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The Hidden Lives of Writers

The Hidden Lives of Writers

By: Solid Gold Podcasts #BeHeard
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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 hiddenlivesofwriters@gmail.comSolid Gold Podcasts #BeHeard Art
Episodes
  • S07 E10 Busisekile Khumalo

    S07 E10 Busisekile Khumalo
    May 25 2026
    Busisekile Khumalo is the bestselling author of the Harvard Wife series of novels, as well as the standalone book, Nomaswazi, and a new series published by Jonathan Ball Publishers, including Rubies & Rain and Sunshine & Shadows.

    Busisekile joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about how she walked away from a career in law to pursue her passion for storytelling. She shares her insights into self-publishing vs traditional publishing and tells us how she juggles the demands of her fan base. Listeners can explore Busisekile's website for information about her mentoring programme.

    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: hiddenlivesofwriters@gmail.com
    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
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 12 mins
  • S07 E09 Zakes Mda

    S07 E09 Zakes Mda
    May 18 2026
    Zakes Mda is one of South Africa's best known and most awarded writers. He is a novelist, playwright, short story writer, and painter. A Professor Emeritus of English at Ohio University, Zakes now lives and works in Johannesburg.
    He joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about how his earliest inspirations were Casper the Friendly Ghost and Xhosa mythology.
    He explains why he often uses the first person plural as a narrative voice and why he is currently digging into the archives of Durban's iconic rickshaws.

    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: hiddenlivesofwriters@gmail.com
    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
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 17 mins
  • S07 E08 Nadia Davids

    S07 E08 Nadia Davids
    May 11 2026
    Nadia Davids is an award-winning playwright, novelist, and short story writer. She won the Caine Prize in 2024 for her short story 'Bridling'. Her latest novel CAPE FEVER has been released to great acclaim, published by Simon & Schuster.

    Nadia joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about how postcolonial fiction does not have to be bleak or hopeless and why she chose the Gothic form for her most recent novel.
    She talks about the special relationship she has always had with Cape Town and why CAPE FEVER could not have been set anywhere else.

    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: hiddenlivesofwriters@gmail.com
    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
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 1 min
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