The Worm Hole Podcast Charlie Place

Samantha Sotto returns! We discuss her latest book The Beginning Of Always (its inspiration was the woman whose death mask was used to create the first aid dummy Resusci Annie), and, not to be outdone, Sam's dog Alfie also returns to make a second appearance.
Some podcast apps do not show description links properly unless the listener subscribes to the podcast. If you can't click the links below and don't wish to subscribe, copy and paste the following address into your browser to access the episode's page on my blog: http://wormhole.carnelianvalley.com/podcast/episode-50-samantha-sotto
Wikipedia: Resusci Annie
Article on The Paris Morgue by the Wellcome Trust
The Shoes on the Danube Bank monument
Sam's Instagram
You can contact the show at books@carnelianvalley.com
Question Index
01:03 The proceeds from the sales of The Beginning Of Always went to help those effected by the pandemic?
03:19 Your daughter designed the cover of The Beginning Of Always?...
04:26 Tell us about the Unknown Woman and how you came to write about her
05:46 You started writing this book years ago?...
06:54 What do you think happened to the Unknown Woman?
08:05 Why is reincarnation, immortality, and so on, important in your work?
10:58 Can you tell us about the Paris Morgue?
13:32 What was important in creating your main couple and bringing them to life?
14:38 Where did the idea of Thomas' heart condition come from?
16:45 (Spoiler question) The couple at the end - could they have been included more?
17:54 Why is it important to explore love and everything that goes into it?
20:25 (We discuss location in a similar context to love, as written in the book)
22:46 What do you think happens after death?
25:22 Why was Elise a blogger?
27:19 (Discussing a book Sam was working on two years ago)
28:31 Tell us about the book you've just finished
32:38 We've had Alfie introduce himself; tell us about your dogs, you have another now?
34:13 Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Purchase Links
The Beginning Of Always:
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Amazon Canada
I am an IndieBound affiliate and earn a small commission on qualifying purchases.
Photograph used with the permission of the author.

Charlie and Rebecca F John (The Haunting Of Henry Twist) discuss being gay and bisexual in the 1920s, the way the flapper years could mask the effects of War, and the fictional man who cannot believe that his male partner is not some sort of reincarnation of his dead wife.
Please be aware that there are spoilers throughout this episode; we couldn't discuss the book properly without them!
Some podcast apps do not show description links properly unless the listener subscribes to the podcast. If you can't click the links below and don't wish to subscribe, copy and paste the following address into your browser to access the episode's page on my blog: http://wormhole.carnelianvalley.com/podcast/episode-49-rebecca-f-john
The Hay 30 list
You can contact the show at books@carnelianvalley.com
Question Index
01:09 You were named on the Hay Festival's 'Hay 30' list. Can you tell us about that?
02:23 Would you categorise this book as historical fiction or historical fantasy?
07:54 Why did you choose to include Ruby in the way you did?
10:16 Is there a connection between the pacing of the novel and what Henry's going through?
11:42 Why were Monty, Matilda, and Grayson's stories included?
14:04 Henry lives a lot of his life with fear; how much is this a book about the war?
15:57 Were the surnames, Twist and Turner, chosen for any particular reason?
16:52 Is there more to Jack than Henry's ideas - is he even a fully-fledged person?
19:28 I know it's down to reader interpretation, but who is Jack to you, as far as you're concerned?
22:21 Henry and Jack's relationship is accepted by their friends, but what would have happened if it hadn't been?
25:24 What was the treatment of single fatherhood like at the time?
27:47 Did you ever consider having Henry become comfortable as a bisexual person?
29:39 Does Henry love Jack?
30:51 What do you want readers to take away from reading this book?
32:18 Could Monty, Matilda, Grayson, and Sally, be happy together?
33:51 What's next?
Purchase Links
The Haunting Of Henry Twist:
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Amazon Canada
Waterstones
Hive
Barnes & Noble
IndieBound
Indigo Chapters
The Empty Greatcoat (January 2022):
Amazon UK
Fannie (February 2022):
Amazon UK
Waterstones
Hive
I am an IndieBound affiliate and earn a small commission on qualifying purchases.
Photograph used with the permission of the author.

Charlie and Rosie Travers (The Theatre Of Dreams) discuss writing novels set amongst the working class of the south coast, Art Deco buildings we've lost and those we've saved, and the sporting professional heroine publishers rejected.
Some podcast apps do not show description links properly unless the listener subscribes to the podcast. If you can't click the links below and don't wish to subscribe, copy and paste the following address into your browser to access the episode's page on my blog: http://wormhole.carnelianvalley.com/podcast/episode-48-rosie-travers
My post on The Theatre of Dreams' first book launch
Lee-On-Solent
Pictures and memories of Old Lee Tower
Reading Room Lane, Curdridge (Google Maps)
The De La Warr Pavilion at Bexhill
The Midland Hotel, Morcambe Bay
The Facebook page for the campaign to save The Floral Hall, Belfast Zoo
You can contact the show at books@carnelianvalley.com
Question Index
00:36 As writers do you've always written but you got into it more seriously when living in California and The Netherlands. Can you tell us about your publication journey?
02:52 Why have you decided to relaunch The Theatre of Dreams?
04:57 This story was somewhat inspired by Old Lee Tower in Lee-On-Solent?
06:27 Could you have set this book in a real place; would it have worked for you?
08:21 Lee-On-Solent was going to become either a resort or residential, and ultimately it became residential. Do you think that was the right decision?
13:04 Is either of these two characters more important than the other?
14:03 Was it difficult working with such a large cast of characters?
15:31 Was setting the book amongst so many working class characters important for you?
16:55 Where does Tara in fit in terms of her being a celebrity?
18:54 Have we lost many buildings of the sort you write about?
20:27 Have you ever been involved in a campaign to save a building?
21:09 Was the mystery of Jez's death always going to be a part of the book?
22:59 What was the element you wanted to leave your readers with at the end?
24:17 A Crisis At Clifftops - you found it difficult to get published because of the heroine's career?...
Purchase Links
The Theatre Of Dreams:
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Amazon Canada
A Crisis At Clifftops:
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Amazon Canada
I am an IndieBound affiliate and earn a small commission on qualifying purchases.
Photograph used with the permission of the author.

