Leigh Turner: Recent Episodes
Robert Pimm
Leigh Turner, also known as Robert Pimm, reads his own stories, explores the art of writing and analyses what makes books great.
Why did Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin allow Vladimir Putin to kill him after Prigozhin's mutiny in 2023? Prigozhin might have taken more care if he'd seen the classic early 1990s Russian movie Burnt by the Sun. More about this in my book Lessons in Diplomacy.
From my book "Lessons in Diplomacy": How to make the perfect Pimm's. Order "Lessons in Diplomacy" here. Or watch the video of Antonio making a mouthwatering Pimms at https://rleighturner.com/perfect-pimms/.
"The Three-Body Problem" is out on Netflix. Some Chinese critics are reportedly angered by the series' depiction of China. I can see why. Let's look at the book, and how the Netflix version compares.
You can read the blog post on which this podcast is based on my rleighturner.com website.
I don’t usually reveal top secret information in these podcasts. But here, exclusively, I want to talk about the Welsh Secret Service.
How women handle cocktails - and men. Stand by for fireworks in this interview with Ms N, hotel manager extraordinary, alongside the narrator of the "Hotel Stories" Tatiana, and bartender Amanda.
Is the world suffering from "Ukraine fatigue"? It is, and it matters immensely. The security of all of us is at stake - wherever in the world you live.
You can read the post on which this podcast is based, and related material about Russia's war against Ukraine, on my website at: https://rleighturner.com/ukraine-fatigue/
How do you get started writing a book - or 10? Here are a few tips. You can read the post on which this podcast is based here: https://rleighturner.com/writing-a-book/
What’s full-time writing like? What are the pitfalls? How do you make the most of it? And what did I do wrong?
Here is the blog on which this podcast is based, with links and pictures.
Writing “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Diplomacy” was fascinating and demanding. It will be published in German on 12 April 2023, by Czernin Verlag, Vienna. How did this happen? You can read more about the book at my website, here. To buy the book - which is in German - go to your local bookshop; to the Czernin Verlag website; or to Amazon.
A podcast in German. Ein Podcast auf Deutsch. Mein neues Buch “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Diplomacy – Wie Diplomatie die Welt erklärt” (Czernin Verlag, Wien) erscheint am 12. April 2023. Sie können das Buch vormerken (oder nach dem 12.4.23 kaufen) bei Czernin Verlag oder bei Amazon.de. Mehr information über das Buch finden Sie auf meinem rleighturner.com blog.
Willkommen in der Welt der echten Diplomatie!
In the first scene from the first Hotel Story, "Britches", the hotel's owner threatens the beautiful but naive Tatiana. Will Ms N, the world's greatest and deadliest hotel manager, rescue her before it is too late? You can find all Leigh Turner's books, and where to buy them, here.
Any sane person wants to end wars. Many people have argued that a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war might help reduce suffering. Others say that supplying arms to Ukraine simply prolongs the war. Here's why they are wrong. The situation is grim: but both a ceasefire or reducing arms supplies would be counterproductive - including for those who seek peace and want to end the suffering.
Links and further background at this blog.
"John Savage, formerly First Secretary, British Embassy Moscow: Transcript of trauma counselling, session 12".
Why is John Savage, the hero of my Istanbul thriller, "Palladium", such a damaged character? Have a listen to this interview between him and his psychotherapist, Dr Bergbaum, about events in Moscow some 15 years earlier, and how he was thrown out of the Secret Intelligence Service as a result.
You can find the blog on which this podcast is based at the link.
Resources to help writers. We look at how to write articles and blogs; how to write a novel; dealing with rejections; a selection of writing courses - and much more. Have a listen to some friendly advice.
For all the links, see my blog here: Resources for Writers.
A summer 2022 update on what is happening in Russia's war on Ukraine. Why it matters - and why what we must do next won't be easy. The picture shows Sverdlovsk, in eastern Ukraine, when I visited in 2010. It has been occupied by Russia since 2014.
Links and further background at this blog.
Were the people of 19th Century England obnoxious moralists? What if they were no worse than we are today? Also available as a blog post.
Top journalist Misty Anderson interviews Turkish archaeology professor Elif Mutlu about the mysterious Palladium. Why, Misty asks, do many people believe it protects Istanbul, while others argue it does not exist?
What do you think? Also available as a blog.
What three things must you always bear in mind when you hear Russian official statements about Ukraine? Also available as a blog.
Ian Fleming's "Goldfinger", written in 1959, is full of vile sexism, homophobia and prejudice. Is it still worth reading? Also available as a blog.
