Shelf Healing

I chat with author Orna Ross about writing, poetry, and starting the Alliance of Independent Authors.We get drawn into the power of Buddhist poetry and the joy of reading about murders. Orna shares her thoughts on why guilt has no place in reading, no matter what the genre is. Orna's websiteOrna's TwitterThings mentioned in the podcast:Poldark series by Winston GrahamThích Nhất HạnhWB YeatsMiddlemarch by George EliotGeorge EliotWuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

I chat with fabulous Canadian author Susin Nielsen about her new book, writing for TV and how it differs to writing for children, and why she returns again and again to middle grade fiction. We also discuss the difference in showing internal thoughts in novels and on TV and how powerful and influencing children's books can be on our lives.Susin's websiteSusin's TwitterThings mentioned in the episode:Tremendous Things by Susin NielsenFamily Law - tv seriesWord Nerd by Susin NielsenDavid SedarisA Gentleman in Moscow by Amor TowlesHarriet the Spy by Louise FitzhughThe Secret Diary of Adrian Mole by Sue TownsendElmer the Patchwork Elephant by David McKeeGirl, Woman, Other by Bernardine EvaristoMargaret Atwood

I chat with children's author Rashmi Sirdeshpande about her favourite books, her discovery of narrative poetry, beautiful books, and what gives her inspiration for her own writing.Rashmi writes non-fiction books for children to inspire them and also be fun.We chat about Rashmi's giant fact checking tables and how she found writing her first fiction book. Rashmi's non-fiction often covers important and heavy issues and we discuss how difficult this can be to write as well as to keep hopeful for the children reading it.Rashmi's websiteRashmi's TwitterThings mentioned in the episode:Lucy CuthewManjeet MannElizabeth AcevedoBlood Moon by Lucy CuthewBeowulfSir Gawain and the Green KnightMichelle HarrisonCloud Busting by Malorie BlackmanDom ConlonThis Rock That Rock by Dom Conlon & Viviane SchwarzRikin ParekhThis Book Has Alpacas and Bears by Emma Perry, illustrated by Rikin ParekhCash by Rashmi SirdeshpandeNever Show a T-Rex a Book by Rashmi SirdeshpandeNever Teach a Stegasaurus to do Sums by Rashmi Sirdeshpande Diane Ewen Stronger: Changing Everything I Knew About Women's Strength by Poorna Bell

I got the chance to chat with debut author Carly Heath all about her new book The Reckless Kind and the importance of representation in YA literature. There are lots of horses alongside the disability and LGBTQ+ storyline so of course we went on a magical journey discussing writing horses in literature and the joys and perils of carriage driving!Carly's TwitterCarly's website Things mentioned in the episode:The Reckless Kind by Carly HeathBecky AlbertalliThe Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller Cerce by Madeline Miller House on the Cerulean Sea by TJ KluneDaughters of a Dead Empire by Carolyn Tara O'NeilHappy Times in Norway by Sigrid Undset

I catch up with Cat & Dan and we discuss Cat's research on disability in publishing, as well as all things friction, especially related to accessibility and disability. We talk about CV gaps, how accommodating accommodations are, the way reasonable adjustments can make a huge difference to people, and how reducing friction can make things more accessible.Cat's TwitterDan's TwitterCat's report Access DeniedCat's piece in The Bookseller about the research findingsCat's piece on the disability networkDan's website Rogue InterrobangMoney and Mental Health Policy Institute's work on the disability income gap FIDO Alliance

Content warning: we talk about mental illness, chronic illness, and suicide.I chat to prolific and award winning author Marcus Sedgwick all about his writing process, the therapuetic effects of writing, and how important reading can be for mental wellbeing.We also discuss Marcus' research into illness and writers and how illness has affected his writing practice, alongside his as yet unpublished book on chronic illness.Marcus' TwitterMarcus' websiteMarcus' booksThings mentioned in the episode:Midwinter Blood by Marcus SedgwickFloodland  by Marcus SedgwickMy Swordhand is Swinging  by Marcus SedgwickThe Foreshadowing  by Marcus SedgwickThe Dark Flight Down  by Marcus SedgwickThe Book of Dead Days  by Marcus SedgwickDavid Almond The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann Death in Venice by Thomas Mann Johann Wolfgang von GoetheSaint Death  by Marcus SedgwickAll in Your Head  by Marcus SedgwickThis is Going to Hurt by Adam KaySylvia PlathVirginia WoolfOn Being Ill by Virginia WoolfSigmund Freud Carl Jung Black Beauty by Anna SewellUncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher StoweThe Sense of an Ending: Studies in the Theory of Fiction by Frank Kermode

This week I chat with cartoonist, illustrator and writer Tom Gauld all about drawing, writing, and creating witty comics. We also chat about his new book The Little Wooden Robot and the Log Princess which he wrote and illustrated. An interesting insight into the mind of a very busy creator!Tom's TwitterTom's websiteTom's new bookThings mentioned in the episode:Amphigorey by  Edward Gorey PG Wodehouse Jeeves and Wooster  TV show The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann The Gashlycrumb Tinies by Edward Gorey Grimm's Fairy-Tales The Mouse, the Bird, and the Sausage by the Brothers Grimm

