S07 E02 Mike Nicol

Loading player...
Mike Nicol is one of South Africa's leading crime writers. His Mace Bishop and Fish Pescado series have enthralled readers for years.

Mike joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about how he once wallpapered a room in his house with rejection letters. He describes how he found his latest protagonist Zara Dewane lurking in an earlier novel and decided to give her a story of her own. Falls the Shadow is out now from Pan Macmillan.

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
Chapters
  • 00:01 Writing week updates and breakthrough techniques
  • 03:57 Recent reading and viewing recommendations
  • 10:15 Introduction to Mike Nicol and his writing career
  • 14:11 Writing tools and process
  • 17:05 Evolution from poetry to crime fiction
  • 21:35 Research methods and character development
  • 31:40 Teaching and mentoring philosophy
  • 38:10 Essential writing advice and techniques
  • 48:40 New series development and character continuity
  • 51:35 Substack strategy and recent reading
30 Mar English South Africa Books · Arts

Other recent episodes

S07 E01 Sally Andrew

Sally Andrew is a South African literary superstar. Her Tannie Maria books are loved by many thousands of readers and have been turned into a successful international TV series. Sally joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about how she plots her books under a huge and ancient tree,…
23 Mar 58 min

S06 E10 Lauri Kubuitsile

Botswana-based Lauri Kubuitsile is the multi-award-winning author of The Scattering and But Deliver Us From Evil, as well as many, many books for children, teens, and adults. Lauri joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about writing what she likes and not being afraid to stand up for herself…
10 Nov 2025 1 hr 05 min

S06 E09 Anna Stroud

Anna Stroud is the award-winning author of WHO LOOKS INSIDE, an extraordinary debut novel that probes beneath the surface of small-town life. Anna joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about how doing an MA in Creative Writing gave her permission to take her writing seriously, and why she…
3 Nov 2025 55 min

S06 E08 Tom Eaton

Tom Eaton is a popular and widely read columnist. He has a long career as a novelist and writer of non-fiction. His latest book is a laugh-out-loud cosy mystery. AN ACT OF MURDER is out now from Penguin Random House. Tom joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about…
27 Oct 2025 59 min

S06 E07 Claire Robertson

Claire Robertson is a South African literary superstar and winner of multiple major awards. Claire is the author of numerous works of contemporary and historical fiction. Her most recent novel THE IMMORTALITES is out now from Penguin Random House. Claire joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about how…
20 Oct 2025 58 min