Why is Ukrainian vodka the best in the world? What else makes it unique? You may be surprised to learn how "Horilka" could become as famous as Scotch or Champagne. Also available as a blog.
Whose fault is the President Putin's invasion of Ukraine? What about the Soviet invasion of Hungary, or the building of the Berlin Wall? Think twice before you ascribe blame or you may be a victim of "reverse conspiracy theories". Also available as a blog.
Who is really responsible for the devastating Russia-Ukraine war? It may not be who you think. Why did President Putin do a U-turn? Listen to find out what really brought about a catastrophic war at the heart of Europe.
My Istanbul thriller "Palladium" has been eleven years in the making. This podcast introduces the cover art: how it came to be designed, what input I made, and how the results came out. Find out how an author gets involved in the cover of the book - or not!
You can read the blog post on which this podcast is based, and see the cover, on my rleighturner.com blog.
"Ulysses" matters: 100 years after Joyce's great masterpiece first appeared, you can read and enjoy it on many levels. A quotation shows why you have nothing to be afraid of.
"Of course, Mr B proceeded to stipulate, you must look at both sides of the question."
A discussion of James Joyce and "Ulysses", illustrated by a few quotes. My main messages: a) Ulysses matters, and b) it's not necessarily hard to read.
Readthe blog post on which this podcast is basedon myrleighturner.comblog.
In "He Knew He Was Right", Anthony Trollope shows he is an outstanding writer on relationships between the sexes. Lessons on gender from 1869 are 100% relevant today.
How men think, how women think and whether there is a difference is one of the abiding puzzles of life. We all want to understand other people. Many of us want to understand the opposite sex.
How to understand women, or men? You can do worse than start with Trollope’s "He Knew He Was Right". The novel also contains one of the great studies of stubbornness in literature. Ask yourself: are you sure you're right?
Read the blog post on which this podcast is based on my rleighturner.com blog.
How diplomats should work with the media and build their media skills. Subscribe for regular podcasts from Leigh Turner. Read the blog on which this podcast is based here.
American historian Barbara Tuchman came up with an elegant formula relevant to keeping things in perspective in today's bad news saturated internet age. You may even find her law helps you. You can read the post on which this short podcast is based at my rleighturner.com blog. Happy listening.
"The Second Phial" is a complete short story set in the Moscow of 1993. It is a horror story - I hope.
This podcast is not suitable for children.
Friends sometimes ask me: 'where do your ideas come from?' When they read, or listen to, "The Second Phial", they tend to ask 'I don't want to know where you get your ideas from'. Don't read it if you are easily disturbed. But please do subscribe to my podcasts either way!
I lived in Moscow from 1992 to 1995, heading up the Economic Section of the British Embassy. I met a lot of scientists, and witnessed how they struggled to survive in the chaos that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union. But "The Second Phial" springs entirely from my imagination.
You can read the blog on which this episode is based, including the full story, on my rleighturner.com blog. Happy listening.
Rejection and writer's block are constant companions for many writers. I've been there. But don't despair - you can do lots of things to regain your mojo and your motivation. Here are seven tips on how to cope - and maybe turn challenges into opportunities. You can read the post on which this podcast is based at my rleighturner.com blog.Thanks for listening. Episode photo © Stefan Arnswald.
Scenes and sequels are a great way to ensure your story is strong, packed with tension, and flows well. They can also help to structure - and speed up - your writing. This podcast, based on this blog post, includes some practical examples from my Berlin thriller "Blood Summit" - you can read those examples on the blog. You can read more than fifty other blog posts of writing tips at my rleighturner.com blog. Thanks for listening! Episode photo © Stefan Arnswald.
Sick and tired of Amazon? The UK firm Heywood Hill offers a suspiciously brilliant book service I've enjoyed immensely this year. It may be worth a look if you're searching for Christmas gifts for book lovers.
You can read the post on which this podcast is based at my rleighturner.com blog. Thanks for listening.
Introducing my 11th "Hotel Story". How will top hotelier Ms N and her beautiful but naive ally Tatiana overcome the trouble-making Mr Smith? Listen to an excerpt as Mr Smith confronts Ms Gentle, a visitor to the hotel. "Charming, fun and fast-paced, The Hotel Stories bring Pimm's wit and vigour to that most difficult of literary forms, the short story" - Matthew Parris. Thanks for listening.
Thoughts on stopping work to write full time, after 42 years working for Her Majesty's Government. Humiliation - or liberation? - at a reception. What I'm doing next. And what you can do to help me. You can read the post on which this podcast is based at my robertpimm.com blog. Thanks for listening.
