Hero or Villain? These archetypal characters are the stock-in-trade of the fantasy genre, and so you’ll definitely enjoy this newest poetry anthology compiled by Ana Sampson, an experienced curator of poetry collections, and illustrated by the instantly recognizable pencil of Chris Riddell, multi-award-winning illustrator and former UK Children's Laureate.

Today on Mythmakers, in conversation with Julia Golding, Ana and Chris journey through history and genres, unearthing the gems. They reflect on the poems that inspired them as children, the role of compendiums in nurturing the artistic imagination, and why different approaches are often used to tell the same tale. They also explore the influence of politics on the anthology—and vice versa, and so much more. And if that wasn’t enough, Chris treats us to a live dragon sketch while several poems are read aloud—making this a truly unmissable episode!

Their book, Heroes and Villains: Poems about Legends (Macmillan), is available for purchase now. Credits for the poems read in full are: 'Nan Hardwicke Turns into a Hare' by Wendy Pratt, 'St Margaret of Antioch Speaks' by Jan Dean, 'If...' by James Carter, and 'The Dragons are Hiding' by Brian Moses.

For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:

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0:10 Welcome to Mythmakers

1:32 Childhood Poems That Shaped Us

5:27 The Lady of Shalott and Lockdown

10:15 The Role of Poetry Anthologies

12:05 Creating the Heroes and Villains Anthology

16:40 Exploring Heroes and Villains Through Poetry

20:2Research Gems in Poetry

36:19 Creative Tips for Aspiring Writers

39:04 Contemporary Issues in Fantasy

43:01 Collaborating with Publishers

46:56 The Intersection of Politics and Fantasy

52:46 Closing Thoughts and Inspiration

We are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by. 

For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:

Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website

Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram

Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook

TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

0:00 Introduction to Tom Bombadil

1:53 Entering the Haven of Tom Bombadil

5:48 Goldberry's Enigmatic Welcome

16:38 The Shift to Storytelling

20:39 Dreams and Nightmares

23:21 A Rainy Day with Tom

26:54 Tom's Tales of Good and Evil

32:15 The Fast Forward of History

34:47 The Harmony of Tom and Goldberry

37:24 The Ring's Power Revealed

Have you enjoyed The Rings of Power Season 2? Join Julia Golding and Jacob Rennaker on today’s episode of Mythmakers as they offer their thoughts on the latest season of Amazon’s show. After sharing their initial impressions on the production and visual realisation, they delve deeper into the story choices, lore, and characters, before wrapping up with a rating out of 10 rings (what else would it be?). Along the way, they explore some controversial topics—does The Rings of Power have a female character problem, for instance? Have a listen and then let us know your thoughts!

For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:

Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website

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TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

0:00 Welcome to Mythmakers

14:21 Production Values Reviewed

17:34 Storylines and Structure

20:22 Long-Term Storytelling Challenges

23:29 Characters and Performances

59:53 Female Representation Issues

Is it time that we revisit the category of 'New Adult' books again? Kate Dylan's fantasy heist story fits in this category, post YA but written for the reading tastes of the 20-something year old audience who've just graduated out that group.

On today’s episode of Mythmakers, Kate will be engaging in a fascinating discussion with Julia Golding about why the themes of being on the edge, close to shattering, work so well with that age group (and many others). They’ll also discuss queer relationships in novels and how the market has changed since Kate started writing. Think that you know where would be best to stage a heist? Their suggestions may surprise you!

For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:

Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website

Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram

Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook

TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

0:00 Welcome to Mythmakers

1:37 The Influence of Young Adult Literature

4:02 Transitioning to Fantasy Writing

8:50 Themes of Betrayal and Growth

12:04 The Heist Novel Unveiled

19:24 Chaos in the Writing Process

25:51 Collaborative Storytelling

27:11 Exploring Queer Representation

32:37 The Value of Art in Fantasy

36:18 Balancing Writing with Daily Life

41:13 Tips for Aspiring Fantasy Writers

46:02 Magic in Fantasy Storytelling

49:09 Heisting in Fictional Worlds

We are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by. 

For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:

Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website

Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram

Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook

TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

0:00 Introduction to Chapter 6

2:01 Preparing for Adventure

9:24 The Old Forest Beckons

18:41 Entering the Enchanted Realm

23:40 Meet Tom Bombadil

27:35 The Escape from Darkness

On today’s episode of Mythmakers, we’re meeting an exciting new writer coming out of the Bay Area. Hayley Dennings, author of This Ravenous Fate, has chosen the Harlem Renaissance for her vampire thriller and love story. Join us as she speaks with Julia Golding about her debut, the authors that inspired her and how she got published—this being her 5th book, an encouraging message for aspiring authors! They go on to discuss race and sapphic characters in fantasy, as well as Black History and much, much more. Hayley also has some great tips for other writers and explains the reading she does in the background to inspire her wonderful prose. Say tuned to find out where you should set up a speakeasy in a fantasy world…

For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:

Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website

Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram

Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook

TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

0:00 Welcome to Mythmakers

6:08 The Journey to Publication

11:24 Dedication and Representation

16:26 Exploring Vampirism in the Jazz Era

19:57 Historical Context and Characters

25:33 Writing Style and Process

28:47 Upcoming Works and Future Plans

32:03 Imagining Fantasy Speakeasies

We are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by. 

