The Joined Up Writing Podcast

From Rejection to Sunday Times Bestseller – Lesley Kara on Craft and Persistence

This week on The Write Place Podcast, I’m joined by bestselling psychological thriller author Lesley Kara, whose debut novel The Rumour became a Sunday Times bestseller and was later adapted for television.We talk about her latest novel, Troublemaker, a tense psychological thriller set in Tunbridge Wells, and explore how grief, vulnerability and doubt shape both her characters and her storytelling.Lesley shares:The real-life influences behind TroublemakerWhy short chapters matter in suspense fictionWhat it was really like seeing The Rumour adapted for TVThe business realities of commercial publishingWriting her debut at 55 and why it’s never too lateHow social media became a creative outlet rather than a choreIt’s a practical, honest conversation about craft, resilience and staying visible in a competitive market.About Lesley KaraLesley Kara is the Sunday Times bestselling author of multiple psychological thrillers including The Rumour, Who Did You Tell?, The Other Tenant and her latest novel Troublemaker.Her debut, The Rumour, was a breakout success and has since been adapted for television. Lesley lives in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, and began her publishing career in her mid-fifties after years of writing and perseverance.Topics CoveredWriting lean prose in psychological suspenseStructuring novels using three-act structureManaging pressure after a commercial breakthroughAdapting novels for screenBalancing creativity with the business of publishingBuilding community and reach through InstagramLate-start writing careersLinks🌐 Lesley Kara Website: https://www.lesleykara.com 📸 Instagram: @lesleykarawriter 📖 Troublemaker – Available now in bookshops and onlineIf You Enjoyed This EpisodeSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsLeave a rating and reviewShare the episode with a fellow writerWork With MeIf you’re writing your own novel and want professional support with structure, editing or publishing, take a look at my self-publishing packages and mentoring options:👉 https://wkwproductions.co.uk/selfpublishing

How Dan Howarth Writes Every Day and Why Comfort Is the Enemy

In this episode of The Write Place Podcast, I’m joined by Dan Howarth, returning for his third appearance on the show.We talk about Lionhearts, a brutal, timely novel that sits somewhere between social realism and psychological horror. Dan discusses the real-world event that sparked the story, why he chose to write from inside the head of an angry, dispossessed protagonist, and the risks of tackling themes like online radicalisation, nationalism and moral compromise in fiction.We also dig into Dan’s writing discipline, why he writes every weekday without fail, the value of routine over motivation, and how indie publishing has given him the freedom to follow darker, stranger ideas without compromise.This is a frank, thoughtful conversation about responsibility in storytelling, creative discomfort, and what it really means to keep going as a writer.Topics CoveredThe real incident that inspired LionheartsWriting every day vs waiting for inspirationWhy Dan values freedom over validation in publishingIndie publishing, creative control and long-term thinkingKnowing when a book is finished and when it is notDan Howarth is a fiction writer from the North of England, known for dark, unsettling stories that sit at the edges of horror, crime and social realism.He is the author of several novels and novellas, including Lionhearts, Last Night of Freedom, and Territory, as well as numerous short stories published in magazines and anthologies. His work often explores anger, masculinity, isolation and the quieter horrors of everyday life.Dan has been shortlisted for multiple writing awards, including the Northern Writers’ Awards, and his fiction has been published by both independent presses and as self-published work. He is also the editor of the Dark Missives anthology series.Alongside fiction, Dan writes candidly about the realities of the writing life on his Substack, Hard-Earned Writing Lessons, where he shares practical, no-nonsense reflections on discipline, doubt and persistence.Books MentionedLionheartsLast Night of FreedomTerritoryFind Dan OnlineSubstack: Hard-Earned Lessons in WritingInstagram / X / Bluesky: @danhowarth20About the PodcastThe Write Place Podcast features honest, long-form conversations with writers about craft, persistence and the realities of building a writing life.If you’re working on a book and want practical help getting it finished, published or back on track, you can find details of my writing courses, mentoring and self-publishing services at:👉 wkwproductions.co.ukSubscribe and SupportSubscribe wherever you get your podcasts and, if you enjoy the show, a short rating or review really helps other writers find it.

