Podcasts about novelists

The image of the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, crying in Parliament yesterday was picked up by various media. After PMQs, Ms Reeves' spokesperson said she had been dealing with a "personal matter" and Sir Keir insisted her tears had had "nothing to do with politics". Kylie Pentelow is joined by Times columnist Katy Balls and Kitty Donaldson, chief political commentator for the i Paper to discuss why her tears caused such a stir. Was it concern over political weakness and worries about political instability? Ms Reeves' very senior role in government? Or because she's a woman and maybe people still don't understand that women cry for different reasons and in different circumstances to men?The government's long-awaited NHS 10-year health plan is launched today. To make the NHS in England fit for the future, the plan will focus on three big shifts: moving care from hospitals to communities, making better use of technology, and preventing sickness - not just treating it. How should the NHS prioritise women's health to achieve better results? Kylie is joined by Ranee Thakar, President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Danielle Jefferies, Senior Analyst at The King's Fund, and Lara Lewington, a technology journalist and author of a new book, Hacking Humanity.Esther Freud's ninth novel, My Sister and Other Lovers, revisits characters from her very first book Hideous Kinky, which was made into a film starring Kate Winslet. In My Sisters and Other Lovers, the sisters come of age and try to come to terms with their past. Esther joins Kylie to talk about her writing and how despite having such famous men in her life – her father was the painter Lucien Freud and her great-grandfather was the founder of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud - it's the women in her family who inspire her work.Amy Powney is the fashion designer best known for being the Creative Director at Mother of Pearl for 10 years until she left to set up her own label, Akyn, earlier this year. Amy's mission to create a sustainable clothing line was explored in the documentary Fashion Reimagined which saw her trace clothes from field to runway and cemented her as an authority on this within the wider industry. Amy joins Kylie in the Woman's Hour studio.Presenter: Kylie Pentelow Producer: Rebecca Myatt

In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac sits down with bestselling author Brooke Lea Foster to discuss her latest novel, Our Last Vineyard Summer. Brooke dives into the world of historical beach fiction, sharing how real-life inspirations, women's experiences, and personal growth shape her storytelling. She opens up about her transition from journalism to fiction, the creative writing process, and the power of relationships in overcoming life's challenges. The conversation also explores how politics continue to impact women's rights, highlighting the ongoing struggles women face today. Whether you're a fan of women's fiction, historical novels, or looking for your next summer read, this episode offers deep insight into Foster's work and the themes that resonate with readers. What We're Talking About... Brooke's book is categorized as historical beach fiction. The setting of Martha's Vineyard plays a significant role in the story. Women in the 60s and 70s faced struggles similar to those today. Books can help us understand past and present issues. The importance of women's relationships in personal growth is highlighted. Brooke's transition from journalism to fiction was inspired by her experiences on Martha's Vineyard. The creative process often involves daydreaming and listening to one's inner voice. Brooke emphasizes the need for women to ask for what they need. The book explores the impact of politics on women's lives. Brooke's next project will be set in the 80s, continuing her exploration of women's stories. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Garden Party Excitement 02:26 Brooke's Journey from Journalism to Novelist 04:15 Exploring Historical Beach Fiction 10:23 Women's Struggles Across Time 16:35 Character Relationships and Feminism 22:14 The Writing Process and Inspirations 28:37 Looking Ahead: Future Projects 31:29 The Power of Books in Understanding Balance 32:00 Empathy Through Literature and Reflection on the Past Links Mentioned Our Last Vineyard Summer by Brooke Lea Foster https://bookshop.org/a/99223/9781668034408 Brooke Lea Foster's Substack: Dear Fiction https://substack.com/@dearfiction Brooke Lea Foster on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/brookeleafoster/

More of our conversation with CIA analyst turned best-selling spy novelist David McCloskey. He and his old CIA associates, John & Jerry, look at CIA fact vs. fiction and how McCloskey brings their experiences to his stories. Also, some German stuff.

"in fact colour were vibrant in the late Victorian age"

In the spotlight is Tracy Clark, a Chicago native and the author of the award-winning Cass Raines Chicago Mystery series, featuring ex-cop turned private investigator Cassandra Raines, and the detective Harriet Foster series, featuring Harriet Foster, a homicide detective with the Chicago Police Department. Two tough, smart, African American female characters working the mean streets of the Windy City.  We discuss:  >> Creating characters >> Cassandra Raines >> Harriet Foster >> Chicago >> Deep-dish pizza >> Organic versus outlined writing >> Key writing advice >> Literary influences >> Etc.  Learn more about Tracy Clark here: https://tracyclarkbooks.com  Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no   Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com 

In 2003, when the author James Frey published his first book, A Million Little Pieces—a gut-punch account of his experience with addiction and rehab—nobody could have expected what would come next. Thanks to an Oprah Book Club endorsement, A Million Little Pieces was instantly catapulted to bestseller status, but soon blew up in scandal after Frey admitted to having falsified certain portions of the book, which had been marketed as a memoir. The drama that ensued sparked a media controversy—one that now, around 20 years later, feels petty and misplaced, especially in the context of today's cancel-culture climate. More than 10 million copies of A Million Little Pieces have sold since, and Frey is still at it, writing, publishing, and pushing the boundaries of his art. His latest novel, Next to Heaven, is a rollicking, raunchy, absurd-yet-not satire about money, murder, and the all-too-human desires for power, pleasure, and greed. On the episode—our Season 11 finale, in which Frey sat lotus for the entire duration—he reflects on the A Million Little Pieces saga; his long-term study of Taoism; writing as a gateway to vulnerability; and why love, for him, is the greatest drug there is.Special thanks to our Season 11 presenting sponsor, Van Cleef & Arpels.Show notes:James Frey[5:08] “Tao Te Ching”[5:08] Lao Tzu[5:08] Stephen Mitchell[5:08] Taoism[8:51] Cubism[13:11] “A Million Little Pieces” (2003)[14:16] “Next To Heaven” (2025)[14:16] New Canaan, Connecticut[17:14] Jackie Collins[17:14] “Hollywood Wives” (1983)[17:14] Danielle Steel[21:35] Honoré de Balzac[29:37] “Katerina” (2018) [29:37] “Full Fathom Five” (1947) by Jackson Pollock[37:14] “Larry King Live” (2006)[39:09] “Tropic of Cancer” (1971)[42:24] “Up to Me” (1985)[44:20] “Kissing a Fool” (1998)[52:22] “My Friend Leonard” (2005)[52:22] “Bright Shiny Morning” (2008)[52:22] “The Final Testament” (2011)[58:56] “Author Is Kicked Out of Oprah Winfrey's Book Club”[58:56] “James Frey: ‘I Always Wanted to Be the Outlaw'”[01:03:18] Bret Easton Ellis[01:03:18] Jay McInerney[01:03:18] Norman Mailer[01:10:54] Rashid Johnson[01:10:54] HBO's “Native Son” (2019)

