianvalley.com/the-worm-hole-podcast/podcast-episode-12-weike-wang Short story ‘Omakase’ in The New Yorker Short story ‘Nanjing’ in the Alaska Quarterly Review Short story ‘By the Pantheon’ in Kenyon Review Short story ‘The Poster’ in the Gulf Coast journal Weike Wang on the Privilege of Not Having to Think About Race Question Index 01:01 Your background is in Chemistry and Public Health - how have you come to mix these with writing and are you still doing Chemistry? 03:23 You wrote an introduction to Villette - does Bronte inspire your writing, and who else inspires you? 06:02 Why an unnamed narrator? 08:34 How did you come to strike the balance between the presence and the lack of a presence in regards to the narrator's boyfriend? 10:10 Was the dog always a part of the book, and can you discuss his role? 11:55 Is the dog based on your own? 18:00 Is the writing style (vignettes and so forth) something that was in your mind and something you'll continue in future? 20:46 So with this 'excess', you've potentially got lots of ideas you could use for future books? 21:23 When did the narrator first arrive in your mind, so to speak? 23:25 How did you com to strike the balance between the different cultures and how important was it to the overall effect? 25:33 Is there a lot you see in chemistry that we can learn from? 30:32 The narrator's growth in knowledge of English idioms and metaphors 32:21 Might the narrator be a successful teacher one day? 33:35 How true to life are the experiences of specific pressures for PhD students? 36:44 What's next? Purchase Links Chemistry: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble I am an Amazon Associate and earn a small commission on qualifying purchases. Photograph used with permission from the author. Credit: Shang Saavedra

Charlie Place and Laura Pearson (Missing Pieces; Nobody’s Wife; I Wanted You To Know) discuss the process of grieving for various members of a family, writing a book about cancer when you are working through the same, and changing stories almost entirely from their beginnings. Some podcast apps do not show description links properly unless the listener subscribes to the podcast. If you can't click the links below and don't wish to subscribe, copy and paste the following address into your browser to access the episode's page on my blog: http://wormhole.carnelianvalley.com/the-worm-hole-podcast/podcast-episode-11-laura-pearson The Motherload Book Club Laura’s blog ‘Breast Cancer and Baby’ Laura’s article ‘When Pregnancy and Cancer Collide’ for The Motherload Laura’s article for The Guardian Question Index 00:33 Your first book was found in your publisher's slush pile... 02:53 Were your books difficult to write? 03:54 Tell us about your bookclub 06:13 What was the inspiration for Missing Pieces? 13:07 Tell us about Bea's role in the book 15:28 The chapters specify 'days after' - did you ever consider altering it at the end, after the revelations had come out? 17:21 The use of seasons 18:44 Is there anywhere people who are in a similar situation can go? 20:13 Why Southampton? 26:30 Nobody's Wife - what came first, the characters or the plot? 27:23 The start of the book: was it always the plan to say that only three of the four people remained? 28:03 Character you like; character you dislike? 33:41 Was there a lot of difference between the first draft of I Wanted You To Know and the final book? 36:43 Was there a reason for Jess's mum to be as she is? 38:34 What was your reason for writing something so related to your own experiences? 41:37 Would you recommend that other writers write about what scares them in life? 42:45 What did you want to leave the reader thinking? 44:22 So your next book is going to be happy... Purchase Links Missing Pieces: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Barnes & Noble Nobody's Wife: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Barnes & Noble I Wanted You to Know: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones I am an Amazon Associate and earn a small commission on qualifying purchases. Photograph used with permission from the author.

Charlie Place and Camilla Bruce (You Let Me In) discuss the darker side of faerie, being as in the dark about answers as your readers are, survival and coping methods following trauma, and the habits of cats inspiring your work. Some podcast apps do not show description links properly unless the listener subscribes to the podcast. If you can't click the links below and don't wish to subscribe, copy and paste the following address into your browser to access the episode's page on my blog: http://wormhole.carnelianvalley.com/the-worm-hole-podcast/podcast-episode-10-camilla-bruce Question Index 00:42 Tell us about your background and writing experience 01:12 Have you written any non-fiction before? 02:23 What authors do you admire; do you have any favourite Norwegian writers? 06:43 What inspired your book? 08:34 Have you lived in the woods? 08:53 Are houses in fiction important to you? 09:34 What was the idea behind the lack of a distinct location? 10:25 Did you draw on any folklore? 13:43 Was there a starting point for the dynamic where there's the potential for abuse, and the relationship with Tommy and the Pepperman? 16:06 Did you have a plan? 17:19 What did you want readers to take away at the end? 18:54 How important was it to only give Cassie's voice and viewpoint? 20:44 Cassie's sister Olivia - do you think there's hope for her to come to a better understanding of everything? 21:57 Was the psychiatrist's book an idea that came about during the writing, with you wanting an extra truth added to the story? 22:35 Do you have your own idea of what happened to Cassie? 23:20 Do you believe in faeries? 23:51 Do you have any rough plans for another book? Purchase Links You Let Me In: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble I am an Amazon Associate and earn a small commission on qualifying purchases. Photo credit: Lene J. Lokkhaug

