S01 E01 Angela Makholwa

Loading player...
Fiona and Gail are joined by the brilliant and hilarious Angela Makholwa, author of Critical, But Stable, The Blessed Girl, Black Widow Society, and more. Angela tells us about her close encounters with serial killer Moses Sithole and how she needed a break from the darkness after Red Ink came out. Fiona and Angela talk about how turning thirty hits differently when you're a woman, and Gail asks Angela to describe her writing process (hint: it involves luxury hotels and tow-thousand word days).

Angela spills the beans on what changes she had to make to The Blessed Girl when it was published in the UK, and what it was like to be shortlisted for a major comedy award. The ladies talk about Bontle as a strong character in charge of her own destiny but agree that they wouldn't want their daughters going down the blessed girl route.

Angela gives some delicious details about her upcoming book. It's going to be a thriller and not to be missed!

Fiona tells Gail about her favourite time of the day to get writing done and Gail suggests ways of not getting distracted by social media. They discuss the awesome new midlife podcast The Shift with Sam Baker and why Fiona was epically unimpressed with Hugh Grant in the romantic comedy Two Weeks' Notice.

Angela tells us why she finds Bill Bryson's The Body so helpful as a writer, and recommends Save the Cat by Blake Snyder to Gail.

Fiona and Gail would love to hear from you. Join the conversation on socials!
29 May 2023 English South Africa Books · Arts

Other recent episodes

S08 E06 Máire Fisher

Máire Fisher is the author of Birdseye and The Enumerations, both currently republished internationally by Catalyst Press. Her work has been described as 'masterful' and 'unputdownable'. Máire joins Fiona and Gail to talk about writing the sequel to Birdseye, and dabbling in Regency Romance writing. She talks about how she…
12 Oct 1 hr 11 min

S08 E05 Mpho Boshego

Mpho Boshego served as a South African diplomat in Belgium from 2007 to 2011. Her novel DIPLOMATIC TIES is inspired by her experiences. A striking debut, her book has been described as ‘a captivating story' that ‘captures the realness of a South African township life'. Mpho joins Fiona and Gail…
5 Oct 1 hr 09 min

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