Rippling Pages: Interviews with Writers

By ripplingpagesArts Books

Rippling Pages: Interviews with Writers episodes

September 24 Deb Olin Unferth on awe and writing the bottom of the ocean and outer space
We're going to the bottom of the ocean and to outer space for this near-future literary escapade about when the world is no longer habitable.
Deb Olin Unferth joined me from Austin, Texas, to talk about her latest novel, Earth 7. Deb's novel is inventive in its world-building, taking us into the cosmos, its exploration of human and non-human relationships, and capacity for both fear and wonder for what the future might hold for humans.
Deb has quite the. C.V. She’s the author of seven books, including novels Barn 8 and Vacation, and the memoir, Revolution, which was a finalist for the National Book Critics’ Circle Award. She’s published graphic novels, story collections, and her writing has also appeared in Harper’s, the New York Times, Paris Review, Granta, and McSweeney’s. She’s also received Guggenheim Fellowships and Pushcart Prizes.
So a good episode if you're wanting to see a writer pushing their boundaries and modes and picking up awards and fellowships along the way

If you fancy getting more from the Rippling Pages, including an exclusive Patreon only podcast on what makes the openings of books so good, why not consider suscribing here!
https://patreon.com/RipplingPagesPod?utm_medi

And buy all the books mentioned on the show. Buying from this link supports indie bookshops and the Rippling Pages as I get a very small commission from every book sold through this link.
https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/ripplingpagespod
Chapters
0.17 - Introduction to Deb's work.
2.40 - the capacity of Deb's novel
3.30 - Why Deb went to space.
7.20 - the fate of humans
12.20 - the mother daughter relationship
19.20 - How would Deb's dad respond to this book
20.45 - the idea of hope
26.15 - the rippling pages patreon
27:45 - where are the other earths
34.15 - The importance of Deb's research.
39.00 - How does love fit into the novel.
42.00 - cynicism and feeling hopeful.
Books and Writers
Samantha Harvey - Orbital
Barn 8 - Deb Olin Unferth
Pascal
Clancy Martin
47 min
August 20 Louisa Bello’s sheer determination to get published and being inspired by a friend
What company Louisa Bello is! A story about an agent, a publisher and a pub and sheer determination to get published, and taking a friend’s experience to inspire your first novel.
Louisa Bello is here to talk about WHERE THE SHADOW’S END (époque Press)
What I loved about Louisa’s novel, however, is its commitment to, indeed, presenting a panoply of voices and identities in its inner city suburbs. But also it’s fierce commitment to exploring the mental health of a man trying to negotiate his way through this community.
Louisa herself is a British-Nigerian who was raised in south-London, but has lived all over the world. She’s led creative workshops for Africa Writers at the British Library, and served as a trustee for the Pelican Post. This novel is her first and was longlisted for the Pat Kavanagh Prize for Writing Excellence, and supported by an Arts Council Grant.
Please note that today’s episode features discussions of schizophrenia and mental health
Get exclusive subscriber benefits from the Rippling Pages Patreon and become a Page Rippler!
https://patreon.com/RipplingPagesPod?utm_medi

Buy all the books here!:https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/louisa-bello-reading-list?&new-list-page=true&bkshp-astro=t
Chapters
1.30 Living in Ecuador
2.27 - leave a five star review
2.58 - A story based on a friend’
6.10 - Diverse London community
8.35 - an agent, a publisher, and a pub
13.50 - Sam’s trauma and loneliness
22.30 - How Louisa researched the novel
29.15 - Other London writers and trauma
34.45 - Louisa’s next novel

Reference Points
Films
- Crazywise (2016: Phil Borges and Kevin Tomlinson)
Books
- Bernadine Evaristo
- Carl Jung
- Mel Robbins
- Zadie Smith - White Teeth
43 min
August 06 Deepa Anappara describes the importance of Moby Dick to her novel…and a Rippling Points Preview
This is some bonus content from the latest Rippling Pages Coffee Conversations. This is as real as it gets - two microphones, two writers getting real about writing!
Here, Deepa is talking about our favourite Rippling Pages bonus segment, and speaks about the importance of Moby Dick.

