Date With A Debut is a podcast hosted by writer Nick Wasiliev: shining a light on debut authors, their incredible books, and their journeys to publication.

For the sixteenth episode of series two, Nick sits down with Melissa Goode, author of Ordinary Human Love. They discuss the book, how your values come into conflict with the needs of others, love and obligation, and more.

TRIGGER WARNING: This podcast and book discuss mental health and adult themes, so reader and listener discretion is advised.

BOOKS: 

Debut Feature:
Ordinary Human Love by Melissa Goode: https://bit.ly/4d4jmMX 

Other Books Mentioned:
Light Years by James Salter: https://bit.ly/3TucYrc 
Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson: https://bit.ly/3B3mSKb 

PRODUCTION NOTES: 

Host: Nick Wasiliev
Guest: Melissa Goode
Editing & Production: Nick Wasiliev
Podcast Theme: ‘Chill’ by Sakura Hz
Production Code: 2:16
Episode Number: #29
Additional Credits: Dani Vee (Words & Nerds), Zoe Victoria (Ultimo Press Australia)

© 2024 Nick Wasiliev and Breathe Art Holdings

‘Date With A Debut’ is a Words and Nerds and Breathe Art Podcasts co-production recorded and edited on Awabakal Country, and we pay our respects to all elders past and present.

S2 E16 - Date With A Debut - Ordinary Human Love by Melissa Goode

When human remains are discovered in a forest, police are baffled, the locals are shocked and one group of old friends starts to panic. Their long-held secret is about to be uncovered.

It all began in 1999 when sixteen-year-old Aaron ran away from home, drawing his friends into an unforeseeable chain of events that no one escaped from unscathed.

In The Ledge, past and present run breathlessly parallel, leading to a climax that will change everything you thought you knew. This is a mind-bending new novel from the master of the unexpected.

701. Christian White and Alex Dook - The Ledge

In this episode of Northern Voices, Wild Hunt Books founder and publisher Ariell Cacciola talks all things Northern Weird, setting up her own publishing house and how American readers don't care where a book is set.

Find out more:
https://www.wildhuntbooks.co.uk
https://www.wildhuntbooks.co.uk/blog/tag/toolkit
X:
https://x.com/wildhuntbooks
https://x.com/wildhuntmag
https://x.com/ariellcacciola
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/wildhuntbooks_uk
https://www.instagram.com/ariellreads

Music credit: 'Water of Tyne' performed by Edinburgh University Brass Band (2009) arranged by Jack Stobbs, edited and scored for Brass Band by David Dye. Used with kind permission of the publisher, arranger and performers.

Episode 49: Ariell Cacciola

An assassin and a troubled young woman become unlikely allies when they land themselves in a deadly chase that could destroy their lives... even if they survive. The first book in a blockbuster thriller series from Matt Rogers, million copy bestseller and ‘a bright new talent shaking up the genre'

703. Matt Rogers and Dani Vee - Foresaken

In Episode 52, Northern Voices celebrates one whole year of existence with this vibrant and thought-provoking chat with writer Tawseef Khan. We talk about the healthy state of Northern writing, the difficulties of telling stories about race and why publishers need to take more risks on diverse books.

Find out more:
https://footnotepress.com/books/determination/
https://atlantic-books.co.uk/book/muslim-actually/
X:
https://x.com/itsmetawseef
https://x.com/WeAreFootnote
https://x.com/AtlanticBooks
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/itsmetawseef
https://www.instagram.com/wearefootnote
https://www.instagram.com/atlanticbooks

Music credit: 'Water of Tyne' performed by Edinburgh University Brass Band (2009) arranged by Jack Stobbs, edited and scored for Brass Band by David Dye. Used with kind permission of the publisher, arranger and performers.



Episode 52: Tawseef Khan

In this episode children's writer Sophie Clarke talks about her award-winning manuscript Ellie Anderson is Dead, writing for readers you care about and why it's important for young people to explore themes of death and grief. 

Find out more:
https://newwritingnorth.com/northern-writers-awards/
https://newwritingnorth.com/northern-writers-awards/awards/
X:
https://x.com/SEA_Clarke
https://x.com/NewWritingNorth
https://x.com/HachetteUK
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/sea.clarke
https://www.instagram.com/nwnnewwritingnorth
https://www.instagram.com/hachetteuk

Music credit: 'Water of Tyne' performed by Edinburgh University Brass Band (2009) arranged by Jack Stobbs, edited and scored for Brass Band by David Dye. Used with kind permission of the publisher, arranger and performers.

Episode 53: Sophie Clarke

Have you ever wondered why Publishing seems to take so much longer than any other industry? 

We posed this question to agent Stefanie Molina, Ladderbird Literary--and discuss what it means for agents, editors, and - most of all - writers. 

Want to talk about your work with Stefanie? Schedule a time here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/faculty-members/stefanie-molina

We discuss: 
Current Trends in Publishing (00:03:57) 

What Makes A work “Fresh”? (00:05:01) 
The Importance of BIPOC Voices in Literature (00:06:32)

Communication Challenges in Publishing (00:08:33) 
Literary Agents of Change (00:10:52)

Advice for Writers in the Querying Process (00:15:48)

Agents’ Constant Thoughts on Clients (00:28:56) 
Hope for Industry Change (00:39:31)

Scholarship Opportunities (00:44:47)

Why Does Publishing Take So Darn Long? With Special Guest Agent Stefanie Molina

In this week's episode, historical fiction writer JP Maxwell delves deep into Liverpool's close history with America in his new novel The Americans of Abercromby Square. He discusses Liverpool's literary renaissance, writing strong female characters and the benefits of having a local literary scene on your doorstep.

