The Joined Up Writing Podcast

In this week's episode I'm joined by author, playwright and journalist Stephen Spotswood, who's here to talk about Dead in the Frame, the latest instalment in his 1940s-set mystery series featuring sleuthing duo Pentecost and Parker.Stephen shares the inspirations behind the series—drawing on golden age mysteries, hardboiled noir, and classic radio dramas—and explains how the fifth book sees a shake-up in the usual dynamic between Will and Lillian. We also chat about how his background in playwriting has helped shape his fiction, why he's now a committed outliner, and how he balances plot and emotional depth in his stories.You'll also hear:How writing helped him stay grounded while reporting on difficult issuesThe challenges and joys of writing a long-running seriesThe moment he realised mystery fiction was his true homeAnd of course, Stephen tells us about the book that changed everything for him, and shares a powerful insight that helped take his writing to the next level.SHOW LINKSDead in The Frame - Stephen's Latest Book✍️ Sign up to my Write or Die monthly newsletter and get your FREE Writer's Survival Kit: Sign up here

The Call Back is currently only £3.99/$3.99! Check it out here.Hi, I'm Wayne Kelly, a writer, podcast host and coach. I love to help writers develop their skills and get their books and stories out into the world.In this episode of The Write Place Podcast, I'm joined by crime writer Roxie Key to discuss her brilliant debut novel The Deadly Spark, a character-driven blend of psychological suspense and police procedural.We get into the real story behind Roxie's writing journey—from 50+ rejections to a dream agent sliding into her DMs, and how she went from almost giving up to having a book deal and a growing readership. Roxie shares how a childhood phobia became the central theme of her novel, why she chose to write a diverse cast of characters, and how she balances writing with family life and a full-time job.We also talk about:The importance of rejection and building thick skinWhy writing fear can be a form of therapyNavigating police procedural accuracy without getting bogged down in red tapeThe reality of modern publishing and why debut authors have to hustleProductivity hacks for busy writersThe value of reading—and writing—widelyRoxie is warm, honest and funny, and this chat is packed with insight for any writer trying to stay motivated and get their words out into the world.

In this fascinating episode of The Write Place Podcast, host Wayne Kelly is joined by Rebeka Russell, founder of Manderley Press, to discuss the power of place in storytelling, the challenges of independent publishing, and her latest release, Mary Shelley in Bath.Rebeka shares how her love of history and literature led her to create a small press dedicated to reviving classic works connected to real-world locations. She discusses the importance of book design, working with artists to create stunning covers, and how connecting with passionate booksellers has been crucial to Manderley Press's success.The conversation also delves into Mary Shelley's tumultuous time in Bath and how this short but significant period shaped her writing, including Frankenstein. Rebeka reflects on Shelley's ability to transform personal trauma into groundbreaking fiction, as well as the ongoing cultural relevance of her work.Beyond discussing literary history, Rebeka offers insight into the realities of indie publishing, from navigating distribution challenges to the importance of perseverance. Whether you're an aspiring author, a lover of historical fiction, or interested in the business of books, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways.Links & Resources:

In this insightful episode of The Write Place Podcast, host Wayne Kelly welcomes historical fiction author Karen Heenan for her third appearance on the show. Karen shares her journey from being traditionally published with a small press to becoming a successful self-published author with multiple series under her belt. She discusses the challenges and rewards of indie publishing, offering valuable insights into book marketing, cover design, and Amazon advertising.Karen's latest novel, French Lessons, is the newest entry point into her Ava & Claire series, which originally followed a family in 1930s Philadelphia. This new instalment shifts the focus to Pearl, the eldest daughter, as she embarks on a long-awaited adventure in post-war Paris. However, the reality of a city still recovering from occupation is vastly different from her romanticised expectations, making for a compelling “fish-out-of-water” story.Beyond discussing her writing process, Karen reflects on the learning curve of self-publishing, from regaining her rights from a small press to finding the right cover designer to attract her ideal readers. She details how advertising—particularly on Amazon and through BookBub deals—has played a crucial role in increasing her book sales, helping her achieve an impressive $47,000 in royalties last year—a significant leap from the previous year.For authors considering the indie path, Karen offers encouraging advice: self-publishing doesn't mean giving up on traditional publishing; instead, it provides flexibility, control, and the opportunity to build a sustainable writing career on your own terms.She also shares the book that saved her life, which deeply resonated with her as a child and helped shape her understanding of the emotional power of fiction.This episode is packed with practical tips, industry insights, and inspiration for writers at all stages of their careers. Don't miss it!Links & Resources:Karen Heenan's Website – Sign up for her newsletter and download a free historical fiction novel!French Lessons available now on Amazon (Kindle & Print)Grab your free Write or Die Writer's Survival Kit hereWant to read the first 3 chapters of The Call Back for FREE?Check out Wayne's Online Courses hereEmail Wayne - wayne (at) waynekellywrites.com

In this episode of The Write Place, I'm joined by award-winning historical crime novelist D.V. Bishop for a deep dive into the craft of storytelling, structure, and writing with confidence.D.V. shares his Wallace & Gromit approach to plotting—laying the tracks just ahead of the train as he writes—and why mystery writers don't always need to know the ending before they begin. We discuss the pressures of writing under contract, the benefits of finishing Book Two before Book One is published, and how to find the balance between planning and discovery.He also reveals the book that changed his life (and career), the unexpected way he researches characters, and why Call the Midwife helped him write a convent full of nuns. If you've ever wrestled with plotting, structure, or self-doubt, this episode is packed with insight, inspiration, and plenty of laughs.His latest book is Divine Fury - check it out here.Connect with D.V. Bishop:

Welcome to The Write Place Podcast! This week, we're joined by the Icelandic master of mystery, Ragnar Jónasson, author of internationally acclaimed crime novels such as the Dark Iceland and Hulda series. Ragnar shares insights into his writing process, the inspiration behind his latest book, Death at the Sanatorium, and how he crafts his atmospheric, edge-of-your-seat mysteries.In this episode, Ragnar discusses:The influence of Agatha Christie on his work and his experience translating her books into Icelandic.The allure of the Golden Age of crime fiction and how it shapes his stories.His approach to plotting intricate mysteries and creating compelling protagonists like Helgi.Overcoming challenges in his writing career and advice for aspiring mystery authors.Ragnar also opens up about how he balances authenticity with a global audience and the fascinating process of adapting his books for TV. If you've ever struggled with plotting, self-doubt, or finding your unique voice as a writer, this episode is packed with valuable insights and encouragement.Plus, host Wayne Kelly shares exciting updates, including the Kindle launch of his gritty British thriller, The Call Back, and his hybrid approach to writing the next installment in the Mickey Blake series.Buy a signed personalised copy on my website here.Resources Mentioned in the Episode:Download the free Writer's Survival Kit for tips and inspiration.Check out Wayne's Self-Publishing for Beginners course for actionable advice.Explore Ragnar's latest release, Death at the Sanatorium, now available in stores and online.Connect with Ragnar on his website.Tune in for an inspiring conversation that will leave you motivated to tackle your next creative project!Connect with Wayne:Email: Wayne [at] WayneKellyWrites.comFollow on Facebook: The Write PlaceSubscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and don't forget to leave a review!

