We'd Like A Word

Lessons in fantasy & world building (part 2) from Elizabeth Knox & Stephanie Bretherton: They discuss with We'd Like A Word presenters, Paul Waters & Stevyn Colgan, how to construct imagined worlds from top to bottom, dual narratives, fantastic naturalism, combining fantasy, speculative fiction & science fiction. Elizabeth's new book, The Absolute Book, published by Penguin / Michael Joseph, is out now. It's massive & the cover is lovely. Elizabeth joins us from the land of tomorrow - ie New Zealand. She teaches world building at Victoria University in Wellington. She's the author of 13 novels and other other works besides. Literary non-realism, she sometimes calls it. Her books have won plenty of awards & she has an honour herself - Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. Stephanie is the author of Bone Lines, published by Unbound, and various short stories. She's has not (yet) been honoured by royalty, but she's revered as a kind and effective support by many, many new authors. She's currently working on the sequel to Bone Lines - part 2 in her Children of Sarah series.

We also hear about inspiration from JRR Tolkien, George RR Martin, Lionel Shriver, Anne McCaffrey, Black lace women's erotica, Suzie Wilde, Sue Clark, Ursula Le Guin & Richard Powers. And also about author (& former We'd Like A Word guest) Dougie Brimson's new TV & film production company, Red Bus Movies. He's ex-RAF & wants ex-military to apply.

We'd Like A Word is a podcast and radio show from authors Paul Waters and Stevyn Colgan. We talk with writers, readers, editors, agents, celebrities, talkers, poets, publishers, booksellers, audiobook creators about books - fiction and non-fiction. We go out on various radio and podcast platforms. Our website is www.wedlikeaword.com -  which is where you'll find information about Paul and Steve and our guests.  We're also on Twitter @wedlikeaword and Facebook @wedlikeaword and our email is [email protected] - and yes, we are slightly embarrassed by the missing apostrophes. We like to hear from you - your questions, thoughts, ideas, guest or book suggestions. Perhaps you'd like to come on We'd Like A Word in person, to chat, review, meet writers or read out passages from books. . .

Lessons in fantasy & world building (part 3) from Elizabeth Knox & Stephanie Bretherton: They discuss with We'd Like A Word presenters, Paul Waters & Stevyn Colgan, how to construct imagined worlds from top to bottom, dual narratives, fantastic naturalism, combining fantasy, speculative fiction & science fiction. Elizabeth's new book, The Absolute Book, published by Penguin / Michael Joseph, is out now. It's massive & the cover is lovely. Elizabeth joins us from the land of tomorrow - ie New Zealand. She teaches world building at Victoria University in Wellington. She's the author of 13 novels and other other works besides. Literary non-realism, she sometimes calls it. Her books have won plenty of awards & she has an honour herself - Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. Stephanie is the author of Bone Lines, published by Unbound, and various short stories. She's has not (yet) been honoured by royalty, but she's revered as a kind and effective support by many, many new authors. She's currently working on the sequel to Bone Lines - part 2 in her Children of Sarah series.  

We also hear about inspiration from JRR Tolkien, George RR Martin, Lionel Shriver, Anne McCaffrey, Black lace women's erotica, Suzie Wilde, Sue Clark, Ursula Le Guin & Richard Powers. And also about author (& former We'd Like A Word guest) Dougie Brimson's new TV & film production company, Red Bus Movies. He's ex-RAF & wants ex-military to apply. 

We'd Like A Word is a podcast and radio show from authors Paul Waters and Stevyn Colgan. We talk with writers, readers, editors, agents, celebrities, talkers, poets, publishers, booksellers, audiobook creators about books - fiction and non-fiction. We go out on various radio and podcast platforms. Our website is www.wedlikeaword.com -  which is where you'll find information about Paul and Steve and our guests.  We're also on Twitter @wedlikeaword and Facebook @wedlikeaword and our email is [email protected] - and yes, we are slightly embarrassed by the missing apostrophes. We like to hear from you - your questions, thoughts, ideas, guest or book suggestions. Perhaps you'd like to come on We'd Like A Word in person, to chat, review, meet writers or read out passages from books. . .

