Author's Afterword

Tune in as Charlie Place and Samantha Sotto (Before Ever After; Love and Gravity; A Dream of Trees) discuss characters that join you in your car in the midst of a traffic jam, time travelling with Issac Newton, switching from your fully researched work in progress to a story that needs to be told, and... chickens?

Some podcast apps do not show description links properly unless the listener subscribes to the podcast. If you can't click the links below and don't wish to subscribe, copy and paste the following address into your browser to access the episode's page on my blog: http://wormhole.carnelianvalley.com/podcast/episode-05-samantha-sotto

The trailer for Love and Gravity as mentioned

Question Index

00:37 The story of how Sam became a writer involves traffic jams… 02:57 Did anything inspire the chicken and egg situation? 04:58 You've gone for lesser-known historical stories in Before Ever After, can you tell us about that? 07:41 Is there a secret ingredient for the egg and cheese dish? 08:57 Where does Doctor Who come into the story? 10:53 How was it working from the present day backwards? 12:15 Was there any particular time period you enjoyed working on? 14:40 Where did the campers first come into the story? 15:32 Where did Shelley first come into the story? 21:45 When did you have the idea to fill in the gap in Issac Newton's story? 23:43 Where did John Maynard Keynes come in? 25:40 Issac Newton and Andrea are both motherless – was this comparison something you were working towards? 27:24 What was it like mixing science and music together in one book? 29:50 Daughter's name being included in the book 32:13 Are your dogs [heard in the background] going to star in a book? 32:49 Do you like classical poetry? 34:29 Have you ever owned any chickens? 38:06 Why self-publish A Dream of Trees? 41:17 Is the content something you have/have developed a passion for? 44:11 Will you be returning to the Scotland fairy story book? 45:26 Sam's recent NaNoWriMo book.

Purchase Links

Before Ever After: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Hive Book Depository

Love And Gravity: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada

A Dream Of Trees: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada

I am an Amazon Associate and earn a small commission on qualifying purchases.

Photograph used with permission from the author. Credit: Samantha Sotto.

Some podcast apps do not show description links properly unless the listener subscribes to the podcast. If you can't click the links below and don't wish to subscribe, copy and paste the following address into your browser to access the episode's page on my blog: http://wormhole.carnelianvalley.com/podcast/episode-04-phillip-lewis

Question Index

00:25 You're a litigation lawyer and used to write an online journal of criticism – tell us about your writing background 03:46 Where did this book come from? 08:00 Was there a reason for creating a fictional town (Old Buckram) related to what you've been saying? 09:56 What was your inspiration for the vulture house? 12:51 Tell us about the library 21:53 How important was music as a general part of the book compared to the other aspects? 26:04 How does the literature in the book relate to your own interests? 31:01 Did you ever worry that a significant number of literary references would be missed? 33:40 Was leaving until the end the mystery of what happened to Henry Senior always the plan? 42:34 Where did Bullar the dog first fit into the story for you? 45:20 What's next?

Purchase Links

The Barrowfields: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble

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Photograph used with permission from the author. Copyright © Isil Dohnke.

Tune in as Charlie Place and author Naomi Hamill (How To Be A Kosovan Bride) discuss post-war Kosovo, using a narrative method that divides opinion, and researching Albanian folklore.

Some podcast apps do not show description links properly unless the listener subscribes to the podcast. If you can't click the links below and don't wish to subscribe, copy and paste the following address into your browser to access the episode's page on my blog: http://wormhole.carnelianvalley.com/podcast/episode-03-naomi-hamill

Question Index

01:29 Could you expand on your time in Kosovo? 03:57 You started writing the book with a short story?... 05:46 What has the reaction in Kosovo been to your book? 07:50 What is Kosovo like today? 11:00 Have you learned Albanian? 12:25 What made you choose to tell the story through two women, the Kosovan Wife and the Returned Girl? 15:38 Tell us more about the folklore aspect in regards to its comparison to real Albanian folklore? 21:11 The second person perspective - why use it? 25:59 What's next?

Purchase Links

How To Be A Kosovan Bride: Publisher's website Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive

I am an Amazon Associate and earn a small commission on qualifying purchases.

Photo credit: Paul Cliff.

Some podcast apps do not show description links properly unless the listener subscribes to the podcast. If you can't click the links below and don't wish to subscribe, copy and paste the following address into your browser to access the episode's page on my blog: http://wormhole.carnelianvalley.com/podcast/episode-02-orlando-ortega-medina

Question Index

00:36 Tell us about your writing background 03:09 Where do you get your ideas? 04:16 What was behind the decision not to include messages in your short stories? 06:18 How much of the content of your stories are related to your experiences? 07:48 Is Japan a place you have a particular interest in? 12:29 Why Marilyn Monroe? 15:12 Discussing choices in regards to baseball 19:03 Is Jimmy Joe Di Maggio in a different form? 19:40 The abuse in the book - what were you using it for? 21:30 The use of the cat and the blocking out of its name 23:52 Were you worried about any misunderstandings happening in regards to gender, Clyde wanting to be Monroe? 26:34 Tell us about Raphael, particularly in the context of religion and identity 38:08 Has writing a novel changed your preference for novels versus short stories? 38:51 What's next?

Purchase Links

Jerusalem Ablaze: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble

The Death of Baseball: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive Barnes & Noble

I am an Amazon Associate and earn a small commission on qualifying purchases.

Photograph used with permission from the author. Copyright © Marte Lundby Rekaa.

Tune in as book blogger Charlie Place and author Nicola Cornick (House of Shadows; The Phantom Tree; The Woman In The Lake) discuss burning down your place of work in fiction, every day objects of ill repute, and solving Tudor mysteries yet to be solved.

Some podcast apps do not show description links properly unless the listener subscribes to the podcast. If you can't click the links below and don't wish to subscribe, copy and paste the following address into your browser to access the episode's page on my blog: http://wormhole.carnelianvalley.com/podcast/episode-01-nicola-cornick/

Question Index

00:48 Regency romance to time-slip novelist 01:50 House of Shadows research and creation process 06:29 What was it like burning down your place of work in fiction and what was the reaction? 12:38 Where is your interest in everyday objects from? 14:54 Why the obscure Mary Seymour? 18:27 Was The Woman in the Lake, with its flawed characters and abusive relationships, difficult to write? 21:49 Did smuggling really happen in Swindon? Do you think you might go back to the topic in a future book? 31:36 More about The Forgotten Sister

Purchase Links

House of Shadows: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive

The Phantom Tree: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive

The Woman in the Lake: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Hive

The Forgotten Sister: Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon Canada Waterstones Barnes & Noble

I am an Amazon Associate and earn a small commission on qualifying purchases.

Photo used with the permission of the author.

The trailer for Author's Afterword, an author interview deep-dive show that focuses on a book (or one or two more), covering themes, characters, the ending, alternative endings, and so forth.

Where to find Charlie online: Website || Twitter || Instagram || TikTok