Podcasts

HERE WE WILL FEATURE A NUMBER OF PODCASTS.

If you click on the links below, they will take you to a player that will allow you to listen to our interviews.

These interviews will feature, amongst other personalities, local writers, committee members, and some LAA

members who have a story to tell. Each guest will be asked to choose pieces of music that mean something to them.

Melinda Hammond

Novelist Linda Hammond, best known to her readers as Melinda Hammond and Sarah Mallory.  A prolific writer who specialises mainly in historical romance.

Born in the 1950s, married in the 1970s, Linda wrote her first book, ‘Fortunes Lady’ published by Robert Hale, in 1980 following the birth of her first child. Many others have followed. In 2008 she was published by Mills and Boon, also an historical romance under the name of Sarah Mallory.

To quote Linda, “Most of those I wrote for Robert Hale stopped at the bedroom door. The Sarah Mallory books are definitely hotter.  I write romance so the sex scenes have to be in context, when the emotional connection between the characters, requires it.  Yes, sex sells, but in my opinion you also need a darn good story.

 

Melinda Hammond Interview

 

Les Bond

Lancashire born and bred. Poet, singer songwriter, TV scriptwriter, history enthusiast, Radio Lancashire presenter and performer.

With his brother Alan, Les at the age of seven began writing poems and stories.  Their first book was published in 1982, titled ‘Saturday Night at the Duck and Trumpet’ A second book, ‘Lancashire Bonds’ came out in 1999.  As members of the Script Writers Association, they had scripts accepted for the 'Benny Hill Show', 'The Two Ronnies' and ‘Who do you do?’

Les has a passion for history and as an authority on the Accrington Pals, has many facts at his fingertips. With Nick Caffrey, a long-time friend, he produced a Special Radio Lancashire Programme called, ‘On a Summers Morning in France.’  So successful was this that a CD was made and these have travelled to all corners of the globe.
Les is still in demand as a performer at various events in and around the county.

Les Bond Interview

Brian Foster

As a young child Brian spent 5 years on and off in Burnley with his grandparents during WW2 and learned Lancashire dialect from them.  He joined the LAA in the early 1970s and has also been a member of the Edwin Waugh Society for about the same time.  One of his main interests since childhood has been literature of all types.  He used to enter the LAA dialect competitions and in the past couple of years has been an adjudicator.

Brian took early retirement due to ill health and used his spare time to gain a BA at the Open University and then an MA in local history at Manchester Metropolitan University.  He wrote his dissertation on Joseph Burgess, dialect poet, journalist and founder member if the Independent Labour Party.  He is also a keen Crown Green bowler and is captain of his local team.

In the podcast Brian talks about the history of the LAA and his interest in dialect.  He talks about some of the dialect poets and recites some of their poems on the subject of the life in the mills.

 

Brian Foster Interview

Peter Jones

Peter is in his third decade of unbroken membership of the LAA and is our technical “go to person/guru” for anything that has a plug attached to it! He is the wizard behind the podcasts – recording, producing and editing everything single handily to bring you these excellent listening experiences.

He is a book editor, proof reader and one example of his expertise is evident in the work he did for the interviewer’s (Dana Nadeau) book “The Cloven Pine”.

Peter chats about his web design background, his involvement with the LAA and setting up Oswaldtwistle Writers in 2010. Peter contributed a selection of his writings for this group's published anthology “Fours Seasons Two Continents” in collaboration with a writers group  his daughter is involved with based in Australia – a truly international achievement (available on Amazon and Kindle). As another sideline is his involvement with Acorn News- a free newspaper with a 13,000 circulation which is also available on line.

Peter Jones Interview

Nick Oldham

Nick is a prolific writer of crime fiction. As an ex-policeman he has a unique insight into the workings of police investigations. Since 1982 Nick has had 27 books published, many of them featuring Henry Christie from a young police officer and up through the ranks. Nick has also written novelisations and since his interview, has become a patron of the LAA.

Nick grew up in Belthorn, a little village on the West Pennine Moors, near to Blackburn in Lancashire. It is high up and has stunning views. "On a clear day you can see Blackpool" he tells us. Nick went to school in Oswaldtwistle and has a great affinity with Oswaldtwistle Library. He now lives with wife Belinda and their three children on the outskirts of Preston.

Nick Oldham Interview

 

Alison Chisholm

Renowned poet, prolific author, creative writing teacher, adjudicator and regular columnist for Writers Magazine.  Born in Liverpool in 1952 Alison has lived for most of her life in Southport.

From the age of eleven she experienced all kinds of poetry through speech and drama classes. This built on her earlier love of poetry and although she didn’t realise it at that time, was to lead her into her career, which has spanned almost 30 years.

In the podcast Alison talks about how she writes poetry, the importance of looking at a subject from a different perspective, working on a poem and crafting it until it is exactly what you want. It is rare that a first draft is the final poem.  Alison has a wealth of teaching experience and has penned many books on the craft of writing poetry as well as offering advice and guidance through her regular feature in Writing Magazine.

Alison Chisholm Interview

 

Helen Veysey

Helen is a Lancashire Lass in the true sense, having been born and brought up in Accrington. She  now lives in Gloucestershire with husband, Paul. Helen still visits her Accrington home on a regular basis and her mother who is now 92 years old.

