Behind The Spine

“Under the most oppressive circumstances, where the intent is to not only end their lives, but end almost any evidence of their existence or their humanity on the planet, people make art. They lean into making art.”~Amber Massie-Blomfield Art can change the world. Whether it's the work of painters, writers, dancers or musicians, throughout history art has made a real difference in upending the status quo and fighting back against injustice. Acts of Resistance is a new book which highlights some of the times creators have used their art to transform history. Author Amber Massie-Blomfield has collected a variety of compelling stories to showcase the power of art - a must listen for any artist wondering if their work truly means anything. During this conversation Amber explains why she felt this book was necessary, and why the journey of discovering these stories was so powerful. She highlights some of the individuals who feature in the book, who fought to make a difference. And she explains why, amid the many global emergencies we face, art is needed now more than ever. In this episode, you will learn: * Why art cuts through when all other forms of messaging fail * How every small contribution makes a difference * Why you should let your ideas take you on a journey of discovery Find out more about Amber here. [https://www.instagram.com/amblomfield/?hl=en] Your host is inkjockey founder Mark Heywood [https://www.inkjockey.co.uk/about/]. Behind The Spine is an inkjockey [https://www.inkjockey.co.uk/] production, and the audio accompaniment to The Writing Salon. Sign up to the newsletter here [http://eepurl.com/c6SF65]. Follow inkjockey on Substack here. [https://drive.google.com/open?id=15NyGb5y7GWEVVCAsnBHp6N3FnmQ_vO7Z&usp=drive_copy] You can buy copies of our anthology series here [https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09FQDMN9N?binding=paperback&qid=1670334672&sr=8-1&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk].  You can view the full transcript here. [https://app.podscribe.ai/episode/118304400] Connect with the show: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthespinepodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/behindthespinepodcast/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BehindTheSpine [https://www.facebook.com/BehindTheSpine] Twitter: https://twitter.com/BehindTheSpine [https://twitter.com/BehindTheSpine] Website: www.behindthespine.co.uk [http://www.behindthespine.co.uk]

“Having the darkness makes the lighter bits… light. And when there is that happy end, you feel like they’ve earnt it. And it’s all the brighter for the trauma that they’ve been through” ~Helen Hawkins A traditional Hallmark book or film has a very clear path - a tried and true narrative loved by audiences. But this is a Christmas love story that hits a depth of emotion rarely covered by the typical novel in this genre. A Concert For Christmas is the debut novel from Helen Hawkins and brings us the beauty of a memorable festive love story, while also taking us on a journey through real trauma, turmoil and darkness. And it does it all while remaining a cost, fireside companion for anyone nestling down for the winter. During this conversation Helen and Mark discuss the jumping off point for the book and Helen’s love of the Hallmark genre. They explore the business of writing and what it really takes to go from writer to published author. They examine the psychology of reviews and why they shouldn’t always be taken to heart. And they explore the importance of injecting a bit of darkness into a romance novel like this. In this episode, you will learn: * Why it’s crucial to look for a twist on conventional narratives * The benefits of finding a community to enhance your writing * How to see reviews of your work differently Find out more about Helen here. [https://www.helenhawkins-author.com/] Your host is inkjockey founder Mark Heywood [https://www.inkjockey.co.uk/about/]. Behind The Spine is an inkjockey [https://www.inkjockey.co.uk/] production, and the audio accompaniment to The Writing Salon. Sign up to the newsletter here [http://eepurl.com/c6SF65]. Follow inkjockey on Substack here. [https://drive.google.com/open?id=15NyGb5y7GWEVVCAsnBHp6N3FnmQ_vO7Z&usp=drive_copy] You can buy copies of our anthology series here [https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09FQDMN9N?binding=paperback&qid=1670334672&sr=8-1&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk].  You can view the full transcript here. [https://app.podscribe.ai/episode/118124549] Connect with the show: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthespinepodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/behindthespinepodcast/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BehindTheSpine [https://www.facebook.com/BehindTheSpine] Twitter: https://twitter.com/BehindTheSpine [https://twitter.com/BehindTheSpine] Website: www.behindthespine.co.uk [http://www.behindthespine.co.uk]

“It's that juxtaposition of very grand figures from history and the very bog standard person. They're also two boys who are overlooked by life, and I think that connected them.” ~Louise Kulup Little is known about Hamnet Shakespeare, the son of the Bard himself, who died aged 11. But it’s thought his death shaped much of Shakespeare’s late works, including the famously melancholy King John. But now Hamnet has been brought to life in an unique and exciting way. Louise Kulup is the author of ‘Bard Boy’, which sees Hamnet return from the grave to haunt (and mentor) a 13 year old London schoolboy called Ben. Aimed at a middle-grade audience, the novel blends history, humour and supernatural elements. During this conversation Louise and Mark discuss the intriguing genesis of the book, which is surprisingly autobiographical given its supernatural twist. They explore the ups and downs of Louise’s writing journey, and how it saved her from a dark time in her life. And they tap into Louise’s career as an editor and publisher, to share useful advice and common writing pitfalls to avoid. In this episode, you will learn: * Why you shouldn’t be afraid of self-publishing * To embrace the joy of writing and the comfort it brings * The challenges that come with writing for children  Find out more about Louise here [https://unicyclepublishing.co.uk/] and here [https://www.tickledinkeditorialservices.com/blog]. Your host is inkjockey founder Mark Heywood [https://www.inkjockey.co.uk/about/]. Behind The Spine is an inkjockey [https://www.inkjockey.co.uk/] production, and the audio accompaniment to The Writing Salon. Sign up to the newsletter here [http://eepurl.com/c6SF65]. Follow inkjockey on Substack here. [https://drive.google.com/open?id=15NyGb5y7GWEVVCAsnBHp6N3FnmQ_vO7Z&usp=drive_copy] You can buy copies of our anthology series here [https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09FQDMN9N?binding=paperback&qid=1670334672&sr=8-1&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk].  You can view the full transcript here. Connect with the show: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthespinepodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/behindthespinepodcast/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BehindTheSpine [https://www.facebook.com/BehindTheSpine] Twitter: https://twitter.com/BehindTheSpine [https://twitter.com/BehindTheSpine] Website: www.behindthespine.co.uk [http://www.behindthespine.co.uk]

