Aaaand we're back!

Following our chat with him in the previous episode, we hear a reading from Wm. Brett Hill's upcoming steampunk mystery series, Two Trains to Tamarind - The Mountweazel and Mondegreen Mysteries, Volume 1.This is Chapter 1, read by Jesse Davison.--If you like what you hear, pre-order your copy here 👇USA: Direct, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, AmazonUK: Waterstones, AmazonCanada: IndigoYou can find Brett on ⁠⁠his website⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.---A young recruit disappears from a train without a trace. A manor house is haunted by evil spirits. A corpse turns up in a theater basement just before the big show. A thriving marketplace is somehow bleeding money. And a boy who loves a good scrap is nowhere to be found. All against the steam-filled backdrop of a mountain town called Tamarind.​Only one man, Jeremiah Mountweazel, can get to the bottom of all of these strange occurrences, with more than a fair share of help from his colleague Millie Mondegreen - or whatever she’s calling herself today. Between his knack for seeing things others cannot and her ability to be anywhere and anyone she needs to be, there are none better suited for solving improbable mysteries.

We're chatting to Brett about his upcoming book, Two Trains to Tamarind - The Mountweazel and Mondegreen Mysteries, Volume 1, that we're very excited to publishing as the second release under Firewords Press.You can find Brett on his website, Threads and Instagram, and you can pre-order the book at this linky link 👈---A young recruit disappears from a train without a trace. A manor house is haunted by evil spirits. A corpse turns up in a theater basement just before the big show. A thriving marketplace is somehow bleeding money. And a boy who loves a good scrap is nowhere to be found. All against the steam-filled backdrop of a mountain town called Tamarind.​Only one man, Jeremiah Mountweazel, can get to the bottom of all of these strange occurrences, with more than a fair share of help from his colleague Millie Mondegreen - or whatever she’s calling herself today. Between his knack for seeing things others cannot and her ability to be anywhere and anyone she needs to be, there are none better suited for solving improbable mysteries.

Today we're digging into the archives to share a story we've previously published. Enjoy the listen!–Curiosity, COAuthor: Beth LincolnNarrated by: Daniel EhrenworthArtwork by: Berat PekmezciFrom Firewords Issue 10: ⁠firewords.co.uk/ten

Following our interview with her in the previous episode, JJ Scott shares a reading from her debut novel.This is an excerpt from Chapter 5 - July Heat, in which we meet a smooth operator called Tommy Gunn.--To find out more head to JJScottAuthor.com

After all these years, it's the first episode of a new season! We're chatting to our very own Jen about her debut novel, The Making of Maggie Munroe – an’ the four men makin a meal o’ it, so they are. Hear Jen (colourfully) introduce those men and why they're failing to win over oor Maggie in wartime Glasgow.Find out more at firewords.co.uk/press and jjscottauthor.com---“Grabs you from the first page and oozes Glasgow charm!” – Claire S DuffyMeet Maggie Munroe, a girl with the strength of Glasgow in her heart and a bunch of men trying to muscle their way into it. They won't rest until only one has succeeded but, fortunately, she doesn't suffer fools gladly and can see them coming a mile off - with the help of her intuition, her deid mammy and a Knickerbocker glory.It is wartime in Maryhill, Glasgow. The city is in turmoil but, throughout it all, its residents struggle for whatever sliver of normalcy they can get. With the support of a boisterous family and steadfast friends, can Maggie navigate 1930s and 40s societal politics in her attempt to find the right path? Her gang includes her unwavering daddy who often cannot see past the end of his nose, an interfering aunt whose biggest belief is in her own opinion and a train wreck girlfriend striving for acceptance, so, when it comes to the four men makin' a meal o' it, they are in good company. Still, oor Maggie will not go down without a fight.

*taps mic* Is anyone still out there? We're back for a new season and here's what to expect...

Sleep Warbler, by Simon Lowe, is Dan’s Issue 11 pick. Here, he explains how it explores the theme of Power in a disturbing, yet entertaining, way.Grab a copy of Firewords Issue 11 at firewords.co.uk/eleven

Jen picks a memorable piece from Issue 11. Little Jacques and the Bad Man, by Audrey Kalman, has stayed with her since she first read it during the submission round. Here, she discusses why.Grab a copy of Firewords Issue 11 at firewords.co.uk/eleven

We take a look at writing that could easily have been included in Firewords but which, for many reasons outwith the writer’s control, we have had to reject.

Linked to our previous article, Know What An Editor Wants Without Stalking Them, this episode will help you to target your work most effectively - and save you time in the process.