Helen spent some time in France and is a journalist and broadcaster. Here she tells us of her time on commercial radio, BBC World Service and Channel Four. Helen also has her own business which specialises in audio description for film and television.

Helen Veysey Interview

 

Lily Driver

Lily was a member of Burnley Writers and in the eighties joined the LAA and started her own writers group, Rossendale Writers where she remained as chairman for over twenty years. She became Deputy Chairman of the LAA in the 1990s before leaving the committee. In 2013 she became the association's President.

Here, Lily talks about her writing achievements and chooses some music that is close to her heart. She also shares some interesting anecdotes along the way. Lily was born in Haslingden and still lives there and is a proud Lancastrian.

Lily Driver Interview

 

Neil White

Successful author, best-selling crime writer. Published in 2007 by Avon – a division of Harper Collins, ‘Fallen Idols’, the first in a five book series, features crime reporter Jack Garrett and a detective constable Laura McGarity who rises through the ranks to DS by the fifth book.

Born in Yorkshire 1965, Neil always knew he had a talent for creative writing, his first success being an essay, ‘A Day in the Life of a Penny’ written at the age of 11years.

Many years, and much hard work later, Neil completed a university course and studied for a law degree.  To quote Neil, “For someone interested in crime, being a prosecutor by day and writing crime novels at night, seemed the perfect fit, and so it has proved.”

Neil White Interview

 

Gill McDonald-Constable

Gill was born in Liverpool and now lives in Clayton-le-Moors in the borough of Hyndburn. She was brought up around animals and has always had a great affection for them, hence her two dogs she shares her home with, both miniature Schnauzers. She started writing poetry and romantic stories as a young woman but her big break came when she wrote a Western Novel under the name of Amos Carr. This was published by Robert Hale and altogether Gill has written three hardbacks in the UK under this name.

Recently Gill started writing for American Publisher, Prairie Rose and has now two paperbacks and one ebook available on Amazon, worldwide. Gill became the Membership Secretary of the LAA in 2015 and has been a prolific winner of our competitions over the last two years.

Gill McDonald-Constable Interview

D Garrett Nadeau

D Garrett Nadeau was born in California in the USA but the family moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania when he was just 17 months old. Dana studied at Carnegie-Melon University in Pittsburgh where he attained a BA in English Literature. He left the States in 1970 at the age of 22 and lived in Nigeria where he taught English for four years at Keffi Teachers' College.

Next stop was Leeds University where he attained an M.Phil in English and American Literature, after which he worked in Switzerland teaching English. In 1980 he returned to England and has lived here ever since, settling in Accrington where he married Ann in 2008.

He joined the LAA in 2013 and had his first novel The Cloven Pine published the following year. This is still available from Amazon as a paperback and on Kindle. He is currently working on his second novel. Here he chooses his favourite music and talks about his life so far.

D Garrett Nadeau Interview

 

John Winstanley

John was born in Okehampton, Devon in 1962. The family moved up to Euxton, Lancashire in the early 1970s and for his mother and father it was back to the North West of England where they originally came from. John attended Balshaws High School and Runshaw College in Leyland before starting his career in Preston.

He now lives in Withnell, near Chorley with wife Helen and their daughters Hannah and Holly. Between 2002 and 2007 John spent time promoting local music in Lancashire, particularly around Preston, Blackburn and Chorley and in 2014 pubished his book Unsigned, Unscene which featured in depth interviews with many luminaries in the world of music.

John became Secretary of the LAA in 2015 and is very active in promoting literature and music in the area. He works full time but is still passionate about promoting local talent. Here he picks some of his favourite sounds including acts he is familar with.

John Winstanley Interview

Sid Calderbank

Sid Calderbank is the current Lancashire Authors' Association President. he is known throughout Lancashire as a foremost historian and protagonist of the dialect of the county and also hosts and attends events throughout the country celebrating the dialect writing and oration in the different regions. Sid is also a renowned performer and narrator of key events in Lancashire's history.

Sid was born in Chorley and now lives in Euxton and is well-respected on the folk scene, attending festivals regualarly. Here he speaks to Peter and reveals aspects of his life that many people have probably never been aware of.

Sid Calderbank Interview

 

Mark Dowding

Mark talks about his childhood and how certain teachers helped to steer him to discover his love of music; especially folk, but also jazz. He also talks about how a broken back led him to become proficient in many different skills that would serve him well in later life. He is a great friend of Lancashire Authors and a wonderful exponent of folk and Lancashire history. Listen to him explain how he became interested in both.

Mark Dowding Interview

Peter's Podcast

With this Podcast I will be reaching out to families and individuals unable to visit loved ones at this difficult time. Initially it is called Peter's Podcast because this initial one features ten of my favourite songs over the years but if this has the response I hope it does, it will in future be called The People's Podcast. In this one I also give details of how to contact me and make this work. Please listen, enjoy and participate.

Peter's Podcast

 

The People's Podcast

Your requests have been coming in and thank you for that. Please listen below to the first People's Podcast, featuring dedications and song requests from the public. If you like what you hear, please email me at accypete57@gmail.com and let me know. You can also send your requests to the same email address with a song you would like playing, who you would like to dedicate it to and a brief message. As soon as I have enough requests I will do another one. Hope you enjoy. Click the link below to have a listen.

The People's Podcast