Rachel and Simon speak with the novelist Jojo Moyes, live at Hay Festival. Jojo started her career as a journalist before publishing her debut novel, "Sheltering Rain", in 2002. Jojo's subsequent books - which include "Me Before You", "After You", "Still Me", "The Giver of Stars" and "Someone Else's Shoes" - have been translated into 46 languages and sold some 60 million copies worldwide. In 2016 Jojo adapted "Me Before You" into a film that grossed more than $200 million at the global box office. We spoke to Jojo about her early career as a journalist at the Independent, moving into writing fiction and her big break with "Me Before You" in 2012, and her new novel, "We All Live Here". We've made another update for those ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠who support the podcast on the crowdfunding site Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We've added 40 pages of new material to the package of successful article pitches that goes to anyone who supports the show with $5 per month or more, including new pitches to the New York Times, the Washington Post and the BBC. The whole compendium now runs to a whopping 160 pages. For Patreons who contribute $10/month we're now also releasing bonus mini-episodes. Thanks to our sponsor, Scrivener, the first ten new signs-ups at $10/month will receive a lifelong license to Scrivener worth £55/$59.99 (eight are left). This specialist word-processing software helps you organise long writing projects such as novels, academic papers and even scripts. Other Patreon rewards include signed copies of the podcast book and the opportunity to take part in a monthly call with Simon and Rachel.A new edition of “Always Take Notes: Advice From Some Of The World's Greatest Writers” - a book drawing on our podcast interviews - is available now. The updated version now includes insights from over 100 past guests on the podcast, with new contributions from Harlan Coben, Victoria Hislop, Lee Child, Megan Nolan, Jhumpa Lahiri, Philippa Gregory, Jo Nesbø, Paul Theroux, Hisham Matar and Bettany Hughes. You can order it via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waterstones⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.You can find us online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alwaystakenotes.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on Twitter @takenotesalways and on Instagram @alwaystakenotes. Always Take Notes is presented by Simon Akam and Rachel Lloyd, and produced by Artemis Irvine. Our music is by Jessica Dannheisser and our logo was designed by James Edgar.

Thank you for listening to Write On! Audio, the podcast for writers everywhere brought to you by Pen To Print Our interview for June is with Sheila O'Flanagan. Born in Dublin, author and journalist Sheila O'Flanagan  is the writer of over 20 books starting with her 1997 debut novel “Dreaming of a Stranger”.  She won the Irish Popular Fiction Book of the Year Award for her novel “ All for You” which was published in 2011.  For our interview Sheila was in conversation with Azmina Sohail and Write On! editor Madeleine White. Find out more about Sheila O'Flanagan and purchase copies of her books including her latest novel "The Honeymoon Affair" by visiting her website here https://www.sheilaoflanagan.com/ We're always delighted to read your contributions so if you'd like to see your words in Write On! or hear them on this podcast please get in touch. Please submit to: https://pentoprint.org/get-involved/submit-to-write-on/ Thank you for listening to Write On! Audio.  This edition has been presented by Tiffany Clare and produced by Chris Gregory.  Write On! Audio is an Alternative Stories production for Pen To Print. This podcast is produced using public funding from Arts Council England.

Joining Dearbhail to dissect the Sunday papers are Donnacha Ó Beacháin, Professor of Politics at the school of Law and Government, DCU, Kate English, Chief Economist for Deloitte, Philip Ryan, Head of Content with the Sunday Times, and Novelist, Catherine Prasifka

Writer's Voice: compelling conversations with authors who challenge, inspire, and inform. Episode Summary This week: Grandmaster of crime fiction Laura Lippman joins us to talk about her delightful new mystery, Murder Takes a Vacation. The novel brings back Muriel “Mrs.” Blossom—now a wealthy, single woman in her sixties—on a river cruise where art theft, murder, … Continue reading Laura Lippman on MURDER TAKES A VACATION: Art, Age, and a Woman's Right to Reinvent Herself →

https://media.blubrry.com/winning_with_the_word/content.blubrry.com/winning_with_the_word/J2025_06_21_Jesus_Christ_Is_Coming_Back_Soon_.mp3 June 21, 2025Hello and Happy Day! This is Dr. MaryAnn Diorio, Novelist and Life Coach, welcoming you to another episode of Winning with the Word. Today is Saturday, June 21, 2025, and this is episode #9 in Series 2025. This episode is titled, “Jesus Christ Is Coming Back Soon!" If you are at all in tune with world events, you very likely have heard mention of an event called the Rapture. If not, let me explain to you what the Rapture is.The Rapture is an event predicted in the Bible whereby Jesus Christ Himself will appear in the air and gather together from the four corners of the earth all those who follow Him. It will be a sudden event and will leave those who are not raptured reeling in shock as to what happened.Let me read to you directly from the Bible as it describes this cataclysmic event in 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-3:"Now about the times and seasons, brothers, we do not need to write to you. For you are fully aware that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, 'Peace and security,' destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape." (1 Thessalonians 5: 1-3)Did you catch the words "peace and security"? Have you noticed that those words are being uttered all over the news every day and are being pronounced continually in meetings at the United Nations?Friend, Jesus Christ made this prediction over 2000 years ago, and we are now seeing it being fulfilled right before our very eyes. Should this not cause us to pause and consider?You may be saying, "Well, Dr. MaryAnn, I don't believe in the Rapture. In fact, I don't even believe in Jesus."I would say to you, "You are free to believe what you choose. But what you believe does not change the truth."For example, you could say to me, "Dr. MaryAnn, I'm going to climb up on my roof and jump, but when I do, I will go up instead of down."I would say to you, "I don't think you will go up when you jump off your roof. I think you will go down and possibly get hurt. There is a law of gravity that will cause you to go down when you jump. So, if I were you, I would reconsider my belief. But, of course, you are free to believe whatever you want to believe."But know this, my friend, whatever we believe has consequences. So be prepared to face the consequences of your belief that when you jump off your roof, you will go up.The same is true about the Rapture and the Bible in general. The Bible is God's inspired word. He directed different people in different centuries to write His Word. Despite the fact that those people for the most part didn't know one another and lived centuries apart, they all wrote the same truth expressed in different ways. Doesn't that tell you something?Bottomline, we will believe what we want to believe. But we had better make sure that what we are believing is the truth. Otherwise, we will end up where we don't want to be.There are numerous signs in the Bible of the Rapture. Some will say that the word "rapture" is not in the Bible. Actually, it is. It is found in the Latin Vulgate translation as the word "rapturo." "Rapturo" means "a catching away," which is exactly what the Rapture will be—a catching away of the people of God by Jesus Christ Himself.Lest you think this is far-fetched, so is the concept of aliens far-fetched. Yet, people have no trouble believing in alien invasions. Over the decades, the world has been programmed through movies and books to believe in aliens. In fact, once all Christ-followers have left the earth, their sudden departure will be attributed to an alien abduction of inferior creatures of a lesser consciousness. (As an aside, aliens are fallen angels who rebelled against God with Lucifer, now known as Satan.)Other signs of the imminent Rapture are the world's current focus on Israel and the M...

