Interview with writers

Welcome to Stories and Stanza! I am happy to have you here. Please join me in welcoming Penny Bingham for today's episode. 
Penny Bingham is an emerging writer, currently working on a hybrid memoir chronicling her seven years as a carer for her husband, who lived with Lewy body dementia. It is a warts-and-all account of the devastation a dementia diagnosis presents for the person with the disease, the carer and the family. Arising from her comprehensive journal of her husband's illness, the book leads the reader through the pain of watching the decline of a once proud, dignified, vibrant person as toxic proteins attack the brain, unravelling neural connections and giving rise to confusion, agitation, delusions, hallucinations and paranoia that are the hallmarks of this disease.
The book's title, A Gift of Grace, hints at how love flourished in an exquisitely painful experience and how dementia's profound lessons in patience, tolerance, and humility transcended resentment and despair to embrace grace and peace. It encapsulates the confluence of her experience as a carer, knowledge acquired through formal academic study, and stories shared by others she has been privileged to meet through her role as a dementia advocate.
Based on the belief the message is more significant than the narrative and grounded by her academic qualification, the work encompasses theoretical perspectives to inform others navigating the dementia labyrinth of the challenges and frustrations they are destined to encounter. It aims to reduce the stigma surrounding dementia. It challenges readers to re-think their perceptions of what Sally Magnusson, in her memoir, Where Memories Go, describes as 'one of the greatest social, medical, economic, scientific, philosophical and moral challenges of our times'.
Penny's entry, The Other Jenny, was short-listed in the Ada Awards 2021

Welcome to Stories and Stanza! I am excited to have you here. My podcast explores prose, poetry, and history. I'll take you on a journey through the human experience, sharing stories and conversations to uplift your spirit. Whether you're a lover of literature, a writer, or simply someone who enjoys a good story, "Stories and Stanza" is the place for you. Today is another episode of the 'In Author's Chair' segment, where we talk to writers about their work, publication, motivation and challenges. 
Please join me in welcoming Ky Garvey for today's episode. She is a published writer and literary podcaster from Australia who is here to talk about her work in children's literature and share her experience in the podcasting space. I was lucky to find her time during her holidays, and I truly enjoyed talking to her and listening to her stories, especially "Easy Peasy," which is about a young girl, Ruby - who gets a new pair of roller skates but soon realises it is not as easy she thought. I loved how she used the sounds in her story and embedded a subtle message for the young readers. 
I am sure you will find her work inspiring, as she works on many projects to give back to the community. I will leave the links to her podcast, book, and the 'Books in Homes' program. 
Totally Lit! on Apple Podcasts
Easy Peasy - EK Books
Booksinhomes.com.au| Booksinhomes.com.au
Let me know what you think. See you in the next episode. 

Welcome to Stories and Stanza! I am excited to have you here. My podcast explores prose, poetry, and history. Every week, I'll take you on a journey through the human experience, sharing inspiring stories and conversations to uplift your spirit and inspire you. 
Please join me in welcoming Andrea Barton in the author's chair for today's episode. She is here to talk about her new book - The Godfather of Dance, and share her experience as a writer and editor. I am sure the new writers will be enriched by her journey and valuable advice. If you want to publish and understand different aspects of editing, you might find today's episode really valuable. 
If you are interested in her book or wish to connect with her as an editor, please find her coordinates below. 
Amazon Australia link: The Godfather of Dance
My author website: https://andreabartonauthor.com/ 
Brightside Story Studio website (my editing business): https://brightsidestorystudio.com/

I stood, brushing off some of the mud that was beginning to cake on—effort in vain. “Since when did this jaded old curmudgeon care to drink the poison of nostalgia?” I remember saying to myself. As you can see, I’m in my late thirties, but the rest of the self-reflection was accurate. I breathed in the muck of the lake once again, tears dried, heart resolute, knowing it could be the last. “Well, Sisyphus,” thankfully, my parents were not so cruel as to name me such, “you know the insanity of the world. Perhaps it is time to embrace the absurd.”
Matthew D Albertson
Welcome to a new episode of Stories and Stanza! We're excited to have you here. Please join me in welcoming Matthew as a guest. He started writing not long ago but writes beautiful prose and poetry. We will hear him talk about his creative journey, how he believes rejections strengthen him as a writer, and some of his wonderful prose and poetry that he has shared in this discussion. 