Charlie Place and Fran Cooper (These Dividing Walls, The Two Houses) discuss open mic nights, current and recent sociopolitical situations in Paris (and the world), the way we talk about women and motherhood, and the complexity of relationships. Some podcast apps do not show description links properly unless the listener subscribes to the podcast. If you can't click the links below and don't wish to subscribe, copy and paste the following address into your browser to access the episode's page on my blog: http://wormhole.carnelianvalley.com/the-worm-hole-podcast/podcast-episode-09-fran-cooper/ Question Index 00:33 Did you have a good time in Italy? 00:47 Who was the most interesting to study in English Literature at Cambridge? 02:24 Are there any French classics you particularly enjoy? 03:38 Are you a city or a country person? 04:16 Have you or someone you know had experience of moving to an established community? 05:05 Do you speak French? 09:48 Was there a particular event that inspired These Dividing Walls? 11:36 Was this your first foray into writing in this manner? 12:54 Are there any buildings that are important to you in the sense of a residence? 14:09 Why Paris rather than England? 15:27 The terrorism in the book 17:54 Edward and Frederique - what was the significance for you of these characters coming together and experiencing their separate griefs 20:28 Is discussing the issue of motherhood important to you? 23:13 Frederique and her husband - was there any inspiration for their living arrangement? 29:02 Was The Two Houses inspired by a scene in These Dividing Walls? 30:30 Working with foresight in the book 31:52 What is your particular interest in art? 33:03 Do you have a favourite artist? 33:54 The metaphors of broken things 35:00 Are you interested in 'smaller stories' in your own reading? 35:52 What's most important to you when exploring issues of division in relationships? 37:47 What's next? Purchase Links These Dividing Walls: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble The Two Houses: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble I am an Amazon Associate and earn a small commission on qualifying purchases. Photo credit: Alex Mantei

Charlie and Andrew Blackman (On the Holloway Road, A Virtual Love) discuss life on the road, following in Jack Kerouac’s footsteps, offline and online identity, writing an entire book about a character but never giving them a voice, current climate change activism, and withholding – for very good reason – the endings your readers expect. Some podcast apps do not show description links properly unless the listener subscribes to the podcast. If you can't click the links below and don't wish to subscribe, copy and paste the following address into your browser to access the episode's page on my blog: http://wormhole.carnelianvalley.com/the-worm-hole-podcast/podcast-episode-08-andrew-blackman Andrew's round up of his travels in 2019 A list of selected articles written Question Index 00:57 You’ve been travelling for quite a few years now, can you tell us more about this? 01:57 You sold your books… 02:33 Where can we read your articles? 03:22 What was your journey to publication like? 11:07 When did you first read Kerouac’s On The Road? 11:59 Had you made a journey of the sort Neil and Jack go on? 13:34 Were you ever tempted to emulate Kerouac’s writing style? 15:42 What’s the relationship between your own characters and Kerouac’s? 17:28 Why the Holloway Road? 18:51 The ending – what did you want readers to take away with them? [vague spoilers] 21:18 How much did your experience of blogging influence A Virtual Love? 22:52 Was Jeff’s granddad inspired by your own relationship with a grandparent? 24:47 Why doesn’t Jeff have a voice in the novel? 34:38 Is there a way we can be more social in our current age? 37:40 Where did the environmental activism stem from? 40:01 How important is a sense of silence? 41:20 [Spoiler question] Can you talk about your choice not to have a big reveal? 44:27 What’s next? Purchase Links On the Holloway Road: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble Book Depository A Virtual Love: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble Book Depository I am an Amazon Associate and earn a small commission on qualifying purchases. Photograph used with the permission of the author. Credit Genie Austin.

