Writes4Women

About Writes4Women

Writes4Women is all about celebrating women's voices and supporting women writers. It's about writing the voice, reading the voice and being the voice. Every week host Pamela Cook, or a special guest host, interviews an outstanding female, trans or non-binary author about their books, writing process and life. Transcript available via the Writes4Women website. Video of most episodes available on the Writes4Women youtube channel. You can find out more about Writes4Women at www.writes4women.com writes4women.substack.com (https://writes4women.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Pamela Cook

Category

arts · fiction

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

25 Nov 2022

Latest episode

25 Apr 2026

Latest episodes

106 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   25 Apr 2026

   A little update on Writes4Women

   new episodes coming soon We’ve been on hiatus at Writes4Women but we’ll be back for a new season in June. On the Convo Couch with… will focus on chats with women writers all about the highs and lows, ups dbf downs, and ins and outs of the writing life and publishing industry. I’d love to know who YOU would like to share the Convo Couch with so please DM me if you have any guest suggestions. Watch out for a new rewind episode out this weekend. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writes4women.substack.com/subscribe (https://writes4women.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)

2. 

   10 Jul 2025

   📺 Watch the Ep: Your Friend and Mine: Jessica Dettmann

   VIDEO CONTENT BEGINS AT 6 MINS This week on Writes4Women, guest host Michelle Barraclough (https://substack.com/profile/17398801-michelle-barraclough) sits down with bestselling author and fellow podcaster Jessica Dettmann (https://substack.com/profile/24961030-jessica-dettmann) to chat about her brand new novel Your Friend and Mine. From ghost letters and dead best friends to the joy of researching in stylish trench coats, this conversation is full of warmth, humour, and beautifully honest insights into the writing life. Michelle and Jess explore: * The power of midlife reinvention and detoured dreams * How a few ghost seats in a London theatre helped shape the plot * Research trips, pop culture references, and writing with hyperrealism * Why epistolary fiction is the ultimate cheat code * Crafting fiction that makes you laugh and ache—often at the same time Whether you’re a writer, a reader, or just someone wondering what your younger self might think of you now…this ep is a joy. Timestamps: [00:00] – Pam’s intro + Substack reset updates[00:06:00] – Meet Jess (and her time as the City of Sydney Christmas Angel)[00:10:00] – The spark behind Your Friend and Mine[00:14:00] – “Somebody invent a new animal” (on cooking + midlife drudgery)[00:20:00] – London research trip, ghost theatres, and Google Maps sleuthing[00:24:00] – Writing letters from the dead, and why it works[00:29:00] – The real ending, and what makes an editor great[00:34:00] – Writing funny when things are dark[00:38:00] – Events, readers, and what’s next for Jess ✨ ABOUT JESSICA DETTMANJessica Dettmann is the bestselling author of How to Be Second Best, This Has Been Absolutely Lovely, and Without Further Ado. Her fourth novel, Your Friend and Mine, is a warm, wise, and hilarious exploration of grief, friendship, and reinvention. A former editor and once-upon-a-time Christmas Angel for the City of Sydney, Jess lives in Sydney with her family, two cats, and an enviable wit. What readers are saying about Your Friend and Mine… 🎤 ABOUT MICHELLE BARRACLOUGHMichelle Barraclough is an emerging writer and host of the much-loved Writer’s Book Club podcast. She's also a web designer at Fresh Web Design (https://www.freshwebdesign.com.au/) (responsible for Pam’s stunning author site), and a dear friend of Jess’s—making her the perfect guest host for this ep. Love Writes4Women and want to show your support? Jump onto Apple and leave us a quick rating. It makes such a big difference and only takes 2 minutes. 📝 New for Subscribers: Monthly Critique Sessions with PamEach month, paid subscribers can submit up to 3000 words for Pam to critique in a recorded video, where she reads your work on-screen and offers warm, practical feedback on everything from POV and narrative distance to writing style and emotional resonance. The video is shared anonymously with all paid subscribers—so whether it’s your work or not, you’ll come away with tangible insights to strengthen your craft. Make sure you’re subscribed to access the critique and learn how to submit your pages! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writes4women.substack.com/subscribe (https://writes4women.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)

3. 

   3 Jul 2025

   Your Friend and Mine: Jessica Dettmann

   This week on Writes4Women, guest host Michelle Barraclough sits down with bestselling author and fellow podcaster Jessica Dettmann to chat about her brand new novel Your Friend and Mine. From ghost letters and dead best friends to the joy of researching in stylish trench coats, this conversation is full of warmth, humour, and beautifully honest insights into the writing life. Michelle and Jess explore: The power of midlife reinvention and detoured dreams How a few ghost seats in a London theatre helped shape the plot Research trips, pop culture references, and writing with hyperrealism Why epistolary fiction is the ultimate cheat code Crafting fiction that makes you laugh and ache—often at the same time Whether you’re a writer, a reader, or just someone wondering what your younger self might think of you now…this ep is a joy. Timestamps: [00:00] – Pam’s intro + Substack reset updates[00:06:00] – Meet Jess (and her time as the City of Sydney Christmas Angel)[00:10:00] – The spark behind Your Friend and Mine[00:14:00] – “Somebody invent a new animal” (on cooking + midlife drudgery)[00:20:00] – London research trip, ghost theatres, and Google Maps sleuthing[00:24:00] – Writing letters from the dead, and why it works[00:29:00] – The real ending, and what makes an editor great[00:34:00] – Writing funny when things are dark[00:38:00] – Events, readers, and what’s next for Jess ✨ ABOUT JESSICA DETTMANJessica Dettmann is the bestselling author of How to Be Second Best, This Has Been Absolutely Lovely, and Without Further Ado. Her fourth novel, Your Friend and Mine, is a warm, wise, and hilarious exploration of grief, friendship, and reinvention. A former editor and once-upon-a-time Christmas Angel for the City of Sydney, Jess lives in Sydney with her family, two cats, and an enviable wit. 🎤 ABOUT MICHELLE BARRACLOUGHMichelle Barraclough is an emerging writer and host of the much-loved Writer’s Book Club podcast. She's also a web designer at Fresh Web Design (https://www.freshwebdesign.com.au/) (responsible for Pam’s stunning author site), and a dear friend of Jess’s—making her the perfect guest host for this ep. 📝 New for Subscribers: Monthly Critique Sessions with PamEach month, paid subscribers can submit up to 3000 words for Pam to critique in a recorded video, where she reads your work on-screen and offers warm, practical feedback on everything from POV and narrative distance to writing style and emotional resonance. The video is shared anonymously with all paid subscribers—so whether it’s your work or not, you’ll come away with tangible insights to strengthen your craft. Make sure you’re subscribed to access the critique and learn how to submit your pages! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writes4women.substack.com/subscribe (https://writes4women.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

17,907

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Podcast Authority Score: 48 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

65

Social presence

0

YouTube

76

Engagement

0

Contact Writes4Women

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.