Storyshaped

Getting Storyshaped with Paddy Donnelly

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 01:00:00 GMT

We finally managed to get a chance to chat to Paddy Donnelly, and we're thrilled about it! Paddy's been on our 'MUST HAVE' guest-list since the podcast started, and we've never managed to nab him... until now. Tune in as we talk through his incredible body of work, his unconventional approach to getting his start in the publishing industry, his brilliant life advice, and his insights into his own work. It was a warm and wonderful chat, which we're delighted to share with you. Are you ready to Get Storyshaped?

Books mentioned in this week's episode include Paddy's own:

Dodos Are Not Extinct

HOM

The Vanishing Lake

The Golden Hare

Fox and Son Tailers

Badger Books

Míp

Scunc agus Smúirín...

And many more! Check out Paddy's website, lefft.com, for full listings

And the stories which shaped him include:

Full Moon Soup, by Alastair Graham

Full Moon Afloat, by Alastair Graham

Dinosaurs! Magazine

Palaeoart: Visions of the Prehistoric Past, by Zoe Lescase and Walton Ford, pub. Taschen Books

Watership Down, by Richard Adams

The Animals of Farthing Wood, by Colin Dann

Run With the Wind, by Tom McCaughren

Run Swift, Run Free, by Tom McCaughren

Run to Earth, by Tom McCaughren

Dodos are Forever, by Dick King-Smith

Irish Birds (encyclopedia)

Don't Trust Fish, by Neil Sharpson and Dan Santat

Sleep Tight, Disgusting Blob, by Huw Aaron

The Circles in the Sky, by Karl James Mountford

Island, by Mark Janssen

Felix and the Future Agency, by Rachel Morrisroe

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie. You might also like to check out www.kennys.ie for free shipping within the Republic of Ireland!

In the UK, check out our storefront on: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclaimer: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops.

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Getting Storyshaped with Alison King

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 02:00:00 GMT

Today's episode is a special World Book Day celebratory release, where we had the JOY of chatting to school librarian, CILIP Judge and Chair-Elect, and general wonder-worker Alison King. Alison is a librarian in a school in Wales, and her passion for her job - and her abiding love of books and stories - comes through so strongly in everything she does (this interview being no exception). Come with us as we learn about the books and stories which helped shape Alison into the wonderful story-advocate she is today - and learn, along with us, all about the National Year of Reading, and how you can get involved!

#GoAllIn!

Happy World Book Day, Storyshapers!

Books mentioned in this week's episode include:

The 'Story a Day' books - a story for every day of the year

Storyteller magazine and cassettes: the mp3s of the stories can be found here

Josie Smith at the Seaside, by Magdalen Nabb and illustrated by Pirkko Vainio

The Animals of Farthing Wood, by Colin Dann

Animal Ark, by Lucy Daniels

The Enchanted Wood, by Enid Blyton

The Magic Faraway Tree, by Enid Blyton

The Baby-Sitters' Club, by Ann M. Martin

The Last Zookeeper, by Aaron Becker

Drama, by Raina Telgemaier

Heartstopper, by Alice Oseman

Glasgow Boys, by Margaret McDonald

Run Rebel, by Manjeet Mann

Look Both Ways, by Jason Reynolds

The work of Laura Bates

The work of Holly Bourne

The Blue Book of Nebo, by Manon Steffan Ros

Lark, by Anthony McGowan

Tales from the Inner City, by Shaun Tan

Small in the City, by Sydney Smith

Howard's End is on the Landing, by Susan Hill

The Remains of the Day, by Kazuo Ishiguro

Little Women, by Louisa M. Alcott

Blue Sisters, by Coco Mellors

Hello Beautiful, by Ann Napolitano

The Places I've Cried in Public, by Holly Bourne

Gone for Good, by Sarah Crossan

Shorelines, by Ruth Ennis

Magical Boy, by Kao

Pumpkinheads, by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks

Why Did My Brain Make Me Say It? by Sarah Ziman

Letters from the Upside, by Katya Balen

Sirens, by Emilia Hart

Introducing Mrs Collins, by Rachel Parris

A Million Tiny Missiles, by Lucas Maxwell

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Getting Storyshaped With Fleur Hitchcock

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 01:00:00 GMT

This week, we got to speak to the Queen of Crime herself, Fleur Hitchcock! Fleur shared some of her brilliant tips and tricks to writing her novels, as well as letting us in on a secret or two (hint: you might be surprised by the authors she's never read!) We discuss setting, Scandi noir vs. 'cosy' crime, the vital importance of pony books, and a wonderful connection to the great Nina Bawden. Get your crime-solving hats on, and join in the fun!

Find Fleur online at her agent's website: The Shaw Agency

Stories mentioned this week include some of Fleur's own:

Shrunk!

Dear Scarlett

Murder at Wintertide

Murder at Snowfall

... and many more

And the stories which shaped her include:

The work of Malcolm Saville

The Silver Sword, by Ian Seraillier

Richard Scarry's Storybook Dictionary

Ant and Bee, by Angela Banner, illustrated by Bryan Ward

Andy Pandy - originally a BBC television show; later a comic strip in Robin magazine

The Batman comics/character, created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane

The Superman comics/character, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster

The Green Lantern comics/character, created by Bill Finger and Martin Nodell

The Justice League comics/characters, originally conceived by Sheldon Mayer and Gardner Fox

Tintin: Explorers on the Moon, by Hergé

Asterix, created by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo

Tammy, and June - comics originally published by Fleetway between 1971 and 1984

Bunty - comic originally published by DC Thompson and Co between 1958 and 2001

James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Michel Simeon (1967)

The Otterbury Incident, by Cecil Day-Lewis, illustrated by Edward Ardizzone

Nightbirds on Nantucket, by Joan Aiken

Black Hearts in Battersea, by Joan Aiken

The work of Josephine, Christine, and Diane Pullein-Thompson

National Velvet, by Enid Bagnold, illustrated by Lauriane Jones

The Manual of Horsemanship, and Keeping a Pony at Grass, published by the British Pony Society

The Ponies of Bunts, by Marjorie Mary Oliver

The work of Dick Francis

Flambards, by KM Peyton

Black Beauty, by Anna Sewell

The work of Henry Treece

Eagle of the Ninth, by Rosemary Sutcliffe

Boys' Own books belonging to Fleur's uncles

The work of Nina Bawden

The work of Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, James Elroy, Louis L'Amour , James Herbert, Stephen King, Rachel Ward, Belinda Bauer

A Wizard of Earthsea, by Ursula le Guin

The Dark is Rising, by Susan Cooper

The Kelpie's Pearls, by Mollie Hunter, illustrated by Charles Keeping

Stig of the Dump, by Clive King, illustrated by Edward Ardizzone

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie. You might also like to check out www.kennys.ie for free shipping within the Republic of Ireland!

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Getting Storyshaped with Sarah Webb

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 01:00:00 GMT

We finally managed to sit down with Sarah Webb, the Queen of Irish Kidlit, on today's episode. Join us for a fun stroll through the ups and downs of her Storyshaped life, from her early days of working in bookselling to the achievements she would go on to claim - a multiply-published, award-winning, best-selling author of fiction and non-fiction for children and adults, as well as an event programmer, an Events Manager, and - full circle! - back to bookselling in the wonderful surrounds of Halfway Up the Stairs specialist children's bookshop in Wicklow.

Find Sarah online at her website: www.sarahwebb.info

Books mentioned in today's episode include Sarah's own:

The Weather Girls

The Little Bee Charmer of Henrietta Street

The Amy Green Series

And the stories which have shaped her include:

When We Were Very Young, by AA Milne

Now We Are Six, by AA Milne

Richard Scarry's Busy Busy World

Green Eggs and Ham, by Dr Seuss

The Elephant and the Bad Baby, by Raymond Briggs and Elfrida Vipont

Looking and Doing, by Leo Hallisey and Donal Byrne

Tiger Flower, by Robert Vavra

ROSC Art Exhibition Catalogues

Bunty, Mandy, and Twinkle - annuals, and weekly comics

Disney Play-Along Records, including Peter Pan, the Jungle Book, Cinderella, and Pinocchio

National Geographic and Readers' Digest magazine

Heidi, by Johanna Spyri

Ballet Shoes, by Noel Streatfeild

The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, by CS Lewis

The work of Eilís Dillon

Gulliver's Travels, by Jonathan Swift

Favourite Greek Myths, by LS Hyde

The work of Sinéad de Valera

The Second-Best Children in the World, by Mary Lavin, ill. Edward Ardizzone

The Flight of the Earls, by Walter Macken

The Bookshop on the Quay, by Patricia Lynch

Are You There, God... by Judy Blume

The Great Gatsby, by F Scott Fitzgerald

New Patches for Old, by Christabel Mattingsley

The Lottie Brooks series, by Kate Kirby

The work of Margaret Atwood, Kate Chopin, Marge Piercy, Patricia Scanlan, Marian Keyes

Babies Need Books, by Dorothy Butler, ill. Shirley Hughes

Owl Babies, by Martin Waddell and Patrick Benson

Alfie, by Shirley Hughes (series)

A Wizard of Earthsea, by Ursula leGuin

The work of Susan Cooper

The Harry Potter books

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, by John Boyne

Tyger, by SF Said

The work of Frances Hardinge

Catfish Rolling, by Clara Kumagai

Summer Sisters, by Judy Blume

The Dutch House, by Ann Patchett

Writers and Lovers, by Lily King

Heartburn, by Nora Ephron

Harriet the Spy, by Louise Fitzhugh

Calvin and Hobbes, by Bill Watterson

The Far Side, by Gary Larson

Maus, by Art Spiegelman

Love and Rockets, by the Hernandez Brothers

Smile, Guts, and Ghosts, all by Raina Telgemaier

The Drama Club, and the Cartoonists' Club, by Telgemaier and Scott McCloud

Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, graphic novel adaptation by Amy de Jongh

Mexi-Kid, by Pedro Martin

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie. You might also like to check out www.kennys.ie for free shipping within the Republic of Ireland!

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Getting Storyshaped With Gráinne O'Brien

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Gráinne O'Brien is no stranger to anyone on the Irish book scene! A bookseller, a creative writing coach, and a published author, she released her debut YA novel in April 2025 to instant acclaim. We were delighted that she made time in a very busy day - with thanks to The Campus Bookshop in UCD, Sinéad's old workplace, for giving her somewhere to set up her computer so she could talk to us! - and we had a brilliant natter about stories, books, and the importance of listening to the voices in your head. (If you know, you know!)

Find Gráinne online HERE

Find Rontu, Gráinne's creative writing coaching service, HERE

Find Kenny's Bookshop, where Gráinne is Children's Buyer, HERE

Books mentioned in this week's episode include Gráinne's own:

A Limerick Fairytale

Solo

And the stories which shaped her include:

Big Magic, by Elizabeth Gilbert

These Are the Words, by Nikita Gill

The work of Sarah Crossan

The life and work of Mary O'Shea, elementary school librarian in Palo Alto, CA

Ramona Quimby, by Beverly Cleary

The Baby-sitters' Club, by Ann M. Martin

Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger, by Louis Sachar

Holes, by Louis Sachar

The Magician of Tiger Castle, by Louis Sachar

The Goosebumps books, by RL Stine

The work of Maeve Binchy

Flowers in the Attic, by Virginia Andrews

The work of Marian Keyes

JAWS, by Peter Benchley

I Capture the Castle, by Dodie Smith

The work of Jessica Townsend

The Murder Most Unladylike series, by Robin Stevens

The Song of the Lioness, by Tamora Pierce

Nina Peanut Is Amazing and Nina Peanut, Mega Mystery Solver, by Sarah Bowie

Pablo and Splash, by Sheena Dempsey

Notes from a Coma, by Mike McCormack

The work of Sarah Moore Fitzgerald

The work of Donal Ryan

The work of Joseph O'Connor

The Book of Secrets, by Alex Dunne

Under the Hawthorn Tree (trilogy), by Marita Conlon-McKenna

Creative Writing for Dummies, by Maggie Hamand

Atmosphere, by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie. You might also like to check out www.kennys.ie for free shipping within the Republic of Ireland!

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Getting Storyshaped With Eve Wersocki Morris

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Eve Wersocki Morris has been called 'the best-kept secret in children's publishing' by no less than Lemony Snicket himself, so who are we to argue! We were delighted to get a window into her delightfully noirish Storyshaped life. Come with us as we discover the stories - movies, books, the lot! - which have shaped her and her work, right from her first novel (written when she was thirteen!) to the present day.

Find Eve online at her website

Books mentioned in this week's episode include Eve's own:

The Bird Singers

The Wildstorm Curse

Clem Fatale Has Been Betrayed

And the stories which have shaped her include:

Movies:

The Maltese Falcon

The 39 Steps

Strangers on a Train

The Big Sleep

Stage Fright

Dial M For Murder

Double Indemnity

Some Like It Hot

Sunset Boulevard

The Ladykillers

The Wrong Arm of the Law

Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid

Night Train to Munich

Castle in the Air and the Chrestomanci books, by Diana Wynne Jones

The Just William Stories, by Richmal Crompton, read by Martin Jarvis

The Chronicles of Narnia, by CS Lewis

The Roman Mysteries, by Caroline Lawrence

Lizzie Zipmouth, by Jacqueline Wilson

Fantastic Mr Fox, by Roald Dahl

The Worst Witch, by Jill Murphy

Noughts and Crosses, by Malorie Blackman

Anna Karenina, by Tolstoy

Madame Bovary, by Gustave Flaubert

Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen

On Beauty, by Zadie Smith

Heartburn, by Nora Ephron

The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood

Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier

American Wife, by Curtis Sittenfeld

The Poetry Pharmacy Comfort Poems Collection

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie. You might also like to check out www.kennys.ie for free shipping within the Republic of Ireland!

