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StoryshapedSEASON FINALE: Getting Storyshaped With SF SaidIn this S2 Finale episode, we are delighted to bring you an interview with an author who, we feel, wholly embodies the Storyshaped ethos - the brilliant SF Said. SF's writing is immersive, absorbing, mind-expanding, and thrilling, crafted with care and passion; truly, the best sort of writing, which also happens to be for children (though, as SF says, 'children's literature includes children, but excludes no-one'). We're delighted to get a chance to sit down with SF, whose thoughts on the power and value of children's literature, the importance of making stories available to all children, and the profound...2023-07-131h 01StoryshapedGetting Storyshaped With Ann Sei LinWe had a fascinating chat with the amazing Ann Sei Lin this week on the podcast, where we got an insight into the stories that have been shaping her since her earliest days. Ann's fantastic debut, Rebel Skies, is an amazing story about what makes a human, all told through the fabulous surrounds of a Japanese-folklore inspired fantasy world complete with skyships, dragons, and living origami. It's a truly memorable debut and we were so pleased to get a chance to discuss it with Ann, and to find out more about the stories that helped her to become an...2023-07-0652 minStoryshapedGetting Storyshaped With Alice RossSusan had the chance to sit down with brilliant debut author Alice Ross this week, where they discussed Alice's novel The Nowhere Thief and Alice's journey to becoming an author, as well as SO MANY wonderful books and stories which shaped her into the author she is today. Alice is as big a fan of Diana Wynne Jones as we are here on the podcast, but as well as the work of the incomparable DWJ, there are loads of other fantastic stories mentioned here - each one a portal to an amazing world of story. Strap in, and join...2023-06-291h 00StoryshapedGetting Storyshaped With Ally SherrickWe had the *most* fun this week sitting down with one of the Queens of Children's Historical Fiction (that's her official title, right), Ally Sherrick! We chat all things writing and story, including how much research Ally's rich, immersive novels take; where her love of history came from; what historical period she hasn't written about (yet), and what might be coming next from her talented pen. This episode was a wonder. Ally is a generous, inspirational, fascinating and truly wonderful podcast guest, and we hope you'll enjoy listening to our chat as much as we enjoyed recording it. Now...2023-06-221h 00StoryshapedGetting Storyshaped With Alan TitleyThis week we're talking to Alan Titley - emeritus professor, scholar, author, dramaturg, teacher, folklorist, journalist, seanchaí (storyteller) - about the stories that shaped him. This discussion was fascinating; we could have listened to Alan all day! Come with us and hear him talk about his earliest days of being told stories by a pipe-smoking teacher, right up to the scholarly work that went into creating his edition of the ancient Irish battle epic. Táin Bó Cuailgne (published as 'The Táin', illustrated by Eoin Coveney, published by Little Island, 2023). Alan's Storyshaped life has a unique depth and brea...2023-06-151h 04StoryshapedGetting Storyshaped With Victoria WilliamsonSpend an hour with Sinéad and our guest, Victoria Williamson, as we take a stroll through the stories that have shaped one of the most prolific and imaginative children's authors writing today. Victoria's work ranges from emotionally charged stories for older children and young teens, right down to fantastical adventures for younger readers, never failing to enthral and captivate, and it was a pleasure to sit down with her and chat all things story. We talk about the 'hero's journey', her career as a teacher, the many far-flung places her work has brought her to, her commitment to s...2023-06-081h 00StoryshapedGetting Storyshaped With Louie StowellJoin us this week for an absolutely nerd-licious chat with the BRILLIANT Louie Stowell, whose writerly output is too great to be enumerated. She has written an abundance of non-fiction titles, created a treasure trove of tales about Kit and her friends (in the library, in the lake, and in the wood, among other spots), placed the glittering Otherland in its proper place in the pommel of her sword, and gifted us the marvellous LOKI series - truly the crowning jewel in her hoard. This was one of the most fun chats we've had on Storyshaped - you don't...2023-06-011h 04StoryshapedGetting Storyshaped With Rebecca SchillerA slightly different vibe for today's Storyshaped! We're sitting down with Rebecca Schiller - smallholder, parent, memoirist, creative writing teacher, neurodivergent person, and author, for a wonderful chat about her recent ADHD diagnosis, creativity (and permission to enter into creativity), parenthood, the art of writing a memoir, the beauty of children's literature, and