You’ll also hear a preview of the Rippling Points podcast, a podcast for those who want to understand the ideas behind books exclusive to Patreon Subscribers.
Get exclusive subscriber benefits from the Rippling Pages Patreon and become a Page Rippler!
https://patreon.com/RipplingPagesPod?utm_medi

Books

Buy all the books here!: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/july-s-reads-2026?&new-list-page=true&bkshp-astro=t
Rudyard Kipling
T.S.Eliot
Herman Melville - Moby Dick
Alexandra David-Néel
Larissa Pham - Discipline (2026, Serpent’s Tail)
Larissa Pham - Pop Song. (2021, Catapult Books)
Deepa’s Books
Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line - (2020, Random House)
Letters to a Writer of Color: An Anthology (2023, Vintage Books) - edited by Deepa Anappara, Taymour Soomro, and Madeleine Thien
Chapters
0.15 - Introduction
03.50 - Deepa Anappara objects of influence
08.20 - Rippling Points preview

12 min
July 23 Deepa Anappara on great storytelling and complex explorations of grief
It’s time for another special episode where we have another coffee conversation!
As ever with the coffee conversations, this is a real as it gets. Two microphones, two writers getting real about writing!
And this is a book that has a bit of everything.

It’s 1869. Tibet is a forbidden kingdom and closed to foreigners. Tibet is also an unwilling participant in what was called, ‘The Great Game’, a geopolitical rivalry, shall we call it, that didn’t escalate into a full-scale war, but it did see both Russia and the United Kingdom trying to expand their territories.
Deepa takes us on a sweeping journey back into history as she brings to life what was at stake for those explorers who, secretly, conceitedly, and ambitiously, crossed those borders.
But it's also a prescient exploration of boundaries and borders and a hymn to the complicated emotion of grief. And, as well all that, it’s an example of just really good storytelling.
Deepa Anappara is here to talk to me about THE LAST OF EARTH published by Oneworld Publications.
Get exclusive subscriber benefits from the Rippling Pages Patreon and become a Page Rippler!
https://patreon.com/RipplingPagesPod?utm_medi

Chapters
2.45 - Writing about the mountains
6.20 - Political dimensions of map-making
8.30 - inspiration from maps
12.15 - Characters and the captain
15.15 - Moby Dick and naming characters
21.45 - Rippling Pages Patreon
23.15 - Who is Catherine?
28.30 - Women, race, and getting into Tibet
31.15 - Guilt, death and grief
35.20 - Finding meaning in loneliness
37.30 - Deepa’s own grief

Reading List
Buy all the books here!: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/july-s-reads-2026?&new-list-page=true&bkshp-astro=t
Rudyard Kipling
T.S.Eliot
Herman Melville - Moby Dick
Alexandra David-Néel
Deepa’s Books

Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line - (2020, Random House)
Letters to a Writer of Color: An Anthology (2023, Vintage Books) - edited by Deepa Anappara, Taymour Soomro, and Madeleine Thien

45 min
July 09 Ashton Politanoff tells us how to write tense scenes and write a novel set in the world of tennis
It's a summer of sport, and I am here for it!
Ashton Politanoff is here to talk to me about his novel, DAD HAD A BAD DAY (Daunt Books)
Ashton's novel is an articulate exploration of masculinity, its patiently crafted unraveling narrative, and its loyal homage to the sport of tennis.
Here's some fun facts about Ashton.
Ashton Politanoff is a frequent contributor to NOON, edited by Diane Williams. He is a former Division I tennis player, and his childhood coach was Robert Lansdorp, who is credited with coaching Pete Sampras and Maria Sharapova. Politanoff’s first novel, You’ll Like It Here, was published in 2022 by Dalkey Archive Press. He is an English professor at Cypress College, and lives in Los Angeles.
In the episode, we'll be talking about (im)perfect role models and father figures, the challenges of writing about your passion, how to write narrative tension, and yes, of course, and tennis.
A reading list of books Ashton mentions in this episode are available to buy here: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/july-s-reads-2026?&new-list-page=true&bkshp-astro=t

