The podcast that shares the writerly convos that writers have when no one is listening (even if they *are* listening) - looking to demystify the writerly process, share the inner thoughts that don't always align with the outer successes and as much inspo as possible without worrying about sticking to script or filtering for trending content. We aim to deliver REAL writerly convos in about 45 minutes, so you can feel inspired to keep going on your own writerly path!
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Talking to Karen Brooks, author of The Extraordinary Florence Stoker
Karen Brooks joined me to talk about her latest historical novel, The Extraordinary Florence Stoker; the story of the woman that history has dismissed as Bram Stoker's cold, indifferent wife. Karen shares her own her path from academia (a PhD in cultural studies and 18 years as a newspaper columnist) to YA fantasy and, eventually, historical fiction, including the unpublished fantasy trilogy (that she says she's keeping in that bottom drawer). We dig into: how a quick Google of Florence turned up an engagement to Oscar Wilde and a copyright battle over Nosferatu that still shapes creative contracts today, how Karen writes feminist history while intentionally refusing to impose a modern lens, why she elevates the men who were left out of the record too, and how she handles the gaps where the historical record simply runs out. She wants readers to keep asking themselves the question: was Florence happy?
Connect with Karen more here...
Website - https://www.karenrbrooks.com (https://www.karenrbrooks.com)
Instagram - @karenbrooksauthor (https://instagram.com/karenbrooksauthor)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
29 Oct 2026
Talking to Nick Croydon, author of Nautilus
Nick Croydon is the CEO of QBD Books, one of Australia's best-known bookselling chains, and the author of the bestselling debut The Turing Protocol and its new follow-up, Nautilus. In this episode, Nick traces his path from auditing the bank in the basement of Harrods to running a bookstore empire (from 55 stores to nearly 100), and explains how his love of history and a time-slip machine became a thriller series.
We dig into the new book's big question — don't fear the technology, fear the people who have access to it — plus greed, the lies that spiral out of control, and the rise of AI-powered scams aimed at authors. Nick also shares what it was really like to be a debut author from the bookseller's side of the counter, and what he's changed in his own stores as a result.
Connect with Nick on Instagram @theturingprotocol (instagram.com/theturingprotocol )
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
22 Oct 2026
Talking to Whitney Fitzsimmons, author of The Rising
Whitney Fitzsimmons spent decades mastering the tight, formulaic world of broadcast journalism — so when she finally sat down to write her debut novel, The Rising, the sheer freedom of fiction nearly stopped her in her tracks. In this episode, Whitney walks through how a flood-ravaged fictional town called Birradurra and a twenty-year-old cold case came to her almost fully formed, why she built herself a literal “resistance bear” to wrestle with self-doubt during the first draft, and the long road from rejected agent pitches to landing with Ventura publisher, Jane Curry.
She also gives us a first look at what's next: a possible sequel to The Rising, and an entirely new project pairing a jaded old-school crime journalist with a whip-smart young cadet.
Connect with Whitney:
Website: whitneyfitzsimmons.com (https://www.whitneyfitzsimmons.com )
Instagram: @whitneyfitzsimmons (instagram.com/whitneyfitzsimmons)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
Reach and audience
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 11 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
22
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
0
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