how vital it is for children to feel empowered by the things they read. We also make some pit-stops along the way, where Rebecca traces the influence of some very important books, ones that shaped and affected the course of her life and career. We'd love...2023-05-251h 10StoryshapedGetting Storyshaped With Jenny McLachlanWell, this was a hoot - as you'd expect from a guest like Jenny McLachlan, author of the BRILLIANT, bestselling ROAR books, as well as Dead Good Detectives, Stink (Worst. Fairy. Ever) and a whole load more. Jenny began her writing career with amazing YA books, before graduating into equally amazing Middle Grade novels and early readers - so, she has written across the ages, and with equal aplomb in all. She's funny, her characters are memorable, her stories are equal parts heartfelt and hilarious, and this chat was exactly the same. Come with us as we get to...2023-05-181h 03StoryshapedGetting Storyshaped With Jasbinder BilanWe had great fun this week sitting down with award-winning author Jasbinder Bilan on the podcast! We discussed her formation in India and Britain, the importance of oral storytelling and family stories, and the stories that helped her to grow up to write beautiful, immersive, richly textured books which celebrate all facets of her heritage and culture. Come with us as we walk with Jasbinder through the landscapes of her life, and find out how she's Storyshaped.Books mentioned in this week's episode include Jasbinder's own:Asha and the Spirit Bird...2023-05-111h 03StoryshapedGetting Storyshaped With Leona FordeSinéad had the great privilege of sitting down with Leona Forde this week! Leona's the author of the brilliant Milly McCarthy series (Gill Books), including Milly McCarthy is a Complete Catastrophe (2023) and the forthcoming Milly McCarthy and the Irish Dancing Disaster. Leona is a teacher, a mam, and a very busy author, and we had a great chat about music, storytelling, her teaching philosophies, her writing process, and how she does it all. Settle in and let's find out together how Leona is Storyshaped!Books mentioned in this episode include Leona's own:M...2023-05-0458 minStoryshapedGetting Storyshaped With Vashti HardyThis week, we had the joy of sitting down with Vashti Hardy, author of some of our *favourite* books of all time, to discuss the stories that have shaped her life and her prolific career to date. This episode turned into a masterclass, as Vashti generously shared some of the tips, tricks and techniques that help her to create her wonderful work, and the love for books and stories just fizzes out of every word of this interview. Enjoy this wonderful, warm, and (we hope) inspiring chat with one of the most talented authors around and - if you...2023-04-271h 11StoryshapedGetting Storyshaped with H.S. NorupThis week, we're speaking with the lovely H.S. (Helle) Norup about the stories which shaped her, and it's a stroll through folklore, faerie hills, and fantastical worlds. Come with us as we talk about the differences between modern children's books and classic books from our childhoods, the intersections between languages and how one would go about translating 'lashings of ginger beer' into Danish, and a children's book so influential (and controversial) that it was discussed in parliament! Settle in, grab your hat, and get Storyshaped with us.Find Helle online:www.hsnorup...2023-04-2058 minStoryshapedGetting Storyshaped with Julie PikeThis week we're sitting down with Julie Pike, the author of the fantastical, magical, exciting (and slightly gruesome-but-great!) MG novel The Last Spell Breather (OUP, 2019). We talk stories, spaces, the landscape of Wales, the far-flung destinations that Julie has ventured to, how she once possibly helped to save a life (!), the impact of social class on authors' self-perceptions, and how important it is to show children that there are no limits to what they can achieve. Please join us as we get to know Julie and her book, and discover how Storyshaped she is.Books mentioned...2023-04-1358 minStoryshapedGetting Storyshaped With Sabine AdeyinkaFor this episode, get ready to giggle! We had so much fun talking to Sabine Adeyinka, where we discuss boarding school stories from Nigeria to the UK, the brilliance of comics, the vital importance of curiosity, and the direct inspiration Sabine can draw between the stories that shaped her as a young reader and the creative work she has gone on to make. Settle down and join us for an hour of pure bookish happiness, and find out how Sabine is Storyshaped.Books mentioned in this episode include Sabine's own:Jummy at the...2023-04-0657 minStoryshapedGetting Storyshaped With Frances HardingeThis week, we lose the run of ourselves (verrrry slightly) as we sit down with an undisputed legend - Frances Hardinge. Frances is the author of ten acclaimed and brilliant novels for young adults, the winner of the Costa Book Award (only the second children's author to do so, besides Philip