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Getting Storyshaped with Peter Donnelly

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 05:00:00 GMT

We were thrilled to get the chance to sit down with Peter Donnelly, one of Ireland's foremost illustrators and picturebook makers, to discuss life, work, inspiration, and everything in between! Listen in for a chance to hear about how Peter was inspired by a mountain, and how NOT getting into art college was the best thing that ever happened to him. If you've ever wondered: how did Peter Donnelly come up with the brilliant idea to write a picturebook about the President of Ireland, then you've found your happy place. Come and join us as we winkle out Peter Donnelly's Storyshaped secrets!

Books mentioned in this week's episode include Peter's own:

The President's Glasses

The President's Cat

The President's Dog

The President's Surprise

The Dead Zoo

The Great Discovery

Up on the Mountain

Little Wolf

And the stories that shaped him include:

The Cat in the Hat, by Dr Seuss

The Selfish Giant, by Oscar Wilde, illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger

The Selfish Giant, by Oscar Wilde, illustrated by PJ Lynch

The work of PJ Lynch

Monty Python, British TV comedy

The Prince of Egypt, animated movie on which Peter worked

Anastasia, animated movie on which Peter worked

Tilly and Friends, by Polly Dunbar

This is Ireland, by Miroslav Sacek

The work of Mac Barnett

The work of Jon Klassen

The Fairy Isle, by Síne Quinn, illustrated by Dermot Flynn

Beanie the Bansheenie, by Eoin Colfer, illustrated by Steve McCarthy

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie. You might also like to check out www.kennys.ie for free shipping within the Republic of Ireland!

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Getting Storyshaped With Nathanael (Nate) Lessore

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Get ready to pull on your nonsense shoes and go dancing on the kooky side of the street as we chat to the brilliant Nathanael (Nate) Lessore, author of the hilarious Steady for This and King of Nothing for teen readers, and Solving Crimes is NOT My Superpower, for slightly younger readers. This conversation will answer all the questions you have about life, including the most important one: how DO you give CPR to a mosquito? I mean, you can't deny it's something we've all wondered about...

Find Nate online HERE

Books mentioned in this week's episode include Nate's own:

Steady for This

King of Nothing

Solving Crimes is NOT My Superpower, illustrated by Simran Diamond Singh

And the stories which have shaped him include:

Avocado Baby, by John Burningham

Burglar Bill, by Janet and Allan Ahlberg

Double Act, by Jacqueline Wilson

The Lottie Project, by Jacqueline Wilson

Tracey Beaker (TV series), original novels by Jacqueline Wilson

Vicky Angel, by Jacqueline Wilson

Scribble Boy, by Philip Ridley

Harry Potter, by JK Rowling

Noughts and Crosses, by Malorie Blackman

Knife Edge, by Malorie Blackman

The work of Flannery O'Connor

The Chronicles of Narnia, by CS Lewis

Glasgow Boys, by Margaret McDonald

TV Shows:

Scrubs

Friends

Boondocks

Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Family Guy

Spiderman (comic books)

The work of Spike Milligan

Conn of the Dead, by Dave Rudden

The Door of No Return, by Kwame Alexander

Happy Head, by Josh Silver

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie. You might also like to check out www.kennys.ie for free shipping within the Republic of Ireland!

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Getting Storyshaped With Kel Menton

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 04:00:00 GMT

This Storyshaped chat is a feast for the soul. We were delighted to get a chance to sit down with Kel Menton, debut author, and talk to them all about their brilliant first novel, A Fix of Light, and the stories that have shaped not only the book, but Kel themself. We went on a fantastic trip from local ghost-lore to titans of the fantasy genre all the way to the Prose Edda and Poetic Edda - because, of course you'd end up there! Come on and join us for a fantastic meander through a marvellously Storyshaped life.

Find Kel on their newsletter, Marginalia

Books mentioned in this week's episode include Kel's own:

A Fix of Light

And the stories which have shaped them include:

The Sleeping Giant, by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick

Cailín an Bhúrna/Colleen of the Barley, a local ghost story

The Raven Boys, by Maggie Stiefvater

Shiver, by Maggie Stiefvater

The Demon's Lexicon, by Sarah Rees Brennan

The Inkheart trilogy, by Cornelia Funke

Reckless, by Cornelia Funke

Wintersmith, by Terry Pratchett

Shadow and Bone, by Leigh Bardugo

Six of Crows, by Leigh Bardugo

The work of John Green

The Ruby Redfort books, by Lauren Child

Beowulf, the Old English epic (HWAET!)

Judith and Holofernes, the Old English poem

The Poetic Edda

The Prose Edda, compiled by Snorri Sturluson

Summer Sons, by Lee Mandelo

All For the Game, by Nora Sakavic

Don't Let the Forest In, by CG Drews

The Three Body Problem, by Cixin Liu

The work of NK Jemisin

The work of Ursula le Guin

The work of RF Kuang

Sentimental Garbage podcast - The Phantom of the Opera with Rebecca Kuang

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie. You might also like to check out www.kennys.ie for free shipping within the Republic of Ireland!

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Getting Storyshaped with Dr Darren Chetty and Prof Karen Sands-O'Connor

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 03:00:00 GMT

We were privileged today to speak to the authors of the brilliant essay anthology, Beyond the Secret Garden, which is a vital critique of the current state of children's literature and its inclusivity problem. Dr Chetty and Prof Sands-O'Connor have written for many years over at Books for Keeps around these vital issues, and today they bring us through the importance of decolonising the children's literature canon - while also giving us an insight into their own Storyshaped lives, and what stories led them to the work they do today.

You can purchase your copy of Beyond the Secret Garden here

Stories mentioned in this week's episode include:

The Good Immigrant, ed. Nikesh Shukla

Sesame Street

Roy of the Rovers football comic

The work of JD Salinger and Jack Kerouac

Dr Dolittle, by Hugh Lofting

The Wizard of Oz (movie version)

Mythologies, by Roland Barthes

Elmer, by David McKee

Tusk Tusk, by David McKee

The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck

Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte

Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte

The work of Charles Dickens

Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott

Sight and Sound magazine

The Buddha of Suburbia, by Hanif Kureishi

The Chronicles of Narnia, by CS Lewis

Oliver Twist, by Charles Dickens

Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe

Sing, Unburied, Sing, by Jesmyn Ward

Freud in Oz, by Kenneth Kidd

James, by Percival Everett

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie. You might also like to check out www.kennys.ie for free shipping within the Republic of Ireland!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped with Kieran Larwood

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 03:00:00 GMT

We don't have *much* in common with the Terminator around here, it must be said, but one of the things we do share is this: we come back. So, here we are! This is a special LIVE episode, recorded in May 2025 at the brilliant International Literature Festival Dublin in front of an audience of Kieran Larwood fans (and, perhaps, one or two who were there to see us), and we had the most fun. We chatted fantasy, Tolkien, the powers of maps as ways into story, 90s music, and loads more.

Our very special thanks to the team at International Literature Festival Dublin for facilitating this dream come true for us - it has long been our ambition to record a live episode, and we were delighted to get the chance to do just that as part of this fantastic festival, which happens in Dublin in May every year. We hope the recording gives you a flavour of how much we enjoyed talking to Kieran and getting an insight into his very special Storyshaped life.

PLEASE NOTE: The audio didn't pick up the audience, so during question time, the questions we are responding to are as follows:

What children's book that you read as an adult do you wish you'd read as a child?
Will we find out more about the Ancients?

Books mentioned in this week's episode include:

The work of Enid Blyton

The work of JRR Tolkien

A Wizard of Earthsea, by Ursula le Guin

The Moomins, by Tove Jansson

The Hounds of the Morrigan, by Pat O'Shea

The World Between the Rain, by Susan Cahill

Fighting Fantasy book series, created by Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone

Stone of Farewell, by Tad Williams

The work of Robin Hobb

Mort, by Terry Pratchett

The work of Terry Pratchett, especially the Tiffany Aching series

Good Omens, by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

Lords and Ladies, by Terry Pratchett

Watership Down, by Richard Adams

Neuromancer, by William Gibson

Escape Room: Game Zero, by Christopher Edge

I Am Wolf, by Alastair Chisholm

The Bone Ships, by RJ Barker

October, October, by Katya Balen

The Storm and the Sea Hawk, by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

I Am Raven, by Alastair Chisholm

A Fix of Light, by Kel Menton

On Midnight Beach, by Marie Louise Fitzpatrick

The work of Jamie Littler, esp. Frostheart

The music of Pearl Jam and Nirvana and Soundgarden

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SPECIAL MINI-SODE: Irish KidLit For Palestine

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 10:29:54 GMT

In this special mini-sode of Storyshaped, I (Sinéad) sat down with Ruth Ennis (writer, book-expert, book reviewer, general Queen of Irish children's and YA literature and legend in her own lifetime) to discuss something close to both our hearts: the situation in Palestine.

Nobody will be unaware of the reality; the situation in Palestine, and in particular in Gaza, has been described as 'genocide' by bodies such as Médecins sans Frontieres, the United Nations, and Amnesty International. Innocent civilians have been mercilessly killed, day and night, for almost the past two years, and the onslaught has had a particularly horrific impact on Palestinian children.

As authors for children and young people, Ruth and I couldn't stand by and do nothing. So, we set up the Irish KidLit for Palestine Fundraiser, which runs between August 4th and 17th, 2025.

Our chosen charity is Medical Aid for Palestinians, who can be found HERE

And the link to the Irish KidLit for Palestine Fundraiser, where you can help us to raise money AND get yourself some snazzy kidlit-related goodies, is HERE

Our sincere thanks to the 30+ authors, illustrators, artists and creatives who made this Fundraiser possible by donating their work and their time. Míle buíochas!

Stay tuned for more Storyshaped in the autumn.

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SEASON FINALE: Getting Storyshaped With Patrice Lawrence

Thu, 15 May 2025 07:00:00 GMT

So, if we sound a bit giddy on this week's episode, that's because we were! Head-whirlingly, we got to speak to Patrice Actual Lawrence, who is one of the most accomplished authors around. Patrice has written for all age groups, from picturebooks right up to YA (with equal aplomb), and her journey to creating this masterful body of work is an interesting one. Come with us as she takes us through her Storyshaped life.

Books mentioned in this week's episode include Patrice's own:

Orangeboy

Indigo Donut

Eight Pieces of Silva

Needle

Rose, Interrupted

Is That Your Mama? illustrated by Diane Ewen

Elemental Detectives

People Like Stars

And the stories which shaped her include:

Pig-Heart Boy, by Malorie Blackman

Malory Towers, by Enid Blyton (and Patrice's own New Class At Malory Towers)

Rainbow Magic, by 'Daisy Meadows'

The work of John Agard

The work of Grace Nicols

The work of Julia Donaldson

The work of Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Stephen King

The work of Jenny Downham, especially Before I Die

The story of Jonathan Strong, an enslaved man in 18thC London

The Rivers of London (series), by Ben Aaronovitch

Love in the Time of Cholera, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Dr Dolittle, by Hugh Lofting

The Railway Children, by E Nesbit

Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott

The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Diddakoi, by Rumer Godden

Our Beautiful Darkness, by Onjaki, ill. Antonio Jorge Goncalves, trans. Lyn Miller-Lachman

A Guest in the House, by Emily Carroll

100 Tales from the Tokyo Ghost Cafe, by Julian Sedgwick and Chie Kutsuwada

Before the Coffee Gets Cold, by Toshikazu Kawaguchi - the book Sinéad was trying to recall!

Tsunami Girl, by Julian Sedgwick and Chie Kutsuwada

The Pigman, by Paul Zindel

Rumblefish, by SE Hinton

The Body, Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, Misery, Pet Sematary, all by Stephen King

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie. You might also like to check out www.kennys.ie for free shipping within the Republic of Ireland!

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Getting Storyshaped With Julie Sykes

Thu, 08 May 2025 07:00:00 GMT

This week, we were honoured to speak to an undisputable Queen of Children's Literature - Julie Sykes! Julie is the author of well over a hundred books, many of them co-written with the equally excellent Linda Chapman. Her bestselling series include the Netflix-adapted The Unicorn Academy, but throughout Julie's almost thirty year career she has written for the youngest children right up to teens. Come with us for a brilliant insight into Julie's life, career, work - and just how she keeps her creative flame lit, even after all these years.

