“That experience of going under the ground and feeling how alienating it feels down there. That feeds very nicely into the sort of gothic ideas that we're talking about here, that sense of the past is oppressive.” – Rosie Andrews

Somewhere on the border between Wales and England, Miss Catherine Symonds arrives at the shadowy Locksley Abbey to take on the role of governess. She’s traveling in disguise, because what she’s really after is uncovering the circumstances surrounding her sister Emily’s death. Emily was the previous governess.

In The Puzzle Wood, author Rosie Andrews delves into tales of Welsh mythology, forgotten childhood memories, and an unreliable narrator. With this second book, the bestselling author of The Leviathan offers us a classic piece of gothic literature.

This episode explores how Rosie Andrews managed to write a pure gothic novel, inspired by gothic legends like Robert Louis Stevenson and M. R. James, while simultaneously retaining her own style. Hear about her choice of including a crime in the plot, as well as the challenges of writing a second book after a successful one.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why you should leave your house to become a better writer.
• How settings and landscapes can become characters in your story.
• How to write that perfect twisty end to your mystery novel.

Find out more about Rosie here.

Your host is inkjockey founder Mark Heywood.

Behind The Spine is an inkjockey production and the audio accompaniment to The Writing Salon. Sign up for the newsletter here.

You can buy copies of our anthology series here.

You can view the full transcript here.

Connect with the show:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthespinepodcast/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BehindTheSpine

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BehindTheSpine

Website: www.behindthespine.co.uk

“Yes, there is oppression and hardship, but there’s also culture and joy and beauty and love and friendship. I think sometimes even we forget that there is life, and life always finds a way, even under occupation.” – Sarah Agha

What gives you a sense of identity and makes you feel connected to your community, your people? The narratives we build through art are at the heart of these identities. As we explore in this episode, getting them right is crucial, especially if you are Palestinian today.

The Arab Film Club showcases exceptional cinema from the Arab World. The first series of their new podcast, which launches today, focuses on five pioneering Palestinian directors and their multi-award-winning films. Over the years, Sarah Agha, the club's founder, has shared a great deal of her culture and expertise in the subject.

This episode explores some of the narratives built around Arab, and specifically Palestinian, lives, and who gets to tell those stories. It reminds us of the long history of Palestine, as Sarah recounts what it was like returning to the land where her father is from. And gives you recommendations on how to start your journey into the exciting world of Arab cinema.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why you shouldn’t be afraid of your own ignorance.
• Why research is a central part of the writing process.
• Why there are no small stories.

Find out more about Sarah Agha and the Arab Film Club here.

You can listen to their brand new podcast here.

You can listen to the episode of The End of the Line featuring Sarah here.

Your host is inkjockey founder Mark Heywood.

Behind The Spine is an inkjockey production and the audio accompaniment to The Writing Salon. Sign up for the newsletter here.

You can buy copies of our anthology series here.

You can view the full transcript here.

Connect with the show:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthespinepodcast/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BehindTheSpine

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BehindTheSpine

Website: www.behindthespine.co.uk

“I've certainly met men like Cole and you are fooled by them because they're fooling themselves. They're so dangerous and insidious for that reason, because you are actually sucked in a bit” - Araminta Hall

Are you “one of the good guys”, supportive of women’s rights and equality and opposed to gender injustice? This episode will make you think twice. Cole has escaped to the coast after his marriage imploded, and finds himself caught up in a media firestorm after two feminist activists go missing in the area.

One of the Good Guys is the sixth book from established author Araminta Hall and is an exploration of how women are treated in the modern world. Written in three distinct parts, we first see life through the eyes of “good guy” Cole. The story is then told through the eyes of his ex-wife, and that’s when we begin to see his perception of himself unravel. And in part three we’re caught up in the social and mainstream media reaction to what happens to Cole.

This episode explores the abuse women still have to put up with in a post #MeToo era, and the fear they still feel simply walking the streets alone. It looks into the insidious nature of patriarchal power. And it ventures into the territory of social media, and how damaging our obsession with “the truth” can be.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why stories about minorities facing injustice don’t need to be victim stories.
• Why characters that believe they are good are more frightening than those that are pure evil.
• To examine your own ideas about being “one of the good guys”.

Find out more about Araminta Hall here.

Your host is inkjockey founder Mark Heywood.

Behind The Spine is an inkjockey production and the audio accompaniment to The Writing Salon. Sign up for the newsletter here.

You can buy copies of our anthology series here.

You can view the full transcript here.

Connect with the show:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthespinepodcast/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BehindTheSpine

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BehindTheSpine

Website: www.behindthespine.co.uk