This week UCL's Vice Dean of Wellbeing, Professor Samantha Rayner, chats with Henry Eliot, Creative Editor of Penguin Classics, about his new book. They meander through literary landscapes, how the time of year affects how we perceive stories, why we reach for classics, the wellbeing effects of walking and reading, and how one goes about creating compendium and companion books.Henry's TwitterProf Rayner's TwitterHenry's new book The Penguin Modern Classics BookHenry's previous book The Penguin Classics BookHint from Samantha that these make fabulous gifts for book lovers!Things mentioned in the episode:The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey ChaucerWilliam MorrisLe Morte d'Arthur by Sir Thomas MalloryPG WodehouseFinnegans Wake by James JoyceTess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas HardyIain SinclairThe Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman by Laurence SterneCharles DickensWar and Peace by Leo TolstoyDavid Copperfield by Charles DickensThe Small Hand by Susan HillThe Penguin Modern Classics Book by Henry EliotCrossing the Mangrove by Maryse CondéSecond Class Citizen by Buchi EmechetaThe Salt Eaters by Toni Cade BambaraThe Penguin Classics Book by Henry EliotSeason of Migration to the North by Tayeb SalihHeart of Darkness by Joseph ConradA Room of One's Own by Virginia WoolfThe Second Sex by Simone de BeauvoirThe Feminine Mystique by Betty FriedanWomen, Race and Class by Angela Y. DavisThe Book of Disquiet by Bernardo SoaresÁgua Viva (The Stream of Life) by Clarice LispectorAlice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis CarrollGulliver's Travels by Jonathan SwiftSelected Poems of TS EliotThe Travels of Sir John Mandeville by John MandevilleErnest HemingwayGraham GreenIvy Compton-BurnettColetteJD SalingerThe Tartar Steppe by Dino BuzzatiFranz KafkaSamuel BeckettLocos by Felipe Alfau

I chat with writer and academic Professor Sunny Singh all about translations, why representation is needed and how important it is to see other people's stories. We also chat about the Jhalak Prize, whether teaching creative pursuits is therapeutic, and how powerful the stories and relationships attached to books can be.Prof Singh's Twitter accountProf Singh's booksThe Jhalak PrizeFabindiaThings mentioned in the episode:Salman RushdieAmitabh Bachchan by Prof Sunny SinghGeorgette HeyerHindi and Urdu poetryThe Grand Sophie by Georgette HeyerInferno by DanteHotel Arcadia by Prof Sunny SinghAlice WalkerCritical Fictions: The Politics of Imaginative Writingbell hooks Three Fat Men (Три толстяка) by Yury OleshaHaroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie

Illustrator and bookseller Tamsin Rosewell joins me today to talk about her experiences of reading and how she made the move into bookselling and illustration. She shares her deep love of non-fiction and how the speed at which you read has no bearing on how good a book is. We chat about parcel hogs, window displays, and whether Blake's Tyger was in fact an epic cat.Tamsin's Twitter accountKenilworth Books Twitter accountThe Parcelhogs instagram accountThings mentioned in the episode:Northern Lights by Philip PullmanCatherine JohnsonCecily by Annie GarthwaiteShadowghast by Thomas TaylorM. R. JamesGeorgette HeyerThornhill by Pam SmyThe Reacher Guy by Lee ChildSongs of Innocence and of Experience by William BlakeThe Tyger by William BlakeTiger Heart by Penny Chrimes

The wonderful Elise Valmorbida joins me this week to talk all about her new book The Happy Writing Book and the positive power of creative writing for our mental wellbeing.We chat Lord of the Rings, Flaubert, Shakespeare, philosophy and more in this fun and informative episode that winds its way through the worlds of creative writing.Elise's websiteThe Happy Writing Book by Elise Valmorbida Things mentioned in the episode:Virginia WoolfMadame Bovary by Gustave FlaubertWhy I Write by George OrwellLord of the Rings by JRR TolkienThe Madonna of the Mountains by Elise ValmorbidaThe Happy Writing Book by Elise ValmorbidaDiscourses of Epictetus by EpictetusEpicurusJoan DidionThe TV President by Elise ValmorbidaShakespeareSamuel BecketTS ElliotToni MorrisonMichael OndaatjeThe Consolations of Philosophy by Alain de BottonHow to Change the World by John-Paul Flintoff

We welcome Gyles back to the Shelf Healing podcast, this time to talk all about his new Memoir Odd Boy Out and how he found writing memoir. We talk about how he chose what to write in his memoir, and how different it is to writing any other type of book, especially for someone who has written prolifically and many biographies.Gyles also talks about the relationships between sons and fathers, why diary writing is important, and how he's crammed as much wisdom and gossip as possible in his new book!Also a big shoutout to libraries!Find Gyles on TwitterFind Gyles' new book Odd Boy Out here

