Rippling Pages: Interviews with Writers

I got to sit with one of the most interesting and inventive writers working today: Keith Ridgway, the Goldsmith’s Prize shortlisted writers! So, today, we really are having a coffee with one of the world’s most interesting writers as I speak to Keith about his latest novel, Dooneen.  On late night walk through London, a man suddenly finds himself in an uncanny version of Dublin and at a distance from his lover. How does he reconcile this place that once appears to be like home then isn’t?  These are the questions at the heart of Keith Ridgway’s novel, Dooneen. Keith has been described by The Times as one of Ireland’s best writers, in a country that isn’t short of them.’ His previous novels include, A Shock, which won the 2021 James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction, and Hawthorn and Child. His first novel The Long Falling was filmed by Martin Provost as Ou Va La Nuit. He’s won several French literary prizes too.  If you fancy getting more from the Rippling Pages, including an exclusive Patreon only podcast on what makes the openings of books so good, why not consider suscribing here! https://patreon.com/RipplingPagesPod?utm_medi   And buy all the books mentioned on the show. Buying from this link supports indie bookshops and the Rippling Pages as I get a very small commission from every book sold through this link. https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/ripplingpagespod Chapters 3.45 - is this a love story  6.10 -Mootie and Mew’s relationship 09.00 - What is this version of Dublin.  11.15 - Keith’s personal relationship with Dublin 15.20 - Terror  19.20 - Mootie the silent but important character 26.00 - pathos and trust 28.15 - rippling pages bookshop 29.20 - is Mew dead 36.10 - other writers of influence 41.00 - Liam O’Flaherty 46.30 - Why end Dooneen in tunnels Books Samuel Beckett Anna Burns - Milkman (Faber and Faber) Charles Dalton - With the Dublin Brigade (2014, Mercier Press) Kazuo Ishiguro - The Unconsoled (1995, Faber and Faber) James Joyce  Ferenc Karinthy - Metropole (1970) Anna Kavan - Ice (1967) Liam O’Flaherty - The Informer James Plunkett - Strumpet City Keith Ridgway - A Shock (2021, Pan MacMillan) George Saunders - Lincoln in the Bardo (2017, Bloomsbury) Kurt Vonnegut

We're going to the bottom of the ocean and to outer space for this near-future literary escapade about when the world is no longer habitable. Deb Olin Unferth joined me from Austin, Texas, to talk about her latest novel, Earth 7. Deb's novel is inventive in its world-building, taking us into the cosmos, its exploration of human and non-human relationships, and capacity for both fear and wonder for what the future might hold for humans.  Deb has quite the. C.V. She’s the author of seven books, including novels Barn 8 and Vacation, and the memoir, Revolution, which was a finalist for the National Book Critics’ Circle Award. She’s published graphic novels, story collections, and her writing has also appeared in Harper’s, the New York Times, Paris Review, Granta, and McSweeney’s. She’s also received Guggenheim Fellowships and Pushcart Prizes. So a good episode if you're wanting to see a writer pushing their boundaries and modes and picking up awards and fellowships along the way   If you fancy getting more from the Rippling Pages, including an exclusive Patreon only podcast on what makes the openings of books so good, why not consider suscribing here! https://patreon.com/RipplingPagesPod?utm_medi   And buy all the books mentioned on the show. Buying from this link supports indie bookshops and the Rippling Pages as I get a very small commission from every book sold through this link. https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/ripplingpagespod Chapters 0.17 - Introduction to Deb's work. 2.40 - the capacity of Deb's novel 3.30 - Why Deb went to space. 7.20 - the fate of humans 12.20 - the mother daughter relationship 19.20 - How would Deb's dad respond to this book 20.45 - the idea of hope 26.15 - the rippling pages patreon 27:45 - where are the other earths 34.15 - The importance of Deb's research. 39.00 - How does love fit into the novel.  42.00 - cynicism and feeling hopeful.  Books and Writers Samantha Harvey - Orbital Barn 8 - Deb Olin Unferth Pascal Clancy Martin

