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

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

S07 E08 Nadia Davids

Nadia Davids is an award-winning playwright, novelist, and short story writer. She won the Caine Prize in 2024 for her short story 'Bridling'. Her latest novel CAPE FEVER has been released to great acclaim, published by Simon & Schuster. Nadia joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about how…
11 May 1 hr 01 min

S07 E07 Damon Galgut

Damon Galgut is one of South Africa's most distinguished writers. He won the Booker Prize in 2021 for The Promise, which was his third novel to be shortlisted for the award. Damon joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about how writing seems to become more difficult as the…
4 May 1 hr 14 min

S07 E06 Marguerite Poland

Marguerite Poland is one of South Africa's most decorated authors, having won the Percy Fitzpatrick Award numerous times, as well as the Order of Ikamang for lifetime achievement. Her career spans many decades and includes books for children, works of non-fiction, and several critically acclaimed novels for adults. Marguerite joins…
27 Apr 1 hr 12 min