Best Dan Cockerell Podcasts (2024)

1
Alan Rhode, author of 'The Eagle and the Cockerel' - Journalist, Lawyer and Author discusses political thrillers, writing in a second language and why concentration is subjective 49:28

18m ago49:28

49:28

Alan Rhode is a busy man. Working as a lawyer, with a full family, he's recently self-published his first novel. It's called 'The Eagle and the Cockerel', and was shortlisted for a 2024 Selfie Award. We discuss why Alan was so keen to become a published author, and he is very open about his reasons for wanting to be a novel, and what his ambitions …

1
Catherine Steadman, author of 'Look in the Mirror' - Actor turned bestselling thriller writer discusses career pivots, character nuances, and why word count doesn't matter 46:20

8h ago46:20

46:20

Catherine Steadman had a very successful acting career, starring in 'Downton Abbey', 'Salmon Fishing in the Yemen', 'Fearless' and many more. In her early 30s, she started to think about how her future as an actor might pan out. It's been well documented that roles for older women are depressingly stark, and often frustratingly uninspired. Giving t…

1
Milly Johnson, author of 'The Happiest Ever After' - Bestselling Romance Writer discusses keeping the concentration up, why greeting cards help novels, and how to keep the plates spinning 54:27

15d ago54:27

54:27

Milly Johnson is one of the top 10 Female Fiction authors in the UK, with over 3 million sales in the country alone, and many more across the world as she's been published in more than 20 different countries. She's been honoured with the Romantic Novelists' Association's Outstanding Achievement Award, and has just published her 21st novel in 20 yea…

1
B.P. Walter, author of 'The Garden Party' - Crime writer discusses escaping and being distracted, publishing horror, and making characters nuanced 1:06:12

11d ago1:06:12

1:06:12

Crime writer B.P. Walter has always been around books. From beng submerged in reading growing up, to studying storytelling, to working in bookshops, it makes perfect sense that he's now a full-time author. His newest novel is 'The Garden Party', which tells the story of a wealthy family celebrating the engagement of son, Raphael. Only, his adopted …

1
Amy Neff, author of 'The Days I Loved You Most' - Debut writer discusses spending 10 years with characters, getting over rejection, and why editing needs help 49:34

28d ago49:34

49:34

Amy Neff's new novel is 'The Days I Loved You Most'. It's taken 10 years to get to shelves. Amy has spent 10 years refining the story, sending it to publishers, even hiring her own editor to help get it into shape. We discuss how she stayed positive through that time and learned to deal with rejection. It tells the story of Joseph and Evelyn, once …

1
Julietta Henderson, author of 'How to Get a Life' - Richard and Judy Book Club pick talks scattered scenes, finding the story thread, and why writing doesn't get any easier 49:13

1M ago49:13

49:13

Julietta Henderson's debut novel, 'The Funny Thing about Norman Foreman', was a Richard and Judy Book Club pick and sold around the world. Her second is, 'How to Get a Life'. It tells the story of Danny Mulberry, a man who could do better... better at life, better at being an adult... generally better than everything. When a photo of him accidental…

1
Shaun Bythell, author of 'The Diary of a Bookseller' - Scotland's most famous bookseller discusses editing diaries, why everyone loves a bookshop, and style guides 47:24

2M ago47:24

47:24

Shaun Bythell runs 'The Bookshop' in Wigtown, it's Scotland's largest second-hand bookshop, and is now incredibly popular. Back in 2017, Shaun published, 'The Diary of a Bookseller', a book filled with his daily experiences running the store. People fell in love with his wry musings, the life of a bookseller, and it became a Sunday Times bestseller…

1
Jonny Sweet, author of 'The Kellerby Code' - Screenwriter and Author discusses jokes influencing novels, why guilt is useless, and dealing with praise 45:34

3M ago45:34

45:34

Jonny Sweet won the 'Best Newcomer' Prize at the 2009 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, created a sketch group with 'The Inbetweeners' Simon Bird and Joe Thomas, and appeared in many TV Comedies, including 'Chickens' and 'Him and Her'. He wrote the movie 'Wicked Little Letters' starring Olivia Colman, which was released this year. He has also just publish…

