This week on Writes4Women, guest host
sits down with bestselling author and fellow podcaster to chat about her brand new novel Your Friend and Mine. From ghost letters to the joy of researching in stylish trench coats, this conversation is full of warmth, humour, and beautifully honest insights into the writing life.Michelle and Jess explore:
The power of midlife reinvention and detoured dreams
How a few ghost seats in a London theatre helped shape the plot
Research trips, pop culture references, and writing with hyperrealism
Why epistolary fiction is the ultimate cheat code
Crafting fiction that makes you laugh and ache—often at the same time
Whether you’re a writer, a reader, or just someone wondering what your younger self might think of you now…this ep is a joy.
Timestamps:
[00:00] – Pam’s intro + Substack reset updates
[00:06:00] – Meet Jess (and her time as the City of Sydney Christmas Angel)
[00:10:00] – The spark behind Your Friend and Mine
[00:14:00] – “Somebody invent a new animal” (on cooking + midlife drudgery)
[00:20:00] – London research trip, ghost theatres, and Google Maps sleuthing
[00:24:00] – Writing letters from the dead, and why it works
[00:29:00] – The real ending, and what makes an editor great
[00:34:00] – Writing funny when things are dark
[00:38:00] – Events, readers, and what’s next for Jess
✨ ABOUT JESSICA DETTMAN
What readers are saying about Your Friend and Mine…
🎤 ABOUT MICHELLE BARRACLOUGH
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