I interviewed Sally Cronin who runs Smorgasbord, a lifestyle blog with 32,000+ followers, and has twenty years of published writing behind her. Sally says about herself: “In 1996. My first book ‘Size Matters’ was a health and weight loss book based on my own experiences of losing 70kilo. I have written another ten books since then on health and also fiction including three collections of short stories. I am an indie author and proud to be one.” Continue reading SALLY CRONIN, BLOGGER AND INDIE AUTHOR, Part One →

I interviewed Steve Campen, former producer at LBC Radio and studio manager at Essex Radio, who currently manages Creative Radio. I asked Steve about his lifetime experience of broadcasting, what makes good and bad radio, and today’s growth of podcasts. Continue reading LET’S TALK CREATIVE RADIO →

I interviewed Kali Meister, spiritual healer, empath, claircognizant, and stand-up comedian. Kali, who studied psychology at the University of Tennessee, describes herself as a “Christened Catholic, former Baptist and Wiccan, Jewish sympathizing God fearing Buddhist.”

Leslie: Can you tell the story of how your calling as a medium/clairvoyant first showed itself?

Kali: I was 4 or 5 years old when my mother, brother and I had moved into a haunted house. My mother, her parents and I stayed in the house for the first time having moved everything in that day. My mother slept on the couch downstairs and I slept upstairs in the bed with my grandparents. My mother woke to an interdimensional being standing at the end of the couch. Continue reading KALI MEISTER – VALUE YOUR ENERGIES & TRUST THE SPIRIT →

I interviewed gender-queer author of male-to-male love stories, Sionnach Wintergreen,  asking questions about her place on the trans spectrum, her books and her unusual marriage.

Sionnach says of herself in her CV: “Sionnach (pronounced shuhn ukh) Wintergreen is the author of gay romance, epic fantasy, and adult fantasy. (She uses feminine personal pronouns because she has lived most of her life responding to them, but she would love it if people used ‘they’.) Her character-driven stories usually involve misfits because she is one.”

Sionnach is an animal lover and social activist living in Austin, Texas who has, in her own words, “One wonderful human son.” Continue reading SIONNACH WINTERGREEN – GLAD TO BE GENDER-QUEER →

I interviewed novelist and academic Mehreen Ahmed about her stream of consciousness fiction, her five published novels, and the personal methods and experiences that underpin her Modernist writing. Mehreen, who is an expert in computer-assisted language learning, has published several papers on the subject and has been successful in a number of writing prizes. She also has two MAs and comes from a family of writers. Born in Bangladesh, she now lives in Brisbane, Australia.

Leslie: I know that being a child refugee is one of your most powerful formative experiences. Could tell me your story, please? Continue reading MEHREEN AHMED AND THE SINCERITY OF THE NARRATIVE →

In part two of my interview with Eilis Phillips, synaesthete, historian, blogger, musician and author, I asked her to expand on her academic work, her experiences of synaesthesia and how ‘being different’ has affected her world view .

Leslie: Could you give a few details of your studies & teaching, please? You’re a member of Supernatural Cities – what does that involve?

Eilis: I teach undergrad students in historical methods across several different units, and I learn a lot from them. Continue reading EILIS PHILLIPS AND THE JOYS OF SYNAESTHESIA, Part Two →

I talked to Eilis Phillips about her synaesthesia and her multiple creative roles, which include academic historian, musician, blogger and author. Eilis says of her writing: “I’m inspired by all writers of the fantastic, in particular by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Italo Calvino, Jorge Luis Borges, Peter Beagle, J. R. R. Tolkien, Isaac Asimov, a veritable bevy of nineteenth-century Gothic authors, and the fabulous ghost stories of M.R. James.”

I began by asking Eilis questions about synaesthesia, moving onto her other activities afterwards. Continue reading EILIS PHILLIPS AND THE JOYS OF SYNAESTHESIA, Part One →

This is the final diary entry written by Beth, the protagonist of my novel ‘Violet’. It was influenced by accounts of near-death experiences. Rather than dwelling on the physical trials of dying it focuses on recapitulating life – the marvellous, sad, varied, inspiring social experience. Continue reading VIOLET – LAST ENTRY →