Pullman), and the wearer of an assortment of extremely excellent hats. We wish to put it on record that she wore her hat throughout our conversation - as is only right and proper! Come with us as we take a walk through the absolutely amazing literary landscape that...2023-03-3053 minStoryshapedA Deep Dive into Pat O'Shea's The Hounds of the MórríganWELCOME TO SEASON 2!Storyshaped is back - and we're landing with a bang. We open Season 2 with a Deep Dive into one of the most significant books in the lives of your fearless co-hosts - Pat O'Shea's The Hounds of the Morrigan. Fifteen years in the writing, this masterpiece of Irish children's literature was utterly formative for both Susan and Sinéad, and in this episode they rejoice in the opportunity to discuss it with one another. You'll hear about natural magic, talking donkeys, triple-aspect goddesses, beleaguered Garda Sergeants, mysterious bookshops, scrying glasses, Swapping Day, and s...2023-03-231h 35StoryshapedA Deep Dive into Susan Cooper's The Dark Is RisingThis week - the final episode of Season 1, Storyshaped fans! - Susan and Sinéad are indulging themselves with a Deep Dive into one of the books that profoundly shaped both of them. We're discussing Susan Cooper's 1973 classic The Dark Is Rising, which is a book that Susan describes as being part of her soul. It's an incredible story about a boy named Will Stanton, who steps into his power as an Old One on his eleventh birthday - and it involves such a wealth of mythology, folklore, allusions to medieval texts, and other stuff that pleases our nerdy h...2022-12-221h 05StoryshapedGetting Storyshaped With Sharon GoslingWe have the splendid pleasure of speaking with Sharon Gosling this week on the podcast - yes, only the author of one of our absolute favourite books of 2022, The Extraordinary Voyage of Katy Willacott! The stories that shaped Sharon are wide-ranging and exciting, and our chat with her was fun, informative, and full of brilliant books. Come along with us as we take a walk through Sharon's Storyshaped life, and who knows? You might find she's Storyshaped in just the same way as you.Books mentioned in this episode include some of Sharon's own:2022-12-151h 00StoryshapedGetting Storyshaped With M.G. LeonardToday's guest is the BRILLIANT M.G. Leonard, author of some of the best books for young children available today. Her books have been personally inspirational to us, and M.G. herself is such a fount of inspiration, wisdom, and compassion - her insights into writing, the importance of stories, and how she used her own story to reshape her own life, is a must-listen. Come and join us, and find out how M.G. Leonard is Storyshaped.Books mentioned in this week's episode include M.G.'s own:Beetle Boy...2022-12-081h 05StoryshapedGetting Storyshaped With Efua TraoréIt's Thursday, which means we've got another wonderful Storyshaped podcast for you all! We're speaking with the incredible Efua Traoré, author of Children of the Quicksands and The House of Shells, two beautiful Middle Grade novels set in Nigeria and infused with the folklore, magic, and culture of that vibrant country. Efua takes us through her early days as an adventurer, tree-climber, go-getter and dreamer, and how stories - both in her local library and in the culture all around her - shaped her imagination and sparked her creativity. Come with us as we learn about how her first p...2022-12-0148 minStoryshapedGetting Storyshaped with Katharine and Liz CorrThis week, Susan and Sinéad are welcoming two authors for the price of one - sisters Katharine and Liz Corr are here to tell us all about their marvellous books and also the stories that shaped their lives. Come with us as we talk about the shaping power of the stories of Star Trek, the power of historical fiction and classical heroes (and anti-heroes), the wonder of Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising, and how significant are the stories we're told about our family and our history. We also discuss the importance of feisty heroines, and how much t...2022-11-2445 minStoryshapedGetting Storyshaped With Debbie ThomasThis week's guest is the wonderful Debbie Thomas! Susan and Sinéad had so much fun chatting to Debbie, who was full of wisdom and wit as we discussed the stories that shaped her - not only the stories in the books she loved, but also the stories of her family. This episode is filled with laughter and suffused with joy, the same joy that Debbie (and we at Storyshaped!) see as being vital in every child's - and every person's - life. Come with us as we meet Debbie, who not only crafts the most wonderful books, but w...2022-11-1752 minStoryshapedGetting Storyshaped With Aislinn O'LoughlinThis week we're welcoming the fantastic Aislinn O'Loughlin to the podcast, where we talk about things like: how it feels to be a published author in your teens; how having a writer for a parent helps you to deal with the inevitable rejection that comes from making writing