1
Kate Storey, author of 'The Memory Library' - Book Club author discusses why a change of genre means a change of name, whether outlining curbs creativity, and why she watches for jokes 45:45

3M ago45:45

45:45

Our special guest this week is Kate Storey. Under the name Lisa Timoney, she's published 3 books, 'Her Daughter's Secret', 'Her Mother's Lies' and 'His Secret Wife'... but a change of genre means a change of name. Kate's back with book club fiction now, and has published, 'The Memory Library'. It's all about Sally Harrison, who has been building a …

1
Alina Khawaja, author of 'Maya's Laws of Love' - How to avoid tangents which block your ideas, dealing with rejections, and trying to get better 48:14

3M ago48:14

48:14

After writing around 7 books and getting many rejections or near-misses, Alina Khawaja finally has a published novel. It's called 'Maya's Laws of Love', and tells the story of Maya on her way to Pakistan for an arranged marriage she hopes will end with love. Only, after a disastrous journey, she begins to wonder if Mr. Right might actually be someo…

1
Samuel Burr, author of 'The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers' - Mystery writer talks about learning from making TV, spying for inspiration, and how the business actually works 1:01:34

3M ago1:01:34

1:01:34

Samuel Burr has worked as a TV executive, creating shows like 'The Secret Life of 4 Year Olds', 'Eight Go Rallying', and 'The Secret Life of Cleaners'. Many years ago he worked on a documentary in a retirement home, now it's given him the basis for his debut novel. 'The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers' looks at Clayton Sumper, an enigma who was abandone…

1
Caz Frear, author of 'Five Bad Deeds' - Thriller writer discusses the pressures of doing everything, getting into the right mindset, and making your day better 1:00:06

4M ago1:00:06

1:00:06

Caz Frear was launched to debut success after winning the 'Richard and Judy Search for a Bestseller' competition. Her novel, 'Sweet Little Lies', won the prize and found the bestselling status they searched for. What happens next? How do you follow up on debut success? Caz discusses how she dealt with that writing her 2nd and 3rd novels, and why sh…

1
Chioma Okereke, author of 'Water Baby' - Poet and Author discusses writing without genre, changing how you plot, and performing poetry 54:16

4M ago54:16

54:16

Chioma Okereke's writing career started as a performance poet, even though she was terrified of performing poetry. From there she wrote short fiction, and was a highly placed runner up in the Costa Short Story Award, for 'Trompette de la Mort'. Her move into long-form began with her debut 'Bitter Leaf', which was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Wr…

1
Paul Carlucci, author of 'The Voyageur' - Acclaimed author discusses moving from short stories to novels, by inspired by fact, and learning grammar 57:23

4M ago57:23

57:23

Paul Carlucci has published 3 short story collections and works as a copywriter, making other peoples work read better. He's just released one of the most hotly anticipated debuts of the year, it's called 'The Voyageur'. It tells the story of Alex, a motherless stockboy in 19th century Montreal, who is taken in by Serge, a drunken fur trader. After…

1
Kerry Andrew, author of 'We Are Together Because' - Award winning composer and writer discusses the search for the perfect word, imagining the worst, and finding what you really want 54:21

4M ago54:21

54:21

Kerry Andrew is an all-round creative. As a composer, they've won 4 British Composer Awards, as a writer they've been nominated twice for the BBC National Short Story Award. Kerry has published 2 novels, 'Swansong', 'Skin', and is back with a third, 'We Are Together Because'. It's all about siblings Luke, Connor, Thea and Violet, spending their fir…

1
Daisy Goodwin, author of 'Diva' - TV producer and screenwriter discusses thorough research, historical fiction, and creating legendary TV shows 52:10

5M ago52:10

52:10

Daisy Goodwin has created some legendary television shows. She's the brains behind 'Grand Designs', 'Escape to the Country', and the historical drama, 'Victoria', based on Queen Victoria, which was sold in 146 countries. She's published poetry, had 3 bestselling novels, 'My Last Duchess', 'The Fortune Hunter', and 'Victoria, which together have bee…