- Download your FREE Write or Die Writer's Survival Kit!In this episode of The Write Place Podcast, Wayne Kelly sits down with psychological thriller author and social media expert Zoe Lea to discuss the twists and turns of her writing journey. From the book that saved her life to the struggles of self-doubt and navigating the complexities of her craft, Zoe shares raw and inspiring insights into the life of an author.They delve into Zoe's latest novel, Closer Than She Thinks, exploring the vulnerability at the heart of psychological thrillers and what keeps readers on the edge of their seats. In the new "Their Darkest Hour" segment, Zoe opens up about overcoming personal challenges and finding strength in a supportive writing community.Wayne and Zoe also tackle the role of social media for authors, demystifying how to showcase your work authentically and connect with readers without losing your mind. Plus, the dreaded topic of A.I. makes an appearance.Zoe Lea is a British author renowned for her psychological thrillers that delve into complex human relationships and suspenseful narratives. She lives in the Lake District with her family and has had all kinds of career roles including being a teacher, photographer, and freelance journalist. In addition to her writing career, Zoe is a content strategist, helping creatives to showcase their work and build their writing communities.Her latest novel, Closer Than She Thinks, is out now on Kindle and lands in June on Paperback, but she also has 2 other books you should definitely go and check out.Find all Zoe's links on her website here.Whether you're a seasoned writer or just starting out, this episode offers invaluable advice, inspiration, and a reminder that you're not alone in your creative struggles. Tune in and take your writing to the next level.SHOW LINKS: - Get 40% Discount on Wayne's online course - How To Successfully Self-Publish Course (use code 'WP40'- The Write Place YouTube Channel - Like and Subscribe!YouTube Clip from Novel Marketing on Publishing TrendsEmail your feedback to wayne(at)waynekellywrites.com

SHOW LINKS:Download your FREE Write or Die Writer's Survival Kit!Get 40% Discount on Wayne's online course - How To Successfully Self-Publish Course (use code 'WP40')Email your feedback to wayne(at)waynekellywrites.comJoined Up Writing is now . . .  THE WRITE PLACE! Bringing you even more great writer interviews, inspiration, tips and advice on how to survive and thrive as a writer.After 10 years and hundreds of episodes I've decided to change things up, starting with a new name for the show, but don't worry because from now on, you're in The Write Place. This quick episode is to give you some background as to why I wanted to switch things up, an update of where I am with my own writing journey and to outline my goals for the year. I also want to float some ideas I have to develop the show and to ask you for your input.Look out for the next episode where I interview Zoe Lea - coming on Jan 14th.

SUBSCRIBE NOW WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTSHOW TO SUCCESSFULLY SELF PUBLISH COURSE - more info hereCheck out my crime novel, SAFE HANDSit's episode 233 with Chris McDonald aka Chris Frost talking about his dark Christmas Cracker, The Killer's Christmas List, plus his writing journey, path to publication and an inspiring story behind the book that saved his life.Chris grew up in Northern Ireland before settling in Manchester via Lancaster and London. He is the author the Erika Piper series, the Stonebridge Mysteries and Little Ghost. And, under his pen name, Chris Frost he's the author of the festive bestselling crime book – The Killer's Christmas List, which is out everywhere right now.Check out his website here.Don't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond' PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

SUBSCRIBE NOW WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTSCheck out my crime novel, SAFE HANDSGrab a free Audible 30 Day Trial and listen to SAFE HANDS for FREE!WANT A FREE eBOOK WITH 2 CRIME STORIES? SUBSCRIBE TO WAYNE'S NEWSLETTER HEREIn this episode of The Joined Up Writing Podcast, Wayne chats with Nikki Moore, author of commercial women's fiction and romantic comedies, who also writes as Ella Allbright. Nikki shares her journey of juggling a busy career in HR with a decade-long writing career. She discusses her hit novel The Last Charm, an emotional, Dorset-set love story inspired by personal loss. Nikki opens up about processing grief through writing and how storytelling serves as an uplifting escape for her readers.They dive into the evolution of the publishing world over the past 14 years, emphasizing transparency and the rise of indie publishing. Nikki reflects on her experiences with traditional publishing, the challenges of securing an agent, and why balancing creativity with business strategy is key. She highlights the importance of competitions and critique groups for emerging writers, offering practical advice for building confidence and refining your craft.Nikki also addresses the industry's focus on debut authors and the rise of celebrity books, advocating for more equitable support across the board. With candid anecdotes and actionable insights, this episode is packed with encouragement for writers at all stages of their journey.Nikki is A self-confessed reading addict, with an HR day job to keep her busy alongside writing. She's the author of the popular #LoveLondon series, attracting four and five star reviews on Amazon. A number of the novellas featured in the Top 100 short story charts on Kobo and the Top 20 in the Amazon UK bestsellers Holiday chart. As Ella Albright she writes commercial women's fiction set in her beautiful home county of Dorset, the most successful of which is The Last Charm which is out everywhere now.Follow Nikki on Instagram @authorbythesea1207Highlights:The Last Charm: A novel of love, loss, and hope inspired by Nikki's grief journey.Writing Tips: Why competitions and critique groups are invaluable for aspiring authors.Industry Insights: The challenges of publishing today and the opportunities in indie and hybrid models.Personal Reflections: Balancing creative passion with strategic career decisions.Tune in for an honest, inspiring conversation about the highs and lows of being a writer in today's ever-changing literary landscape.

SUBSCRIBE NOW WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTSCheck out my crime novel, SAFE HANDSGrab a free Audible 30 Day Trial and listen to SAFE HANDS for FREE!WANT A FREE eBOOK WITH 2 CRIME STORIES? SUBSCRIBE TO WAYNE'S NEWSLETTER HEREIt's episode 231 with Neil J Hart, an excellent Fantasy-Horror author, writing gorgeous-looking books for young people. We talk about how Neil went from being a reluctant reader to a story-obsessed writer, how his visual imagination plays into his work and of course, we'll hear which book saved his life. Neil grew up in Surrey, England and spent most of his childhood dancing and acting, learning musical instruments, building vast Lego cities and domino rallies, creating board games and secret societies. He eventually found writing and in 2021, his quirky young adult fantasy novel The Last Scarecrow won for Horror at the Wattpad Awards and his latest book, Sadie Madison and the Boy in the Crimson Scarf also won in 2022 for Fantasy. That book is released everywhere on December 3rd and you can pre-order it right now.Find all Neil's links at his website here.Don't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond' PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

SUBSCRIBE NOW WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTSCheck out my crime novel, SAFE HANDSGrab a free Audible 30 Day Trial and listen to SAFE HANDS for FREE!WANT A FREE eBOOK WITH 2 CRIME STORIES? SUBSCRIBE TO WAYNE'S NEWSLETTER HEREIt's episode 230 with Dan Howarth who writes dark and gritty books, often based in the North of England. Dan and I had a really fun and interesting chat focusing on Dan's latest book, Last Night of Freedom and we take a deep dive into the problems with Traditional publishing and why Indie publishing seems to be going from strength to strength. We'll also get to hear about the book that saved Dan's life. Dan is a writer from the North of England, a place that he says drenches his fiction. He's the author of Dark Missives, a collection of short horror fiction as well as Territory, a novella set in the snowbound wilds of Finland. His stories have featured in numerous publications both online and in print, including being featured on The Other Stories podcast where they have been downloaded over 100,000 times as well as appearing in Weird Horror #5 from Undertow Publications. His latest novel is Last Night of Freedom, a great book I've described as Dead Man's Shoes meets Deliverance and that is out right now, so make sure you grab a copy on ebook, paperback or audio.Check out Dan's website here and follow him on Twitter here.Don't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond' PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

SUBSCRIBE NOW WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTSCheck out my crime novel, SAFE HANDSGrab a free Audible 30 Day Trial and listen to SAFE HANDS for FREE!WANT A FREE eBOOK WITH 2 CRIME STORIES? SUBSCRIBE TO WAYNE'S NEWSLETTER HEREIt's episode 229 and a chat recorded in front of a live audience with with Laura Pearson, number one best-selling author of The Last List of Mabel Beaumont and her latest book, The Beforelife of Eliza Valentine, which is excellent. Laura and I chatted about the magic of reading and took a deep dive on the many stages involved in writing and editing a book as well as discovering the book that saved her life.Check out Laura's website here and follow her on Twitter.Don't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond' PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

SIGN UP TO MY FREE WORKSHOPS NEWSLETTERSUBSCRIBE NOW WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTSGrab a free Audible 30 Day Trial and listen to SAFE HANDS for FREE!It's episode 228 with Steven Kedie, author of Running and Jumping, a novel about a bitter sporting rivalry. We chat about the marathon-like qualities of writing, Steven's journey to publication and which book saved his life.Steven is a writer who was born and raised in Manchester, where he still lives with his wife and their two sons. A man of simple pleasures, his great loves are sport, music, writing and books. He is the co-founder of the music website eightalbums.co.uk – a site where people write about albums that are important to them and why. His novel, Running and Jumping, about the rivalry between two athletes, set across eight years and three Olympic Games, is out now.Follow Steven on X here.Thinking of self-publishing and want help and a cover design? Take a look at this post on Wayne's website.WANT A FREE eBOOK WITH 2 CRIME STORIES? SUBSCRIBE TO WAYNE'S NEWSLETTER HEREDon't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond' PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

SIGN UP TO MY FREE WORKSHOPS NEWSLETTERSUBSCRIBE NOW WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTSGrab a free Audible 30 Day Trial and listen to SAFE HANDS for FREE!It's episode 227 with Edward Carey, funny and inspirational playwright and artist turned author of loads of unique and original novels, including his latest, Edith Holler. Edward is full of fascinating insights and adviceEdward is is a writer and illustrator who was born in North Walsham, Norfolk, England. He's written plays for the National Theatre of Romania and the Vilnius Small State Theatre, Lithuania. In England his plays and adaptations have been performed at the Young Vic Studio, the Battersea Arts Centre, and the Royal Opera House Studio. He is the author of the novels Observatory Mansions and Alva and Irva: the Twins Who Saved a City, as well as the YA Iremonger Trilogy and his previous novel, The Swallowed Man. His latest book, Edith Holler is out everywhere right now.Find Edward's links on his website here.Thinking of self-publishing and want help and a cover design? Take a look at this post on Wayne's website.WANT A FREE eBOOK WITH 2 CRIME STORIES? SUBSCRIBE TO WAYNE'S NEWSLETTER HEREDon't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond' PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

SIGN UP TO MY FREE WORKSHOPS NEWSLETTERSUBSCRIBE NOW WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTSGrab a free Audible 30 Day Trial and listen to SAFE HANDS for FREE!SIGN UP TO MY FREE WORKSHOPS NEWSLETTERSUBSCRIBE NOW WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTSGrab a free Audible 30 Day Trial and listen to SAFE HANDS for FREE!It's episode 226 with Jeff Young, a writer with experience in stage, screen and radio and also memoir, with his second book, Wild Twin, which we chat about today. It's a brilliant chat with loads of advice and insight from Jeff's long career, talking about class barriers in the industry, the power of memory and why you should always carry a hipflask in your knickers.Jeff is a writer for screen, stage and radio. As you'll hear, he's written plays, radio dramas, documentary and memoir, with his first book, Ghost Town. A former senior lecturer in Creative Writing at Liverpool John Moores University, Jeff lives in Liverpool and his latest book Wild Twin: Dream maps of a lost soul and drifter is out right now, everywhere you find books.Follow Jeff on Twitter here and Instagram here.Thinking of self-publishing and want help and a cover design? Take a look at this post on Wayne's website.WANT A FREE eBOOK WITH 2 CRIME STORIES? SUBSCRIBE TO WAYNE'S NEWSLETTER HEREDon't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond' PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

It's episode 225, which has a lovely interview with Jamie West, author of the theatre themed Bertie Carroll Mysteries. We got to chat about the similarities between the life of an actor and a writer, which means dealing with lots of rejection and striving for that lucky breakJamie is the West End's resident murder mystery author. He has worked backstage on countless shows in London's West End, including The Book of Mormon, Miss Saigon, Kinky Boots, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Dear Evan Hansen and Hamilton. As you'll hear, a love for theatre history and a good murder mystery is what inspired his Bertie Carroll series, set in 1930s theatre-land. His first novel, Death on the Pier, was published in October 2022, going on to become an Amazon Best Seller and Chat Magazine's Book of the Month. Murder at the Matinee, the second in the series, is out everywhere right now.Find all of Jamie's links at his website here.Thinking of self-publishing and want help and a cover design? Take a look at this post on Wayne's website.WANT A FREE eBOOK WITH 2 CRIME STORIES? SUBSCRIBE TO WAYNE'S NEWSLETTER HEREDon't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond' PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

SUBSCRIBE NOW WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTSGrab a free Audible 30 Day Trial and listen to SAFE HANDS for FREE!It's episode 224 where I'm chatting to crime writer, Angela C Nurse, talking about her gritty Scottish private detective series, her thoughts on the publishing industry in general and why she thinks Crime Fiction is such a powerful genre when it comes to studying people and behaviour.We also discover the book that saved her life and hear her tips for aspiring writers out there.Born in the Kingdom of Fife, Angela spent her teenage years in Penzance before returning to Scotland. She has had a varied career from Nursery Nurse to Bank Manager before becoming a full-time writer.Her brilliant Rowan McFarlane Mysteries are set within the fictional town of Cuddieford, which lies somewhere between Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy. And those books are out right now, so go and check them out.Find all of Angela's's links at her website here.Thinking of self-publishing and want help and a cover design? Take a look at this post on Wayne's website.WANT A FREE eBOOK WITH 2 CRIME STORIES? SUBSCRIBE TO WAYNE'S NEWSLETTER HEREDon't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond' PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

INTERESTED IN SELF-PUBLISHING? CHECK OUT THIS ONE DAY COURSESIGN UP TO MY FREE WORKSHOPS NEWSLETTERSUBSCRIBE NOW WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTSGrab a free Audible 30 Day Trial and listen to SAFE HANDS for FREE!It's episode 223 with the funny and inspiring Milly Johnson talking about her long writing journey, including writing greetings cards and being told she sounded too northern, before eventually finding huge success as an award winning, multi-million copy selling RomCom author. We also discover the book that saved her life.Milly Johnson is a British author of romantic fiction. She has written 21 bestselling novels with over three million sales worldwide, one book of poetry, and five novellas. She was nominated for the Melissa Nathan Award for Romantic comedy in 2012, was a two-time winner of the RoNA Award for Comedy Romance in 2014 and 2016, and was also a winner of Channel 4's Come Dine With Me – Barnsley edition. She was honoured with the Romantic Novelist Association's Outstanding Achievement Award in 2020. She is also an after-dinner speaker, poet, professional joke writer, short story writer and newspaper columnist. Her latest book is The Happiest Ever After which is out everywhere right now.Find all Milly's links at her website here.Thinking of self-publishing and want help and a cover design? Take a look at this post on Wayne's website.WANT A FREE eBOOK WITH 2 CRIME STORIES? SUBSCRIBE TO WAYNE'S NEWSLETTER HEREDon't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond' PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

SIGN UP TO MY FREE WORKSHOPS NEWSLETTERSUBSCRIBE NOW WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTSGrab a free Audible 30 Day Trial and listen to SAFE HANDS for FREE!It's episode 222 with inspirational commercial fiction writer, Liz Fenwick talking about her Cornish novels, methods of research, her writing process and her advice for those of us struggling along the way.Liz Fenwick is writer of commercial fiction, living in Cornwall, England. Her books have been translated into 15 languages.She has published nine novels and two novellas taking her inspiration from Cornwall's history and landscape and in 2017 was named "the queen of the contemporary Cornish novel" by The Guardian.Her debut novel,The Cornish House, was first published in 2012 and her latest book and ninth novel, The Secret Shore, is out everywhere right now.Find all Liz's links at her website here.Thinking of self-publishing and want help and a cover design? Take a look at this post on Wayne's website.WANT A FREE eBOOK WITH 2 CRIME STORIES? SUBSCRIBE TO WAYNE'S NEWSLETTER HEREDon't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond' PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

SIGN UP TO MY FREE WORKSHOPS NEWSLETTERSUBSCRIBE NOW WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTSGrab a free Audible 30 Day Trial and listen to SAFE HANDS for FREE!It's episode 221 with publishing PR legend, Alison Barrow who is PR Director at Penguin Random House and has been involved in some of the most well known campaigns around, including SJ Watson's Before I Go To Sleep and more recently Lessons In Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. She has loads of inspirational and practical advice for writers on what publishers are looking for and how you can make you and your book as marketable as possible.Alison is an award- winning book publicist with experience launching writing careers, managing major figures and creating global brands. She's worked on some of the biggest bestselling campaigns of the past 20 years including, Before I Go To Sleep, Lessons In Chemistry and The Girl on The Train. She's currently a PR Director at Penguin Random House.Follow Alison on X here and Instagram here.Thinking of self-publishing and want help and a cover design? Take a look at this post on Wayne's website.WANT A FREE eBOOK WITH 2 CRIME STORIES? SUBSCRIBE TO WAYNE'S NEWSLETTER HEREDon't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond' PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

SUBSCRIBE NOW WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTSGrab a free Audible 30 Day Trial and listen to SAFE HANDS for FREE!It's episode 220 and it's with psychological thriller writer, Helen Cooper who I interviewed in front of a live audience at Leicester's Central Library. It was the first Joined Up Live and I got to chat to Helen about her latest gripping book, My Darling Boy, as well as how she became a writer, what makes a great psychological thriller, why perseverance is everything and of course we will get to hear about the Book That Saved Her Life. Helen Cooper is a writer of psychological thrillers living in Leicester, UK.She has taught English and Academic Writing in both Further and Higher Education and was Head of Learning Enhancement at the University of Birmingham. She has an MA in Creative Writing from Nottingham Trent University and has been published in Woman, Writers' Forum, Mslexia, the Lincolnshire Echo, Derbyshire Life, and on the Crime Readers' Association website. She was shortlisted for the Bath Short Story Prize in 2014 and came third in the Leicester Writes Short Story Prize in 2018.Her novels include The Downstairs Neighbour,  The Other Guest, The Couple In The Photo and now, her latest book, My Darling Boy.She is currently president of Leicester Writers' Club. She lives in Leicester with her new husband and cat.Find all of Helen's links on her website here.Thinking of self-publishing and want help and a cover design? Take a look at this post on Wayne' website.WANT A FREE eBOOK WITH 2 CRIME STORIES? SUBSCRIBE TO WAYNE'S NEWSLETTER HEREDon't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond' PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

SUBSCRIBE NOW ON –  iTUNES   STITCHER   SPOTIFY   OVERCASTIt's episode 219 with Merle Nyegate, TV screenwriter and novelist, returning to talk about her new espionage novel – Honour Among Spies. We talk about theme, structure and writing a sequel.Merle is a screenwriter, script editor, screenwriting lecturer and novelist; she's worked on BAFTA winning TV, New York Festival audio drama and written original sitcoms. She previously she worked for BBC Comedy Commissioning as well as writing and script editing across multiple genres. Merle's first novel, The Righteous Spy won the Little Brown/UEA Crime Fiction Award and is now followed up with the excellent Honour Among Spies, which I've read and loved. That's out right now.Find out more on Merle's website here and follow her on Twitter @MerleNygate.Thinking of self-publishing and want help and a cover design? Take a look at this post on Wayne' website.WANT A FREE eBOOK WITH 2 CRIME STORIES? SUBSCRIBE TO WAYNE'S NEWSLETTER HEREDon't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond' PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

