74: Kristina McMorris (Sold On A Monday; The Ways We Hide)
Release Date: 05/08/2023
128: Maggie Stiefvater (The Listeners)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Maggie Stiefvater (The Listeners) discuss the lesser-known history of the US hosting Axis diplomats in luxury hotels, the arrangements made to swap diplomats one for one, including disability and mental illness in such a story, Maggie's main character's dachshunds and their relationship to the man they never let pet them, the era-aligned game that Maggie created, and much more. General references: Charlie's conversation with Elaine Chiew is episode 111 Books mentioned by name or extensively: Maggie Stiefvater: Shiver Maggie Stiefvater: The Scorpio Races Maggie Stiefvater: The...
info_outline
127: Emily Slapper (Everyone I Know Is Dying)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Emily Slapper (Everyone I Know Is Dying) discuss her phenomenal book that looks at a young woman spiralling from mental illness. This involves discussing romantic relationships when one is depressed, the affect of parents, the affect of society, and not using labels. General references: I spoke to Samantha Sotto Yambao in episode 122 Books mentioned by name or extensively: Emily Slapper: Everyone I Know Is Dying Sylvia Plath: The Bell Jar Release details: recorded 16th April 2025; published 25th August 2025 Where to find Emily online: Where to find Charlie online: || || || ...
info_outline
126: Michael Stewart (Black Wood Women)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Michael Stewart (Black Wood Women) discuss the persecution of Irish people in the 17th century, the loss of and possible reintroduction of wolves in Britain, and 17th century hippies. Please note that there is discussion of drugs in this episode. General references: Books mentioned by name or extensively: Elizabeth Fremantle: Honey And The Sting Ian D Rotherham: Yorkshire's Forgotten Fenlands Michael Stewart: King Crow Michael Stewart: Walking The Invisible Michael Stewart: Black Wood Women Michael Stewart: Surrounded By My Enemy Stacey Thomas: The Revels Release details: recorded...
info_outline
125: Paul McVeigh (I Hear You)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Paul McVeigh (I Hear You) discuss Paul's time writing stories for the BBC, being an emotional writer, and a traumatic medical experience that has had a big effect on some of his work. Please note there are two incredibly mild swear words in this episode. General references: Paul's play is called Big Man Books mentioned by name or extensively: Kit de Waal: My Name Is Leon Kit de Waal (ed.): Common People Paul McVeigh: The Good Son Paul McVeigh: I Hear You Paul McVeigh (ed.) The 32 Paul McVeigh (ed.) Queer Love Sarah Butler: Ten Things I’ve Learnt About Love Sinéad Gleeson (ed.)...
info_outline
124: Sophie Jo (Red Flags)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Sophie Jo (Red Flags) discuss healthy relationships particularly in the context of young people and in terms of values and hobbies. They also delve into popular media from the '90s and 2000s as included in Sophie's book. General references: Books mentioned by name or extensively: Sally Rooney: Conversations With Friends Sally Rooney: Normal People Sophie Jo: Red Flags Release details: recorded 17th March 2025; published 14th July 2025 Where to find Sophie online: || || || Where to find Charlie online: || || || Discussions 01:35 The inspiration for Red Flags 04:10 More...
info_outline
123: Carmel Harrington (The Stolen Child)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Carmel Harrington (The Stolen Child) discuss her stunning thriller wherein the reveal is given at the start and we have to find out the how and the why, a boy stolen as a child and now he's found his way home... Please note we mention abuse, kidnapping, and prostitution. Books mentioned by name or extensively: Carmel Harrington: The Stolen Child Carmel Harrington: The Nowhere Girls J R R Tolkien: The Lord Of The Rings Release details: recorded 17th February 2025; published 23rd June 2025 Where to find Carmel online: || || Where to find Charlie online: || || || Discussions...
info_outline
122: Samantha Sotto Yambao (Water Moon)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Samantha Sotto Yambao (Water Moon) discuss her UK debut - yay! - exploring the concepts of fate and choice, the process of evolving the romance, and, we catch up on the lives of Sam's dogs. General references: Sam joined me to discuss The Beginning of Always in episode 50 Sam joined me to discuss Before Ever After, Love and Gravity, and A Dream of Trees in episode 5 Books mentioned by name or extensively: David and Leigh Eddings: The Belgariad J R R Tolkien: Return Of The King Samantha Sotto: Before Ever After Samantha Sotto: Love And Gravity Samantha Sotto: A Dream Of Trees...
info_outline
Necessary hiatus: dental gone wrong
Author's Afterword
info_outline
121: Amy Jordan (The Dark Hours)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Amy Jordan (The Dark Hours) discuss the Irish police force, the Garda, in the 1990s, particularly where it involves sexism. They also discuss the effects on a relationship of being a member of the police, and the way trauma can influence extreme actions. General references: Books mentioned by name or extensively: Amy Jordan: The Dark Hours Release details: recorded 14th January 2025; published 12th May 2025 Where to find Amy online: Where to find Charlie online: || || || Discussions 01:31 The inspiration 03:19 Writing Julia and exploring the effects of what she's been...
info_outline
120: Amy Engel (I Did It For You)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Amy Engel (I Did It For You) discuss her literary thriller wherein the killer did it but it isn't that simple, wherein both the victim's and killer's families are given empathy, and wherein the sister of the victim and the brother of the killer start a romance. Please note that whilst there are no references to detailed violence, this episode looks at various issues surrounding murder cases. General references: It was indeed Elmore Leonard who said, "You take out the parts that people skip when they're reading". Books mentioned by name or extensively: Amy Engel: The Familiar Dark...
info_outlineCharlie and Kristina McMorris (Sold On A Monday; The Ways We Hide) discuss the harrowing photographs of children that inspired her last two novels, why she chose to focus - in the first book - on the news reporters rather than the children, and changing the fictional outcome of the stories.
The photograph of the children for sale and an article with the basics
Kristina's Facebook post about her and RaeAnn's appearance on NPR
Interview with RaeAnn for North West Indiana Times
Interview with David McDaniel
Christina Baker Kline's Orphan Train
The first sentence on Sold On A Monday ended up being: 'Outside the guarded entrance, reporters circled like a pack of wolves.'
(The photograph that inspired The Ways We Hide is a photograph of some of the children who died in the Italian Hall Disaster and shows them laid out after death.)
"How Monopoly Helped The Allies Win WW2" article
The videos of the various MI9 tools are listed on Kristina's website
Where to find Kristina online
Website || Twitter || Facebook || Instagram
Where to find Charlie online
Website || Twitter || Instagram
Discussions
01:21 Tell us about the photograph Sold On A Monday was inspired by
06:09 Changing the outcome for the fictional children
07:40 The book's focus on the reporters rather than the children
11:11 How Kristina's experience in media informed her writing
13:41 About the original title
17:55 The reliability of the characters
19:10 Ellis and Lily
22:33 Theme of family and motherhood
23:45 The photograph that inspired The Ways We Hide
27:17Fenna!
28:25 The four books Kristina is currently working on
32:29 Kristina introduces the extra content on her website