Chelsea debuts her new career direction as she continues to chase a Pullitzer. An east coast bartender, a mom getting chemo, a literary section, a reflection on blueberries, several calls for help, Costco, and a lot of discontent. 

“Delicious, decadent, and utterly diabolical. No one serves up a scandal like Asha Elias,” writes author Kirsten Miller about this writer, mother, and reluctant socialite. Asha's acclaimed debut novel, Pink Glass Houses, is a seductive social satire about the wealthy PTA moms of an elite elementary school in Miami Beach. We read it and loved it. Her much-anticipated second novel, The Namaste Club is another delicious page-turner about rich people behaving badly, set among the wellness industrial complex, rich ladies doing yoga, and all things fabulous and Florida. It drops next month with a third in the pipeline as part of a multi-book deal with HarperCollins. Asha graduated from the University of Miami with a degree in print journalism then, fresh out of college, landed at Ocean Drive Magazine, where she spent a decade in ad sales and promotion, becoming intimately familiar with the crazy underbelly of the singular South Beach scene. During this time she became an accomplished yogi. When her first child arrived, Asha opted to be a stay-at-home mom for a few years. Until the lifelong itch to write her first novel became too strong to ignore. Asha has contributed to Cosmopolitan magazine and is currently the sex and dating columnist for Miami New Times. She lives with her family in Miami Beach, Florida.Have a Swan Dive to share? Text us!We are always looking for Swan Dive Stories to share so hit us up, send an e mail to Ron: Ron@artbikesjax.com or Stu: Stuart@stuartsheldon.com

Novelist, activist, and journalist Cory Doctorow joins Rachel and David in the cafe to talk about the enshittification of the internet and how we ended up in our current enshittogenic environment. The conversation touches on digital locks, ink that's more expensive than a Kentucky Derby winner's semen, Robert Bork's taste in movies, "Fiddler on the Roof" the documentary, and moving fast and breaking kings. Doctorow's most recent book is Picks & Shovels, and the next one to be released will be Enshittification. For more information: https://craphound.com/, https://pluralistic.net/, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation: https://www.eff.org/ . Find the full audio library of Blue Vote Café episodes at http://bluevotecafe.com. Register and request your ballot every year at votefromabroad.org.

Clay interviews the southwestern crime novelist Anne Hillerman, now publishing her 10th novel about crime-solving in the land of the Navajo in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado. Anne is the daughter of the acclaimed and bestselling Tony Hillerman, who wrote 19 novels before he died in 2008. Anne decided to carry on the tradition, and her success has been extraordinary. We talked about what it is like to be the child of a great author, how her style differs from that of her father, and why she took one of her father's minor characters, Bernadette Manuelito, and transformed her into a major figure in her work. We talked about the delicacy of non-Native writing about the Navajo world, about landscape and spirit of place, the universality of human nature, and the particularities of different cultures. We discussed the popular Hollywood TV series Dark Winds, which adapts the work of both Hillermans, Tony, and Anne.

Strap in—because this episode is an absolute ENERGY EXPLOSION. In this week's episode, I sit down with one of my closest friends and legendary coach and speaker, and now fiction author Martin Rooney, as we talk about personal reinvention, mindset, creativity, and his newest bold adventure: writing a thriller novel. Yep—you read that right. Martin's latest project, Blood Feud: Raising Cain, is his first-ever fiction thriller—and it's already making waves. Think Reacher… but better. (My family binge-watched the series AND read Martin's book. The verdict? The book wins!   But this episode is about more than a book. It's about: What it means to REINVENT yourself at any age Why you must keep saying “yes” to new challenges How to take bold creative risks—even if you fail The power of persistence, red pens, and the ONE connection that changes everything How to discover the “one-person” who could potentially open up doors to you fulfilling your dreams Lessons in leadership, family, and living a life of constant evolution Martin and I go back over 30 years, and in this conversation, we bring the fire, the stories, and the wisdom. Whether you're in fitness, business, writing—or just feeling the nudge to pivot—this episode is for YOU. If this episode fired you up please be sure to share it with your friends and family.  You can tag us on IG at: @ToddDurkin @theMartinRooney #ToddDurkin #MartinRooney #IMPACTShow #Podcast #BloodFeud #Reacher #PerformBetter Grab Martin's book: Blood Feud: Raising Cain → [Get Yours Here] Want to write your own book? Reach out to Scriptor Publishing Group as they can help you go from dream to self-published to #1 Best-Selling Author. Check them out and set up a discovery call today at www.scriptorpublushinggroup.com Martin Rooney is no stranger to the fight. An internationally renowned fitness expert and combat sports specialist, Martin has spent over three decades in the trenches of physical and mental warfare. With a Master of Health Science and a Bachelor of Physical Therapy from the Medical University of South Carolina, alongside a BA in Exercise Science from Furman University, Martin's journey has been anything but ordinary. A former D-1 javelin thrower, U.S. bobsledder and two-time Guinness World Record holder, Martin is also the creator of the Training for Warriors system, which has transformed lives around the globe. His expertise doesn't stop there—he's a Kodokan judo black belt and a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu brown belt who has trained UFC champions, Olympic medalists, and world champions in a number of different disciplines. He has also shared his hand fighting programming with the NY Giants, NY Jets and the University of Notre Dame football. As a professional speaker, Martin has presented for Fortune 500 giants like Nike and Prudential and visited with elite military organizations like the Navy SEALs and Army Rangers. Now serving as Chancellor of Lionel University, Martin has penned 12 previous books, but BloodFeud: Raising Cain is his first foray into thriller fiction. He lives in North Carolina with his wife and four daughters. And as you might imagine, they put him through his paces every day.

“S” is for Sinclair, Bennie Lee (1939-2000). Novelist, poet.

