It’s that time of year again! Our podcast, The Dale Hurst Writing Show returns for a fifth series.

There’s no getting rid of The Dale Hurst Writing Show. I know last year, I was in a bit of a slump with the podcast, and was certain about bringing it to an end this year. But there were developments. Positive developments. The main one: our affiliation with The Bournemouth Journal, a new literary journal created and produced by the MA Creative Writing and Publishing course at Bournemouth University. The very Master’s course I studied during lockdown.

Keeping in close contact with the course after graduation has been so rewarding and valuable (hopefully mutually so); I encourage more students and alumni to stay in touch with your universities after you finish! You never know what opportunities may come along. There’s more I can say on this subject, but we’ll get back on track: The Dale Hurst Writing Show Season 5.

What’s new? What’s improved?

The show’s format will be the same as you know and love. I spent the last few months meeting and interviewing a whole new batch of writers to bring another 10 episodes. One or two bonus interviews may also be included. As always, these writers work in various disciplines and media: literary and genre fiction… film… even, most excitingly this year, video games!

I always try to shake things up from season to season. This year, I’ve added a new question at the end of my regular Q+A segment. The Desert Island Story question; that is, finding out my guests’ desert island book, film, play or TV episode. Some have come out with classics, others have surprised me immensely. It’s always interesting to hear what people come out with, so I intend to keep the question for future series.

It’s also worth mentioning that this season, we mark the 50th episode of the podcast. For this episode, I reunited with some old friends to put something a bit different together. I won’t spoil the surprise by revealing too much. But even if you aren’t a regular listener, this one would be worth engaging with.

Who features in Season 5?

Tune in this season to hear from more writers from all across the globe. On The Dale Hurst Writing Show, we’re never confined to just my home in the UK. In fact, like the last season, we kick off with a chat from the U.S. As we mark 80 years since the end of the Second World War, the season premiere tackles World War II stories, with author and retired Navy Chief, Matt Hardman.

As with previous series, I interview writers at all stages of their careers, from the traditionally published such as Iqbal Hussain, to fantasy writer Fin Cattanach, who publishes prolifically on Instagram. I also had the pleasure of chatting to multiple-award-winning writer and director Max James Walker, whose film The Façade tackles the duality of social media stars and influencers.

Topics for this season include the dos and don’ts of character development, how magic and politics mix within fantasy fiction, and the essentials of interactive storytelling. Naturally, it doesn’t stop there. But you’ll have to follow on Spotify to ensure you don’t miss an episode!

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Been ages since my last report, but I couldn’t talk about a couple of the things I wanted to mention in February. Now, however, I don’t have to keep it a secret anymore.

As you can imagine, a lot has happened in the best part of two months. We push on with two books. Plus, developments with the podcast that I can now reveal in detail. Without further ado:

Silhouettes

First up, my upcoming short story and poetry collection, Silhouettes. I probably owe regular visitors an in-depth look into this new book, so keep your eye out for that in the near future. For now, I’ll focus on the latest developments. The most exciting of which is I’ve just commissioned the cover! I’m reuniting with my old friend Michal Musialek, who designed the cover for Sin & Secrecy, to put a face (or faces) on Silhouettes. I had a rough idea, but I’ve left it in his capable hands to make it outstanding as always.

My second read-through and re-draft are complete. There was one story in particular that needed considerable changes following some brilliant feedback from one of my friends. I made those changes — hopefully for the better. It’s back with the friend in question for another round of beta reading to see if the story has improved. Once I get that back at the end of March, it’ll be reading through again, re-drafting again, polishing all the way up until release.

Speaking of which, while I haven’t settled on an exact release date for Silhouettes yet, all being well, it’ll come out in September. So, keep a space on your reading lists for Silhouettes for the autumn.

You Can Hear Chopin from the Attic

I might have reached the stage where I’m sick to death of writing about this book. My third full-length novel, the war story You Can Hear Chopin from the Attic — we battle on with the re-draft. I have now passed beyond the point I got up to last year, when I was attempting to re-draft. So, now is when it gets challenging. There are more re-writes, more killing one’s darlings, more taking chunks out and adding new bits in. The old chess game, where any mistake I make now could really mess things up later on.

Not to jinx anything, but so far, so good. I’m working around the hurdles that keep popping up. Chopin is my main priority while Silhouettes is still in the second round of beta reading. Hopefully, there’ll be a new completed draft ready for the next step (i.e. querying agents), by the end of the summer. Providing I stick to it!

The Dale Hurst Writing Show

This is the news I needed to wait for the right moment to give. Despite what I reported a few months ago, I have decided not to stop my podcast, The Dale Hurst Writing Show, after all. Why the change of mind? To cut a long story short, I have since partnered the show with a new literary journal.

The Bournemouth Journal has been created by my alma mater, Bournemouth University, and is being run by the staff and alumni of the MA Creative Writing and Publishing course. They were kind enough to invite me to join the staff as Podcast Host and showcase my show on their website. Where, I hope, it can now serve as a resource for education and entertainment for all writers, both aspiring ones and those who have a practice already!

Production on Season 5 is now underway, with the first recording session conducted earlier this month. A few more exciting discussions lined up for April, which I’m looking forward to unveiling in the near future.

Want to keep up to date with my latest news and content? Like my Facebook page and follow me on Instagram to see the exclusives.