your career (and how marvellous it is to have a creative parent to help Storyshape you as you grow up); how having a love for drama can help you to shape your own stories, and how Terry Pratchett is responsible for her marriage. Tune in and come with us on a...2022-11-1052 minStoryshapedGetting Storyshaped With Nicola ColtonIn this week's episode of Storyshaped, come hunting for the Sweet Tree with Nicola Colton...Nicola is an Irish author and illustrator living in Bristol, but in this episode she shares some of the sheer magic of her childhood, where stories weren't confined to the pages of the books she read but instead seemed to come to life all around her. From finding a Banshee's comb to imagining storms in teacups, Nicola's life has been suffused with, and shaped by, stories from her earliest days. Listen in, and be swept away!Find Nicola...2022-11-0359 minStoryshapedGetting Storyshaped With Louise O'NeillDISCLAIMER/CONTENT WARNING: This episode of Storyshaped includes some discussion of adult themes and topics, including eating disorders, and may be best avoided by very young listeners and/or those for whom these topics may be triggering or upsetting. If this is you - catch you next week!This week's Storyshaped delves into the bookish life of acclaimed and bestselling author Louise O'Neill, who has written for young adults and older adults over the course of her decade-long career as a novelist and journalist. Join us as we discuss the books that shaped Louise into the...2022-10-2753 minStoryshapedGetting Storyshaped with Sam ThompsonIt's not every day you get to talk to an author who's been longlisted for the Man Booker Prize, but today Susan and Sinéad get to do just that! We're welcoming Sam Thompson to the podcast, and we couldn't be happier about it. Sam's the author of the brilliant children's novels Wolfstongue and The Fox's Tower, but his first novel (Communion Town) was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize back in 2012. We talk shamanic spaces, the nature of deep time (especially as expressed in books), building roots into the unknown, the plays of Shakespeare, and the power of a...2022-10-2050 minStoryshapedBONUS EPISODE! Celebrating Irish Book Week - an Interview With Sinéad O'HartDon't say we never spoil you! Sit back and enjoy this BONUS Storyshaped Podcast episode, recorded to celebrate Irish Book Week, which is running from October 15th to October 22nd, 2022. Susan gives Sinéad a good old-fashioned grilling about her books, her writing life, how she came to have a writing career in the first place, and gets ALLLL the tips on how to become - and how to stay - a published author. Perfect listening for those who like books, and books by Irish authors in particular.Tune in again on Thursday for our regular s...2022-10-171h 14StoryshapedGetting Storyshaped With Nicola PenfoldWhat a treat we have for you all this week, Storyshaped fans! This week, we're talking to Nicola Penfold, the brilliant author of Where the World Turns Wild, Between Sea and Sky, and Beyond the Frozen Horizon. All Nicola's books have a huge emphasis on the natural world and the place of humans within it, and the interplay between the ecology surrounding us and the emotional landscape within. Her books have an ultimately hopeful message, empowering readers young and old with the power and beauty of the natural world all around us - and as well as that, they're...2022-10-1354 min
StoryshapedGetting Storyshaped With ER MurrayThis week, Susan and Sinéad welcome the fantastic ER (Elizabeth) Murray to the podcast, for a freewheeling and wide-ranging discussion about how books not only shape lives, but also save lives. Elizabeth shares the books that gave her solace and shelter as a young reader, the stories which shape her reading now - including her interest in reading beyond her own cultural sphere, with the aim of enriching her writerly craft - and the first book where, she says, voices and experiences like hers were reflected on the page. Come and join us for this fantastic episode of S...2022-10-061h 01
StoryshapedGetting Storyshaped With Helenka StacheraThis week's episode sees Sinéad having a fantastically wide-ranging discussion with the brilliant Helenka Stachera, author of The Ice Whisperers and Fin and the Memory Curse. Helenka's books draw on many of the stories she grew up with, and had told to her as a young girl - and having grown up in a fairytale-like yellow brick house in the woods, she has always had a fascination with traditional folktales, which have had a definite impact on her life and work. Come with us as we delve into the rich tapestry of Helenka's Storyshaped life!Y...2022-09-2947 min
StoryshapedGetting Storyshaped with Sadhbh DevlinToday's podcast is a wonderful chat with the bilingual author Sadhbh Devlin, whose Irish-language picturebooks have established her as a leading light on the Irish kidlit scene. We get to know a bit more about the stories that shaped Sadhbh, including a book which is one of Susan and Sinéad's all time favourites, and we get to imagine how cool it would be to have a dad like Sadhbh's, who had a tab at his local bookshop! Come with us as we wander through Sadhbh's bookish life, and pick up a gem or two along the way.2022-09-2247 min