New Northern Ireland crime fiction (part 1) with authors Simon Maltman & James Murphy, & bookseller & publisher David Torrans: They discuss with We’d Like A Word presenters Paul Waters and Stevyn Colgan, financial support for authors, whether publisher (& reader) appetite for Northern Ireland crime fiction has dried up (Paul hopes not!), and keeping a bookshop and publisher going during Covid. Simon Maltman's latest novel is Witness. He's also the author of The Mark, Sidewinder, Bongo Fury & more. He plays guitar, he's from Bangor and leads crime fiction tours of Belfast. James Murphy, from Belfast, is a former headteacher and author of the Terror trilogy - The Rise of Terror, The Terror Within & Dark Light (yes, we tease James for that third title). James also teaches crime writing, is an organiser of the Northern Ireland Festival of Writing, and presents the podcast, A Life of Crime (Writing) with James Murphy. The legendary David Torrans owns the legendary No Alibi's crime and mystery bookshop on Belfast's Botanic Avenue. He also runs the No Alibis Press publisher, (Emma Warnock is the editor). He's been a magnet and hub for local and international authors, and is one of the organisers of Noireland, the Northern Ireland International Crime Fiction Festival. And David and his shop have been immortalised in fiction (Mystery Man by Colin Bateman) - an uncannily accurate depiction of the real man. (David denies it. But just look at him and draw your own conclusions.)

We also have a love in for the Northern Ireland Arts Council and author Gerard Brennan, whose latest book is called Shot. We hear about the next book coming from No Alibis Press - it's called Seed, by Joanna Walsh. And we talk about authors Val McDermid, Adrian McKinty, Colin Bateman, Steve Cavanagh, Kelly Creighton, Sharon Dempsey, Stuart Neville, Maurice Leitch, Brian McGilloway, Vigdis Hjorth & Emily St John Mandell. Liam Neeson and James Nesbitt pop in the conversation. Paul threatens to replace Stevyn as co-presenter with You Tube countryside guru Dick Leviathan. There's a lot of chuckling and quite a bit of giggling.

This episode was supported by the We'd Like A Word advisory panel: Gerry Lockdown, Barry Murderer, Trevor Torture, Maurice Fear & Seamus Panic. Thanks guys.

We'd Like A Word is a podcast and radio show from authors Paul Waters and Stevyn Colgan. We talk with writers, readers, editors, agents, celebrities, talkers, poets, publishers, booksellers, audiobook creators about books - fiction and non-fiction. We go out on various radio and podcast platforms. Our website is www.wedlikeaword.com -  which is where you'll find information about Paul and Steve and our guests.  We're also on Twitter @wedlikeaword and Facebook @wedlikeaword and our email is [email protected] - and yes, we are slightly embarrassed by the missing apostrophes. We like to hear from you - your questions, thoughts, ideas, guest or book suggestions. Perhaps you'd like to come on We'd Like A Word in person, to chat, review, meet writers or read out passages from books. . .

New Northern Ireland crime fiction (part 2) with authors Simon Maltman & James Murphy, & bookseller & publisher David Torrans: They discuss with We’d Like A Word presenters Paul Waters and Stevyn Colgan, financial support for authors, whether publisher (& reader) appetite for Northern Ireland crime fiction has dried up (Paul hopes not!), and keeping a bookshop and publisher going during Covid. Simon Maltman's latest novel is Witness. He's also the author of The Mark, Sidewinder, Bongo Fury & more. He plays guitar, he's from Bangor and leads crime fiction tours of Belfast. James Murphy, from Belfast, is a former headteacher and author of the Terror trilogy - The Rise of Terror, The Terror Within & Dark Light (yes, we tease James for that third title). James also teaches crime writing, is an organiser of the Northern Ireland Festival of Writing, and presents the podcast, A Life of Crime (Writing) with James Murphy. The legendary David Torrans owns the legendary No Alibi's crime and mystery bookshop on Belfast's Botanic Avenue. He also runs the No Alibis Press publisher, (Emma Warnock is the editor). He's been a magnet and hub for local and international authors, and is one of the organisers of Noireland, the Northern Ireland International Crime Fiction Festival. And David and his shop have been immortalised in fiction (Mystery Man by Colin Bateman) - an uncannily accurate depiction of the real man. (David denies it. But just look at him and draw your own conclusions.)