What company Louisa Bello is! A story about an agent, a publisher and a pub and sheer determination to get published, and taking a friend’s experience to inspire your first novel.  Louisa Bello is here to talk about WHERE THE SHADOW’S END (époque Press)  What I loved about Louisa’s novel, however, is its commitment to, indeed, presenting a panoply of voices and identities in its inner city suburbs. But also it’s fierce commitment to exploring the mental health of a man trying to negotiate his way through this community.  Louisa herself is a British-Nigerian who was raised in south-London, but has lived all over the world. She’s led creative workshops for Africa Writers at the British Library, and served as a trustee for the Pelican Post. This novel is her first and was longlisted for the Pat Kavanagh Prize for Writing Excellence, and supported by an Arts Council Grant. Please note that today’s episode features discussions of schizophrenia and mental health Get exclusive subscriber benefits from the Rippling Pages Patreon and become a Page Rippler! https://patreon.com/RipplingPagesPod?utm_medi   Buy all the books here!:https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/louisa-bello-reading-list?&new-list-page=true&bkshp-astro=t Chapters 1.30 Living in Ecuador  2.27 - leave a five star review 2.58 - A story based on a friend’  6.10 - Diverse London community 8.35 - an agent, a publisher, and a pub 13.50 - Sam’s trauma and loneliness  22.30 - How Louisa researched the novel  29.15 - Other London writers and trauma 34.45 - Louisa’s next novel Reference Points Films - Crazywise (2016: Phil Borges and Kevin Tomlinson) Books - Bernadine Evaristo  - Carl Jung - Mel Robbins - Zadie Smith - White Teeth

This is some bonus content from the latest Rippling Pages Coffee Conversations. This is as real as it gets - two microphones, two writers getting real about writing! Here, Deepa is talking about our favourite Rippling Pages bonus segment, and speaks about the importance of Moby Dick.  You’ll also hear a preview of the Rippling Points podcast, a podcast for those who want to understand the ideas behind books exclusive to Patreon Subscribers. Get exclusive subscriber benefits from the Rippling Pages Patreon and become a Page Rippler! https://patreon.com/RipplingPagesPod?utm_medi   Books  Buy all the books here!: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/july-s-reads-2026?&new-list-page=true&bkshp-astro=t Rudyard Kipling T.S.Eliot  Herman Melville - Moby Dick Alexandra David-Néel Larissa Pham - Discipline (2026, Serpent’s Tail) Larissa Pham - Pop Song. (2021, Catapult Books) Deepa’s Books Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line - (2020, Random House) Letters to a Writer of Color: An Anthology (2023, Vintage Books) - edited by Deepa Anappara, Taymour Soomro, and Madeleine Thien  Chapters 0.15 - Introduction 03.50 - Deepa Anappara objects of influence 08.20 - Rippling Points preview  

It’s time for another special episode where we have another coffee conversation! As ever with the coffee conversations, this is a real as it gets. Two microphones, two writers getting real about writing! And this is a book that has a bit of everything. It’s 1869. Tibet is a forbidden kingdom and closed to foreigners. Tibet is also an unwilling participant in what was called, ‘The Great Game’, a geopolitical rivalry, shall we call it, that didn’t escalate into a full-scale war, but it did see both Russia and the United Kingdom trying to expand their territories. Deepa takes us on a sweeping journey back into history as she brings to life what was at stake for those explorers who, secretly, conceitedly, and ambitiously, crossed those borders. But it's also a prescient exploration of boundaries and borders and a hymn to the complicated emotion of grief. And, as well all that, it’s an example of just really good storytelling. Deepa Anappara is here to talk to me about THE LAST OF EARTH published by Oneworld Publications. Get exclusive subscriber benefits from the Rippling Pages Patreon and become a Page Rippler! https://patreon.com/RipplingPagesPod?utm_medi   Chapters 2.45 - Writing about the mountains  6.20 - Political dimensions of map-making 8.30 - inspiration from maps  12.15 - Characters and the captain 15.15 - Moby Dick and naming characters  21.45 - Rippling Pages Patreon  23.15 - Who is Catherine?  28.30 - Women, race, and getting into Tibet  31.15 - Guilt, death and grief  35.20 - Finding meaning in loneliness  37.30 - Deepa’s own grief  Reading List Buy all the books here!: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/july-s-reads-2026?&new-list-page=true&bkshp-astro=t Rudyard Kipling T.S.Eliot  Herman Melville - Moby Dick Alexandra David-Néel Deepa’s Books Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line - (2020, Random House) Letters to a Writer of Color: An Anthology (2023, Vintage Books) - edited by Deepa Anappara, Taymour Soomro, and Madeleine Thien   

