Writers in the Dark

On episode 24 I spoke to Rebecca Templeton, author of Lochbound, a historical fantasy novel loosely based on The Little Mermaid. We talked about her fascination for Scottish folklore, research rabbit holes, reading outside your genre when writing.

Guest

Rebecca Templeton

Instagram: @rebeccatempletonauthor

TikTok: @rebeccatempletonauthor

Novel(s)

* Lochbound

Host

Malika Nekhla

Instagram: @malikanwrites, @writersinthedarkpod

Substack: malikanwrites.substack.com

Novel

* Hold on to Your Heart

On episode 23 I chatted with Viola Richards, librarian, book reviewer and writer. We talked about the first novel she wrote and how she’s now shifting to a different genre, how much she loves her job as a librarian and the inspiration she draws from plays and novels to write her own stories.

Guest

Viola Richards

Instagram: @libraryofviola

Host

Malika Nekhla

Instagram: @malikanwrites, @writersinthedarkpod

Substack: malikanwrites.substack.com

Novel

* Hold on to Your Heart

Also mentioned

Caryl Churchill - Top Girls

Bridgerton series - Julia Quinn

The Starving Saints - Caitlin Starling

Eat the Ones You Love - Sarah Maria Griffin

The King in Yellow - Robert W. Chambers

If We Were Villains - M.L. Rio

On episode 22 I had the absolute pleasure of talking to Claire Daverley, author of Talking at Night and People in Love. We spoke about how she went from visual art to writing, the lessons we learn from failure and how moving through difficult emotions helps with our writing.

Guest

Claire Daverley

Instagram

Novels

* Talking at Night

* People in Love

Substack

Host

Malika Nekhla

Instagram: malikanwrites; writersinthedarkpod

Novel

Hold on to Your Heart

Also mentioned

Faber Academy

Elizabeth Day

Books

Wild - Cheryl Strayed

Saltwater - Jessica Andrews

Normal People - Sally Rooney

Expectation - Anna Hope

Cleo & Frankenstein - Coco Mellors

Cold New Climate - Isobel Wohl

Brother of the More Famous Jack - Barbara Trapido

Sorrow & Bliss - Meg Mason

Film

All of You

On episode 21 I was joined by writer, actress, podcaster and audiobook narrator, Hannah MacDonald. We talked about the debut novel she’s writing alongside her many other projects, the authors that inspire her and her first time narrating an audiobook.

Guest

Hannah MacDonald

Podcast: A Pair of Bookends

Instagram: @hannahdondonx - @apairofbookendspod

Patreon

TikTok

Host

Malika Nekhla

Instagram: malikanwrites; writersinthedarkpod

Novel: Hold on to Your Heart

Also mentioned

CBC writing course - Writing Fiction with David Nicholls

Claire Daverley - Talking at Night, People in Love

Lily King - Writers & Lovers, Heart the Lover, Euphoria

Bitter Sweet - Hattie Williams

Acts of Desperation - Megan Nolan

Good Material - Dolly Alderton

Main Characters - Bobby Palmer

The Hunger Games - The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

Emma Hinds

Tip Toe - Russel T Davis

Sally Rooney - new york times interview

On episode 20 I was joined by Elaine Gregersen and we talked about processing trauma through writing, divine inspiration and our shared love of pop culture references.

Guest

Elaine Gregersen

Substack

Instagram

Podcast: The Honeymoon Period

Host

Malika Nekhla

Instagram: malikanwrites; writersinthedarkpod

Novel: Hold on to Your Heart

Also mentioned

Mothers Who Write

Rebecca Schiller

On episode 19 I was joined by Hattie Williams, author of Bitter Sweet, journalist and screenwriter. Hattie and I talked about Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo & Juliet, romaticising celebrities & the music that inspires her.

Guest

Hattie Williams

Instagram

Substack

TikTok

Novels

* Bitter Sweet

* Light Years: Coming April 2027 (pre-order here)

Host

Malika Nekhla

Instagram: malikanwrites; writersinthedarkpod

Novel

* Hold on to Your Heart

Also Mentioned

Hattie’s article on Romeo & Juliet

Script Angel

Scriptnotes podcast: Finding Nemo

Mogwai: Ritchie Sacramento

The Cure

The National

Visit from the Goon Squad

Write Like a Grrrl

On episode 18, I was joined by Canadian author Laurie Petrou. Her upcoming novel, The Rayburn Affair is out August 27 in the UK & Ireland.

Guest

Laurie Petrou

Instagram

Threads

Novels

The Rayburn Affair

The Rehearsal Club (with Kate Fodor as co-author)

Stargazer

Love, Heather

Sister of Mine

Between

Host

Malika Nekhla

Instagram: malikanwrites; writersinthedarkpod

Novel: Hold on to Your Heart

Also mentioned

books on writing

Stephen King - On Writing

Blake Snyder - Save the Cat

Anne Lamott - Bird by Bird

fiction

Conversations with Friends - Sally Rooney

The Secret History - Donna Tartt

The Children - Melissa Albert

On episode 17 I was joined by Angela Flournoy, author of The Turner House and the recently published, The Wilderness. We talked about her writing for the New York Times Magazine, and how different that is to novel writing. We also spoke about the memoir she’s working on, and how important literature is for our understanding of the world, past, present and future.

Guest

Angela Flournoy

Instagram: @angelaflournoy

Novels

The Wilderness

The Turner House (out in the UK October 15 - pre-order here)

Essays

All links

Events

Round Table Books London - August 18

Afrori Books Brighton - August 19

Edinburgh International Book Festival - August 26 & August 28

Host

Malika Nekhla

Instagram: malikanwrites; writersinthedarkpod

Novel: Hold on to Your Heart

Also mentioned

The Four Wives & Five Deaths of Richard Milford - Nafissa Thompson Spires

Beirut Fragments - Jean Said Makdisi

On episode 16, I was joined by my friend, Siobhan Cole. Her first novel was picked up by agent Stephanie Glencross at DHA, but unfortunately died on submission. Siobhan talks openly about the emotional journey that has been for her and how she’s now getting ready to write book 2.

Guest

Siobhan Cole

Host

Malika Nekhla

Instagram: malikanwrites; writersinthedarkpod

Novel: Hold on to Your Heart

Also mentioned

(not sponsored)

Freedom App for focus

The Most Dangerous Writing App

Write Off Podcast

Rebecca Makkai on writing with ADHD

On episode 15, I got to chat with my friend, Megan B Wells. Megan and I met through a mutual friend who invited me to their bookclub four years ago, and we’ve been pals ever since. We soon started talking about our own writing, and the moment I started this podcast, I knew I needed to have them on for a very chaotic, ADHD-fuelled chat.

Hope you enjoy!

Guest

Megan B Wells (they/them)

meganbwells.com

Host

Malika Nekhla

Novel: Hold on to Your Heart

Instagram: malikanwrites; writersinthedarkpod

Books mentioned:

Silvia Moreno-Garcia - The Intrigue

Rebecca Makkai - I Have Some Questions For You

Deb Olin Unferth - Eearth Seven

Sarah Gailey - Magic For Liars

Lara Erlich - Animal Wife

Also mentioned:

Colgate writers conference

Story Studio

Rebecca Makkai