The Ringwood Publishing Podcast

In the Season 5 finale, we chat with Isla and Cameron, co-hosts of Glasgow’s chapter of Shut Up & Write, a global initiative that brings writers together to do exactly that: shut up and write. But this writing group is about far more than just getting words on a page.

What was once a beneficial way to stay productive during lockdown has evolved into a vital social space for writers of all kinds; novelists, poets, students, academics, and everything in between. Isla and Cameron share how Shut Up & Write fosters not only creativity, but community, connection, and consistency in...

On this week's episode, we're joined by Stephanie McDonald, author of Inference and Embers, the story of a deeply intertwined couple, in the lead up to the first in person event for Embers, taking place on 9th June.

We chat about writing process, representing realistic human relationship and experience, inspirations, and what we can look forward to at this exciting event dedicated to Embers.

Both books are available on the Ringwood website, and further details of the event are available on Ringwood social media pages!

On this week's podcast, we welcome back the lovely Kirsten MacQuarrie to chat about her experiences of visiting some of the locations featured in her novel, Remember the Rowan. 

Kirsten tells us all about her experiences in some of these natural landscapes, how it felt to connect with the settings which Kathleen Raine herself stepped foot in, and the impact these travels have had on her as a writer. 

The healing power of nature is a thread carried through into Kirsten's newest novel, Ellen and Arbor, available to pre-order now from the Ringwood website!

In this episode, Emma Martin sits down with acclaimed author Maureen Cullen to explore the art of short fiction and discuss her upcoming release, Havoc Shore — a powerful new collection of short stories that delve into themes of community and resilience, with plenty of humour and wit. We discuss what draws Maureen Cullen to the short story form, the inspirations behind her latest work, and what readers can expect from the collection. Whether you're a longtime fan or discovering her voice for the first time, this conversation offers an intimate look at the writing process and the value of sh...

On this week’s podcast, we welcome back Tom Wood to talk all about his new book, The Bombing of Edinburgh & Leith.
A captivating account of the almost forgotten bombing raids on Edinburgh during World War 2, featuring high-quality recently discovered photographs and fascinating original reports, the book combines tragedy and farce to meticulously document the experiences of the ordinary population of Edinburgh and their extraordinary resilience, as we approach the eightieth anniversary of the war’s end.
Tom gives us some background on this fascinating new release and his motivations and writing processes, highlights the importance of comm...

On this weeks episode, we are joined by Ringwood author, Seán Damer, to discuss his new historical fiction novel, Wild Mountains, Wild People. 

Set in the rugged landscapes of Crete, this novel delves into the harsh realities of the Cretan Resistance that occurred in response to Nazi Occupation in WWII, and sheds light on the impact this Resistance still has on Crete in the present day. Have a listen now to hear Seán discuss his background as an academic sociologist, and how his experience and research informs his fiction writing.

On this week's podcast, we delve further into the world of publishing to look at the Stryvling Press, led by the Creative Writing and Publishing students at Stirling University, and find out all about their latest anthology of creative work. 

This year's anthology, titled Crossroads, is themed around mythology, magic, and memory. Characters stand in a place of contemplation, caught between the past and the future, between this world and the other, wondering where the roads before them will lead.

This project is something which some of our own Ringwood interns have been involved with, a...

On this week's podcast, we welcome back T. Y. Garner to discuss his short story Scrap, the story of a tragic incident in the Highlands and the deep relationships this sparks, which won the 2024 Grant Muir Prize. 

We chat about finding inspiration in personal experience, portraying complex characters, and writing processes, before hearing about Tony's experience since becoming a Ringwood author with his debut novel Hotel Hokusai, published last year, and his future writing plans.

Make sure to head to the Ringwood website after listening, where you can read T. Y. Garner's prize winning story a...

This week, we’re continuing the conversation from Ringwood’s Memoirs Event with another insightful episode. Join us as authors Kirsten MacQuarrie and Maureen Cullen reflect on their experience as panelists at the event and dive into their respective works Remember the Rowan and Kitten Heels. Building on last time’s discussion of memoir, Kirsten and Maureen explore how fiction, too, can illuminate personal truths and help us understand different ways of telling our stories.

Kitten Heels Blurb:

‘It was a man’s world, that was for sure. It certainly wasnae a thirteen-year-old girl's.’

Kathleen G...

Didn't make it to Ringwood's Memoirs Event? No problem. This week, join us for a lively discussion exploring the power of memoirs. Authors of Memoirs of a Feminist Mother and Stirring the Dust respectively, Carol Fox and Mary McCabe discuss their writing journeys, the full lives they've led so far, and the importance of picking your battles!

Memoirs of a Feminist Mother Blurb:

As a committed feminist, Carol Fox has achieved success for many women, but her greatest battle was very personal. Following serious fertility problems, Carol made the positive decision to become a single...