We also have a love in for the Northern Ireland Arts Council and author Gerard Brennan, whose latest book is called Shot. We hear about the next book coming from No Alibis Press - it's called Seed, by Joanna Walsh. And we talk about authors Val McDermid, Adrian McKinty, Colin Bateman, Steve Cavanagh, Kelly Creighton, Sharon Dempsey, Stuart Neville, Maurice Leitch, Brian McGilloway, Vigdis Hjorth & Emily St John Mandell. Liam Neeson and James Nesbitt pop in the conversation. Paul threatens to replace Stevyn as co-presenter with You Tube countryside guru Dick Leviathan. There's a lot of chuckling and quite a bit of giggling.

This episode was supported by the We'd Like A Word advisory panel: Gerry Lockdown, Barry Murderer, Trevor Torture, Maurice Fear & Seamus Panic. Thanks guys.

We'd Like A Word is a podcast and radio show from authors Paul Waters and Stevyn Colgan. We talk with writers, readers, editors, agents, celebrities, talkers, poets, publishers, booksellers, audiobook creators about books - fiction and non-fiction. We go out on various radio and podcast platforms. Our website is www.wedlikeaword.com -  which is where you'll find information about Paul and Steve and our guests.  We're also on Twitter @wedlikeaword and Facebook @wedlikeaword and our email is [email protected] - and yes, we are slightly embarrassed by the missing apostrophes. We like to hear from you - your questions, thoughts, ideas, guest or book suggestions. Perhaps you'd like to come on We'd Like A Word in person, to chat, review, meet writers or read out passages from books. . .

New Northern Ireland crime fiction (part 3) with authors Simon Maltman & James Murphy, & bookseller & publisher David Torrans: They discuss with We’d Like A Word presenters Paul Waters and Stevyn Colgan, financial support for authors, whether publisher (& reader) appetite for Northern Ireland crime fiction has dried up (Paul hopes not!), and keeping a bookshop and publisher going during Covid. Simon Maltman's latest novel is Witness. He's also the author of The Mark, Sidewinder, Bongo Fury & more. He plays guitar, he's from Bangor and leads crime fiction tours of Belfast. James Murphy, from Belfast, is a former headteacher and author of the Terror trilogy - The Rise of Terror, The Terror Within & Dark Light (yes, we tease James for that third title). James also teaches crime writing, is an organiser of the Northern Ireland Festival of Writing, and presents the podcast, A Life of Crime (Writing) with James Murphy. The legendary David Torrans owns the legendary No Alibi's crime and mystery bookshop on Belfast's Botanic Avenue. He also runs the No Alibis Press publisher, (Emma Warnock is the editor). He's been a magnet and hub for local and international authors, and is one of the organisers of Noireland, the Northern Ireland International Crime Fiction Festival. And David and his shop have been immortalised in fiction (Mystery Man by Colin Bateman) - an uncannily accurate depiction of the real man. (David denies it. But just look at him and draw your own conclusions.)

We also have a love in for the Northern Ireland Arts Council and author Gerard Brennan, whose latest book is called Shot. We hear about the next book coming from No Alibis Press - it's called Seed, by Joanna Walsh. And we talk about authors Val McDermid, Adrian McKinty, Colin Bateman, Steve Cavanagh, Kelly Creighton, Sharon Dempsey, Stuart Neville, Maurice Leitch, Brian McGilloway, Vigdis Hjorth & Emily St John Mandell. Liam Neeson and James Nesbitt pop in the conversation. Paul threatens to replace Stevyn as co-presenter with You Tube countryside guru Dick Leviathan. There's a lot of chuckling and quite a bit of giggling.