This week I chat with Associate Publisher for Angry Robot, Eleanor Teasdale, all about her comfort reads, what books she chooses for the Angry Robot list, how she rereads outside of the genre she works in for a solid mind reset, and Angry Robot's passion and promotion of diverse fiction. We also talk about how she named her cat (and how I named mine!).Eleanor's TwitterAngry Robot's websiteAngry Robot's TwitterThings mentioned in the episode:A Little Life by Hanya YanagiharaOld Kingdom series (Sabriel & Lirael mentioned) by Garth NixBroken Harbour by Tana FrenchJust William AudiobooksThe Hobbit by JRR TolkienThe Lord of the Rings by JRR TolkienMarc GascoigneMidsommar (film)Get Out (film)Gemma AmorThe Cabinet by Un-Su KimTower by Bae Myung-hoon published by Honford Star Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne JonesThe Secret History by Donna TarttComposite Creatures by Caroline HardakerIn Other Lands by Sarah Rees BrennanEducated by Tara Westover

I chat with the lovely Lisa Edwards, former publisher, now author and yoga teacher, all about her memoir Cheat, Play, Live and her thoughts on the theraprutic effects of reading and writing. We have a wonderful dive into travel writing too.Links to Lisa's bookLink to Lisa's blog Because I CanLink to Lisa's TwitterThings mentioned in the podcast:Wild by Cheryl Strayed Paul TherouxThe Salt Path by Raynor WinnTiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar by Cheryl Strayed

TW: Horror and goreHorror writer extraordinaire Cassandra Khaw joins me on the podcast this week chatting all about researching for their visceral horror writing, the impact and inclusion of Malaysian mythos and folklore in their work, and how the pandemic has affected not only their daily life, but also their writing. We chat about how horror can be a comforting experience for the reader and how the writing process can be cathartic. Also haggis and the boob ghost Hantu Tetek.Cassandra has two new books coming out this year which are linked below.Nothing But Blackened Teeth available 17th OctoberThe All-Consuming World available 21st September 2021Cassandra's websiteCassandra's TwitterThings mentioned in the episode:Nothing But Blackened Teeth by Cassandra KhawRupert Wong: Cannibal Chef by Cassandra KhawButcher Bird by Richard KadreySophie KinsellaFrances HardingeHolly BlackMongrels by Stephen Graham JonesBlindsight by Peter WattsBloodtide by Melvyn BurgessTravelogues: Vignettes from Trains in Motion by Kathleen JenningsSaint Death's Daughter by C. S. E. CooneyDesdemona and the Deep by C. S. E. Cooney These Deathless Bones by Cassandra Khaw (link to audio)Don't Turn On The Lights by Cassandra Khaw (link to audio)

I chat with the marvellous Professor Gloria Mark and Tyler Shores all about the idea of digital wellbeing. We take a dive into the world of digital shorthand, how emotions can be contagious over digital media and the effects that task switching has on the brain. Tyler chats about how multitasking and busyness can be seen as a sort of badge of honour and why that is problematic, and we end up with a fun discussion on the value of boredom and what we all do with our browser tabs.Gloria's websiteTyler's websiteThings mentioned in the episode:The Zeigarnik Effect (handy little article on this)Browser tab parking (handy little study)BBC values based wellbeing frameworkThe Now Habit by Neil Fiore Tabs by Ohm-I

I chat with the lovely author, teacher, mentor, and mental health advocate Anna Vaught all about bibliotherapy, southern gothic, reading aloud, and mentoring. We discuss her love for poetry and horror stories, mental health and the myth of recovery, and the difficulties involved in being editied.There's a small trigger warning as we lightly discuss trauma in this episodeAnna's TwitterAnna's websiteAnna on The BooksellerThings mentioned in the episode:Out of the Darkness anthologyTurn of the Screw by Henry JamesDepression: The Way Out of Your Prison by Dorothy RoweLook Homeward, Angel by Thomas WolfeWilliam FaulknerA Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan ThomasInflux Galley Beggar Charles Dickens

I conclude my chat with Daniel about comics and we chat and laugh about tie-ins, keeping fans on side, character design, the brilliant rise of creator owned IP, and the expressive art found in comics. This episode has plenty of laughs, me chatting horses in comics, and Daniel struggling to pick his favourite IP.Things mentioned in the episode:DeadpoolBlack WidowRob LiefeldLouise SimonsonPaper GirlsMiss MarvelMarvel Assembly - Preeti ChibberMoon Girl and Devil DinosaurThe InhumansMarvel KnightsBlackSadBlade RunnerSnowpiercer ThorThe AvengersThe Walking DeadThe FlashFlashpointWolverineDr StrangeSavage AvengersBatmanThe JokerThe RiddlerCatwomanJim LeeFrank MillerAlan Moore's Swamp ThingDuneShirow MasamuneGhost in the ShellKieran Gillan's The Wicked and the Divine

I chat with fabulous publisher and author Jordi Nadal all about bibliotherapy and his new book, Book Therapy. Jordi is incredibly eloquent on the subject and if you aren't quite sure what bibliotherapy is this really does strike right at its core. A beautiful, thoughtful episode I hope you love as much as I do.Jordi's new book, Book TherapyAuthors and books mentioned in the episode:F Scott FitzgeraldJames SalterElena FerranteThe First Man by Albert CamusMan in the Search of Meaning by Viktor FranklTuesdays with Morrie by Mitch AlbomChekhovNatalia GinzburgMemoirs of Hadrian by Marguerite YourcenarOctavio PazGroucho MarxVirginia Woolf

