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I'm delighted to welcome Winnie M Li, an award winning author, activist and Professor of Creative Writing. We dive deep into her latest novel, What We Left Unsaid, a poignant road trip story that follows three estranged Asian American siblings as they journey along Route 66 to confront their past and reconnect with their ailing mother.

Winnie shares her insights on the complexities of sibling relationships, the impact of cultural identity, and the significance of travel in personal growth. We discuss her creative process, the challenges of writing about sensitive themes, and how her own experiences shaped the narrative. Winnie also reflects on the importance of representation in literature and the power of storytelling in bridging divides.

As we explore the intricacies of her characters and the emotional depth of their journeys, Winnie reveals the surprises she encountered while writing and the lessons learned along the way. This episode is a heartfelt exploration of family, identity, and the transformative nature of travel, offering valuable insights for writers and readers alike.

Buy What We Left Unsaid

Follow Winnie M Li

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In this episode of The Conversation with Nadine Matheson, I am excited to welcome the talented Indyana Schneider, a multifaceted writer and opera singer. We explore Indiana's unique journey through the worlds of music and literature, discussing how her diverse experiences have shaped her creative process.

Indyana shares her insights on balancing her singing career with her writing pursuits, reflecting on the challenges and triumphs that come with navigating both fields. We delve into her latest novel, Since the World is Ending, a compelling story that intertwines themes of love, choice, and artistic integrity against the vibrant backdrop of Vienna.

As we discuss the nuances of her characters and the emotional depth of her storytelling, Indiana reveals the importance of vulnerability in her writing. This episode is a celebration of creativity, authenticity, and the power of self-discovery, offering valuable insights for aspiring writers and artists alike.

Buy Since the World is Ending

Follow Indyana Schneider

We’d love to hear your thoughts. Take a moment to complete The Conversation survey and share your views about the podcast. http://bit.ly/theconversationwithnadinematheson-survey

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https://ko-fi.com/nadinematheson

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On this week's episode, we are talking about a scarcity of books for the Booker Prize and wondering if that is due to poor books or too narrow a category for prizes. Plus, we join the Alchemised train and wonder if fanfic turned to publishing gold shows publishers are unwilling to gamble on new stories, and more generally discuss how risk-averse the industry can be and why that narrows the chances for new authors.

00:00 Intro

01:04 Anthropic Settlement Update

03:22 Booker Prize in crisis?

17:46 Alchemised success - Turning FanFic into Gold

24.20 Betting on Bestsellers - Do Publishers Play the Odds?

36:56 Off Script - Nadine finds another stranger than fiction story for inspiration

43:14 Off Script - Our Favourite Horror Movies

Links:

Sign up for Anthropic settlement

Doyle says Booker Prize struggled to find good novels

Alchemised - Fan fiction turned into a bestseller

Why Romance Readers can't quit Dramione

The Publishing Industry has a Gambling Problem

Nadine's Stranger than Fiction story

Adventures in Publishing-land is brought to you by STET Podcasts - the one stop shop for all your writing podcast needs, featuring Page One - The Writer's Podcast, The Conversation with Nadine Matheson and more!

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We’d love to hear your thoughts. Take a moment to complete The Conversation survey and share your views about the podcast. http://bit.ly/theconversationwithnadinematheson-survey

"Enjoying 'The Conversation'? Support the podcast by buying me a cup of coffee ☕️

https://ko-fi.com/nadinematheson

Purchase books by the featured authors through my affiliate shop on Bookshop.org

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining me is the multifaceted Kelechi Okafor, a writer, presenter, actress, social commentator, and podcast host. Join us as we dive into Kelechi's journey, exploring her debut novel 'Awakened', a gripping tale that blends speculative fiction with crime, set against the backdrop of London.

Kelechi shares her experiences navigating the complexities of the publishing world, discussing the challenges of being a black author in a predominantly white industry. We delve into her creative process, the inspirations behind her characters, and how her personal experiences have shaped her writing. Kelechi's insights on the importance of authenticity and representation in literature are both enlightening and empowering.

As we discuss the themes of her novel, including the search for identity and the impact of societal expectations, Kelechi also reflects on her own journey of self-discovery and resilience. This episode is a celebration of creativity, courage, and the magic of storytelling, offering valuable lessons for aspiring writers and readers alike.

Buy Awakened

Follow Kelechi Okafor

We’d love to hear your thoughts. Take a moment to complete The Conversation survey and share your views about the podcast. http://bit.ly/theconversationwithnadinematheson-survey

"Enjoying 'The Conversation'? Support the podcast by buying me a cup of coffee ☕️

https://ko-fi.com/nadinematheson

Purchase books by the featured authors through my affiliate shop on Bookshop.org

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining me for a coffee break is Jonnie Fielding, also known as Bowl of Chalk, a remarkable tour guide and author. We dive into his latest book, Why Is Downing Street Painted Black? And 364 Fun London Facts, which promises to entertain and educate readers with quirky and fascinating insights about London.

Jonnie shares his journey from a tour guide to a published author, revealing how his passion for the city and its history inspired him to compile this collection of fun facts. We discuss the challenges he faced in the publishing world, the importance of social media in building his brand, and how he transformed his love for London into a successful writing career.

