The Word Monkeys

In this episode, Matt and Sophie Anderson chat about how to retell a story and why it's so important that we do. Sophie Anderson is the author of The House With Chicken Legs, The Girl Who Speaks Bear, and the Castle of Tangled Magic. TGWSB won Wales Book of the Year (2020) and is on the shortlist for the 2021 Carnegie Medal. Sophie is retelling the story of Branwen for The Mab. Pre-order your copy of The Mab at https://unbound.com/books/the-mab/

Matt Twitter: @mattbrownauthor

Sophie Twitter: @sophieinspace

In this episode, Matt and PG Bell, author of the Thrain To Impossible Places series, discuss why a family version of the Mabinogion doesn't exist. Matt and Peter also chat about how the Mabinogion is like the Marvel Cinematic Universe and why the Otherworld is awesome.

If you'd like to support The Mab please go here https://unbound.com/books/the-mab/

Competition details are here https://www.mattbrownwriter.com/news-blog/mab-school-giveaway

The Mab is a new project that I have created with Eloise Williams, the Children's Laureate for Wales. It's a retelling of the Mabinogion, the ancient Welsh stories of kings and giants and adventure, for kids. You can help support The Mab by going here https://unbound.com/books/the-mab/

In this episode I chat with Hanan Issa, a writer and poet, about her first experience with the Mabinogion, why it is crying out to be retold, and how dealing with kids can give you unexpected skills.

Twitter @mattbrownauthor

Matt chats to award-winning YA author Tamsin Winter about how to achieve a deadline during lockdown, what it's like to have a name that people get wrong, and why lockdown has brought out the best in some people.

Twitter: @MsWinterTweets @mattbrownauthor

Matt chats to award-winning author, Lisa Thompson about lockdown routines, using movies for inspiration and winning awards. Lisa and Matt are both up for an FCBG 2020 award, along with Lorraine Gregory. You can vote for any of them here http://fcbg2019.wpengine.com/2020-voting-younger-readers/

Twitter: @lthompsonwrites @mattbrownauthor

In this episode of the Word Monkeys, Matt and Stef work their way through the World Cup of Superheroes. Who will win? One thing's for sure, it won't be Iron Man

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@mattbrownauthor

@stefmowords

Wellity, wellity, wellity. Here we go with another Word Monkeys Lockdown Special. This time, Matt chats to writer, author, producer, comedian, human, Danny Wallace. There's chit-chat about meat-drops, exploding pears, awesome action movies and what it's like when your book becomes a movie.

TWITTER:

Matt - @mattbrownauthor

Danny - @dannywallace

If you want to know why bombs look round in cartoons then feast your peepers on this... https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/why-we-picture-bombs-as-round-black-balls-with-a-burning-wick

It's April, 2020 and, if you're listening in the future, the whole world is in lockdown. In this episode, Matt chat's to P.G. Bell, the fantabulous children's author and writer of the Great Brain Robbery and the Train to Impossible Places. Matt and Peter chit-chat about partying in your dressing gown, what sci-fi is the best, and which books fired a young P.G. Bell's imagination.

Twitter:

Matt - @mattbrownauthor

Peter - @petergbell

Do you believe in life on other planets?

Who is your favourite alien?

Should a man wear a furry tabard?

Matt chats with author, poet and space cowboy, Dom Conlon, about these burning questions and many, many more

Chat to Matt on Twitter @mattbrownauthor

Chat to Dom on Twitter @dom_conlon

Matt chats with Barry Loser and Future Rat Boy author Jim Smith. Together they break down the secrets of creating a brilliant character. Find out how Jim was influenced by Back to the Future, Guardians of the Galaxy and Dallas (the TV show not the place).

Tweet Matt @mattbrownauthor

Tweet Jim @barryloser