S01 E05 Pamela Power

Loading player...
Pamela Power is a television scriptwriter and script editor currently working on several South African TV shows. She is the author or co-author of four well-received novels and the sober-curious memoir My Year of Not Getting Sh*tfaced.

Pam joins fellow authors Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about how she got her start in television and what the path might look like for a young person who wanted to pursue a career in writing for the small screen.

Fiona tells Pam that she has never forgotten a masterclass she once gave on using cliffhangers to build tension in one's writing and how soap operas have a lot to teach us as writers.

Gail coaxes Pam to describe the process of a busy script editor working on several projects at once and how one has to become an expert in troubleshooting.

Pam and Gail reminisce about their time as co-authors of the novel Chasing Marian.
Pam describes the experiences that led her to write her sober-curious memoir.

Gail talks us through her experiments with large language model AIs after interviewing Gus Silber.
Fiona recommends White Lotus as an excellent example of storytelling, and Gail tells us about putting on her big-girl panties to read Celeste Ng.

Fiona and Gail would love to hear from you. Join the conversation on our socials.
26 Jun 2023 English South Africa Books · Arts

Other recent episodes

S05 E10 John Boyne

John Boyne is the internationally bestselling author of THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS as well as 18 books for adults. This includes the ELEMENTS quartet, the final novella of which - FIRE - has recently been released. John joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about how he…
26 May 1 hour

S05 E09 Takalani M

Takalani M is the author of the bestselling The Royal Mistress series, the After Dawn series, and the standalone novel A BURNING DESIRE. She has created a publishing and distribution powerhouse that dominates the romance sphere. Takalani joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about how she got her…
19 May 1 hr 15 min

S05 E08 Paige Nick

Paige Nick is the author of multiple novels and a collection of humorous columns. Her latest novel BOOK PEOPLE has already gone into reprint. Paige is also the founder of the Good Book Appreciation Society on Facebook. Paige joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about how humour is…
12 May 1 hr 12 min

S05 E07 Khaya Dlanga

Khaya Dlanga is an author, speaker, opinionista, and all-round South African celebrity. His latest collection of essays LIFE IS LIKE THAT SOMETIMES is available from Pan Macmillan right now. Khaya joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about how he is preparing for his upcoming talk on the main…
5 May 1 hr 17 min

S05 E06 Joanne Fedler

Joanne Fedler is the celebrated and beloved author of such bestsellers as Secret Mothers' Business, Unbecoming, Love in the Time of Contempt, and When Hungry, Eat. Fans are thrilled to have a new Joanne Fedler novel to enjoy - The Whale's Last Song. Joanne joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel…
28 Apr 1 hr 14 min