SUBSCRIBE NOW ON –  iTUNES   STITCHER   SPOTIFY   OVERCASTIt's episode 218 with the fascinating Manda Scott, talking about her new Thrutopian novel, Any Human Power, why she wanted to take a different path between dystopia and utopia, how she literally felt a calling to write this book and that all important step of trying to find your voice. We do all that and still find time to talk about the Book That Saved Her Life.Born in Scotland, Manda was once a veterinary surgeon and is now a novelist, smallholder, contemporary shamanic trainer and host of the international chart-topping Accidental Gods podcast. Best known for the Boudica: Dreaming series, she's been shortlisted for the Orange Prize, the Edgar and the Saltire Award, and won the McIlvanney Prize. With her wife, Faith Tilleray, she is co-creator of the Thrutopia Masterclass. Her new novel, Any Human Power is a Thrutopian political thriller woven through with Boudica-style dreaming: a new mythos for a new reality. It's out everywhere right now.Find all Manda's links at her website here.Thinking of self-publishing and want help and a cover design? Take a look at this post on Wayne' website.WANT A FREE eBOOK WITH 2 CRIME STORIES? SUBSCRIBE TO WAYNE'S NEWSLETTER HEREDon't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond' PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

SUBSCRIBE NOW ON –  iTUNES   STITCHER   SPOTIFY   OVERCASTIt's episode 217 with Samuel Burr, ex-TV executive turned author with his debut book, The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers. This is a lovely chat covering Samuel's journey to publication, how his time spent filming in a retirement village inspired his book, pitching tips and, of course, the book that saved his life.Samuel studied at Westminster Film School and was a freelance TV executive, where he developed and produced loads of popular-factual shows including BBC Four's Make: Craft Britain, and the BAFTA-nominated Secret Life of 4-Year-Olds. Samuel's writing was shortlisted for Penguin's WriteNow scheme and in 2021 he graduated from the Faber Academy. He lives in London with his partner Tom and their cat Muriel. And his debut novel, The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers is out everywhere right now.Find all Samuel's links on his website here.WANT A FREE eBOOK WITH 2 CRIME STORIES? SUBSCRIBE TO WAYNE'S NEWSLETTER HEREDon't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond' PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

Find out more about my BIG SCREEN WORKSHOPSUBSCRIBE NOW ON –  iTUNES   STITCHER   SPOTIFY   OVERCASTIt's episode 216 with Matt Ottley, writer, artist, musician and all round polymath, talking about the incredible book, film and music for his project The Tree of Ecstasy and Unbearable Sadness. Matt is a fascinating guest and we talk about how his previous mental health issues, art, Synaethesia and music feed into his work, why he believes ‘good enough' is rarely good enough and we'll find out about the Books That Saved His Life.Matt is a multi-modal artist working across the fields of visual arts, music and literature. He is an award-winning picture book writer and illustrator, with 25 picture books published and one of Australia's most popular children's authors. His book and musical work for young adults, Requiem for a Beast was awarded the Children's Book Council of Australia's Picture Book of the Year in 2008, and the Queensland Premier's Award for Young Adult Literature in the same year. His latest multi-modal project is The Tree of Ecstasy and Unbearable Sadness and that will be out on May 16th.Find all of Matt's links and info over on his website here.WANT A FREE eBOOK WITH 2 CRIME STORIES? SUBSCRIBE TO WAYNE'S NEWSLETTER HEREDon't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond' PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

Exclusive Audible 30 Day Free Trial Here!Find out more about my BIG SCREEN WORKSHOPSUBSCRIBE NOW ON –  iTUNES   STITCHER   SPOTIFY   OVERCASTIt's episode 215 with best-selling psychological suspense author, AJ Campbell joining me to chat about her latest book, why and how she has taken both the indie route, as well as releasing books with a traditional publisher, and we'll also discover the Book That Saved Her Life.AJ is an Amazon bestselling author of six psychological suspense novels and promises stories full of twists, turns and torment. Her fourth book The Phone Call was released in July 2022, and it topped the Amazon charts for several months. It was shortlisted for the Adult Prize for Fiction at the Selfie Book Awards 2023. Her latest book, released by Bookouture, is called My Perfect Marriage (the title changed just before broadcast of the show!) and is out everywhere right now.Find all AJ's links on her website here.WANT A FREE eBOOK WITH 2 CRIME STORIES? SUBSCRIBE TO WAYNE'S NEWSLETTER HEREDon't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond' PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

Exclusive Audible 30 Day Free Trial Here!Find out more about my BIG SCREEN WORKSHOPSUBSCRIBE NOW ON –  iTUNES   STITCHER   SPOTIFY   OVERCASTIt's episode 214 with Sandie Jones, freelance author and now best-selling author, about her writing journey, interviewing famous people, and the desire to prove her doubters wrong. All that and of course, we'll find out about the Book That Saved Her Life.Sandie is the author of The Blame Game, The Guilt Trip, The Half Sister, The First Mistake and The Other Woman which is a Reese Witherspoon Bookclub Pick and New York Times bestseller. Her books have featured in Entertainment Weekly, Good Morning America, Good Housekeeping, Prima and more.  She lives in London with her husband and three children. Her latest novel, The Trade Off is out right now.Find all of Sandie's links on her website here.WANT A FREE eBOOK WITH 2 CRIME STORIES? SUBSCRIBE TO WAYNE'S NEWSLETTER HEREDon't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond' PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

Exclusive Audible 30 Day Free Trial Here!SUBSCRIBE NOW ON –  iTUNES   STITCHER   SPOTIFY   OVERCASTIt's episode 213, a solo episode with W.A. Kelly, taking you behind-the -scenes of the making of my audiobook and giving a special preview of the audio version of my crime thriller, Safe Hands. A few of you have asked for more information, especially as I independently released the book and have narrated the audiobook myself – and I also wanted to give Joined Up listeners a chance to hear the first couple of chapters for free, right here in this episode. If you listen to the end and like what you hear, stay tuned for a surprise listener exclusive offer.W.A. Kelly is an author, filmmaker and musician. He wrote and directed the award-winning short film, INKLING and produced the feature-length documentary, No Fare: The Sian Green Story. Since 2014, he has hosted The Joined Up Writing Podcast and in November 2023, his debut crime novel Safe Hands, was released. He is currently working on the sequel, due out in late 2024.Safe Hands is available in paperback, on Kindle and now as an Audible-exclusive audiobook.WANT A FREE eBOOK WITH 2 CRIME STORIES? SUBSCRIBE TO WAYNE'S NEWSLETTER HEREDon't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond' PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