"For a long time, I had thought that because of my lack of presence, this story would not be worthy - and for many, it still might not be. But perhaps for the few in this world who, like me, have also been chosen to carry this burden, they will, if nothing else, find comfort knowing they are not alone. Though most names and characters of my recount have been changed, the story I share is real. The voice that tells this story is real. It has been real not only for me but for my closest family and friends, who have watched helplessly on the sidelines. It certainly has been real for many others who have been struggling to find their sense of self in the face of this cruel fate.
Call this whatever you deem fit – a memoir, personal essay, a work of nonfiction, or a blend of everything in between. There will be things unresolved and events likely remembered wrong. But in the end, labels, and categories aside, this is a recount of just one person’s journey. It is the retelling of my story, a long-awaited attempt to pick up the scattered pieces of whatever that has been left in a tattered memory bank in hopes that there is still a future for me to live in."
Please joining me in welcoming Natasha Chai, a public servant working in Learning and Development from Canada, and listen to her inspiring journey from experiencing a life-threatening migraine attack to finding therapy and solace in writing. This episode of Stories and Stanza takes you along Natasha's path of numerous health trials and triumphs, unveiling her strength and resilience expressed through her stories. Natasha shares her journey of dealing with hemiplegic migraines and relearning life skills narrated in her memoir aiming to spread awareness about the condition. Discover how writing evolved to be her sanctuary, offering her a medium to articulate her emotions and reclaim the control lost due to her health conditions.
Natasha relives her fond memories of her mother fostering her love for writing and the creation of her first children's book, 'The Little Lost Cat'. You'll hear about her journey from winning her first Golden Pen Award to being recognized as one of the youngest writers by her local newspaper. Explore her unique, unstructured writing process and her views on the essence of writing deriving from personal satisfaction and not merely monetary goals. Be inspired by her story of balancing her professional life with her passion for writing, battling writer's block, and the lovely coincidence of her son sharing the same name with her book's protagonist.
Dive deep into the notion of self-promotion and the role it plays in the journey of modern authors, especially for those who identify as introverts. Natasha discusses the importance of writing as a tool for mental health, providing a snippet from her memoir exemplifying the transformative power of words. Moving away from the competitive aspect of writing, Natasha shares her belief in the benefit of collaboration among writers. Find encouragement in her advice for budding writers on the joy of writing for oneself and the importance of relishing the journey more than the outcome. Immerse yourself in this intimate dialogue with Natasha, where writing, resilience, and recovery walk hand in hand.

Please join me in welcoming Stephen Gyde to the show today. Stephen is 44 years old and lives in London where he works in the corporate business sector. He is a passionate advocate for equality and enjoys writing. His interests include sports and the arts. He is a keen runner and plays golf. Stephen's love for writing began after his father read him The Hobbit.
During our conversation, we will discuss Stephen's creative journey, his struggles with Dyslexia, his inspiration from grief, his impromptu writing, and his learning path to becoming a writer. I hope you enjoy listening to our discussion.

Welcome to a new episode of Stories and Stanza - where we will discuss the writing process. I welcome our guest, Steven Ross.
Steven Ross is a Canadian Author and Poet from outside the Nation’s Capital. A weaver of dark words with a penchant for penning tales both visceral and disturbing, you will often find him lurking in the bloodstained shadows of the horror genre. Never one to be satisfied with being cast in a single mould, he also enjoys writing poetry focused on all aspects of life: from pain, loss and suffering to tales of romance and erotic desire to good old-fashioned humour. So come, gentle reader, he has something behind the curtain just for you. But a word of caution: it may have teeth… or bite.
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