This episode was supported by the We'd Like A Word advisory panel: Gerry Lockdown, Barry Murderer, Trevor Torture, Maurice Fear & Seamus Panic. Thanks guys.

We'd Like A Word is a podcast and radio show from authors Paul Waters and Stevyn Colgan. We talk with writers, readers, editors, agents, celebrities, talkers, poets, publishers, booksellers, audiobook creators about books - fiction and non-fiction. We go out on various radio and podcast platforms. Our website is www.wedlikeaword.com -  which is where you'll find information about Paul and Steve and our guests.  We're also on Twitter @wedlikeaword and Facebook @wedlikeaword and our email is [email protected] - and yes, we are slightly embarrassed by the missing apostrophes. We like to hear from you - your questions, thoughts, ideas, guest or book suggestions. Perhaps you'd like to come on We'd Like A Word in person, to chat, review, meet writers or read out passages from books. . .

Meet the Publishers (Part 1) with Karen Sullivan & Miranda Jewess:  Karen, owner & publisher of Orenda Books, and Miranda, senior commissioning editor & so-called Viper Nest Momma at Viper Books (part of Profile), reveal to We’d Like A Word presenters Paul Waters and Stevyn Colgan the secrets of publishing - how they choose books & authors, what puts them off, whether you really need an agent or not (and how to get a deal without one), the impact of celebrity authors, the chances for new writers, how you should use social media and what books they love or are excited by, bus tours, literary festivals & writing in the vernacular. We also talk about authors Denise Mina, Antti Toumainen, David F Ross, Peter May, Helen Fitzgerald, Louise Beech, Ragnar Jonasson, Russel D McLean, Matt Wesolowski, Will Carver, Doug Johnston, Lucy Foley, Guy Morpuss, Catriona Ward & Stephanie Bretherton.

We'd Like A Word is a podcast and radio show from authors Paul Waters and Stevyn Colgan. We talk with writers, readers, editors, agents, celebrities, talkers, poets, publishers, booksellers, audiobook creators about books - fiction and non-fiction. We go out on various radio and podcast platforms. Our website is www.wedlikeaword.com -  which is where you'll find information about Paul and Steve and our guests.  We're also on Twitter @wedlikeaword and Facebook @wedlikeaword and our email is [email protected] - and yes, we are slightly embarrassed by the missing apostrophes. We like to hear from you - your questions, thoughts, ideas, guest or book suggestions. Perhaps you'd like to come on We'd Like A Word in person, to chat, review, meet writers or read out passages from books. . .

Meet the Publishers (Part 2) with Karen Sullivan & Miranda Jewess:  Karen, owner & publisher of Orenda Books, and Miranda, senior commissioning editor & so-called Viper Nest Momma at Viper Books (part of Profile), reveal to We’d Like A Word presenters Paul Waters and Stevyn Colgan the secrets of publishing - how they choose books & authors, what puts them off, whether you really need an agent or not (and how to get a deal without one), the impact of celebrity authors, the chances for new writers, how you should use social media and what books they love or are excited by, bus tours, literary festivals & writing in the vernacular. We also talk about authors Denise Mina, Antti Toumainen, David F Ross, Peter May, Helen Fitzgerald, Louise Beech, Ragnar Jonasson, Russel D McLean, Matt Wesolowski, Will Carver, Doug Johnston, Lucy Foley, Guy Morpuss, Catriona Ward & Stephanie Bretherton.

We'd Like A Word is a podcast and radio show from authors Paul Waters and Stevyn Colgan. We talk with writers, readers, editors, agents, celebrities, talkers, poets, publishers, booksellers, audiobook creators about books - fiction and non-fiction. We go out on various radio and podcast platforms. Our website is www.wedlikeaword.com -  which is where you'll find information about Paul and Steve and our guests.  We're also on Twitter @wedlikeaword and Facebook @wedlikeaword and our email is [email protected] - and yes, we are slightly embarrassed by the missing apostrophes. We like to hear from you - your questions, thoughts, ideas, guest or book suggestions. Perhaps you'd like to come on We'd Like A Word in person, to chat, review, meet writers or read out passages from books. . .

Meet the Publishers (Part 3) with Karen Sullivan & Miranda Jewess:  Karen, owner & publisher of Orenda Books, and Miranda, senior commissioning editor & so-called Viper Nest Momma at Viper Books (part of Profile), reveal to We’d Like A Word presenters Paul Waters and Stevyn Colgan the secrets of publishing - how they choose books & authors, what puts them off, whether you really need an agent or not (and how to get a deal without one), the impact of celebrity authors, the chances for new writers, how you should use social media and what books they love or are excited by, bus tours, literary festivals & writing in the vernacular. We also talk about authors Denise Mina, Antti Toumainen, David F Ross, Peter May, Helen Fitzgerald, Louise Beech, Ragnar Jonasson, Russel D McLean, Matt Wesolowski, Will Carver, Doug Johnston, Lucy Foley, Guy Morpuss, Catriona Ward & Stephanie Bretherton.

We'd Like A Word is a podcast and radio show from authors Paul Waters and Stevyn Colgan. We talk with writers, readers, editors, agents, celebrities, talkers, poets, publishers, booksellers, audiobook creators about books - fiction and non-fiction. We go out on various radio and podcast platforms. Our website is www.wedlikeaword.com -  which is where you'll find information about Paul and Steve and our guests.  We're also on Twitter @wedlikeaword and Facebook @wedlikeaword and our email is [email protected] - and yes, we are slightly embarrassed by the missing apostrophes. We like to hear from you - your questions, thoughts, ideas, guest or book suggestions. Perhaps you'd like to come on We'd Like A Word in person, to chat, review, meet writers or read out passages from books. . .

Audiobooks (Part 1) with Caroline Lennon, Patrick Moy & Natalie Chisholm:  Caroline (who played Siobhan Hathaway in The Archers on BBC Radio 4), Patrick and Natalie, all audiobook narrators and actors (and in Natalie's case a producer too), reveal to We’d Like A Word presenters Paul Waters and Stevyn Colgan the secrets of audiobook narration and how they make your writing sound good. Part 1 is all Natalie. Natalie Chisholm, aka Redhead Voiceover, narrates classic short stories by Elizabeth Gaskell, Clara Venn and Oscar Wilde for B7 Media. She also has her own home studio for proper "punch and roll" recording - helped by her BBC presenting and producing background.  In the other episodes we hear from Caroline Lennon - she's famous for playing the scarlet-haired temptress Siobhan Hathaway who has an affair with Brian Aldridge in The Archers on BBC Radio 4, so she takes questions from our audience on what happened on set and why she left. She also talks about the 350+ unabridged audiobooks she has narrated. 350! They include books by Brian McGilloway, Hannah Kent, Jane Casey, Maeve Binchy, Anne Enright, Peter Tremayne, Graham Masterton, Hannah Hauxwell and many many more. Caroline tells us about the only author who should be allowed to narrate their own books (only one), how she does it herself, discusses political extremes and representation. We also hear from Patrick Moy (aka Patrick Doddy) who has narrated about 50 unabridged audiobooks, including Blackwatertown by Paul Waters (hurrah!), and books by Hilary Mantel, Catherine Doyle, Fintan O'Toole, Paul Murray, JP Donleavy, Helen Cullen, Eoin Colfer, Ian Cobain, Edward Rutherfurd, John Chambers, Jim Hutton and Tim Wapshott. Plus stories of Freddie Mercury backstage and theatrical disasters.  We also bring in authors Barbara Copperthwaite, Sue Jones, Joanne Frost Johnson, Monica Ali, Hallie Rubenhold and actors David Tennant, Rula Lenska and Andrew Scott.