Alina Adams is a New York Times bestselling author whose latest historical novel, Go On Pretending, explores three generations of Jewish women battling the tides of history from segregated 1950s America to the fall of the USSR to the rise of revolutionary Rojava. Co-hosts: Jonathan Friedmann & Joey Angel-Field Producer-engineer: Mike Tomren Alina's websitehttps://alinaadams.com/ Go On Pretendinghttps://www.historythroughfiction.com/go-on-pretendingAlina's Substackhttps://alinaa.substack.com/Amusing Jews Merch Storehttps://www.amusingjews.com/merch#!/ Subscribe to the Amusing Jews podcasthttps://www.spreaker.com/show/amusing-jews Adat Chaverim – Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Los Angeleshttps://www.humanisticjudaismla.org/ Jewish Museum of the American Westhttps://www.jmaw.org/ Atheists United Studioshttps://www.atheistsunited.org/au-studios

Watch the best scene reading: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Di-SUrGZcgI https://www.instagram.com/joaomacongo_/ https://www.joaomacongo.com/about Get to know the writer: What is your novel about? The Origin of Humanity: A Real Dream is a deeply spiritual and philosophical novel inspired by a vivid dream I had. It explores the mysterious beginnings of humanity through a cosmic journey of creation, identity, mortality, and divine purpose. The story is both mystical and grounded, merging poetic storytelling with existential questions that challenge the reader to reflect on the meaning of life and the courage to awaken. What genres would you say this story is in? Spiritual Fiction, Metaphysical Fantasy, Philosophical Sci-Fi, Visionary Fiction. How would you describe this story in two words? Divine Awakening What movie have you seen the most in your life? The Matrix — for its blend of philosophy, reality-bending concepts, and spiritual undertones. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?) “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac — it's timeless, haunting, and resonates with the journey of vision and destiny. Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod/ https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

June 14, 2025Hello and Happy Day! This is Dr. MaryAnn Diorio, Novelist and Life Coach, welcoming you to another episode of Winning with the Word. Today is Saturday, June 14, 2025, and this is episode #8 in Series 2025. This episode is titled, “An Interview with Dr. Dominic Diorio on the End Times." Listen here! Friend, if you want to escape not only the horrors of the Great Tribulation but also the horrors of an eternity in Hell, accept Jesus Christ now. Don't wait another moment. Pray this simple prayer with me now:Lord Jesus, I want to escape the unspeakable horrors of the Great Tribulation that is soon to begin. Even more than that, I want to escape the eternal fires of Hell. So I ask You now to come into my life. I believe that You are the Son of God Who died to save me and Who rose from the dead. I receive You as my Savior and Lord. Help me to live for You all the days of my life. In Your Name I pray. Amen.If you sincerely prayed this prayer from your heart, you are now a born-again child of God. You have been given an inheritance by God Himself that includes hope, peace, and joy. Write to me at drmaryannn@maryanndiorio.com, and I will send you a free PDF e-booklet titled After You're Born Again. In case you are not aware, I write heart-mending fiction that deals with the deepest issues of life. In my stories you will find characters just like you who struggle with what look like impossible problems and situations. Check out my books at my online bookstore at shop.maryanndiorio.com. That's shop.maryanndiorio.com. Also, visit me on Substack at drmaryanndiorio.substack.com and subscribe to my blog and podcast titled “The Relationship Road.” There you will find valuable information on creating and cultivating healthful relationships based on God's Word.Winning with the Word is available on Apple Podcasts and other major podcast venues as well as on YouTube. Check out my YouTube channel at youtube.com/drmaryanndiorio.Until next time, remember that God loves you just as you are and just where you are. Yet He doesn't want to keep you there. As you live in Him, He will help you to keep on winning with the Word._______________________________________Copyright 2025 by MaryAnn Diorio, PhD. All Rights Reserved. Visit my ONLINE BOOKSHOP.

Writer's Voice: compelling conversations with authors who challenge, inspire, and inform. Episode Summary This week on Writer's Voice, two authors of speculative fiction explore what it means to be human in a world shaped by crisis, autocracy, and extinction. First, Ray Nayler discusses Where the Axe is Buried, a gripping novel that imagines a future … Continue reading AI, Autocracy, and Afterlife: Sci Fi Novelists Ray Nayler & Tim Weed →

"The long term survival of life on earth has never really been in doubt...it's the survival of homo sapiens that has been in question." That stark reminder, or perhaps warning, comes from one of the central characters in the new novel by Vermont author Tim Weed called "The Afterlife Project."Guest host Mitch Wertlieb speaks with the Putney-based writer about what inspired his book--which blends elements of climate fact with science fiction, telling a story that stretches from the not too distant future to a world that in ten thousand years is visited by one man who may or may not be the last surviving member of an otherwise wiped-out human race.Plus, we'll discuss some of the better ways you can feel like the last person on earth by exploring great out-of-the-way wilderness hikes with Claire Polfus, a recreation program manager for the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation.

“I highly recommend just choosing and curating the stories that you want to in the world that you think need to be told, but that nobody else knows apart from you because you've just uncovered the stories.” – Tash Doherty Today's featured best-selling bookcaster is a British-Irish-American writer, advocate, a Turner Social Impact Scholar, and an SEO content analytics consultant, Tash Doherty. Tash and I talked about her book, “These Perfectly Careless Things: A Spicy, Coming-of-Age Debut Novel”, her experiences with PTSD, the healing power of writing, and more!!Key Things You'll Learn:What inspired Tash to move from London to the US and settle in MexicoHow she survived her near-death experience (NDE) in OaxacaThe pressure of post-traumatic growth, and how the NDE experience reoriented her prioritiesWhat helped her finally publish her book after Her top three lessons from starting, running, and growing her podcastTash's Site: https://www.tashdoherty.com/Tash's Book: https://a.co/d/aQlQapPTash's Substack: https://misseducated.substack.com/Tash's Podcast, “Misseducated”: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/misseducated/id1418075183The opening track is titled, “North Wind and the Sun” by Trevin P. To listen to and download the full track, click the following link. https://compilationsforhumanity.bandcamp.com/track/north-wind-and-the-sunPlease support today's podcast to keep this content coming! CashApp: $DomBrightmonDonate on PayPal: @DBrightmonBuy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dombrightmonGet Going North T-Shirts, Stickers, and More: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/dom-brightmonThe Going North Advancement Compass: https://a.co/d/bA9awotYou May Also Like…Ep. 750 – Surviving Human Trafficking & Finding Purpose with Amanda Blackwood (@DetailedPieces): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-750-surviving-human-trafficking-finding-purpose-with-amanda-blackwood-detailedpieces/Ep. 807 – Inside The Mind of The Author Activist with Dawn Bates (@msdawnbates33): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-807-inside-the-mind-of-the-author-activist-with-dawn-bates-msdawnbates33/Ep. 715 – “From Confronting Harassment to Closing Deals” with Susan Gold (@sgoldconsulting): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-715-from-confronting-harassment-to-closing-deals-with-susan-gold-sgoldconsulting/#Bonus Ep. – “Perfectly Flawed” with Janae Sergio (@janae_sergio): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/bonus-ep-perfectly-flawed-with-janae-sergio-janae_sergio/Ep. 726 – “Unleash Your Uniqueness” with Catherine Llewellyn (@CatherineLlew10): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-726-unleash-your-uniqueness-with-catherine-llewellyn-catherinellew10/291 – “Unleash the Goddess Within” with Diane Vich (@dianevich): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/291-unleash-the-goddess-within-with-diane-vich-dianevich-c2h/107 - "A Life By Design" with Kirsty Salisbury (@kirstysalis): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/107-a-life-by-design-with-kirsty-salisbury-kirstysalis/