Get exclusive subscriber benefits from the Rippling Pages Patreon and become a Page Rippler!
https://patreon.com/RipplingPagesPod?utm_medi

Chapters
- 1.15 - Pete Sampras and Maria Sharipova?
- 2.10 - watching Wimbledon
- 4.15 - Who is Ned and why tennis?
- 5.45 - setting a novel in a tennis club
- 7.40 - Did Ashton feel like he had to write this novel
- 10.15 - Ned's relationship with his son.
- 11.50 - Tough challenges of writing sons
- 15.10 - fathers and sons and sports.
- 17.45 - Ashton's own tennis career
- 19.30 - different fraternal and paternal relationships
- 20.30 - Rippling Pages Bookshop
- 21.45 - Writing key smalls scenes
- 27.00 - Writing tension
- 32.25 - Ned's relationship with his wife.
- 37.30 - Writing about tennis!
-

46 min
June 25 Alice Hattrick on creatively writing about history and embroidery and mother daughter relationships
I had the absolute pleasure hosting Alice Hattrick up in Leeds for a special edition of the Rippling Pages at Leeds Literature Festival.
I'm a huge fan of Alice's first book, ILL FEELINGS (Fitzcarraldo Editions), so I was obviously really excited to get stuck into their next book, FANCY WORK (Fitzcarraldo Editions), for this special live edition of the Rippling Pages.
That book indeed weaved (auto)biography, science art history, reportage, and polemic to explore the impact of chronic illness on theirs and their mother’s lives. Alice applied some of these innovative techniques to FANCY WORK.
Alice explores the life and work of the incredibly influential Morris family and the arts and craft movement. Alice finds and traces evidence and ephemerality related to the life and work May Morris and their gender non-conforming partner, M.F.
Get exclusive subscriber benefits from the Rippling Pages.
https://patreon.com/RipplingPagesPod?utm_medi
Check out the Rippling Pages Bookshop and buy all the books featured on the Rippling Pages:
https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/ripplingpagespod
Interested in hosting your own podcast? Follow this link and find out how:
https://www.podbean.com/ripplingpages

Chapters
0.15 - Introduction to the event
02.15 - How Alice was enjoying Leeds
03.00 - What is the book about?
05.00 - Who are the Morris Family?
9.00 - How the Morris's went back in history.
13.10 - Embroidery as labour
14.50 - Alice's reading.
22.45 - Why write history in this way?
26.05 - Making money from embroidery/writing
28.05 - How to uncover history
34.45 - Alice writing about feelings
40.00 - Alice's relationship with their mum.
43.00 - Alice's mum is an embroider
47.00 - Love in Alice's novel
47.30 - Rippling Pages Patreon Prize.

Reference Points
Walter Benjamin
Judith Butler
Ill Feelings (2021: Fitzcarraldo Books) - Alice Hattrick
Feeling Backward: Loss and the Politics of Queer History - Heather Love (2007:Harvard University Press)
Queering the Subversive Stich (2020: Bloomsbury Publishing) - Joseph McBrinn
José Esteban Muñoz
The Subversive Stitch (1984:Bloomsbury Publishing) - Rozsika Parker
The Log Books (2026: Faber) - Tash Walker and Adam Zmith
50 min
June 13 Ask the Host - Liam on origins of the podcast, literary salons, and a summer books preview

Welcome to an episode of Ask the Host, i.e. with me, Liam!
This the podcast where writers get real about writing, but today, we’re getting real about podcasting!
In today’s episode of Ask the Host, we’re finding out:
- What’s the difference between the live coffee conversations and remote interviews>
- My summer book preview and reading list?
- Where have we been for Leeds Lit Fest? What is the hottest new literary salon on the scene? And looking forward to my event with Alice Hattrick
- What’s the origin story of the podcast?
Enjoy and let me know if you’ve got any questions when you leave a review of my show!

