Thirst: Horror Folk Stories, Uncanny Rivers and the Walking Dead

Joining us on Mythmakers today is Darren Simpson, author of Thirst—a spooky folkloric tale for readers aged 11 and up. In conversation with Julia Golding, Darren shares how he crafted the eerie world of his novel, drawing inspiration from myths and legends while carefully navigating messaging, naming, and the challenges of writing and editing.

But that’s not all, as his book is populated by splendid revenant creatures from the river, we take the opportunity to ask: where is the best place in all fantasy to be a zombie? You might be surprised by our picks...

Learn more about Darren, and his works, at https://darrensimpsonwrites.co.uk/ 

(00:05) Fantasy Writers Explore Inspirations and Books
(06:24) Folklore-Inspired Fantasy Novel Thirst
(15:16) Character Naming and Moral Complexity
(20:24) Folklore, Magic, and Moral Dilemmas
(31:49) Publishing Journey and Working With Editors
(35:02) Authors Discuss Editing, Publishing Realities

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Welcome to Season 8 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/