Writing Podcast Episode 703: Molly O’Neill and her fantasy novel 'Nightshade and Oak'

Two thousand years ago in Britain, the historical figure of Boudicca famously revolted against the Roman Empire and carved a path across the land. This later sparked many myths and stories – including the new historical fantasy novel Nightshade and Oak by author Molly O’Neill. In this episode, Molly discusses her inspirations for telling this story and the experience of writing and editing it. She also shares her take on blending science and creativity and the joys of writing under contract.  00:00 Welcome06:18 Writing tip: Block in time for your writing08:12 WIN!: The Ironbark Promise by Léonie Kelsall9:56 Word of the week: ‘Parvenu’10:22 Writer in residence: Molly O’Neill10:57 Molly explains her new book, Nightshade and Oak12:42 Landing on the point of view character18:08 How Molly fits writing into her geologist life21:53 Balancing science and creativity23:04 The importance of accurate physics in writing23:53 Molly’s prolific reading and reviewing pastime25:44 Backing yourself as an author26:40 Landing her first publishing deal28:10 The pressure of writing under contract30:19 Engaging with readers and book clubs31:34 Upcoming projects and genre exploration33:23 A writing tip on editing34:26 Final thoughts Read the show notes Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.