Tickets to the Rippling Pages Live at Leeds Literature Festival with Alice Hattrick
https://www.leedslitfest.co.uk/events/alice-hattrick-fancy-work/
Get exclusive subscriber benefits from the Rippling Pages.
https://patreon.com/RipplingPagesPod?utm_medi
Check out the Rippling Pages Bookshop and buy all the books featured on the Rippling Pages:
https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/ripplingpagespod
Interested in hosting your own podcast? Follow this link and find out how:
https://www.podbean.com/ripplingpages

Books
Jan Carson
Raoul de Jong
John Eyck
Neil Griffiths
Alice Hattrick
Stu Hennigan
M. John Harrison - The end of everything
Hanna Nordenhök - Caesaria
Agnes Lidbeck
Fernanda Melchor
Sara Mesa
Jake Morris Campbell - A journey onto the salt and ash
Flann O’Brien
The Rickard Sisters
Keith Ridgway - Dooneen
C.D. Rose
Guillermo Stitch - The Coast of Everything
Saskia Vogel
Katie Whittemore
Alice Evelyn Yang - A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing

22 min
June 06 Nicholas Royle on writing about his love for second hand books and bookshops (archive re-release)
Let’s dust off the archives again and celebrate some of the guests we’ve had on the Rippling Pages
This time, we’re going back to a conversation that was had in 2022 with the writer, editor, and all around bookish good guy, Nicholas Royle.
I spoke to Nicholas about his wonderful book about book collecting, WHITE SPINES:THE CONFESSIONS OF A BOOK COLLECTOR
Chances are, if you’ve a penchant for second-hand books, you’ll have been or known about one of the many bookshops Nicholas visited to find the Picador books that he coveted.
We’re also celebrating Leeds Literature Festival. The book features Leeds bookshops, and Nicholas is in Leeds talking about the art of the short story with Alice Jolly and Naomi Booth.
Get your tickets below
Tickets to me in conversation with Alice Hattrick.
https://www.leedslitfest.co.uk/events/alice-hattrick-fancy-work/
Get exclusive subscriber benefits from the Rippling Pages.
https://patreon.com/RipplingPagesPod?utm_medi
Check out the Rippling Pages Bookshop and buy all the books featured on the Rippling Pages:
https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/ripplingpagespod
Interested in hosting your own podcast? Follow this link and find out how:
https://www.podbean.com/ripplingpages

Reference Points
Writers and Books
AJ Ashworth
Andrea Ashworth
The Lake John Foxx (Nightjar Press)
M. John Harrison
Anna Kavan - Ice (Picador: 1967)
Alberto Manguel (editor) Black Water: The Anthology of Fantastic Literature (Picador: 1983)
Livi Michael - The Lake (Nightjar Press)
Alison Moore
Nicholas Royle - First Novel (Vintage: 2013)
Nicholas Royle - Counterparts (Penguin: 1995)
Nicholas Royle - Ornithology (Confingo: 2017)
Nicholas Royle - An English Guide to Bird Watching (Myriad Editions: 2017)
Nicholas Royle - Uncanny (Manchester University Press: 2003)
Per Wahlöö - The Lorry (Picador: 1972)
Conrad Williams
Artists
Paul Delvaux
Salvador Dali
Chapters
3.00 - when did he first see the white spines?
7.00 - what was special about the books
9.00 - why write this book
12.15 - Writing a quest
14.45 - is it about confession or obsession
18.10 - giving second life to writers
19.35 - second hand bookshops
24.55 - tactile nature of books
26.09 - sharing names and uncanniness
28.15 - two Nicholas Royles
30.30 - dreams and realities of being a writer
34.45 - nightjar press
39 min
May 28 Stu Hennigan on writing in vernacular and sympathetic truthful portrayals of the north
The podcast for the world’s most interesting writers is going a little closer to home; we’re visiting Leeds and the North of England for a conversation about with Stu Hennigan about his novel, KESHED.
Not only is it lovely to speak about some of the places I know really well, but also a bittersweet too, as Stu’s novel reminds of me of the people and places I’ve moved away from.
What I loved about Stu’s novel, is its sheer vividness of its writing, combining, artfully, the vernacular and the obscene. It’s evocations of northern town and cities that are close to me, but also its unflinching approach to troubling subject matter.
Stu Hennigan is a writer, poet, editor, and musician based in Leeds, UK. His acclaimed book, Ghost Signs: Poverty and the Pandemic, became notable for its powerful documentary fo the city's most deprived communities during COVID-19 lockdown. KESHED, published by Ortac Press, is his first novel.

