49. Rachael Blok in Milton’s Cottage (part 1): How Paradise Lost inspired her book The Fall

49. Rachael Blok (part 1) joins We'd Like A Word hosts Paul Waters & Stevyn Colgan, & a live audience inside the historic & beautiful Milton's Cottage in Chalfont St Giles, where John Milton wrote (or dictated) the epic poem, Paradise Lost. We're inside this little living museum because Rachael's new book, The Fall, is inspired by Paradise Lost. It begins - small spoiler alert - with someone plummeting from a great height - from the top of St Alban's Cathedral. So we talk about Satan, heaven & hell, the very rough deal for women in Paradise Lost & Milton's influence more generally. But we also talk about how Rachael writes her books - this is the fourth in her DCI Maartin Jansen series. Her method is different from everyone else we've had on We'd Like A Word so far, & it's worth considering if you're an author yourself. We also hear a shocking revelation about the series, about what's coming next from Rachael, where she gets her inspiration, & how accurate police procedurals have to be. Happily, Paul & Steve are not having to come up with all the questions themselves - the live audience, many of whom are from the Chesham Bois book group near Amersham, have lots to contribute.

The next episode of We'd Like A Word will feature Will Carver as part of the Chalfont St Giles and Jordans Literary Festival - tickets are available via the festival website or Milton's Cottage Museum (via Eventbrite). The recording in front of an audience will take place inside Milton's Cottage. Will is the author of Hinton Hollow Death Trip, The Beresford, Psychopaths Anonymous & also disturbing & compelling thrillers. We'll be talking about The Nature of Evil. You should join us in person (or listen later via your podcast platform).

We'd Like A Word is a podcast & radio show from authors Paul Waters & Stevyn Colgan. We talk with writers, readers, editors, agents, celebrities, talkers, poets, publishers, booksellers, audiobook creators about books - fiction & non-fiction. We go out on various radio & podcast platforms. Our website is http://www.wedlikeaword.com for information on Paul & Steve & our guests. We're also on Twitter @wedlikeaword & Facebook @wedlikeaword & our email is wedlikeaword@gmail.com Yes, we are embarrassed by the missing apostrophes. We like to hear from you - questions, thoughts, ideas, guest or book suggestions. Perhaps you'd like to come on We'd Like A Word to chat, review or read out passages from books. And if you're still stuck for something to read, may we recommend Blackwatertown by Paul Waters or Cockerings, the new comic classic by Stevyn Colgan.