It's a summer of sport, and I am here for it! Ashton Politanoff is here to talk to me about his novel, DAD HAD A BAD DAY (Daunt Books) Ashton's novel is an articulate exploration of masculinity, its patiently crafted unraveling narrative, and its loyal homage to the sport of tennis. Here's some fun facts about Ashton. Ashton Politanoff is a frequent contributor to NOON, edited by Diane Williams. He is a former Division I tennis player, and his childhood coach was Robert Lansdorp, who is credited with coaching Pete Sampras and Maria Sharapova. Politanoff’s first novel, You’ll Like It Here, was published in 2022 by Dalkey Archive Press. He is an English professor at Cypress College, and lives in Los Angeles. In the episode, we'll be talking about (im)perfect role models and father figures, the challenges of writing about your passion, how to write narrative tension, and yes, of course, and tennis. A reading list of books Ashton mentions in this episode are available to buy here: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/july-s-reads-2026?&new-list-page=true&bkshp-astro=t Get exclusive subscriber benefits from the Rippling Pages Patreon and become a Page Rippler! https://patreon.com/RipplingPagesPod?utm_medi Chapters  - 1.15 - Pete Sampras and Maria Sharipova? - 2.10 - watching Wimbledon - 4.15 - Who is Ned and why tennis? - 5.45 - setting a novel in a tennis club - 7.40 - Did Ashton feel like he had to write this novel - 10.15 - Ned's relationship with his son.  - 11.50 - Tough challenges of writing sons - 15.10 - fathers and sons and sports. - 17.45 - Ashton's own tennis career - 19.30 - different fraternal and paternal relationships - 20.30 - Rippling Pages Bookshop - 21.45 - Writing key smalls scenes - 27.00 - Writing tension - 32.25 - Ned's relationship with his wife. - 37.30 - Writing about tennis! -  

I had the absolute pleasure hosting Alice Hattrick up in Leeds for a special edition of the Rippling Pages at Leeds Literature Festival. I'm a huge fan of Alice's first book, ILL FEELINGS (Fitzcarraldo Editions), so I was obviously really excited to get stuck into their next book, FANCY WORK (Fitzcarraldo Editions), for this special live edition of the Rippling Pages.  That book indeed weaved (auto)biography, science art history, reportage, and polemic to explore the impact of chronic illness on theirs and their mother’s lives. Alice applied some of these innovative techniques to FANCY WORK. Alice explores the life and work of the incredibly influential Morris family and the arts and craft movement. Alice finds and traces evidence and ephemerality related to the life and work May Morris and their gender non-conforming partner, M.F.  Get exclusive subscriber benefits from the Rippling Pages.  https://patreon.com/RipplingPagesPod?utm_medi Check out the Rippling Pages Bookshop and buy all the books featured on the Rippling Pages: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/ripplingpagespod Interested in hosting your own podcast? Follow this link and find out how: https://www.podbean.com/ripplingpages  Chapters 0.15 - Introduction to the event 02.15 - How Alice was enjoying Leeds 03.00 - What is the book about? 05.00 - Who are the Morris Family? 9.00 - How the Morris's went back in history.  13.10 - Embroidery as labour 14.50 - Alice's reading. 22.45 - Why write history in this way? 26.05 - Making money from embroidery/writing 28.05 - How to uncover history 34.45 - Alice writing about feelings 40.00 - Alice's relationship with their mum.  43.00 - Alice's mum is an embroider  47.00 - Love in Alice's novel 47.30 - Rippling Pages Patreon Prize.   Reference Points Walter Benjamin Judith Butler Ill Feelings (2021: Fitzcarraldo Books) - Alice Hattrick Feeling Backward: Loss and the Politics of Queer History - Heather Love  (2007:Harvard University Press) Queering the Subversive Stich (2020: Bloomsbury Publishing) - Joseph McBrinn José Esteban Muñoz The Subversive Stitch (1984:Bloomsbury Publishing) - Rozsika Parker  The Log Books (2026: Faber) - Tash Walker and Adam Zmith

Welcome to an episode of Ask the Host, i.e. with me, Liam! This the podcast where writers get real about writing, but today, we’re getting real about podcasting! In today’s episode of Ask the Host, we’re finding out: - What’s the difference between the live coffee conversations and remote interviews> - My summer book preview and reading list? - Where have we been for Leeds Lit Fest? What is the hottest new literary salon on the scene? And looking forward to my event with Alice Hattrick - What’s the origin story of the podcast? Enjoy and let me know if you’ve got any questions when you leave a review of my show! Tickets to the Rippling Pages Live at Leeds Literature Festival with Alice Hattrick https://www.leedslitfest.co.uk/events/alice-hattrick-fancy-work/ Get exclusive subscriber benefits from the Rippling Pages.  https://patreon.com/RipplingPagesPod?utm_medi Check out the Rippling Pages Bookshop and buy all the books featured on the Rippling Pages: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/ripplingpagespod Interested in hosting your own podcast? Follow this link and find out how: https://www.podbean.com/ripplingpages    Books Jan Carson Raoul de Jong  John Eyck Neil Griffiths  Alice Hattrick Stu Hennigan  M. John Harrison - The end of everything  Hanna Nordenhök - Caesaria Agnes Lidbeck  Fernanda Melchor  Sara Mesa Jake Morris Campbell - A journey onto the salt and ash Flann O’Brien The Rickard Sisters  Keith Ridgway - Dooneen  C.D. Rose Guillermo Stitch - The Coast of Everything  Saskia Vogel Katie Whittemore Alice Evelyn Yang - A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing  

