Getting Into The Writer’s Head: Natasha Robson

‘Editing involves trying to get into the head of the writer and bringing out the best of what’s already there.’

Natasha Robson is an assistant editor at Holland House Books, an indie publishing house – like Sam Jordison‘s Galley Beggar Press. She has contributed to the Novella Project from the very beginning – a project which gives unknown authors that come from very different backgrounds the possibility of publishing  exciting fiction for the very first time.*

Natasha is doing an MA in Literature in the University of Reading. That and her love of teaching made her took the path of editing, and she couldn’t be more enthusiastic about it – helping authors to tell the stories they want.

Also, like the writer Sarah Jasmon, she’s living a boat, and we wonder, is there something linked between living on water and creativity? Who knows…

If you want to know more about the Novella Project please check out their page, they are doing something wonderful, daring and unique!

What can you find in this interview?

-Working as an editor.

-Information about indie publishing houses such as Holland House Books.

-The editing process.

-Publishing projects.

 

 

Many thanks to our meticulous editor, Terry Garanhel and to the founder and sponsor of the programme, Yvonne Battle-Felton. And, of course, to Natasha Robson, who is a truly thoughtful editor! We wish you the best in this adventure, we’re sure you’ll keep editing great books!

 

*And I have the pleasure to say I am among these authors! My gothic horror novella McTavish Manor will be ouy in October 2016.

 

The Renasssaince Writer – Rachel McCarthy

‘We need the specialisations, but we could do with more cross-fertilisation between humanities and the arts.’

Rachel McCarthy has succeed in two fields that some consider the complete opposite: Science and Art. She’s a climate scientist and also a poet whose first pamphlet – Element – was praised  by the Laureate poet Carol Duffy. So for those who claim for an education that divides arts and sciences from a very early stage… this is an example of what people can be when they don’t have to decide between one and the other!

‘Writing is a very solitary act…to bear your soul on a piece of paper… and then stand up present it to everyone is kind of one of those nightmares.’

Rachel knows a lot about showing her art and performing in front of an audience, too. She co-hosted a radio programme when she was a university student and has been director of the Exeter Poetry Festival on 2013.

What can you find in this interview?

-Mixing Art and Science.

-Publishing a poetry pamphlet.

-Literature and Climate Change.

-Balancing work and writing.

-Engaging with the literary community.

 

Do you want to know more about Rachel McCarthy?

-Check out her webpage.

-Check out her poetry pamphlet Element.

 

Text read:

Two poems from Element (poetry pamphlet).

 

Many thanks to our meticulous editor, Terry Garanhel and to the founder and sponsor of the programme, Yvonne Battle-Felton. And, of course, to Rachel McCarthy who we had the pleasure to meet in the January Northwest Literary Salon at Lancaster. We loved your reading and became instantlly fascinated with your mixture of literature and science. We wish you the very best in your two careers!

How writing can save your life: Michael Womack

‘I’m not really doing it for the money, it’s something I’m passionate about…’

Michael Womack revindicates the importance of how we positively impact on others with our writing instead of measuring our success just with money. In his own words, there’s no better recipe for disappointment than doing the latter.

Michael started writing poetry in highschool. He joined the USA army and fought in Iraq. Back in Georgia he struggled with post traumatic stress disorder and depression. His first novel, From a Soldier’s Perspective, was inspired in his personal experiences. He is also the author of a poetry collection called Sexual Intimacy, Beyond Pleasure.

Listen to Michael‘s honest advice on how important is to feel passionate about your writing, because it can literally save your life!

What can you find in this interview?

-Using writing to overcome traumatic experiences.

-Self-publishing.

-Advantages of publishing in e-Book formart.

-Poetry.

-War experiences.

Texts Read:

– From a Soldier’s Perspective  (extract).

Do you want to know more about Michael Womack?

-Check out his twitter.

-Check out his FB page.

-Check out his blog.

Many thanks to our meticulous editor, Terry Garanhel and to the founder and sponsor of the programme, Yvonne Battle-Felton. And, of course, to Michael Womack, who kindly agreed to be interviewed even if he lives in the other side of the Atlantic… we wish you the best in your literary career!

Poetry and laughs – Gary Boswell

 

‘I borrowed a book from the library called The Apeman Cometh thinking it was a joke book, and it was fun, I laughed all way through it, but then I looked at the back and it said it was a poetry book… and I thought, crack it!’

Gary Boswell left his job in bank to study art at Lancaster University. As a poet, he has been featured by the BBC and collaborated with artists from several disciplines. Want to hear his Scottish accent when reading one of his most recent poems to the TWL?

What can you find in this interview?

-Leaving your day-job to pursue your dreams.

-Collaborating with other artists.

-Being a writer-in-residence.

-How to read your work in front of an audience.

-Finding an editor.

 

Texts Read:

– The Battle of the Trousers (poem).

 

Do you want to know more about Gary Boswell?

-Check out his more recent work, a collaboration with the painter Hideyuki Sobue to celebrate the 200th aniversary of Wordsworth’s daffodile poem.

-Check out this original recording of another of his poems, Ducks don’t shop in Sansbury’s.

Many thanks to our meticulous editor, Terry Garanhel, and the founder of the programme, Yvonne Battle-Felton. And, of course, to Gary Boswell, who shared his poems and enthusiasm with us.

 

 

Don’t forget to check our next interview on Sunday 7th of February in 87.7 Bailrigg FM at 6pm with the writer on a boat Sarah Jasmon!

Feeling and writing – Yamuna Venugopal

‘I grew up in a household where female members of the neighbourhood came to talk with my parents about injustices,’ Yamuna Venugopal said. She’s an courageous writer who left a stable job as a software engineer to come to Lancaster and study a Creative Writing MA. She hasn’t regretted this decision, though: ‘Being away from India gave me a broad-minded view of the things I’m writing about.’

Yamuna is a skilled writer who likes to address Indian social reality through her short stories, often told from a female perspective. ‘I like to write about something that affects me.’ For her, the most important thing in writing is to depict believable characters: ‘I try to be in someone else’s skin when I write, it keeps me emotionally close to the character.’ One of her short stories was published in Pif Magazine. After completing her MA, Yamuna returned to India, where she’s currently pursuing a career in writing. ‘I’d love to have an international audience,’ she confesses.

What can you find in this interview?

-Experiences from doing a Creative Writing MA.

-Socially engaged writing.

-Experiences with publishing in online magazines.

-Blogging.

-Writing in a second language.

Texts Read:

–Abstract Art (short story).

Do you want to know more about Yamuna Venugopal?

-Check out her blog.

Many thanks to our meticulous editor, Terry Garanhel, and the founder of the programme, Yvonne Battle-Felton. And, of course, to our talented writer and friend Yamuna Venugopal. We’re sure your books are going to reach an audience from all over the world!

Don’t forget to check our next interview on Sunday 15th of November in 87.7 Bailrigg FM at 6pm with sailor and writer Paul Atherton!