Find Julie online at her website: www.juliesykes.co.uk

Find out more about International Literature Festival Dublin at www.ilfdublin.com

Tickets for the LIVE Storyshaped event are available here: LIVE STORYSHAPED PODCAST EVENT

Tickets for Susan's solo event are available here: DISCOVER THE MAGICAL WORLD BETWEEN THE RAIN

Tickets for Sinéad's solo event are available here: THE SUN, THE MOON, AND TWO STARS

Books mentioned in this week's episode include some of Julie's own:

The Unicorn Academy series (co-written with Linda Chapman; illustrated by Lucy Truman)

The Mermaid Academy series (co-written with Linda Chapman; illustrated by Lucy Truman)

The Woodland Magic series (illustrated by Katy Riddell)

The Perfect Puppies series

The Princess Ponies series

And the stories that shaped her include:

The work of Enid Blyton

Swallows and Amazons, by Arthur Ransome

The Punchbowl series, by Monica Edwards

The Romney Marsh series, by Monica Edwards

Carbonel: The King of the Cats, by Barbara Sleigh

Diary of an Accidental Witch, by Honor and Perdita Cargill

The Weirdstone of Brisingamen, by Alan Garner

The Hobbit, by JRR Tolkien

Goodnight Mister Tom, by Michelle Magorian

The Great Elephant Chase, by Gillian Cross

The work of Dominique Valente

Greenwild: The World Behind the Door, by Pari Thompson

The Hedgewitch series, by Skye McKenna

The Wycherleys, by Annaliese Avery

The work of Harriet Muncaster

esp. Diary of Whisker Wildflower, by Harriet Muncaster

The work of Hilary McKay

esp. Rosa by Starlight, Saffy's Angel, and Indigo Star (all by Hilary McKay)

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie. You might also like to check out www.kennys.ie for free shipping within the Republic of Ireland!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped With Mariesa Dulak

Thu, 01 May 2025 07:00:00 GMT

We had a totally magical walk through picturebook author Mariesa Dulak's Storyshaped life on the podcast today, which took us all the way from Barbados to Harrogate, and plenty of other places besides! From nursery rhymes to Stephen King, and William Blake to Barbara Throws a Wobbler, join us as we follow Mariesa through the fantastic collection of tales (both written and spoken) that have shaped her work and made her the person she is today. Let's go!

Find Mariesa online at her website: www.mariesadulak.com

Books mentioned in this week's episode include Mariesa's own:

There's a Tiger on the Train (ill. Rebecca Cobb)

The Silver Shadow (ill. Alea Marley)

And the stories which shaped her include:

Nursery rhymes and songs told and sung to her by her parents

The fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm

One Thousand and One Nights/Arabian Nights, folktales from the Islamic Golden Age

The Flower Fairies, by Cicely Mary Barker

The work of Alison Uttley

Winnie the Pooh: Changing Guard at Buckingham Palace, by AA Milne and EH Shepard

The work of Dr Seuss

The Chronicles of Narnia, by CS Lewis

The Worst Witch, by Jill Murphy

The work of Enid Blyton

Fungus the Bogeyman, by Raymond Briggs

The Tinderbox (fairytale)

The work of Roald Dahl

The work of Stephen King

Blubber, by Judy Blume

Forever, by Judy Blume

The work of John Agard

The work of Benjamin Zephaniah

The work of Malorie Blackman

Little Soldier, by Bernard Ashley

Flower Block, by Lanisha Butterfield (illustrated by Hoang Giang)

Out of the Blue, by Robert Tregoning (illustrated by Stef Murphy)

Songs of Innocence and Experience, by William Blake

Tyger, by SF Said

Skellig, by David Almond

Not Now, Bernard, by David McKee

Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak

Barbara Throws a Wobbler, by Nadia Shireen

The work of Julia Donaldson

The work of Janet and Allan Ahlberg

The Cafe at the End of the Woods, by Mikey Please

The Full Stop that Got Away, by Laura Baker (illustrated by Nathan Reed)

Butter, by Asako Yuzuki

The Island of Brilliant podcast, hosted by Nadia Shireen and Frank Cottrell-Boyce

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie. You might also like to check out www.kennys.ie for free shipping within the Republic of Ireland!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped With Ellen Ryan

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 08:21:57 GMT

Well - whew! Get ready for this week's episode, Storyshapers, because it's a whirlwind of mythology, folklore, history, archaeology and magic, all thanks to the enthralling Ellen Ryan. Ellen is a journalist and author, who likes to spend time visiting archaeological sites, researching the richness of Ireland's folklore, mythology, and history, and creating fantastic, inclusive, immersive, and lovingly constructed tales and retellings of some stories we might *think* we know... Come on a wander through the landscape of old Ireland with Ellen, and find out how she's Storyshaped.

Find Ellen online at her agent's website: https://belllomaxmoreton.co.uk/childrens-fiction/ellen-ryan

Books mentioned in this week's episode include Ellen's own:

Girls Who Slay Monsters (ill. Shona Shirley MacDonald)

Gods Don't Cry (ill. Conor Merriman)

And the stories that have shaped her include:

Under the Hawthorn Tree, by Marita Conlon-McKenna

The work of Siobhan Parkinson

Flight of the Doves, by Walter Macken

The Milly McCarthy series, by Leona Forde

The Hounds of the Morrigan, by Pat O'Shea

The work of Patricia Lynch

The Táin, ed. and modernised by Thomas Kinsella, illustrations by Louis le Brocquy

The Corpus of Electronic Texts (The UCC CELT Project)

The Book of the Elders, eds. Ann Dooley and Harry Rowe

The work of John Carey, medievalist and language scholar

esp. Magic, Metallurgy, and Imagination in Medieval Ireland, by John Carey

The work of Daniel Curley, archaeologist and guide at Rathcroghan Royal Site and Visitor Centre)

Ireland's Immortals, by Mark Williams

The work of Miranda Green

The Dictionary of Celtic Myth and Legend, ed. Miranda Green

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie. You might also like to check out www.kennys.ie for free shipping within the Republic of Ireland!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped With Catherine (Catie) Wilkins

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 07:00:00 GMT

This week, we had the JOY of chatting to the very funny, very talented, very lovely Catherine Wilkins (or you might know her as Catie, if you're a fan of her stand-up comedy). She brought us on a wondrous meander through her Storyshaped life, from the country of Disney to the tales of Mossycoat - and everything in between! Come with us as we wander through the stories that have shaped her life and work, and get ready for a dose of major 80s cartoon nostalgia. 'For the honour of Greyskull... I am She-Ra!'

Find Catherine online at her website: www.catherinewilkins.co.uk

Books mentioned in this week's episode include Catherine's own:

My Best Friend and Other Enemies

My Brilliant Life and Other Disasters

My School Musical and Other Punishments

My Great Success and Other Failures

When Good Geeks Go Bad

The Weird Friends Fan Club

You're Not the Boss of Me!

Café Chaos

And the stories which have shaped her include:

She-Ra (80s cartoon and the modern remake)

The movies of Disney

The Mysterious Cities of Gold (cartoon)

Ulysses 31 (cartoon)

The Twits, by Roald Dahl

Fantastic Mr Fox, by Roald Dahl

The Magic Finger, by Roald Dahl

The Demon Headmaster, by Gillian Cross

The Worst Witch (series), by Jill Murphy

Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen

The Harry Potter books, by JK Rowling

Catwitch, by Lisa Tuttle and Una Woodruff

Norse Mythology, particularly a book owned by Catherine's dad

Collected Fairy Tales, particularly an edition owned by Catherine's dad, which included the tale Mossycoat

And... The Rabbit That Jumped Too High, by Catherine Wilkins, aged 6! *heart-eye emojis*

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie. You might also like to check out www.kennys.ie for free shipping within the Republic of Ireland!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped With Helen Peters

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 07:00:00 GMT

We've only gone and snagged the fantastic, prolific, and very wonderful Helen Peters for the podcast - and it's her turn in the hotseat today! We were charmed to take a stroll through the Storyshaped life of an author described as 'one of our finest modern children's storytellers' by Waterstones (who, to be fair, know their stuff), and we learned all about how Helen's childhood was shaped as much by the farm she grew up on as it was by the stories she surrounded herself with. These stories not only shaped her, but they shaped her brilliant creative output, too. Come on - pull yer wellies on and let's get going.

Books mentioned on this week's episode include Helen's own:

Friends and Traitors

Anna at War

Evie's Ghost

The Jasmine Green series

The Secret Henhouse Theatre trilogy

Find Helen at: helenpetersbooks.com

And the stories that shaped her include:

Winnie the Pooh, by A.A. Milne, illustrations by E.H. Shepard

The Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Grahame

Tarka the Otter, by Henry Williamson

The picturebooks of Molly Brett

Brambly Hedge, by Jill Barklem

Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott

What Katy Did, by Susan Coolidge

Heidi, by Johanna Spyri

Ballet Shoes, by Noel Streatfeild

Curtains Up, by Noel Streatfeild

The Growing Summer, by Noel Streafeild

The Famous Five series, by Enid Blyton

The Secret Seven series, by Enid Blyton

The St Clare's series, by Enid Blyton

Six Cousins at Mistletoe Farm, by Enid Blyton

The Railway Children, by E. Nesbit

The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Casson Family series, by Hilary McKay

The Exiles, by Hilary McKay

Millions, by Frank Cottrell-Boyce

Framed, by Frank Cottrell-Boyce

Holes, by Louis Sachar

Liar & Spy, by Rebecca Stead

The Diary of a Young Girl, by Anne Frank

Cue for Treason, by Geoffrey Trease

King of Shadows, by Susan Cooper

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie. You might also like to check out www.kennys.ie for free shipping within the Republic of Ireland!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped With Alastair Chisholm

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 08:00:00 GMT

This week, we welcome Alastair Chisholm - yes, only the brilliant, prolific, award-winning, award-nominated picturebook and middle grade author - to the podcast, and we hope you'll join us for the journey! Alastair has written about starships lost in space, about characters who can see back through time, about huge mecha-animals powered by human will, and - best of all - about ninja frogs, and that's just to name some of the books in his incredible back catalogue. Come with us as he takes us through the stories that have shaped him, and which continue to shape his world and his work.

Books mentioned in this week's episode include some of Alastair's own:

The Dragon Storm series, illustrated by Eric Deschamps

The Consequence Girl

Orion Lost

Adam-2

I Am Wolf

I Am Raven

And the stories which have shaped him include:

The Silmarillion, by JRR Tolkien

The Grey King, by Susan Cooper

The Weirdstone of Brisingamen, by Alan Garner

Charmed Life, by Diana Wynne Jones

Homeward Bounders, by Diana Wynne Jones

Howl's Moving Castle, by Diana Wynne Jones

Archer's Goon, by Diana Wynne Jones

Asterix, by Rene Goscinny and Albert Uderzo (et al)

The Eagle comic, founded by Marcus Morris

2000 AD, created by Kelvin Gosnell, Pat Mills, John Wagner

The Chronicles of Narnia, by CS Lewis

The work of Nicholas Fisk

The work of Jan Mark

The work of Isaac Asimov

The work of Robert Heinlein

The Stainless Steel Rat, by Harry Harrison

The Best of Harry Harrison - short story anthology

The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever, by Stephen Donaldson

Zenith, by Grant Morrison and Steve Yeowell

The Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemingway (Alastair's edition has illustrations by CF Tunnicliffe and Raymond Sheppard)

The Chrysalids, by John Wyndham

The Day of the Triffids, by John Wyndham

The work of Sir Terry Pratchett

Legend, by David Gemmell

Master and Commander (series), by Patrick O'Brian

Sword of the Sun, by Sinéad O'Hart

The World Between the Rain, by Susan Cahill

Wren, by Lucy Hope

A Kind of Spark, by Elle McNicoll

Sticky Pines: The Bigwoof Conspiracy, by Dashe Roberts

Bird Boy, by Catherine Bruton

Dungeon Runners, by Kieran Larwood and Joe Todd Stanton

The work of Christopher Edge

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie. You might also like to check out www.kennys.ie for free shipping within the Republic of Ireland!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped with Celine Kiernan

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 08:00:00 GMT

We were beside ourselves with glee this week as we sat for a chat with the brilliant Celine Kiernan, an artist who has been influencing - and Storyshaping - our lives since way before she began writing her brilliant children's books. Celine's career began in the animation industry, where she was part of the team who brought the world such incredible tales as The Land Before Time, All Dogs Go To Heaven, An American Tail, and more - and we got the pleasure of chatting to her about that time in her life, as well as her own work, and the stories which have shaped her incredible literary and artistic output. This one was super-special. Come and join us, won't you? Somewhere out there...

Books mentioned in this week's episode include Celine's own:

The Moorehawke Trilogy (The Poison Throne, The Crowded Shadows, The Rebel Prince)

Into the Grey

The Wild Magic Trilogy (Begone the Raggedy Witches, The Little Grey Girl, The Promise Witch)

Resonance

And the stories that shaped her include:

Twinkle, a periodical comic and annual

Little Grey Men, by BB

Down the Bright Stream, by BB

The Yearling, by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

The Borrowers, by Mary Norton

Judy magazine

The Weirdstone of Brisingamen, by Alan Garner

The Moon of Gomrath, by Alan Garner

The Mouse and his Child, by Russell Hoban

Riddley Walker, by Russell Hoban

Water Babies, by Charles Kingsley

Something Wicked this Way Comes, by Ray Bradbury

The Doll House (later, Tottie) by Rumer Godden

Ned Kelly and the City of the Bees, by Thomas Kenneally

The work of Raymond Chandler

The work of John Steinbeck

The work of Charles Dickens

The work of Ernest Hemingway

The short stories of Moira McHugh

Brides of Rollrock Island, by Margo Lanagan

Tender Morsels, by Margo Lanagan

Savage Her Reply, by Deirdre Sullivan

Tangleweed and Brine, by Deirdre Sullivan

Piranesi, by Susannah Clarke

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, by Susannah Clarke

The Small Hand: A Ghost Story, by Susan Hill

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie. You might also like to check out www.kennys.ie for free shipping within the Republic of Ireland!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped With AF Harrold

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 08:00:00 GMT

This episode is one we've been hoping for since the beginning of the podcast! Today, we have the chance to sit down with the inexpressibly brilliant AF (Ashley) Harrold, prolific poet and author, Big Red Button pusher (if you haven't seen his excellent videos about his walks along the Thames, meeting herons and suchlike, you're in for a treat), hilarious performer and public speaker, and overall general Good Egg. We had so much fun chatting stories, books, and creativity with one of the best in the business. Won't you join us? Come along, then!