Charlie Place and E C Fremantle (The Poison Bed; also Queen's Gambit, Sisters of Treason, Watch the Lady, The Girl in the Glass Tower) discuss changing pen names, a horrific murder case in the Stuart nobility, coping as a new mother in a one-of-a-kind situation, and the historical line between witchcraft and 'simple' superstition. Some podcast apps do not show description links properly unless the listener subscribes to the podcast. If you can't click the links below and don't wish to subscribe, copy and paste the following address into your browser to access the episode's page on my blog: http://wormhole.carnelianvalley.com/the-worm-hole-podcast/podcast-episode-07-e-c-fremantle Liz and Charlie's previous conversation (YouTube) The painting of Frances Howard by William Larkin, included in Liz's blog post. Question Index 00:59 You’ve changed your pen name… 02:41 Are you going to be E C Fremantle for a while? 12:51 Can you tell us about the history of this story and what made you want to write about it? 15:22 Was it a difficult writing it? 16:57 Was the way Frances felt closer to the reader compared to Robert planned? 18:09 Who was Robert Carr? 21:01 Do you think there was love between Robert and Frances? 24:43 Do you think your version of Frances would have come to like her baby? 26:54 [Spoiler questions] 1) Were you ever tempted to change the history? 2) Can you tell us the story of Anne Turner? 34:23 Who was Northampton and did he work alone? 36:47 Did any other stories, films, media inspire the book? 39:02 Had you read Gone Girl? 40:24 Where did the line fall between what was witchcraft and what was not witchcraft? 43:11 What else can you tell us about your next book? 45:24 Queen’s Gambit adaptation. 46:37 They introduced themselves to us earlier – how long have you had your poodles? Purchase Links The Poison Bed: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble Queen's Gambit: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble Sisters Of Treason: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble Watch The Lady: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble The Girl In The Glass Tower: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive I am an Amazon Associate and earn a small commission on qualifying purchases. Photograph used with the permission of the author. Credit: JP Masclet.

Charlie Place and Nancy Bilyeau (The Crown; The Chalice; The Tapestry; The Blue; Dreamland) discuss the lifestyle of Dissolution-era nuns, using a website's 'contact me' form to great success, there being more relics than there were items, using your family's name in your work, and the grand amusement parks and luxury hotels of New York's past. Some podcast apps do not show description links properly unless the listener subscribes to the podcast. If you can't click the links below and don't wish to subscribe, copy and paste the following address into your browser to access the episode's page on my blog: http://wormhole.carnelianvalley.com/the-worm-hole-podcast/podcast-episode-06-nancy-bilyeau/ Nancy will be discussing Dreamland at the Astoria Bookshop (31-29 31st Street, Astoria NY) on Thursday 16th January, 19:00-20:00 Dartford Museum's website Elizabeth Vigee Le Brun, the artist who painted Marie Antoinette Question Index 00:50 You’ve been on the staff of various magazines – did you always hope to write novels? 04:23 Where do you head to, sources-wise, when you’re first thinking about a book? 17:48 How much work was it to get around the issue of Reformation? 23:13 Was there a particular reason you wanted to focus on Catherine Howard rather than Henry’s other wives? 27:20 Is Joanna based on anyone in particular? 29:56 The Athelstan crown – is it real object or inspired by anything? 33:18 The part about the nun’s having to host a Lord for a feast – was this something that happen in convents at that time? 39:18 What was the position of women artists in the 1700s? 42:02 How much of the idea about shades and discovering what other factions were doing is based on fact? 44:13 So Genevieve’s grandfather’s surname is Billiou… 49:00 (Introducing Dreamland) 55:09 What can you tell us about The Ghost of Madison Avenue? 58:56 Do you have a favourite time period to write in out of the three you’ve used so far? Purchase Links The Crown: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Book Depository Barnes & Noble The Chalice: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Book Depository Barnes & Noble The Tapestry: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Book Depository Barnes & Noble The Blue: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Book Depository Barnes & Noble Dreamland: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Book Depository Barnes & Noble The Ghost Of Madison Avenue: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada I am an Amazon Associate and earn a small commission on qualifying purchases. Photograph used with permission from the publisher. Credit: Joshua Kessler.

