Storyshaped

In this S2 Finale episode, we are delighted to bring you an interview with an author who, we feel, wholly embodies the Storyshaped ethos - the brilliant SF Said. SF's writing is immersive, absorbing, mind-expanding, and thrilling, crafted with care and passion; truly, the best sort of writing, which also happens to be for children (though, as SF says, 'children's literature includes children, but excludes no-one'). We're delighted to get a chance to sit down with SF, whose thoughts on the power and value of children's literature, the importance of making stories available to all children, and the profound impact that stories have on the minds, hearts, and lives of those who consume them, are truly worth hearing - so come and spend an hour with us!And a quick housekeeping announcement from your hosts:We'll return in a wee while with a special bonus Q&A episode, where we'll answer some brilliant questions sent in by listeners, and after that we'll be taking a hiatus from Storyshaped while we sort out one or two pesky things (like life, family, and work!) But rest assured, Storyshapers: we, like the Terminator, will be back. Thank you all for listening, rating, reviewing, sharing, and sitting down with us over the past two seasons, while we've asked a variety of excellent people: Are you Storyshaped? We can't wait to get back to it, just as soon as we can. While you're waiting for our return: please help yourselves to our back catalogue and any bonus episodes we release, and do continue sharing, rating, and reviewing the show, as it really does help us to keep producing it for you.But for now: have some fantastic Storyshaped chat with the brilliant SF Said.Books mentioned in this week's episode include SF's own:Varjak PawThe Outlaw Varjak PawPhoenixTyger (all published by David Fickling Books)And the stories which shaped him include:The Cat in the Hat, by Dr SeussThe Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-ExupéryOn Liberty, by John Stuart MillThe work of William BlakeComics, including:MarvelAsterixTintinPeanutsMad MagazineCalvin & HobbesWatership Down, by Richard AdamsThe Sandman, by Neil Gaiman and various artists (incl. Dave McKean)Cages, written and illustrated by Dave McKeanA Wizard of Earthsea, by Ursula K Le GuinHis Dark Materials, by Philip PullmanNoughts and Crosses, by Malorie BlackmanSkellig, by David AlmondJourney Back to Freedom, by Catherine JohnsonThe Essays of C.S. LewisThe Letters of JRR TolkienThe work of George MacDonald, including The Princess and the GoblinThe work of William MorrisThe work of Lord Dunsany (1878-1957)Film and TV:Star WarsStar TrekOur podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check out our storefront on: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclaimer: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We had a fascinating chat with the amazing Ann Sei Lin this week on the podcast, where we got an insight into the stories that have been shaping her since her earliest days. Ann's fantastic debut, Rebel Skies, is an amazing story about what makes a human, all told through the fabulous surrounds of a Japanese-folklore inspired fantasy world complete with skyships, dragons, and living origami. It's a truly memorable debut and we were so pleased to get a chance to discuss it with Ann, and to find out more about the stories that helped her to become an author and create such a rich, immersive story world. We hope you're not afraid of heights...Books mentioned this week include Ann's own:Rebel Skies (Walker Books)Rebel Fire (Walker Books)And the stories which have shaped her include:The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk KiddThe Phantom of the Opera, by Gaston LerouxThe work of JRR TolkienThe work of Terry PratchettThe work of Robin HobbThe work of Robert JordanThe work of Julie KagawaThe Twelve Kingdoms (manga), by Fuyumi OnoHis Dark Materials, by Philip PullmanOrihima and Hikoboshi - a Japanese folktaleThe Raven Boys by Maggie StiefvaterImmortal Rain (manga), by Kaori OzakiThe Shadow Skye trilogy, by Joseph ElliottLonely Castle in the Mirror, by Mizuki TsujimuraYellowface, by RF KuangBabel, by RF KuangSixteen Souls, by Rosie TalbotCatfish Rolling, by Clara KumagaiOur podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check out our storefront on: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclaimer: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Susan had the chance to sit down with brilliant debut author Alice Ross this week, where they discussed Alice's novel The Nowhere Thief and Alice's journey to becoming an author, as well as SO MANY wonderful books and stories which shaped her into the author she is today. Alice is as big a fan of Diana Wynne Jones as we are here on the podcast, but as well as the work of the incomparable DWJ, there are loads of other fantastic stories mentioned here - each one a portal to an amazing world of story. Strap in, and join us as we get Storyshaped!Books mentioned in this week's episode include Alice's own:The Nowhere Thief (Nosy Crow)And the books and stories which shaped her include:The Mr Men books, by Roger HargreavesThe work of CS LewisThe work of Roald DahlThe work of Laura Ingalls WilderRamona and Beezus, by Beverly ClearyMalory Towers, by Enid BlytonGobbolino the Witch's Cat, by Ursula Moray WilliamsCharmed Life, by Diana Wynne JonesThe Lives of Christopher Chant, by Diana Wynne JonesThe Magician's Nephew, by CS LewisThe Homeward Bounders, by Diana Wynne JonesHidden Turnings, ed. Diana Wynne Jones(inc. The Walled Garden, by Lisa Tuttle)Tom's Midnight Garden, by Philippa PearceFire and Hemlock, by Diana Wynne JonesReflections: On the Magic of Writing, by Diana Wynne JonesHowl's Moving Castle, by Diana Wynne JonesThe work of Holly JacksonOne of Us Is Lying, by Karen McManusThis Book Kills, by Ravena GuronThe Thief of Farrowfell, by Ravena GuronThe work of Anne RiceLockwood and Co., by Jonathan StroudThe work of Stephen KingOur podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check out our storefront on: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclaimer: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We had the *most* fun this week sitting down with one of the Queens of Children's Historical Fiction (that's her official title, right), Ally Sherrick! We chat all things writing and story, including how much research Ally's rich, immersive novels take; where her love of history came from; what historical period she hasn't written about (yet), and what might be coming next from her talented pen. This episode was a wonder. Ally is a generous, inspirational, fascinating and truly wonderful podcast guest, and we hope you'll enjoy listening to our chat as much as we enjoyed recording it. Now! Let's get Storyshaped.Find Ally online at her websiteBooks mentioned in this week's episode include Ally's own (all published by Chicken House):Black PowderThe Buried CrownThe Queen's FoolVita and the GladiatorsAnd the stories that shaped her include:Winnie the Pooh, by A.A. Milne and E.H. ShepardMy Naughty Little Sister, by Dorothy Edwards and Shirley HughesCharlie and Fred - stories made up by Ally's (wonderful) dad!Just-So Stories, by Rudyard Kipling, especially The Elephant's ChildThe Highwayman, by Alfred NoyesLe Petit Prince, by Antoine de Saint-ExupéryThe Wolves of Willoughby Chase, by Joan AikenBlack Hearts in Battersea, by Joan AikenNightbirds on Nantucket, by Joan AikenA Small Pinch of Weather, by Joan AikenA Necklace of Raindrops, by Joan AikenA Traveller in Time, by Alison UttleyThe Ghost of Thomas Kempe, by Penelope LivelyCarrie's War, by Nina BawdenThe Wake, by Paul KingsnorthThe Eagle of the Ninth, by Rosemary SutcliffOur podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check out our storefront on: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclaimer: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we're talking to Alan Titley - emeritus professor, scholar, author, dramaturg, teacher, folklorist, journalist, seanchaí (storyteller) - about the stories that shaped him. This discussion was fascinating; we could have listened to Alan all day! Come with us and hear him talk about his earliest days of being told stories by a pipe-smoking teacher, right up to the scholarly work that went into creating his edition of the ancient Irish battle epic. Táin Bó Cuailgne (published as 'The Táin', illustrated by Eoin Coveney, published by Little Island, 2023). Alan's Storyshaped life has a unique depth and breadth, and it was a privilege to get a window into it. Come and join us!Books mentioned in