https://media.blubrry.com/winning_with_the_word/content.blubrry.com/winning_with_the_word/2025_06_07_The_Truth_about_Depression.mp3 June 7, 2025 Hello and Happy Day! This is Dr. MaryAnn Diorio, Novelist and Life Coach, welcoming you to another episode of Winning with the Word. Today is Saturday, June 7, 2025, and this is episode #7 in Series 2025. This episode is titled, "The Truth about Depression."In the past few months, I have received far too much tragic news about people who have committed suicide. Some of these were middle-grade and teenage children!Friend, this should not be. These tragedies lead us to ask ourselves what is going on? Why is this happening? And why is it happening at younger and younger ages? Also, why is depression now so commonplace, to the point that it has become an epidemic and a household word?When I was a young teen, I was excited about my future, despite the fact that I was then living in a very difficult family situation. I had dreams and goals and the hope and ambition to pursue them. But far fewer young people today have that same hope and ambition. Instead, they are drowning in a sea of depression and despair, with no seeming way of escape.But young people aren't the only ones affected by depression and hopelessness. More and more people are complaining of being trapped in the grips of depression, with no hope for a future. The number of people taking mental health medications has skyrocketed, to the point that these people cannot function normally without them. Anxiety prevails, causing people to resort to drastic measures to obtain a semblance of peace. Something has gone drastically wrong. And while the solution is right under our noses, few are willing to look there. So, let's explore this problem of depression and uncover what is really going on behind the scenes., I think you will agree that for every effect there has to be a cause. This is simple logic. While we may not know the cause, we know there is one because logic demands as much. So, when we witness increasing incidences of depression and despair in a culture, a despair increasingly resulting in suicide, we need to trace these effects back to their original cause. Once we know the cause, we can take measures to alleviate the cause and, thereby, create a different effect.With that thought in mind, let's take a look at the last 75 to 100 years in America and in western civilization as a whole. How would we describe the state of the world 100 years ago vs. the state of the world today? What is the mindset of people today vs. the mindset of people living in the first part of the 20th century? As you follow along with me, I think you will discover some very interesting facts.Having conducted my own research on the topic—and, better yet, having lived on this earth through nearly 80 of those 100 most recent years—here are two observations I have made: 1) One hundred years ago, in the first half of the 20th century, the cultural consensus was rooted in a Judeo-Christian philosophy of life. While many people were not Christians, the majority of the population respected and lived by the Judeo-Christian principles espoused in the Ten Commandments. Lest you do not know what these principles are, they can be summed up in what we call the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. In other words, treat other people as you would like them to treat you.In fact, 100 years ago most people lived by these principles. Yes, there were evil people back then just as there are today and have been throughout human history. But the culture as a whole did not look favorably upon evil people. Their behavior was considered shameful. And that public disapproval—that peer pressure, as it were, against wrongdoing— provided a great deterrent to evil.Take pregnancy outside of marriage, for example. A girl in my high school became pregnant outside of marriage and was expelled from school.

Kerouac's Road: The Beat of a Nation debuted at the Tribeca Festival in New York City last night

Bestselling thriller writers Gillian McAllister and Holly Seddon talk to brilliant Curtis Brown foreign rights agent, Tanja Goossens, about what foreign publishers are looking for, how the whole foreign rights side of publishing works and what really happens at book fairs. 

Writer's Voice: compelling conversations with authors who challenge, inspire, and inform. Episode Summary In this episode of Writer's Voice, we explore how language shapes history—and how stories shape culture. We first speak with Laura Spinney, author of Proto: How One Ancient Language Went Global. She takes us into the world of Proto-Indo-European, a language spoken … Continue reading Laura Spinney & Tonya Todd on Language, Myth & Resistance →

In the spotlight is Christine Estima — playwright, novelist, a performer. Her debut novel, “Letters to Kafka” is scheduled for release in September, and was preceded by her debut book, “The Syrian Ladies Benevolent Society,” named one of the best books of 2023 by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.  We discuss:  >> Milena Jesenská, the Czech writer and translator of Franz Kafka novels >> Short stories versus novels >> How to respect one's readers >> The Arab immigrant experience >> Finding literary agents >> Shut Up & Write! The free global writing community >> Etc. Learn more about Christine Estima here: https://www.christineestima.com/home/ Novelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18no Write to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com

Have you always thought you could do with some expert guidance when reading Iris's philosophy? Well help is at hand! This episode marks the start of a new mini-series of episodes where we'll be reading Iris's collected essay collection – Existentialists and Mystics – with a team of excellent academics and seasoned readers, and you can join us for the experience! Each episode will focus on a small number of essays – or perhaps just one essay if it is substantial in length – and explore exactly what Murdoch was up to and how the essay fits in with her overall vision. We'll keep in roughly chronological order, starting with her work from the 1950s and ending up in the mid-1980s with her two Platonic dialogues. Although Existentialists and Mystics doesn't contain all of her published philosophy it's a great place to start so, if you've not got a copy, you can pick one up very reasonably second-hand via this link: https://www.bookfinder.com/search/?isbn=9780140264920&st=xl&ac=qr In this episode we're starting out with her earliest material on Existentialism – closely reading ‘The Existentialist Hero' and ‘The Novelist as Metaphysician' as well as her review of Simone de Beauvoir's The Ethics of Ambiguity – all from 1950. The two essays were originally given as talks on BBC Radio's The Third Programme; and are the groundwork for her first monograph, Sartre: Romantic Rationalist that would be published just a few years later in 1953. Joining Miles is Sam Filby, currently working on his PhD thesis on Murdoch at Northwestern University, Chicago; and the current recipient of the BSH research fund. His work focuses on Murdoch's aesthetics and moral psychology

