SHOP TALK WITH WRITERS

Summary
In this episode, acclaimed novelist and short story writer Lucy Caldwell speaks to host Elena Lappin about her new short story collection DEVOTIONS, exploring themes of love, death, spirituality, and the power of storytelling. She shares insights into her writing process, influences, and the deep connection between music, memory, and narrative.

keywords

Lucy Caldwell, Devotions, short stories, Irish literature, storytelling, writing process, themes of love and death, spirituality, music in stories

key topics

Themes of love, death, and spirituality in 'Devotions'
The influence of Irish culture and history on Caldwell's work
The role of music and memory in storytelling
The evolution of Caldwell's writing from plays to fiction
The importance of collaboration and editing in her process
The interconnectedness of stories and the concept of life and death

guest name

Lucy Caldwell

Titles

The Power of Stories: Lucy Caldwell on 'Devotions'
Exploring Love and Death in Lucy Caldwell's Short Stories

sound bites

"Stories are a technology of time travel, of immortality."
"Every story is a magnetizing force that makes useless parts of us rise."
"Music is a window onto the soul, connecting us across time."

Chapters

00:00 The Magnetizing Force of Storytelling
08:02 Exploring the Depths of Devotions
15:55 The Evolution of a Writer
23:46 Stripping Characters Bare
27:55 Musicality in Storytelling
28:56 Exploring Narrative Depth and Perspective
31:03 The Influence of James Joyce on Modern Storytelling
34:45 Themes of Parenthood and Continuation in Stories
37:54 The Immortality of Stories and Their Impact
42:21 The Nature of Time and Storytelling
46:43 The Evolution of Irish Literature and Personal Narratives
52:24 The Purpose of Writing and Personal Revelations

resources

Lucy Caldwell - Official Website - https://lucycaldwell.com/
Devotions by Lucy Caldwell - https://www.faber.co.uk/9780571366074-devotions/
James Joyce's 'The Dead' - https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/38480

guest links

Website - https://lucycaldwell.com/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/lucycaldwell
Instagram - @peopleearthskystars

SHOP TALK WITH WRITERS is a unique conversation with each author, about the stories behind their books.
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to find out more about each episode, and to engage with our conversations with authors
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Discover how acclaimed novelist Lily King uses emotional journeys and present tense to craft authentic, compelling stories. In this episode, Lily King discusses her writing process, the emotional core of her novels, and her reflections on love, life, and how her experiences shape her storytelling.
Main Topics:

How Lily King channels emotion into her novels, using her personal hospital experiences as inspiration
The significance of writing in present tense to capture immediacy and raw feelings
The relationship between life events and her fictional worlds, especially in Heart the Lover and Writers and Lovers
The depiction of love as a multifaceted and ongoing journey beyond traditional notions
Lily’s unique writing process, using spiral notebooks, timelines, and revisions
The impact of technology, especially the absence of phones in earlier stories, on character interactions and storytelling
Timestamps: 00:00 - Lily King shares her approach to capturing emotion in her stories 00:27 - The purpose of creating emotional vessels within her novels 0:43 - Introduction to Lily King and her acclaimed works 1:40 - Reading from Heart the Lover and the novel’s emotional backdrop 2:09 - The scene of a writer’s professional and personal intrusion 2:38 - Lily’s portrayal of her character’s emotional breakdown during a lecture 3:07 - The relationship with Ray Hart and the power of unexpected praise 4:32 - The significance of past trauma, vulnerability, and crying in her writing 5:27 - Front-stage versus backstage emotional management in her novels 6:28 - Reflection on her visit to London and the hotel’s history 8:15 - The honor of being shortlisted for the Women’s Prize 9:16 - The intertwining of writing and life in Heart the Lover 10:16 - Balancing life’s challenges with the act of writing 11:47 - How characters’ emotional reactions reveal deeper themes and gender differences 12:24 - The emotional processing styles of male versus female writers 14:46 - The recurring theme of recovery and internalization in her protagonists 15:42 - The stylistic choice of present tense and its emotional impact 17:19 - The role of emotion in the initial inspiration for her novels 19:04 - Surprising character connections and their influence on her storytelling 20:18 - Reading Writers and Lovers after Heart the Lover – insights into narrative freedom 22:20 - The emotional toll of her writing process, especially in the final scene 23:55 - Creating realistic characters and complex love relationships 26:02 - Broader definitions of love and its continuance through different relationships 27:43 - Her relationship with readers and the importance of honesty 29:49 - Lily’s writing routine, notebook notes, and revision process 31:07 - Visual aids like sketches and timelines helping her craft stories 32:38 - Transition from handwritten notes to typed drafts, intensive editing process 34:23 - How technological shifts from the 1980s to today affect storytelling and communication 35:50 - Why Lily King writes: to explore and express her feelings 36:32 - Closing thoughts and where to find more from Lily KingResources & Links:

Heart the Lover (check for latest edition)
Writers and Lovers (check for latest edition)
Women’s Prize for Fiction
Lily King - Official Website

Connect with Lily King:

Twitter
Instagram
SHOP TALK WITH WRITERS is a unique conversation with each author, about the stories behind their books.
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to find out more about each episode, and to engage with our conversations with authors
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

SHOW NOTES
Host Elena Lappin in conversation with novelist Eden Mckenzie-Goddard about his debut novel SMALLIE - a powerful love story and a multigenerational tale of family, loss, and identity. The novel intertwines personal heritage with the political realities faced by Caribbean immigrants in Britain. In this episode, Eden McKenzie-Goddard shares insights into his writing process, the significance of the novel’s title, and the emotional depths of his characters’ journeys.
Copyright: Elena Lappin
Original theme music score copyright: Tom Pooley

Navigating multi-generational stories that reflect the complexities of immigration and identity
How language, music, and personal experiences shape McKenzie-Goddard's storytelling
The role of empathy and emotional truth in portraying characters' inner worlds
The significance of the Windrush scandal in shaping the novel’s political and social themes
Writing in multiple first-person voices to deepen character development
The creative process and how music influences the author's writing rhythm
Challenges of balancing political themes with human stories
Timestamps00:00 - Introduction to Eden Mackenzie Goddard and Smalley
01:33 - Eden reads from his novel, exploring themes of discomfort and language
05:54 - Discussing the book’s connection with the Windrush scandal and its multi-generational scope
08:48 - Film rights and themes of love and anger in the story
11:40 - Personal stories of long-distance love and migration
13:19 - The novel’s portrayal of unspoken responsibilities and internal conflicts
14:17 - Exploring multiple narrative voices and character depth in Smalley
17:35 - The importance of empathy in storytelling and understanding family pain
20:12 - The immigrant experience and feeling of abandonment within families
22:10 - Character complexity, especially Lucinda, and her struggles with language and identity
24:46 - The theme of rebellion and the search for freedom through Lucinda’s journey
26:08 - The impact of language and how it shapes self-perception and authenticity
33:00 - The theme of aloneness and isolation within immigrant narratives
36:05 - Addressing political issues through human stories, focusing on the Windrush scandal
42:16 - The evolution of the story and Mc-Kenzie-Goddard's creative process over years
44:14 - The creative milestone of writing the final scene and the story’s life force
46:00 - Vision of SMALLIE adapted to film, highlighting visual storytelling

Resources & Links
SMALLIE by Eden Mackenzie Goddard (search for latest links)
Nancy Wilson - Guess Who I Saw Today
Connect with Eden Mackenzie GoddardTwitter
Instagram
Official Website
Additional NotesThe significance of language and identity in multicultural and immigrant experiences is central to Eden’s storytelling. His personal insights and musical influences enrich the narrative depth of SMALLIE.
The episode emphasizes storytelling as a vehicle for empathy, highlighting individual human stories amidst political upheavals.

