The Hidden Lives of Writers

Morabo Morojele is the award-winning author of the novels How We Buried Puso and Three Egg Dilemma, which won the University of Johannesburg Award in 2024.

Morabo joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about the time he forgot that he was a writer, and what made him remember again. He talks about writing drunk and editing sober, and gaining his inspiration from visits to a nearby working-man's pub.

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Cliffordene Norton is the celebrated author of young adult novels and short stories in Afrikaans, and has a new title coming out in 2025.

Cliffordene joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about why Afrikaans readers show up so consistently for their writers. She shares the secrets behind writing for teens, and having her short stories regularly snapped up by magazines like HUISGENOOT.

For more details about the books, movies, series, and podcasts that are discussed on the show, sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Ask us your writing-related questions. Fiona and Gail would love to hear from you!

Please join the conversation:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @thehiddenlivesofwriterspod

Twitter: @hiddenwriterpod

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Facebook discussion group: The Hidden Lives of Writers Follow us on Instagram · Chat with us on Twitter · Join our Facebook group · Subscribe to us on YouTube · Join our newsletter · Ask your writing-related questions here

Terry-Ann Adams is the award-winning author of the novel THOSE WHO LIVE IN CAGES and the short story collection WHITE CHALK.

Terry-Ann joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about what it is like to embark upon an MA in Creative Writing after you have already been published and won awards. She shares what she has learned from the process.

For more details about the books, movies, series, and podcasts that are discussed on the show, sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Ask your writing-related questions! Fiona and Gail would love to hear from you. Please join the conversation here:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @thehiddenlivesofwriterspod

Twitter: @hiddenwriterpod

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Threads: @thehiddenlivesofwriters

Facebook discussion group: The Hidden Lives of Writers Follow us on Instagram · Chat with us on Twitter · Join our Facebook group · Subscribe to us on YouTube · Join our newsletter · Ask your writing-related questions here

Penny Haw is the highly successful author of several works of historical fiction. Her latest novel FOLLOW ME TO AFRICA is hitting bestseller lists all over South Africa right now.

Penny joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about her early forays into children's fiction, thrillers, and now historical fiction.

For more details about the books, movies, series, and podcasts that are discussed on the show, sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Ask your writing-related questions! Fiona and Gail would love to hear from you. Please join the conversation here:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @thehiddenlivesofwriterspod

Twitter: @hiddenwriterpod

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Threads: @thehiddenlivesofwriters

Facebook discussion group: The Hidden Lives of Writers Follow us on Instagram · Chat with us on Twitter · Join our Facebook group · Subscribe to us on YouTube · Join our newsletter · Ask your writing-related questions here

Shameez Patel Papathanasiou is taking her writing in a new direction.

The author of the Selene Trilogy of fantasy novels, has gone back to her one true love - contemporary romance.

Shameez joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about what inspired this pivot and how much fun she had writing her new hit novel, PLAYING FLIRTY.

For more details about the books, movies, series, and podcasts that are discussed on the show, sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Ask your writing-related questions!

Fiona and Gail would love to hear from you.

Please join the conversation here:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @thehiddenlivesofwriterspod

Twitter: @hiddenwriterpod

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Threads: @thehiddenlivesofwriters

Facebook discussion group: The Hidden Lives of Writers Follow us on Instagram · Chat with us on Twitter · Join our Facebook group · Subscribe to us on YouTube · Join our newsletter · Ask your writing-related questions here

Spud is back! John van der Ruit is the record-smashing, best-selling author of the SPUD series of books, as well as an actor and playwright.

John joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about what it was like finding the voice of an older Spud after all these years.

He gives great tips about writing a comic novel, and explains how it is not enough to write funny scenes - your novel has to have comedic bones.

We were delighted to catch John at the beginning of his Spud book tour.

For more details about the books, movies, series, and podcasts that are discussed on the show, sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Fiona and Gail would love to hear from you. Please join the conversation!

