Northern Voices podcast

Northern Voices

Northern Voices

Northern Voices explores Northern writers (published and unpublished), storytelling and publishing. The podcast is hosted by Jen Bowden, a writer, editor and journalist with a PhD in Creative Writing from Curtin University exploring biases against the North in the UK book industry.

85 Episodes

Episode 136: Suzi Feay
11/5/2026
28:52
In this week's episode of Northern Voices, literary journalist Suzi Feay joins me to discuss her new poetry collection, Maledictions. We also delve into the bravery it takes to submit work and get rejected, the life of a literary editor and how finding your niche can help you stand out from the crowd. Find out more: https://www.suzifeay.com/ https://www.suzifeay.com/w3/?page_id=2 https://www.aftershockreview.com/product-page/maledictions-by-suzi-feay Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzisbookbag https://www.instagram.com/aftershockpoetry Music credit: 'Water of Tyne' performed by Edinburgh University Brass Band (2009) arranged by Jack Stobbs, edited and scored for brass band by David Dye. Used with kind permission of the publisher, arranger and performers.
Episode 135: Becky May and Barsa Ray
10/29/2026
30:35
Double the fun today to mark the 3-year anniversary of Northern Voices as I'm joined by poets Becky May and Barsa Rai. These New Northern Poets for 2026 talk about what we can expect from their work, how they juggle life and writing and what's been the highlight of their careers so far. Find out more about Becky: https://www.beckymaywriter.com/ https://substack.com/@beckymaywriter https://wordupnorth.org.uk/our-work/opportunities-for-writers/new-northern-poets/2026-new-northern-poets/ Find out more about Barsa: https://magmapoetry.com/archive/magma-75/poems/the-forge-of-birds/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMubg18z9o8&t=7s&authuser=0 https://bradfordculture.co.uk/programme/literary-sisters-an-anthology/ https://www.wasafiri.org/issues/wasafiri-123/ https://mslexia.co.uk/shop/mslexia-magazine-issue-99/ https://www.flyonthewallpress.co.uk/product-page/demos-rising Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beckymaywriter https://www.instagram.com/raybarsa https://www.instagram.com/verbosemcr Music credit: 'Water of Tyne' performed by Edinburgh University Brass Band (2009) arranged by Jack Stobbs, edited and scored for brass band by David Dye. Used with kind permission of the publisher, arranger and performers.
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Episode 134: Adelle Stripe
10/22/2026
29:15
An absolutely packed episode this week as journalist and writer Adelle Stripe joins us to talk about the new French translation of her novel, Black Teeth and a Brilliant Smile. We delve into the cultural significance of the playwright Andrea Dunbar, taking inspiration from the great Pat Barker and how a French translator has become a champion of Northern stories. Find out more: https://www.adellestripe.co.uk/ https://www.virago.co.uk/titles/adelle-stripe/black-teeth-and-a-brilliant-smile/9780349020105/ https://leseditionsdutyphon.com/all-collections/apres-la-tempete/dents-noires-et-sourire-radieux Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adellestripe https://www.instagram.com/leseditionsdutyphon https://www.instagram.com/viragopress Music credit: 'Water of Tyne' performed by Edinburgh University Brass Band (2009) arranged by Jack Stobbs, edited and scored for brass band by David Dye. Used with kind permission of the publisher, arranger and performers.
Episode 133: Joe Conroy
10/15/2026
22:10
In Episode 133, debut writer Joe Conroy joins us to talk about his new novel, In Out. We delve into the process of writing fiction from real life, the tricky business of copyediting and why it's all about finding The One when it comes to agents and publishers. Find out more: https://www.cipherpress.co.uk/in-out https://www.joeconroy.co.uk/ https://www.liverpool-literary.agency/authors/joe-conroy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joe__conroy https://www.instagram.com/cipher_press https://www.instagram.com/liverpool_literary_agency Music credit: 'Water of Tyne' performed by Edinburgh University Brass Band (2009) arranged by Jack Stobbs, edited and scored for brass band by David Dye. Used with kind permission of the publisher, arranger and performers.
Episode 132: Publishing Unpacked – Hybrid/Partnership Publishing with Sue Reed
10/1/2026
29:21
This week's episode is the third in the mini-series: Publishing Unpacked. In each of these special episodes I'll be joined by Northern writers discussing the publishing process from submission to publication. Today's guest is novelist Sue Reed who is here to talk about her new book, Molly McFlynn Goes Rogue, and the process of hybrid/partnership publishing. We delve into why her new book is all about personal and collective grief, finding her voice later in life and how being ghosted by agents led her to partnership publishing. Find out more: https://suereedwrites.co.uk/ https://suereedwrites.co.uk/books/ https://suereed.substack.com/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/suereedwrites.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suereedwrites Music credit: 'Water of Tyne' performed by Edinburgh University Brass Band (2009) arranged by Jack Stobbs, edited and scored for brass band by David Dye. Used with kind permission of the publisher, arranger and performers.