Tune in as Charlie Place and Samantha Sotto (Before Ever After, Love and Gravity, A Dream of Trees) discuss characters that join you in your car in the midst of a traffic jam, time travelling with Issac Newton, switching from your fully researched work in progress to a story that needs to be told, and... chickens? Some podcast apps do not show description links properly unless the listener subscribes to the podcast. If you can't click the links below and don't wish to subscribe, copy and paste the following address into your browser to access the episode's page on my blog: http://wormhole.carnelianvalley.com/the-worm-hole-podcast/the-worm-hole-podcast-episode-05-samantha-sotto The trailer for Love and Gravity as mentioned Question Index 00:37 The story of how Sam became a writer involves traffic jams… 02:57 Did anything inspire the chicken and egg situation? 04:58 You’ve gone for lesser-known historical stories in Before Ever After, can you tell us about that? 07:41 Is there a secret ingredient for the egg and cheese dish? 08:57 Where does Doctor Who come into the story? 10:53 How was it working from the present day backwards? 12:15 Was there any particular time period you enjoyed working on? 14:40 Where did the campers first come into the story? 15:32 Where did Shelley first come into the story? 21:45 When did you have the idea to fill in the gap in Issac Newton’s story? 23:43 Where did John Maynard Keynes come in? 25:40 Issac Newton and Andrea are both motherless – was this comparison something you were working towards? 27:24 What was it like mixing science and music together in one book? 29:50 Daughter’s name being included in the book 32:13 Are your dogs [heard in the background] going to star in a book? 32:49 Do you like classical poetry? 34:29 Have you ever owned any chickens? 38:06 Why self-publish A Dream of Trees? 41:17 Is the content something you have/have developed a passion for? 44:11 Will you be returning to the Scotland fairy story book? 45:26 Sam’s recent NaNoWriMo book. Purchase Links Before Ever After: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Hive Book Depository Love And Gravity: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada A Dream Of Trees: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada I am an Amazon Associate and earn a small commission on qualifying purchases. Photograph used with permission from the author. Credit: Samantha Sotto.

Charlie Place and Phillip Lewis (The Barrowfields) discuss planning out fictional houses, the detail and beauty of classical music, books about books, and how real life in all its ups and downs makes its mark on your work. Some podcast apps do not show description links properly unless the listener subscribes to the podcast. If you can't click the links below and don't wish to subscribe, copy and paste the following address into your browser to access the episode's page on my blog: http://wormhole.carnelianvalley.com/the-worm-hole-podcast/podcast-episode-04-phillip-lewis Question Index 00:25 You’re a litigation lawyer and used to write an online journal of criticism – tell us about your writing background 03:46 Where did this book come from? 08:00 Was there a reason for creating a fictional town (Old Buckram) related to what you’ve been saying? 09:56 What was your inspiration for the vulture house? 12:51 Tell us about the library 21:53 How important was music as a general part of the book compared to the other aspects? 26:04 How does the literature in the book relate to your own interests? 31:01 Did you ever worry that a significant number of literary references would be missed? 33:40 Was leaving until the end the mystery of what happened to Henry Senior always the plan? 42:34 Where did Bullar the dog first fit into the story for you? 45:20 What’s next? Purchase Links The Barrowfields: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble I am an Amazon Associate and earn a small commission on qualifying purchases. Photograph used with permission from the author. Copyright © Isil Dohnke.

Tune in as Charlie Place and author Naomi Hamill (How To Be A Kosovan Bride) discuss post-war Kosovo, using a narrative method that divides opinion, and researching Albanian folklore. Some podcast apps do not show description links properly unless the listener subscribes to the podcast. If you can't click the links below and don't wish to subscribe, copy and paste the following address into your browser to access the episode's page on my blog: http://wormhole.carnelianvalley.com/the-worm-hole-podcast/podcast-episode-03-naomi-hamill Question Index 01:29 Could you expand on your time in Kosovo? 03:57 You started writing the book with a short story?... 05:46 What has the reaction in Kosovo been to your book? 07:50 What is Kosovo like today? 11:00 Have you learned Albanian? 12:25 What made you choose to tell the story through two women, the Kosovan Wife and the Returned Girl? 15:38 Tell us more about the folklore aspect in regards to its comparison to real Albanian folklore? 21:11 The second person perspective - why use it? 25:59 What's next? Purchase Links How To Be A Kosovan Bride: Publisher's website Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive I am an Amazon Associate and earn a small commission on qualifying purchases. Photo used with permission from the author and publisher.