On this week's episode, interns Efa Walker, Isaac Hattam and Katie McGowan chat with J. S. Apsley, the winner of Ringwood's Short Story Competition 2024 about his submission Immersion, the tale of a lonely woman's unnatural obsession with Dali's masterpiece Christ of St. John of the Cross. 

John gives us some fascinating insights on writing Glasgow Noir and his experience of delving into the dark underbelly of this gothic city, which has been a rich site of inspiration for his work. We also hear about John's process for creating short fiction specifically, and his experience in transitioning from n...

To kick off Season 5, interns Emma Martin and Isaac Hattam chat with Ringwood's submissions manager, Livia Nicholson, for an inside look at the publishing submissions process.

Ever wondered what happens after you send off your manuscript to query to publishers? Livia shares what Ringwood looks for, common mistakes authors make, and how the submissions team helps shape a book's journey from pitch to publication.

Whether you're an aspiring author, an industry professional, or simply curious about the behind-the-scenes workings of publishing, this episode offers valuable insights into this crucial stage of the process. Tune in...

In this special Christmas episode, we’ve invited Ringwood author Charlie Laidlaw to discuss his novel 'Everyday Magic' which is a retelling of 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens. We talk about Charlie's writing process, his inspiration for 'Everyday Magic', the importance of the past, present, and future, and more!

In 'Everyday Magic', Carole Gunn leads an unfulfilled life and knows it.  She’s married to someone who may, or may not, be in New York on business and, to make things worse, the family’s deaf cat has just been run over by an electric car.

Bu...

In this episode, we’ve invited Ringwood author Rob McInroy to discuss the release of his newest novel, Burials and Other Stories, a short story collection rooted in Scotland and, in particular, Perthshire, detailing its physical beauty, its history, its people. We talk about Rob's writing process, the inspiration behind some of these short stories, similarities and differences between writing short stories and novels, and more!

Ranging from 1832 to the present day, these twenty intertwined stories offer a study of community and kinship, the need to belong and the pain of disconnection. Burials and Other Stories is, at...

In this episode, we’ve invited Ringwood author Maureen Cullen to discuss the release of her debut novel, Kitten Heels, a book about poverty, mental health, and the role of women in 1960s Scotland. We talk about Maureen's writing process, the similarities and differences between writing short stories and novels, caregiving roles, and more!

Maureen Cullen is a retired social worker living in Argyll & Bute. After thirty years’ commitment to social work, she turned to writing poetry and short fiction, completing a Master’s Degree in Creative Writing from Lancaster University in 2015 and achieving a distinction. Maureen has ha...

For the third episode of Season 4, we've invited fellow intern Skye Galloway to discuss her time working for Ringwood as a book cover designer. She talks about her role and responsibilities during the course of her internship, the skills she's learned, her favorite aspects of the job, and advice she has for aspiring book cover designers.

Check out the Ringwood Publishing website here for more information about our work and to support our authors.  

In this special AI-generated episode, Saved from the Fire author Mark Gallacher used AI to create a podcast which talks about his book. Host Madeline Wahl provides the introduction and ending, but the actual conversation of the book is generated by AI. For a human podcast episode, you can listen to S2 E8: Sci-Fi and Short Stories with Mark Gallacher here.

Who told it better: Humans...or AI?

Mark Gallacher is a Scottish writer who lives in Denmark. Runner-up Wigtown Poetry Prize 2021 and shortlisted for the Fish International Short Story Competition. His stories have published...

In this episode, we’ve invited Ringwood author Kirsten MacQuarrie to discuss the release of her debut novel, Remember the Rowan, a book inspired by the true story of Kathleen Raine and Gavin Maxwell’s ‘some-requited’ love. We talk about Kirsten's process in researching Kathleen's life and work, balancing the truth from memoirs versus the creative, the important women who have been written out of history, and more! 

Kirsten MacQuarrie is a Scottish artist and writer, whose writing has been published by New Writing Scotland, the Scottish Poetry Library, Gutter Magazine, Scottish PEN, Glasgow Women’s Library, the Federat...

For the final episode of Season 3, we've invited fellow interns Rachel Harley and Jiyuan Li to discuss their time working for Ringwood as they finish their duties and bid us farewell soon. They speak to their roles and responsibilities during the course of their internship, the skills they've learned, their favorite aspects of the job, and their plans for the future. Thank you Rachel and Jiyuan for your hard work and dedication to independent publishing and its authors, and we wish you all the best for the future!

Season 4 will return in fall, so keep an eye...