I chat with Dr Daniel Boswell about comics research, the way comics can help learn new languages, how they are therapeutic, and how different styles mean that pretty much everyone is covered if they would like a comfort comic book!Mentioned in this episode are:TintinAsterix and Obelix2000ADSupermanX-MenAlan MooreGarth EnnisPatrick ZircherInkblotJimmy PalmiottiArchie

In this second part of my interview with Liam we go into detail about Liam's struggles with mental health, how writing and reading helped him and how carefully he worked on Wonder Woman knowing how important a character she is to so many people.We also chat about the huge success of Liam's kickstarter campaign and how unexpected and life changing it will be for him. To have readers so visibly show their love and support has been incredible.Liam's websiteLiam's TwitterMore comics and creators mentioned here!Wonder Woman Greg RuckaArkham Asylum Dave McKean

I chat with comics artist, writer, and novelist Liam Sharp about the therapeutic effects of reading and the power of comics in this, the first part of our interview.Liam does a wonderful deep dive into the world of drawing comics and mental health.Liam's websiteLiam's TwitterSo many comic creators and writers were mentioned I hope I have covered them all!Grant MorrisonPhilip LarkinThe BoysGarth EnnisMarlon BrandoElektra AssassinStray ToasterBill SienkiewiczGreen Lantern Dave Gibbons Neil Adams

I chat with Tinker Secor former US Marine and penetration tester in information security and current security tester in Industrial Control Systems and Operational Technology. We chat about the role infosec has and it's importance as well as the pressure the work puts on staff. Tinker discusses his experience of severe burnout that lead to an FND diagnosis and how important it is for management to take care of staff. We finish up with a brief chat about how security and safety are becoming intrinsically linked in the worl of OT and how online security is an ever changing set of goalposts that many people work very hard to keep up with.This is a great journey through the perils of burnout and trying to push through it as well as a dive into the hidden world of infosec - something we all brush up against on a daily basis without realising.Tinker Secor on TwitterMalware Tech on TwitterMalware Tech blogDallas Hackers AssociationDallas Hackers Association TwitterMental Health Hackers

I chat with award winning comic writer Ram V this week all about how he fell into writing for comics and his interesting journey into reading comics. We discuss how comics are subtle or not so subtle pieces of social commentary, how representation and  new takes on classic characters is essential for the future of comics.Links to:Ram's websiteRam's TwitterWorks and creators mentioned in the episode:Joe AbercrombieJon DelilloBill SienkiewiczLiam SharpSandman by Neil GaimanSequential Art by Will EisnerUnderstanding Comics by Scott McCloudBlack Mumba by Ram VAlan Moore Swamp Thing by Alan MooreOn a Sunbeam by Tillie WaldenEssex County Trilogy by Jeff LemireUnderwater Welder by Jeff LemireThe Picture of Everything Else by Dan WattersPluto by Naoki Urasawa20th Century Boys by Naoki Urasawa

This week I chat with illustrator and artist Bonnie Hawkins. We discuss how reading has saved her life, how illustrations appear in her head as she reads, her love of illustrated books, and whether drawing is therapeutic.An absolutely delightful episode with so much joy and beautiful books!Do go check out:Bonnie's websiteBonnie's TwitterThe 52 Crows ProjectThis week's episode artwork is the drawing that started Bonnie's illustration career.Works and people mentioned in the episodeThe God of Small Things by Arundhati RoyThe Kite Runner by Khaled HosseiniCaptain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de BernièresFairies by Brian Froud and Alan LeeMasquerade by Kit WilliamsGrimm's Fairytales Illustrated by Arthur RackhamThe Liveship Traders Trilogy by Robin HobbThe Rain Wild Chronicles by Robin HobbPJ LynchEast o' the Sun West o' the MoonAlan Lee

I chat with Head of HR at the award winning games developer Creative Assembly, Sarah Howell, alongside Sarah and Rosie from Safe in Our World, a videogames specific mental health charity.We discuss the importance of wellbeing in an industry that is rife with burnout and crunch, what support is available both at CA and SIOW, the difficulty of working from home and how to move forward with flexible working conditions, and we finish up with a great discussion on the importance of diversity and inclusion in the industry and what CA do to help improve this area and be the change we want to see.Creative Assembly Legacy ProjectSafe in Our WorldBlack Girl GamersAutisticaPOC in Play

This week I chat with Prof Martin Eve about what therapeutic reading actually means when you look hard at it and how writing can be significantly more therapeutic at times. We discuss the wellbeing benefits of Open Access publishing, the fears surrounding it, and how entwined the nature of the literary critic is for Martin when he reads.Works and Authors mentioned in the episode:War and Peace by Leo TolstoyBrett Easton-EllisCloud Atlas by David Mitchell Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas PynchenSee Under: Love by David GrossmanChina MievilleThe Lord of The Rings by JRR TolkienCivilisation and Its Discontents by Sigmund FreudLesley ThompsonRosewater (The Wormwood Trilogy) by Tade ThompsonThe Day of the Triffids by Jeff WyndhamDistant Horizons by Ted UnderwoodRedlining Culture by Richard Jean SoToni Morrison