*this episode features strong language and discussion of sensitive themes!*
Tickets to me in conversation with Alice Hattrick.
https://www.leedslitfest.co.uk/events/alice-hattrick-fancy-work/
Get exclusive subscriber benefits from the Rippling Pages.
https://patreon.com/RipplingPagesPod?utm_medi
Check out the Rippling Pages Bookshop and buy all the books featured on the Rippling Pages:
https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/ripplingpagespod
Interested in hosting your own podcast? Follow this link and find out how:
https://www.podbean.com/ripplingpages
Stu’s Substack:
https://stuhennigan.substack.com

References
Writers
Martin Amis
Jenn Ashworth
Charles Baudelaire
Naomi Booth
James Clark
Owen Jones
Alice Jolly
Alice Murphy-Pyle
Ben Myers
Annie Proulx

Music
Arab Strap
Jimi Hendrix

Film and TV
The Royle Family
Ken Loach

Chapters
1.45 - Uncategorising KESHED
6.15 - What is KESHED about
8.45 - why is Sean in Leeds.
9.55 - Is Sean a flaneur?
16.05 - Sean’s voice
19.20 - The importance of reading
20.10 - On truth
25.25 - Liam’s personal response to the book.
27.45 - Patreon shoutouts!
28.45 - Who is Mandy?
31.20 - Getting feedback on writing women
36.00 -the hard work of writing
37.30 - Assuming readers are smarter than you
38.45 - Language is not a barrier
40.15 - The market of writing
45 min
May 14 Amber Medland on overcoming writers block and writing with George Saunders
Amber Medland is here to tell us about what it’s like to be in an anthology with George Saunders, overcoming writers block, and telling us whether it’s magic or mechanics that makes a story.
Amber has been collated in one of the most select short story anthologies likely to hit the shelves this year. Magic and Mechanics (Scratch Books) features some of the most talented short story writers short stories alongside interviews about those stories.
The anthology about the art and craft of the short story features writers such as George Saunders, Claire-Louise Bennett, Mark Haddon, Camilla Grudova, and Colin Barrett.
Amber tells me about her story, Mr Blythe Esq.
Amber’s debut novel, WILD PETS, was published by Faber and Faber, and her book of non-fiction, ATTENTION SEEKER:THE TRUTH ABOUT ADHD, her exploration of the history of ADHD, was published by Dialogue Books. She has an MFA from Columbia University.

Links to heighting your Rippling Pages Experience
Tickets to me in conversation with Alice Hattrick.
https://www.leedslitfest.co.uk/events/alice-hattrick-fancy-work/
Get exclusive subscriber benefits from the Rippling Pages.
https://patreon.com/RipplingPagesPod?utm_medi
Check out the Rippling Pages Bookshop and buy all the books featured on the Rippling Pages:
https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/ripplingpagespod
Interested in hosting your own podcast? Follow this link and find out how:
https://www.podbean.com/ripplingpages

2.20 - what's it like being in the anthology with George Saunders
4.05 - is writing magic more mechanics?
6.10 - what is Amber's story about?
8.30 - the relationship between the two
10.00 - what is left out of a story?
12.50 - who is Mr Blythe?
14.15 - Power dynamics and musicality
17.30 - sentences on the ear
20.10 - taking creative writing MFAs
21.55 - writer's block
26.00 - Taking the weight from writing.
27.38 - Rippling Pages Bookshop
28.40 - what does it mean to have confidence as a writer.
33.00 - food in Amber's writing.
35.00 - Amber writing about ADHD
39.55 - writing about attentiveness
Referenc Points
Writers
Claire-Louise Bennett
Lucy Caldwell
George Saunders
Joy Williams
Films
Fantasia
Musicians
Harry Styles
43 min

About Rippling Pages: Interviews with Writers

From the publisher's feed

Liam Bishop having a coffee with the world's most interesting writers to inspire your reading and writing on the podcast where writers get real about writing.