In Episode 64 writer Drew Gummerson talks about his short(ish) story collection, Saltburn. We delve into the downsides of marketing labels, the desire for variety in fiction and why we need to see more Northern books on the shelf.

Find out more:

https://renardpress.com/books/saltburn/

https://linktr.ee/drewgum

X:

https://x.com/drewgum

https://x.com/renardpress/

BlueSky

https://bsky.app/profile/drewgum.bsky.social

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/renardpress/

https://www.instagram.com/drewgum/

Music credit: 'Water of Tyne' performed by Edinburgh University Brass Band (2009) arranged by Jack Stobbs, edited and scored for Brass Band by David Dye. Used with kind permission of the publisher, arranger and performers.

A short but punchy episode today as Manchester writer Neil Campbell joins me to talk about his new short story collection, Saying Dirty Things in Regional Accents. We chat about writing short form fiction, linguistic hierarchies and why he keeps going back to the same indie publisher for his books.

Find out more:

https://shorturl.at/jLf08

https://www.neilcampbell.co.uk/

BlueSky

https://bsky.app/profile/saltpublishing.com

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/cambers2025

https://www.instagram.com/saltpublishing

Music credit: 'Water of Tyne' performed by Edinburgh University Brass Band (2009) arranged by Jack Stobbs, edited and scored for Brass Band by David Dye. Used with kind permission of the publisher, arranger and performers.

**Content warning: WW2, concentration camps, perpetration of war crimes**

We're looking across the oceans in Episode 62, as Angharad Hampshire joins me to discuss her debut novel, The Mare, which explores the true story of a WW2 concentration camp guard extradited to Germany to answer for her crimes. We also delve into the links between accent and identity, Northern writers and how we can further develop the publishing industry in the North.

Find out more:

https://www.northodox.co.uk/product-page/the-mare-paperback

X:

https://x.com/northodoxpress

https://x.com/NewWritingNorth

BlueSky

https://bsky.app/profile/northodoxpress.bsky.social

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/angharadhampshire

https://www.instagram.com/northodoxpressofficial

https://www.instagram.com/nwnnewwritingnorth

Music credit: 'Water of Tyne' performed by Edinburgh University Brass Band (2009) arranged by Jack Stobbs, edited and scored for Brass Band by David Dye. Used with kind permission of the publisher, arranger and performers.

In this week's episode, historical fiction writer JP Maxwell delves deep into Liverpool's close history with America in his new novel The Americans of Abercromby Square. He discusses Liverpool's literary renaissance, writing strong female characters and the benefits of having a local literary scene on your doorstep.

Find out more:

https://hawksmoorpublishing.com/book/the-americans-of-abercromby-square

https://jpmaxwellwriter.art.blog/

https://www.liverpool-literary.agency/about

X:

https://x.com/maxmaxwriter

BlueSky

https://bsky.app/profile/maxmaxwriter.bsky.social

https://bsky.app/profile/liverpool-lit.bsky.social

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/outandaboutwithmaxwell

https://www.instagram.com/liverpool_literary_agency

Music credit: 'Water of Tyne' performed by Edinburgh University Brass Band (2009) arranged by Jack Stobbs, edited and scored for Brass Band by David Dye. Used with kind permission of the publisher, arranger and performers.

The first episode of 2025 features novelist Glen James Brown talking about his new novel, Mother Naked. We discuss using Northern dialect and Old English to create a unique narrative style, why his books are popular in France and the myths and legends that permeate Northern culture.

Find out more:

https://peninsulapress.co.uk/products/mother-naked

X:

https://x.com/Glen_J_Brown

https://x.com/PressPeninsula

BlueSky

https://bsky.app/profile/glenjamesbrown.bsky.social

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/glen_james_brown

https://www.instagram.com/presspeninsula

Music credit: 'Water of Tyne' performed by Edinburgh University Brass Band (2009) arranged by Jack Stobbs, edited and scored for Brass Band by David Dye. Used with kind permission of the publisher, arranger and performers.

In the final episode of 2024, writer and comedian Kate Fox discusses her new collection of poetry On Sycamore Gap. She also talks about exploring Northern identity through academia, the value of Northern culture and why publishers should be looking to the lower middle class when it comes to marketing books.