“I always say to young writers, you need to put your heart on the page. Don't worry about being like anyone else. I would say that foremost, in any of the arts, it is self-expression at its core. I don't buy rules or a set criteria or a static criteria. I don't believe in any of that. I think the most exciting talents are kind of inexplicable. You can't really understand why that art works. It just does, and that feels like it comes from a very pure place.I think that it all goes back to childhood. I've always really been writing about family. I suppose we always are. I do think that it is the original wound, and it's where we are kind of wired and built from those early years. So I think every other relationship just replicates that. It's very natural for me to go there, I suppose because the feelings are most intense there. We just keep recycling these relationships and dynamics over and over again—until maybe someday we can catch ourselves and try to break the bad patterns. It feels the most visceral and real to me, always. You're always looking for that in writing. You want everything to be at this peak intensity, or at least I do. That seems the most natural place to start.”Megan Abbott is the Edgar award-winning author of twelve crime novels, including Beware the Woman, You Will Know Me, Give Me Your Hand, and the New York Times bestseller The Turnout, the winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. She received her Ph.D. in English and American literature from New York University, and her writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Guardian, the Paris Review and the Wall Street Journal. Dare Me, the series she adapted from her own novel, now streaming on Netflix. Her latest novel, El Dorado Drive, is available June 24, 2025.Episode Websitewww.creativeprocess.info/podInstagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

“I always say to young writers, you need to put your heart on the page. Don't worry about being like anyone else. I would say that foremost, in any of the arts, it is self-expression at its core. I don't buy rules or a set criteria or a static criteria. I don't believe in any of that. I think the most exciting talents are kind of inexplicable. You can't really understand why that art works. It just does, and that feels like it comes from a very pure place.I think that it all goes back to childhood. I've always really been writing about family. I suppose we always are. I do think that it is the original wound, and it's where we are kind of wired and built from those early years. So I think every other relationship just replicates that. It's very natural for me to go there, I suppose because the feelings are most intense there. We just keep recycling these relationships and dynamics over and over again—until maybe someday we can catch ourselves and try to break the bad patterns. It feels the most visceral and real to me, always. You're always looking for that in writing. You want everything to be at this peak intensity, or at least I do. That seems the most natural place to start.”Megan Abbott is the Edgar award-winning author of twelve crime novels, including Beware the Woman, You Will Know Me, Give Me Your Hand, and the New York Times bestseller The Turnout, the winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. She received her Ph.D. in English and American literature from New York University, and her writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Guardian, the Paris Review and the Wall Street Journal. Dare Me, the series she adapted from her own novel, now streaming on Netflix. Her latest novel, El Dorado Drive, is available June 24, 2025.Episode Websitewww.creativeprocess.info/podInstagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

“I always say to young writers, you need to put your heart on the page. Don't worry about being like anyone else. I would say that foremost, in any of the arts, it is self-expression at its core. I don't buy rules or a set criteria or a static criteria. I don't believe in any of that. I think the most exciting talents are kind of inexplicable. You can't really understand why that art works. It just does, and that feels like it comes from a very pure place.I think that it all goes back to childhood. I've always really been writing about family. I suppose we always are. I do think that it is the original wound, and it's where we are kind of wired and built from those early years. So I think every other relationship just replicates that. It's very natural for me to go there, I suppose because the feelings are most intense there. We just keep recycling these relationships and dynamics over and over again—until maybe someday we can catch ourselves and try to break the bad patterns. It feels the most visceral and real to me, always. You're always looking for that in writing. You want everything to be at this peak intensity, or at least I do. That seems the most natural place to start.”Megan Abbott is the Edgar award-winning author of twelve crime novels, including Beware the Woman, You Will Know Me, Give Me Your Hand, and the New York Times bestseller The Turnout, the winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. She received her Ph.D. in English and American literature from New York University, and her writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Guardian, the Paris Review and the Wall Street Journal. Dare Me, the series she adapted from her own novel, now streaming on Netflix. Her latest novel, El Dorado Drive, is available June 24, 2025.Episode Websitewww.creativeprocess.info/podInstagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

“I always say to young writers, you need to put your heart on the page. Don't worry about being like anyone else. I would say that foremost, in any of the arts, it is self-expression at its core. I don't buy rules or a set criteria or a static criteria. I don't believe in any of that. I think the most exciting talents are kind of inexplicable. You can't really understand why that art works. It just does, and that feels like it comes from a very pure place.I think that it all goes back to childhood. I've always really been writing about family. I suppose we always are. I do think that it is the original wound, and it's where we are kind of wired and built from those early years. So I think every other relationship just replicates that. It's very natural for me to go there, I suppose because the feelings are most intense there. We just keep recycling these relationships and dynamics over and over again—until maybe someday we can catch ourselves and try to break the bad patterns. It feels the most visceral and real to me, always. You're always looking for that in writing. You want everything to be at this peak intensity, or at least I do. That seems the most natural place to start.”Megan Abbott is the Edgar award-winning author of twelve crime novels, including Beware the Woman, You Will Know Me, Give Me Your Hand, and the New York Times bestseller The Turnout, the winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. She received her Ph.D. in English and American literature from New York University, and her writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Guardian, the Paris Review and the Wall Street Journal. Dare Me, the series she adapted from her own novel, now streaming on Netflix. Her latest novel, El Dorado Drive, is available June 24, 2025.Episode Websitewww.creativeprocess.info/podInstagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

“I always say to young writers, you need to put your heart on the page. Don't worry about being like anyone else. I would say that foremost, in any of the arts, it is self-expression at its core. I don't buy rules or a set criteria or a static criteria. I don't believe in any of that. I think the most exciting talents are kind of inexplicable. You can't really understand why that art works. It just does, and that feels like it comes from a very pure place.I think that it all goes back to childhood. I've always really been writing about family. I suppose we always are. I do think that it is the original wound, and it's where we are kind of wired and built from those early years. So I think every other relationship just replicates that. It's very natural for me to go there, I suppose because the feelings are most intense there. We just keep recycling these relationships and dynamics over and over again—until maybe someday we can catch ourselves and try to break the bad patterns. It feels the most visceral and real to me, always. You're always looking for that in writing. You want everything to be at this peak intensity, or at least I do. That seems the most natural place to start.”Megan Abbott is the Edgar award-winning author of twelve crime novels, including Beware the Woman, You Will Know Me, Give Me Your Hand, and the New York Times bestseller The Turnout, the winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. She received her Ph.D. in English and American literature from New York University, and her writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Guardian, the Paris Review and the Wall Street Journal. Dare Me, the series she adapted from her own novel, now streaming on Netflix. Her latest novel, El Dorado Drive, is available June 24, 2025.Episode Websitewww.creativeprocess.info/podInstagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