Secrets, Structure and Starting Again with Lulu Taylor

In this episode of The Write Place Podcast I chat with bestselling author Lulu Taylor about her new novel A Legacy of Secrets, her long career in commercial fiction and why she loves writing sweeping, gothic-tinged family sagas. We dig into the craft behind dual timelines, the challenges of discovery writing and how her background as a fiction editor shaped the way she approaches story structure and character.Lulu also talks candidly about creative setbacks, including a difficult fallout with a friend early in her career and a period during COVID when she was unable to write at all. She explains how she rebuilt her confidence, found new emotional truth in her work and learned to trust her process again.We cover early writing memories, the influence of classic gothic novels, the pitfalls of overthinking your first draft and why finishing the story is still the most important thing a writer can do.Lulu Taylor is a bestselling author known for her sweeping, gothic-tinged family sagas filled with secrets, relationships and atmospheric big houses. Over a writing career spanning twenty years, she has published multiple novels and developed a strong following for her dual-timeline stories set across past and present. Lulu previously worked as a fiction editor and book doctor, experience that continues to influence her approach to character, structure and storytelling. She lives in Dorset, where she has recently completed her latest novel and is preparing for the release of A Legacy of Secrets on 4 December 2025.Find out more about Lulu on Instagram at @misslulutaylor.For self-publishing support, visit wkwproductions.co.uk/selfpublishing.

From BookTok to Bestseller: Rebecca Thorne’s Journey and the Making of This Gilded Abyss

This week I’m joined by bestselling fantasy author and BookTok favourite, Rebecca Thorne, to talk about her newly republished novel This Gilded Abyss. We get into the origins of the book, how she built its eerie underwater world, and why she wanted to step away from cosy fantasy and write something darker and more intense. Rebecca also speaks honestly about her path from eight years of traditional rejection to rapid indie success, and what it has been like navigating both sides of the industry.We dig into her fast drafting process, her love of editing, and how she manages the pressure of a growing readership while staying focused on the work. As always, you will hear The Book That Saved Your Life and Their Darkest Hour, with Rebecca sharing the very real turning points that shaped her writing career.In the EpisodeHow This Gilded Abyss began life as an indie releaseBioShock, art deco cities and world building with history as a guideThe appeal of writing darker stories after cosy fantasyHer eight year struggle in trad publishingThe sudden rise of Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea and documenting the indie processWhy she still feels the pull of indie freedomWriting routines, drafting speed and learning to switch between projectsThe Book That Saved Your Life: Legends and LattesTheir Darkest Hour: reassessing her publishing pathWhat’s next, including her cosy sci-fi, Mossed in SpaceAbout Rebecca ThorneRebecca Thorne is an American fantasy author known for her character-driven novels and strong online presence. Her books include Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea, A Pirate’s Life for Tea and her latest release, This Gilded Abyss, now out from Tor. She lives in Colorado and shares regular updates on Instagram and TikTok.Find Rebecca Onlinerebeccathorne.netInstagram: @rebeccathornewrites

Sound Advice: Life Lessons from 80s Pop with Alan Green

Join The Momentum Circle writing community - applications close on Sept 30th!CLINK THE LINK FOR MORE INFOHi, I’m Wayne Kelly, a writer, podcast host and coach. I love to help writers develop their skills and get their books and stories out into the world.In this episode I’m joined by Alan Green, debut author of Sound Advice, a fascinating book that digs into the hidden life lessons of 1980s pop music. Alan shares how redundancy after nearly three decades at a law firm sparked a complete life reset and gave him the time to explore his idea. We talk about the joys of music as a catalyst for change, the conservatism of traditional publishing, and the creative routines that transformed his Mondays from something to dread into his favourite day of the week.Alan also opens up about keeping himself out of the book so readers could focus on their own lives, the tricky business of copyright and song lyrics, and how rejection letters ultimately helped him find the perfect publishing home at Salt.As always, we cover our regular segments including The Book That Saved Your Life, where Alan highlights Carl Sagan’s Cosmos, Merlin Sheldrake’s Entangled Life, and his admiration for Bill Bryson’s writing.Whether you’re a music lover, a writer, or someone in need of a little sound advice of your own, this is a really inspiring conversation.Episode HighlightsUsing 80s pop as a prism for universal themes like love, work, ageing and worryWhy Alan deliberately left himself out of the bookHow originality can be a tough pitch in publishingThe power of small daily habits in building a creative lifeAlan’s book choices in The Book That Saved Your LifeWayne Kelly offers self-publishing packages and mentoring for writers at wkwproductions.co.uk/selfpublishing.