“It really caught my attention in 2016, when there was the first ever case in Canada where two platonic female friends were granted the right to be co-mothers on a birth certificate. And I thought, how astonishing is that?” ~Ellen Wiles We’ve all heard the pact two platonic friends make, that if they’re both single by 40 they’ll get married. But what about making that same pact about having children instead? Would you raise a baby with your best friend? Ellen Wiles is the author of The Unexpected, a novel which explores exactly this situation, as platonic female friends Robin and Kessie make the unconventional decision to become co-parents. The book challenges the notion of what’s ‘acceptable’ or ‘correct’ in both the eyes of the law and of society - and how our understanding of family structure is evolving with time. During this conversation Ellen and Mark chat about what it means to be a modern woman, examining the untold number of pressures put on them by societal expectation. They explore how the legal system governs much of what we believe is right, and how it so often struggles to keep up with evolving cultural norms. And they look at the many ways different societies around the world, and the animal kingdom, parent their children. In this episode, you will learn: * What’s conventional may not be right - find success your way. * That we can’t expect the legal system to also be our moral compass. * Why we need to stop putting so much pressure on women, in all aspects of life.  Find out more about Ellen here. [https://www.ellenwiles.com/] Your host is inkjockey founder Mark Heywood [https://www.inkjockey.co.uk/about/]. Behind The Spine is an inkjockey [https://www.inkjockey.co.uk/] production, and the audio accompaniment to The Writing Salon. Sign up to the newsletter here [http://eepurl.com/c6SF65]. Follow inkjockey on Substack here. [https://drive.google.com/open?id=15NyGb5y7GWEVVCAsnBHp6N3FnmQ_vO7Z&usp=drive_copy] You can buy copies of our anthology series here [https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09FQDMN9N?binding=paperback&qid=1670334672&sr=8-1&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk].  You can view the full transcript here. [https://app.podscribe.ai/episode/117725901] Connect with the show: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthespinepodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/behindthespinepodcast/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BehindTheSpine [https://www.facebook.com/BehindTheSpine] Twitter: https://twitter.com/BehindTheSpine [https://twitter.com/BehindTheSpine] Website: www.behindthespine.co.uk [http://www.behindthespine.co.uk]

“We had the tapes and I was just giving them out. And by me giving the tapes out, it spread all across the country - the world!” ~Kamal Ahmed The Jerky Boys were a global phenomenon in the 90s - a comedy duo who rose to fame by prank calling unsuspecting recipients, and selling the recordings on comedy albums. Now, Kamal Ahemd, one side of that duo, is using the very tactics that jumpstarted his career decades ago to get his latest project off the ground. Since leaving The Jerky Boys in 2000, Kamal has directed 8 full-length films and most recently a TV mini series. That series is Crash The System, a sci-fi thriller focussing on the story of Tim Lonergan, who becomes a pawn to the weapons tech industry and decides to fight against it. Take a trip down memory lane as Kamal discusses his early days with The Jerky Boys. Hear as he discusses the current state of satire in the modern entertainment landscape - and why it’s become much harder to get right. And learn all about the genesis of Crash The System and what he’s set out to achieve. In this episode, you will learn: * Why bootstrapping can be a great way of getting your idea off ground. * Why you sometimes need to deviate from the “master plan”. * How to bring your authentic self to your writing and art. Find out more about Kamal here [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamal_Ahmed_(comedian)]. Your host is inkjockey founder Mark Heywood [https://www.inkjockey.co.uk/about/]. Behind The Spine is an inkjockey [https://www.inkjockey.co.uk/] production, and the audio accompaniment to The Writing Salon. Sign up to the newsletter here [http://eepurl.com/c6SF65]. Follow inkjockey on Substack here. [https://drive.google.com/open?id=15NyGb5y7GWEVVCAsnBHp6N3FnmQ_vO7Z&usp=drive_copy] You can buy copies of our anthology series here [https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09FQDMN9N?binding=paperback&qid=1670334672&sr=8-1&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk].  You can view the full transcript here. [https://app.podscribe.ai/episode/117566434] Connect with the show: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthespinepodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/behindthespinepodcast/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BehindTheSpine [https://www.facebook.com/BehindTheSpine] Twitter: https://twitter.com/BehindTheSpine [https://twitter.com/BehindTheSpine] Website: www.behindthespine.co.uk [http://www.behindthespine.co.uk]