SHOP TALK WITH WRITERS is a unique conversation with each author, about the stories behind their books.
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to find out more about each episode, and to engage with our conversations with authors
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Summary:
Award-winning American actress Sharon Gless (Cagney&Lacey co-star) in conversation with host Elena Lappin about her powerful memoir APPARENTLY THERE WERE COMPLAINTS (Simon&Schuster)..
Key topics:
Sharon Gless’s childhood experiences and the impact of her parents’ divorce
How acting served as a form of self-preservation and identity
The motivation behind her memoir and its themes of honesty and humour
Differences between acting roles and writing about her own life
The significance of her role in pioneering TV roles for women in the 70s and 80s
Insights into her process of developing characters and backstories
The importance of active listening, both in acting and life
Personal reflections on feeling like an outsider and the power of self-acceptance
Behind-the-scenes stories from "Cagney and Lacey," including collaboration on scripts
Her experiences living and working in London and her love for the city
The dynamic relationship with her co-star Tyne Daly and their off-screen bond
The influence of her grandmother and family on her life and career
Her thoughts on the evolution of television storytelling and female representation
Her outlook on the future and embracing new roles and identities
Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro and Sharon Gless’s childhood struggles 00:44 - The role of acting as emotional self-defense 02:12 - Reading from her autobiography "Apparently There Were Complaints" 02:38 - Making wishes during storms and unexpected life changes 03:07 - How a CBS meeting led to her memoir 04:07 - Challenges of writing and self-reflection 05:06 - Feelings of not belonging and the comfort of acting 05:35 - Her loyalty to acting as her lifelong love 06:34 - Her approach to character development and authenticity 07:02 - Memorable performances and moments of belonging 07:31 - Universal Studios memories and her career beginnings 09:58 - Influences from her childhood and important figures like Monique James 10:18 - The power of her chapter reading and audience reactions 10:59 - Comparing past TV storytelling with today’s content 11:30 - The honesty and rawness of classic TV stories 12:47 - The material and brilliance behind "Cagney and Lacey" 13:25 - Contributing to scripts and character development 14:17 - Playing Cagney’s struggle with alcoholism and her real-life journey 15:26 - Differences between acting and writing her personal experiences 17:29 - Childhood family dynamics and influential figures 19:14 - The emotional muscles she developed to survive early trauma 20:17 - The significance of feeling dead inside and acting as a safety mechanism 21:19 - Celebrating her portrayal of diverse characters across roles 22:34 - Her acting technique of backstory development 23:21 - Using imagination and research to embody characters 24:11 - Her stage work in London and productions in the West End 25:01 - Her love for London and its cultural resonance 26:11 - Fascinating women in her memoir, like her grandmother and Monique James 27:33 - Lessons learned from her mentor about listening and authentic expression 29:23 - The importance of connection and understanding others in storytelling 30:03 - Her brother Michael’s inspiring story and personal struggles 31:09 - Imagining a film about her family and life stories 31:30 - The on-screen and off-screen relationship with Tyne Daly 32:44 - Her love for her career and early studio life 33:39 - The unique idea of quotes on her book’s back cover 35:37 - Final gratitude and appreciation for her candid storytellingResources & Links:
Apparently There Were Complaints by Sharon Gless
Sharon Gless - IMDb
Universal Studios Official Site
Audible - Apparently There Were Complaints
stagram
Official Website

SHOP TALK WITH WRITERS is a unique conversation with each author, about the stories behind their books.
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to find out more about each episode, and to engage with our conversations with authors
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elena Lappin explores the remarkable life and work of Margaret Busby, in conversation with the pioneering publisher, editor, and author, through her personal stories, insights on publishing, and reflections on music and culture. A celebration of the publication of Margaret Busby's new book PART OF THE STORY: WRITINGS FROM HALF A CENURY (Hamish Hamilton).
The episode is dedicated to Margaret Busby"s favourite music charity, TOMORROW's WARRIORS.

keywords

Margaret Busby, publishing, black writers, literature, music, autobiography, Daughters of Africa, Tomorrow's Warriors, black culture, literary history

key topics

Margaret Busby's early life and education in Ghana and England
Founding of Alison and Busby publishing house
Publishing influential black writers and anthologies
Reflections on her personal writings and memoir
Her passion for music and support for Tomorrow's Warriors

guest name

Margaret Busby

key frameworks

Chronological organization of writings
Passing knowledge and passing it on

action items

Explore Margaret Busby's writings and anthologies
Support Tomorrow's Warriors and similar initiatives
Reflect on the importance of passing on cultural knowledge

Titles

Margaret Busby: A Life in Publishing and Music
From Ghana to the World: The Margaret Busby Story

sound bites

"Not a day passes without my mother being in my thoughts."
"Putting together this book was like my life’s work."
"Music is serious; I believe it’s as serious as your life."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Margaret Busby's Background
01:20 Her Publishing Career and Notable Authors
02:20 Her Passion for Music and Tomorrow's Warriors
03:10 Reading from 'Part of the Story' - Personal Reflections
23:41 Assembling the Book: Challenges and Process
26:49 Reflections on Publishing and Personal Life
44:28 Key Writings and Influences in Her Career
52:36 Titles and Themes of the Book Sections
01:07:51 Why Margaret Writes and Publishes
01:11:49 Legacy, Inspiration, and Closing Remarks

resources

Tomorrow's Warriors - https://www.tomorrowswarriors.org/
Daughters of Africa (Book) - https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Daughters+of+Africa
Margaret Busby on Twitter - https://twitter.com/MargaretBusby

guest links

Twitter - https://twitter.com/MargaretBusby
Official Website - https://www.hamishhamilton.co.uk/authors/margaret-busby
SHOP TALK WITH WRITERS is a unique conversation with each author, about the stories behind their books.
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to find out more about each episode, and to engage with our conversations with authors
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.