Find out more:
https://hawksmoorpublishing.com/book/the-americans-of-abercromby-square
https://jpmaxwellwriter.art.blog/
https://www.liverpool-literary.agency/about
X:
https://x.com/maxmaxwriter
BlueSky
https://bsky.app/profile/maxmaxwriter.bsky.social
https://bsky.app/profile/liverpool-lit.bsky.social
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/outandaboutwithmaxwell
https://www.instagram.com/liverpool_literary_agency

Music credit: 'Water of Tyne' performed by Edinburgh University Brass Band (2009) arranged by Jack Stobbs, edited and scored for Brass Band by David Dye. Used with kind permission of the publisher, arranger and performers.

Episode 61: JP Maxwell

A short but punchy episode today as Manchester writer Neil Campbell joins me to talk about his new short story collection, Saying Dirty Things in Regional Accents. We chat about writing short form fiction, linguistic hierarchies and why he keeps going back to the same indie publisher for his books.

Find out more:
https://shorturl.at/jLf08
https://www.neilcampbell.co.uk/
BlueSky
https://bsky.app/profile/saltpublishing.com
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/cambers2025
https://www.instagram.com/saltpublishing

Music credit: 'Water of Tyne' performed by Edinburgh University Brass Band (2009) arranged by Jack Stobbs, edited and scored for Brass Band by David Dye. Used with kind permission of the publisher, arranger and performers.

Episode 63: Neil Campbell

Q: Who Would Envy You? 
A: Bruce Springsteen 

Last month, I had coffee with my friend Gareth Higgins at Recess Coffee in Black Mountain, North Carolina. As we settled in, I mentioned I’d been exploring ChatGPT. Gareth smiled and said, “Let me show you something ChatGPT can do that’ll surprise you.”

Then he leaned into his phone and dictated: List 10 notable writers or poets who would be envious of James Navé and explain why.

If you’ve ever used ChatGPT, you know what happened next—within seconds, it generated the list along with a paragraph for each one. 

While a few responses were predictable, the overall experience was oddly fascinating. It got me thinking about the lens of self-worth, creative admiration, and the power of imaginative comparison.

Yesterday, I tried Gareth’s idea out as a prompt during our Thursday Imaginative Storm Zoom workshops. List 5 to 10 people you admire. Then, write for 10 minutes about why they would envy you. Give it a spin. 

I chose Bruce Springsteen. Here’s what I wrote.

Bruce Springsteen, you envy me because I can be invisible whenever and wherever I want, wherever I go, walking through the promised land across the Rainbow Bridge. 

Bruce, I like the way you look straight out. You envy me because I can see the edges. I dwell in the fall from grace as much as the rise from grace. I'm not troubled with old sheep wandering in dry pastures. 

I have a voice that calls my mama from the grave. No, I'm no karmic child, nor am I a fleeting-moments Buddhist. I am oil and dusty windows. 

Bruce, you envy me because unlike you, I'm from the rugged south, down in the heartland where rocks have accents and children grow up to sing in Nashville. 

Bruce, you are from New Jersey—Land of steel, forest, factories, and “made-men” on corners in Jersey City. I am a creature of things that crawl in old gold heat. I know the runners that pull the cargo up the inland waterway and fly twin-engine planes out of Cuba, or they used to. 

Bruce, I know you know people, too. Do I envy you? Sure, I envy you. I've heard you weep over your piano. You envy me because nobody expects me to weep over my piano. Those who know me expect me to rise up like magic wind. 

Bruce, you envy me because I can talk to age, and time, and the coming years. I belong to the invisible Bruce. I can call up sometime, anytime I want. You can call me sometime, too. 

Let's meet in Virginia, south on I-95 just below Washington, DC. How about it, Bruce?

Bruce Springsteen Envies Me by James Navé

Northern Voices explores Northern writers (published and unpublished), storytelling and publishing. The podcast is hosted by Jen Bowden, a writer, editor and journalist with a PhD in Creative Writing from Curtin University exploring biases against the North in the UK book industry.

The Manuscript Academy brings you conversations with agents, editors, and writers who can help you on your publishing journey.

Provocative Conversations from Twice 5 Miles Radio is a podcast devoted to candid, often surprising exchanges with artists, thinkers, and cultural instigators who speak from the core. Each episode dives beneath the surface to explore the stories and questions that shape our lives.

I’m James Navé—poet, storyteller, educator, and longtime creative collaborator. With an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and decades of teaching experience across the globe, I help writers and performers tap into their authentic voices through public speaking, creative writing, and the Imaginative Storm method, which I co-developed with Allegra Huston.

My most recent book, 100 Days: A Poetic Memoir After Cancer (3: A Taos Press), documents a hundred days of healing and poetic reckoning. I’m also co-author of Write What You Don’t Know and How to Read for an Audience—practical guides for anyone seeking to speak and write with more truth and power.

I’ve directed festivals, hosted literary salons, taught with Julia Cameron, and memorized over 600 poems. I still believe in the power of a well-told story, the light through stained glass, and the open road with nothing but a podcast and a windshield full of stars.

Words and Nerds Podcast is an entertaining and conversational podcast that aims to get inside a writer's mind. We discuss books, the social and political influences of a writer's work and how literature has the power to change the world. 

The podcast digs deep to bring you an in depth and sometimes humorous analysis of the author's book and its influences. Join us for a new way of looking at literature. 

Dani Vee your host, English teacher, podcaster, reader, book enthusiast and over-thinker. Dani is joined by various guest co-hosts and has a number of spin off episodes including the Feedback Sessions, Summer Series Takeover, Bite-Size Episodes, livestreams, mash-ups and cross-overs. 

Subscribe, leave a review and listen now.

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