this week's episode include some of Alan's own:Amach (An Gúm, 2004)The Táin, ill. Eoin Coveney (Little Island, 2023)Leabhar Nóra Ní Anluain (Cló Iar-Chonnacht)And the stories that shaped him include:The New Testament of the BibleDon Quixote, by Miguel de CervantesComics including The Beano, The Dandy, Topper, Rupert the BearBlack Beauty, by Anna SewellThe work of Jack KerouacThe work of DH LawrenceThe short stories of Frank O'ConnorThe Touch/An Teagmháil, by Liam O'FlahertyThe Majesty of the Law, by Frank O'ConnorThe work of Seosamh MacGriannaThe work of W.M. ThackerayThe work of Jane AustenThe work of Pádraic Ó ConaireThe work of Seamus Delargy and the Irish Folklore Commission, including:Leabhair Seán Uí Chonaill/Seán O'Connell's BookThe work of W. Somerset MaughamThe work of Thomas KenneallyCré na Cille, by Máirtín Ó Cadhain(Alan's translation: The Dirty Dust, Yale University Press, 2015)Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check out our storefront on: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclaimer: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spend an hour with Sinéad and our guest, Victoria Williamson, as we take a stroll through the stories that have shaped one of the most prolific and imaginative children's authors writing today. Victoria's work ranges from emotionally charged stories for older children and young teens, right down to fantastical adventures for younger readers, never failing to enthral and captivate, and it was a pleasure to sit down with her and chat all things story. We talk about the 'hero's journey', her career as a teacher, the many far-flung places her work has brought her to, her commitment to social justice and other causes close to her heart, and what authorly ambitions she has yet to achieve. Come and join us, and find out how Victoria is Storyshaped.Find Victoria online via her websiteBooks mentioned in this week's episode include Victoria's own:The Boy With the Butterfly MindThe Fox Girl and the White GazelleHagstormWar of the WindThe Pawnshop of Stolen DreamsAnd the stories that shaped her include:The Hobbit, by JRR TolkienLord of the Rings, by JRR TolkienThe work of Stephen KingThe work of Monica DickensThe Tripods, by John ChristopherThe Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, aged 13 3/4, by Sue TownsendThe Hardy Boys (and later iterations), originally created and written by Franklin W. DixonMaps, atlases, and books about travelThe work of Jane Austen, the Brontes, Thomas Hardy, Charles DickensHarry Potter, by JK Rowling (these books set Victoria on the road to becoming a children's writer)Treasures of the Snow, by Patricia St JohnThe Chrysalids, by John WyndhamThe work of MR JamesVictorian Gothic Stories and Ghost stories (in general)Rivet Boy, by Barbara HendersonEuro Spies, by Lindsay LittletonHaarville, by Justin DaviesInto the Faerie Hill, by HS NorupThe Silver Road, by Sinéad O'HartTV influences include:Star TrekOur podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check out our storefront on: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclaimer: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us this week for an absolutely nerd-licious chat with the BRILLIANT Louie Stowell, whose writerly output is too great to be enumerated. She has written an abundance of non-fiction titles, created a treasure trove of tales about Kit and her friends (in the library, in the lake, and in the wood, among other spots), placed the glittering Otherland in its proper place in the pommel of her sword, and gifted us the marvellous LOKI series - truly the crowning jewel in her hoard. This was one of the most fun chats we've had on Storyshaped - you don't want to miss it!Find Louie online at her websiteBooks mentioned in this week's episode include Louie's own:The Dragon in the LibraryThe Monster in the LakeThe Wizard in the WoodOtherlandLoki: A Bad God's Guide to Being GoodLoki: A Bad God's Guide to Taking the BlameLoki: A Bad God's Guide to Ruling the WorldAnd the stories which shaped her include:Norse Myths that Shaped the Way We Think, by Carolyne LarringtonThe League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, by Alan MooreComics including:Superman and BatmanThe Dark Knight Returns2000 ADOinkHalo JonesBumble and Snug, by Mark BradleyThe Rivers of London, by Ben AaronovitchNeverwhere, by Neil GaimanThe City and the City, by China MiévilleThe Books of Magic, by Neil Gaiman and various artistsThe Expanse (series), by James S.A. CoreyChutzpah, by Jan MarkHairs on the Palm of the Hand, by Jan MarkJust William, by Richmal CromptonThe Tripods, by John ChristopherSpace Hostages, by Nicholas FiskThe Lord of the Rings, by JRR TolkienParadise Lost, by John MiltonThe Screwtape Letters, by C.S. LewisThe Light Between Worlds, by Laura E. WeymouthOther media:A BBC Radio Play of The Lord of the RingsThe Ring Cycle by Wagner (TV Production)Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)Hannibal (TV series)The Walking Dead (TV series)Good Omens, by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (book and TV series)Classic KitKat advertisement from the 1980s - No Rest for the WickedThe best version of LOTR ever (according to Louie)Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check out our storefront on: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclaimer: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A slightly different vibe for today's Storyshaped! We're sitting down with Rebecca Schiller - smallholder, parent, memoirist, creative writing teacher, neurodivergent person, and author, for a wonderful chat about her recent ADHD diagnosis, creativity (and permission to enter into creativity), parenthood, the art of writing a memoir, the beauty of children's literature, and how vital it is for children to feel empowered by the things they read. We also make some pit-stops along the way, where Rebecca traces the influence of some very important books, ones that shaped and affected the course of her life and career. We'd love you to come with us on this bookish ramble, where we'll find out how Rebecca is Storyshaped.Find Rebecca online at her websiteFollow Rebecca on InstagramRebecca founded the Mothers Who Write communityMore information on the courses Rebecca runs for writers and creativesBooks mentioned in this week's episode include Rebecca's own:Earthed: A Memoir (published as A Thousand Ways to Pay Attention in the United States)Your No Guilt Pregnancy PlanAmazing Activists Who Are Changing Our World, illustrated by Sophie BeerAnd the stories which have shaped her include:The Peter and Jane books, published by LadybirdStories from the BibleThe Wild Other, by Clover StroudAnne of Green Gables, by LM MontgomeryJane Eyre, by Charlotte BronteA Little Princess and The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson BurnettThe Railway Children, by E. NesbitThe Regeneration Trilogy, by Pat BarkerLife Class, by Pat BarkerThe Skylarks' War, by Hilary McKayThis Must Be the Place, by Maggie O'FarrellHamnet, by Maggie O'FarrellShopaholic Ties the Knot, by Sophie KinsellaAlso mentioned: Five Children on the Western Front, by Kate SaundersThe Passion, by Jeanette WintersonOur podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check out our storefront on: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclaimer: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Well, this was a hoot - as you'd expect from a guest like Jenny McLachlan, author of the BRILLIANT, bestselling ROAR books, as well as Dead Good Detectives, Stink (Worst. Fairy. Ever) and a whole load more. Jenny began her writing career with amazing YA books, before graduating into equally amazing Middle Grade novels and early readers - so, she has written across the ages, and with equal aplomb in all. She's funny, her characters are memorable, her stories are equal parts heartfelt and hilarious, and this chat was exactly the same. Come with us as we get to know the powerhouse that is Jenny McLachlan, and find out her answer to our perennial question: Are You Storyshaped?Find Jenny online:www.jennymclachlan.comHer TwitterBooks mentioned in this week's episode include Jenny's own:Flirty DancingLove BombStar StruckStargazing for BeginnersSunkissedTruly, Wildly, DeeplyThe Land of RoarReturn to RoarThe Battle for RoarDead Good DetectivesPet QuestThe Jumpy Bumpy FeelingThe Quack in the KitchenThere's a Chicken in my BookbagZoom to the Moon,Stink: Worst. Fairy. Ever.And the stories that shaped her include:Heart of Darkness, by Joseph ConradTopsy and Tim, by Jean and Gareth AndersonHelpers, Alfie, Moving