135: Phoenicia Rogerson (Aphrodite)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Phoenicia Rogerson (Aphrodite) discuss the latter's mythological comedy, an incredibly unique book about the Greek goddess of love which sports an ensemble cast of many narrators in an Ancient Greek theatre fashion, a variety of different modes and effective mediums of writing including interrupting footnotes, and more sexual references than Zeus himself could produce. Please note that this episode includes necessary mentions of mythological regular and sexual violence and swearing. General references: Pausanius says in his Description of Greece, chapter 19.2: "Now the shape of it...
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134: Elodie Harper (Boudicca's Daughter)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Elodie Harper (Boudicca's Daughter) discuss the Iceni women history didn't deem important enough to give us names for, working with morally grey relationships for which there are no answers, and, in all this context, Ancient Britain and Ancient Rome. Please note that there is mention of rape and violence in this episode. General References: Books mentioned by name or extensively: Elodie Harper: The Wolf Den trilogy Elodie Harper: Boudicca's Daughter Release details: recorded 27th August 2025; published 8th December 2025 Where to find Elodie online: || Where to find Charlie...
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133: Juhea Kim (A Love Story From The End Of The World)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Juhea Kim (A Love Story From The End Of The World) discuss Juhea's fantastic largely environmental and philosophical short story collection. This is a book that looks at the problems with our present as well as the possible futures that may result from them. General references: Rocky Groundhog Day In The Mood For Love Kpop Demon Hunters Books mentioned by name or extensively: Dante Alighieri: The Divine Comedy Juhea Kim: A Love Story From The End Of The World Juhea Kim: the Divine Comedy Mikhail Bulgakov: The Master And The Margarita Release details: recorded 29th August 2025;...
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132: Clémence Michallon (Our Last Resort)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Clémence Michallon (Our Last Resort) discuss Clémence's epic multi-thousand-a-day writing streak and how she cuts sentences that don't work, often not replacing them, also Charlie's discomfort with the idea of the morally grey aspect of the novel and Clémence's thoughts that we think of morality in the context of the book/show, and fictional pets staying alive beyond the pages. Please note that the book under discussion is about a murder. Books mentioned by name or extensively: Clémence Michallon: The Quiet Tenant Clémence Michallon: Our last Resort Tyler Keevil: Your Still...
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131: Nikki May (This Motherless Land)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Nikki May (This Motherless Land) discuss her childhood in Lagos and moving to England, various ways Nikki's story changed over time (quite a lot!), the Nigerian women's relay team of 1992, and the upcoming TV adaptations of both This Motherless Land and Wahala. Please note that there is some swearing in this episode. General references: Nikki made the shortlist of the Nigerian Prize for Literature Books mentioned by name or extensively: Enid Blyton: The Famous Five (series) Jane Austen: Pride And Prejudice Jane Austen: Emma Jane Austen: Mansfield Park Nikki May: Wahala Nikki May:...
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130: Jim C Hines (Kitemaster)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Jim C Hines (Kitemaster) discuss how his story developed over a number of years, including wonder and physics reasoning in the book, his excellent study of grief (and humour in that context), and his unique and choices in regards to the book world's belief system of an afterlife. Please note there is some very mild swearing in this episode, as well as discussions of cancer and death. Please also note, on a very different subject, that there are spoilers for The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe as well as Serenity (Firefly) and, sort of, for Star Wars: A New Hope. I doubt anyone but...
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129: Julie Kagawa (Fateless)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Julie Kagawa (Fateless) discuss video games, working with fate and destiny, Julie's brilliant world building and magic system, and the decisions she made about where to end the book. General references: My episode with Samantha Sotto Yambao is 122 Books mentioned by name or extensively: Julie Kagawa: The Iron Fey Julie Kagawa: The Blood Of Eden Julie Kagawa: Talon Games mentioned: Assassin's Creed D&D Final Fantasy X Final Fantasy X-2 Guild Wars 2 Hitman Prince Of Persia Splinter Cell Tomb Raider Release details: recorded 19th May 2025; published 22nd September 2025 Where to...
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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...
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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: || || || ...
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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_outlineCharlie and C J Wray (The Excitements) discuss the WW2 women her book about fun-loving nonagenarians is based on and her views on modern and historical adoption as an adoptee herself. We also discuss the Peter Jones (John Lewis) department store, using Morse Code, and Diamond Doris, a jewel-thief who got away with quite a bit.
Please note there are a couple of mild swear words in this episode. Please also note we talk of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry which is commonly shortened to FANY.
A transcript is available on my site
Tickets to my live show of Friday 4th April can be bought here
Sign up to the Author's Afterword newsletter here
General references:
William Ernest Henley's Invictus poem
Long Lost Family
The Yoga teacher Chris mentions is Dorothea Barron. It isn't the same lady Charlie mentions, and unfortunately Charlie has been unable to find out who that was.
Books mentioned by name or extensively:
C J Wray: The Excitements
C J Wray: Bad Influence
Christian Lamb (with Chris): Beyond The Sea, A Wren At War
Don Marquis: Archy and Mehitabel
Pam and Jean Owtram (with Chris): Codebreaking Sisters
Stella Knightley: The Girl Behind The Mask
Stella Knightley: The Girl Behind The Fan
Stella Knightley: The Girl Behind The Curtain
W E Fairbairn's book: Hands Off! Self Defense For Women And Girls
Release details: recorded 26th September 2024; published 10th March 2025
Where to find Chris online: Website (as C J Wray) || Website (Chrissie Manby) || Instagram
Where to find Charlie online: Website || Twitter || Instagram || TikTok
Discussions
02:05 About Pat and Jean Owtram, the two sisters who inspired The Excitements
04:04 About the inspiration for Penny's stealing, Diamond Doris
07:25 Using the Peter Jones department store
09:05 All about Archie
10:20 Toujours gai!
11:43 How Chris went about the writing itself
14:13 The Invictus poem and Fairbairn book
16:53 Chris' use of Morse Code
19:16 Davinia and Sister Eugenia, and we then move on to Arlene
22:52 Chris talks about adoptions both historical and modern and her views on it as an adoptee herself
28:20 Did Chris consider having Penny and Josephine defeat the gunman?
29:03 Frank's choice not to send Penny back to into the field
31:59 About Chris' next book, Bad Influence
34:51 Chris once wrote a 90,000 page book in 2 months!
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