Northern Voices

Episode 123: Victoria Ferguson

In this week's episode, I'm joined by emerging writer Victoria Ferguson to talk about her exciting new projects. We delve into the issues with accessibility in the UK publishing industry, the craft of writing folk horror and why she's writing dialect fiction set in the North East of England despite being a Scouser herself. Music credit: 'Water of Tyne' performed by Edinburgh University Brass Band (2009) arranged by Jack Stobbs, edited and scored for brass band by David Dye. Used with kind permission of the publisher, arranger and performers.

Special Episode 122: Publishing Unpacked – Submission with Louise Powell

This week's episode is the second in the mini-series: Publishing Unpacked. In each of these special episodes I'll be joined by Northern writers discussing the publishing process from submission to publication. Today's guest is debut author Louise Powell, whose novel Underdogs was published by John Murray Originals. We delve into our joint adventure into the submission trenches, unpacking everything from agent edits to publisher rejections, and our very different outcomes. Find out more: https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/louise-powell/underdogs/9781399828826/ https://louisepowell.co.uk/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/louisepowell.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/johnmurrays.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisepowellauthor https://www.instagram.com/johnmurrays https://www.instagram.com/ymuliterary Music credit: 'Water of Tyne' performed by Edinburgh University Brass Band (2009) arranged by Jack Stobbs, edited and scored for brass band by David Dye. Used with kind permission of the publisher, arranger and performers.

Episode 121: Kay Inckle

In Episode 121 I'm joined by cli-fi writer Kay Inckle to talk about her new novel, Overspill. We also discuss why her main character is a wheelchair user, the lack of representation of menopausal women in fiction and why being Northern is the least of her worries when it comes to the UK publishing industry. Find out more: https://srlpublishing.co.uk/product/overspill-kay-inckle https://www.lavidaliverpool.co.uk/liverpool-book-festival-summer-special-coming-soon/ https://wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk/our-cycle-stories-kay-inckle/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/kayinckle.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/srlpublishing.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/srlpublishing Music credit: 'Water of Tyne' performed by Edinburgh University Brass Band (2009) arranged by Jack Stobbs, edited and scored for brass band by David Dye. Used with kind permission of the publisher, arranger and performers.

Episode 120: Charlie, Hannah and Henry from York St John University

In this week's episode, I'm joined by three emerging writers from York St John University's creative writing degree: Charlie Mason, Hannah Neave and Henry Wileman. We talk about the anthology they've produced, Beyond the Walls, their writing and their view of the North in the UK publishing industry. Find out more: https://valleypressuk.com/products/beyond-the-walls-2026 Charlie: https://open.substack.com/pub/charlottefaymason Henry: https://substack.com/@mega0fauna Hannah: https://substack.com/@sunflowersscribe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valleypress/ Henry: https://www.instagram.com/mega_.fauna Charlie: https://www.instagram.com/sunny.writes.stuff Hannah: https://www.instagram.com/sunflowers.scribe https://www.instagram.com/yorkstjohn/ Music credit: 'Water of Tyne' performed by Edinburgh University Brass Band (2009) arranged by Jack Stobbs, edited and scored for brass band by David Dye. Used with kind permission of the publisher, arranger and performers.

Episode 119: Claire O'Callaghan

In this week's episode, I'm joined by academic and Brontë scholar Claire O'Callaghan as we talk about the new edition of her book Emily Brontë Reappraised. We delve into why women who write are labelled mad, the power of the landscape in Northern fiction and why the recent Wuthering Heights film made her giggle. Find out more: https://claireocallaghan.com/ https://saraband.net/sb-title/emily-bronte-reappraised-2/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/drclaireocall.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/saraband-books.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drclaireocall https://www.instagram.com/sarabandbooks Music credit: 'Water of Tyne' performed by Edinburgh University Brass Band (2009) arranged by Jack Stobbs, edited and scored for brass band by David Dye. Used with kind permission of the publisher, arranger and performers.