Gothic Horror at its finest
Today I want to share with you a podcast put out by the National Centre for Writing, which is a Literature House in Norwich, the UK’s first UNESCO city of Literature and commonly known as the City of Stories.
I am a volunteer at the National Centre for Writing and really believe in its mission and the opportunities it affords people.
They also run the Writing Life Podcast, in the episode I’m sharing with you today author Heather Parry discusses writing the grotesque body and reimagining gothic tropes.
Below is a link to the full podcast catalogue.
Storytelling in graphic novels: Anna Trench on Florrie – The Writing Life
In this episode of The Writing Life Podcast, illustrator and writer Anna Trench shares the process of writing and illustrating her debut graphic novel, Florrie – a warm-hearted story about football, friendship and falling in love.
Anna Trench is an illustrator, cartoonist, writer and teacher based in London. Florrie is her first book. It won the 2025 East Anglian Book of the Year Award and was previously shortlisted for the First Graphic Novel Award and the LDComics Award.
She sat down with NCW’s Peggy Hughes to reflect on the inspiration and research behind the graphic novel, which explores self-discovery and queer love, alongside huge (and little known) historical moments for women’s football. They also touch on her analogue approach to graphic storytelling, her relationship with Norfolk, and her love for the women’s game.
- Storytelling in graphic novels: Anna Trench on Florrie
- Stories of humanity & connection: Jenni Fagan on The Delusions
- The path to publication: Grace Murray on Blank Canvas
- Wonder and Loss: Writing Grief and Memoir with Sam Meekings
- Family and Caribbean folklore: Celeste Mohammed on Ever Since We Small
Katie Marie Robinson-Sherlock 
I’d love to hear what you think, please comment below.