Write Club Podcast

In this episode of the Write Club Podcast, we are joined by New York Times and international bestselling author Anne Liang!
Anne takes us behind the scenes of her highly anticipated novel, To Dream in Darkness, a doomed romance between the god of death and the god of healing rooted in Chinese mythology and set against the backdrop of the Ming Dynasty.
In this episode, we chat about:
* Mythology & On-Site Research: How Anne’s travels to historical sites in China and her cross-cultural background shaped her rich world-building.
* Switching Writing Genres: The challenges, freedom, and joys of transitioning from YA contemporary to adult historical fantasy.
* Navigating Industry Success: How media attention and sudden bestseller status impact the creative process, and how Anne keeps her focus on the page.


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In this episode of the Write Club Podcast, we’re joined by Nathan Dylan Goodwin, bestselling British historical and genealogical crime novelist and creator of the acclaimed Morton Farrier series!
Nathan takes us behind the scenes of his unique creative process, sharing how a childhood passion for genealogy at age 12 evolved from writing local history books into building a wildly successful fiction career.
We chat about…
* His research process: How Nathan spends 2–3 months digging through real historical archives and genealogical records before writing a single word.
* Drafting & beta readers: Moving from a 6–10 month drafting cycle to leveraging early readers to refine the manuscript.
* Targeted Self-Publishing: His Amazon KDP strategy and why marketing to specific genealogical societies and niche organisations beats chasing vague mass-market appeal.
and much more!
🎧 Listen now and don’t forget to subscribe to Write Club on your favorite podcast platform!
Purchase The Hop-Picker Murders by Nathan Dylan Goodwin today.


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersonline.substack.com/subscribe

How do you keep readers laughing on one page and on the brink of tears the next - for nearly three decades?
In this heartwarming and insightful episode of The Write Club Podcast, our hosts chat with iconic British author Mike Gayle, whose smash-hit debut My Legendary Girlfriend launched a full-time fiction career back in 1997.
Mike gives listeners an exclusive preview of his upcoming family drama, On We Go, breaking down how he builds relatable, beautifully dysfunctional characters and hits the perfect balance between humour and emotional depth. He reflects on how the publishing landscape and his writing process have evolved over 30 years, shares his top advice for debut novelists aiming for an authentic human voice, and finally solves the mystery behind his two garden sheds!
On We Go is a hilarious and heartwarming new family drama from Sunday Times bestseller Mike Gayle. Get your copy today.


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersonline.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of the Write Club Podcast, we are joined by Heather Morris - the globally renowned, #1 bestselling author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz - to discuss her gripping new novel, The Piano Teacher of Montparnasse.
Heather shares the incredible real-life origin of her latest story, inspired by composer Cara Talvi, whose grandmother’s life was saved during the Holocaust by a courageous piano teacher in the French Resistance. She takes us behind the scenes of her meticulous historical research process, from interviewing surviving family members to walking key locations in Paris to bring the past vividly to life.
Whether you’re a fan of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, a writer of historical fiction, or simply curious about the daily habits of an international bestselling author, this conversation is packed with invaluable wisdom!


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersonline.substack.com/subscribe

Who’d have thought that your best first draft might not be written at a desk, but spoken aloud while walking your dog?
In this inspiring episode of The Write Club Podcast, our hosts chat with Marcia Hutchinson, author of the 2026 Women’s Prize for Fiction shortlisted debut, The Mercy Step.
Marcia breaks down her original drafting routine - dictating up to 2,000 words per loop in her local park - and opens up about how receiving an ADHD diagnosis transformed her understanding of focus, routine, and creative energy. From her past careers as a solicitor, publisher, political activist, and Zumba instructor to writing five novels over a decade, Marcia shares invaluable insights on building stories using autofiction, leveraging feedback from writing groups, and pushing through the long haul of publication.
Purchase The Mercy Step today.


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writersonline.substack.com/subscribe