Books mentioned in this week's episode include AF's own:

The Imaginary

Imagining the Imaginary

The Afterwards

The Song From Somewhere Else

The Worlds We Leave Behind

... and countless books of poetry!

And the stories which shaped him include:

Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak

Fox Eyes, by Margaret Wise Brown and Garth Williams

Goodnight Moon, by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd (link to the Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen essay)

The Hobbit, JRR Tolkien

Dunmousie Monsters, by Robin and Jocelyn Wild

Tin Tin, by Herge

The World of Myth and Legend, by Brenda Ralph Lewis, illustrated by Rob McCaig

The Adventures of Humbert, Simp and Harquin, by John Burningham

Phenomena: A Book of Wonders, by John Mitchell and Robert J Rickard

Gentleman Jim, by Raymond Briggs

Fungus the Bogeyman, by Raymond Briggs

Father Christmas, by Raymond Briggs

When the Wind Blows, by Raymond Briggs

Can't You Sleep, Little Bear? by Barbara Firth and Martin Waddell

The work of Bernard O'Donoghue, including his translations of The Wanderer and The Seafarer

Riddley Walker, by Russell Hoban

The Mouse and His Child, by Russell Hoban and David Small

A Bargain for Frances, by Russell Hoban and Lillian Hoban

Monsters, by Russell Hoban and Quentin Blake

M.O.L.E. by Russell Hoban and Jan Pienkowski

The Twenty-Elephant Restaurant, by Russell Hoban and Quentin Blake

Tom Tit Moves House, by Molly Brett

The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, by Laurence Sterne

Awful End, by Philip Ardagh and David Roberts

I Like This Poem, by Kaye Webb and Antony Maitland

This Craft of Verse, by Jorge Luis Borges

About the House, by WH Auden

The Tale of Beren and Luthien - translated by AF Harrold!

The Silmarillion, by JRR Tolkien

The Collected Poems of Stevie Smith

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie. You might also like to check out www.kennys.ie for free shipping within the Republic of Ireland!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped with RAMZEE

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 08:00:00 GMT

Imagine you found a book that had the answers to LITERALLY EVERYTHING? A book that could help you 'cheat' your way out of all situations, no matter how puke-sastrous they are... Well, this is the reality facing Kamal, the main character in The Cheat Book, written by today's guest - the explosively energetic, fascinatingly interesting, and laugh-a-minute RAMZEE. RAMZEE joins us this week for a chat through his Storyshaped life, and it's a good one. Get rrrrrrrrready!

Special thanks to Battersea Library for making RAMZEE's appearance on the podcast possible.

Please note: this podcast episode makes very brief reference to suicidal ideation. Please listen with caution.

Help is available in the UK: Phone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org

In Ireland: Phone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.ie

Books mentioned on this week's episode include RAMZEE's own:

The Cheat Book (and sequels!)

And the stories which shaped him include:

Hound of the Baskervilles, by Arthur Conan Doyle

The Adjustment Bureau, by Philip K. Dick

Red Shift, by Alan Garner

Everything Everywhere All at Once (dir. Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, released 2022)

Hark! A Vagrant, by Kate Beaton

Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands, by Kate Beaton

High Plains Drifter (dir. Clint Eastwood, released 1973)

The work of Dapo Adeola

Planet Omar, by Zanib Mian, illustrated by Nasaya Mafaridik

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, by Shepherd Mead

The Boy at the Back of the Class, by Onjali Rauf

The work of Melinda Gebbie (comic artist)

The work of Rod Serling

The S-Man, by Mark Caine

The Prince, by Niccolo Macchiavelli

The work of Babette Cole

Tin Tin, by Hergé

Asterix, by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo, et al

Under My Thumb: Songs that Hate Women and the Women Who Love Them, ed. Rhian E Jones and Eli Davies

Sandman Mystery Theatre, by Matt Wagner and Stephen T. Seagle, art by Guy Davis, John Watkiss, RG Taylor, Vince Locke, Warren Pleece, Matthew Dow Smith

The Sandman, by Neil Gaiman, art by various artists incl. Sam Kieth and Mike Dringenberg

The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tyler, by Gene Kemp

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, by Judy Blume

Superfudge, by Judy Blume

Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, by Judy Blume

The stories of Ramona Quimby, by Beverly Cleary

The Chronicles of Narnia, by CS Lewis

Matilda, by Roald Dahl

The Dark is Rising, by Susan Cooper

The Weirdstone of Brisingamen, by Alan Garner

Elidor, by Alan Garner

The work of the movie director Roger Corbin

JAWS (dir. Steven Spielberg, released 1975)

The work of Diana Wynne Jones

Black Hearts in Battersea, by Joan Aiken

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, by Joan Aiken

Blade Runner (dir. Ridley Scott, released 1982)

The Godfather I and II (dir. Francis Ford Coppola, released 1972, 1974)

Jurassic Park (dir. Steven Spielberg, released 1993)

The work of George Lucas, James Cameron, Steven Spielberg

The Haunting of Hill House, by Shirley Jackson

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie. You might also like to check out www.kennys.ie for free shipping within the Republic of Ireland!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped with Jennifer Claessen

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 08:00:00 GMT

We were lucky to get this chance to have a chat on the fly with the super-busy Jennifer Claessen - she was between school visits on the day we spoke to her! Huge thanks to her for making the time to sit down with us. In this week's episode, we take a high-energy whizz through a brilliantly Storyshaped life, so strap in and get ready. This one was fun!

Books mentioned in this week's episode include Jenny's own:

The October Witches

The November Witches

The December Witches

The January Witches (novella)

Netta Becker and the Timeline Crime

And the stories which have shaped her include:

Scribble Boy, by Philip Radley

The work of Tamora Pierce

The Redwall books, by Brian Jacques

Red Thread, by Jorge Luis Borges

The legend of King Arthur, particularly The Sword in the Stone

Myth and legend in general!

This episode of Storyshaped, with Louie Stowell

The work of Sophocles

The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett, and the stage show version

The Tiger Who Came to Tea, by Judith Kerr

The work of Eva Ibbotson

Brambly Hedge, by Jill Barklem

Angelina Ballerina, by Katharine Holabird and Helen Craig

Northern Lights, by Philip Pullman

Podkin One-Ear by Kieran Larwood

Artemis Fowl, by Eoin Colfer

The Morse books by Colin Dexter

Good Omens, by Terry Pratchett

Skullduggery Pleasant, by Derek Landy

Peter Pan, by JM Barrie

Daughter of the Sea, by Berlie Doherty

The Sea Maiden's Odyssey, by Berlie Doherty and Tamsin Rosewell

Fire and Hemlock, by Diana Wynne Jones

The work of Benjamin Zephaniah, particularly his version of Tam Lin

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie. You might also like to check out www.kennys.ie for free shipping within the Republic of Ireland!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped With Peter Bunzl

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 08:00:00 GMT

This week, it's our treat to talk to the prolific Peter Bunzl, whose books are packed with imagination, heart, and a whirling sense of adventure. We chatted Death, the Brontes, and snogging Lord Bertilak, among loads of other bookishly brilliant stuff. Come and join us on our Storyshaped ramble through Peter's writing life.

Books mentioned in this week's episode include Peter's own:

Cogheart

Moonlocket

Skycircus

Shadowsea

The Clockwork Queen

Featherlight

Dragon Racers

Magicborn

Glassborn

And the stories which have shaped him include:

His Dark Materials, by Philip Pullman

Brightstorm, by Vashti Hardy

The Mortal Engines series, by Philip Reeve

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, by Joan Aiken

The work of Charles Dickens

Bangers and Mash (an early school reader)

The work of Roald Dahl

Watership Down, by Richard Adams

Plague Dogs, by Richard Adams

The Iron Man, by Ted Hughes

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, in all its formats (and Miss Hann, the school teacher who cast Peter as the Green Knight)

The Beano

Carl Bark's Donald Duck

Asterix, by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo, et al

The Lord of the Rings, by JRR Tolkien - particularly the audiobook edition

The Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams

The work of Terry Pratchett

Gormenghast, by Mervyn Peake

The Wizard of Earthsea, by Ursula K Le Guin

A Midsummer Night's Dream, by William Shakespeare

Macbeth, by William Shakespeare

Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare

The Tempest, by William Shakespeare

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, by Susanna Clarke

Fire and Hemlock, by Diana Wynne Jones

Peter the Wild Boy - a historical figure

Peter Pan, by JM Barrie

Glass Town by Isabel Greenberg

The Magicians Trilogy, by Lev Grossman

The Magic Toyshop, by Angela Carter

Icarus, by Kay Ancrum

Riddley Walker, by Russell Hoban

Turtle Diary, by Russell Hoban

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped with Sharada Keats

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 08:00:00 GMT

This week, we're sitting down (on a gorgeously tropical beach, no less) with debut YA author Sharada Keats. Sharada's book These Stolen Lives is a gripping, powerfully resonant story of colonisation, resistance, and whacking power across the head with truth - as well as humour, drama, family and found family, and a swoonsome romance. We had a hugely fun and illuminating chat with Sharada about her life, her career, her creative work (and where her writing is going next), and - if you're ready - you can settle back and listen to it all, right now. Sweet!

Books mentioned this week include Sharada's own:

The Poetical Institute's Particular Powers of Vegetables and Fruit

These Stolen Lives

This Shattered Promise (forthcoming)

And the books that shaped her include:

Arabella and Mortimer, by Joan Aiken

The work of Enid Blyton

The work of Roald Dahl

The work of Dick King-Smith

The work of Diana Wynne Jones, in particular Archer's Goon

Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, by Robert C. O'Brien

The Chronicles of Narnia, by CS Lewis

The Dark is Rising, by Susan Cooper

Blitzcat, by Robert Westall

A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine l'Engle

The Hobbit, by JRR Tolkien

The Halfmen of O, by Maurice Gee

I Like This Poem, published by Puffin

The Rattlebag, by Seamus Heaney

The Crone, by James Herbert Brennan

Dune, by Frank Herbert

The work of Iain M. Banks

The work of Andre Norton

The work of Orson Scott Card

The work of Jane Yolen

The Chrysalids, by John Wyndham

Hamlet, by William Shakespeare

Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare

The Glass Menagerie, by Tennessee Williams

The work of John Steinbeck

Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte

The work of Jane Austen

Anne of Green Gables, by LM Montgomery

Shitty First Draft, by Anne Lamott

Talks by Malorie Blackman and Patrice Lawrence

Towards Asmara, by Thomas Kenneally

The work of Langston Hughes

The work of Wole Soyinka

The work of Rabinadrath Tagore

The work of Maya Angelou

The work of John Agard

The work of Imtiaz Dharker

The work of Tracy Chapman

The work of Ted Hughes

The work of Seamus Heaney

The work of Michael Rosen

The work of Spike Milligan

The work of Roger McGough

The work of Wislawa Szymborska

The work of Andrei Voznesensky

The work of Miroslav Holub

The work of CP Cavafy

Sword of the Sun, by Sinéad O'Hart

The World Between the Rain, by Susan Cahill

People Like Stars, by Patrice Lawrence

Tidemagic, by Claire Harlow

Mission: Microraptor, by Philip Kavvadias

The Murderbot Diaries, by Martha Wells

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie. You might also like to check out www.kennys.ie for free shipping within the Republic of Ireland!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped with Ian Eagleton

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 08:00:00 GMT

We had the immense privilege of speaking with prolific author Ian Eagleton this week on Storyshaped, and it was a heartfelt, moving, and very fun conversation about finding your own voice, fighting against prejudice, and (not) fitting in. Described as 'an inspiration' by Mariah Carey, no less, Ian is not only an author, but also Creative Director of The Reading Realm, which aims to be a resource centre for anyone who loves children's books; a former teacher; a learning resources provider, as well as a husband and a dad. Join us for a gorgeous trip down the winding road of Ian's Storyshaped life.

Books mentioned on this week's episode include Ian's own:

Nen and the Lonely Fisherman (ill. James Mayhew)

The Woodcutter and the Snow Prince (ill. Davide Ortu)

Violet's Tempest (ill. Clara Anganuzzi)

Rory's Room of Rectangles (ill. Jessica Knight)

Millie's Big Decision (ill. Max Rambaldi)

Glitter Boy

The Boy Who Cried Ghost

And the stories which shaped him include:

The Goosebumps series, by RL Stine

The Alfie and Annie Rose books, by Shirley Hughes

Roger's Red Hat, Jennifer's Yellow Hat, Billy's Blue Hat (Reading scheme school readers)

The Little Mermaid, in all its forms, from the original fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen to the recent Disney live-action remake of its own animated classic

Super Gran, by Forrest Wilson

The work of Simon James Green

Hideous Beauty, by William Hussey

The Amber Spyglass, by Philip Pullman

A Fairly Honourable Defeat, by Irish Murdoch

Pirate Mums, by Jodie Lancet-Grant and Lydia Corrie

My Daddies!, by Gareth Peter and Garry Parsons

Grandad's Camper, by Harry Woodgate

The work of John Grisham

This Place Has No Atmosphere, by Paula Danziger

The work of Paula Danziger

The work of Judy Blume

Dodos Are Not Extinct!, by Paddy Donnelly

And... the Life, Work, and Art of the one and only Mariah Carey.

