The Joined Up Writing Podcast

54:56

Writing Suspense, Surviving Reviews and Finding the...

The Joined Up Writing Podcast ·

2026/06/29

In this episode of The Write Place, I’m joined once again by author Gemma Denham to talk about her new psychological thriller, The Inheritance. Kate and Patrick are struggling financially when an unexpected inheritance seems to offer the perfect escape: a Victorian townhouse on the north-east coast. But from the moment they arrive, things feel wrong. Objects disappear, footsteps sound in the night, and Kate begins to wonder whether someone is getting into the locked house, whether something m...

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45:07

Jeaniene Frost on Romantasy, A Curse of Beasts and...

The Joined Up Writing Podcast ·

2026/06/15

In this episode of The Write Place, I’m joined by New York Times bestselling author Jeaniene Frost, best known for her hugely popular Night Huntress books. Jeaniene joins me to talk about her latest novel, A Curse of Beasts and Magic, the first book in her new Beautiful and Beastly series. Described as Beauty and the Beast meets The Witcher, this is a romantasy adventure with a twist: Beauty is the Beast. We talk about the rise of romantasy, writing morally grey characters, building fantasy w...

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50:10

Sonya Walger: Writing, Acting and Identity

The Joined Up Writing Podcast ·

2026/06/01

This week on The Write Place Podcast, I’m joined by actress, podcaster and author Sonya Walger. Many listeners will know Sonya from her roles in Lost, For All Mankind, FlashForward, The Catch and many more, but she is also the author of the acclaimed debut novel Lion and her latest book, Wifehouse. In our conversation, Sonya talks about the idea behind Wifehouse, a novel about a woman who leaves her family, and why she wanted to explore that story without judgement. We discuss marriage, mothe...

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65:28

Mark Stay on Fantasy, Film, Publishing and Creative...

The Joined Up Writing Podcast ·

2026/05/04

REAL WRITERS NEVER QUIT: What hundreds of authors reveal about not giving up is out right now! https://mybook.to/realwritersneverquit Special limited signed editions are available from my online shop here: https://ko-fi.com/wakelly/shop This week on The Write Place Podcast, I’m joined by author, screenwriter and podcaster Mark Stay for a wide-ranging, funny and very honest conversation about writing fantasy, surviving the publishing industry, selling direct to readers, and why author vo...

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64:28

From Rejection to Sunday Times Bestseller – Lesley...

The Joined Up Writing Podcast ·

2026/02/18

This week on The Write Place Podcast, I’m joined by bestselling psychological thriller author Lesley Kara, whose debut novel The Rumour became a Sunday Times bestseller and was later adapted for television. We talk about her latest novel, Troublemaker, a tense psychological thriller set in Tunbridge Wells, and explore how grief, vulnerability and doubt shape both her characters and her storytelling. Lesley shares: The real-life influences behind TroublemakerWhy short chapters matter in suspen...

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57:38

Secrets, Structure and Starting Again with Lulu Taylor

The Joined Up Writing Podcast ·

2025/12/03

In this episode of The Write Place Podcast I chat with bestselling author Lulu Taylor about her new novel A Legacy of Secrets, her long career in commercial fiction and why she loves writing sweeping, gothic-tinged family sagas. We dig into the craft behind dual timelines, the challenges of discovery writing and how her background as a fiction editor shaped the way she approaches story structure and character. Lulu also talks candidly about creative setbacks, including a difficult fallout wit...

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41:11

Sound Advice: Life Lessons from 80s Pop with Alan Green

The Joined Up Writing Podcast ·

2025/09/23

Join The Momentum Circle writing community - applications close on Sept 30th! CLINK THE LINK FOR MORE INFO Hi, I’m Wayne Kelly, a writer, podcast host and coach. I love to help writers develop their skills and get their books and stories out into the world. In this episode I’m joined by Alan Green, debut author of Sound Advice, a fascinating book that digs into the hidden life lessons of 1980s pop music. Alan shares how redundancy after nearly three decades at a law firm sparked a complete li...

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57:15

Tom Cox on Finding His Voice and Writing Without Limits

The Joined Up Writing Podcast ·

2025/09/08

Want to find out more about my critique group and writing community - Momentum Circle? Check it out here - wkwproductions.co.uk/mentoring This week I’m joined by Tom Cox, author of fifteen books spanning fiction, memoir, and journalism. Tom’s work blends the folkloric and the surreal with an eye for human nature and the landscapes that inspire him. His latest novel, Everything Will Swallow You, is out now and continues his exploration of storytelling that defies easy categorisation. In our co...

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47:17

Gemma Denham – From Picture Books to Locked-Room...

The Joined Up Writing Podcast ·

2025/07/14

Take a look here to see how I can help you publish your book! In this week’s episode, I chat to author and illustrator Gemma Denham, whose debut adult novel The Storm is a gripping locked-room mystery set in the Lake District. We talk about Gemma’s fascinating path from children’s book illustrator to crime writer, why she made the switch, and how a personal 40-before-40 challenge helped her finally write her first novel. We also dig into the benefits of writing retreats, plotting versus pants...

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53:35

Russ Litten - The Crime Writer: How Far Would You Go...

The Joined Up Writing Podcast ·

2025/06/02

Take a look here to see how I can help you publish your book! This week’s guest is the brilliant Russ Litten – author, screenwriter, editor and long-time writer-in-residence in prisons across the UK. We discuss his latest novel The Crime Writer, a gritty, compelling story inspired by his first-hand experiences working with inmates on their life stories. Russ shares insights on the blurred line between fact and fiction, why authenticity matters, and how to retain your creative curiosity – even...

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49:43

Writing From the Inside Out: Hannah King on Crime,...