Let’s dust off the archives again and celebrate some of the guests we’ve had on the Rippling Pages This time, we’re going back to a conversation that was had in 2022 with the writer, editor, and all around bookish good guy, Nicholas Royle. I spoke to Nicholas about his wonderful book about book collecting, WHITE SPINES:THE CONFESSIONS OF A BOOK COLLECTOR Chances are, if you’ve a penchant for second-hand books, you’ll have been or known about one of the many bookshops Nicholas visited to find the Picador books that he coveted. We’re also celebrating Leeds Literature Festival. The book features Leeds bookshops, and Nicholas is in Leeds talking about the art of the short story with Alice Jolly and Naomi Booth.  Get your tickets below Tickets to me in conversation with Alice Hattrick.  https://www.leedslitfest.co.uk/events/alice-hattrick-fancy-work/ Get exclusive subscriber benefits from the Rippling Pages.  https://patreon.com/RipplingPagesPod?utm_medi Check out the Rippling Pages Bookshop and buy all the books featured on the Rippling Pages: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/ripplingpagespod Interested in hosting your own podcast? Follow this link and find out how: https://www.podbean.com/ripplingpages  Reference Points Writers and Books AJ Ashworth Andrea Ashworth The Lake John Foxx (Nightjar Press) M. John Harrison Anna Kavan - Ice (Picador: 1967) Alberto Manguel (editor) Black Water: The Anthology of Fantastic Literature (Picador: 1983) Livi Michael - The Lake (Nightjar Press) Alison Moore Nicholas Royle - First Novel (Vintage: 2013) Nicholas Royle - Counterparts (Penguin: 1995) Nicholas Royle - Ornithology (Confingo: 2017) Nicholas Royle - An English Guide to Bird Watching (Myriad Editions: 2017) Nicholas Royle - Uncanny (Manchester University Press: 2003) Per Wahlöö - The Lorry (Picador: 1972) Conrad Williams Artists Paul Delvaux Salvador Dali Chapters 3.00 - when did he first see the white spines? 7.00 - what was special about the books 9.00 - why write this book 12.15 - Writing a quest 14.45 - is it about confession or obsession  18.10 - giving second life to writers 19.35 - second hand bookshops  24.55 - tactile nature of books  26.09 - sharing names and uncanniness  28.15 - two Nicholas Royles 30.30 - dreams and realities of being a writer 34.45 - nightjar press

The podcast for the world’s most interesting writers is going a little closer to home; we’re visiting Leeds and the North of England for a conversation about with Stu Hennigan about his novel, KESHED.  Not only is it lovely to speak about some of the places I know really well, but also a bittersweet too, as Stu’s novel reminds of me of the people and places I’ve moved away from.  What I loved about Stu’s novel, is its sheer vividness of its writing, combining, artfully, the vernacular and the obscene. It’s evocations of northern town and cities that are close to me, but also its unflinching approach to troubling subject matter. Stu Hennigan is a writer, poet, editor, and musician based in Leeds, UK. His acclaimed book, Ghost Signs: Poverty and the Pandemic, became notable for its powerful documentary fo the  city's most deprived communities during COVID-19 lockdown. KESHED, published by Ortac Press, is his first novel.  *this episode features strong language and discussion of sensitive themes!* Tickets to me in conversation with Alice Hattrick.  https://www.leedslitfest.co.uk/events/alice-hattrick-fancy-work/ Get exclusive subscriber benefits from the Rippling Pages.  https://patreon.com/RipplingPagesPod?utm_medi Check out the Rippling Pages Bookshop and buy all the books featured on the Rippling Pages: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/ripplingpagespod Interested in hosting your own podcast? Follow this link and find out how: https://www.podbean.com/ripplingpages  Stu’s Substack: https://stuhennigan.substack.com   References Writers Martin Amis Jenn Ashworth Charles Baudelaire Naomi Booth James Clark  Owen Jones Alice Jolly Alice Murphy-Pyle Ben Myers Annie Proulx Music Arab Strap Jimi Hendrix  Film and TV The Royle Family Ken Loach Chapters 1.45 - Uncategorising KESHED 6.15 - What is KESHED about 8.45  - why is Sean in Leeds.  9.55 - Is Sean a flaneur?  16.05 - Sean’s voice  19.20 - The importance of reading  20.10 - On truth 25.25 - Liam’s personal response to the book.  27.45 - Patreon shoutouts! 28.45 - Who is Mandy? 31.20 - Getting feedback on writing women 36.00 -the hard work of writing  37.30 - Assuming readers are smarter than you 38.45 - Language is not a barrier  40.15 - The market of writing