Megan Whalen Turner: The Queen's Thief and the Secret of a Long Career as a Fantasy Writer

Welcome back to Mythmakers for our sixth season!

Megan Whalen Turner began her career in 1996 and is still going strong as her series The Queen's Thief becomes available in the UK and the Commonwealth for the first time. US readers have been enjoying the series for years and she won the Newbury Award and Mythopoeia Award in recognition of her achievements. Take a listen as she tells our host Julia Golding about her career, the books that inspired her, and her link to Oxford fantasy through Dianne Wynne Jones. Megan also shares with us her fascinating insights into her unique process for plotting! 

You can catch up with Megan if you are near Bath, England, for the literary festival. Visit the link for more information: https://bathfestivals.org.uk/childrens-literature/

For more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit:

Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website

Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram

Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook

TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok

0:00 Introduction to Mythmakers Podcast

8:54 The Influence of Diana Wynne-Jones

13:01 Audiobooks and Storytelling

17:55 American Fantasy Influences

23:46 Cultural Storytelling in Fantasy

29:30 The Storytelling Process

35:44 The Mediterranean Influence

44:22 Advice for Aspiring Writers

44:36 Living in a Fantasy World

Welcome to Season 6 of Mythmakers!

Mythmakers is the podcast for fantasy fans and creatives brought to you by the Oxford Centre for Fantasy. We will be exploring fantasy old and new, look at what went into writing your favourite series, learn tips from the experts, and discuss new books, TV shows and films.

Mythmakers is brought to you from the city of Oxford - home to many of the world's greatest fantasy writers, from J.R.R. Tolkien and Middle-earth, to C.S. Lewis, creator of Narnia, and the grandfather of them all, Lewis Carroll with his Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The Oxford story continues with outstanding contemporary writers finding inspiration among the ancient buildings, labyrinthine libraries, and gentle river meadows.

Ready to jump down the rabbit hole with us to find your next mythmaker? Visit https://oxfordcentreforfantasy.org/