“I think that it all goes back to childhood. I've always really been writing about family. I suppose we always are. I do think that it is the original wound, and it's where we are kind of wired and built from those early years. So I think every other relationship just replicates that. It's very natural for me to go there, I suppose because the feelings are most intense there. We just keep recycling these relationships and dynamics over and over again—until maybe someday we can catch ourselves and try to break the bad patterns. It feels the most visceral and real to me, always. You're always looking for that in writing. You want everything to be at this peak intensity, or at least I do. That seems the most natural place to start.I've thought about that a lot while writing the book. We really are in the age of the grifter, as they keep saying. In some ways, it's the most deeply American type, the hustler of American aspiration. And money, I think that was hovering in my head when I wrote the book. How women persuade and convince one another of things feels particularly complex to me. I think there are so many layers to female relationships. That was really interesting to me to pursue because, in some ways, it's much more veiled and complex. So I tend to write about groups of women a lot, regardless of the field, but particularly the way they communicate or don't communicate, or communicate without words to one another, is an ongoing fascination of mine.”Megan Abbott is the Edgar award-winning author of twelve crime novels, including Beware the Woman, You Will Know Me, Give Me Your Hand, and the New York Times bestseller The Turnout, the winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. She received her Ph.D. in English and American literature from New York University, and her writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Guardian, the Paris Review and the Wall Street Journal. Dare Me, the series she adapted from her own novel, now streaming on Netflix. Her latest novel, El Dorado Drive, is available June 24, 2025.Episode Websitewww.creativeprocess.info/podInstagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

“I think that it all goes back to childhood. I've always really been writing about family. I suppose we always are. I do think that it is the original wound, and it's where we are kind of wired and built from those early years. So I think every other relationship just replicates that. It's very natural for me to go there, I suppose because the feelings are most intense there. We just keep recycling these relationships and dynamics over and over again—until maybe someday we can catch ourselves and try to break the bad patterns. It feels the most visceral and real to me, always. You're always looking for that in writing. You want everything to be at this peak intensity, or at least I do. That seems the most natural place to start.I've thought about that a lot while writing the book. We really are in the age of the grifter, as they keep saying. In some ways, it's the most deeply American type, the hustler of American aspiration. And money, I think that was hovering in my head when I wrote the book. How women persuade and convince one another of things feels particularly complex to me. I think there are so many layers to female relationships. That was really interesting to me to pursue because, in some ways, it's much more veiled and complex. So I tend to write about groups of women a lot, regardless of the field, but particularly the way they communicate or don't communicate, or communicate without words to one another, is an ongoing fascination of mine.”Megan Abbott is the Edgar award-winning author of twelve crime novels, including Beware the Woman, You Will Know Me, Give Me Your Hand, and the New York Times bestseller The Turnout, the winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. She received her Ph.D. in English and American literature from New York University, and her writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Guardian, the Paris Review and the Wall Street Journal. Dare Me, the series she adapted from her own novel, now streaming on Netflix. Her latest novel, El Dorado Drive, is available June 24, 2025.Episode Websitewww.creativeprocess.info/podInstagram:@creativeprocesspodcast

Novelist and writer Jarett Kobek talks about his book on Kenneth Anger's seminal art film Invocation of My Demon Brother. The film can be seen here. The book can be ordered here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the spotlight is Hank Quense, whose latest book is titled “The Author's AI Tool Kit: From Concept to Publication.” Quense's fiction works include the Gundarland series, the Princess Moxie series, and the soon-to-be-published Zaftan series. His non-fiction books include titles such as “How to Self-Publish and Market a Book, “Book Marketing Fundamentals, “Business Basics for Authors,” and “Creating Your First Novel.”Quense has been strongly influenced by two authors in particular: Douglas Adams and his novel “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy,” and the Joseph Heller classic “Catch-22.”Learn more about Hank Quense here: https://hankquense.comNovelist Spotlight is produced and hosted by Mike Consol. Check out his novels here: https://snip.ly/yz18noWrite to Mike Consol at novelistspotlight@gmail.com

B.A. Shapiro's The Lost Masterpiece can be preordered on Amazon HERE.Berthe Morisot was a female Impressionist painter active in Paris during the second half of the 19th century. She exhibited her work alongside famed Impressionist artists Monet, Degas, and Renoir, among others, and was the only woman to be included in the first major show of Impressionist art in 1874. Despite the many limitations she faced as a female artist of her time, Morisot established herself as an integral member of the Impressionist group. She also modeled for a number of paintings by Manet, and though she was married to his brother, many believe that Manet and Morisot were engaged in a long-run secret affair.B.A. Shapiro is a New York Times best selling author. In 2013, she was awarded the New England Book Award for Fiction for her novel, The Art Forger. Over her impressive career as an author, she has written both novels and screenplays, as well as a non-fiction self help book. Be sure to follow ArtMuse on Instagram & TikTok. Donate to ArtMuse HERE.ArtMuse is produced by Kula Production Company.Today's episode was written by host Grace Anna.There are accompanying images, resources and suggestions for further reading on the ArtMuse website and Instagram.

Today we look back at the episodes that aired in the month of May. So you'll hear from from Ben Lumber and Jack Rogers from Acres, Carlos Alverez of Behölder, Johan Längqvist of Candlemass, Daniel Winter-Bates of Bury Tomorrow, Camille Contreras of Novelists, Robert Leht and Martin Randalu of Pridian, Johan Sébenne and Pierre Anouilh of Year Of No Light, and Steve Cobucci of Wolves At The Gate!DiscordPatreonSubstackEmail: asthestorygrows@gmail.comMusic:Acres - "Not So Different"Behölder - "A Pale Blood Sky"Candlemass - "Black Star"Bury Tomorrow - "Villain Arc"Novelists - "Say My Name"Pridian - "Cyanide Dream"Year Of No Light - "Interdit aux Vivants, aux Morts et aux Chiens"Wolves At The Gate - "Death Clock"

“R” is for Ravenel, Harriott Horry Rutledge (1832-1912). Novelist, biographer, historian.