Ringwood author Tom Wood joins us this week to chat about his latest novel, The World's End Murders: The Inside Story, which details the nearly four-decade-long struggle that detectives and scientists endured to deliver justice for victims Helen Scott and Christine Eadie, who were tragically murdered in October 1977 in Edinburgh. Tom talks to us about his involvement, his thoughts on Scottish law at the time of the trials of the perpetrator, true crime as a genre, and much more.

Tom Wood was one of Scotland’s most senior and experienced police officers, an authority on serious and vi...

In this episode, we’ve invited Ringwood author R.M. Brown to discuss the release of her debut novel, Song of the Stag, a book inspired by a simple idea: What if there was a fantasy about Scottish independence? We talk about her writing journey, favorite characters and scenes, worldbuilding and magic, and more!

A proud Dundonian, Rebecca is an English and Creative Writing alumna and co-founder of the charity Folklore Scotland. Armed with an obscene number of folklore books, she and her husband strive to preserve the tales of the past for a new generation by di...

Ringwood author Rob McInroy comes back on the podcast in this episode to discuss the release of his latest novel, Moot, the third book in the award-winning Bob Kelty series of the historical crime fiction genre. He speaks on writing about his hometown of Crieff, in Perthshire, where Moot is set, the unique character of former detective Bob Kelty, the representation of the Traveller community in the novel, his future plans for the series, and more!

Moot will be launched on 26 May at Strathearn Arts at 4pm in Crieff. The event is free and all are welcome...

Ever wondered what it's like to work for an indie publishing house? We speak with interns Megan Gibson and Annika Dahlman about their many experiences working at Ringwood, as well as their current responsibilities as lead editors for two upcoming book releases, The World's End Murders: The Inside Story by Tom Wood and Song of the Stag by R. M. Brown. We discuss manuscript submissions, working with authors, publishing timelines, marketing, and so much more!

Tom Wood, author of Ruxton: The First Modern Murder, has written yet another insightful piece of true crime history. The World’s En...

In this episode we talk with L.A. Kristiansen about her upcoming release, Revenge of the Tyrants, the second book in a series on the Scottish Wars of Independence, which will be launched on Sunday, April 28th at 2pm at Hillhead Library in Glasgow! The event is free and you can grab a copy of Revenge of the Tyrants there.  

Born and bred in Glasgow, author L.A. Kristiansen discovered a passion for Scottish History through her enthusiasm for genealogy. In her research, she uncovered close family ties with many of the leaders of the wars of S...

Welcome back to the Ringwood Publishing Podcast! Season 3 is here and in this episode we are excited to have T. Y. Garner with us to discuss his debut novel, The Hotel Hokusai. Tony is a Glasgow-based writer of fiction and poetry,  and has worked as an English as a second language teacher for many years. We discuss a whole range of topics related to his gripping historical mystery novel, from writing challenges, inspiration, and major themes.

Check out Tony's website here if you'd like to learn more about him and his other writings. 

If you ha...

In a special end of year episode of the podcast, we're joined by Ringwood Co-founder and board member, Sandy Jamieson!

We'll be discussing Ringwood's highs and lows of 2023, and Sandy shares his hopes for the future of Ringwood, as well as some new year's resolutions.

Want to capitalise on our fantastic festive deals?
Head over to our website and grab yourself a book or e-book for your first read of 2024. 

Enjoying the Podcast? Follow our socials!
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Twitter: rwpubpodcast

Don't forget to stay up to date on o...

This week we're joined by award-winning short story writer and novelist, Mark Gallacher! We'll be discussing his novel Saved From the Fire, as well as his literary inspirations and top tips for story writing.
 
Liking the sound of Saved From the Fire? Grab yourself a copy here

Enjoying the Podcast? Follow our socials!
Instagram: ringwoodpublishingpodcast
Twitter: rwpubpodcast 

Don't forget to keep up with Ringwood updates! 
Instagram: ringwoodpublishing
Twitter: RingwoodPublish

On this week's episode of The Ringwood Publishing Podcast, we're joined by the lovely Laura Hunter! We'll be discussing her role as social media manager here at Ringwood, as well as her role as Communications Officer for the Society of Young Publishers and her work with Successful Women at Glasgow. 

Enjoying the Podcast? Follow our socials!

Instagram: @ringwoodpublishing 
Twitter: @RingwoodPublish
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ringwood-Publishing-120797524685069/?ref=bookmarks 

Are you a fan of historical fiction? You're in luck: this week on the Ringwood Publishing Podcast, we're joined by Rob McInroy, author of the award-winning Bob Kelty series of crime novels set in the period before WW2! Join us as we chat about why historical fiction resonates, Rob's top tips for writing, and get a sneak peek at the series' next installment, Moot, coming in 2024.

Keen to hear more from Rob? Come along to our event, Writing Historical Fiction - Forgotten Voices, in Typewronger Books at 7:30pm on November 13th.