This week I chat with Philip Connor, Commissioning Editor at Penguin Random House Audio and host of the podcast What Editors Want. We chat about how Philip's reading habits have changed and moved more into non fiction as well as how he found himself searching for himself in books on grief and dying. The importance and suprising nature of finding representation in literature and how audio has lent itself to him rereading books and now commissioning works in audio.Joan DidionCS LewisAnna Karenina by Leo TolstoyThe Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo TolstoyWhite Noise by Don DeLilloSmoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory by Caitlin DoughtyThe Hidden Spring  by Mark SolmsNight's Dawn Trilogy by Peter F HamiltonUbik by Philip K DickEmmanuel CarrèreEmma SouthernMary BeardThe Silk Roads: A New History of the World by Peter FrankopanF Scott  FitzgeraldVirginia WoolfVladimir NabokovWG Sebald The Denial of Death by Ernest BeckerWhy I Write by George Orwell

Dr Samantha Rayner talks with Cathy Rentzenbrink about her book Dear Reader, and the therapeutic effects of reading on mental health and wellbeing. It's a lovely episode that travels through time with books that affect multiple generations, how books are enjoyed for what they are not who they are marketed at, and how writing can be hard but the satisfaction of finishing is worth the difficulty.Cathy Rentzenbrink's booksEveryone is Still Alive debut novelThe Last Act of LoveA Manual for HeartacheDear Reader: The Comfort and Joy of Booksand her debut novel Everyone Is Still Alive is released in July 2021 Authors and works mentioned in the episode:Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud MontgomeryAgatha ChristieThe Chronicles of Narnia by CS LewisBonjour Tristesse by Francoise SaganGeorgette HeyerJean PlaidyHarriet EvansCathy's book recommendationHumankind by Rutger Bregman

eA lively and entertaining interview with Professor John Mullan about theraprutic reading and his very favourite authors Charles Dickens and Janes Austen.John takes us on a deep dive into what we can enjoy in literature and how he finds humour to be the very best comfort read possible. We travel through literature from Shakespeare, stopping at 18th century literature, then right though to modern day authors and thrillers. John's most recent books:The Artful DickensWhat Matters in Jane Austen?Authors and works mentioned in the podcast:King Lear by William ShakespeareHamlet by William Shakespeare Oedipus Rex by SophoclesCharles BukowskiJude the Obscure by Thomas HardyDante's InfernoJane AustenCharles DickensDombey and SonGreat ExpectationsThe Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman by Laurence SterneVladimir NabokovAgatha ChristieP.D JamesMiddlemarch by George EliotLie with Me by Sabine DurrantEmma by Jane AustenMoby Dick by  Herman MelvilleA la recherche du temps perdu (In Search of Lost Time) by Marcel ProustAnna Karenina by Leo TolstoyThe Prelude by William WordsworthGirls of Slender Means by Muriel SparkSymposium by Muriel Spark 

I have the great honour this week of interviewing a podcasting legend, Jordan Harbinger. On The Jordan Harbinger Show, Jordan deconstructs the playbooks of the most successful people on earth and shares their strategies, perspectives, and practical insights with the rest of us. He has hosted a Top 50 iTunes podcast for over 14 years and receives over eleven million downloads per month, making The Jordan Harbinger Show one of the most popular podcasts in the world.  Huge thanks to Jen Harbinger for helping to schedule this in across very different timezones! We talk about why his show has worksheets and how unexpectedly popular they are, why it's important to cover the difficult and gross topics that are happening in the world, Jordan's strong belief in exposing cults and scams and how you can support friends and family who are trapped in them. We also spend time discussing his Feedback Friday episodes and the amount of research that goes into the responses and how vital that is in order to help people with very niche problems. Lastly we talk about how hard it can be to restart in business from scratch and how looking at those around you who support you and realising what you have done so far can help you to dive back in and start again.The Jordan Harbinger ShowEpisodes mentioned:David Kilgour - The Heartless Art of Forced Organ HarvestingFrank Bourassa - The World's Greatest Counterfeiter Part OneRutger Bregman - Humankind: A Hopeful HistoryFeedback FridaysPsychopath after your sonChased by a European gangster

I chat with the wonderful Joanne Harris MBE, an author across an incredible number of media. We chat about the therapeutic effects of reading and writing, how personifying illness can be beneficial and the ups and downs of translations. We have a very interting chat about reading as a bilingual, the joy of graphic novels, and sneaking those books your mother doesn't want you to read at the library.Works and authors mentioned:Lee ChildGeorgette HeyerNine Princes in Amber by Roger ZelaznyGustave FlaubertAndre GideGuy de MaupassantAlexandre DumasFrancoise MauriacStephen KingGeorge R.R. MartinMervyn PeakeAgatha ChristieLaura Grandi Italian translator and authorP.G. WodehouseJohn MortimerSandman by Neil GaimanBrian VaughanBecoming Unbecoming by UnaChi's Sweet Home by Kanata KonamiInkblot by Emma Kubert and Rusty GladWayfareres Series by Becky Chambers