SUBSCRIBE NOW ON –  iTUNES   STITCHER   SPOTIFY   OVERCASTWANT A FREE eBOOK WITH 2 CRIME STORIES? SUBSCRIBE TO WAYNE'S NEWSLETTER HEREIt's episode 212 with Laura Pearson, number one best-selling author of The Last List of Mabel Beaumont and several other novels dealing with life, love and loss, including the new paperback release of a book called Missing Pieces, which I read and loved. I chatted to Laura about the joys of procrastination, or 'thinking time', as we like to call it, reading outside your genre and the journey to her current success, which has involved lots of perseverance and keeping the words and stories flowing throughout. It's a fun conversation that I know you'll love.Laura is the author of multiple novels, including The Last List of Mabel Beaumont which was a Kindle number one bestseller in the UK and a top ten bestseller in the US. Laura lives in Leicestershire, England, with her husband, their two children, and a cat who likes to lie on her keyboard while she tries to write and her latest release is the paperback version of Missing Pieces, which you can find everywhere right now.Check out Laura's website here and follow her on Twitter.My debut novel, SAFE HANDS is out everywhere now and Kindle Unlimited readers can even read it for FREE!Don't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond' PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

SUBSCRIBE NOW ON –  iTUNES   STITCHER   SPOTIFY   OVERCASTWANT A FREE eBOOK WITH 2 CRIME STORIES? SUBSCRIBE TO WAYNE'S NEWSLETTER HEREIt's episode 211 with Swedish crime writer, Tove Alsterdal talking about the new English language release of the latest in her High Coast series – Deep Harbour. We talk Nordic Noir, not being afraid to write shit and the power of just finishing a draft.My debut novel, SAFE HANDS is out everywhere now and Kindle Unlimited readers can even read it for FREE!Don't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond' PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

SUBSCRIBE NOW ON –  iTUNES   STITCHER   SPOTIFY   OVERCASTWANT A FREE eBOOK WITH 2 CRIME STORIES? SUBSCRIBE TO WAYNE'S NEWSLETTER HEREIt's episode 210 with Ben Bruce an Indie author of the popcorn thriller series based around a team called The Regulators. We talk about the UK Crime Book Club, being natural and organic, networking the right way, finding a story and as always we'll hear about the book that saved Ben's life.Like me, Ben grewup in a small town in the middle of the UK. After working in TV and learning his craft in screenwriting, Ben created his Regulators series of books, with the third book due out in the series very soon and another standalone on the way too. Ben is also one of the folks behind the brilliant UK Crime Book Club on Facebook and it's famous online quiz.Check out Ben's website here. Buy his books here.My debut novel, SAFE HANDS is out everywhere now and Kindle Unlimited readers can even read it for FREE!Don't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond' PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

SUBSCRIBE NOW ON –  iTUNES   STITCHER   SPOTIFY   OVERCASTSubscribe to the newsletter for free stuff and bonus content here.It's episode 209 with Charlotte Duckworth, who also writes as Charlotte Rixon, working in both psychological thrillers and book club fiction genres. I reached out to Charlotte initially because of a post she wrote about the struggle of being a full time writer, so we get to talk about that but also Charlotte's work, her journey to publication, how she prioritizes her writing time and, of course we'll discover which book saved her life.Charlotte is the USA Today bestselling author of The Rival, Unfollow Me, The Perfect Father and The Sanctuary. Her fifth psychological suspense, The Wrong Mother, was published by Quercus in early 2023. She started her career working as an interiors and lifestyle journalist, writing for a wide range of consumer magazines and websites and, under the pen name Charlotte Rixon, she also writes contemporary bookclub fiction. Her latest release is the paperback of The One That Got Away by Charlotte Rixon, which is out right now.Find all Charlotte's links here.My debut novel, SAFE HANDS is out everywhere now and Kindle Unlimited readers can even read it for FREE!Don't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond' PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

SUBSCRIBE NOW ON –  iTUNES   STITCHER   SPOTIFY   OVERCASTSubscribe to the newsletter for free stuff and bonus content here.It's episode 208 with mystery writer, Mark Stevens on his latest novel, The Fireballer, which is a departure from his usual fare, his long writing career, making your readers care and, of course the book that saved his life.The son of two librarians, Mark was raised in Lincoln, Massachusetts, and has worked as a reporter, as a national television news producer and in public relations. He's the author of The Allison Coil Mystery Series including Buried by the Roan, Trapline and Lake of Fire, which were all finalists for the Colorado Book Award, which he won with Trapline.Mark hosts a regular podcast for Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and his new book, The Fireballer is out right now.Find all Mark's links on his website here.My debut novel, SAFE HANDS is out everywhere now and Kindle Unlimited readers can even read it for FREE!Don't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond' PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

SUBSCRIBE NOW ON –  iTUNES   STITCHER   SPOTIFY   OVERCASTSubscribe to the newsletter for free stuff and bonus content here.It's episode 207 with Richard D Bailey, fraud examiner turned FBI whistleblower and now author with his new non-fiction book, Pirate Cove: AN INSIDER'S ACCOUNT OF THE INFAMOUS SOUTHPORT LANE SCANDAL. We chat about how Richard used Substack to get his story out there and find an audience, his father's brilliant life advice and of course, the book or books that saved his life.Richard D. Bailey is a Certified Fraud Examiner. For more than 30 years, he has been providing realistic financial management and corporate development services to distressed public and private manufacturing, service, and distribution companies, but now he's an author, telling the story of a massive corporate fraud that saw him going undercover for the FBI in his book Pirate Cove: AN INSIDER'S ACCOUNT OF THE INFAMOUS SOUTHPORT LANE SCANDAL.Follow Richard on Twitter here.My debut novel, SAFE HANDS is out everywhere now and Kindle Unlimited readers can even read it for FREE!Don't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond' PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

SAFE HANDS may still be on offer for 99p! Check here!SUBSCRIBE NOW ON –  iTUNES   STITCHER   SPOTIFY   OVERCASTSubscribe to the newsletter for free stuff and bonus content here.It's episode 206 with Caspar Henderson talking about his fascinating project – The Book of Noises. It's a fun chat where we cover non-fiction, how the writing writes you about not being afraid to let it go.CASPAR HENDERSON has been a journalist and an editor: a contributor to BBC Radio 4, Financial Times, Guardian, Nature, New Scientist and openDemocracy. His debut, The Book of Barely Imagined Beings won the Roger Deakin Award of the Society of Authors and the Jerwood Award of the Royal Society of Literature, and was shortlisted for the Royal Society Winton Prize for Science Books. A New Map of Wonders, was published in 2017. His latest project - A Book of Noises is out right now.Find all of Caspar's links over on his website here.My debut novel, SAFE HANDS is out everywhere now and Kindle Unlimited readers can even read it for FREE!Don't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your 

It's episode 205 with Ruth Kelly, journalist, ghost writer and destination thriller author talking to me about her fascinating writing journey, almost becoming a spy and revealing the book that saved her life.SUBSCRIBE NOW ON –  iTUNES   STITCHER   SPOTIFY   OVERCASTSubscribe to the newsletter for free stuff and bonus content here.Ruth is a journalist who has ghosted a string of Sunday Times top ten bestsellers – most recently The Prison Doctor, which sold over 250,000 copies, and The Governor, which went straight in at number one on the Amazon charts and number five in the Sunday Times bestseller list. Now she's writing destination thrillers, with her latest, The Escape which is out right now.Follow Ruth on Twitter here.My debut novel, SAFE HANDS is out everywhere now and Kindle Unlimited readers can even read it for FREE!Don't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave

Episode 204 with SA Cosby, a writer I'm a huge fan of from Blacktop Wasteland, through to Razorblade Tears and his latest dark tale, All The Sinners Bleed. It's a brilliant chat that covers why Shawn loves the noir genre, his inspiring journey to success after years of hardwork and rejection, his tips for writers trying to fit their work around a day job as well as his three choices for The Book That Saved My Life.SUBSCRIBE NOW ON –  iTUNES   STITCHER   SPOTIFY   OVERCASTSubscribe to the newsletter for free stuff and bonus content here.S. A. Cosby is an Anthony Award-winning writer from Southeastern Virginia. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller Razorblade Tears and Blacktop Wasteland, which won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, was a New York Times Notable Book, and was named a best book of the year by NPR, The Guardian, and Library Journal. All that, plus he's been mentioned as one of Barack Obama's favourite writers – twice. His latest book, All The Sinners Bleed is our right now and you should definitely give it a read if you like dark crime fiction.Follow SA Cosby on Twitter here.My debut novel, SAFE HANDS is out everywhere now and Kindle Unlimited readers can even read it for FREE!Don't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond' PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot yo

SUBSCRIBE NOW ON –  iTUNES   STITCHER   SPOTIFY   OVERCASTSubscribe to the newsletter for free stuff and bonus content here.It's episode 203 with Julianne Pachico talking about her AI themed novel, Jungle House, dealing with uncertainty, her path to publication and loads of other interesting stuff.Julianne Pachico was born in 1985 in Cambridge, England and grew up in Cali, Colombia. Her short stories have been published in New Yorker, Granta and the White Review, and she teaches creative writing at UEA. Jungle House is her latest release and third novel and is out everywhere now.Find all of Julianne's links on her website here.My debut novel, SAFE HANDS is out everywhere now and Kindle Unlimited readers can even read it for FREE!Don't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Su

SUBSCRIBE NOW ON –  iTUNES   STITCHER   SPOTIFY   OVERCASTSubscribe to the newsletter for free stuff and bonus content here.It's episode 202 and a unique takeover episode where two of my favourite writer people – Lauren North and Jackie Kabler take the reins and turn the tables to put me in the author hot seat. This was their suggestion and I'm so grateful of them giving up their time to interview me about the release of my book, Safe Hands which is finally out now so you can read it and judge for yourselves if the wait, and all my years of talking about it, have really been worth it. It's FREE to read for Kindle Unlimited subscribers.Lauren writes psychological suspense novels that delve into the darker side of relationships and families. She studied psychology before moving to London where she lived and worked for many years. She's now settled with her family in the Suffolk countryside where her dark imagination never stops wondering what's the worst thing that could happen in every situation. She also writes Book Club Thrillers under the guise of LC North, including her latest book She Says She's My Daughter, which is out everywhere now.Find all Lauren's links on her website here.Jackie has had a long and illustrious career in broadcasting and journalism – including a nine year stint on GMTV. She's worked freelance and for the BBC and Sky and she currently works as a presenter on QVC in the UK. She's the creator of a successful cosy crime series but now she's signed with Harper Collins and writes dark psychological thrillers, like her hit novel The Vanishing of Class 3b.Jackie's Instagram Book Club is @OfficialJackieKabler and follow her on Twitter @JackieKablerDon't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWr

SUBSCRIBE NOW ON –  iTUNES   STITCHER   SPOTIFY   OVERCASTSubscribe to the newsletter for free stuff and bonus content here.It's episode 201 with Sean Campbell, barrister turned Thriller writer, telling me how and why he became a writer, his thoughts on the Indie scene and why you need to write what you want to read. We also talk about the Book that Saved His Life.Sean trained as a barrister and is now the author of the DCI Morton series, including books like Dead on Demand, Cleaver Square, and The Evolution of a Serial Killer, as well as the standalone thriller, The Grifter.He spends his days working out how to kill people without being caught, and then flipping the switch to play detective. His latest is Murdered By The Mob, which is out right now.Check out all Sean's links over at his website here.Here's a link to join my author newsletter and grab your free ebook.My debut novel, SAFE HANDS is now available to pre-order here!Don't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving Na

BSCRIBE NOW ON –  iTUNES   STITCHER   SPOTIFY   OVERCASTSubscribe to the newsletter for free stuff and bonus content here.It's episode 200 with Ian Moore, comedian turned novelist who has moved away from his usual cosy crime, with his new darker mystery, The Man Who Didn't Burn. It's a cracking conversation where we talk about self-doubt, determination, the unique French setting of Ian's novels and, of course The Books That Saved His Life.Ian is a leading stand-up comedian, known for his sharp, entertaining punditry, who regularly headlines at London's world-famous Comedy Store. A TV/radio regular who now lives in France and regularly commutes back to the UK. He's the author of the Follet Valley cosy crime series of books and now he's kicking off a new darker mystery series with The Man Who Didn't Burn, which is out everywhere on October 11th.Find all Ian's links over at his website here.This week's Book Blogger's Corner is courtesy of Clare Reynolds from the Years Of Reading Selfishly blog – yearsofreadingselfishly.blog – to talk about The Couples by Lauren Mackenzie.Here's a link to join my author newsletter and grab your free ebook.My debut novel, SAFE HANDS is now available to pre-order here!Don't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond' PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

SUBSCRIBE NOW ON –  iTUNES   STITCHER   SPOTIFY   OVERCASTSubscribe to the newsletter for free stuff and bonus content here.It's episode 199 with the brilliant mystery, suspense and thriller writer, Peter Swanson talking about his latest festive chiller, as well as his journey to publication, advice to aspiring writers and the books that saved his life. I really enjoyed the conversation and I know you will too.Peter is the Sunday Times and New York Times best selling author of eight novels, including The Kind Worth Killing, winner of the New England Society Book Award, and finalist for the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger, Her Every Fear, an NPR book of the year; and The Kind Worth Saving. His books have been translated into over 30 languages, and his stories, poetry, and features have appeared in Asimov's Science Fiction, The Atlantic Monthly, Measure, The Guardian, The Strand Magazine, and Yankee Magazine. His new novella, The Christmas Guest is released everywhere on September 28thFind all Peter's links at his website here.Here's a link to join my author newsletter and grab your free ebook.My debut novel, SAFE HANDS is now available to pre-order here!Don't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond' PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you pl