Haven't yet caught up...

Got an appetite for tales of the most mystifying murder cases in Scotland? Then we think you'll love the  novels of Allan Nicol - and he's with us today to tell you everything you want to know. Join us while we talk to Allan about his new takes on the case of Maxwell and Sheila Garvie and how his experiences as a lawyer influence his writing. Plus, he weighs in on the ultimate question: true crime vs crime fiction?

Curious to know exactly what evidence Allan has uncovered? You can purchase Sheila Garvie: Mastermind of Victim here.

Ever thought about how cool it would be to work at an indie bookshop? As a bookseller at Typewronger Books in Edinburgh, previous Ringwood intern Namitha Iyer knows all about it, and she's here to give us a glimpse of what it's really like. What's the most surprising thing about working in a bookshop, what's the personal touch that makes Typewronger the most welcoming place to be, and what titles are Namitha's top picks? Find out in this episode of the Ringwood Publishing Podcast!

Check out Typewronger's website here, or pop in for a visit at 4a...

On this week's episode of the Ringwood Publishing Podcast, we've got some exciting news: our annual short story competition is open for entries! Hear from last year's winner-turned-judge Maureen Cullen about her fantastic short stories and what makes a winning story.

And it's not just the competition we have in store! If you've ever wanted to try your hand at a short story and aren't sure where to start,  we're hosting a short story seminar in Glasgow's Hillhead Library at 2pm on the 22nd of October, and Ringwood intern Rachel is here to tell us all about i...

This week on the Ringwood Publishing Podcast, is there a chill in the air? Perhaps a spectral presence? No, not really: the only thing giving us shivers is how excited we are for our newest title, The Bone on the Beach! Join us as we chat to Ringwood author Fiona Gillan Kerr about her debut novel, a mysterious and beautiful tale rooted in a tragic Celtic legend. Find out about Fiona's writing process, her sources of inspiration, and what else she's got in store.

Ready to step into the story of this Highland haunting? Buy your copy...

Welcome back to the Ringwood Publishing Podcast! Season 2 is here, and new hosts Matilda Eker and Jess Court are ready to deliver you more insights from the world of publishing. This week, we're delighted to welcome back host of Season 1, Rosie Watts, to share all about her experiences behind the scenes, talk about where she is now, and reveal who her dream podcast guest would be!

In this episode, we are joined by Mridula Sharma, who walks us through the life and work of late Leela Soma and discusses Ringwood-led events organised in Leela's memory at the 2023 Glasgow Mela.

Below is the full schedule:

OSCH tent
13:00-14:00: Ringwood Panel: BIPOC Writing in Scotland
16:45-17:45: Join us for the first ever Mela Open Mic Session

OSCH Workshop Tent (next to the big OSCH tent)
12:15-15:15: Ringwood workshops

Writing tent
Join us at 15:00 for a group reading of Leela Soma’s novel, Murder at the Me...

On this week's episode of the Ringwood Publishing Podcast, we're joined by the wonderful Hayley Bannon! We'll be discussing her role as audiobook production manager, the advantages of listening to books, and Ringwood's incredible partnership with Publishing Scotland that has enabled the production of our very first audiobook.

Fan of true crime? Our audiobook Ruxton will be your favourite listen of the summer. You can purchase it here.

On this week's episode of the Ringwood Publishing Podcast, we're delighted to be joined by current intern Emma Clarke! We'll be discussing her current roles at Ringwood, how remote working works for her, and her future plans to come to Scotland.

Keen to become a Ringwood intern, or know someone else who would be? You can find out more about our internship programme here.

This week on the Ringwood Publishing Podcast, we're joined by past intern Sara Roberts, now marketing executive at Penguin Random House, to talk about her experience while at Ringwood and her publishing journey after.

Curious about joining the Ringwood family and kickstarting your own career in publishing? We'd love to have you on board! You can find out more about the internship programme here.

Mental health is incredibly important, but sometimes it can be hard to open up. That's where the support of Andy's Man Club comes in. In this week's episode, find out more about the fantastic work they do as we sit down with David from the Glasgow branch to discuss the charity's origins, its ethos, and how they support men who are struggling.

If you feel that you or a loved one could benefit from Andy's Man Club, you can access their website here to find your nearest group.

Curious about the book mentioned in the...

This week on the Ringwood Publishing Podcast, we're joined by author of Ruxton Tom Wood to discuss his writing and his research into the Burke and Hare murders as we prepare for the launch of Carol Margaret Davison's novel Bodysnatcher!

Keen to immerse yourself in the world of Burke and Hare? Bodysnatcher releases on the 28th of May. You can order it pre-publication at a discounted price of £9.99 here.

Curious about Tom Wood's book Ruxton? Check it out here.