I have a wonderful chat with Chair of the Hay Literary Festival Caroline Michel all about the festival in all its forms across the globe. We discuss the move to digital online festivals, the succes of the festival in multiple countries, the difficulty in discoverability of events in an online setting, and how wonderful authors and speakers are.We also chat about the therapeutic effects of reading and books, and how wide ranging the Hay Festival talks and authors are across multiple languages.Hay Literary FestivalWorks and authors mentioned in the podcast:Agenda magazineThe Rattle Bag edited by Seamus Heany and Ted HughesDonal Óg poemTed HughesSeamus Heaney W.B. YeatsT.S. EliotJohn KeatsRobert FrostSylvia PlathToni MorrisonTom WolfeRough Magic by Lra Prior-PalmerLemn SissayMario Vargas LlosaLaura BatesStephen FrySimon SchamaElif Shafak

 I chat with the wonderful Audioverse Award winner and multiple Hugo and BFA finalist pop culture journalist and podcaster Alasdair Stuart all about the therapeutic effects of reading, consuming media, and writing about your favourite things. This is a fun lively chat that goes from magicians Penn and Teller all the way to The Abyss, stopping via Nick Cage and a Dalek Escape Room. All in all a wonderful insight into the perspective of a pop culture journalist writing on very popular IP with steadfast and vocal fans.Photo credit to ©Edge Portraits 2019Link to Alasdair's websiteLink to Alasdair's TwitterLink to The Full LidLink to the Escape Artists podcast website where you'll find PseudoPod and the Escape PodLink to Alasdair's TwitchList of things mentioned in the podcast:BooksSix Stories by Matt WesolowskiMore than Meets the Eye  (Transformers comic) Lost Light  (Transformers comic) Waiting for Godot by Samuel BeckettFilm, TV, nd TheatreRed DwarfTwilight Zone Theatrical ProductionJiuJitsuThe AbyssDoctor WhoParks and Recreation New Girl Leverage AwardsIGNYTE awardsAurealis awardsSir Julius Vogel Award (The Vogel's)

I chat with the delightful Ian Livingstone, games legend. Co-founder of Games Workshop, co-creater of the Fighting Fantasy genre of books, videogames star who brought us the brilliant Lara Croft. We chat all about the therapeutic effects of reading, how he and Steve Jackson created an entirely new genre of books that encouraged children to read and increased literacy rates. He shares some amusing stories about the launch of the first book and how they are still in print today. We also discuss co-writing, how important games are for critical thinking, and why having a sense of agency is so important when engaging in media. Ian's TwitterIan and Steve's new book from Unbound Things mentioned in this episode:On the Road by Jack Kerouac  Fighting Fantasy books mentionedThe Warlock of Firetop MountainCitadel of ChaosForest of DoomCity of ThievesDeathtrap DungeonAssassins of AlansiaGames MentionedSkyrimDark SoulsMinecraftRollercoaster Tycoon

This episode introduces UCL's new MASc (Master of Arts and Science) in Creative Health.  I chat with The Rt Hon. Lord Alan Howarth of Newport CBE and Professor Helen Chatterjee MBE who have spent many years working and researching in the area of Creative Health. We discuss what Creative Health is, how it can help people, and what the new Masters degree will cover.Links to everything mentioned in this episodeUCL MASc in Creative Health National Centre for Creative HealthAll-Party Parliamentary Group on Arts, Health and Wellbeing - Creative Health:The Arts for Health and WellbeingArtliftNational Academy for Social PrescribingCreative FamiliesStaying Well Project

This week I have the delightful job of chatting to my old Shakespeare professor, Emeritus Professor Kiernan Ryan, all about the therapeutic effects of his sonnets, speeches, and plays. How Shakespeare has remained relevant four centuries after first being performed, and what there is to be gained and lost in watching, listening, and reading his work.We discuss rhetoric, the draw of tragedies, how Shakespeare mirrors both the audience and the characters themselves, the importance of empathy, and how gender fluid many of the comedies are.Do check out Kiernan's books available from Bloomsbury hereKiernan's new book, coming out in August 2021The  Shakespeare works most mentioned and quoted from are:Sonnet 29The TempestThe Merchant of VeniceHamlet King LearMuch Ado About NothingTwelfth Night

I chat with the wonderful Nick Coveney of Rakuten Kobo. We chat about Nick's early experience of reading It and what kinds of books he finds therapeutic. We also chat about problematic authors and their effects on being able to gain comfort from their books, how well represented LGBTQ+ is in literature and publishing and problems arising from perceived rulebooks. We discuss the role of the ebook and audiobook on reading habits and how publishers like Rakuten Kobo can decide which books are available on their platform.Authors and works mentioned in the podcast:Peter F HamiltonIt by Stephen KingHis Dark Materials by Philip PullmanEnder's Game by Orson Scott CardEnder's Quartet by Orson Scott CardIt's A Sin by Russel T Davis (TV)Gone Girl by Gillian FlynnDragonriders of PERN by Anne McCaffreyThe Universe Versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extence  

With me today are UCL's Dean of Arts and Humanities, Stella Bruzzi, and the Dean of Social and Historical Sciences, Sasha Roseneil.We talk about the difficulties of balancing work and life, how research fits into the role of a Dean, the effects of the pandemic on academic life and research, and the joy of being allowed to go out swimming again. We also talk about Pebbles the Warwick campus cat, Indiana Bones UCL's Archaeology therapy dog and how all departments should have a pet. Sasha talks about her lovely dog, and Stella talks about her two lockdown kittens. We discuss plans for returning to physical university and how important having a holiday is, especially this year.This is an enlightening and fun episode that hopes to give insight into the inner workings of being a university Dean in a time of great change.