Molly, and Dogger by Shirley HughesThe work of Jackie CollinsThe work of Jilly CooperJane Eyre, by Charlotte BronteThe work of Jane AustenThe work of Charles DickensThe Beano comicPippin in Playland comicAnnuals: Twinkle, Bunty, MandyBella magazineJust Seventeen magazineAngus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging by Louise RennisonThe work of Jacqueline WilsonWuthering Heights, by Emily BronteRomeo and Juliet, by William ShakespeareCirce, by Madeleine MillerThe Silence of the Girls, by Pat BarkerUtterly Dark and the Face of the Deep, by Philip ReeveThe work of M.G. Leonard (check out our podcast chat with M.G. here)TV influences:SuccessionGame of ThronesSaving Lives at Sea (TV documentary)Print Media:Joseph Coelho: I set out to find the happiness I felt as a child, and it workedOur podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check out our storefront on: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclaimer: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We had great fun this week sitting down with award-winning author Jasbinder Bilan on the podcast! We discussed her formation in India and Britain, the importance of oral storytelling and family stories, and the stories that helped her to grow up to write beautiful, immersive, richly textured books which celebrate all facets of her heritage and culture. Come with us as we walk with Jasbinder through the landscapes of her life, and find out how she's Storyshaped.Books mentioned in this week's episode include Jasbinder's own:Asha and the Spirit BirdTamarind and the Star of IshtaAarti and the Blue GodsXanthe and the Ruby CrownIndia Incredible India (illustrated by Nina Chakrabarti)And the stories which shaped her include:The wonderful stories told to her by her grandma, and the real-life stories experienced by her family - including the story of Oma the Wild Monkey, who took Jasbinder's brother up a tree!Skyhawk, by Gill LewisThe work of Emma CarrollThe Hobbit, by JRR TolkienThe Chronicles of Narnia, by CS LewisFrom Spare Oom to Ward Robe by Katherine LangrishA collection of Greek myths, with Pegasus on the cover!Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, particularly an edition translated by Simon Armitage and illustrated by Clive Hickes-JenkinsA wide range of mythology, and also stories told through songsJourney to Jo'burg, by Beverley NaidooWild Song, by Candy GourlayStolen History: The Truth about the British Empire and How it Shaped Us, by Sathnam SangheraThe Last Whale, by Chris VickOur podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check out our storefront on: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclaimer: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sinéad had the great privilege of sitting down with Leona Forde this week! Leona's the author of the brilliant Milly McCarthy series (Gill Books), including Milly McCarthy is a Complete Catastrophe (2023) and the forthcoming Milly McCarthy and the Irish Dancing Disaster. Leona is a teacher, a mam, and a very busy author, and we had a great chat about music, storytelling, her teaching philosophies, her writing process, and how she does it all. Settle in and let's find out together how Leona is Storyshaped!Books mentioned in this episode include Leona's own:Milly McCarthy is a Complete CatastropheAnd the stories that shaped her include:The folktales and mythology she learned from her grandmother, Mrs Maureen HerbertThe music, traditional ballads and songs played by her father and her family membersThe song Leona mentions is this one:Dublin in the Rare Oul Times by the DublinersThe Famous Five, by Enid BlytonThe Secret Seven, by Enid BlytonRevolting Rhymes, by Roald DahlThe Cremation of Sam McGee, by Robert W. ServiceUnder the Hawthorn Tree, by Marita Conlon McKennaAcross the Barricades, by Joan LingardThe Herbalist, by Niamh BoyceOn Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous, by Ocean VuongThe Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel HawthorneThe Secret Scripture, by Sebastian BarrySmall Things Like These, by Claire KeeganFoster, by Claire KeeganThe Outsiders, by S.E. HintonCatch a Fire: The Life of Bob Marley, by Timothy WhiteOi Puppies, by Kes GreyBe Wild, Little One, by Olivia Hope and Daniel EgnéusFidget the Wonder Dog, by Patricia Forde and Rachel SaundersThe Little Bee Charmer of Henrietta Street, by Sarah WebbA Game of Life or Death, by Triona CampbellThe Time Tider, by Sinéad O'HartLessons in Chemistry, by Bonnie GarmusAll the Broken Places, by John BoyneThe Queen of Dirt Island by Donal RyanTrespasses, by Louise KennedyShort Stories by Frank O'ConnorOur podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check out our storefront on: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclaimer: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we had the joy of sitting down with Vashti Hardy, author of some of our *favourite* books of all time, to discuss the stories that have shaped her life and her prolific career to date. This episode turned into a masterclass, as Vashti generously shared some of the tips, tricks and techniques that help her to create her wonderful work, and the love for books and stories just fizzes out of every word of this interview. Enjoy this wonderful, warm, and (we hope) inspiring chat with one of the most talented authors around and - if you enjoy it! - do please share it, and spread the word. Let's grow the Storyshaped community!Books mentioned in this week's episode include Vashti's own:The Brightstorm Chronicles (Brightstorm, Darkwhispers, Firesong, and Serpent of the Sands)WildsparkCrowfallThe Harley Hitch SeriesThe Griffin Gate SeriesAnd the stories which have shaped her include:My Naughty Little Sister, by Dorothy Edwards, ill. Shirley HughesThe Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric CarleRebecca's World, by Terry NationMold and the Poison Plot, by Lorraine GregoryGhost Stories, by Pamela OldfieldChocky, and Day of the Triffids, by John WyndhamRebecca, by Daphne du MaurierI Capture the Castle, by Dodie SmithJane Eyre, by Charlotte BronteThe work of Marcus SedgwickThe Cone Gatherers, by Robin JenkinsZ for Zachariah, by Robert C. O'BrienThe Sisterhood, by Katherine BradleyHer Dark Wings, by Melinda SalisburyThe Girl Who Broke the Sea, by A ConnorsWild: Tales from Early Medieval Britain, by Amy JeffsMovie influences include: Star WarsOur podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check out our storefront on: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclaimer: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we're speaking with the lovely H.S. (Helle) Norup about the stories which shaped her, and it's a stroll through folklore, faerie hills, and fantastical worlds. Come with us as we talk about the differences between modern children's books and classic books from our childhoods, the intersections between languages and how one would go about translating 'lashings of ginger beer' into Danish, and a children's book so influential (and controversial) that it was discussed in parliament! Settle in, grab your hat, and get Storyshaped with us.Find Helle online:www.hsnorup.comTwitter: H.S. NorupBooks mentioned in this week's episode include Helle's own:The Missing Barbegazi (Pushkin Children's)The Hungry Ghost (Pushkin Children's)Into the Faerie Hill (Pushkin Children's)And the books which shaped her include:The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. LewisThe Never Ending Story by Michael EndeThe Brothers Lionheart by Astrid LindgrenRonja the Robber's Daughter by Astrid LindgrenEmil and the Detectives by Eric KastnerPippi Longstocking by Astrid LindgrenThe Famous Five by Enid BlytonThe work of Agatha ChristieA Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula le GuinDune by Frank HerbertHis Dark Materials by Philip PullmanUnraveller by Frances Hardinge"Fairy tales are more than true - not because they tell us dragons exist, but because they tell us dragons can be beaten." Neil Gaiman, misquoting G.K. ChestertonOur podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check out our storefront on: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclaimer: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we're sitting down with Julie Pike, the author of the fantastical, magical, exciting (and slightly gruesome-but-great!) MG novel The Last Spell Breather (OUP, 2019). We talk stories, spaces, the landscape of Wales, the far-flung destinations that Julie has ventured to, how she once possibly helped to save a life (!), the impact of social class on