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @thehiddenlivesofwriterspod

Twitter: @hiddenwriterpod

YouTube: The Hidden Lives of Writers

Threads: @thehiddenlivesofwriters

Facebook discussion group: The Hidden Lives of Writers Follow us on Instagram · Chat with us on Twitter · Join our Facebook group · Subscribe to us on YouTube · Join our newsletter · Ask your writing-related questions here

Gareth Crocker is a well known novelist, film maker, and television creator. His latest book NOW YOU SUFFER is garnering great reviews.

Gareth joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about how he got an international deal for his first novel FINDING JACK, and why major Hollywood stars like Chris Evans and Elijah Wood began calling him shortly afterwards.

He talks about why he recently pivoted to thriller writing and how to create characters that can sustain a whole series.

For more details about the books, movies, series, and podcasts that are discussed on the show, sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Fiona and Gail would love to hear from you. Please join the conversation:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @thehiddenlivesofwriterspod

Twitter: @hiddenwriterpod

YouTube: The Hidden Lives of Writers

Threads: @thehiddenlivesofwriters

Facebook discussion group: The Hidden Lives of Writers Follow us on Instagram · Chat with us on Twitter · Join our Facebook group · Subscribe to us on YouTube · Join our newsletter · Ask your writing-related questions here

Samantha Shannon is the internationally bestselling author of the BONE SEASON series of urban fantasy novels, as well as the epic fantasy novel THE PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREE.

Samantha joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about why she is rereleasing the BONE SEASON series as 'the author's preferred edition' with all new artwork.

She explains what it was like to strike a major book deal at a young age, and discusses the challenges she faces in writing while living with chronic pain.

Gail and Samantha discuss the way she subverts gender expectations throughout her novels, and Samantha explains how THE PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREE is a retelling of the myth of St George and the dragon.

For more details about the books, movies, series, and podcasts that are discussed on the show, sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Fiona and Gail would love to hear from you! Please join the conversation:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @thehiddenlivesofwriterspod

Twitter: @hiddenwriterpod

YouTube: The Hidden Lives of Writers

Threads: @thehiddenlivesofwriters

Facebook discussion group: The Hidden Lives of Writers Follow us on Instagram · Chat with us on Twitter · Join our Facebook group · Subscribe to us on YouTube · Join our newsletter · Ask your writing-related questions here

Louisa Treger is the acclaimed author of four historical novels featuring remarkable women whose contributions to society have been overlooked or forgotten. Her most recent novel is THE PARIS MUSE.

Louisa joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about why she pivoted from academic research to fiction writing, and how she chooses the women who become the subjects of her novels. She explains why South Africa is the country of her heart, despite the fact that she was born and brought up in the UK.

For more details about the books, movies, series, and podcasts that are discussed on the show, sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Fiona and Gail would love to hear from you! Please join the conversation:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @thehiddenlivesofwriterspod

Twitter: @hiddenwriterpod

YouTube: The Hidden Lives of Writers

Threads: @thehiddenlivesofwriters

Facebook discussion group: The Hidden Lives of Writers Follow us on Instagram · Chat with us on Twitter · Join our Facebook group · Subscribe to us on YouTube · Join our newsletter · Ask your writing-related questions here

Vernon Head is the author of THE SEARCH FOR THE RAREST BIRD IN THE WORLD - a piece of creative non-fiction that has recently been reissued, as well as A TREE FOR THE BIRDS, and the award-winning ON THAT WAVE OF GULLS.

Vernon joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about how a childhood encounter with the Burchell's Coucal was the spark that got him interested in bird-watching. He tells us how he keeps returning to the theme of liminality in his writing and why his next project may be informed by sunsets. As an architect, Vernon works with the built environment, but his heart belongs to the natural world.

For more details about the books, movies, series, and podcasts that are discussed on the show, sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Fiona and Gail would love to hear from you. Please join the conversation! Follow us on Instagram · Chat with us on Twitter · Join our Facebook group · Subscribe to us on YouTube · Join our newsletter · Ask your writing-related questions here