I chat to the fabulous people behind the Tor family of twitter accounts Rachel Taylor and Amanda Melfi all about how they try to be fun and engaging on social media on behalf of the Tor family without putting pressure on their authors. We chat about favourite books, hilarious twitter moments, sending John Scalzi secret burritos, and why it's important to them to make the Tor spaces a safe space for authors and readers alike.Check out the Shelf Healing Twitter account for debates on what counts as a dragon!Twitter accounts:Tor BooksTor.comTor.com PublishingNightfireTor TeenRachel's accountAmanda's accountBooks, authors, and twitter accounts mentioned in the episode:The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. KluneInkheart series by Cornelia FunkeJohn Scalzi The Invisible Life of Addie by V.E. Schwab Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn MuirMurderbot by Martha WellsTwitter accounts Effin birdsSpark Notes

This week I chat with award winning author Diana Evans about the therapeutic effects of reading, why we no longer lend books to people, the emotional connection one has with a physical book, and why audiobooks are wonderful creations.Link to Diana's website where you can buy all of her booksLink to Diana's Twitter profileDiana gives a whole host of wonderful author and book suggestions which are listed below:Mary OliverMark DotyAnne SextonUrsula le GuinJames BaldwinOlive Kitteridge by Elizabeth StroutHeaven's Coast by Mark DotyIn Search of our Mother's Gardens by Aice WalkerMy Mistress's Sparrow is Dead edited by Jeffrey EugenidesBehold the Dreamers Imbolo MbueThe Beautiful and The Damned by F Scott Fitzgerald

A brilliant episode in which myself, Cat Mitchell, and Dan Holloway discuss the role of accessibility in the workplace, how those with disabilities should be included in decision making processes for accesibility, and how the pandemic has affected the accessibility of the workplace. We also chat about our worries of the disabled community being left behind as the country leaves lockdown, and how accessibility needs to be incorporated into many more things including job applications and workplace culture.We encourage you to engage with us on Twitter about the ideas in insights discussed in the podcast and look forward to hearing from you!Link to Cat Mitchell's TwitterLink to Dan Holloway's TwitterLink to Rebecca's TwitterLink to Shelf Healing's Twitter 

I got  the chance to chat with the lovely Dr Xine Yao all about literature, the potential harm to be found in reading, and the sense of entitlement often seen when discussing and reviewing books in an ethnographic space.Some seriously fascinating thoughts in this episode alongside great recommendations. So many great ideas and topics covered in our short thirty minutes!Works and authors mentonined in the podcast:Works:Indian in the Cupboard by  Lynne Reid BanksThe Never Ending Story by Michael EndeSo Long A Letter by Mariama BâThe Heads of the Coloured People by Nafissa Thompson-Spires An American Marriage by Teyari Jones The Theory of Moral Sentiments by Adam SmithUncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher StoweMinor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park HongSkim by Jillian and Mariko TamakiAuthors:Franz Kafka Audre Lorde  Sui Sin Far (Edith Maude Eaton)  

I had a blast chatting to Hugo Award Winning author Mary Robinette Kowal all about her thoughts on bibliotherapy, the therapeutic effects of writing, and the importance of the membership non profit Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America of which Mary Robinette is President. We chatted a lot about the role of the intermediary in storytelling, both through audio with her work as a voice artist and with the visual with her work as a puppeteer. We discuss that distance between author and audience and how it affects our wellbeing. A fabulous chat with a fabulous author, voice actor, and puppeteer!Link to Mary Robinette Kowal's websiteAs promised all the books and authors mentioned in this episode:John ScalziGuy Gavriel KayMartha Wells Jane AustenThe Sun, The Moon, & The Stars by Stephen BrustPhilip K DickLady Astronaut series by Mary Robinette KowalThe Glamorous Histories series by Mary Robinette Kowal Jane Espensen The Midnight Bargain by CL Polk

I have a lovely catch up with one of my lovely old colleagues from Sony Mobile in Sweden, Gabriella Bergstedt. We chat about the joy of fika and what it entails. The differences between working in Sweden, Denmark, and Ireland, and how important it is to have certain types of policies and workplace attitudes to create a productive welcoming environment.We go over Sweden's parental leave policy and what it means for parents, how well rounded the work benefits are, the wonderful ergonomics accommodations as standard, and how well structured Swedish companies are for encouraging employees back to the workplace after sick leave.It's a great episode and one that raises some very important points about companies taking care of employees as standard.