Rachel and Simon speak to the novelist and journalist Diana Evans. Born and brought up in London and Lagos, Diana started her career as a journalist. She has written for publications including the Guardian, Harper's Bazaar, the New York Review of Books, Time and Vogue. After she completed an MA in Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia, Diana published her debut novel, “26a”, in 2005; the book won the inaugural Orange Award for New Writers and was shortlisted for the Whitbread First Novel and the Commonwealth Best First Book. “The Wonder”, which drew on Diana's own experience as a dancer, followed in 2009. Diana's third novel, “Ordinary People” (2018), was widely feted: it won the South Bank Sky Arts Award for Literature and was shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction, the Rathbones Folio Prize and the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction. Her fourth book, “A House for Alice” (2023), was also shortlisted for the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction. We spoke to Diana about “I Want to Talk to You and Other Conversations”, a collection of her journalism, publishing “26a” and moving between fiction and non-fiction. We've made another update for those ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠who support the podcast on the crowdfunding site Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We've added 40 pages of new material to the package of successful article pitches that goes to anyone who supports the show with $5 per month or more, including new pitches to the New York Times, the Washington Post and the BBC. The whole compendium now runs to a whopping 160 pages. For Patreons who contribute $10/month we're now also releasing bonus mini-episodes. Thanks to our sponsor, Scrivener, the first ten new signs-ups at $10/month will receive a lifelong license to Scrivener worth £55/$59.99 (nine are left). This specialist word-processing software helps you organise long writing projects such as novels, academic papers and even scripts. Other Patreon rewards include signed copies of the podcast book and the opportunity to take part in a monthly call with Simon and Rachel.A new edition of “Always Take Notes: Advice From Some Of The World's Greatest Writers” - a book drawing on our podcast interviews - is available now. The updated version now includes insights from over 100 past guests on the podcast, with new contributions from Harlan Coben, Victoria Hislop, Lee Child, Megan Nolan, Jhumpa Lahiri, Philippa Gregory, Jo Nesbø, Paul Theroux, Hisham Matar and Bettany Hughes. You can order it via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waterstones⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.You can find us online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alwaystakenotes.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on Twitter @takenotesalways and on Instagram @alwaystakenotes. Always Take Notes is presented by Simon Akam and Rachel Lloyd, and produced by Artemis Irvine. Our music is by Jessica Dannheisser and our logo was designed by James Edgar.

The bestselling Irish author grew up on a farm set on “50 acres on the side of a hill”. Growing up, she witnessed a harsh, misogynistic country that convinced her she would never marry. Claire shares what she has learned about writing from a litter of newborn piglets.Her works Small Things Like These and Foster have both been made into movies.Claire's stories often take place in the landscape where she grew up — the farms and small towns of Wexford in Southeast Ireland.Claire was the youngest of six children, and when she was born their farmhouse had no running water and few books.Instead, Claire fell in love with horses.As a small child she would go to the wood with her brother, who was a lumberjack.Amongst the chainsaws and workmen, little Claire would drive a harnessed horse from behind, to the roadside, to help clear the heavy trees. And as she grew older, she developed a fierce determination to live life on her own terms.This episode was produced by Alice Moldovan. Conversations Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison. Presented by Sarah Kanowski.This episode of Conversations touches on marriage, Magdalene laundries, contraception, Ireland, Catholicism, big Irish families, horsemanship, starting brumbies, skewbald Connemara pony, New Orleans, writing, literary prizes, farms, personal stories, epic life stories, family dynamics and modern history.Further informationListen to Sarah's interview with Queensland horseman, Ken Faulkner.

Novelist, curator, humanitarian, conscious business leader and modern mystic Renee Blodgett has lived multiple lives in one. Having traveled around the world, she has plenty of stories, from riding elephants in the Indian jungle and photographing polar bears in northern Canada to teaching English in Kenya, exploring glaciers in Iceland and selling kilims in Turkey. She has lived in eleven countries, including South Africa during Apartheid and the Gaza Strip.  Her multicultural background and years of experience as a communications strategist have led to a career of uplifting others through content, speaking, coaching and leading. Known as a master of storytelling, she has written for several magazines and networks and her own award-winning online travel magazine, We Blog the World, which reaches over half a million globally.   Renee has launched award-winning campaigns for start-ups and Fortune 500 brands for nearly thirty years and has appeared as a spokesperson on major network broadcast stations and global business media. Renee has worked with celebrities, actors, Grammy Award musicians and renowned technology entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley, Europe, Australia and Asia.    Feeling that soul was missing from the industry, she launched Blue Soul Media, which serves as a bridge between Spirit and Business. Today, she helps women step into their authentic voices and embrace a life that aligns with their soul's calling. Additionally, she teaches about consciousness with her partner and they lead retreats and membership programs focusing on heart-centered living, universal consciousness, masculine and feminine balance, and the connection to our human existence's inherent beauty and power.  Their bestselling book Magdalene's Journey encourages people to rethink our patriarchal-dictated history through the eyes of a pivotal woman. She feels that our traditional conditioning in the West, especially through Abrahamic religions, has led to women feeling shame around sex, their bodies and sensuality and, as a result, a loss of empowerment.  She is also the host of her own podcast Blue Soul CHATS podcast  and the Blue Soul Summit video series, where she has interviewed nearly a hundred visionaries. Renee also launched the Magdalene Collection, a jewelry line dedicated to women's voices and unsung stories. Each piece is connected to one of nine archetypes we can all access at any time as a pathway to empowerment, rising above trauma and inner joy.   Links to Offerings: ·      Websites: www.bluesoulearth.com and www.bluesoulmedia.com ·      Book Website: www.magdalenesjourney.com ·      Jewelry Line website: www.themagdalenecollection.com ·      Blue Soul CHATS Podcast: Blue Soul CHATS podcast  ·      Blue Soul Summit video series: www.bluesoulsummit.com ·      Blue Soul Earth on Instagram: www.instagram.com/bluesoulearth ·      Magdalene's Journey on Instagram: www.instagram.com/magdalenesjourney ·      Magdalene Collection on Instagram: www.instagram.com/magdalenecollection ·      We Blog the World (travel magazine): www.weblogtheworld.com ·      Study with Spirit: Courses & Meditations: www.studywithspirit.com Santa Cruz! Come to one of our next live shows for our Who's Your Daddy Tour: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.shamelesssex.com/whos-your-daddy-tour⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get premium access to our behind the scenes episodes here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shamelesssex.supportingcast.fm⁠⁠⁠⁠ Do you love us? Do you REALLY love us? Then order ⁠⁠⁠⁠our book⁠⁠⁠⁠ now! Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠shamelesssex.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to snag your copy Support Shameless Sex by sending us gifts via our ⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon Wish List⁠⁠⁠⁠ Other links: Get 10% off + free shipping with code SHAMELESS on Uberlube AKA our favorite lubricant at ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://uberlube.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get 10% off while learning the art of pleasure at ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://OMGyes.com/shameless⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get 15% off all of your sex toys with code SHAMELESSSEX at ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://purepleasureshop.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas is an acclaimed Hollywood agent and film producer. She's worked with iconic stars like Julia Roberts and Jennifer Lopez, even producing JLO's smash hit movie Maid In Manhattan. Goldsmith-Thomas rose through the ranks at multiple talent agencies, when the was dominated by men. In her debut novel, Climbing In Heels, her female characters navigate "the wild West" of 1980s Hollywood. Goldsmith-Thomas opened up to Hoda about surviving in the old boys club and rediscovering her motivation after her mother died.