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie. You might also like to check out www.kennys.ie for free shipping within the Republic of Ireland!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped with Clara Kumagai

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 08:00:00 GMT

Have you ever wondered what would happen if time started to go a bit wibbly-wobbly? How it might affect the planet, the seasons, wildlife, populations - all the way down to the individual? Well, time getting a bit wibbly-wobbly is one of the themes in Clara Kumagai's amazing debut novel Catfish Rolling, which we discuss on today's podcast, along with LOADS of books that make Clara her Storyshaped self. From Japan to Canada to Ireland to... somewhere in space and time, come with us as we wander through Clara's Storyshaped life.

Books mentioned on this week's episode include Clara's own:

A Girl Named Indigo (published in Japan as Indigo wo sagashite), illustrated by Yokosuka Kaori

Catfish Rolling

Songs for Ghosts (forthcoming)

And the stories which have shaped her include:

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden (an example of bad representation!)

The Private Life of Plants by David Attenborough

The Narnia books, particularly Voyage of the Dawn Treader, by CS Lewis

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn

The Babysitters' Club, created by Ann M. Martin

American Born Chinese (graphic novel series), by Gene Luen Yang

The work of Joy Kogawa

The work of Paul Yee

The story of Madama Butterfly

Annihilation, by Jeff Vander Meer

His Dark Materials, by Philip Pullman

The Wizard of Earthsea, by Ursula Le Guin

The Dark is Rising, by Susan Cooper

The Night Watch, by Terry Pratchett

Guards! Guards!, by Terry Pratchett

Lords and Ladies, by Terry Pratchett

Snuff, by Terry Pratchett

The Hogfather, by Terry Pratchett

Fun and Games, by John Patrick McHugh

The work of Ann Sei Lin

The work of Adiba Jaigirdar

Hyo the Hellmaker, by Mina Ikemoto Ghosh

Interior Chinatown, by Charles Yu

An Illustrated Guide to Time

Our podcast bookshop (for children's books) in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie. If you're in Ireland, you might also like to check out kennys.ie for free shipping, island-wide.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Belated Q&A Episode: Part 2

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 08:00:00 GMT

Annnnnd here you go! Part Two of our long-awaited* Questions and Answers episode, where we tackle some of the fiendishly difficult queries sent in by listeners, including: 'Were you introduced to any new authors in doing the podcast?' (SPOILER: yes!), 'Should stories for children always end with hope?' (SPOILER: no spoilers 'ere, you've got to listen), and 'what are your predictions for the next 5 years?' (SPOILER: *spooky music*)

These episodes were so much fun to record and release, and we hope you enjoy the window into our podcast's production and planning (haphazard, at best), and that you get a sense of the magic that makes it work. Enjoy! And we're back next week with a brilliant author interview - don't miss it!

*I mean, chances are SOMEONE was waiting for it...

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A Belated Q&A Episode: Part 1

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 11:00:59 GMT

We're nothing if not PROFESSIONAL and TIMELY around here... Oh, yes!

*cough*

Yeah, all right. So, on occasion, we do slip up a bit with the whole 'organisational skills' stuff. Here we have Part 1 of a 2-part episode, in which we attempt to answer the fiendishly tricky questions sent in by listeners. The fact that these questions were sent in so long ago that neither of us can remember exactly when? Psssshaw. Surely irrelevant. (But seriously: thanks to the listeners who sent in these questions, not just for the questions themselves, but for their patience in waiting for the answers!)

We tackle things like: what we've learned since becoming podcasters and what we wish we'd known before we started (spoiler: LOADS); books we'd recommend from the past three years (spoiler: ALSO LOADS); whether our definitions of 'Storyshaped' have changed since we started podcasting (spoiler: A BIT), and loads more. There'll be part 2 of this episode next week, and then after that we'll be back into the guest interviews (and spoiler: they're AMAZING).

For now, sit back, relax, and enjoy our Q and A episode: Part 1!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Deep Dive into Joan Aiken's The Wolves of Willoughby Chase

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 08:00:56 GMT

Get settled into your favourite chair, a glass of whatever pleases you in hand, and come with us on a journey through Joan Aiken's tiny masterpiece, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase. In it, we discuss not only Aiken's book, but also make mention of The Way Past Winter by Kiran Millwood Hargrave, The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis, and lots of other snowy, wintry children's stories.

This year, 2024, marks Joan Aiken's centenary - she would have turned 100 years old in September - so it's doubly appropriate that we salute the end of the year with a trip through one of her best loved books. Have you got your ice-skates on? Let's go - and watch out for the wooooooooooooolves....

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped with Cariad Lloyd

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 08:00:52 GMT

Today's episode is a chat with the brilliant Cariad Lloyd - podcaster extraordinaire (make sure to check out her award-winning and brilliant shows Sara and Cariad's Weirdos Book Club and Griefcast), actress and improv genius, parent, comedian, and author. We were delighted to have her join us on Storyshaped for a heartfelt and hilarious discussion about the stories which have shaped her throughout her remarkable life. Get settled... grab a cup of something delicious... and enjoy!

Books mentioned in this week's episode include Cariad's own:

You Are Not Alone

The Christmas Wish-Tastrophe

And the books which shaped her include:

The Moomins series by Tove Jansson

The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling

The Redwall series by Brian Jacques

The work of Judy Blume

The Brambly Hedge books by Jill Barklem

The Fairy Rebel by Lynne Reid Banks

The work of Anne Fine

The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien

The Collected Work of the Brothers Grimm

Shogun by James Clavell

The Asterix comics by René Goscinny, Albert Uderzo, Jean-Yves Ferri, Didier Conrad

The Tin-Tin comics by Hergé

Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild

The work of Terry Pratchett, including Carpet People, Diggers, and Truckers

Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

The Grimwood series by Nadia Shireen

Billy and the Pirates by Nadia Shireen

Clarice Bean by Lauren Child

The work of John Burningham

On-screen stories include:

Pride and Prejudice (BBC, 1995)

Some Like it Hot (1959)

The Ricki Lake Show (1993 - 2004)

Neighbours (1985 - present)

The Simpsons (1989 - present)

And... the Stephanie Burgis books Sinéad mentions are: A Most Improper Magick (Bk 1); A Tangle of Magicks (Bk 2); A Reckless Magick (Bk 3), available via Piccadilly Press or your fave bookseller! More information is available here: stephanieburgis.com

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Epic Christmas Gift Guide

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 08:08:22 GMT

WE'RE BACK, Storyshapers!

Today's episode is a MEGA AWESOME EPIC BUMPER Christmas gift guide - and when we say 'gift', we mean 'books'. Obviously. We're sharing some of the brilliant reads we've enjoyed this year and which we think would make great Christmas presents (or just 'Midwinter' presents, or indeed 'Holiday' presents, if Christmas ain't your vibe. It's all good!) This isn't to say that there aren't a TON more fantastic books out there - we know we missed some! - so please do let us know which ones you think we could've included, what you think of our choices, and if you've enjoyed any of them already.

On with the show!

Books mentioned in this episode include:

Last Stop on the Reindeer Express by Maudie Powell-Tuck and Karl J Mountford

Little Lion Girl by Olivia Hope and Fiona Woodcock

Dinosaur Pie by Jen Wallace and Alan O’Rourke

Panda and Penguin Find a Thing by Zehra Hicks

Wolf and Bear by Kate Rolfe

Faedom by Lorna White, Agnes Monod-Gayroud, and Nadzeya Makeyeva

Bertha and Blink: Rumble in the Jungle by Nicola Colton

Jasper and Scruff (series) by Nicola Colton

A Dublin Christmas by Nicola Colton

Lola and Larch Make a Winter Wish by Sinéad O’Hart and Rachel Seago

The House at the End of the Sea by Victoria M. Adams

The Christmas Wish-tastrophe by Cariad Lloyd, illustrated by Ma Pe

The World Between the Rain by Susan Cahill

Sword of the Sun by Sinéad O'Hart

The Imaginary by AF Harrold and Emily Gravett

The Worlds We Leave Behind AF Harrold and Levi Pinfold

The Song From Somewhere Else AF Harrold and Levi Pinfold

The October Witches by Jennifer Claessen

The November Witches by Jennifer Claessen

The December Witches by Jennifer Claessen

Magicalia: Race of Wonders by Jennifer Bell

Spooksmiths Investigate: The Cinderman by Alex Atkinson

Bird Boy by Catherine Bruton

I Am Wolf by Alastair Chisholm

Dreamhunters by Nazima Pathan

The Kingdom Over the Sea by Zohra Nabi

Safiyyah's War by Hiba Noor Khan

The Stitchwort Curse by Alexandra Dawe

One Chance Dance by Efua Traoré

Tide Magic: The Many Faces of Ista Flit by Clare Harlow

Gargoyles: Guardians of the Source by Tamsin Mori

The Storm Swimmer by Clare Weze

Flame Chasers by Julie Pike

Terra Electrica: The Guardians of the North by Antonia Maxwell

These Stolen Lives by Sharada Keats

Braids Take a Day by Zainab Boladale

Don't Touch My Hair by Emma Dabiri

Splinters by Rachel Delahaye

Steady for This by Nathanael Lessore

Thunder City by Philip Reeve

The Haunted Wood: A History of Childhood Reading by Sam Leith

Wolfish: The Stories We Tell About Fear, Ferocity and Freedom by Erica Berry

A Map for Falasteen by Maysa Odeh, Aliaa Betawi

In Ireland, check out www.kennys.ie for free shipping within Ireland (yay!)

Please try to support your local bookshops with your purchases. Happy reading!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

SEASON FINALE: Getting Storyshaped With SF Said

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 07:00:32 GMT

In 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 impact that stories have on the minds, hearts, and lives of those who consume them, are truly worth hearing - so come and spend an hour with us!

And a quick housekeeping announcement from your hosts:

We'll return in a wee while with a special bonus Q&A episode, where we'll answer some brilliant questions sent in by listeners, and after that we'll be taking a hiatus from Storyshaped while we sort out one or two pesky things (like life, family, and work!) But rest assured, Storyshapers: we, like the Terminator, will be back. Thank you all for listening, rating, reviewing, sharing, and sitting down with us over the past two seasons, while we've asked a variety of excellent people: Are you Storyshaped? We can't wait to get back to it, just as soon as we can. While you're waiting for our return: please help yourselves to our back catalogue and any bonus episodes we release, and do continue sharing, rating, and reviewing the show, as it really does help us to keep producing it for you.

But for now: have some fantastic Storyshaped chat with the brilliant SF Said.

Books mentioned in this week's episode include SF's own:

Varjak Paw

The Outlaw Varjak Paw

Phoenix

Tyger (all published by David Fickling Books)

And the stories which shaped him include:

The Cat in the Hat, by Dr Seuss

The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

On Liberty, by John Stuart Mill

The work of William Blake

Comics, including:

Marvel

Asterix

Tintin

Peanuts

Mad Magazine

Calvin & Hobbes

Watership Down, by Richard Adams

The Sandman, by Neil Gaiman and various artists (incl. Dave McKean)

Cages, written and illustrated by Dave McKean

A Wizard of Earthsea, by Ursula K Le Guin

His Dark Materials, by Philip Pullman

Noughts and Crosses, by Malorie Blackman

Skellig, by David Almond

Journey Back to Freedom, by Catherine Johnson

The Essays of C.S. Lewis

The Letters of JRR Tolkien

The work of George MacDonald, including The Princess and the Goblin

The work of William Morris

The work of Lord Dunsany (1878-1957)

Film and TV:

Star Wars

Star Trek

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped With Ann Sei Lin

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 07:00:49 GMT

We 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 author and create such a rich, immersive story world. We hope you're not afraid of heights...

Books mentioned this week include Ann's own:

Rebel Skies (Walker Books)

Rebel Fire (Walker Books)

And the stories which have shaped her include:

The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd

The Phantom of the Opera, by Gaston Leroux

The work of JRR Tolkien

The work of Terry Pratchett

The work of Robin Hobb

The work of Robert Jordan

The work of Julie Kagawa

The Twelve Kingdoms (manga), by Fuyumi Ono

His Dark Materials, by Philip Pullman

Orihima and Hikoboshi - a Japanese folktale

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Immortal Rain (manga), by Kaori Ozaki

The Shadow Skye trilogy, by Joseph Elliott

Lonely Castle in the Mirror, by Mizuki Tsujimura

Yellowface, by RF Kuang

Babel, by RF Kuang

Sixteen Souls, by Rosie Talbot

Catfish Rolling, by Clara Kumagai

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped With Alice Ross

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 07:00:19 GMT

Susan 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 us as we get Storyshaped!

