Cabin Fever Fables: Recent Episodes
Saraband Books
We are an award-winning independent publisher of outstanding fiction, nature writing, environmental issues and compelling memoir, and now we have a podcast. So let us tell you a story...
October 16th, 2020 marks the 173rd birthday of what is surely one of the most loved, studied and debated books in the English Language: Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre. In honour of this, the authors of Saraband’s 'A View From the 21st Century' Brontë biographies, Dr Sophie Franklin, Dr Claire O'Callaghan and Adelle Hay, have taken over the Cabin Fever Fables podcast. Join them as they compare notes on their most loved, most hated, most creepy and most underrated Brontë moments and characters.
All three Brontë biographies are available to buy now direct from the Brontë Parsonage Museum shop:
Charlotte Brontë Revisited by Sophie Franklin - https://bit.ly/2IsJB73 Emily Brontë Reappraised by Claire O’Callaghan - https://bit.ly/34TkMZu Anne Brontë Reimagined by Adelle Hay - https://bit.ly/374OZYt
Elaine Nelson, owner of Grasmere's long-standing bookshop Sam Read Bookseller, joins us to discuss bookselling in Cumbria, emerging from lockdown and how the popular Lake District village has been resilient during the pandemic and other recent crises. Grasmere is the home of Wordsworth and has long been a must-visit destination for those who want to see for themselves the gorgeous scenery that inspired the Lake Poets and other Romantic writers. But you can also visit Sam Read's online. Go on – buy a book there today!
David Howe takes us on a virtual visit to the beautiful Langdale Valley in the heart of the Lake District, and describes how the Borrowdale Fells were formed millions of years ago. We're still in near-lockdown, and the national parks don't want us visiting just yet. But we can put all this in perspective thinking of a completely different time scale: geological eras, deep time. Until it's safe to visit without endangering others... David draws on the words of the ever-captivating Nan Shepherd, from The Living Mountain, as well as cosmologist Brian Greene, renowned author of To the End of Time.
Keen cyclist Alan Brown, and author of the bikepacking book Overlander, reads a glorious forest passage from his book and tells us why he loves cycling – both off-road in the Highlands and in the city as a townie and commuter. He's joined by fellow long-distance cyclists and writers Helen Moat (author of A Time of Birds) and Chris Dolan, both of whom are returning to the podcast. Together they look at why we need to improve our cycling infrastructure and what would be the most important steps to take, and how to get back in the saddle if you haven't ridden for a long time. And they all describe the joys of being on a bike!
Thriller writer Iain Maitland joins us for this episode as he launches his latest novel, The Scribbler ("Exciting" – Sunday Times Crime Club). Iain's books are pitch dark, tense and have a mental health theme running through them. Here he introduces a police duo tasked with investigating cold cases of LGBTQ+ murders from the 80s that were left unsolved. The action starts in a care home where an elderly man with dementia has just met with an unlikely fatal accident – or was it murder? And could this be linked to older cases? As ever, Iain turns his focus on marginalised and damaged people, and as it turns out, he highlights issues that resonate during this lockdown.
This week on Cabin Fever Fables we're looking at the world from a children's perspective and finding it distinctly topsy-turvy. Olga Wojtas visits again for a very special story time, while Emme and Lois have turned their hands to asking and answering our Corona questions.
Nature writers Tiffany Francis and Anna Levin discuss night skies, light pollution, how pollution levels are affected by the lockdown, and the difficult choices over our need for daylight and fresh air vs the necessary restrictions on going outside. They also add their own thoughts to our regular series questions, and Tiffany comes up with the most inventive cookery revelation yet – as well as letting us know her own lovely news.
Author and travel journalist Helen Moat joins us for this special episode for her virtual launch of A Time of Birds. We hear short readings from her epic cycle journey across Europe, when she pedalled from the Netherlands to Turkey on her sit-up-and-beg bike, and then she tells us how she's faring in this Corona time, and about birds, nature, kindness and community.
Nature writer Jim Crumley joins us for this episode and reads from The Nature of Spring, which was BBC Radio 4's Book of the Week this time last year. It's a real tonic to hear Jim's words while Coronavirus restrictions prevent us getting outside ourselves into the Countryside, especially on this bank holiday weekend. What Jim lacks in the cooking inspiration, he more than makes up for with this scene of travelling to Mull on the ferry (enjoyable in itself) and then watching a sea eagle eyeing up its prey.
Special guest Sara Barnes, who lives, works and writes (and swims!) in Cumbria, talks about rural isolation and how the lockdown is affecting her family. She also reads a letter from her mother, in self-isolation, who recalls her childhood during World War II. Sara tells us about eating, cooking, who she'd like to invite to eat with, and what she's reading to pass the time now that she can't go for her usual swims in local lakes and tarns.
Sue Lawrence talks food, true historical crime and enforced isolation as she reads from The Unreliable Death of Lady Grange. She also tells us who she'd like to invite to dine with her – she's a top chef – and what she's reading to pass the time as social distancing gets all too real.
Nicola Martin reads from her debut novel, the thriller Dead Ringer. In her book, mental health runs through the story, as well as unhelpful news stories and social media, links that relate to our current Coronavirus story. Nicola also tells us what she's cooking in isolation and who she'd love to eat with, what she's reading while she's housebound, and how music helps her to relax and unwind. Dead Ringer is fast-paced, full of twists, and unputdownable.
Marion Dunn reads an extract from The Boxing Diaries, in which there is some reflection on fitness levels, getting very tired, and then getting ravenously hungry. In other words, things some of us have on our minds on Day 1 of Lockdown. Marion also tells us about cooking, who she'd like to invite to eat with her, the cat, and what she's reading to pass the time at home. Enjoy!
Chris Dolan and Moira Leven read from a forthcoming book by Chris, Everything Passes, Everything Remains, coming in September 2020. It's a memoir about journeys through Spain, its history, culture and people – and the reading chimes in many ways with our current Coronavirus preoccupations. Chris and Moira also tell us, amongst other things, what's on tonight's menu, who they'd like to invite to eat with them, and what they're reading to pass the time as social distancing curtails their usually gregarious lifestyle. Enjoy! And do look up Chris's books, plays and other writing.
Olga Wojtas shares an extract from her new book, and tells us how she's passing the time as the more stringent measures for Coronavirus social distancing are beginning to kick in. Olga has chosen a scene in which recipes for cheese, eau de vie and beer are discussed, along with poetry. Enjoy! And please, buy a book if you can afford it.
Graeme Macrae Burnet shares an extract from one of his books, and tells us how he's passing the time as the more stringent isolation measures for Coronavirus social distancing are beginning to kick in. Graeme has chosen a scene from his Simenon-inspired novel The Accident on the A35, in which Chief Inspector Gorski is learning to adapt to living alone.
Trailer for a new podcast, Cabin Fever Fables, in which authors read themed extracts to keep us connected. They will describe how they are passing the time in isolation. If you have an income, please buy a book, preferably from an independent bookshop or direct from the publisher. We are creating a community, sharing stories, and doing our best to entertain people who are alone with their fears. We need to pay our staff, so do help if you can.