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

S05 E04 Cliffordene Norton

Cliffordene Norton is the celebrated author of young adult novels and short stories in Afrikaans, and has a new title coming out in 2025. Cliffordene joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about why Afrikaans readers show up so consistently for their writers. She shares the secrets behind writing…
14 Apr 1 hr 22 min

S05 E03 Terry-Ann Adams

Terry-Ann Adams is the award-winning author of the novel THOSE WHO LIVE IN CAGES and the short story collection WHITE CHALK. Terry-Ann joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about what it is like to embark upon an MA in Creative Writing after you have already been published and…
7 Apr 53 min

S05 E02 Penny Haw

Penny Haw is the highly successful author of several works of historical fiction. Her latest novel FOLLOW ME TO AFRICA is hitting bestseller lists all over South Africa right now. Penny joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about her early forays into children's fiction, thrillers, and now historical…
31 Mar 1 hr 12 min

S05 E01 Shameez Patel

Shameez Patel Papathanasiou is taking her writing in a new direction. The author of the Selene Trilogy of fantasy novels, has gone back to her one true love - contemporary romance. Shameez joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about what inspired this pivot and how much fun she…
24 Mar 1 hr 03 min

S04 E11 John van der Ruit

Spud is back! John van der Ruit is the record-smashing, best-selling author of the SPUD series of books, as well as an actor and playwright. John joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about what it was like finding the voice of an older Spud after all these years…
18 Nov 2024 1 hr 03 min