Author Huma Qureshi talks to Katherine May about a wintering period during her third pregnancy

When Huma got pregnant for the third time, she expected to flourish: after all, she already had a successful journalism career and was working on her first novel. But extreme sickness floored her, and took her into a dark mental space in which she felt that she might never recover.

In her wise and wonderful interview, Huma explains how we can emerge from the deeply miserable moments in our life with a new - more self-compassionate - plan.

You can find Huma on:

Instagram: @humaqureshiwriter

Twitter: @humaqureshiuk

Her book How We Met is published in January 2021. Her work features in The Best, Most Awful Job, an anthology of honest writing about motherhood.

For information on Katherine's online courses, go to: https://katherine-may.teachable.com/

To keep up to date with The Wintering Sessions, follow Katherine on: Twitter

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Newsletter: https://katherinemay.substack.com/

Aspring non-fiction writers may also enjoy Katherine's weekly newsletter Writing True Stories.

Wintering, the book on which this podcast is based, is out now in hardback.

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Jini Reddy, author of Wanderland, talks to Katherine May about a dark season in her life.

When Jini's father died suddenly, she was still trying to work out what to do with her life. In this moving conversation, she talks about the times when she felt lost and unsure what to do next. But in time, she came to make her career as a writer.

I loved talking to Jini - she's a true citizen of the world with roots in Canada, India and South Africa, and a sense of spirituality that emerges from having lived in a range of cultures. In this interview, we discuss the landscapes we love, our shared hatred of temping, and Jini's ingenious places to retreat.

You can find Jini on Instagram or Twitter. Her book Wanderland is out now in hardback.

To keep up to date with The Wintering Sessions, follow Katherine on Twitter or Instagram. Wintering, the book on which this podcast is based, is out now in hardback.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this thoughful and incredibly honest converation, journalist Rebecca Armstrong talks to Katherine May about a huge change that she undertook at the end of last year - giving up drinking alcohol.

Rebecca discusses her life before she stopped drinking, the process of making the decision to go sober, and her life since. She's warm, frank and funny, offering an account of alcoholism in which there's no rock bottom, just a dawning realisation that something's got to give. In the meantime, she shares the new treasures she's found in sobriety, including an appreciation for the dark months of winter.

This interview is recorded down a line, so please forgive any glitches in sound (eagle-eared listeners will detect Katherine's dog scratching at the door halfway through!)

You can find Rebecca on Instagram.

To keep up to date with The Wintering Sessions, follow Katherine on Twitter or Instagram. Wintering, the book on which this podcast is based, is out now in hardback.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, Katherine May talks to Catherine Cho, author of Inferno, a beautifully told account of postpartum psychosis.

After the birth of her son Cato, Catherine travelled to the USA, where her mental health declined to the point that she was committed to a secure ward. Her book details the time in which she recovered her sense of self and her bond with her baby, while trying to undersand what happened. After reading it, I was desperate to get Catherine on the show, and she does not disappoint: her account is thoughtful, scintillating, and, best of all, shame-free.

This interview is recorded over a line, so please forgive any glitches in sound.

You can find Catherine on Twitter, and Inferno is out now in Hardback.

To keep up to date with The Wintering Sessions, follow Katherine on Twitter or Instagram. Wintering, the book on which this podcast is based, is out now in hardback.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, I talk to Leah Hazard, NHS midwife extraorinaire and author of Hard Pushed, part memoir of Leah's life on the labour ward, and part exploration of the current state of the profession.

Leah is as funny, wise and warm in person as she is in print, and she talks about the life-changing decision to leave her TV career and train to be a midwife, and the moment when the stress became too much during one very busy night on the ward.

You can find Leah on Twitter @hazard_leah and Instagram @leahhazard. Hard Pushed is out now in paperback.

To keep up to date with The Wintering Sessions, follow Katherine on Twitter or Instagram. Wintering, the book on which this podcast is based, is out now in hardback.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Katherine May talks to Penny Wincer - photographer, activist and author of Tender: The Imperfect Art of Caring - about the wintering seasons in her life.

Penny discusses her time as a young carer for her mother, who suffered from depression and anxiety, and her current role as carer for her autistic son, Arthur. While she never stops advocating for the needs of carers, Penny also draws out the pleasure and intimacy of fulfilling this role, and makes a compelling case for caring as an act of love.

TW: this episode contains a mention of suicide.

This episode is recorded down a phone line, so apologies for occasional glitches in sound.

Tender is published on 11th June 2020.

Penny's Instagram: @pennywincer

Katherine May's links:

Instagram: @katherinemay_

Twitter: @katherinemay_

Subscribe to Katherine's newsletter

Wintering is out now in the UK, and publishes in the US in December.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coming soon: The Wintering Sessions, based on Katherine May's book of the same name. Each episode will feature a conversation with a writer or performer, talking about the times they've fallen through the cracks, felt left out, isolated, rejected or humiliated. Hit subscribe to make sure you catch Episode 1!

This is a podcast of real conversations about the tough times in life: no platitudes, and no glossing over the awful bits. But they'll be full of warmth and honesty, and we'll share what we've learned along the way.

Follow Katherine on Instagram: @katherinemay_ or Twitter: @ katherine may to keep updated.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.