Episode 131: Barbara Henderson
9/24/2026
15:49
In today's episode of Northern Voices, I'm joined by academic and writer Barbara Henderson, Programme Leader for the BA (Hons) English: Creative and Professional Writing at The University of Sunderland. We talk about what exactly professional writing is, government cuts to arts education and why having a Prime Minister with an English degree has instilled hope in the future of the creative industries. Find out more: https://www.beadavenport.com/ https://www.sunderland.ac.uk/about/academic-staff/barbara-henderson https://www.sunderland.ac.uk/undergraduate/ba-hons-english-creative-professional-writing Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beadavenport https://www.instagram.com/sunderlanduni Music credit: 'Water of Tyne' performed by Edinburgh University Brass Band (2009) arranged by Jack Stobbs, edited and scored for brass band by David Dye. Used with kind permission of the publisher, arranger and performers.
Episode 130: Justine Sless
9/17/2026
25:44
In this week's episode Sunderland lass, comedian and writer Justine Sless joins me to discuss her new novel, Before I Sing You This Song. We talk about how the book was inspired by Bobby Thompson, dispelling shame through comedy and why her ultimate goal was to return to her old secondary school as a published author and show them what could be done. Find out more: https://www.crearpublishing.com/books-1/before-i-sing-you-this-song https://www.justinesless.com/ https://justinesless.blogspot.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justinesless https://www.instagram.com/crearpublishing Music credit: 'Water of Tyne' performed by Edinburgh University Brass Band (2009) arranged by Jack Stobbs, edited and scored for brass band by David Dye. Used with kind permission of the publisher, arranger and performers.
Episode 129: Josh Holton
9/10/2026
21:27
On Northern Voices this week, debut novelist Josh Holton joins me to talk about his book, Fledgling, published by Conduit Books. We also delve into tenderness and masculinity, how birds and men are more similar than we realise, and why there are many advantages to being a writer from the North. Find out more: https://www.conduitbooks.co.uk/books/p/fledgling https://joshholton.substack.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshholton.writer https://www.instagram.com/conduitbooks BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/conduitbooks.bsky.social Music credit: 'Water of Tyne' performed by Edinburgh University Brass Band (2009) arranged by Jack Stobbs, edited and scored for brass band by David Dye. Used with kind permission of the publisher, arranger and performers.
Episode 128: Laura Strickland
9/3/2026
23:34
In this week's episode, I'm joined by New Northern Poet Laura Strickland. We delve into getting over the shame of being a poet, writing to reflect on life's happenings and why her main ambition in her writing is to make people cry. Find out more: https://www.propelmagazine.co.uk/laura-strickland-when-my-body-remembers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HN9CHt6EVpg&t=3830s https://figtreepoetry.substack.com/p/the-fig-tree-issue-15 https://wordupnorth.org.uk/ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/l-strickland.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/thewordupnorth.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/found_by_strickland https://www.instagram.com/thewordupnorth Music credit: 'Water of Tyne' performed by Edinburgh University Brass Band (2009) arranged by Jack Stobbs, edited and scored for brass band by David Dye. Used with kind permission of the publisher, arranger and performers.
Episode 127: Carolyn Kirby
8/20/2026
23:57
In Episode 127 , award-winning novelist Carolyn Kirby joins me to talk about her novel Ravenglass. We delve into ideas of using fiction to explore lesser-known parts of history, the Hilda's Crime Weekend at Oxford University and exploring gender and identity in her writing. Find out more: https://www.northodox.co.uk/product-page/ravenglass-paperback https://www.northodox.co.uk/carolyn-kirby https://www.carolynkirby.com/ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/northodoxpress.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/novelcarolyn https://www.instagram.com/northodoxpressofficial Music credit: 'Water of Tyne' performed by Edinburgh University Brass Band (2009) arranged by Jack Stobbs, edited and scored for brass band by David Dye. Used with kind permission of the publisher, arranger and performers.

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