For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:

Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website

Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram

Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook

TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

0:00 Introduction to An Author's Journey

2:55 Shifting Tones in Tolkien's Writing

5:06 The Pivotal Decision to Leave

10:18 The Nature of the Narrator

12:23 The Conspiracy Revealed

14:34 Frodo's Dream and Its Significance

16:39 Preparing to Enter the Old Forest

Welcome back to Mythmakers for our sixth season!

Megan Whalen Turner began her career in 1996 and is still going strong as her series The Queen's Thief becomes available in the UK and the Commonwealth for the first time. US readers have been enjoying the series for years and she won the Newbury Award and Mythopoeia Award in recognition of her achievements. Take a listen as she tells our host Julia Golding about her career, the books that inspired her, and her link to Oxford fantasy through Dianne Wynne Jones. Megan also shares with us her fascinating insights into her unique process for plotting! 

You can catch up with Megan if you are near Bath, England, for the literary festival. Visit the link for more information: https://bathfestivals.org.uk/childrens-literature/

For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:

Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website

Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram

Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook

TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

0:00 Introduction to Mythmakers Podcast

8:54 The Influence of Diana Wynne-Jones

13:01 Audiobooks and Storytelling

17:55 American Fantasy Influences

23:46 Cultural Storytelling in Fantasy

29:30 The Storytelling Process

35:44 The Mediterranean Influence

44:22 Advice for Aspiring Writers

44:36 Living in a Fantasy World

Season 5 of Mythmakers has been one of many adventures, and as the season comes to a close, we’re going to look back at 5 highlights from our most enjoyed episodes.

Join us as we dive back into the rising popularity of the Romantasy genre, before revisiting the presence of Fantasy at the Oscars. Appropriately, we’ll then steer the conversation towards our favourite Tolkien topics of this season, hearing some of Julia Golding’s travel recommendations when touring the film sites of Middle-earth in New Zealand, then hearing an extract from our sidecast where we’re taking a look at the LotR books through an author’s lens, before closing off by looking back into what we can expect in Peter Jackson and Andy Serkis' upcoming Hunt for Gollum film.

We thank you for accompanying us on this recent season and invite you to stay tuned for our upcoming journeys and discussions in Season 6.

For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:

Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website

Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram

Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook

TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

As a fitting finale to our 5th season of Mythmakers, we’re ending with Tolkien - namely his newly edited and augmented letters. Take a listen to Julia Golding and Jacob Rennaker's 10 out of 10 review of the edition, they’ll break it down to what we learn about Middle-earth, how Middle-earth influenced his view of our real world events, his relationships (particularly with his family) the wars and all aspect to the letters - there's so much to discuss and to enjoy! Stay tuned for two particularly shocking details buried in the letters about hobbits and horses…

If you’re interested in the audio version mentioned, visit the link for a closer look: https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/The-Letters-of-J-R-R-Tolkien-Audiobook/B0CTNYDDKT

For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:

Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website

Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram

Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook

TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

0:00 Introduction to Mythmakers

2:11 Personalized Narration in Audiobook

3:34 Breaking Down Tolkien's Life in Letters

3:54 Tolkien's Views on Creativity

4:45 Insightful Letters: Tolkien vs. Other Literary Collections

5:34 Tolkien's Self-Deprecation and Passion in Letters

6:39 Emotional Range in Tolkien's Letters

8:24 Phases of Tolkien's Correspondents

13:45 Tolkien's Writing Process: Characters and Imagination

15:18 Tolkien's Unrevealed Stories and World Building

16:36 Tolkien's Lens on the World: War and Nature

16:36 Tolkien's Lens on the World: War and Nature (Continued)

23:52 Recommendation to Read Tolkien's Letters

26:56 Tolkien's Fatherly Concern in Letters

28:53 Tolkien's Letter on Faith and Angels

30:42 Tolkien's Reflections on Character Motives

32:04 Gollum's Near-Repentance in Tolkien's Eyes

56:37 Retirement and Lasting Legacy

1:01:06 Shadowfax's Journey to Valinor

1:02:31 Unique Delivery Methods in the Wizarding World