As we explore the contents of his book, Jonnie uncovers intriguing anecdotes that highlight London’s rich history, from the origins of its street names to quirky tales of its architecture. He also addresses the misconceptions surrounding certain famous locations, offering listeners a fresh perspective on the city they think they know.

This episode is a delightful mix of humour, history, and inspiration, perfect for anyone looking to discover more about London or simply enjoy a good story.

Buy Why Is Downing Street Painted Black? And 364 Fun London Facts

Follow Jonnie Fielding

We’d love to hear your thoughts. Take a moment to complete The Conversation survey and share your views about the podcast. http://bit.ly/theconversationwithnadinematheson-survey

"Enjoying 'The Conversation'? Support the podcast by buying me a cup of coffee ☕️

https://ko-fi.com/nadinematheson

Purchase books by the featured authors through my affiliate shop on Bookshop.org

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Conversation with Nadine Matheson, I am thrilled to welcome debut author Louise Hegarty, whose captivating novel Fair Play is taking the literary world by storm. Join us as we delve into Louise's journey from writing short stories to crafting her first novel, exploring the challenges and triumphs she faced along the way.

Louise shares her insights on the intricacies of plotting a murder mystery, the importance of structure in storytelling, and how her passion for detective novels shaped her writing. We discuss the emotional rollercoaster of the publishing process, from securing an agent to navigating the whirlwind of submissions and offers, and how she managed to keep her sense of self amid the chaos.

Set against the backdrop of a New Year's Eve gathering that takes a dark turn, Fair Play intertwines themes of grief and mystery as protagonist Abigail grapples with her brother's unexpected death. Louise reveals the inspiration behind her characters and the fascinating research that informed her narrative, making this episode a treasure trove for aspiring writers and fans of psychological thrillers alike.

Buy Fair Play

Don't forget that you now pre-order my new book, The Shadow Carver.

Subscribe to my Substack: The Writer's Verdict

We’d love to hear your thoughts. Take a moment to complete The Conversation survey and share your views about the podcast. http://bit.ly/theconversationwithnadinematheson-survey

"Enjoying 'The Conversation'? Support the podcast by buying me a cup of coffee ☕️

https://ko-fi.com/nadinematheson

Purchase books by the featured authors through my affiliate shop on Bookshop.org

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Watch as a full video on YouTube

On this week's episode we share some exciting awards news involving Tariq and Marco (both winners at the recent Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival!), Nadine reveals a new cover (check her instagram to see it!), plus we discuss the latest in the Anthropic settlement, wonder about whether cosy crime is a reductive term, and in the wake of the Evelyn Clark author reveal, wonder whether marketing gimmicks work for the general public. Plus, Nadine finds another strange story to inspire some fiction, and we pay tribute to Robert Redford with a discussion of our favourite movies featuring him.

00:00 Intro

00:26 Bloody Scotland Prize Winners!

05:26 Is the Anthropic AI settlement in trouble?

17:38 Richard Osman says "cosy crime" is a reductive term - is he right?

28:01 Evelyn Clark reveal - are hidden author reveals marketing genius or gimmicks?

38:22 Off Script - Nadine finds another stranger than fiction story for inspiration

44:56 Off Script - Robert Redford - Our Favourite Movies

Links:

Judge stalls Anthropic settlement

Sign up for Anthropic settlement

Richard Osman says cosy crime is reductive

Evelyn Clark reveal

Nadine's Stranger Than Fiction story

Adventures in Publishing-land is brought to you by STET Podcasts - the one stop shop for all your writing podcast needs, featuring Page One - The Writer's Podcast, The Conversation with Nadine Matheson and more!

Follow us on Bluesky

Follow us on Instagram

We’d love to hear your thoughts. Take a moment to complete The Conversation survey and share your views about the podcast. http://bit.ly/theconversationwithnadinematheson-survey

"Enjoying 'The Conversation'? Support the podcast by buying me a cup of coffee ☕️

https://ko-fi.com/nadinematheson

Purchase books by the featured authors through my affiliate shop on Bookshop.org

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kathryn Sharman joins me for the first coffee break of season four to talk about her debut novel The Family at Number 23, a compelling psychological thriller, exploring the complex relationships between the characters Laura and Iris, two friends navigating the challenges of life, motherhood, and the pursuit of status.

Catherine shares her journey of writing this novel, revealing how personal experiences and the intricacies of the housing market shaped her narrative. We discuss the psychological depth of her characters, the unexpected twists that emerged during the writing process, and the fine balance between planning and letting the story unfold organically.

As Iris grapples with feelings of inadequacy and jealousy after her friend Laura's seemingly perfect life, an encounter with an elderly woman leads to a series of morally dubious decisions that spiral out of control.

Buy The Family at Number 23

Follow Kathryn Sharman

We’d love to hear your thoughts. Take a moment to complete The Conversation survey and share your views about the podcast. http://bit.ly/theconversationwithnadinematheson-survey

"Enjoying 'The Conversation'? Support the podcast by buying me a cup of coffee ☕️

https://ko-fi.com/nadinematheson

Purchase books by the featured authors through my affiliate shop on Bookshop.org

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.