Why writing a novel is like riding a horse episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 30, 2026 · 28 MIN

Why writing a novel is like riding a horse

from Bookends with Mattea Roach

Imagine you walk into your bedroom one day … and there’s a horse going on a rampage. Better yet, it’s a horse from a childhood story that has haunted you ever since you first heard it. Who’s the first person you call? In Ali Smith’s new novel, Glyph, estranged sisters Petra and Patch are brought back together when a story from their childhood comes to life in an incredible way. But what makes a ghost story real? And what can it tell us about the world we live in now? This week, Ali joins Mattea Roach to talk about her connection to horses, the power and wonder of words and whether or not she believes in ghosts.Liked this conversation? Keep listening:For Jeanette Winterson, stories are essential to survival How do we restore our sense of wonder in media? Check us out on Instagram @cbcbooks and TikTok @cbcbooks

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Aug 30, 2026

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Why writing a novel is like riding a horse

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This episode was published on August 30, 2026.

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