Breaking the Glass Slipper

For you dedicated, lucky listeners, this October 2026 we have not won but two episodes for you. That’s because, roundabout the time of recording our other episode, I found out that the marvellous Olivia Isaac-Henry out a Halloween themed novel. I love Halloween, and I was instantly excited, so I’ve spent the weekend reading this […]

One thing that really sets modern spec fic apart from its classic roots is its rejection of a clear line between hero and villain, protagonist and antagonist. We’re not just talking anti-heroes, but heroes burdened by a traumatic past, heroes who slide towards villainy, villains who were once heroes and could perhaps be so again. […]

Humans have always looked up at the stars and wondered if there is life beyond this world, and science fiction writers have spent years exploring this idea. In the earliest works, such as Kepler’s Somnium and Voltaire’s Micromégas, the aliens are giants, but humanoids. When we get to HG Wells’ The War of the Worlds, […]

We are seeing summer out with a bang. Yes it’s just us three – Megan, Lucy and Charlotte – talking about the changes we’ve observed in the publishing industry. It all began when Meg watched a video on YouTube about the downfall of rock music and she thought it sounded worryingly familiar… “I recently watched […]

We’re very excited because in this episode we get to talk to another podcast! Not just any podcast but the folklore world’s hottest up and coming show, WyrdFolk Pod! This show doesn’t just talk folklore and share folktales, it describes itself as a duelling podcast which invites its audience to listen to two stories written […]

For many fantasy writers, one of the great joys of writing a book is the opportunity it gives you to build a brand-new world. It can be based on the one we live in but with key differences. What if animals could talk? What if fairies were real? The possibilities are endless. However, no matter […]

The beauty of myth is that it grows with us, that every generation brings its own perspective and interpretation to ancient stories to create something fresh, new and relevant to the concerns of a contemporary audience. Honeysuckle by Bar Fridman Tell was inspired by the Welsh myth of Blodeuwedd, in which a magician creates a […]

Dark academia is a genre that has proven pretty popular. We’ve all been to school and plenty of us have been to university, so is it the pull of nostalgia that attracts readers? Or were our school days so dull that we crave reimagining them with a healthy dose of magic? Perhaps the boiling pot […]

In this month’s episode, we are taking you to the ballet, where stories are told through the medium of body and music. Just as this art can bring things to magical life, so too can it foster obsession in those who strive to achieve the perfect form. The Apple and the Pearl by Rym Kechacha […]

The beauty of science fiction is that it can be pretty much anything. It can be people on spaceships exploring the stars. It can be settlers being stalked and killed by an alien monster. It can be about an alien trying to blend in with humans. It can be bold, scary, amusing, or heartbreaking. What […]