StoryshapedGetting Storyshaped with Paul CoomeyThis week, we welcome Paul Coomey to the podcast! He's an author/illustrator, originally from Cork (like our very own Susan) and now living in the UK with his wife, the artist Tanvi Kant. We had such fun discussing books, stories, art, illustration, survival in the wild (!), libraries, castles, and the joy of learning to read. Come and join us as we Get Storyshaped. Books mentioned in this episode include Paul's own - Stickboy and Stickboy: Rise of the Robots (Little Tiger Press)Paul's website: www.stickboy.tvFollow him on...2022-09-1542 min
StoryshapedGetting Storyshaped With Eve McDonnellOur special guest on Storyshaped today is children's author and artist Eve McDonnell!Eve has written the exquisite Elsetime (published by Everything With Words in 2020), and her second novel The Chestnut Roaster is coming on October 27th, 2022, also from Everything With Words. She is an artist and graphic designer, a mum of twins, and an experienced workshop facilitator - as well as a Wonderlarker, a word of her own coining, which means she tries to see the Wonder in everything... Sounds like perfect Storyshaped material!Eve talks about the stories - and the...2022-09-0852 min
StoryshapedGetting Storyshaped With Olivia HopeWe're delighted to welcome our very first guest to Storyshaped! Today, we're talking to Olivia Hope, author of the brilliant picturebook Be Wild, Little One (published by Bloomsbury, 2022; illustrated by Daniel Egnéus). Listen in, and discover the books that made Olivia the person and writer she is today, the stories that shaped her, and the stories she has shaped. Learn about her work, her upcoming projects, and the picturebook she thinks is the best ever.Olivia's website: https://www.darleyandersonchildrens.com/authors/olivia-hopeBloomsbury's Be Wild, Little One page: https://www.bloomsbury.c...2022-09-0131 min
StoryshapedMinipod: Head-to-Head Book BattleIt's a minipod! Susan and Sinéad are sort of on holiday this week, so this wee podcast is designed to keep you ticking over until we're back again with a VERY SPECIAL GUEST EPISODE next week. Today we're comparing and contrasting the books we're currently reading and loving, going head-to-head with them to see which one comes out on top... Who will it be? Tune in and find out!The books we're talking about today are Juno Dawson's HER MAJESTY'S SECRET COVEN and Sharon Gosling's THE EXTRAORDINARY VOYAGE OF KATY WILLACOTT. Both these books should b...2022-08-2520 min
StoryshapedA Deep Dive into Catherine Storr's Marianne DreamsIn this episode, Susan and Sinéad revisit a book which haunted both their childhoods - Catherine Storr's 1958 fantasy classic Marianne Dreams. We get deep inside the symbolism of this brilliant little book, discussing the nature of dreams and fantasy and how stories contain universes. Come with us as we watch Marianne and Mark battle their way past the Watchers... Sit with us on the grass as we ask ourselves what the enigmatic ending of this book is really trying to say... And try not to laugh at Sinéad's visceral terror reactions to the Terrible Awful Very Scary Th...2022-08-181h 15
StoryshapedA Deep Dive into Diana Wynne Jones' Charmed LifeIn this episode, Susan and Sinéad do a deep dive into one of Susan's 'soul book's - Diana Wynne Jones' classic Charmed Life. Come with us as we discuss the issues of power and responsibility the novel deals with, as well as a very serious scholarly debate about who is more of a 'peacock' - Chrestomanci or Wizard Howl - and an appreciation for Gwendolen Chant, the most unapologetically evil character in children's literature. We discuss the idea of multiple worlds and the mechanics of travelling between them, and how important it is for Cat, the book's protagonist, t...2022-08-111h 07
StoryshapedA Deep Dive into Alan Garner's ElidorOn this inaugural episode, join your hosts Susan Cahill and Sinéad O'Hart as they discuss Alan Garner's 1965 novel Elidor, a book which has meant a great deal to them both - and which has definitely 'Storyshaped' both of their lives. Get comfy, and get ready for chats, laughter, and lots of Storyshaped goodness. Enjoy!To buy the books mentioned in this episode see our Irish and UK bookshop info below:Our Irish bookshop partner is Halfway Up the Stairs bookshop in Wicklow: www.halfwayupthestairs.ieIn the UK, check o...2022-08-041h 20
StoryshapedThe Story Behind StoryshapedWelcome to Storyshaped, the pocast all about the power of stories to shape lives and change the world. Come with us on our journey into the magic of words and pictures with a variety of brilliant bookish guests! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2022-07-2801 min