authors' self-perceptions, and how important it is to show children that there are no limits to what they can achieve. Please join us as we get to know Julie and her book, and discover how Storyshaped she is.Books mentioned in this week's episode include Julie's own:The Last Spell Breather (OUP, 2019)And the stories that shaped her include:Chris Addison's blog 'Two Ways into a Theatre'Brandon Sanderson's blogs on how to write magic systems:Sanderson's First LawSanderson's Second LawSanderson's Third LawAn episode of Dr Who (with Tom Baker as the Doctor) which featured fish monsters:Dr Who: Full CircleThe Magic Faraway Tree by Enid BlytonLirael by Garth NixSabriel by Garth NixAbhorsen by Garth NixThe books of Barbara Cartland, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Georgette HeyerA Most Improper Magick by Stephanie BurgisA Tangle of Magicks by Stephanie BurgisA Reckless Magick by Stephanie BurgisJourney to the Centre of the Earth by Jules VerneThe Cadfael Chronicles (series) by Ellis PetersStar TrekMixed Magics by Diana Wynne JonesMysteries of the Unknown: Monsters, Ghosts and UFOs by Carey Miller, Christopher Maynard, Ted Wilding-WhiteOur podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check out our storefront on: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclaimer: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode, get ready to giggle! We had so much fun talking to Sabine Adeyinka, where we discuss boarding school stories from Nigeria to the UK, the brilliance of comics, the vital importance of curiosity, and the direct inspiration Sabine can draw between the stories that shaped her as a young reader and the creative work she has gone on to make. Settle down and join us for an hour of pure bookish happiness, and find out how Sabine is Storyshaped.Books mentioned in this episode include Sabine's own:Jummy at the River SchoolAnd the stories that shaped her include:Things Fall Apart, by Chinua AchebeMalory Towers, by Enid BlytonSt. Clare's, by Enid BlytonAké: The Years of Childhood, by Wole SoyinkaThe Beano comicTin Tin, by HergéArchie and Veronica (comic), created by Bob Montana and John L. GoldwaterThe Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Grahame; ill. Ernest Shepard, Arthur Ransome, Charles van SandwyckBecoming, by Michelle ObamaTo Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper LeeGo Set a Watchman, by Harper LeeThe books of Efua TraoréHalf of a Yellow Sun, by Chimamanda Ngozi AdichieThe BibleOur podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check out our storefront on: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclaimer: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we lose the run of ourselves (verrrry slightly) as we sit down with an undisputed legend - Frances Hardinge. Frances is the author of ten acclaimed and brilliant novels for young adults, the winner of the Costa Book Award (only the second children's author to do so, besides Philip Pullman), and the wearer of an assortment of extremely excellent hats. We wish to put it on record that she wore her hat throughout our conversation - as is only right and proper! Come with us as we take a walk through the absolutely amazing literary landscape that has shaped and formed Frances and her books, and forgive our (alright, Sinéad's) excited fangirling. (She regrets nothing.)Books mentioned in this episode include Frances's own:Fly By NightTwilight RobberyGullstruck IslandVerdigris DeepA Face Like GlassCuckoo SongThe Lie TreeA Skinful of ShadowsDeeplightUnravellerThe stories that have shaped Frances include:The Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric CarleJames and the Giant Peach, by Roald DahlAlice in Wonderland, by Lewis CarrollThe Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas AdamsThe Colour of Magic, by Terry PratchettThe Time of the Ghost, by Diana Wynne JonesThe Thirteen Clocks, by James ThurberThe Moomintroll series of stories, by Tove JanssonWatership Down, by Richard AdamsThe Bear and the Nightingale, by Katherine ArdenThe Girl in the Tower, by Katherine ArdenHer Dark Wings, by Melinda SalisburyLeila and the Blue Fox, by Kiran Millwood Hargrave and Tom de FrestonAnd the collected work of H. Mills West (listen to the episode to find the touching reason why this writer's work is included.)Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check out our storefront on: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclaimer: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WELCOME TO SEASON 2!Storyshaped is back - and we're landing with a bang. We open Season 2 with a Deep Dive into one of the most significant books in the lives of your fearless co-hosts - Pat O'Shea's The Hounds of the Morrigan. Fifteen years in the writing, this masterpiece of Irish children's literature was utterly formative for both Susan and Sinéad, and in this episode they rejoice in the opportunity to discuss it with one another. You'll hear about natural magic, talking donkeys, triple-aspect goddesses, beleaguered Garda Sergeants, mysterious bookshops, scrying glasses, Swapping Day, and so much more. Join us and be swept away by the magic of this wonderful book (which we do our best not to spoil - fingers crossed!) and get settled in for a new season of your favourite children's literature podcast.Welcome back! We're so glad to be here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week - the final episode of Season 1, Storyshaped fans! - Susan and Sinéad are indulging themselves with a Deep Dive into one of the books that profoundly shaped both of them. We're discussing Susan Cooper's 1973 classic The Dark Is Rising, which is a book that Susan describes as being part of her soul. It's an incredible story about a boy named Will Stanton, who steps into his power as an Old One on his eleventh birthday - and it involves such a wealth of mythology, folklore, allusions to medieval texts, and other stuff that pleases our nerdy hearts, that this episode was the MOST fun to record. Please do come with us as we dive deep into this beautiful book, which has Storyshaped us both, and get ready to whisper with us:When the Dark comes rising, six shall turn it back,Three from the circle, three from the track;Wood, bronze, iron, water, fire, stone; Five will return, and one go alone...Many different editions of Susan Cooper's classic book exist, but this is a recent edition which might be easily accessible: The Dark Is RisingBiographical details about Cooper's life and work are drawn from her website: The Lost Land of Susan Cooper We draw on Heritage Artefacts of County Cork by Denis Power and Mary Sleeman (2022) for some of our insights into the mandala symbolReferenced in the episode is this blog post: https://consolationofreading.wordpress.com/tag/piers-plowman/We also make reference to A Guidebook to Piers Plowman by Anna Baldwin, Palgrave Macmillan, 2007Susan draws on Britannic Myths by Steven O'Brien and Joe Machine (ill.) in our discussion of Herne the Hunter and Wayland SmithThe podcast dramatisation of The Dark is Rising can be found on Spotify here: BBC Sounds Robert MacFarlane The Dark is Rising AdaptationAnd the brilliant Backlisted Podcast episode with Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris is here: Backlisted PodcastThank you all so much for listening to Season 1 of Storyshaped! We're delighted to have reached so many ears, and we hope to reach many more in Season 2 - we'll be back in 2023 with more guest interviews and lots more bookish joy. Until then: all our best wishes for the Festive Season to everyone who celebrates, however you celebrate, and whatever you're doing: make sure to find a nice quiet corner to curl up in with a good book.Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check out our storefront on: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclaimer: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We have the splendid pleasure of speaking with Sharon Gosling this week on the podcast - yes, only the author of one of our absolute favourite books of 2022, The Extraordinary Voyage of Katy Willacott! The stories that shaped Sharon are wide-ranging and exciting, and our chat with her was fun, informative, and full of brilliant books. Come along with us as we take a walk through Sharon's Storyshaped life, and who knows? You might find she's Storyshaped in just the same way as you.Books mentioned in this episode include some of Sharon's own:The Diamond Thief, winner of the Redbridge Children's Book Award 2014The Ruby Airship The Sapphire CutlassThe Golden ButterflyHouse of Hidden WondersThe Extraordinary Voyage of Katy Willacott. Her adult books have included The House Beneath the Cliffs and The Lighthouse BookshopAnd the stories that shaped her include:Little Grey Rabbit, by Alison UttleyMeg and Mog, by Helen Nicoll and Jan PienkowskiBoys' Best Adventures (any books that helped you to survive in the wild)The Circus of Adventure, by Enid BlytonAmazon Adventure, by Willard PriceBeaver Towers, by Nigel HintonWhen Marnie Was There, by Joan RobinsonThe Girl Who Ran Away, by Joan RobinsonThe Flight of the Doves, by Walter MackenTrixie Belden series, by Julie Campbell Tathem and othersThe Hardy Boys, by Franklin W. Dixon (collective pen-name)Little Women, by Louisa May AlcottThe Animals of Farthing Wood, by Colin DannTwenty-Five Years in the Word Mines, by Graham JoyceWhy Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? by Jeanette WintersonThe novels of Terry PratchettBabel, by R.F. KuangThe British Library collections of short storiesThe novels and short stories of Shirley JacksonThe work of Kelly LinkHag, edited by Carolyne LarringtonFolk, by Zoe GilbertParnassus on Wheels, by Christopher MorleyA Necklace of Raindrops and Other Stories, by Joan AikenThe Faithless Lollybird, by Joan AikenOur podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check out our storefront on: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclaimer: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's guest is the BRILLIANT M.G. Leonard, author of some of the best books for young children available today. Her books have been personally inspirational to us, and M.G. herself is such a fount of inspiration, wisdom, and compassion - her insights into writing, the importance of stories, and how she used her own story to reshape her own life, is a must-listen. Come and join us, and find out how M.G. Leonard is Storyshaped.Books mentioned in this week's episode include M.G.'s own:Beetle BoyBeetle QueenThe Battle of the BeetlesThe Beetle Collectors' Handbook (non-fiction)The Tale of a ToothbrushThe Highland Falcon Thief (with Sam Sedgman)Kidnap on the California Comet (with Sam Sedgman)Murder on the Safari Star (with Sam Sedgman)Danger at Dead Man's Pass (with Sam Sedgman)Sabotage on the Solar Express (with Sam Sedgman)The Arctic Railway Assassin (with Sam Sedgman)TwitchSparkThe Ice ChildrenThe stories which shaped her include:Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret GardenRoald Dahl, The TwitsThe Work of Enid BlytonAstrid Lindgren, Pippi LongstockingWilliam Shakespeare, MacbethE.L. Grant Watson, What to Look for in Autumn (Ladybird Book)Elise Rousseau and Phillipe J. Dubois, A Short Philosophy of BirdsOur podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check out our storefront on: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclaimer: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Thursday, which means we've got another wonderful Storyshaped podcast for you all! We're speaking with the incredible Efua Traoré, author of Children of the Quicksands and The House of Shells, two beautiful Middle Grade novels set in Nigeria and infused with the folklore, magic, and culture of that vibrant country. Efua takes us through her early days as an adventurer, tree-climber, go-getter and dreamer, and how stories - both in her local library and in the culture all around her - shaped her imagination and sparked her creativity. Come with us as we learn about how her first published story was shaped, and by whom; listen in as she shares her dreams for the future of children's literature in Nigeria and in Africa, and stay with us till the end for some tantalising hints about what's next from this incredible author! Are you ready? Then, let's get Storyshaped.Books mentioned in this week's episode include Efua's own:Children of the QuicksandsThe House of ShellsThe stories which shaped Efua include:Tales by Moonlight - a TV show from Efua's childhood in Nigeria which retold stories from folkloreEnid Blyton, The Famous FiveAlf Proysen, Mrs PepperpotC.S. Lewis, The Chronicles of NarniaAstrid Lindgren, The Six Bullerby ChildrenOtfried Preussler, The Little Water-SpriteTales From... (A collection of folktales and legends from all around the world)Louisa May Alcott, Little WomenArthur Conan Doyle, The Speckled Band (Sherlock Holmes)Arthur Conan Doyle, The Hound of the Baskervilles (Sherlock Holmes)Chinua Achebe, Things Fall ApartChimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Purple HibiscusSabine Adeyinka, Jummy at the River SchoolTolá Okogwu, Onyeka and the Academy of the SunTomi Adeyemi, Children of Blood and BoneNnedi Okorafor, Akata WitchNatasha Bowen, Skin of the SeaNamina Forna, The Gilded OnesJordan Ifueko, RaybearerOur podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check out our storefront on: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclaimer: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Susan and Sinéad are welcoming two authors for the price of one - sisters Katharine and Liz Corr are here to tell us all about their marvellous books and also the stories that shaped their lives. Come with us as we talk about the shaping power of the stories of Star Trek, the power of historical fiction and classical heroes (and anti-heroes), the wonder of Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising, and how significant are the stories we're told about our family and our history. We also discuss the importance of feisty heroines, and how much they owe to Anne-with-an-E Shirley. Let's get Storyshaped!Among the books mentioned this week are Katharine and Liz's own:The Witch's KissThe Witch's TearsThe Witch's BloodA Throne of SwansA Crown of TalonsDaughter of DarknessQueen of Gods (forthcoming 2023)And the stories that shaped them include:The Peter and Jane Ladybird Reading Scheme books, written by William Murray and illustrated by Robert AytonThe Hobbit, by JRR TolkienThe Pied Piper of Hamelin, written by Robert Browning and illustrated by Kate GreenawayThe Water Babies, by Charles KingsleyThe Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. LewisThe Dark is Rising, by Susan CooperThe Grey King, by Susan CooperThe novels of Isaac AsimovPride and Prejudice, by Jane AustenLord of the Rings, by JRR TolkienThe Gormenghast Trilogy, by Mervyn PeakeGods, Men and Monsters by Michael Gibson and Giovanni CaselliThe myth of PerseusMythologica, by Stephen Kershaw and illustrated by Victoria Topping (erroneously referred to as 'Mythipedia' in the episode!)Twilight, by Stephenie MeyerThe novels of Terry PratchettOur podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check out our storefront on: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclaimer: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's guest is the wonderful Debbie Thomas! Susan and Sinéad had so much fun chatting to Debbie, who was full of wisdom and wit as we discussed the stories that shaped her - not only the stories in the books she loved, but also the stories of her family. This episode is filled with laughter and suffused with joy, the same joy that Debbie (and we at Storyshaped!) see as being vital in every child's - and every person's - life. Come with us as we meet Debbie, who not only crafts the most wonderful books, but who also uses her storytelling skills to show every single child the true value of story: that their story is important, and that they're worth being listened to. Find Debbie online via her website and find out more about her books, and her work with children in direct provision, in underprivileged areas, and in hospitalsBooks mentioned in this week's episode include Debbie's own:Dead Hairy (Mercier Press)Jungle Tangle (Mercier Press)Monkie Business (Mercier Press)Class Act (Mercier Press)My Secret Dragon (Little Island)Chameleon Dad (Little Island)And the stories and books which shaped her include:The Storytelling Animal, by Jonathan GottschallThe Seven Basic Plots, by Christopher BookerThe Science of Storytelling, by Will StorrAndrew Stanton: The Clues to a Great Story (TED Talk)Steering the Craft, by Ursula K. Le GuinHarry the Dog (series), by Gene ZionFlat Stanley (series), by Jeff BrownThe King of the Copper Mountains, by Paul BiegelMy Naughty Little Sister (series), by Dorothy Edwards and Shirley HughesThe Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. LewisThe work of Roald DahlThe Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton JusterThe Tin Drum, by Gunter GrassMidnight's Children, by Salman RushdieThe Dragonfly Pool, by Eva IbbotsonThe Abominables, by Eva IbbotsonEast of Eden, by John SteinbeckThe International Yeti Collective, by Paul Mason and Katy RiddellThe Annotated Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster, ill. Jules Feiffer, Notes by Leonard S. MarcusCollected Fairy Tales"This life was hired out to me/To decorate the earth with glee."Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check out our storefront on: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclaimer: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we're welcoming the fantastic Aislinn O'Loughlin to the podcast, where we talk about things like: how it feels to be a published author in your teens; how having a writer for a parent helps you to deal with the inevitable rejection that comes from making writing your career (and how marvellous it is to have a creative parent to help Storyshape you as you grow up); how having a love for drama can help you to shape your own stories, and how Terry Pratchett is responsible for her marriage. Tune in and come with us on a ramble through Aislinn's Storyshaped life!Find Aislinn's book online via her publisher: https://www.littleisland.ie/products/big-bad-meFollow Aislinn on Twitter: www.twitter.com/AshiLockieBooks mentioned in this episode include Aislinn's own:Cinderella's Fella, illustrated by Marie-Louise FitzpatrickA Right Royal Pain, illustrated by Marie-Louise FitzpatrickFionn the CoolShak and the BeanstalkBig Bad Me (Little Island Books, 2022)And the books which Storyshaped her include:The Fairytales of the Brothers GrimmThe Fairytales of Hans Christian AndersenMatilda, by Roald DahlMort, by Terry PratchettThe Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar WildeThe Princess Bride, by William GoldmanCarrie, and Misery, by Stephen KingHarrow Lake, and Wicked Little Deeds, by Cat EllisThe work of Cynthia Murphy, Kathryn Foxfield, Amy McCaw, and Naomi GibsonThe Haunting of Tyrese Walker, by JP RoseCrater Lake, by Jennifer KillickOur podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check out our storefront on: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclaimer: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode of Storyshaped, come hunting for the Sweet Tree with Nicola Colton...Nicola is an Irish author and illustrator living in Bristol, but in this episode she shares some of the sheer magic of her childhood, where stories weren't confined to the pages of the books she read but instead seemed to come to life all around her. From finding a Banshee's comb to imagining storms in teacups, Nicola's life has been suffused with, and shaped by, stories from her earliest days. Listen in, and be swept away!Find Nicola online at her website: www.nicolacolton.comFollow her on Twitter: www.twitter.com/NicolaColton1Follow her on Instagram: www.instagram.com/NicolaColton1/Books mentioned in this week's episode include Nicola's own:Jasper and ScruffJasper and Scruff: The Hunt for the Golden BoneJasper and Scruff: Take a BowJasper and Scruff: The Great Cat Cake-Off!Fizzy and Bandit (with Sarah Crossan)Fizzy and the Party (with Sarah Crossan)A Dublin FairytaleA Dublin ChristmasZim Zam Zoom (with James Carter)The stories that shaped her include:Roald Dahl, Revolting RhymesRoald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate FactoryRoald Dahl, MatildaRoald Dahl, George's Marvellous MedicineGarfield (comic strip, created by Jim Davis, est. 1978)Dinosaurs magazineTreasures of the Earth magazineOut of this World: The Illustrated Library of the Bizarre and the Extraordinary (24 vols), ed Perrott PhilipsJ.R.R. Tolkien, The HobbitJ.R.R. Tolkien, Lord of the RingsSweet Valley High, created by Francine PascalThe novels of Stephen King and Anne RiceJayde Perkins, Mum's JumperPaula Bowles, Tiny Crab is a Tidy CrabFreya Hartas and Joseph Coelho, Zombierella and Creeping BeautyFreya Hartas, Slow DownCaroline O'Donoghue, All Our Hidden GiftsMovie/screen influences include:Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)The Simpsons (1989-present)Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check out our storefront on: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclaimer: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DISCLAIMER/CONTENT WARNING: This episode of Storyshaped includes some discussion of adult themes and topics, including eating disorders, and may be best avoided by very young listeners and/or those for whom these topics may be triggering or upsetting. If this is you - catch you next week!This week's Storyshaped delves into the bookish life of acclaimed and bestselling author Louise O'Neill, who has written for young adults and older adults over the course of her decade-long career as a novelist and journalist. Join us as we discuss the books that shaped Louise into the thinker, cultural critic, and creator that she is today, and the books that made her realise: I can be a writer, too.Find Louise online:Via her agents, Mushens EntertainmentBooks mentioned in this week's episode include Louise's own:Only Ever YoursAsking For ItThe Surface BreaksAlmost LoveAfter The SilenceIdolAnd the books which Storyshaped her include:The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret AtwoodThe books of Enid BlytonThe books of Roald DahlThe Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. LewisOnly a Paper Moon and Catch the Magpie by Tina (Cristina) PiscoThe Babysitters' Club by Ann M. MartinAmongst Women by John McGahernRachel's Holiday by Marian KeyesMy Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth RussellThe Harry Potter series by J.K. RowlingHis Dark Materials by Philip PullmanSweet Valley High created by Francine PascalThe Hunger Games by Suzanne CollinsDivergent by Veronica RothPants on Fire by Maggie AldersonSushi For Beginners by Marian KeyesThe novels of Louise BagshaweThe Stormkeeper's Island trilogy by Catherine DoyleThe Artist's Way by Julia CameronThe Double Love podcast - not Double Trouble, as we say, erroneously, in the episode - is available hereOur podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check out our storefront on: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclaimer: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's not every day you get to talk to an author who's been longlisted for the Man Booker Prize, but today Susan and Sinéad get to do just that! We're welcoming Sam Thompson to the podcast, and we couldn't be happier about it. Sam's the author of the brilliant children's novels Wolfstongue and The Fox's Tower, but his first novel (Communion Town) was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize back in 2012. We talk shamanic spaces, the nature of deep time (especially as expressed in books), building roots into the unknown, the plays of Shakespeare, and the power of ambient stories, among many other brilliant things. Come and join us as we find out the answer to the question: Sam Thompson, are you Storyshaped?Find Sam online at:https://samthompsonwriter.comBooks mentioned in this episode include Sam's own:Communion Town (2012, Fourth Estate)Jott (2018, John Murray)Wolfstongue (2021, Little Island)The Fox's Tower (2022, Little Island)And Sam's Storyshaped books include:Haunted House by Jan PienkowskiWhere the Wild Things Are by Maurice SendakThe Lord of the Flies by William GoldingThe Tower by William Butler YeatsThe Magus by John FowlesThe English Patient by Michael OndaatjeThe Satanic Verses by Salman RushdieSir Gawain and the Green Knight by the Pearl poet (14th Century); J.R.R. Tolkien did a good modern editionThe Tempest by William ShakespeareRed Shift, Boneland and The Owl Service by Alan GarnerThe Iron Man by Ted HughesCoraline by Neil GaimanThe Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan AikenThe Tripods by John ChristopherThe novels of John Wyndham (including Day of the Triffids, The Midwich Cuckoos, and The Chrysalids)A fascinating interview with Alan Garner about his Booker-prize shortlisted Treacle WalkerMind out of Time: An Interview with Alan GarnerTreacle Walker: Alan Garner and Elizabeth Garner in ConversationOur podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check out our storefront on: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclaimer: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Don't say we never spoil you! Sit back and enjoy this BONUS Storyshaped Podcast episode, recorded to celebrate Irish Book Week, which is running from October 15th to October 22nd, 2022. Susan gives Sinéad a good old-fashioned grilling about her books, her writing life, how she came to have a writing career in the first place, and gets ALLLL the tips on how to become - and how to stay - a published author. Perfect listening for those who like books, and books by Irish authors in particular.Tune in again on Thursday for our regular scheduled episode, and for now? Just enjoy this extra hour-and-a-bit of bookish chat. Find out more about Irish Book Week here: https://www.publishingireland.com/irish-book-week-15th-22nd-oct-2022/Find out more about Sinéad O'Hart (your fearless co-host) here: https://sjohart.wordpress.com/All the info you'll need about Susan Cahill (your other fearless co-host) is here: https://susancahill.