The Book Stash: Recent Episodes
Ash Oldfield and Steve de Niese
Young Adult fantasy author Ash Oldfield joins Steve de Niese in a podcast about reading, writing and everything in-between.
We're back from a nice break and this time we're looking at Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. We look at some writing tips from Steinbeck to keep you on track in January.
Links from this episode:
- Buy Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck - https://amzn.to/2BXp8k6
Join the Book Stash on Twitter (@BookStashCast), Facebook (TheBookStash) and Instagram (@BookStashCast). We'd love it if you could rate our podcast and subscribe!
Share your writing from our prompts with Ash and find out more at http://bookstashpodcast.com
We've got something a bit fun this time, it's comedian James Acaster's book James Acaster's Classic Scrapes. We also talk about finding your voice, experimenting while you're starting out, and more.
Links from this episode:
- James Acaster's Classic Scrapes by James Acaster - https://amzn.to/2Sw3pq1
PODCASTS
- The Comedian's Comedian podcast - http://www.comedianscomedian.com/
- Good One podcast By Jessie David Fox - comedian breaks down a joke - https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/headgum/good-one-a-podcast-about-jokes
- The First Time podcast by Katherine Collette, author of The Helpline - https://thefirsttimepodcast.com/
- Plotboilers podcast - Book reviews and the writing life - https://plotboilers.com/
WEBSITES AND BLOGS
- Tomi Adeyemi's website - offers a writing course and advice - tomiadeyemi.com
- Better Novel Project - deconstructing bestselling novels - betternovelproject.com
- Writer's Digest - Great tools and workbooks - writersdigest.com
- The Write Life - thewritelife.com
- writers-online.co.uk - advice, articles, tips and other resources
- Live Write Thrive, C.S. Lakin - livewritethrive.com
- Meet-up - a site finding writers groups - https://www.meetup.com/en-AU/
Join the Book Stash on Twitter (@BookStashCast), Facebook (TheBookStash) and Instagram (@BookStashCast). We'd love it if you could rate our podcast and subscribe!
Share your writing from our prompts with Ash and find out more at http://bookstashpodcast.com
Holy moly - our 21st episode is now live! We fawn over the enchanting story The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. We also have heaps of great tips for writers including how to refine your writing and themes you can borrow from Shakespeare.
Links from this episode:
- Pick up a copy of The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupery - https://amzn.to/2TccrJJ
Join the Book Stash on Twitter (@BookStashCast), Facebook (TheBookStash) and Instagram (@BookStashCast). We'd love it if you could rate our podcast and subscribe!
Share your writing from our prompts with Ash and find out more at http://bookstashpodcast.com
This time around we're talking about Ash's all-time favorite book, Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. We also talk about representation in writing and striking the balance with "show, don't tell".
Links from this episode:
- Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery - https://amzn.to/2yGYPha
Join the Book Stash on Twitter (@BookStashCast), Facebook (TheBookStash) and Instagram (@BookStashCast). We'd love it if you could rate our podcast and subscribe!
Share your writing from our prompts with Ash and find out more at http://bookstashpodcast.com
Ash has been listening to the audio book for The Trip of a Lifetime by Monica McInerney. We talk about creating realistic characters, the lyricism of dialogue in audio books and finding the right pace for your story.
Links from this episode:
- The Trip of a Lifetime by Monica McInerney - https://amzn.to/2ErUsfe
- "Show, Don't Tell" activity sheet - https://www.edb.gov.hk/attachment/en/curriculum-development/resource-support/net/worksheet%202.8-%20show,%20dont%20tell.pdf
Join the Book Stash on Twitter (@BookStashCast), Facebook (TheBookStash) and Instagram (@BookStashCast). We'd love it if you could rate our podcast and subscribe!
Share your writing from our prompts with Ash and find out more at http://bookstashpodcast.com
Find Ash's Rachaya series at most online retailers in paperback and e-book. Visit AshOldfield.com to learn more.
Ash has been reading the classic fantasy book Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey, which leads us down a path of tips for crafting believable magic systems. We explore tips from Brandon Sanderson's First Law in how to approach magic when creating your worlds.
Links from this episode:
- Dragonflight, The first Chronicle of Pern, By Anne McCaffrey - https://amzn.to/2IxHyKU
- A let's play of 'Dragonriders of Pern' on the Commodore 64 from Epyx games - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-Q8d5fVdFY
- Sanderson's First Law - https://brandonsanderson.com/sandersons-first-law/
- How to create a magic system in six easy steps - http://www.well-storied.com/blog/how-to-create-a-magic-system-in-six-simple-steps
Join the Book Stash on Twitter (@BookStashCast), Facebook (TheBookStash) and Instagram (@BookStashCast). We'd love it if you could rate our podcast and subscribe!