1
Max Moyer, author of 'Zodak - The Last Shielder' - Fantasy author talks world-building, stopping for 18 years, and why you don't need to be completely original 51:24

5M ago51:24

51:24

One of the most frequent requests to writersroutine.com is for fantasy authors. World builders. Authors with the ability to take you on an adventure across times, dimensions and brand new maps. This week's guest, Max Moyer, has figured a way to do that. His new book 'Zodak - The Last Shielder', is the first in a new series, 'Tempest Rising'. There …

1
Mari Hannah, author of 'The Longest Goodbye' - Crime award-winner discusses planning across a series, her Murder Wall, and the book she never wanted to write 43:43

5M ago43:43

43:43

Mari Hannah is a prolific writer. Over the last 12 years she's won the Northern Writer's Award, the Polari First Book Prize, the CWA Dagger in the Library Award, and Capital Crime's Crime Book of the Year. She's a series authors, publishing books in the 'Stone and Oliver' series, the 'Ryan and O'Neil' novels, and the 'Kate Daniels' thrillers. Her n…

1
Triona Campbell, author of 'The Traitor in the Game' - Young Adult writer talks moving countries to write, moving from TV to novels, and moving obstacles 1:05:16

5M ago1:05:16

1:05:16

Triona Campbell worked as a TV producer and writer, creating many dramas and comedies for teens, and picking up 3 Emmy nominations. Through Lockdown (capital L?) she started writing a novel for teens... thus, a whole career change. Her debut, 'A Game of Life and Death' went down very well, and she's followed it up with 'The Traitor in the Game'. It…

1
Yangsze Choo, author of 'The Fox Wife' - New York Times bestseller talks about streaming pressure, debut success, and how we think differently 49:32

6M ago49:32

49:32

Yangsze Choo's debut novel 'The Ghost Bride', was released 10 years ago, and has been adapted by Netflix. Her follow-up 'The Night Tiger', was a BBC 2 'Between the Covers' pick, a Reese Witherspoon Book Pick, and was selected for the UK's Big Jubilee Read. She's a New York Times bestseller. Her 3rd novel in the last 10 years is 'The Fox Wife'. Set …

1
Mandy Robotham, author of 'The Hidden Storyteller' - Historical Fiction writer discusses the rules of genre, needing a deadline, and stopping when it gets good 51:20

6M ago51:20

51:20

Mandy Robotham has had many careers, and is busy. She's worked as a midwife, a journalist, and now is an author across genres. Her newest novel is 'The Hidden Storyteller', tells the story of reporter Georgie Young who, in 1946 returns to Germany and finds it unrecognisable post-war, she then teams up with detective Harri Schroder to catch a killer…

1
Caroline Dunford, author of 'The Augmentors' - Prolific writer discusses plotting over a series, switching genres, and reaching for the perfect novel 58:09

6M ago58:09

58:09

Caroline Dunford has published over 30 books across many genres. Her best loved is the 'Euphemia Martins' Mysteries', which solves crimes set one hundred years ago. Her latest release is 'The Augmentors', a Young Adult novel published under the name Gemini Gibson. We get quite philosophical, talking about the big picture of writing, and why she fee…

1
Orlando Murrin, author of 'Knife Skills for Beginners' - Chef, writer and all-round doer discusses the perfect keyboard, going on tangents, and why kitchens make the perfect place for murder 52:14

6M ago52:14

52:14

Orlando Murrin has had many careers. In the early 90's he appeared on 'Masterchef', reaching the semi-final on a show watched by 12 million people. From then, he's worked as a chef and hotelier, written cookbooks, edited magazines, made podcasts, and now has a novel out. 'Knife Skills for Beginners' sees Paul Delamare investigating murders at a hig…

1
Maura Cheeks, author of 'Acts of Forgiveness' - Debut writer discusses free-writing, how journalism affects novel-writing, and important stories 47:28

6M ago47:28

47:28

This week we chat to Maura Cheeks, who has written pieces and columns all over the place, being featured in the New York Times, The Atlantic and the Harvard Business Review. Her debut novel is called 'Acts of Forgiveness', and is out on the 13th February. It tells the story of Willie Revel who gives up a career as journalist in New York to help run…

1
Sarah Marsh, author of 'A Sign of Her Own' - Debut writer discusses finding the truth in history, taking 12 years to write a debut, and thorough research 29:41

7M ago29:41

29:41

This week, we're joined by Sarah Marsh. Her debut is 'A Sign of Her Own'. It tells the story of Ellen Lark, who discovers a side to Alexander Graham Bell, one of history's most famous figures, that few other people know. Sarah was shortlisted for the Lucy Cavenish Prize in 2019, selected for the London Library Emerging Writer's Programme, and has a…

1
Rebecca Thorne, author of 'The Grief House' - Writing without a genre, how pseudonyms help switch between tasks, and a strictly-planned day 58:20

7M ago58:20

58:20

Rebecca Thorne's new novel is 'The Grief House', it's about the ex-tarot reader Blue, who escapes to a grief retreat on a beautiful country estate. Only, when the weather closes in, and someone disappears in the night, Blue wonders whose grief might hide a deeper secret. Rebecca published 2 psychological thriller books under the name Rebecca Tinnel…

1
Helen Fisher, author of 'Joe Nuthin's Guide to Life' - Writer discusses the rocky road to publication, writing when you're not writing, and the plot road map 55:22

7M ago55:22

55:22

Helen Fisher's debut, 'Space Hopper' was acclaimed as one of the most unique debuts of 2021, recommended by Cosmopolitan, Woman's Weekly', Marian Keyes, and many more, it looked set to launch her to a glittering career. Things weren't that simple for Helen. In the following 2 years, she wrote 3 novels which were all turned down and rejected. At an …

1
Professor Emma Smith, author of 'Portable Magic: A History of Books and Their Readers' - Academic discusses commercial non-fiction, who Shakespeare really was, and why we can't throw books away 57:14

7M ago57:14

57:14

Professor Emma Smith teaches Shakespeare Studies at the University of Oxford. She has published some academic non-fiction works before, but this is her first work of real commercial non-fiction. 'Portable Magic: A History of Books and Their Readers', looks at why books are so importantly culturally - why can't we throw them away? What is it about a…

1
D.V. Bishop, author of 'Ritual of Fire' - Historical fiction author talks his rules of writing, planning in the past, and tie-in novels 1:16:20

8M ago1:16:20

1:16:20

Happy New Year! Let's start 2024 with a bumper episode from a fantastic historical fiction author. D.V Bishop has published 3 'Cesare Aldo' novels, and the 4th is on the way. He's won the CWA Historical Dagger Award, and his novels are highly commended across the board. His newest novel is 'Ritual of Fire'. It takes you to 1538 Florence, where a ri…

1
The Final Episode 27:35

8M ago27:35

27:35

"When you're appealing to everybody, you're appealing to nobody. You really have to know who you are and differentiate yourself. Home in on that thing that people are going to remember." Episode Highlights 00:00 Returned to business world after offering advice. 05:06 Importance of mentoring and paying it forward. 09:57 Focus on client needs, not cr…

1
Jane L. Rosen, author of 'On Fire Island' - Turning screenplays into novels, the balance of writing and promoting, and how to capture a sense of place 38:04

8M ago38:04

38:04

In our last episode of 2023, we chat to Jane L. Rosen, whose new boook 'On Fire Island' is out now. It’s all about Julia, a book lover that lives on Fire Island in New York, who… dies, and then we follow the different lives of those she loves, and how her life affects theirs. Julia is also a screenplay and columnist, and we chat through how she tur…

1
Give 'Em the Pickle [Rebroadcast] 16:34

8M ago16:34

16:34

One of my favorite customer service books is from legendary author and speaker Bob Farrell. In his book, ‘Give ‘Em the Pickle’, he discusses how to improve client satisfaction and retention through three words, “I’ll be back.” However, as Jody and I explain in this episode, to earn this phrase, one should not rely on the protocol alone. Contrarily,…

