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The Hidden Lives of Writers

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The Hidden Lives of Writers
Latest episode

67 episodes

  • The Hidden Lives of Writers

    S07 E03 Jassy Mackenzie

    2026/04/06 | 1h 10 mins.
    Jassy Mackenzie is a multi-award-nominated author who combines talent with hard work and an excellent head for business.

    Jassy joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about how she got her start writing gritty, Joburg-based crime, before being approached to write with James Patterson. She talks about the obligations of being a contracted ghostwriter and how she is already planning to ensure the longevity of her writing career.

    For more details about the books, movies, series, and podcasts that are discussed on the show, sign up here for our weekly newsletter:

    https://mailchi.mp/icon/the-hidden-lives-of-writers-newsletter-signup

    Ask your writing-related questions here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8i1_vFmUwsd7E_nvPgQOtqEscvZIircT0imdHm_qYJK5eXA/viewform

    Fiona and Gail would love to hear from you. Please join the conversation here:

    Email: [email protected]

    Instagram: @thehiddenlivesofwriterspod

    Twitter: @hiddenwriterpod

    YouTube: The Hidden Lives of Writers

    Threads: @thehiddenlivesofwriters

    Facebook discussion group: The Hidden Lives of Writers Follow us on Instagram · Chat with us on Twitter · Join our Facebook group · Subscribe to us on YouTube · Join our newsletter · Ask your writing-related questions here
  • The Hidden Lives of Writers

    S07 E02 Mike Nicol

    2026/03/30 | 1h 12 mins.
    Mike Nicol is one of South Africa's leading crime writers. His Mace Bishop and Fish Pescado series have enthralled readers for years.

    Mike joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about how he once wallpapered a room in his house with rejection letters. He describes how he found his latest protagonist Zara Dewane lurking in an earlier novel and decided to give her a story of her own. Falls the Shadow is out now from Pan Macmillan.

    For more details about the books, movies, series, and podcasts that are discussed on the show, sign up here for our weekly newsletter:

    https://mailchi.mp/icon/the-hidden-lives-of-writers-newsletter-signup

    Ask your writing-related questions here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8i1_vFmUwsd7E_nvPgQOtqEscvZIircT0imdHm_qYJK5eXA/viewform

    Fiona and Gail would love to hear from you. Please join the conversation here:

    Email: [email protected]

    Instagram: @thehiddenlivesofwriterspod

    Twitter: @hiddenwriterpod

    YouTube: The Hidden Lives of Writers

    Threads: @thehiddenlivesofwriters

    Facebook discussion group: The Hidden Lives of Writers Follow us on Instagram · Chat with us on Twitter · Join our Facebook group · Subscribe to us on YouTube · Join our newsletter · Ask your writing-related questions here
  • The Hidden Lives of Writers

    S07 E01 Sally Andrew

    2026/03/23 | 58 mins.
    Sally Andrew is a South African literary superstar. Her Tannie Maria books are loved by many thousands of readers and have been turned into a successful international TV series.

    Sally joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about how she plots her books under a huge and ancient tree, and how the voice of Tannie Maria arrived in her head fully formed. The fifth book in the Tannie Maria series, Wild Things Never Die, will be available in May.

    For more details about the books, movies, series, and podcasts that are discussed on the show, sign up here for our weekly newsletter:

    https://mailchi.mp/icon/the-hidden-lives-of-writers-newsletter-signup

    Ask your writing-related questions here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8i1_vFmUwsd7E_nvPgQOtqEscvZIircT0imdHm_qYJK5eXA/viewform

    Fiona and Gail would love to hear from you. Please join the conversation here:

    Email: [email protected]

    Instagram: @thehiddenlivesofwriterspod

    Twitter: @hiddenwriterpod

    YouTube: The Hidden Lives of Writers

    Threads: @thehiddenlivesofwriters

    Facebook discussion group: The Hidden Lives of Writers Follow us on Instagram · Chat with us on Twitter · Join our Facebook group · Subscribe to us on YouTube · Join our newsletter · Ask your writing-related questions here
  • The Hidden Lives of Writers

    S06 E10 Lauri Kubuitsile

    2025/11/10 | 1h 5 mins.
    Botswana-based Lauri Kubuitsile is the multi-award-winning author of The Scattering and But Deliver Us From Evil, as well as many, many books for children, teens, and adults.

    Lauri joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about writing what she likes and not being afraid to stand up for herself both creatively and in negotiating contracts.

    For more details about the books, movies, series, and podcasts that are discussed on the show, sign up here for our weekly newsletter:

    https://mailchi.mp/icon/the-hidden-lives-of-writers-newsletter-signup

    Ask your writing-related questions here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8i1_vFmUwsd7E_nvPgQOtqEscvZIircT0imdHm_qYJK5eXA/viewform

    Fiona and Gail would love to hear from you. Please join the conversation here:

    Email: [email protected]

    Instagram: @thehiddenlivesofwriterspod

    Twitter: @hiddenwriterpod

    YouTube: The Hidden Lives of Writers

    Threads: @thehiddenlivesofwriters

    Facebook discussion group: The Hidden Lives of Writers Follow us on Instagram · Chat with us on Twitter · Join our Facebook group · Subscribe to us on YouTube · Join our newsletter · Ask your writing-related questions here
  • The Hidden Lives of Writers

    S06 E09 Anna Stroud

    2025/11/03 | 55 mins.
    Anna Stroud is the award-winning author of WHO LOOKS INSIDE, an extraordinary debut novel that probes beneath the surface of small-town life.

    Anna joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about how doing an MA in Creative Writing gave her permission to take her writing seriously, and why she composes her stories on a secondhand, offline laptop called 'Gandalf'.

    For more details about the books, movies, series, and podcasts that are discussed on the show, sign up here for our weekly newsletter:

    https://mailchi.mp/icon/the-hidden-lives-of-writers-newsletter-signup

    Ask your writing-related questions here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8i1_vFmUwsd7E_nvPgQOtqEscvZIircT0imdHm_qYJK5eXA/viewform

    Fiona and Gail would love to hear from you. Please join the conversation here:

    Email: [email protected]

    Instagram: @thehiddenlivesofwriterspod

    Twitter: @hiddenwriterpod

    YouTube: The Hidden Lives of Writers

    Threads: @thehiddenlivesofwriters

    Facebook discussion group: The Hidden Lives of Writers Follow us on Instagram · Chat with us on Twitter · Join our Facebook group · Subscribe to us on YouTube · Join our newsletter · Ask your writing-related questions here

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About The Hidden Lives of Writers

How and why writers write. Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel are working writers - and their favourite people are writers. Join them as they dive deep into HOW and WHY successful writers write. Mail us at [email protected]
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