Share your writing from our prompts with Ash and find out more at http://bookstashpodcast.com
Find Ash's Rachaya series at most online retailers in paperback and e-book. Visit AshOldfield.com to learn more.
We're spending some time in George Orwell's dystopian vision of the future, Nineteen Eighty-Four. We also talk about reading broadly and Ash takes you through her must-have essentials currently on her writing desk.
Links from this episode:
- Come see Ash Oldfield talk at Dymocks Camberwell's First Tuesday Book Club October 2018: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/first-tuesday-book-club-october-2018-with-4-special-guest-authors-tickets-49974684627
- Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell: https://amzn.to/2xwcshI
Join the Book Stash on Twitter (@BookStashCast), Facebook (TheBookStash) and Instagram (@BookStashCast). We'd love it if you could rate our podcast and subscribe!
Share your writing from our prompts with Ash and find out more at http://bookstashpodcast.com
Find Ash's Rachaya series at most online retailers in paperback and e-book. Visit AshOldfield.com to learn more.
We return to Murakami with a look at his book Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage. Steve also shares some writing tips from Australian-born, Dublin-based author, Monica McInerney.
Links from this episode:
- Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage, Haruki Murakami: https://amzn.to/2MIvtXL
- Read Ash's full review of Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage: https://www.asholdfield.com/2018/08/book-review-colourless-tsukuru-tazaki.html
- Listen to Li's Années de pèlerinage by Franz Liszt (as featured in Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpcTuVV-Xmw
- Dymocks Camberwell's upcoming Meet The Author events: https://camberwellshopping.com.au/dymocks-meet-the-author-events/
Join the Book Stash on Twitter (@BookStashCast), Facebook (TheBookStash) and Instagram (@BookStashCast). We'd love it if you could rate our podcast and subscribe!
Share your writing from our prompts with Ash and find out more at http://bookstashpodcast.com
Find Ash's Rachaya series at most online retailers in paperback and e-book. Visit AshOldfield.com to learn more.
We look at the debut novel (and New York Times bestseller) from Tomi Adeyemi, Children of Blood and Bone. Discover ten tips for writing compelling dialog and Ash shows off her new map for the Rachaya Series.
Links from this episode:
- Children of Blood and Bone, Tomi Adeyemi: https://amzn.to/2MES3kj
- Ash's editor, Element Editing Services (Kat Betts): https://elementeds.wixsite.com/elementediting
- See Ash's new map on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bmw1OhRFRPj/
- Cartographer, Soraya Corcoran - https://sorayacorcoran.com/
Join the Book Stash on Twitter (@BookStashCast), Facebook (TheBookStash) and Instagram (@BookStashCast). We'd love it if you could rate our podcast and subscribe!
Share your writing from our prompts with Ash and find out more at http://bookstashpodcast.com
Find Ash's Rachaya series at most online retailers in paperback and e-book. Visit AshOldfield.com to learn more.
In this special half hour episode, we take a look at Hilary Mantel's Booker prize-winning novel, Wolf Hall (and its TV series). We also talk about the card game Once Upon A Time and Vladimir Propp's fairy tale functions.
Links from this episode:
- Our writing prompt in card form (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl7z80blni3/
- Once Upon A Time - The card game: https://amzn.to/2OziBBx
- Once Upon A Time - The writer's handbook: https://amzn.to/2NYn9jW
- Vladimir Propp's fairytale functions on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Propp
- Wolf Hall, the TV mini-series: https://amzn.to/2OAVdn1
- Wolf Hall, By Hilary Mantel: https://amzn.to/2KmduBy
Join the Book Stash on Twitter (@BookStashCast), Facebook (TheBookStash) and Instagram (@BookStashCast). We'd love it if you could rate our podcast and subscribe!
Share your writing from our prompts with Ash and find out more at http://bookstashpodcast.com
Find Ash's Rachaya series at most online retailers in paperback and e-book. Visit AshOldfield.com to learn more.
We take a look at Australian author Dean Mayes' heart-warming new book The Artisan Heart. Find out how to be a good beta reader and how to get the best out of your own beta readers. Plus, map out your fantasy world.
Links from this episode:
- The Artisan Heart, Dean Mayes - https://amzn.to/2LidsL9
- Dean Mayes' website - http://www.deanfromaustralia.com/
- Follow Dean on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DeanMayesAuthor/
- Twitter - https://twitter.com/Hambledown_Road
- and Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/deanfromaustralia/
- 'Before You Were Funny' the podcast Steve mentioned - https://player.fm/series/before-you-were-funny-1813998
The Lost City, Book 2 of the Rachaya Series is out now at most online retailers in paperback, and an e-book is coming. Visit AshOldfield.com
Join the Book Stash on Twitter (@BookStashCast), Facebook (TheBookStash) and Instagram (@BookStashCast). We'd love it if you could rate our podcast and subscribe!