Find out more:

https://katefoxwriter.wordpress.com/

https://www.harpercollins.com.au/9780008735623/on-sycamore-gap/

X:

https://x.com/katefoxwriter

https://x.com/HarperNorthUK

BlueSky

https://bsky.app/profile/katefoxwriter75.bsky.social

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/katefoxwriter

https://www.instagram.com/harpernorthuk

Music credit: 'Water of Tyne' performed by Edinburgh University Brass Band (2009) arranged by Jack Stobbs, edited and scored for Brass Band by David Dye. Used with kind permission of the publisher, arranger and performers.

In Episode 58, Sid Chaplin Award winner 2024 Adam Barrett joins me to talk about his novel-in-progress, He Too Must Sleep. We delve into the significance of writing local history, the power of dialect writing and how writers can learn a lot from wrestling.

Find out more:

https://coaldust.substack.com/

https://newwritingnorth.com/northern-writers-awards/awards/

X:

https://x.com/DeadChronicler

https://x.com/NewWritingNorth

BlueSky

https://bsky.app/profile/deadchronicler.bsky.social

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/deadchronicler/

https://www.instagram.com/nwnnewwritingnorth/

Music credit: 'Water of Tyne' performed by Edinburgh University Brass Band (2009) arranged by Jack Stobbs, edited and scored for Brass Band by David Dye. Used with kind permission of the publisher, arranger and performers.

Co-founder of Northodox Press Ted O'Connor joins me on Northern Voices in this episode to chat all things Northern publishing. We cover everything from Northodox's submissions wish list, the industry's move into the North and the huge diversity of incredible books coming out of the region.

Find out more:

https://www.northodox.co.uk/

https://www.northodox.co.uk/team

X:

https://x.com/Ted_Northodox

https://x.com/northodoxpress

BlueSky

https://bsky.app/profile/northodoxpress.bsky.social

https://bsky.app/profile/tednorthodox.bsky.social

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/northodoxpress

https://www.instagram.com/northodoxpressofficial

Music credit: 'Water of Tyne' performed by Edinburgh University Brass Band (2009) arranged by Jack Stobbs, edited and scored for Brass Band by David Dye. Used with kind permission of the publisher, arranger and performers.

Where to even begin with this blockbuster of an episode? Author, musician and creative writing lecturer Guy Mankowski takes to the mic in this episode to discuss his intriguing new novel You Complete the Masterpiece, Northern identity and things he wished he'd known when looking for an agent.

Find out more:

https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/roundfire-books/our-books/you-complete-masterpiece-novel

https://amzn.eu/d/e7NFqcm

https://shorturl.at/Tztev

X:

https://x.com/Gmankow

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/guymankowski/?hl=en

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/guymankowskiauthor/

Music credit: 'Water of Tyne' performed by Edinburgh University Brass Band (2009) arranged by Jack Stobbs, edited and scored for Brass Band by David Dye. Used with kind permission of the publisher, arranger and performers.

CW: Brief mention of suicide ideation

In this week's episode, award-winning writer Adam Farrer talks about his first book Cold Fish Soup and his upcoming collection of essays Broken Biscuits. We delve into themes of masculinity and mental health, attempt to tackle imposter syndrome and discuss why a collection about a Northern seaside town has appealed to an international audience.

Find out more:

https://www.adamfarrer.co.uk/

https://saraband.net/sb-title/cold-fish-soup/

https://www.harpercollins.com.au/9780008710705/broken-biscuits/

X:

https://x.com/AdamJFarrer

https://x.com/SarabandBooks

https://x.com/HarperNorthUK

Bluesky:

https://bsky.app/profile/adamjfarrer.bsky.social

https://bsky.app/profile/saraband-books.bsky.social

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/adamjfarrer

https://www.instagram.com/sarabandbooks

https://www.instagram.com/harpernorthuk

Music credit: 'Water of Tyne' performed by Edinburgh University Brass Band (2009) arranged by Jack Stobbs, edited and scored for Brass Band by David Dye. Used with kind permission of the publisher, arranger and performers.