Solid Gold Podcasts #BeHeard The Hidden Lives of Writers

S08 E01 Catriona Ross

Loading player...
Catrina Ross is an author and editor with many years of experience in the South African book world. She is the author of THE WHICH WORD, newly released by Mirari Press.

Catriona joins Fiona and Gail to talk about the 6-second rule in publishing and the inspiration behind her magical novel.

For more details about the books, movies, series, and podcasts that are discussed on the show, sign up here for our weekly newsletter:
https://mailchi.mp/icon/the-hidden-lives-of-writers-newsletter-signup

Ask your writing-related questions here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8i1_vFmUwsd7E_nvPgQOtqEscvZIircT0imdHm_qYJK5eXA/viewform

Fiona and Gail would love to hear from you. Please join the conversation here:
Email: hiddenlivesofwriters@gmail.com
Instagram: @thehiddenlivesofwriterspod
Twitter: @hiddenwriterpod
YouTube: The Hidden Lives of Writers
Threads: @thehiddenlivesofwriters
Facebook discussion group: The Hidden Lives of Writers
Chapters
  • 00:00 Welcome to Season Eight
  • 01:11 Big News: The Hidden Lives of Writers Book Deal
  • 02:32 What We've Been Reading: The Whistler and YesterYear
  • 07:31 Introducing Catriona Ross
  • 08:31 Writing Week: Animals at My Table and Daily Routine
  • 10:37 The 500 Words a Day Method
  • 12:21 Writing on an Antique Games Table
  • 14:37 Marari Press and Independent Publishing in South Africa
  • 17:24 From Zoology to Journalism to Fiction
  • 20:16 Environmentalism and Cape Town
  • 22:42 Balancing Editing, Ghostwriting, and Fiction Writing
  • 25:15 Writing Sex Scenes Without Rules
  • 30:12 Where Ideas Come From and How to Spot the Good Ones
  • 33:11 The State of South African Fiction Publishing
  • 34:19 AI Writing: How Editors Detect It and Why It Fails
  • 36:33 Why Small Publishers Are Winning Right Now
  • 37:36 The Appeal of Witches and Magical Thinking
  • 41:16 Writing Across Racial and Cultural Difference
  • 45:08 Cover Design: Letting Go of Preconceptions
  • 50:04 Manuscript Submission Mistakes and the Six-Second Rule
  • 52:31 Being Edited After Years of Editing Others
  • 55:25 Books, Podcasts, and Shows Catriona Loves Now
  • 59:26 Hosts Reflect: Boredom, Ideas, and Key Takeaways
7 Sep English South Africa Books · Arts

Other recent episodes

S08 E04 Nadia Cassim

Nadia Cassim is a novelist and short story writer whose most recent book NOT ANOTHER SAMOOSA RUN is currently longlisted for the Sunday Times Fiction Prize. A brave and ground-breaking novel, her book has been described as 'funny, thought-provoking, and empowering'. Nadia joins Fiona and Gail to talk about how…
28 Sep 1 hr 05 min

S08 E03 Sarah Lotz

Sarah Lotz is a prolific and hugely popular author who won the British Fantasy Award in 2015. She lived in South Africa for many years before moving back to the United Kingdom. Sarah is known for her many writing collaborations, as well as her solo work. Her most recent novel…
21 Sep 59 min

S08 E02 Deon Meyer

Deon Meyer is a multi-award-winning and bestselling author whose books regularly smash sales records. His latest book SKORPIO is available in Afrikaans, while SCORPIO RISING will be released by Pan Macmillan on 1 October. Deon joins Fiona and Gail to talk about his early days of writing as a single…
14 Sep 1 hr 04 min

S07 E10 Busisekile Khumalo

Busisekile Khumalo is the bestselling author of the Harvard Wife series of novels, as well as the standalone book, Nomaswazi, and a new series published by Jonathan Ball Publishers, including Rubies & Rain and Sunshine & Shadows. Busisekile joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about how she walked…
25 May 1 hr 12 min

S07 E09 Zakes Mda

Zakes Mda is one of South Africa's best known and most awarded writers. He is a novelist, playwright, short story writer, and painter. A Professor Emeritus of English at Ohio University, Zakes now lives and works in Johannesburg. He joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about how his…
18 May 1 hr 17 min
All episodes