1
Amanda Prowse, author of 'All Good Things' - Prolific bestseller discusses creating a universe of characters, completely pantsing and why creativity helps trauma 47:04

8M ago47:04

47:04

Amanda Prowse has written over 30 books. Her newest is 'All Good Things', which tells the story of life-long neighbours, the Kelleways and the Harrops, who couldn’t be further apart. However, when they celebrate a big anniversary, huge secrets are revealed and change everything. She has written fiction, non-fiction, novellas, short stories, and mem…

1
A Trip Down Elm Street 30:01

9M ago30:01

30:01

[Rebroadcast of one of Dan's favorite episodes.] “No matter what you’ve done in your life, career and what you’ve been involved with, you’re going to have hard times. And moving on is really the only option you have. You get up and keep moving forward.” In this episode of Come Rain or Shine, special guests, Clint Hill, and Lisa McCubbin join the sh…

1
Femi Kayode, author of 'Gaslight' - CWA nominated writer discusses writing through a Nigerian lens, chapter titles giving control, and being in the perfect place 40:54

9M ago40:54

40:54

Femi Kayode's debut 'Lightseekers' was a book of the month in many national newspapers, it was longlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger Award, and was a commercial success. His follow up is 'Gaslight', it's the second in the Phillip Taiwo 'Whydunnit' series. Following the investigative psychologist who has been urgently called in to investigate the disap…

1
Developing a New Point of View 18:06

9M ago18:06

18:06

“Just because the information is at our fingertips doesn't mean we're always leveraging it to actually get stuff done and do things." In today's fast-paced world, information is readily accessible, yet many of us struggle to leverage it effectively. We often find ourselves consuming content for entertainment purposes rather than using it to fuel pe…

1
Katie Marsh, author of 'How Not To Murder Your Ex' - Crime writer talks about switching from romance, trying to clear distractions, and taking 2 months before starting 50:20

9M ago50:20

50:20

This week, we're chatting to Katie Marsh. Katie has published 5 romantic fiction novels, ‘Unbreak your Heart’, ‘The Rest of Me’, ‘The Beautiful Life’, ‘A Life Without You’ and ‘My Everything’, and has now completely switched genre. You can find out why in the podcast. Her new novel is 'How Not To Murder Your Ex', and tells the story of Clio, who op…

1
What Is Holding You Back 15:13

9M ago15:13

15:13

"You can't always control what happens to you, but you can control how you respond to it and how you kind of take it in, and that's all on you." Episode Highlights 02:26 Courage and discipline are key to growth. 04:51 Change mindset, find motivation, or make change. 07:43 Attitude and choices determine control and confidence. 12:52 Start doing, mak…

1
Conflict 20:48

9M ago20:48

20:48

“Conflict is inevitable. How we handle it separates great leaders from the rest.” - Valerie Cockerell Episode Highlights 00:01:34 - Dealing with Conflict as a Mom 00:03:15 - Creating Common Ground 00:05:53 - Teaching Conflict Resolution 00:06:40 - Cultural Differences in Conflict 00:15:21 - Conflict in the Workplace 00:16:38 - Finding Solutions 00:…

1
Focus Forward Business Podcast with Sturdy McKee - S2 Ep. 23 Bob Hayward 36:29

9M ago36:29

36:29

Bob Hayward shares some great insights that I immediately put to work in my business. We covered a range of topics related to sales and business growth. In this episode Bob emphasizes the importance of providing value to customers and understanding the cost of doing nothing, along with the critical role of trust and trust-building skills in sales a…

1
Terry Hayes, author of 'The Year of the Locust' - Acclaimed bestseller talks about using song lyrics, cutting hundreds of thousands of words, and the pressure of the second novel 49:29

9M ago49:29

49:29

Terry Hayes started his career as a journalist before heading to Hollywood. He found real success there, writing on 'Flight Plan', 'Payback', and penning, 'Mad Max II'. In 2013, he published 'I Am Pilgrim' to international acclaim and success. 10 years later, he's written his second novel, 'The Year of the Locust'. It tells the story of Kane, a CIA…

1
Pay Attention to the Person In Front of You 19:23

9M ago19:23

19:23

“You create your own luck.' When you engage in conversations with strangers, you never know what it may turn into - a pleasant conversation, a business opportunity, or even a friendship." Episode Highlights 01:27 Pay attention to people for effective leadership, communication, and relationship building. 04:43 Nonverbals are a powerful way to commun…

1
Diversity 34:11

9M ago34:11

34:11

“It is hard if you come to the table with just one set of tools. By bringing diversity and embracing diversity, you are bringing more tools to your toolbox. - Valerie Cockerell Episode Highlights 00:01:46 - Valerie's Perspective on Diversity 00:04:33 - Diversity at Disney 00:05:48 - Stereotypes and Cultural Differences 00:09:40 - Overcoming Us vs. …

1
Freya Berry, author of 'The Birdcage Library' - Bestseller discusses writing hard and often, leaving space in the story, and giving yourself a year to write 40:20

9M ago40:20

40:20

Freya Berry's debut, 'The Dictator's Wife', was a bestselling, critically acclaimed hit, and was a BBC 2 'Between the Covers' pick. She's back with 'The Birdcage Library'. It tells the story of Emily Blackwood, a young adventuress tasked by an exotic animal hunter to track down a lost treasure hidden in a castle... it becomes a deeper, darker hunt …

1
Take Responsibility 19:42

9M ago19:42

19:42

“Sometimes I look around and say, why am I in this situation? It makes me take a step back to say, “ What did you do to get yourself in this situation? What could you have done to not be in this situation?” Episode Highlights [00:03:58] Take responsibility for hiring, then address issues or remove employees.. [00:10:54] Ownership mindset leads to r…

1
Recognition and Feedback 18:20

9M ago18:20

18:20

Make it genuine and make it immediate, otherwise one day they're going to find happiness somewhere else when they're being appreciated for what they do. - Valerie Cockerell Episode Highlights 00:01:27 - Generosity in Recognition 00:03:57 - Effort vs Result 00:05:06 - Specificity in Recognition 00:07:22 - Building a Habit of Recognition 00:14:41 - T…

1
Denzil Meyrick, author of 'Murder at Holly House' - Bestselling writer discusses the baggy middle, avoiding distractions, and not being limited by genre 1:00:16

10M ago1:00:16

1:00:16

Denzil Meyrick has published 11 bestselling DCI Daley books, many standalones, and is back with, 'Murder at Holly House'. Set in 1952, it takes Inspector Frank Grasby despatched to investigate a strange body discovered at historic Holly House. When snow strands him there, and another body is found, we find ourselves in a locked room mystery. We tal…

1
Change Your Environment to Change Your Mindset 13:33

10M ago13:33

13:33

“We’re just so busy and distracted, things come in and out. We just don't take time to say, wow, that's a nice thing. I'm creating a little memory for myself right now." – Dan Cockerell Episode Highlights [00:02:19] Saying yes to opportunities and changing environments can be refreshing and inspiring. [00:05:07] Meditation is challenging but worthw…

1
Values 16:42

10M ago16:42

16:42

Having clarity on your values is important as both a leader and a parent. It's the glue that keeps your family, your team, your organization, your community together. - Valerie Cockerell Episode Highlights 00:00:41 - The Importance of Values 00:03:56 - Behaviors Reflecting Values 00:06:32 - Alignment of Values in the Workplace 00:09:38 - Misalignme…

1
Dann McDorman, author of 'West Heart Kill' - Novelist and Emmy-nominated News Producer discusses twisting the genre, putting the reader in the mystery, and how news affects stories 51:14

10M ago51:14

51:14

Dann McDorman is an Emmy-nominated news producer, working for MSNBC in New York. His debut novel is 'West Heart Kill', which is something particularly unique. It places the reader at the heart of the mystery. Dann invites you in to an exclusive country club to be an active guest over a holiday weekend... when the bodies start dropping. We discuss t…

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