Share your writing from our prompts with Ash and find out more at http://bookstashpodcast.com
In the face of sickness, Ash digs out The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, where we discuss context for language, awesome illustration, 6 tips for getting your book written and sticking with it.
Links from this episode:
- The Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman - https://amzn.to/2LmFrcY
- Chris Riddell's artwork from the book on Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/505106914432570437/
- South Australian YA author Matt J Pike's website - http://mattpike.co/wp2/
- National Novel Writing Month - https://nanowrimo.org/
The Lost City, Book 2 of the Rachaya Series is out now at most online retailers in paperback, and an e-book is coming. Visit AshOldfield.com
Join the Book Stash on Twitter (@BookStashCast), Facebook (TheBookStash) and Instagram (@BookStashCast). We'd love it if you could rate our podcast and subscribe!
Share your writing from our prompts with Ash and find out more at http://bookstashpodcast.com
This week we're talking about the captivating book A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab. We also talk about the creative process behind designing a book cover, the science behind hand-writing your drafts, and the surprising effects of wisdom teeth extraction on Ash's productivity.
Links from this episode:
- A Darker Shade of Magic, V.E. Schwab - https://amzn.to/2wna7W2
- How the Cover Was Decided for V. E. Schwab’s New Book A Darker Shade of Magic - https://www.tor.com/2014/05/16/cover-reveal-ve-schwab-a-darker-shade-of-magic/
- Plotboilers: Book Reviews and Writing Life by Emily Brady - https://plotboilers.com/
The Lost City, Book 2 of the Rachaya Series is out now at most online retailers in paperback, and an e-book is coming. Visit AshOldfield.com
Join the Book Stash on Twitter (@BookStashCast), Facebook (TheBookStash) and Instagram (@BookStashCast). We'd love it if you could rate our podcast and subscribe!
Share your writing from our prompts with Ash and find out more at http://bookstashpodcast.com
Kombanwa. Good evening. In this episode of The Book Stash, Ash talks about the shadows cast by the Haruki Murakami classic, Norwegian Wood. There's also beautiful odd metaphors, integrating religion in your world building and a particularly fun writing prompt.
Links from this episode:
- Norwegian Wood, Haruki Murakami (translated by Jay Rubin): https://amzn.to/2nZxXDa
- Listen to Norwegian Wood by the Beatles on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiJiuhnDfck
The Lost City, Book 2 of the Rachaya Series is out now at most online retailers in paperback, and an e-book is coming. Visit AshOldfield.com
Join the Book Stash on Twitter (@BookStashCast), Facebook (TheBookStash) and Instagram (@BookStashCast). We'd love it if you could rate our podcast and subscribe!
Share your writing from our prompts with Ash and find out more at http://bookstashpodcast.com
We take a look at Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff's compelling sci-fi world in Illuminae. Ash has put together five essential tips for planning your stories, combating misconceptions in your world and Lord of the Rings.
Links from this episode:
- Illuminae (The Illuminae Files, #1): https://amzn.to/2LjWjRD
The Lost City, Book 2 of the Rachaya Series is out now at most online retailers in paperback, and an e-book is coming. Visit AshOldfield.com
Join the Book Stash on Twitter (@BookStashCast), Facebook (TheBookStash) and Instagram (@BookStashCast). We'd love it if you could rate our podcast and subscribe!
Share your writing from our prompts with Ash and find out more at http://bookstashpodcast.com
Ash has been binging and now we have two books in one episode, Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo! We also talk about subverting the hero's journey and tips for researching an idea without getting lost in the details.
Links from this episode:
- Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo: https://amzn.to/2OUDhDi
- Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo: https://amzn.to/2nYLbjx
- The Hero's Journey: https://hackerspace.kinja.com/how-6-popular-movies-follow-the-heros-journey-infograp-1783447375
The Lost City, Book 2 of the Rachaya Series is out now at most online retailers in paperback, and an e-book is coming. Visit AshOldfield.com
Join the Book Stash on Twitter (@BookStashCast), Facebook (TheBookStash) and Instagram (@BookStashCast). We'd love it if you could rate our podcast and subscribe!
Share your writing from our prompts with Ash and find out more at http://bookstashpodcast.com
Ash looks at The Sword of Shannara from Terry Brooks and discuses how fantasy writing has changed in a post-internet age. We chat about rejecting stale language to bring your writing to life and some of Ash's challenges with writing book 3 of the Rachaya series.
Links from this episode:
- The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks: https://amzn.to/2OUCvpW
The Lost City, Book 2 of the Rachaya Series is out now at most online retailers in paperback, and an e-book is coming. Visit AshOldfield.com
Join the Book Stash on Twitter (@BookStashCast), Facebook (TheBookStash) and Instagram (@BookStashCast). We'd love it if you could rate our podcast and subscribe!
