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_outline
119: Nydia Hetherington (Sycorax)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Nydia Hetherington (Sycorax) discuss the witch Shakespeare's Prospero hates so much and Nydia's reimagining slash prequel to The Tempest. This involves conversation about chronic illness, attitudes to women in regards to the occult, and on a seemingly unrelated subject, the tendency of pirates to leave problematic people on isolated islands. General references: W H Auden: The Sea And The Mirror Books mentioned by name or extensively: Libby Colman: Trixie - The Childhood Of Sycorax, Witch Of Algiers Margaret Atwood: Hag-Seed Marina Warner: Indigo Nydia Hetherington: A Girl Made Of...
info_outline
118: Gill Paul (Scandalous Women)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Gill Paul (Scandalous Women) discuss Jackie Collins, Jacqueline Susann, and the way the 1960s publishing industry treated women. General references: My other episodes with Gill are 42 and 86 I spoke to Èric Chacour in episode 115 The three books with a Mira in them were Eliza Chan's Fathomfolk, Èric Chacour's What I Know About You, and Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing Books mentioned by name or extensively: Dale Carnegie: How To Win Friends And Influence People Gill Paul: Another Woman's Husband Gill Paul: The Second Marriage (Jackie And Maria) Gill Paul: A Beautiful Rival...
info_outline
117: C J Wray (The Excitements)
Author's Afterword
Charlie 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. General references: The Yoga teacher Chris mentions is Dorothea Barron. It isn't the same lady Charlie...
info_outline
Live 01: Alex Hay, Lucy Barker, Stacey Thomas
Author's Afterword
Charlie is joined by Alex Hay, Lucy Barker, Stacey Thomas, and a wonderful audience at Goldfinch Books in Alton. You want a writing deep dive? You've got it! Please note that this episode has a whispered swear word in it - we were all adults! The next live event will be at P&G Wells in Winchester on Friday 4th April. If you can't click the link, go to pgwells.co.uk Full show notes and a transcript to follow shortly.
info_outline
116: Maggie Brookes (The Prisoner's Wife)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Maggie Brookes (The Prisoner's Wife) discuss her stunning story which was inspired by a real happening - a woman who hid in plain sight as a British soldier in a prisoner of war camp. General references: Maggie's previous episode with me is episode 92 The party episode with Maggie is Milestone 01 (also with Elizabeth Fremantle, Gill Paul, and Amanda Geard) Books mentioned by name or extensively: Charlotte Brontë: Jane Eyre Maggie Brookes: The Prisoner's Wife Maggie Brookes-Butt: Wish John Nichol and Tony Rennell: The Last Escape Buy the books: || Release details: recorded...
info_outline
115: Éric Chacour (What I Know About You)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Éric Chacour (What I Know About You) discuss Egypt in the 1970s for the Levantine community and LGBT people, the famous French-Egyptian singer Dalida, Romeo and Juliet, Éric's use of the second person, and author and translator working together on writing that had been in place for 15 years. General references: Books mentioned by name or extensively: Éric Chacour: What I Know About You Buy the books: || Release details: recorded 20th September 2024; published 10th February 2025 Where to find Éric online: || Where to find Charlie online: || || || Discussions 02:09...
info_outline
114: Edward Carey (Edith Holler)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Edward Carey (Edith Holler) talk at length about the arts and the theatre in the context of his book and in general. They also talk about Norwich as Edward's book is his love letter to the city. Please note there is a mild swear word in this episode. General references: Edward's previous episode on this podcast is number 52 My episode with Melissa Fu is number 59 Books mentioned by name or extensively: Edward Carey: Edith Holler Gaston Le Roux: The Phantom Of The Opera Jeanette Winterson: The Passion Julian Of Norwich: Revelations Of Divine Love Robert Louis Stevenson:...
info_outlineCharlie and Gill Paul (Scandalous Women) discuss Jackie Collins, Jacqueline Susann, and the way the 1960s publishing industry treated women.
A transcript is available on my site
General references:
My other episodes with Gill are 42 and 86
The Love Machine (movie)
Some of Richard Osman's words on the subject can be found here
Once Upon A Time In America
Lady Boss trailer
Mad Men
Feud: Capote Vs His Swans
Cold Blooded: The Clutter Family Murders
I spoke to Èric Chacour in episode 115
The three books with a Mira in them were Eliza Chan's Fathomfolk, Èric Chacour's What I Know About You, and Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing
Books mentioned by name or extensively:
Dale Carnegie: How To Win Friends And Influence People
Gill Paul: Another Woman's Husband
Gill Paul: The Second Marriage (Jackie And Maria)
Gill Paul: A Beautiful Rival
Gill Paul: Scandalous Women
Helen Gurley Brown: Sex And The Single Girl
Ian McEwan: On Chesil Beach
Jackie Collins: The World Is Full Of Married Men
Jacqueline Susann: Valley Of The Dolls
Jacqueline Susann: The Love Machine
Letty Cottin Pogrebin: How To Make It In A Man's World
Truman Capote: In Cold Blood
Release details: recorded 11th October 2024; published 24th March 2025
Where to find Gill online: Website || Twitter || Facebook || Instagram || TikTok
Where to find Charlie online: Website || Twitter || Instagram || TikTok
Discussions
01:23 Why these women and why now?
03:02 More about Jacqueline Susann and Jackie Collins
04:15 Jacqueline Susann's screen work
05:58 On Gill's having Jacqueline Susann and Jackie Collins meet and support each other
09:06 The murder of Sharon Tate
10:29 Jacqueline's illness and bargaining with God
14:22 About Jackie Collins' marriages
17:28 Creating the fictional character, Nancy
20:55 More on Nancy in regards to the historical misogyny
26:19 Gill's fictional Truman Capote interview and the real stories including the facts behind Capote's In Cold Blood
31:06 Jacqueline Susann's keeping up to date with booksellers' lives
33:31 Nancy's relationships with Stephen and George
35:52 The Cousin, Louise, the drugs and trafficking
37:18 Gill's writing style and how it aligns with Scandalous Women
39:28 Including a small nod to A Beautiful Rival and how Gill includes these in her books in general
41:45 What Gill is writing now
Disclosure: If you buy books linked to my site, I may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops