Long Story Short: The Official Podcast of The British Fantasy Society

Cleland Smith joins the podcast to talk about her latest novel, BLACK DOE, released in August 2026, which Anna Smith Spark called “Hauntingly beautiful, an exceptional book”, and which ‘someone’ described as “a feminist, Pictish Bourne Ultimatum”. Cleland gracefully navigates our questions, even twisting the ‘infamous’ Question 10 on its head to excellent effect.

     https://britishfantasysociety.org/blog/bfs-podcast-long-story-short/

Cleland’s websites: https://angelacleland.co.uk   &   https://www.clelandsmith.com 

Interviewed by Robin CM Duncan: https://robincmduncan.com/

Cleland recommends reading WHEN THERE ARE WOLVES AGAIN, by E.J. SWIFT (2025)

Cleland’s desert island disc, BLACK DOE, by Mary Epworth (2023)

     https://maryepworth.bandcamp.com/album/black-doe

Cleland (recently) has been writing to THE DARK CRYSTAL soundtracks, original and new (1982, Trevor Jones and 2019, Daniel Pemberton & Samuel Sim), and also referred to WEST WORLD (2016, Ramin Djawadi).

Bluesky, @angelacleland.co.uk   -   Instagram, @angelaclelandwriter

David is joined by "Senny Dreadful" herself, the excellent Jen Williams. In addition to delving into Jen’s latest release, THE SLEEPLESS, they discuss Jen’s approach to writing, her previous books, and of course this episode would not be complete with diving into the subject of gaming, particularly the influence of Dragon Age and Baldur’s Gate III.

https://britishfantasysociety.org/blog/bfs-podcast-long-story-short/

Are you a member of the British Fantasy Society yet? Join us here: https://britishfantasysociety.org/about-the-bfs/become-a-member/

Find out more about Jen here: https://www.sennydreadful.co.uk

…and @sennydreadful   (Bluesky and Instagram)

Visit David’s website: https://www.davidgreenwriter.com/

And Robin’s: https://robincmduncan.com/

 

Time stamps

01:30 - a BFA winner / cage match! / karaoke

04:10 - Jen’s new book, THE DREAMLESS

05:35 - timescales in publishing / a chapter a day

11:00 - writing two books at once / deadline heat

14:35 - The End of the Series / 3 into 2 does go

18:15 - a new YA duology / the price of paper

24:14 - Katie Bruce reviews ALL HAIL CHAOS and LONG LIVE EVIL, by Sarah Rees Brennan

26:30 - romantic expectations / 3 is a magic number

32:56 - the influence of Dragon Age

41:08 - disaster characters

Welcome to BFS Shortcuts, Episode #2! Dark Fantasy author Dan Hanly faces our ten-question (really quite cosy) inquisition. This will be Shortcuts' usual 2-weekly release slot, with Long Story Short returning next week (somehow…)!

https://britishfantasysociety.org/blog/bfs-podcast-long-story-short/

Dan's website: https://danhanly.com

Interviewed by Robin CM Duncan: https://robincmduncan.com/

Dan was reading: GALAXY IN FLAME, by Ben Counter (The Horus Heresy series, #3) (2006)

Dan’s desert island disc, TAKE ME BACK TO EDEN, by Sleep Token (2023)

———

TikTok, @danhanly   -   YouTube, @DanHanly   -   Bluesky, @danhanly.com

Instagram, @danhanly   -   Facebook, @dhanly

A whole new cast! Welcome to BFS Shortcuts; not replacing Long Story Short, but filling those empty weeks in which silence reigns. No longer! Ten set questions introduce authors you may not have read, but should. Found on the same channel as Long Story Short; a short episode every week, alternating with our original format. Kicking us off tomorrow, Alexandra Beaumont faces the questions!

https://britishfantasysociety.org/blog/bfs-podcast-long-story-short/

Alex's website: https://www.folklorefantasybooks.com/

Alex's Insta: https://www.instagram.com/abeaumontwriter/

Interviewed by Robin CM Duncan: https://robincmduncan.com/

Alex was reading: WE ARE ALL GHOSTS IN THE FOREST, by Lorraine Wilson

Alex was listening to: ONCE WE WERE KINGS, performed by the cast of "Billy Elliot"

David and Robin are schooled in the art of filmmaking by Zoe Cunningham, star and producer of looping SF conundrum VOIDANCE (2026) and also of BREAKING INFINITY (2023). Ideas, honesty and hard work are the names of the game.

https://britishfantasysociety.org/blog/bfs-podcast-long-story-short/

Are you a member of the British Fantasy Society yet? Join us here: https://britishfantasysociety.org/about-the-bfs/become-a-member/

Find out more about Zoe here: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6147111/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk

Or here: https://britishfantasysociety.org/meet-zoe-cunningham/

Visit David’s website: https://www.davidgreenwriter.com/

And Robin’s: https://robincmduncan.com/

 

Time stamps

01:55 - Eastercon screening / the Cosmo factor

06:50 - storynomics: film vs print / a question of cons

11:50 - a journey in film

23:17 - sitting in the dark / oops, continuity

26:10 - supersoldiers!! / the height of nonesense

28:35 - hair today… / script is king / Sever-aint-sense

32:20 - Katie Bruce reviews THE SALT ORACLE, by Lorraine Wilson

34:17 - Sever-aint-sense (cntd.) / cup half full

39:25 - watching the detectives / trusting the director

43:25 - make or break / A.I. (not the movie)

51:52 - audience homework

54:05 - what’s next?