The Joined Up Writing Podcast ·

2025/05/13

Take a look here to see how I can help you publish your book! In this episode of The Write Place, I chat with Northern Irish author Hannah King about the creative process behind her gripping second novel, The Blind Spot. We talk about dual timelines, writing from a child’s perspective, and how to keep readers turning the page. Hannah shares her journey from creative writing student to published novelist, her experience as a legal transcriber, and the reality of writing the dreaded second book...

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58:08

Rebeka Russell on Publishing, Place, and the Legacy...

The Joined Up Writing Podcast ·

2025/03/03

In this fascinating episode of The Write Place Podcast, host Wayne Kelly is joined by Rebeka Russell, founder of Manderley Press, to discuss the power of place in storytelling, the challenges of independent publishing, and her latest release, Mary Shelley in Bath. Rebeka shares how her love of history and literature led her to create a small press dedicated to reviving classic works connected to real-world locations. She discusses the importance of book design, working with artists to create ...

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55:55

Writing, Rewriting, and Reinvention: Karen Heenan’s...

The Joined Up Writing Podcast ·

2025/02/17

In this insightful episode of The Write Place Podcast, host Wayne Kelly welcomes historical fiction author Karen Heenan for her third appearance on the show. Karen shares her journey from being traditionally published with a small press to becoming a successful self-published author with multiple series under her belt. She discusses the challenges and rewards of indie publishing, offering valuable insights into book marketing, cover design, and Amazon advertising. Karen’s latest novel, French...

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59:47

The Wallace & Gromit Method of Plotting with D.V. Bishop

The Joined Up Writing Podcast ·

2025/02/03

In this episode of The Write Place, I’m joined by award-winning historical crime novelist D.V. Bishop for a deep dive into the craft of storytelling, structure, and writing with confidence. D.V. shares his Wallace & Gromit approach to plotting—laying the tracks just ahead of the train as he writes—and why mystery writers don’t always need to know the ending before they begin. We discuss the pressures of writing under contract, the benefits of finishing Book Two before Book One is publishe...

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51:10

Overcoming Adversity: Zoe Lea on Thrillers,...

The Joined Up Writing Podcast ·

2025/01/14

- Download your FREE Write or Die Writer's Survival Kit!In this episode of The Write Place Podcast, Wayne Kelly sits down with psychological thriller author and social media expert Zoe Lea to discuss the twists and turns of her writing journey. From the book that saved her life to the struggles of self-doubt and navigating the complexities of her craft, Zoe shares raw and inspiring insights into the life of an author.They delve into Zoe's latest novel, Closer Than She Thinks, exploring the vu...

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55:01

Get It Out of Your Head! - Neil J Hart - JU231

The Joined Up Writing Podcast ·

2024/11/11

SUBSCRIBE NOW WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTSCheck out my crime novel, SAFE HANDSGrab a free Audible 30 Day Trial and listen to SAFE HANDS for FREE!WANT A FREE eBOOK WITH 2 CRIME STORIES? SUBSCRIBE TO WAYNE’S NEWSLETTER HEREIt’s episode 231 with Neil J Hart, an excellent Fantasy-Horror author, writing gorgeous-looking books for young people. We talk about how Neil went from being a reluctant reader to a story-obsessed writer, how his visual imagination plays into his work and of course, ...

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61:55

Dan Howarth - JU230

The Joined Up Writing Podcast ·

2024/10/28

SUBSCRIBE NOW WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTSCheck out my crime novel, SAFE HANDSGrab a free Audible 30 Day Trial and listen to SAFE HANDS for FREE!WANT A FREE eBOOK WITH 2 CRIME STORIES? SUBSCRIBE TO WAYNE’S NEWSLETTER HEREIt’s episode 230 with Dan Howarth who writes dark and gritty books, often based in the North of England. Dan and I had a really fun and interesting chat focusing on Dan’s latest book, Last Night of Freedom and we take a deep dive into the problems with Traditional pub...

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52:30

Readers Like to Work it Out - Laura Pearson - JU229

The Joined Up Writing Podcast ·

2024/10/21

SUBSCRIBE NOW WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTSCheck out my crime novel, SAFE HANDSGrab a free Audible 30 Day Trial and listen to SAFE HANDS for FREE!WANT A FREE eBOOK WITH 2 CRIME STORIES? SUBSCRIBE TO WAYNE’S NEWSLETTER HEREIt’s episode 229 and a chat recorded in front of a live audience with with Laura Pearson, number one best-selling author of The Last List of Mabel Beaumont and her latest book, The Beforelife of Eliza Valentine, which is excellent. Laura and I chatted about the magic ...

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45:44

GIVE YOURSELF TIME - Steven Kedie - JU228

The Joined Up Writing Podcast ·

2024/10/14

SIGN UP TO MY FREE WORKSHOPS NEWSLETTERSUBSCRIBE NOW WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTSGrab a free Audible 30 Day Trial and listen to SAFE HANDS for FREE!It’s episode 228 with Steven Kedie, author of Running and Jumping, a novel about a bitter sporting rivalry. We chat about the marathon-like qualities of writing, Steven’s journey to publication and which book saved his life.Steven is a writer who was born and raised in Manchester, where he still lives with his wife and their two sons. A ma...

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64:49

Angela C Nurse - Validation is for Parking! - JU224

The Joined Up Writing Podcast ·

2024/08/27

SUBSCRIBE NOW WHEREVER YOU LISTEN TO YOUR PODCASTSGrab a free Audible 30 Day Trial and listen to SAFE HANDS for FREE!It’s episode 224 where I’m chatting to crime writer, Angela C Nurse, talking about her gritty Scottish private detective series, her thoughts on the publishing industry in general and why she thinks Crime Fiction is such a powerful genre when it comes to studying people and behaviour.We also discover the book that saved her life and hear her tips for aspiring writers out there....

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