Books mentioned in this week's episode include Alice's own:

The Nowhere Thief (Nosy Crow)

And the books and stories which shaped her include:

The Mr Men books, by Roger Hargreaves

The work of CS Lewis

The work of Roald Dahl

The work of Laura Ingalls Wilder

Ramona and Beezus, by Beverly Cleary

Malory Towers, by Enid Blyton

Gobbolino the Witch's Cat, by Ursula Moray Williams

Charmed Life, by Diana Wynne Jones

The Lives of Christopher Chant, by Diana Wynne Jones

The Magician's Nephew, by CS Lewis

The Homeward Bounders, by Diana Wynne Jones

Hidden Turnings, ed. Diana Wynne Jones

(inc. The Walled Garden, by Lisa Tuttle)

Tom's Midnight Garden, by Philippa Pearce

Fire and Hemlock, by Diana Wynne Jones

Reflections: On the Magic of Writing, by Diana Wynne Jones

Howl's Moving Castle, by Diana Wynne Jones

The work of Holly Jackson

One of Us Is Lying, by Karen McManus

This Book Kills, by Ravena Guron

The Thief of Farrowfell, by Ravena Guron

The work of Anne Rice

Lockwood and Co., by Jonathan Stroud

The work of Stephen King

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped With Ally Sherrick

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 07:00:02 GMT

We 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! Let's get Storyshaped.

Find Ally online at her website

Books mentioned in this week's episode include Ally's own (all published by Chicken House):

Black Powder

The Buried Crown

The Queen's Fool

Vita and the Gladiators

And the stories that shaped her include:

Winnie the Pooh, by A.A. Milne and E.H. Shepard

My Naughty Little Sister, by Dorothy Edwards and Shirley Hughes

Charlie and Fred - stories made up by Ally's (wonderful) dad!

Just-So Stories, by Rudyard Kipling, especially The Elephant's Child

The Highwayman, by Alfred Noyes

Le Petit Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, by Joan Aiken

Black Hearts in Battersea, by Joan Aiken

Nightbirds on Nantucket, by Joan Aiken

A Small Pinch of Weather, by Joan Aiken

A Necklace of Raindrops, by Joan Aiken

A Traveller in Time, by Alison Uttley

The Ghost of Thomas Kempe, by Penelope Lively

Carrie's War, by Nina Bawden

The Wake, by Paul Kingsnorth

The Eagle of the Ninth, by Rosemary Sutcliff

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped With Alan Titley

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 07:00:06 GMT

This 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 breadth, and it was a privilege to get a window into it. Come and join us!

Books mentioned in this week's episode include some of Alan's own:

Amach (An Gúm, 2004)

The Táin, ill. Eoin Coveney (Little Island, 2023)

Leabhar Nóra Ní Anluain (Cló Iar-Chonnacht)

And the stories that shaped him include:

The New Testament of the Bible

Don Quixote, by Miguel de Cervantes

Comics including The Beano, The Dandy, Topper, Rupert the Bear

Black Beauty, by Anna Sewell

The work of Jack Kerouac

The work of DH Lawrence

The short stories of Frank O'Connor

The Touch/An Teagmháil, by Liam O'Flaherty

The Majesty of the Law, by Frank O'Connor

The work of Seosamh MacGrianna

The work of W.M. Thackeray

The work of Jane Austen

The work of Pádraic Ó Conaire

The work of Seamus Delargy and the Irish Folklore Commission, including:

Leabhair Seán Uí Chonaill/Seán O'Connell's Book

The work of W. Somerset Maugham

The work of Thomas Kenneally

Cré na Cille, by Máirtín Ó Cadhain

(Alan's translation: The Dirty Dust, Yale University Press, 2015)

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped With Victoria Williamson

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 07:00:05 GMT

Spend 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 social justice and other causes close to her heart, and what authorly ambitions she has yet to achieve. Come and join us, and find out how Victoria is Storyshaped.

Find Victoria online via her website

Books mentioned in this week's episode include Victoria's own:

The Boy With the Butterfly Mind

The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle

Hagstorm

War of the Wind

The Pawnshop of Stolen Dreams

And the stories that shaped her include:

The Hobbit, by JRR Tolkien

Lord of the Rings, by JRR Tolkien

The work of Stephen King

The work of Monica Dickens

The Tripods, by John Christopher

The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, aged 13 3/4, by Sue Townsend

The Hardy Boys (and later iterations), originally created and written by Franklin W. Dixon

Maps, atlases, and books about travel

The work of Jane Austen, the Brontes, Thomas Hardy, Charles Dickens

Harry Potter, by JK Rowling (these books set Victoria on the road to becoming a children's writer)

Treasures of the Snow, by Patricia St John

The Chrysalids, by John Wyndham

The work of MR James

Victorian Gothic Stories and Ghost stories (in general)

Rivet Boy, by Barbara Henderson

Euro Spies, by Lindsay Littleton

Haarville, by Justin Davies

Into the Faerie Hill, by HS Norup

The Silver Road, by Sinéad O'Hart

TV influences include:

Star Trek

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped With Louie Stowell

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 07:00:56 GMT

Join 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 want to miss it!

Find Louie online at her website

Books mentioned in this week's episode include Louie's own:

The Dragon in the Library

The Monster in the Lake

The Wizard in the Wood

Otherland

Loki: A Bad God's Guide to Being Good

Loki: A Bad God's Guide to Taking the Blame

Loki: A Bad God's Guide to Ruling the World

And the stories which shaped her include:

Norse Myths that Shaped the Way We Think, by Carolyne Larrington

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, by Alan Moore

Comics including:

Superman and Batman

The Dark Knight Returns

2000 AD

Oink

Halo Jones

Bumble and Snug, by Mark Bradley

The Rivers of London, by Ben Aaronovitch

Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman

The City and the City, by China Miéville

The Books of Magic, by Neil Gaiman and various artists

The Expanse (series), by James S.A. Corey

Chutzpah, by Jan Mark

Hairs on the Palm of the Hand, by Jan Mark

Just William, by Richmal Crompton

The Tripods, by John Christopher

Space Hostages, by Nicholas Fisk

The Lord of the Rings, by JRR Tolkien

Paradise Lost, by John Milton

The Screwtape Letters, by C.S. Lewis

The Light Between Worlds, by Laura E. Weymouth

Other media:

A BBC Radio Play of The Lord of the Rings

The Ring Cycle by Wagner (TV Production)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)

Hannibal (TV series)

The Walking Dead (TV series)

Good Omens, by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (book and TV series)

Classic KitKat advertisement from the 1980s - No Rest for the Wicked

The best version of LOTR ever (according to Louie)

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped With Rebecca Schiller

Thu, 25 May 2023 07:00:19 GMT

A 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 you to come with us on this bookish ramble, where we'll find out how Rebecca is Storyshaped.

Find Rebecca online at her website

Follow Rebecca on Instagram

Rebecca founded the Mothers Who Write community

More information on the courses Rebecca runs for writers and creatives

Books mentioned in this week's episode include Rebecca's own:

Earthed: A Memoir (published as A Thousand Ways to Pay Attention in the United States)

Your No Guilt Pregnancy Plan

Amazing Activists Who Are Changing Our World, illustrated by Sophie Beer

And the stories which have shaped her include:

The Peter and Jane books, published by Ladybird

Stories from the Bible

The Wild Other, by Clover Stroud

Anne of Green Gables, by LM Montgomery

Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte

A Little Princess and The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Railway Children, by E. Nesbit

The Regeneration Trilogy, by Pat Barker

Life Class, by Pat Barker

The Skylarks' War, by Hilary McKay

This Must Be the Place, by Maggie O'Farrell

Hamnet, by Maggie O'Farrell

Shopaholic Ties the Knot, by Sophie Kinsella

Also mentioned: Five Children on the Western Front, by Kate Saunders

The Passion, by Jeanette Winterson

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped With Jenny McLachlan

Thu, 18 May 2023 07:00:15 GMT

Well, 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 know the powerhouse that is Jenny McLachlan, and find out her answer to our perennial question: Are You Storyshaped?

Find Jenny online:

www.jennymclachlan.com

Her Twitter

Books mentioned in this week's episode include Jenny's own:

Flirty Dancing

Love Bomb

Star Struck

Stargazing for Beginners

Sunkissed

Truly, Wildly, Deeply

The Land of Roar

Return to Roar

The Battle for Roar

Dead Good Detectives

Pet Quest

The Jumpy Bumpy Feeling

The Quack in the Kitchen

There's a Chicken in my Bookbag

Zoom to the Moon,

Stink: Worst. Fairy. Ever.

And the stories that shaped her include:

Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad

Topsy and Tim, by Jean and Gareth Anderson

Helpers, Alfie, Moving Molly, and Dogger by Shirley Hughes

The work of Jackie Collins

The work of Jilly Cooper

Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte

The work of Jane Austen

The work of Charles Dickens

The Beano comic

Pippin in Playland comic

Annuals: Twinkle, Bunty, Mandy

Bella magazine

Just Seventeen magazine

Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison

The work of Jacqueline Wilson

Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte

Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare

Circe, by Madeleine Miller

The Silence of the Girls, by Pat Barker

Utterly Dark and the Face of the Deep, by Philip Reeve

The work of M.G. Leonard (check out our podcast chat with M.G. here)

TV influences:

Succession

Game of Thrones

Saving Lives at Sea (TV documentary)

Print Media:

Joseph Coelho: I set out to find the happiness I felt as a child, and it worked

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped With Jasbinder Bilan

Thu, 11 May 2023 07:00:35 GMT

We 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

Tamarind and the Star of Ishta

Aarti and the Blue Gods

Xanthe and the Ruby Crown

India Incredible India (illustrated by Nina Chakrabarti)

And the stories which shaped her include:

The wonderful stories told to her by her grandma, and the real-life stories experienced by her family - including the story of Oma the Wild Monkey, who took Jasbinder's brother up a tree!

Skyhawk, by Gill Lewis

The work of Emma Carroll

The Hobbit, by JRR Tolkien

The Chronicles of Narnia, by CS Lewis

From Spare Oom to Ward Robe by Katherine Langrish

A collection of Greek myths, with Pegasus on the cover!

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, particularly an edition translated by Simon Armitage and illustrated by Clive Hickes-Jenkins

A wide range of mythology, and also stories told through songs

Journey to Jo'burg, by Beverley Naidoo

Wild Song, by Candy Gourlay

Stolen History: The Truth about the British Empire and How it Shaped Us, by Sathnam Sanghera

The Last Whale, by Chris Vick

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped With Leona Forde

Thu, 04 May 2023 07:00:03 GMT

Sinéad 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:

Milly McCarthy is a Complete Catastrophe

And the stories that shaped her include:

The folktales and mythology she learned from her grandmother, Mrs Maureen Herbert

The music, traditional ballads and songs played by her father and her family members

The song Leona mentions is this one:

Dublin in the Rare Oul Times by the Dubliners

The Famous Five, by Enid Blyton

The Secret Seven, by Enid Blyton

Revolting Rhymes, by Roald Dahl

The Cremation of Sam McGee, by Robert W. Service

Under the Hawthorn Tree, by Marita Conlon McKenna

Across the Barricades, by Joan Lingard

The Herbalist, by Niamh Boyce

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous, by Ocean Vuong

The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne

The Secret Scripture, by Sebastian Barry

Small Things Like These, by Claire Keegan

Foster, by Claire Keegan

The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton

Catch a Fire: The Life of Bob Marley, by Timothy White

Oi Puppies, by Kes Grey

Be Wild, Little One, by Olivia Hope and Daniel Egnéus

Fidget the Wonder Dog, by Patricia Forde and Rachel Saunders

The Little Bee Charmer of Henrietta Street, by Sarah Webb

A Game of Life or Death, by Triona Campbell

The Time Tider, by Sinéad O'Hart

Lessons in Chemistry, by Bonnie Garmus

All the Broken Places, by John Boyne

The Queen of Dirt Island by Donal Ryan

Trespasses, by Louise Kennedy

Short Stories by Frank O'Connor

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped With Vashti Hardy

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 07:00:23 GMT

This 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 enjoy it! - do please share it, and spread the word. Let's grow the Storyshaped community!

