The Writers’ Gym Podcast

‘Liminal’ is much more than the name of award-winning author, journalist and Ovarian cancer wrangler Jennifer Steil’s Substack newsletter. In this extended episode, the winner of the Grand Prize in the international Eyelands 2020 Book Awards and Finalist for the 2021 Lambda Literary Lesbian Fiction Award for Exile Music,talks about the kidnap experience and resulting ‘what if’s that inspired her first novel, The Ambassador’s Wife,and how writing has become even more important to mental health during her cancer treatment. Liminal spaces she discusses with Dr Rachel Knightley include ‘home’, and how that truly means wherever her husband and daughter are – whatever country or even hospital room that is today.

 

Discover more about Jennifer by subscribing to Liminal:

https://jennifersteil.substack.com

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https://www.writersgym.com/

One of the most magical things about working with writing prompts is we can find a new story every day in exactly the same piece of stimulus. And if it’s true for one prompt, it’s even more true for a bank of them. Dr Rachel Knightley gifts recipes for evergreen writing prompts to return to again and again. If you enjoyed listening to the Writers' Gym Podcast, head to our website at www.writersgym.com and follow us on instagram: @jointhewritersgym

Eliza Chan, Sunday Times bestseller

Dr Rachel Knightley’s guest at the Writers’ Gym is speculative fiction author, Eliza Chan. Eliza is a Scottish-born speculative fiction author who writes about East Asian mythology, British folklore and reclaiming the dragon lady. Her debut fantasy novel FATHOMFOLK, published in 2024, was an instant Sunday Times bestseller. Set in a semi-submerged city, revolution is brewing between the humans and the sea folk who live in its waters. TIDEBORN completed the duology in 2025. Her next novel, HARBOUR OF HUNGRY GHOSTS, a historical fantasy set in mid-Opium War era Hong Kong, is forthcoming in July 2026. Her short fiction has been shortlisted for the British Fantasy Awards and has featured in various magazine and anthologies including The Secret Romantic’s Book of Magic and The Best of British Fantasy.

She has been a medical school drop-out, a kilt shop assistant, an English teacher and a speech and language therapist, but currently spends her time collecting weapons, crafting, watching animation and trying to eat her way around the entire world. She lives in Manchester with her family and dragon collection.

Instagram: @elizachanwrites
Website: www.elizachan.co.uk
Representation: Alex Cochran of Greyhound Literary

If you enjoyed listening to the Writers' Gym Podcast, head to our website at www.writersgym.com and follow us on instagram: @jointhewritersgym

Writing prompts aren’t just spread over workshop tables: they’re how we experience the world around us. Dr Rachel Knightley shares how interaction over introspection improves our writing and creative confidence — but also combats our anxiety and our experience of other people and the world.

If you enjoyed listening to the Writers' Gym Podcast, head to our website at www.writersgym.com and follow us on instagram: @jointhewritersgym

Dr Rachel Knightley is joined at the Writers' Gym by best-selling adult and children's author, Sue Bentley. 

Sue Bentley has written a number of books for adults. Currently with JoffeBooks, written as Sue Bentley, are 'We Other' - dark fae and folk-horror. And  'Second Skin' - shape-changing with dragons. Sue's first love, both to read and write, has always been anything darkly gothic with elements of horror. She found inspiration in titles by Anne Rice, Tanith Lee, and early Holly Black, amongst many others. 
 
Sue was first published as Cleo Cordell, and wrote 7 historical erotic novels for Black Lace, Virgin Publishing's imprint. Writing as Susan Swann, she wrote 3 contemporary erotic novels and, a collection of erotic short stories for X-Libris (LittleBrown).
 
Sue also writes for children aged 5-9. Writing as Sue Bentley, her Magic Kitten, Magic Puppy, Magic Ponies, and Magic Bunny series are worldwide best-sellers. She has contributed to existing children's series, as Lucy Daniels for Animal Ark, Daisy Meadows for Rainbow Magic, and Kate Bloom for Fairies of Starshine Meadow. 
 
Going forward, and back to her roots, she's writing as Sue. C. Bentley. Her darkly disturbing Gothic novel 'Flesh Endures' - immortality comes at a price - is to be published this coming Autumn. (Sue's first venture into indie-publishing with Troubador.) Another recently completed novel, The Making - lushly gothic and with elements of body horror, set in Victorian Northamptonshire - is currently out for consideration. 
 
https://www.suebentley.co.uk/
 
If you enjoyed listening to the Writers' Gym Podcast, head to our website at www.writersgym.com and follow us on instagram: @jointhewritersgym