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What a treat we have for you all this week, Storyshaped fans! This week, we're talking to Nicola Penfold, the brilliant author of Where the World Turns Wild, Between Sea and Sky, and Beyond the Frozen Horizon. All Nicola's books have a huge emphasis on the natural world and the place of humans within it, and the interplay between the ecology surrounding us and the emotional landscape within. Her books have an ultimately hopeful message, empowering readers young and old with the power and beauty of the natural world all around us - and as well as that, they're incredibly gripping adventures, too. Come with us as we take a trip through Nicola's bookish memories, and discover the stories which shaped her into the author, and climate activist, she is today.Nicola's website is: www.nicolapenfold.comFollow her on Twitter: @nicolapenfoldFollow her on Instagram: @nicolapenfoldauthorBooks mentioned in this week's episode include Nicola's own:Where The World Turns WildBetween Sea and SkyBeyond the Frozen Horizonand also...The books of Shirley HughesSpot the Dog by Eric HillThe work of Enid Blyton, including the Famous Five and the Malory Towers books, and The Island of Adventure and The Ship of AdventureThe Jill books by Ruby FergusonThe Jinny and Shantih books by Patricia LeitchThe Silver Brumby by Elyne MitchellThe Animals of Farthing Wood by Colin DannVarjak Paw and The Outlaw Varjak Paw by SF SaidThe pony books of Christine and Josephine Pullein-ThompsonThe Sadlers Wells ballet books by Lorna HillA Stitch in Time by Penelope LivelyThe Way to Sattin Shore by Philippa PearceTom's Midnight Garden by Philippa PearceDark Matter by Michelle PaverChildren of the Dust by Louise LawrenceCalling B for Butterfly by Louise LawrenceThe Last Storyteller by Donna Barba Higuera (The Last Cuentista in the US/Canada)The Cats We Meet Along the Way by Nadia MikailLosing Eden: Why Our Minds Need the Wild by Lucy JonesThe Overstory by Richard PowersHomecoming by Cynthia VoigtTalking in Whispers James WatsonRoll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. TaylorKiss the Dust by Elizabeth LairdDiary of a Young Girl by Anne FrankI Am David by Anne HolmThe Silver Sword Ian SeraillierOur podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check out our storefront on: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclaimer: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Susan and Sinéad welcome the fantastic ER (Elizabeth) Murray to the podcast, for a freewheeling and wide-ranging discussion about how books not only shape lives, but also save lives. Elizabeth shares the books that gave her solace and shelter as a young reader, the stories which shape her reading now - including her interest in reading beyond her own cultural sphere, with the aim of enriching her writerly craft - and the first book where, she says, voices and experiences like hers were reflected on the page. Come and join us for this fantastic episode of Storyshaped.Find Elizabeth online at:www.twitter.com/ermurraywww.instagram.com/elizabethrosemurrayElizabeth's WebsiteBooks mentioned in this episode include Elizabeth's own:The Book of Learning, ER MurrayThe Book of Shadows, ER MurrayThe Book of Revenge, ER MurrayCaramel Hearts, ER MurrayWomen on Nature, ed. Katharine NorburyThe Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson BurnettThe Little Princess, Frances Hodgson BurnettBrambly Hedge, written and illustrated by Jill BarklemWhat Do People Do All Day? by Richard ScarryThe Complete Poems of Edgar Allan PoeElegy Written in a Country Churchyard, by Thomas GrayHard Times, by Charles DickensWuthering Heights, by Charlotte BronteKestrel for a Knave, by Barry HinesSweet Valley Twins/Sweet Valley High, created by Francine PascalOther Words for Smoke, by Sarah Maria GriffinJunk, by Melvin BurgessTangleweed and Brine, by Deirdre SullivanSavage Her Reply, by Deirdre SullivanInterview With the Vampire, by Anne RiceFlowers in the Attic, by Virginia AndrewsJill's Gymkhana, by Ruby FergusonThe Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, by Haruki MurakamiKitchen, by Banana YoshimotoCollected Tales of the Brothers GrimmCollected Poems, by Seamus HeaneyHis Dark Materials trilogy, by Philip PullmanOur podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check out our storefront on: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclaimer: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's episode sees Sinéad having a fantastically wide-ranging discussion with the brilliant Helenka Stachera, author of The Ice Whisperers and Fin and the Memory Curse. Helenka's books draw on many of the stories she grew up with, and had told to her as a young girl - and having grown up in a fairytale-like yellow brick house in the woods, she has always had a fascination with traditional folktales, which have had a definite impact on her life and work. Come with us as we delve into the rich tapestry of Helenka's Storyshaped life!You can find Helenka on Twitter @HStachera Books mentioned in this episode include Helenka's own:The Ice Whisperers, Helenka StacheraFin and the Memory Curse, Helenka StacheraGrimm's Fairy TalesAesop's FablesThe Science of Storytelling by Will StorrThe Weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan GarnerThe Quick by Lauren OwenThe Hobbit by J.R.R. TolkienThe Goose Girl (traditional)The Consequence Girl by Alastair ChisholmGender-Swapped Fairytales by Karrie Fransman and Jonathan PlackettOur podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check out our storefront on: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclaimer: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's podcast is a wonderful chat with the bilingual author Sadhbh Devlin, whose Irish-language picturebooks have established her as a leading light on the Irish kidlit scene. We get to know a bit more about the stories that shaped Sadhbh, including a book which is one of Susan and Sinéad's all time favourites, and we get to imagine how cool it would be to have a dad like Sadhbh's, who had a tab at his local bookshop! Come with us as we wander through Sadhbh's bookish life, and pick up a gem or two along the way.You can find Sadhbh on Twitter @sadhbhdevlin or Instagram @sadhbhdevlin or her website: http://sadhbhdevlin.ie/Books mentioned in this episode include Sadhbh's own:Bí Ag Spraoí Liom, Sadhbh Devlin and illustrated by Tarsila KruseBeag Bídeach, Sadhbh Devlin and illustrated by Róisín HahessyGeansaí Ottó, Sadhbh Devlin and illustrated by Róisín HahessyAmuigh Faoin Spéir, Sadhbh Devlin and illustrated by Brian FitzgeraldMorning is a Little Child by Joan Walsh AnglundPeepo by Joan and Allan AhlbergWinnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne and E.H. ShepardAlice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis CarrollAlice Through the Needle's Eye by Gilbert AdairThe Borrowers by Mary NortonThe Little Princess by Frances Hodgson BurnettThe Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson BurnettThe Doll's House by Rumer GoddenHounds of the Mórrígan by Pat O'SheaThe Battle Below Giltspur by Cormac MacRaoisAn tOllamh agus an Luchóg by Tomás O' Toole and Pauline CumminsThirty-Two Words for Field by Manchán MaganScúnc agus Smúirín by Muireann Ní Chíobháin and Paddy DonnellyMíp by Myra Zepf and Paddy DonnellyNóinín by Myra ZepfOur podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check out our storefront on: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclaimer: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we welcome Paul Coomey to the podcast! He's an author/illustrator, originally from Cork (like our very own Susan) and now living in the UK with his wife, the artist Tanvi Kant. We had such fun discussing books, stories, art, illustration, survival in the wild (!), libraries, castles, and the joy of learning to read. Come and join us as we Get Storyshaped. Books mentioned in this episode include Paul's own - Stickboy and Stickboy: Rise of the Robots (Little Tiger Press)Paul's website: www.stickboy.tvFollow him on Twitter: twitter.com/mrcoomeyDanny the Champion of the World by Roald DahlHatchet by Gary PaulsenAsterix created by René Goscinny and Albert UderzoTintin created by Hergé2000AD created by Kelvin Grosnell, Pat Mills, John WagnerFrostheart by Jamie LittlerLyra's Oxford by Philip PullmanHowl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne JonesGhost by Jason ReynoldsGrimm's TalesThe Cat in the Hat by Dr SeussPaper Girls by Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff ChiangTwo Sides by Polly Ho-YenRevolting Rhymes by Roald Dahl and Quentin BlakeMaking Comics by Scott McCloud The Beano, founded by R.D. LowPaddington Bear by Michael BondOur podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check out our storefront on: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclaimer: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our special guest on Storyshaped today is children's author and artist Eve McDonnell!Eve has written the exquisite Elsetime (published by Everything With Words in 2020), and her second novel The Chestnut Roaster is coming on October 27th, 2022, also from Everything With Words. She is an artist and graphic designer, a mum of twins, and an experienced workshop facilitator - as well as a Wonderlarker, a word of her own coining, which means she tries to see the Wonder in everything... Sounds like perfect Storyshaped material!Eve talks about the stories - and the non-fiction books - which have shaped her and her work, and which have guided her career to date, and shares some of her wisdom about how to encourage children to find themselves in stories and in books.Eve's website: https://startsomewhereblogbyeve.wordpress.com/The books mentioned in today's podcast include:Elsetime by Eve McDonnellThe Chestnut Roaster by Eve McDonnellThe Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank BaumSupernature by Lyall WatsonContest for the Heavens by Klaus JensenThe God of Small Things by Arundhati RoySuite Francaise by Iréne NemirovskyAlone in Berlin by Hans FalladaSix Thinking Hats by Edward de BonoHere is an article about the edition of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz that Eve speaks about, including the illustrations that shaped her so much: https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/w-w-denslow-illustrations-wonderful-wizard-of-oz-1900And the Ladybird edition of The Elves and the Shoemaker is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zl6QqhE7M_EOur podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check out our storefront on: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclaimer: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're delighted to welcome our very first guest to Storyshaped! Today, we're talking to Olivia Hope, author of the brilliant picturebook Be Wild, Little One (published by Bloomsbury, 2022; illustrated by Daniel Egnéus). Listen in, and discover the books that made Olivia the person and writer she is today, the stories that shaped her, and the stories she has shaped. Learn about her work, her upcoming projects, and the picturebook she thinks is the best ever.Olivia's website: https://www.darleyandersonchildrens.com/authors/olivia-hopeBloomsbury's Be Wild, Little One page: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/be-wild-little-one-9781408884805/Books mentioned in this episode include:Be Wild, Little One by Olivia Hope and Daniel EgnéusZ is for Moose by Kelly Bingham and Paul O ZelinskyLuna Loves Library Day by Joseph Coelho and Fiona LumbersWhere the Wild Things are by Maurice SendakWe're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen OxenburyThe Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson and Axel ShefflerRun With the Wind by Tom McCaughrenLessons in Chemistry by Bonnie GarmusA Road Less Travelled by M. Scott PeckPoems by Mary OliverBig Magic by Elizabeth GilbertBird by Bird by Anne LamottSuch Stuff by Michael MorpurgoOur podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check out our storefront on: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclaimer: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's a minipod! Susan and Sinéad are sort of on holiday this week, so this wee podcast is designed to keep you ticking over until we're back again with a VERY SPECIAL GUEST EPISODE next week. Today we're comparing and contrasting the books we're currently reading and loving, going head-to-head with them to see which one comes out on top... Who will it be? Tune in and find out!The books we're talking about today are Juno Dawson's HER MAJESTY'S SECRET COVEN and Sharon Gosling's THE EXTRAORDINARY VOYAGE OF KATY WILLACOTT. Both these books should be available from our partner bookshops; see below for details!Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check out our storefront on: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclaimer: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Susan and Sinéad revisit a book which haunted both their childhoods - Catherine Storr's 1958 fantasy classic Marianne Dreams. We get deep inside the symbolism of this brilliant little book, discussing the nature of dreams and fantasy and how stories contain universes. Come with us as we watch Marianne and Mark battle their way past the Watchers... Sit with us on the grass as we ask ourselves what the enigmatic ending of this book is really trying to say... And try not to laugh at Sinéad's visceral terror reactions to the Terrible Awful Very Scary Things in this book (stones! With *eyes*!)Referenced in this podcast:"Musty Books: 'Marianne Dreams' by Catherine Storr (1958); a blog article on The Haunted Generation with Bob Fischer, July 6, 2020"I Write to Frighten Myself": Catherine Storr and the Development of Children's Literature Studies in Britain; Kimberley Reynolds, Children's Literature in Education 50, 449-463, 2019Fear and Evil in Children's Books; Catherine Storr, Children's Literature in Education 1, 22-40, 1970The Book of Symbols: Reflections on Archetypal Images, TaschenOur podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check out our storefront on: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclaimer: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Susan and Sinéad do a deep dive into one of Susan's 'soul book's - Diana Wynne Jones' classic Charmed Life. Come with us as we discuss the issues of power and responsibility the novel deals with, as well as a very serious scholarly debate about who is more of a 'peacock' - Chrestomanci or Wizard Howl - and an appreciation for Gwendolen Chant, the most unapologetically evil character in children's literature. We discuss the idea of multiple worlds and the mechanics of travelling between them, and how important it is for Cat, the book's protagonist, to finally step into his own potential, and we share a little about how the masterful Diana Wynne Jones has influenced both of us as writers and as people.Referenced in the episode is the work of:Aishwara Subramanian: "'So Would You Mind Telling Me Where I Am? It's a Stately Home of Some Kind, Isn't It?' (Charmed Life)", proceedings of the Diana Wynne Jones Conference, 2019Robin Stevens: Keynote Address, Diana Wynne Jones Conference, 2019Diana Wynne Jones' own words from Reflections: On the Magic of Writing, 2012To buy any of the books mentioned in this episode see our Irish and UK bookshop info below:Our Irish bookshop partner is Halfway Up the Stairs bookshop in Wicklow: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check out our storefront on https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclosure: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this inaugural episode, join your hosts Susan Cahill and Sinéad O'Hart as they discuss Alan Garner's 1965 novel Elidor, a book which has meant a great deal to them both - and which has definitely 'Storyshaped' both of their lives. Get comfy, and get ready for chats, laughter, and lots of Storyshaped goodness. Enjoy!To buy the books mentioned in this episode see our Irish and UK bookshop info below:Our Irish bookshop partner is Halfway Up the Stairs bookshop in Wicklow: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check out our storefront on https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclosure: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Storyshaped, the pocast all about the power of stories to shape lives and change the world. Come with us on our journey into the magic of words and pictures with a variety of brilliant bookish guests! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.