SUBSCRIBE NOW ON –  iTUNES   STITCHER   SPOTIFY   OVERCASTSubscribe to the newsletter for free stuff and bonus content here.It's episode 198 with Joanna Wallace, author of the brilliant new debut You'd Look Better As A Ghost. It's such a fascinating and fun chat about writing as therapy, staying in the story, the power of perseverance and, of course, we get to hear about the book that saved Joanna's life.Joanna studied law at Birmingham University before working as a commercial litigation solicitor in London, during which time she represented litigants in many fascinating cases and became remarkably proficient at unjamming photocopiers. She lives near London with her husband, four children and two dogs, and is currently working on her second novel.Her debut novel You'd Look Better as A Ghost is released on Sept 21st and the screen production rights have already been optioned by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group. I'm not surprised – it's such an original story.Follow Joanna on Twitter/X here.Here's a link to join my author newsletter and grab your free ebook.My debut novel, SAFE HANDS is now available to pre-order here!Don't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond' PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

SUBSCRIBE NOW ON –  iTUNES   STITCHER   SPOTIFY   OVERCASTSubscribe to the newsletter for free stuff and bonus content here.It's episode 197 with Charlotte Levin, author of If I Let You Go, brilliant follow-up to her successful debut, If I Can't Have You. It's a lovely chat that includes the merits of not being a planner, trusting the process and we get to find out what book saved Charlotte's life – metaphorically speaking of course.Charlotte has been shortlisted for the Andrea Badenoch Award, part of the Northern Writers' Awards, and for the Mslexia Short Story Competition. Charlotte lives in Manchester with her cat Opal Moon and kittens Leonard and Walter. IF I CAN'T HAVE YOU was her debut novel, and the paperback of IF I LET YOU GO is out everywhere on September 14thFind all Charlotte's links over on her website here.Here's a link to join my author newsletter and grab your free ebook.My debut novel, SAFE HANDS is now available to pre-order here!Don't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond' PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

SUBSCRIBE NOW ON –  iTUNES   STITCHER   SPOTIFY   OVERCASTSubscribe to the newsletter for free stuff and bonus content here.It's episode 196 with Dr Ruby Gupta, author of nine books including her Agatha Christie inspired murder mystery series based around her main character, Professor Shantanu Bose. Her journey to publication is one of persistence and determination and it's an inspiring chat.Based amidst the misty Himalayan foothills, Ruby is the best-selling author of nine books. She has been honoured as the International Writer-in-Residence at the International Agatha Christie Festival (2022) in Torquay, Devon, England. A double gold medallist in English literature, she is an awardee of the GSE by Rotary International and the recipient of the Pratibha Samman Award for her journalism. Currently working as Professor & HOD Humanities at the ACC Wing, Indian Military Academy, Ruby has published nine books, including the latest in her murder mystery series, The Secret of Leifeng Pagoda.Follow Ruby on Twitter here.Check out me singing with band The Wry Dogs on Spotify here and everywhere else here and then have a look around my own website – www.waynekellywrites.comDon't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond' PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

SUBSCRIBE NOW ON –  iTUNES   STITCHER   SPOTIFY   OVERCASTSubscribe to the newsletter for free stuff and bonus content here.It's episode 195 with Nick Hunt, travel-writer-turned-novelist with his fiction debut, Red Smoking Mirror. It's a cracking conversation where we cover Nick's writing journey, the idea that nothing is wasted and deciding what story you want to tell.Nick is the author of three travel books about walking in different parts of Europe – Outlandish, Where the Wild Winds Are and Walking the Woods and the Water – as well as a work of ‘gonzo ornithology', The Parakeeting of London. Loss Soup and Other Stories was his first short fiction collection and Red Smoking Mirror is his debut novel out everywhere right now.Find all of Nick's links on his website here.Check out me singing with band The Wry Dogs on Spotify here and everywhere else here and then have a look around my own website – www.waynekellywrites.comDon't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond' PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.Let's Get Joined-Up!

SUBSCRIBE NOW ON –  iTUNES   STITCHER   SPOTIFY   OVERCASTSubscribe to the newsletter for free stuff and bonus content here.Episode 194 brings Australian author, Eliza Henry-Jones telling us about her new folklore-infused family drama Salt and Skin. We talked about knowing your characters, writing as an escape, keeping joy central to your process and tons of other fascinating stuff.Eliza is an author based on a little flower farm in the Yarra Valley of Victoria, Australia. She is the author of In the Quiet(2015), Ache(2017) and the young adult novels P is for Pearl(2018) and How to Grow a Family Tree(2020). She has won loads of awards and been shortlisted for her books and her short fiction, nonfiction and features have been widely published across magazines, newspapers and journals. Her latest novel, Salt and Skin is out everywhere from July 6th.Find all Eliza's links at her website here.Check out me singing with band The Wry Dogs on Spotify here and everywhere else here and then have a look around my own website – www.waynekellywrites.comDon't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond' PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.

BSCRIBE NOW ON –  iTUNES   STITCHER   SPOTIFY   OVERCASTSubscribe to the newsletter for free stuff and bonus content here.It's episode 193 with Gail Aldwin, talking about her new psychological suspense mystery The Secret Life of Carolyn Russell, why she wants to write what she likes and the importance of enjoying the process, which seems to be a reoccurring theme of late.Based in Dorset, Gail writes fiction and poetry. Her short fiction collection Paisley Shirt, was longlisted in the best short story category of the Saboteur Awards 2018. Her debut novel The String Games, was published by Victorina Press and was voted a finalist in The People's Book Prize 2020 as well as being shortlisted in the Dorchester Literary Festival writing prize 2020. Her new book, The Secret Life of Carolyn Russell will be published by Bloodhound Books and is available everywhere from July 3rd.Take a look at Gail's website here and follow her on Twitter here.Don't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond' PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.Let's Get Joined-Up!

SUBSCRIBE NOW ON –  iTUNES   STITCHER   SPOTIFY   OVERCASTSubscribe to the newsletter for free stuff and bonus content here.It's episode 192 with Nick Bradley author of Four Seasons in Japan, following on from his successful debut, The Cat and The City. We talk about the book-within-a-book genre, hardwork vs talent and how you can harness the power of failure.Nick was born in Germany in 1982 and grew up in Bath. After graduating with a master's degree in English literature, he moved to Japan, where he lived and worked before returning to the UK to complete a Creative Writing MA.He has worked in a variety of jobs, including: Japanese teacher, English teacher, video game translator, travel writer, and photographer. He speaks Japanese fluently, and holds a PhD focussing on the figure of the cat in Japanese literature.The Cat and The City was his first novel and his second, Four Seasons in Japan is released everywhere on June 22nd.Find all Nick's links on his website here.Check out me singing with band The Wry Dogs on Spotify here and everywhere else here and then have a look around my own website – www.waynekellywrites.comDon't forget – this is YOUR SHOW so keep tweeting me, leave your comments below, check out our Facebook page and the brand new newsletter and mailing list. It's totally free to sign up and you'll get a FREE motivational PDF to download – '10 Tips For Surviving NaNoWriMo, The First Draft and Beyond' PLUS the 3 Act Story Structure Template to help you plot your story. More content coming soon, including videos, blog posts and loads of extra writing tips.