Charlie and Jennifer Robson (Our Darkest Night) discuss the horrors of life as an Italian Jew during the Second World War, those who fled and those who helped them, and the people who chose to stay behind.
Some podcast apps do not show description links properly unless the listener subscribes to the podcast. If you can't click the links below and don't wish to subscribe, copy and paste the following address into your browser to access the episode's page on my blog: http://wormhole.carnelianvalley.com/podcast/episode-47-jennifer-robson
Monte Grappa
San Zenone Degli Ezzelini
Father Stocco Oddo's page on Yad Vashem
Borso del Grappa
Chiara Ponchia
Rabbi Ottolenghi
You can contact the show at books@carnelianvalley.com
Question Index
00:43 What is it about the First and Second World Wars that interests you?
03:44 Your idea for Our Darkest Night was sparked by a question your son asked you?...
15:07 [Spoiler conversation] Was that Nico?
26:29 Were there many Jewish people who chose to stay behind and not leave?
30:09 How did you come to write about the farm?
33:54 What's next?
Purchase Links
Our Darkest Night:
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Amazon Canada
Waterstones
Hive
Barnes & Noble
IndieBound
Indigo Chapters
I am an IndieBound affiliate and earn a small commission on qualifying purchases.
Photograph used with the permission of the author. Credit: Natalie Brown/Tangerine Photography.

Charlie and Hazel Gaynor (The Bird In The Bamboo Cage) discuss the lives of the pupils and teachers of the Chefoo school for missionaries' children in China during the Japanese occupation, and the way being Brownie Guides helped to keep them going. We also discuss the beginnings of her career, and her collaborations with fellow historical fiction writer, Heather Webb.
Some podcast apps do not show description links properly unless the listener subscribes to the podcast. If you can't click the links below and don't wish to subscribe, copy and paste the following address into your browser to access the episode's page on my blog: http://wormhole.carnelianvalley.com/podcast/episode-46-hazel-gaynor
Heather Webb's site
You can contact the show at books@carnelianvalley.com
Question Index
00:55 Can you tell us about the story of your first publication and its bestseller status?
09:29 You have written about something not covered much - can you tell us about the story it's based on?
12:45 What was being done back home to help these people stuck under occupation?
14:33 A big theme is Brownies and Guides - why so central?
18:08 Can you talk us through the reasoning for the two narratives - Elspeth and Nancy?
23:43 Were you able to get stories from war generation to help with the book?
25:49 Can you tell us about the honeypot girls?
28:01 You look at the way these children are the children of missionaries and know nothing of China beyond the school - why was this important to explore?
30:14 If you had to choose one or two characters who were most important to the novel or what you were trying to say, who would you choose?
32:11 How is your book with Heather Webb - Three Words For Goodbye - doing?
33:52 How do you collaborate with Heather, in terms of the writing itself?
Purchase Links
The Bird In The Bamboo Cage/When We Were Young And Brave: Amazon UK
Amazon US
Amazon Canada
Waterstones
Hive
Barnes & Noble
IndieBound
Indigo Chapters
I am an IndieBound affiliate and earn a small commission on qualifying purchases.
Photograph used with the permission of the author.

Charlie and Claire North (Notes From The Burning Age) discuss climate change today and into the future, sexism back of house in theatre, and how she views her books in terms of colours and shapes rather than words.
Some podcast apps do not show description links properly unless the listener subscribes to the podcast. If you can't click the links below and don't wish to subscribe, copy and paste the following address into your browser to access the episode's page on my blog: http://wormhole.carnelianvalley.com/podcast/episode-45-claire-north
CBBC Newsround article from 2002
Peter Kenny and Claire North Audible interview
You can contact the show at books@carnelianvalley.com
Question Index
00:45 How did your first publication, as a teenager, come about?
03:33 (Discussing Claire's lighting design work)
10:46 Could you tell us about your seeing the book in terms of colour?
12:49 How would you categorise this book, genre-wise?
16:57 Where do you fall on the subject yourself in terms of the two sides, Temple and the Brotherhood?
22:50 What was it about Ven's position, as a character and in terms of his place in society, that made him the right person to be the narrator?
26:08 Does this whole thing of Ven being a regular person but not so regular extend to Yue?
28:33 Going to the extremes of what you've been saying, could your books be told by yourself through the first person, without a character narrator?
29:55 Are the kakuy open to interpretation?
33:13 What inspired the servers of all our modern day information?
37:24 Have we the power, do you think, to reverse the burning age that we're at the beginnings of?
41:23 Back to your tangent from earlier, what is the period of history you enjoy studying the most?
42:29 Could Ven ever have become a proper member of the Brotherhood?
44:45 What's next?
Purchase Links
Notes From The Burning Age:
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Amazon Canada
Waterstones
Hive
Barnes & Noble
IndieBound
Indigo Chapters
I am an IndieBound affiliate and earn a small commission on qualifying purchases.
Photograph used with the permission of the author.