VIDEO CONTENT BEGINS AT 6 MINS This week on Writes4Women, guest host Michelle Barraclough sits down with bestselling author and fellow podcaster Jessica Dettmann to chat about her brand new novel Your Friend and Mine. From ghost letters and dead best friends to the joy of researching in stylish trench coats, this conversation is full of warmth, humour, and beautifully honest insights into the writing life. Michelle and Jess explore: * The power of midlife reinvention and detoured dreams * How a few ghost seats in a London theatre helped shape the plot * Research trips, pop culture references, and writing with hyperrealism * Why epistolary fiction is the ultimate cheat code * Crafting fiction that makes you laugh and ache—often at the same time Whether you’re a writer, a reader, or just someone wondering what your younger self might think of you now…this ep is a joy. Timestamps: [00:00] – Pam’s intro + Substack reset updates[00:06:00] – Meet Jess (and her time as the City of Sydney Christmas Angel)[00:10:00] – The spark behind Your Friend and Mine[00:14:00] – “Somebody invent a new animal” (on cooking + midlife drudgery)[00:20:00] – London research trip, ghost theatres, and Google Maps sleuthing[00:24:00] – Writing letters from the dead, and why it works[00:29:00] – The real ending, and what makes an editor great[00:34:00] – Writing funny when things are dark[00:38:00] – Events, readers, and what’s next for Jess ✨ ABOUT JESSICA DETTMANJessica Dettmann is the bestselling author of How to Be Second Best, This Has Been Absolutely Lovely, and Without Further Ado. Her fourth novel, Your Friend and Mine, is a warm, wise, and hilarious exploration of grief, friendship, and reinvention. A former editor and once-upon-a-time Christmas Angel for the City of Sydney, Jess lives in Sydney with her family, two cats, and an enviable wit. What readers are saying about Your Friend and Mine… 🎤 ABOUT MICHELLE BARRACLOUGHMichelle Barraclough is an emerging writer and host of the much-loved Writer’s Book Club podcast. She's also a web designer at Fresh Web Design (responsible for Pam’s stunning author site), and a dear friend of Jess’s—making her the perfect guest host for this ep. Love Writes4Women and want to show your support? Jump onto Apple and leave us a quick rating. It makes such a big difference and only takes 2 minutes. 📝 New for Subscribers: Monthly Critique Sessions with PamEach month, paid subscribers can submit up to 3000 words for Pam to critique in a recorded video, where she reads your work on-screen and offers warm, practical feedback on everything from POV and narrative distance to writing style and emotional resonance. The video is shared anonymously with all paid subscribers—so whether it’s your work or not, you’ll come away with tangible insights to strengthen your craft. Make sure you’re subscribed to access the critique and learn how to submit your pages! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit writes4women.substack.com/subscribe