How censorship worked in Soviet Russia. The tragic story of the destruction of Boris Pasternak, author of "Doctor Zhivago". You can read the post on which this podcast is based at my robertpimm.com writing, books and stories blog. Thanks for listening!
I recently signed a contract with US full-service publishing house Immortal Works for my Istanbul thriller PALLADIUM. How did that contract come about? How did I write the book, and market it? And what can you learn from this? This is the first of several podcasts describing my author journey, which I shall produce over the coming months. You can also read the blog post on which this podcast is based.
Following on from the Prologue and Chapter 1 of my Berlin thriller Blood Summit in the previous episode, this podcast presents Chapters 2 and 3. I hope you enjoy it. You can read more about Blood Summit on my blog.
Counter-terrorism expert Helen Gale has one job: to protect world leaders at a summit at the Berlin Reichstag. But terrorists take hostage presidents, prime ministers, one hundred innocent children – and Helen’s husband.
Then the executions start.
Listen to the Prologue and Chapter 1 of my Berlin thriller "Blood Summit" on this podcast. You can read more about the book on my blog. Listen to Chapters 2 and 3 next week!
Anthony Trollope is one of the most brilliant and rewarding authors you have never read. He invented the letter box and his novels boil with strong women. You can read the blog post on which this podcast is based at my robertpimm.com writing blog. Thanks for listening!
Why read W Somerset Maugham? Not only for the wisdom set out in my podcast "Books 3: Sex, Turnips and the Meaning of Life: W Somerset Maugham", but because his classic tales will electrify you. You can read the blog post on which this podcast is based at my robertpimm.com writing blog. Thanks for listening!
The writer W Somerset Maugham compares turnips and sex. Is he wise, or daft? Can we use his wisdom - if any - to make ourselves happier? You can read the blog post on which this podcast is based at my robertpimm.com writing blog. Thank you for listening!
This is the third of three podcast on how to write the perfect article or blog. It is based on my article "The perfect article or blog part 3: worked examples". You can listen to the previous episodes on this podcast. Comments, feedback and requests for future podcasts welcome.
This is the second of three podcasts on how to write the perfect article or blog. It is based on my article "Nut-grafs and cosmic kickers: writing the perfect article or blog (Part 2 of 3)". More writing tips to follow! Comments, feedback and ideas gratefully received.
The rules professionals use for writing the perfect article or blog. This is the first of three linked podcasts on this subject: see the next two at Podcast 7 and Podcast 8. This podcast is based on the article on my robertpimm.com blog "Writing the perfect article or blog: 7 tips to speed things up (Part 1 of 3)". Thanks for listening.
"Fixing It" is a complete short story I wrote as flash fiction on a writing course in Loutro, on the beautiful Greek island of Crete. You can read the whole story - and much other stuff - on my robertpimm.com website. On the same website you can read a review of the Loutro writing course.
Is "Aunts aren't Gentlemen" the funniest Wodehouse? It certainly is one of my favourites. Here are ten exquisite quotations for you to relish. You can read the blog post on which this episode is based at my robertpimm.com writing blog. Thank you for listening!
In his book "On Writing", Stephen King explains how he never plans his books, but just gets started. Should you plan a novel in advance, or not? A few tips.
You can readmore tips about writingon my robertpimm.com writing blog. More writing tips to follow! Thank you for listening. Comments and feedback humbly accepted.
"The Two Rooms" is a complete short story taken from the book "Seven Hotel Stories", available on Amazon. I started writing these curious tales when fate brought me into contact with the type of luxurious hotels most of us can only dream of - some of them in countries where hotels are a regular meeting place for the top people in society. All the stories feature glamorous, petite Ms N - the world's best, and deadliest, hotel manager - and are narrated by her ally, the beautiful but naive Tatiana.
I write a fresh "Hotel Story" each year as a birthday present to my partner, who is a senior hotel manager. "The Two Rooms" was a gift in 2011. So far I have written ten of them.
For more about writing, books and stories, see my robertpimm.com website.
Is "50 Shades of Grey", by E L James, brilliant, entertaining erotic literature, or a misogynistic horror-show? You can read the blog post on which this podcast is based at my robertpimm.com writing blog. More books and writers to follow! Thank you for listening. Comments and feedback humbly accepted.
How does an ambassador combine writing with the day job? Can anyone find time for writing a book - or two, or eight? Do writing targets help? You can read more tips about writing on my robertpimm.com writing blog. Thanks for listening. Comments welcome.