Behind The Spine

S11E9 A Tale of Wartime Morality and Courage: Alice Austen’s 33 Place Brugmann

“ Fiction writing is trying to unearth the mystery of who we are.  And it boils down to a question of who and what you care about most” ~Alice Austen An apartment block in Belgium, full of close neighbours, suddenly torn apart by the news of war. This is the story of 33 Place Brugmann - whose residents’ lives are upended by fear, uncertainty and occupation. Today we’re revisiting the Second World War once again, to share yet another untold tale of the past. 33 Place Brugmann is the debut novel from the award-winning screenwriter, producer, and playwright, Alice Austen. Taking a break from her usual areas of expertise, Alice’s captivating foray into the world of fiction has already been hugely successful - with the book fast becoming an international bestseller. Alice explores the inspiration for the book - the stories she was told by neighbours who she lived with at the real 33 Place Brugmann. She discusses her shift from writing plays to writing a novel - and how she navigated it. And she muses on the strange reality of how prescient this novel feels in today’s world. In this episode, you will learn: * How to harness your own moral battles to bring your narrative to life * Why it pays to be brave when deciding the narrative structure of your novel * Why a personal group of trusted readers is a treasure to have Find out more about Alice here [https://www.aliceaustenauthor.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/141735281]. 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]

S11E8 The Guernsey Deportees: Ollie Guillou on a little-known story of wartime resilience

“One day I heard the news that the head of the Deportees Association had died. I knew I needed to tell the story before the stories disappeared for good.” ~Ollie Guillou In 1942, on Hitler’s orders, more than a thousand islanders from Guernsey were deported to Germany, and sent to the internment camp known as Biberach. Theirs is a little-known story of fortitude and resilience - and the subject of a new award-winning podcast series. Ollie Guillou is the creator of The Guernsey Deportees podcast, a 6 part series sharing the story of his Grandma, Jill Chubb, who was just 3 years old when she was sent to Biberach. It’s the most detailed look at her story yet, and features the voices of three other deportees and two historians. Ollie has made many, many podcasts - and is in fact the editor for Behind The Spine. But this is the first time he’s got so personal, bearing the weight of responsibility of sharing an important family story. In this episode, you will learn: * Why it’s crucial you ask your grandparents about their lives and stories * The fulfilment that comes from telling a story that carries a personal weight * Why you shouldn’t sit on an idea for too long - act now! Find out more about Ollie here [https://www.ogpodcasts.co.uk/]. Here the Guernsey Deportees podcast here [https://podfollow.com/the-guernsey-deportees]. 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/141460026]. 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]

S11E7 A Death in Berlin: Simon Scarrow on German life under Nazi oppression

“The German guy tells this joke in the factory. It's reported by the foreman. This guy's then hauled away and executed. That's kind of the kind of regime you are living under with the Nazis.” ~Simon Scarrow What was it like to live in Berlin in 1940? We very often picture the war years from the perspective of the Allies, but for the Germans living under the oppressive rule of the Nazis, life very quickly turned hostile. Simon Scarrow is a historian and author of A Death in Berlin, the third installment in his World War 2 series following the life and work of German Criminal Inspector Horst Schenke. As gangs run amuck through Berlin and Nazi manipulation has people second guessing themselves, Schenke fights to keep criminals off his patch and protect his own dirty secrets. This isn’t Simon’s first historical series - he’s also well known for his Roman era series “Eagles of the Empire”, which follows the military careers of Cato and Macro. But here he’s tracing a part of history that is much closer to living memory. In this episode, you will learn: * How to best get into the mind of your characters when telling a historical story * The power of words and narratives - and how they can reshape culture and politics * Why you should write from the heart and choose a story that touches you Find out more about Simon here. [https://www.simonscarrow.co.uk/] 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/141290963]. 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]

S11E6 The Three Lives of Cate Kay: Kate Fagan’s multi-layered trip into fiction

“ I put that memoir out  and my mum in particular was really upset and she came to me and was like, that's not how I remember that happening.” ~Kate Fagan Writing a memoir is a tricky business - you may think writing about your own life is a straightforward process of telling fact after fact. The trouble is, very rarely do the people in your life recall events the same way you do. There are discrepancies in memory and emotion that are often impossible to unravel. That’s the challenge Kate Fagan ran into when she released her memoir, The Reappearing Act. And it’s a real-life conversation with her parents that served as the inspiration for her first foray into fiction writing. Kate has been a non-fiction writer for a long time, so this is a big pivot for her. The Three Lives of Cate Kay is the fictional memoir of a mysterious author, who’s lived under three different names in her life. There are several layers to the narrative, as the memoir is interwoven with chapters narrated by people who knew her in her different “lives”. During this conversation, Kate explains why she chose this complex - and highly effective - narrative strategy. In this episode, you will learn: * How to play to your strengths when making a big pivot in your writing career * How to get comfortable ditching old projects and starting from scratch * Why liminal space is so important - and how audiences love working stuff out for themselves! Find out more about Kate here. [https://www.instagram.com/katefagan3/?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/137399274]. 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]

S11E5 The Bureau: Eoin McNamee’s deep connection to corruption and violence in Northern Ireland

“ If you write about real situations, real names and real people, there's always somebody else's blood on the floor at the end of it.  Well this is me and my family's blood on the floor in this book.” ~Eoin McNamee Taking place in the shadow of The Troubles, The Bureau is a story of corruption, death, love and violence. Based on the real events of a murder-suicide between two lovers - the book also takes inspiration from its authors own life. Eoin McNamee has been tackling The Troubles in various ways since the release of his 1994 book Resurrection Man. Many years and many books later, he’s still exploring its aftershocks. His back catalogue typically explores Ireland’s violent history - from murders, to hangings to miscarriages of justice. And this is no different. During this conversation, Eoin explains why he’s still telling grisly stories about the past - and what draws him to them. And he explores his family connection to this story - and the horror of what really happened to his father and brother. In this episode, you will learn: * Why you shouldn’t fear retelling stories more than once. * Why you should focus on your characters above all else when writing about the past. * How we all have an exceptional story to tell Find out more about Eoin here [https://www.faber.co.uk/author/eoin-mcnamee/?srsltid=AfmBOoohNzeTuEoTWFd8XX1GVBfT8qZvhRo-oQKxQuHC1gLdbiK93oAG]. 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/137170242]. 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]