Balancing the Books

Observer Top 10 debut novelist Elle Machray talks to Cailean about taking the leap to writing full time, building a network, and making social media work for you.

Award-winning author Kirstin Innes joins Cailean to chat about managing freelance life, juggling various day jobs alongside writing, and the importance of community.

BAFTA award-winning screenwriter and Stonewall Book Award winner Dean Atta joins Cailean to discuss juggling multiple projects, overcoming barriers, and the importance of supporting other writers.

Bestselling author Lucy Rose joins Cailean to chat about managing their finances after leaving their publishing job to be a full time writer, surviving book tour as a neurodivergent person, and how they navigate social media as an author.

Cailean chats to writer and senior strategist Jo Callaghan, author of the award-winning Kat and Lock crime series. They discuss writing while dealing with grief, balancing a career as an author alongside a demanding full time job, and how beds are the ideal writing spot.

Writer, editor and PhD student Elle Nash talks to Cailean about managing your time with ADHD, finding a writing community after moving countries, and dealing with 'compare and despair' as a writer.

Writer Chikọdịlị Emelụmadụ chats to Cailean about writing around motherhood, the importance of being a patron of the arts, and also challenges writers Heather Parry and Ben David to a duel.

Bestselling author and copywriter Alice Slater chats to Cailean about juggling full time work with her writing career. They discuss transitioning from shift work to a 9-5, what it's like to have a big debut, and why sometimes you just need to schedule in a little breakdown (as a treat).

In this special extra-long episode, Cailean chats to literary agent Caro Clarke of Portobello Literary. They talk about the role of agents, break down contracts and author finances, and discuss the importance of community, accessibility and diversity in every section of the publishing industry. (Featuring a brief cameo from Caro's cat.)

Cailean chats to author, poet, journalist and musician Ammar Kalia about how he balances his working life. We discuss juggling the hustling freelance life alongside making space for creativity, how he built his career as a music journalist, and how online shopping is a vital part of the creative process.

Cailean talks to Callum McSorley about balancing his writing career alongside being a stay at home dad to two young children. They chat about how Callum initially juggled a series of physically demanding jobs while in the early stages of building his career as an author, how skateboarding is beneficial to his mental health, and the serene writing environment of his local children's soft play.

Cailean talks to writer Ben Davies about balancing his career as a children's author with his day job as a postman. We chat about managing writing alongside shift work, finding time to write around childcare, and the benefits of rats as both pets and literary muses.

Cailean chats to writer and freelancer Heather Parry about managing a portfolio career, the importance of building community, and unexpected ghostwriting.

Imran Mahmood chats to Cailean Steed about balancing life as a writer of crime novels and television screenplays alongside his career as a barrister and being a father to two young children. We also discuss taking inspiration from the day job, racial disparities in the justice system and publishing, and what it's like to work the night shift in a potpourri factory.