Books mentioned in this week's episode include Vashti's own:

The Brightstorm Chronicles (Brightstorm, Darkwhispers, Firesong, and Serpent of the Sands)

Wildspark

Crowfall

The Harley Hitch Series

The Griffin Gate Series

And the stories which have shaped her include:

My Naughty Little Sister, by Dorothy Edwards, ill. Shirley Hughes

The Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle

Rebecca's World, by Terry Nation

Mold and the Poison Plot, by Lorraine Gregory

Ghost Stories, by Pamela Oldfield

Chocky, and Day of the Triffids, by John Wyndham

Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier

I Capture the Castle, by Dodie Smith

Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte

The work of Marcus Sedgwick

The Cone Gatherers, by Robin Jenkins

Z for Zachariah, by Robert C. O'Brien

The Sisterhood, by Katherine Bradley

Her Dark Wings, by Melinda Salisbury

The Girl Who Broke the Sea, by A Connors

Wild: Tales from Early Medieval Britain, by Amy Jeffs

Movie influences include: Star Wars

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped with H.S. Norup

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 07:00:17 GMT

This 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.com

Twitter: H.S. Norup

Books mentioned in this week's episode include Helle's own:

The Missing Barbegazi (Pushkin Children's)

The Hungry Ghost (Pushkin Children's)

Into the Faerie Hill (Pushkin Children's)

And the books which shaped her include:

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

The Never Ending Story by Michael Ende

The Brothers Lionheart by Astrid Lindgren

Ronja the Robber's Daughter by Astrid Lindgren

Emil and the Detectives by Eric Kastner

Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren

The Famous Five by Enid Blyton

The work of Agatha Christie

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula le Guin

Dune by Frank Herbert

His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman

Unraveller by Frances Hardinge

"Fairy tales are more than true - not because they tell us dragons exist, but because they tell us dragons can be beaten." Neil Gaiman, misquoting G.K. Chesterton

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped with Julie Pike

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 07:00:53 GMT

This 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 in this week's episode include Julie's own:

The Last Spell Breather (OUP, 2019)

And the stories that shaped her include:

Chris Addison's blog 'Two Ways into a Theatre'

Brandon Sanderson's blogs on how to write magic systems:

Sanderson's First Law

Sanderson's Second Law

Sanderson's Third Law

An episode of Dr Who (with Tom Baker as the Doctor) which featured fish monsters:

Dr Who: Full Circle

The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton

Lirael by Garth Nix

Sabriel by Garth Nix

Abhorsen by Garth Nix

The books of Barbara Cartland, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Georgette Heyer

A Most Improper Magick by Stephanie Burgis

A Tangle of Magicks by Stephanie Burgis

A Reckless Magick by Stephanie Burgis

Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne

The Cadfael Chronicles (series) by Ellis Peters

Star Trek

Mixed Magics by Diana Wynne Jones

Mysteries of the Unknown: Monsters, Ghosts and UFOs by Carey Miller, Christopher Maynard, Ted Wilding-White

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped With Sabine Adeyinka

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 07:00:02 GMT

For 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 River School

And the stories that shaped her include:

Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe

Malory Towers, by Enid Blyton

St. Clare's, by Enid Blyton

Aké: The Years of Childhood, by Wole Soyinka

The Beano comic

Tin Tin, by Hergé

Archie and Veronica (comic), created by Bob Montana and John L. Goldwater

The Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Grahame; ill. Ernest Shepard, Arthur Ransome, Charles van Sandwyck

Becoming, by Michelle Obama

To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

Go Set a Watchman, by Harper Lee

The books of Efua Traoré

Half of a Yellow Sun, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

The Bible

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped With Frances Hardinge

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 07:00:00 GMT

This 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 has shaped and formed Frances and her books, and forgive our (alright, Sinéad's) excited fangirling. (She regrets nothing.)

Books mentioned in this episode include Frances's own:

Fly By Night

Twilight Robbery

Gullstruck Island

Verdigris Deep

A Face Like Glass

Cuckoo Song

The Lie Tree

A Skinful of Shadows

Deeplight

Unraveller

The stories that have shaped Frances include:

The Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle

James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl

Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams

The Colour of Magic, by Terry Pratchett

The Time of the Ghost, by Diana Wynne Jones

The Thirteen Clocks, by James Thurber

The Moomintroll series of stories, by Tove Jansson

Watership Down, by Richard Adams

The Bear and the Nightingale, by Katherine Arden

The Girl in the Tower, by Katherine Arden

Her Dark Wings, by Melinda Salisbury

Leila and the Blue Fox, by Kiran Millwood Hargrave and Tom de Freston

And the collected work of H. Mills West (listen to the episode to find the touching reason why this writer's work is included.)

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Deep Dive into Pat O'Shea's The Hounds of the Mórrígan

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 08:27:10 GMT

WELCOME 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 so much more. Join us and be swept away by the magic of this wonderful book (which we do our best not to spoil - fingers crossed!) and get settled in for a new season of your favourite children's literature podcast.

Welcome back! We're so glad to be here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Deep Dive into Susan Cooper's The Dark Is Rising

Thu, 22 Dec 2022 08:00:54 GMT

This 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 hearts, that this episode was the MOST fun to record. Please do come with us as we dive deep into this beautiful book, which has Storyshaped us both, and get ready to whisper with us:

When the Dark comes rising, six shall turn it back,

Three from the circle, three from the track;

Wood, bronze, iron, water, fire, stone;

Five will return, and one go alone...

Many different editions of Susan Cooper's classic book exist, but this is a recent edition which might be easily accessible: The Dark Is Rising

Biographical details about Cooper's life and work are drawn from her website: The Lost Land of Susan Cooper

We draw on Heritage Artefacts of County Cork by Denis Power and Mary Sleeman (2022) for some of our insights into the mandala symbol

Referenced in the episode is this blog post: https://consolationofreading.wordpress.com/tag/piers-plowman/

We also make reference to A Guidebook to Piers Plowman by Anna Baldwin, Palgrave Macmillan, 2007

Susan draws on Britannic Myths by Steven O'Brien and Joe Machine (ill.) in our discussion of Herne the Hunter and Wayland Smith

The podcast dramatisation of The Dark is Rising can be found on Spotify here: BBC Sounds Robert MacFarlane The Dark is Rising Adaptation

And the brilliant Backlisted Podcast episode with Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris is here: Backlisted Podcast

Thank you all so much for listening to Season 1 of Storyshaped! We're delighted to have reached so many ears, and we hope to reach many more in Season 2 - we'll be back in 2023 with more guest interviews and lots more bookish joy. Until then: all our best wishes for the Festive Season to everyone who celebrates, however you celebrate, and whatever you're doing: make sure to find a nice quiet corner to curl up in with a good book.

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped With Sharon Gosling

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 08:00:23 GMT

We 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:

The Diamond Thief, winner of the Redbridge Children’s Book Award 2014

The Ruby Airship

The Sapphire Cutlass

The Golden Butterfly

House of Hidden Wonders

The Extraordinary Voyage of Katy Willacott.

Her adult books have included The House Beneath the Cliffs and The Lighthouse Bookshop

And the stories that shaped her include:

Little Grey Rabbit, by Alison Uttley

Meg and Mog, by Helen Nicoll and Jan Pienkowski

Boys' Best Adventures (any books that helped you to survive in the wild)

The Circus of Adventure, by Enid Blyton

Amazon Adventure, by Willard Price

Beaver Towers, by Nigel Hinton

When Marnie Was There, by Joan Robinson

The Girl Who Ran Away, by Joan Robinson

The Flight of the Doves, by Walter Macken

Trixie Belden series, by Julie Campbell Tathem and others

The Hardy Boys, by Franklin W. Dixon (collective pen-name)

Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott

The Animals of Farthing Wood, by Colin Dann

Twenty-Five Years in the Word Mines, by Graham Joyce

Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? by Jeanette Winterson

The novels of Terry Pratchett

Babel, by R.F. Kuang

The British Library collections of short stories

The novels and short stories of Shirley Jackson

The work of Kelly Link

Hag, edited by Carolyne Larrington

Folk, by Zoe Gilbert

Parnassus on Wheels, by Christopher Morley

A Necklace of Raindrops and Other Stories, by Joan Aiken

The Faithless Lollybird, by Joan Aiken

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped With M.G. Leonard

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 08:00:01 GMT

Today'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

Beetle Queen

The Battle of the Beetles

The Beetle Collectors' Handbook (non-fiction)

The Tale of a Toothbrush

The Highland Falcon Thief (with Sam Sedgman)

Kidnap on the California Comet (with Sam Sedgman)

Murder on the Safari Star (with Sam Sedgman)

Danger at Dead Man's Pass (with Sam Sedgman)

Sabotage on the Solar Express (with Sam Sedgman)

The Arctic Railway Assassin (with Sam Sedgman)

Twitch

Spark

The Ice Children

The stories which shaped her include:

Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

Roald Dahl, The Twits

The Work of Enid Blyton

Astrid Lindgren, Pippi Longstocking

William Shakespeare, Macbeth

E.L. Grant Watson, What to Look for in Autumn (Ladybird Book)

Elise Rousseau and Phillipe J. Dubois, A Short Philosophy of Birds

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped With Efua Traoré

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 08:00:42 GMT

It'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 published story was shaped, and by whom; listen in as she shares her dreams for the future of children's literature in Nigeria and in Africa, and stay with us till the end for some tantalising hints about what's next from this incredible author! Are you ready? Then, let's get Storyshaped.

Books mentioned in this week's episode include Efua's own:

Children of the Quicksands

The House of Shells

The stories which shaped Efua include:

Tales by Moonlight - a TV show from Efua's childhood in Nigeria which retold stories from folklore

Enid Blyton, The Famous Five

Alf Proysen, Mrs Pepperpot

C.S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia

Astrid Lindgren, The Six Bullerby Children

Otfried Preussler, The Little Water-Sprite

Tales From... (A collection of folktales and legends from all around the world)

Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

Arthur Conan Doyle, The Speckled Band (Sherlock Holmes)

Arthur Conan Doyle, The Hound of the Baskervilles (Sherlock Holmes)

Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Purple Hibiscus

Sabine Adeyinka, Jummy at the River School

Tolá Okogwu, Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun

Tomi Adeyemi, Children of Blood and Bone

Nnedi Okorafor, Akata Witch

Natasha Bowen, Skin of the Sea

Namina Forna, The Gilded Ones

Jordan Ifueko, Raybearer

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped with Katharine and Liz Corr

Thu, 24 Nov 2022 08:00:11 GMT

This 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 they owe to Anne-with-an-E Shirley. Let's get Storyshaped!

Among the books mentioned this week are Katharine and Liz's own:

The Witch's Kiss

The Witch's Tears

The Witch's Blood

A Throne of Swans

A Crown of Talons

Daughter of Darkness

Queen of Gods (forthcoming 2023)

And the stories that shaped them include:

The Peter and Jane Ladybird Reading Scheme books, written by William Murray and illustrated by Robert Ayton

The Hobbit, by JRR Tolkien

The Pied Piper of Hamelin, written by Robert Browning and illustrated by Kate Greenaway

The Water Babies, by Charles Kingsley

The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis

The Dark is Rising, by Susan Cooper

The Grey King, by Susan Cooper

The novels of Isaac Asimov

Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen

Lord of the Rings, by JRR Tolkien

The Gormenghast Trilogy, by Mervyn Peake

Gods, Men and Monsters by Michael Gibson and Giovanni Caselli

The myth of Perseus

Mythologica, by Stephen Kershaw and illustrated by Victoria Topping (erroneously referred to as 'Mythipedia' in the episode!)

Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer

The novels of Terry Pratchett

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped With Debbie Thomas

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 08:00:19 GMT

This 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 who also uses her storytelling skills to show every single child the true value of story: that their story is important, and that they're worth being listened to.

Find Debbie online via her website and find out more about her books, and her work with children in direct provision, in underprivileged areas, and in hospitals

Books mentioned in this week's episode include Debbie's own:

Dead Hairy (Mercier Press)

Jungle Tangle (Mercier Press)

Monkie Business (Mercier Press)

Class Act (Mercier Press)

My Secret Dragon (Little Island)

Chameleon Dad (Little Island)

And the stories and books which shaped her include:

The Storytelling Animal, by Jonathan Gottschall

The Seven Basic Plots, by Christopher Booker

The Science of Storytelling, by Will Storr

Andrew Stanton: The Clues to a Great Story (TED Talk)

Steering the Craft, by Ursula K. Le Guin

Harry the Dog (series), by Gene Zion

Flat Stanley (series), by Jeff Brown

The King of the Copper Mountains, by Paul Biegel

My Naughty Little Sister (series), by Dorothy Edwards and Shirley Hughes

The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis

The work of Roald Dahl

The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster

The Tin Drum, by Gunter Grass

Midnight's Children, by Salman Rushdie

The Dragonfly Pool, by Eva Ibbotson

The Abominables, by Eva Ibbotson

East of Eden, by John Steinbeck

The International Yeti Collective, by Paul Mason and Katy Riddell

The Annotated Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster, ill. Jules Feiffer, Notes by Leonard S. Marcus

Collected Fairy Tales

"This life was hired out to me/To decorate the earth with glee."

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped With Aislinn O'Loughlin

Thu, 10 Nov 2022 08:00:17 GMT

This 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 ramble through Aislinn's Storyshaped life!

Find Aislinn's book online via her publisher: https://www.littleisland.ie/products/big-bad-me

Follow Aislinn on Twitter: www.twitter.com/AshiLockie

Books mentioned in this episode include Aislinn's own:

Cinderella's Fella, illustrated by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick

A Right Royal Pain, illustrated by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick

Fionn the Cool

Shak and the Beanstalk

Big Bad Me (Little Island Books, 2022)

And the books which Storyshaped her include:

The Fairytales of the Brothers Grimm

The Fairytales of Hans Christian Andersen

Matilda, by Roald Dahl

Mort, by Terry Pratchett

The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde

The Princess Bride, by William Goldman

Carrie, and Misery, by Stephen King

Harrow Lake, and Wicked Little Deeds, by Cat Ellis

The work of Cynthia Murphy, Kathryn Foxfield, Amy McCaw, and Naomi Gibson

The Haunting of Tyrese Walker, by JP Rose

Crater Lake, by Jennifer Killick

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped With Nicola Colton

Thu, 03 Nov 2022 08:00:46 GMT

In 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 online at her website: www.nicolacolton.com

Follow her on Twitter: www.twitter.com/NicolaColton1

Follow her on Instagram: www.instagram.com/NicolaColton1/

Books mentioned in this week's episode include Nicola's own:

Jasper and Scruff

Jasper and Scruff: The Hunt for the Golden Bone

Jasper and Scruff: Take a Bow

Jasper and Scruff: The Great Cat Cake-Off!