Share your writing from our prompts with Ash and find out more at http://bookstashpodcast.com
Ash has been reading The Cruel Prince by Holly Black, getting lost with Jude in the brutally intoxicating world of the Fae. We explore the power of subtle details to enrich your writing, fantasy curse words, and finding out where your writing might have gone off-track. Steve also talks about some design tips for laying out your book.
We're going to be at booth #23 in Artist's Alley at Supanova Melbourne (April 21-22) so come and say hello and pick up a copy of Book 2.
Links from this episode:
- The Cruel Prince by Holly Black: https://amzn.to/2MH7JDt
- Rags, Widows and Orphans: https://www.fonts.com/content/learning/fontology/level-2/text-typography/rags-widows-orphans
- Random Word Generator: https://randomwordgenerator.com/
- Supanova Melbourne - come say hi: http://www.supanova.com.au/events/melbourne-2018/about/
Fyrebyrne Island, Book 1 of the Rachaya series available at most online retailers as both paperback and e-book. Book 2 will be out very soon.
Join the Book Stash on Twitter (@BookStashCast), Facebook (TheBookStash) and Instagram (@BookStashCast). We'd love it if you could rate our podcast and subscribe!
Share your writing from our prompts with Ash and find out more at http://bookstashpodcast.com
We discuss the science fiction classic Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes and its striking use of language to help tell its story. We also give you some tips to set writing goals that you'll actually stick to, starting your story from the right place and people-watching.
From this episode:
- Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes: https://amzn.to/2N6aOKs
Fyrebyrne Island, Book 1 of the Rachaya series available at most online retailers as both paperback and e-book.
Join the Book Stash on Twitter (@BookStashCast), Facebook (TheBookStash) and Instagram (@BookStashCast). We'd love it if you could rate our podcast and subscribe!
Share your writing from our prompts with Ash and find out more at http://bookstashpodcast.com
In this episode Ash has been reading Murder at the Mountain Rush by R.B.R. Verhagen. Learn about keeping track of your characters, how wizards go to the toilet, getting inside your villains' head and playing with perspectives.
From this episode:
- Murder at the Mountain Rush by R.B.R. Verhagen: https://amzn.to/2nZBstn
- Learn more about Gantt charts: http://www.gantt.com/
Fyrebyrne Island, Book 1 of the Rachaya series available at most online retailers as both paperback and e-book.
Join the Book Stash on Twitter (@BookStashCast), Facebook (TheBookStash) and Instagram (@BookStashCast). We'd love it if you could rate our podcast and subscribe!
Share your writing from our prompts with Ash and find out more at http://bookstashpodcast.com
In this episode Ash breaks the rules a little and forgoes her reading for a mini-series. We talk about The Hollow Crown, William Shakespeare's copiousness, tackling writer's block and figuring out your antagonist.
From this episode:
- The Hollow Crown: https://amzn.to/2P1XRlx
- Podcast - Henry IV part 1, Approaching Shakespeare, Emma Smith, University of Oxford: https://podcasts.ox.ac.uk/henry-iv-part-1
- On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft - Stephen King: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10569.On_Writing
- Jack Falstaff speech displaying copiousness - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXd9Hxjicp0
Fyrebyrne Island, Book 1 of the Rachaya series available at most online retailers as both paperback and e-book.
Join the Book Stash on Twitter (@BookStashCast), Facebook (TheBookStash) and Instagram (@BookStashCast). We'd love it if you could rate our podcast and subscribe!
Share your writing from our prompts with Ash and find out more at http://bookstashpodcast.com
In this episode we talk about Strange The Dreamer, a fantasy novel from Laini Taylor, and letting your characters have their say.
From this episode:
- Strange The Dreamer, Laini Taylor: https://amzn.to/2PuHoHi
Fyrebyrne Island, Book 1 of the Rachaya series available at most online retailers as both paperback and e-book.
Find The Book Stash on Twitter (@BookStashCast), Facebook (TheBookStash) and Instagram (@BookStashCast). We'd love it if you could rate our podcast and subscribe!
Share your writing from our prompts with Ash and find out more at http://bookstashpodcast.com
In this episode Ash reads Frankenstein's Monster, introduces writing prompts and gives you an update on her own writing.
From this episode:
Frankenstein's Monster, Mary Shelley: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35031085-frankenstein
Fyrebyrne Island, Book 1 of the Rachaya series available at most online retailers as both paperback and e-book.
Find The Book Stash on Twitter (@BookStashCast), Facebook (TheBookStash) and Instagram (@BookStashCast). We'd love it if you could rate our podcast and subscribe!
Share your writing from our prompts with Ash and find out more at https://www.asholdfield.com/2018/02/the-book-stash-episode-1-frankensteins.html