We'd Like A Word is a podcast and radio show from authors Paul Waters and Stevyn Colgan. We talk with writers, readers, editors, agents, celebrities, talkers, poets, publishers, booksellers, audiobook creators about books - fiction and non-fiction. We go out on various radio and podcast platforms. Our website is www.wedlikeaword.com -  which is where you'll find information about Paul and Steve and our guests.  We're also on Twitter @wedlikeaword and Facebook @wedlikeaword and our email is [email protected] - and yes, we are slightly embarrassed by the missing apostrophes. We like to hear from you - your questions, thoughts, ideas, guest or book suggestions. Perhaps you'd like to come on We'd Like A Word in person, to chat, review, meet writers or read out passages from books. . .

Audiobooks (Part 2) with Patrick Moy, Caroline Lennon & Natalie Chisholm:  Caroline (who played Siobhan Hathaway in The Archers on BBC Radio 4), Patrick and Natalie, all audiobook narrators and actors (and in Natalie's case a producer too), reveal to We’d Like A Word presenters Paul Waters and Stevyn Colgan the secrets of audiobook narration and how they make your writing sound good. Part 2 is all Patrick. Patrick Moy (aka Patrick Doddy)  has narrated about 50 unabridged audiobooks, including Blackwatertown by Paul Waters (hurrah!), and books by Hilary Mantel, Catherine Doyle, Fintan O'Toole, Paul Murray, JP Donleavy, Helen Cullen, Eoin Colfer, Ian Cobain, Edward Rutherfurd, John Chambers, Jim Hutton and Tim Wapshott. He also raises stories of Freddie Mercury backstage and theatrical disasters. (Yes, it's the one about when Freddie Mercury tried Stevyn Colgan's helmet on for size and Patrick Moy crash landed into the scenery.)  With excerpts of Patrick reading from Blackwatertown (by Paul Waters) and Rula Lenska reading from A Murder To Die For (by Stevyn Colgan - includes teeth being sunk into a scotum). In the other episodes we hear from Caroline Lennon - she's famous for playing the scarlet-haired temptress Siobhan Hathaway who has an affair with Brian Aldridge in The Archers on BBC Radio 4, so she takes questions from our audience on what happened on set and why she left. She also talks about the 350+ unabridged audiobooks she has narrated. 350! They include books by Brian McGilloway, Hannah Kent, Jane Casey, Maeve Binchy, Anne Enright, Peter Tremayne, Graham Masterton, Hannah Hauxwell and many many more. Caroline tells us about the only author who should be allowed to narrate their own books (only one), how she does it herself, discusses political extremes and representation.  Natalie Chisholm, aka Redhead Voiceover, narrates classic short stories by Elizabeth Gaskell, Clara Venn and Oscar Wilde for B7 Media. She also has her own home studio for proper "punch and roll" recording - helped by her BBC presenting and producing background.  We also bring in authors Barbara Copperthwaite, Sue Jones, Joanne Frost Johnson, Monica Ali, Hallie Rubenhold and actors David Tennant and Andrew Scott.

We'd Like A Word is a podcast and radio show from authors Paul Waters and Stevyn Colgan. We talk with writers, readers, editors, agents, celebrities, talkers, poets, publishers, booksellers, audiobook creators about books - fiction and non-fiction. We go out on various radio and podcast platforms. Our website is www.wedlikeaword.com -  which is where you'll find information about Paul and Steve and our guests.  We're also on Twitter @wedlikeaword and Facebook @wedlikeaword and our email is [email protected] - and yes, we are slightly embarrassed by the missing apostrophes. We like to hear from you - your questions, thoughts, ideas, guest or book suggestions. Perhaps you'd like to come on We'd Like A Word in person, to chat, review, meet writers or read out passages from books. . .