The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience

How Bestselling Thriller Writer Ruth Gilligan Writes


Listen Later

#PodcastersForJustice

Award-winning Irish author, Ruth Gilligan, spoke to me about researching the gothic wilds of Ireland, how to engineer a thriller, and her latest, The Butchers' Blessing.

Ruth Gilligan is a writer and academic from Dublin and was the youngest person ever to top the Irish Bestsellers’ List.

She has published five books and her most recent novel, The Butchers' Blessing, (published as The Butchers in the UK) is described as a "...haunting and unforgettable thriller brimming with secrecy, tradition, and superstition...". It won the 2022 Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje Prize, whose judges called it "...a page-turning, roller coaster of a read.”

B&N Reads called the book, "An achingly beautiful novel of family, tradition, Ireland and the deep secrets buried in all three," and it received a Starred review from Publishers Weekly.

Ruth contributes literary reviews to the Irish Independent, Guardian, TLS, and LA Review of Books. She's also a Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Birmingham and is an ambassador for the global storytelling charity Narrative 4.

Stay calm and write on ...

Discover The Writer Files Extra


You can now have The Writer Files podcast dropped right into your email inbox every time there’s a new show. No more shaking your podcast app!

As a subscriber, Kelton will send you added insights, links to TWF merch (like "Stay Calm and Write On" coffee mugs anyone?), curated collections of shows like The Publishing Series and The Writer’s Brain, updates, and occasional special offers. Learn more at the link below...

Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please "Follow" us to automatically see new interviews In this file Ruth Gilligan and I discussed:

  • How a high school writing exercise turned into a bestseller
  • The in-depth (four-year) research process behind her latest
  • Why her meticulous plotting is like architectural engineering
  • How to write a thriller from four unique POVs
  • Why writers always need to set themselves greater challenges
  • And a lot more!
  • Show Notes:

    • RuthGilligan.com
    • The Butchers’ Blessing: A Novel by Ruth Gilligan
    • Narrative 4
    • Ruth Gilligan on Twitter
    • Kelton Reid on Twitter
    • Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

      ...more
      View all episodesView all episodes
      Download on the App Store

      The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and NeuroscienceBy Kelton Reid

      • 4.5
      • 4.5
      • 4.5
      • 4.5
      • 4.5

      4.5

      211 ratings


      More shows like The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience

      View all
      The Book Review by The New York Times

      The Book Review

      3,883 Listeners

      On Being with Krista Tippett by On Being Studios

      On Being with Krista Tippett

      10,370 Listeners

      The New Yorker: Fiction by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker

      The New Yorker: Fiction

      3,315 Listeners

      The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers by Joanna Penn

      The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers

      614 Listeners

      Helping Writers Become Authors by K.M. Weiland

      Helping Writers Become Authors

      961 Listeners

      Otherppl with Brad Listi by Brad Listi

      Otherppl with Brad Listi

      502 Listeners

      Writing Excuses by Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler

      Writing Excuses

      1,291 Listeners

      The History of Literature by Jacke Wilson / The Podglomerate

      The History of Literature

      1,093 Listeners

      The History of Standup by Wayne Federman & Andrew Steven / The Podglomerate

      The History of Standup

      335 Listeners

      Micheaux Mission by The Podglomerate / Micheaux Mission

      Micheaux Mission

      211 Listeners

      Freelance to Founder by Millo / The Podglomerate

      Freelance to Founder

      69 Listeners

      Writer's Routine by Dan Simpson

      Writer's Routine

      299 Listeners

      Book Dreams by Eve Yohalem and Julie Sternberg / The Podglomerate

      Book Dreams

      57 Listeners

      Fiction Writing Made Easy by Savannah Gilbo

      Fiction Writing Made Easy

      1,373 Listeners

      The Shit No One Tells You About Writing by Bianca Marais, Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra

      The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

      744 Listeners

      Trail Weight by Andrew Steven / The Podglomerate

      Trail Weight

      62 Listeners

      Poured Over by Barnes & Noble

      Poured Over

      295 Listeners

      31 for 31 by Chris Boniello, Jamie Lansdowne, and Cody Mason

      31 for 31

      14 Listeners

      NPR's Book of the Day by NPR

      NPR's Book of the Day

      607 Listeners

      Essential Guide to Writing a Novel by James Thayer

      Essential Guide to Writing a Novel

      356 Listeners

      Writers on Writing by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett and Marrie Stone

      Writers on Writing

      72 Listeners

      No Write Way with V. E. Schwab by V. E. Schwab (Author)

      No Write Way with V. E. Schwab

      67 Listeners