Fizzy and Bandit (with Sarah Crossan)

Fizzy and the Party (with Sarah Crossan)

A Dublin Fairytale

A Dublin Christmas

Zim Zam Zoom (with James Carter)

The stories that shaped her include:

Roald Dahl, Revolting Rhymes

Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Roald Dahl, Matilda

Roald Dahl, George's Marvellous Medicine

Garfield (comic strip, created by Jim Davis, est. 1978)

Dinosaurs magazine

Treasures of the Earth magazine

Out of this World: The Illustrated Library of the Bizarre and the Extraordinary (24 vols), ed Perrott Philips

J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit

J.R.R. Tolkien, Lord of the Rings

Sweet Valley High, created by Francine Pascal

The novels of Stephen King and Anne Rice

Jayde Perkins, Mum's Jumper

Paula Bowles, Tiny Crab is a Tidy Crab

Freya Hartas and Joseph Coelho, Zombierella and Creeping Beauty

Freya Hartas, Slow Down

Caroline O'Donoghue, All Our Hidden Gifts

Movie/screen influences include:

Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)

The Simpsons (1989-present)

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped With Louise O'Neill

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 07:00:56 GMT

DISCLAIMER/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 thinker, cultural critic, and creator that she is today, and the books that made her realise: I can be a writer, too.

Find Louise online:

Via her agents, Mushens Entertainment

Books mentioned in this week's episode include Louise's own:

Only Ever Yours

Asking For It

The Surface Breaks

Almost Love

After The Silence

Idol

And the books which Storyshaped her include:

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

The books of Enid Blyton

The books of Roald Dahl

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

Only a Paper Moon and Catch the Magpie by Tina (Cristina) Pisco

The Babysitters' Club by Ann M. Martin

Amongst Women by John McGahern

Rachel's Holiday by Marian Keyes

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman

Sweet Valley High created by Francine Pascal

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Pants on Fire by Maggie Alderson

Sushi For Beginners by Marian Keyes

The novels of Louise Bagshawe

The Stormkeeper's Island trilogy by Catherine Doyle

The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron

The Double Love podcast - not Double Trouble, as we say, erroneously, in the episode - is available here

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped with Sam Thompson

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 07:00:52 GMT

It'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 ambient stories, among many other brilliant things. Come and join us as we find out the answer to the question: Sam Thompson, are you Storyshaped?

Find Sam online at:

https://samthompsonwriter.com

Books mentioned in this episode include Sam's own:

Communion Town (2012, Fourth Estate)

Jott (2018, John Murray)

Wolfstongue (2021, Little Island)

The Fox's Tower (2022, Little Island)

And Sam's Storyshaped books include:

Haunted House by Jan Pienkowski

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

The Lord of the Flies by William Golding

The Tower by William Butler Yeats

The Magus by John Fowles

The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje

The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by the Pearl poet (14th Century); J.R.R. Tolkien did a good modern edition

The Tempest by William Shakespeare

Red Shift, Boneland and The Owl Service by Alan Garner

The Iron Man by Ted Hughes

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken

The Tripods by John Christopher

The novels of John Wyndham (including Day of the Triffids, The Midwich Cuckoos, and The Chrysalids)

A fascinating interview with Alan Garner about his Booker-prize shortlisted Treacle Walker

Mind out of Time: An Interview with Alan Garner

Treacle Walker: Alan Garner and Elizabeth Garner in Conversation

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS EPISODE! Celebrating Irish Book Week - an Interview With Sinéad O'Hart

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 08:46:45 GMT

Don'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 scheduled episode, and for now? Just enjoy this extra hour-and-a-bit of bookish chat.

Find out more about Irish Book Week here: https://www.publishingireland.com/irish-book-week-15th-22nd-oct-2022/

Find out more about Sinéad O'Hart (your fearless co-host) here: https://sjohart.wordpress.com/

All the info you'll need about Susan Cahill (your other fearless co-host) is here: https://susancahill.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped With Nicola Penfold

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 07:34:50 GMT

What 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 incredibly gripping adventures, too. Come with us as we take a trip through Nicola's bookish memories, and discover the stories which shaped her into the author, and climate activist, she is today.

Nicola's website is: www.nicolapenfold.com

Follow her on Twitter: @nicolapenfold

Follow her on Instagram: @nicolapenfoldauthor

Books mentioned in this week's episode include Nicola's own:

Where The World Turns Wild

Between Sea and Sky

Beyond the Frozen Horizon

and also...

The books of Shirley Hughes

Spot the Dog by Eric Hill

The work of Enid Blyton, including the Famous Five and the Malory Towers books, and The Island of Adventure and The Ship of Adventure

The Jill books by Ruby Ferguson

The Jinny and Shantih books by Patricia Leitch

The Silver Brumby by Elyne Mitchell

The Animals of Farthing Wood by Colin Dann

Varjak Paw and The Outlaw Varjak Paw by SF Said

The pony books of Christine and Josephine Pullein-Thompson

The Sadlers Wells ballet books by Lorna Hill

A Stitch in Time by Penelope Lively

The Way to Sattin Shore by Philippa Pearce

Tom's Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce

Dark Matter by Michelle Paver

Children of the Dust by Louise Lawrence

Calling B for Butterfly by Louise Lawrence

The Last Storyteller by Donna Barba Higuera (The Last Cuentista in the US/Canada)

The Cats We Meet Along the Way by Nadia Mikail

Losing Eden: Why Our Minds Need the Wild by Lucy Jones

The Overstory by Richard Powers

Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt

Talking in Whispers James Watson

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

Kiss the Dust by Elizabeth Laird

Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

I Am David by Anne Holm

The Silver Sword Ian Seraillier

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped With ER Murray

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 07:00:25 GMT

This 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 Storyshaped.

Find Elizabeth online at:

www.twitter.com/ermurray

www.instagram.com/elizabethrosemurray

Elizabeth's Website

Books mentioned in this episode include Elizabeth's own:

The Book of Learning, ER Murray

The Book of Shadows, ER Murray

The Book of Revenge, ER Murray

Caramel Hearts, ER Murray

Women on Nature, ed. Katharine Norbury

The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Little Princess, Frances Hodgson Burnett

Brambly Hedge, written and illustrated by Jill Barklem

What Do People Do All Day? by Richard Scarry

The Complete Poems of Edgar Allan Poe

Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard, by Thomas Gray

Hard Times, by Charles Dickens

Wuthering Heights, by Charlotte Bronte

Kestrel for a Knave, by Barry Hines

Sweet Valley Twins/Sweet Valley High, created by Francine Pascal

Other Words for Smoke, by Sarah Maria Griffin

Junk, by Melvin Burgess

Tangleweed and Brine, by Deirdre Sullivan

Savage Her Reply, by Deirdre Sullivan

Interview With the Vampire, by Anne Rice

Flowers in the Attic, by Virginia Andrews

Jill's Gymkhana, by Ruby Ferguson

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, by Haruki Murakami

Kitchen, by Banana Yoshimoto

Collected Tales of the Brothers Grimm

Collected Poems, by Seamus Heaney

His Dark Materials trilogy, by Philip Pullman

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped With Helenka Stachera

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 07:00:38 GMT

This 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!

You can find Helenka on Twitter @HStachera

Books mentioned in this episode include Helenka's own:

The Ice Whisperers, Helenka Stachera

Fin and the Memory Curse, Helenka Stachera

Grimm's Fairy Tales

Aesop's Fables

The Science of Storytelling by Will Storr

The Weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan Garner

The Quick by Lauren Owen

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Goose Girl (traditional)

The Consequence Girl by Alastair Chisholm

Gender-Swapped Fairytales by Karrie Fransman and Jonathan Plackett

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped with Sadhbh Devlin

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 07:00:02 GMT

Today'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.

You can find Sadhbh on Twitter @sadhbhdevlin or Instagram @sadhbhdevlin or her website: http://sadhbhdevlin.ie/

Books mentioned in this episode include Sadhbh's own:

Bí Ag Spraoí Liom, Sadhbh Devlin and illustrated by Tarsila Kruse

Beag Bídeach, Sadhbh Devlin and illustrated by Róisín Hahessy

Geansaí Ottó, Sadhbh Devlin and illustrated by Róisín Hahessy

Amuigh Faoin Spéir, Sadhbh Devlin and illustrated by Brian Fitzgerald

Morning is a Little Child by Joan Walsh Anglund

Peepo by Joan and Allan Ahlberg

Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne and E.H. Shepard

Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll

Alice Through the Needle's Eye by Gilbert Adair

The Borrowers by Mary Norton

The Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Doll's House by Rumer Godden

Hounds of the Mórrígan by Pat O'Shea

The Battle Below Giltspur by Cormac MacRaois

An tOllamh agus an Luchóg by Tomás O' Toole and Pauline Cummins

Thirty-Two Words for Field by Manchán Magan

Scúnc agus Smúirín by Muireann Ní Chíobháin and Paddy Donnelly

Míp by Myra Zepf and Paddy Donnelly

Nóinín by Myra Zepf

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped with Paul Coomey

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 07:00:32 GMT

This 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.tv

Follow him on Twitter: twitter.com/mrcoomey

Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Asterix created by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo

Tintin created by Hergé

2000AD created by Kelvin Grosnell, Pat Mills, John Wagner

Frostheart by Jamie Littler

Lyra's Oxford by Philip Pullman

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

Ghost by Jason Reynolds

Grimm's Tales

The Cat in the Hat by Dr Seuss

Paper Girls by Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang

Two Sides by Polly Ho-Yen

Revolting Rhymes by Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake

Making Comics by Scott McCloud

The Beano, founded by R.D. Low

Paddington Bear by Michael Bond

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped With Eve McDonnell

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 07:00:54 GMT

Our 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 non-fiction books - which have shaped her and her work, and which have guided her career to date, and shares some of her wisdom about how to encourage children to find themselves in stories and in books.

Eve's website: https://startsomewhereblogbyeve.wordpress.com/

The books mentioned in today's podcast include:

Elsetime by Eve McDonnell

The Chestnut Roaster by Eve McDonnell

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

Supernature by Lyall Watson

Contest for the Heavens by Klaus Jensen

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

Suite Francaise by Iréne Nemirovsky

Alone in Berlin by Hans Fallada

Six Thinking Hats by Edward de Bono

Here is an article about the edition of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz that Eve speaks about, including the illustrations that shaped her so much: https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/w-w-denslow-illustrations-wonderful-wizard-of-oz-1900

And the Ladybird edition of The Elves and the Shoemaker is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zl6QqhE7M_E

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting Storyshaped With Olivia Hope

Thu, 01 Sep 2022 07:00:00 GMT

We'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-hope

Bloomsbury's Be Wild, Little One page: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/be-wild-little-one-9781408884805/

Books mentioned in this episode include:

Be Wild, Little One by Olivia Hope and Daniel Egnéus

Z is for Moose by Kelly Bingham and Paul O Zelinsky

Luna Loves Library Day by Joseph Coelho and Fiona Lumbers

Where the Wild Things are by Maurice Sendak

We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury

The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson and Axel Sheffler

Run With the Wind by Tom McCaughren

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

A Road Less Travelled by M. Scott Peck

Poems by Mary Oliver

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

Such Stuff by Michael Morpurgo

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Minipod: Head-to-Head Book Battle

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 07:00:35 GMT

It'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 be available from our partner bookshops; see below for details!

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Deep Dive into Catherine Storr's Marianne Dreams

Thu, 18 Aug 2022 07:00:11 GMT

In 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 Things in this book (stones! With *eyes*!)

Referenced in this podcast:

"Musty Books: 'Marianne Dreams' by Catherine Storr (1958); a blog article on The Haunted Generation with Bob Fischer, July 6, 2020

"I Write to Frighten Myself": Catherine Storr and the Development of Children's Literature Studies in Britain; Kimberley Reynolds, Children's Literature in Education 50, 449-463, 2019

Fear and Evil in Children's Books; Catherine Storr, Children's Literature in Education 1, 22-40, 1970

The Book of Symbols: Reflections on Archetypal Images, Taschen

Our podcast bookshop in Ireland is Halfway Up the Stairs: www.halfwayupthestairs.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Deep Dive into Diana Wynne Jones' Charmed Life

Thu, 11 Aug 2022 07:00:13 GMT

In 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, to finally step into his own potential, and we share a little about how the masterful Diana Wynne Jones has influenced both of us as writers and as people.

Referenced in the episode is the work of:

Aishwara Subramanian: "'So Would You Mind Telling Me Where I Am? It's a Stately Home of Some Kind, Isn't It?' (Charmed Life)", proceedings of the Diana Wynne Jones Conference, 2019

Robin Stevens: Keynote Address, Diana Wynne Jones Conference, 2019

Diana Wynne Jones' own words from Reflections: On the Magic of Writing, 2012

To buy any of 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.ie

In the UK, check out our storefront on https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Storyshaped. Disclosure: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Deep Dive into Alan Garner's Elidor

Thu, 04 Aug 2022 16:28:27 GMT

On 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.ie

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Story Behind Storyshaped

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 14:52:10 GMT

Welcome 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.