I chat with Nigel Beale and my co host Lisa Dalton all about beautiful books this week. We take a journey into Nigel's literary critic role, his podcast interviews and how they intersect with his love of literary tourism. Nigel discusses how the very visual nature of a book can be therapeutic in and of itself and how he collects a wide variety of books and book related items, all chosen for their beauty.Things mentioned in the podcast:ShakespeareBruce TaylorMartin Amis JM Coetzee Cultural Amnesia by  Clive JamesHamletOthelloKing Lear The Novel Cure: An A to Z of Literary Remedies by Susan Elderkin and Ella Berthoud Think and Grow Rich by Andrew Carnegie Harry Ransom Center  in Austin, TexasHoughton Library at HarvardBeinecke Rare Books Library at YaleBritish LibraryBook of Kells at Trinity College Dublin    

I get the chance to chat with Dave Player, founder of Team BRIT and KartForce, and Andy Tucker, one of Team BRIT's racing drivers all about the motosport team and the role of disability.Team BRIT is a competitive motor racing team consisting of disabled drivers. They are a competitive racing team, not a charity, and they race against teams of able-bodied drivers on a totally level playing field — something that no other sport can offer. They aim to make racing history and take a team to the world famous Le Mans 24hr endurance race, becoming the first ever British all-disabled team to do so.We talk about how Team BRIT has pioneered accessible driving control that suit all of their drivers and their varying levels of disability. We also chat about the role the team has played in helping many of their drivers to rediscover themselves after injuries, become better at managing their disabilities, and how many past members have gone on to achieve great things after being part of the Team BRIT family. We visit the current and past cars Team BRIT race in and have an exciting bit of news about their upcoming season.This episode highlights Team BRIT's vision to support, inspire and motivate people facing physical and psychological challenges by demonstrating what can be achieved through motorsport.If you'd like more information about Dave, Andy, and Team BRIT, check out:Team BRIT's website Team BRIT's twitter

I chat to the lovely academic librarian Megan Rosenbloom this week all about her thoughts on therapeutic reading, death positivity, researching human skin books, and how Ulysses has stayed with her and should be read as part of a community.There is so much in this episode, brilliant ideas about librarianship along with a hidden gem of an archive open to the public. Megan's constant journey to read all the books that she can, and how being a medical librarian affected her way of looking at books. There is book history and book anecdotes galore in this glorious extra long episode!I would also thoroughly recommed Megan's fantastic book Dark Archives.Megan's photo for this episode by Polly Antonia Barrowman.Authors, works, and places mentioned:AuthorsErnest BeckerWorksDark Archives: A Librarian's Investigation Into the Science and History of Books Bound in Human Skin by Megan RosenbloomA Cat's Tale: A Journey Through Feline History by Baba the Cat and Paul KoudounarisThe Dreamsongs by John BerrymanUlysses by James JoycePlacesThe Rosenbach - museum in PhiladelphiaThe Huntingdon Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens - in LA

A fascinating episode with the bookseller James Daunt. We talk all about bookshops, libraries, the therapeutic nature of books for both humans and other books on the shelf. James tells us about why libraries and bookshops are essential and the changing nature of books when you re-read them.Works mentioned:Moomins by Tove JanssonHarry Potter by J.K. RowlingThe Sea, The Sea by Iris MurdochThe Hobbit by J.R.R. TolkienFyoder DostoevskyThe Little Grey Men by Denys Watkins-Pitchford "BB"Grief Is the Thing With Feathers by Max PorterShuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart

Claudia Rubenstein Director of Jewish Book Week Literary Festival chats therapuetic reading & what to expect from this year's online festival.Cynthia OzickJean PlaidyIsaiah BerlinDelphine HorvilleurJay RaynerHermione LeeNicole KraussHoward JacobsonEdmund de WaalSimon SchamaSimon Sebag MontefioriThe Magician of Lublin Isaac Bashevis SingerA Little History of the World E. H. Gombrich An Empire of Their Own: How the Jews Invented Hollywood Neal GarberThe Lion in Winter Jews Don't Count David Baddiel A Place of Greater Safety Hilary MantelPanels:Karl Marx: Philosophy and Revolution Shlomo Avineri, chair: John GrayWhy Do Jews Love The Godfather? Harlan Lebo and Rich CohenModern Jewish Literature Howard Jacobson, Dara Horn, and Adam Kirsch You Talkin' To Me E J White The Language of Thieves Martin Puchner Signatures David Pryce-Jones How to Stay Sane in an Age of Division Elif Shafak Burning the Books Richard Ovenden Mending the Mind Oliver Kamm The Lives of Lucian Freud William FeaverThe House of Fragile Things James McAuleySurvivors Rob Rinder and Rebecca CliffordThe Pandemic, the NHS and Me: Michael Rosen and Rachel Clarke

This is a special bonus Shelf Healing episode to celebrate the unconference and launch of a new book of essays about the historical romance novelist Georgette Heyer.  I chat with carriage historian Amy Bracey of The Carriage Foundation, and carriage commentator and auctioneer Sarah Dance of The Carriage Commentator all about Regency Era carriages. You won't find two people more knowledgeable about carriages.We talk high flyers, coaches, gigs, and the way that carriages were an extension of your personal and household fashion. The expense of carriages, the cost of the Grand Tour, and a couple of very Georgette Heyer stories from the early 1800s. If you want to know how much a coach would have cost you, what your carriage said about you, or what colours you could use on your carriage this is the episode for you.Some handy links from the episode:The Carriage FoundationThe Carriage CommentatorThimbleby & Shorland AuctioneersAmy Bracey's book The A-Z of Carriages  with a forward by HRH Prince Michael of Kent(or contact Amy via email for your copy)