Holly and Rogan recorded a casual holiday episode of "Ramblings from the Little Shed," touching on several fun topics:
Main Highlights:
Episode Overview - Episode 5
In this episode, hosts Holly and Rogan sit down with author A-M Mawhiney to discuss her journey from academic writing to fiction, her three-book series of speculative fiction novels, and the creative process behind her work. Anne-Marie shares insights into her writing style, the influence of her editor, and how her beloved dog, Charlie, inspired her creative life.
A-M Mawhiney has lived in Northern Ontario most of her life, with brief times in Powassan, Montreal, and Toronto. At the young age of eight, she was already writing poetry and short stories. She retired from Laurentian University in 2018. She began writing again during the first Covid lockdown in 2020 with her first novel, Spindrifts, which was short-listed for the Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writing Literary Prize (2022). Spelldrifts was published in 2023, and Fugitive Rifts in 2025.
Threads @ammawhiney
IG @ammawhiney
Timestamps
[26:28] - The dramatic climactic scene in her second book ,and the editor'sfeedback
[26:41] - Writing process as a "panster" and developing the chaoticscene
[27:22] - Editor's suggestions about world-building and the theme of inclusion
[27:33] - The collective world with full inclusion and respect in the first twobooks
[28:25] - Discussion about not describing character appearances in the books
[28:42] - Anne-Marie's hope to meet with readers to discuss their charactervisualizations
[29:32] - Journey from academic to creative writing with help from friends
[31:25] - The editing process and catching academic writing patterns
[32:02] - Cutting 40 pages from the third book through cold-hearted editing
[33:48] - Beautiful book cover designs
[34:28] - The backstory about a dragon egg near an imaginary volcano
[35:11] - Difference between science fiction and fantasy elements in the books
[35:48] - Introduction to the character Alice from Fugitive Rifts
[36:33] - Exploration of Alice's dark backstory
[36:47] - Six pages written as a potential opening for Alice's story
[38:00] - Alice's experience of being unhoused and her hard life
[38:24] - Charlie's influence on Anne-Marie's intuition and creative life
[38:49] - Wrap-up and information about A-M Mawhiney’s novels
Post-Interview Discussion
[40:49] - Discussion about writing retreats
[41:02] - The flannel segment begins
[42:09] - Rogan's instant coffee vs. French press preference
[44:00] - Holly's discovery of mini pottery in Toronto
[44:18] - Realizing it was couples’ night at the pottery studio
[45:25] - The Stanley Cup pottery incident
[46:24] - Final thoughts and sign-off
Episode Overview
In this engaging conversation, Holly and Rogan welcomeEmily De Angelis to discuss the profound impact of pets, particularly cats, on creativity and writing. They explore the joy of running and community, the emotional connections we form with our pets, and how these relationships influence artistic expression. Emily shares insights into her writing process, upcoming projects, and the unique roles that animals play in our lives. The discussion culminates in a reading of Emily's cat poetry, highlighting the deep bond between humans and their furry companions.
Emily De Angelis is a writer of fiction and poetry. Her young adult novel, The Stones of Burren Bay (Latitude 46 Publishing, 2024), won two 2025 Next Generation Indie Book Awards for YA fiction. A chapbook of poetry and art entitled In the Space Between: The ‘New Woman’ in the Writing of Florence Carlyle was also released in 2024 (Woodstock Art Gallery). De Angelis has known and loved eight cats in her lifetime—despite allergies and severe asthma.
IG www.instagram.com/emilyjdeangelis
FB facebook.ca/emilyjdeangelis
website www.emilydeangelisauthor.ca
Ramblings from the Little Shed - Episode 3
Guest: Liisa Kovala - Author, Book Coach, and Podcaster
Episode Overview
Join hosts Holly and Rogan as they welcome special guest Liisa Kovala, a Finnish Canadian author, book coach, and podcaster. She is the author of Like Water for Weary Souls (House of Karhu, 2025), Sisu's Winter War (Latitude 46, 2022) and Surviving Stutthof: My Father's Memories Behind the Death Gate (Latitude 46, 2017).
Liisa shares her journey from teaching to full-time writing, the creative influence of her mini golden doodle Emmy, and her exciting new project, Hygge House Nordic Cozy Mystery series she writes under the pen name A. L. Jensen.
Meet Emmy: The Canine Companion
• Emmy: a 2.5-year-old mini golden doodle who reminds Liisa to rest, play, and take walks
• The 40-year wait for a dog and convincing her husband (spoiler: he's now in love with Emmy!)
• How pets keep us young, vibrant, and creatively inspired
• Walking as a tool for creative thinking and slowing down
Liisa's Writing Journey
From Historical Fiction to Cozy Mysteries
• Recently published "Water for Weary Souls " (historical fiction, November 2025)
• Transitioning to writing a cozy mystery series
• How a beautiful house (the Rowley House) sparked an entire series concept
• Ideas "downloaded" during the drive home
The New Cozy Mystery Series:
• Features protagonist Minna with her mini golden doodle Hugo Dogberg (named after Finnish artist Hugo Simberg)
• Set in a Nordic-inspired town with rich character details
• Includes two Norwegian cats: Freya and Astrid
• A resident ghost named Fanny
The Creative Process
• Recording voice notes while driving to capture ideas
• The contrast between writing historical fiction and cozy mysteries
• Balancing multiple projects across different genres
Writing Wisdom & Advice
On Creativity
• Creative people need to be moving and active
• Walking in nature is magical for the creative process
• Even 15-20 minutes of creative time daily fills the well
On Reading
• Writers should be readers, and readers become writers
• Reading widely across genres enriches the creative mind
Liisa's Recent Reads
• "The Wake" by Linden MacIntyre
• "Jenny Cooper Has a Secret" by Joy Fielding
Current Reads
• Holly: "Dungeon Crawler Carl" by Matt Dinniman and "The Eyes and the Impossible" by Dave Eggers
• Rogan: Planning to start Terry Pratchett's Discworld series with friends after finishing The Wheel of Time
Connect with Lisa Kovala
• Substack: liisakovalawomenwriting.substack.com
• Website: liisakovalabookcoach.com
Subscribe, rate, and review Ramblings from the Little Shed wherever you get your podcasts.
Welcome to the Ramblings From the Little Shed Podcast, where Rogan and I have conversations with creative minds about how their fur companion influences their creative process.
In today's episode, meet Shanon and Lulu. Shanon is a watercolour artist with an affinity for all things vintage. From classic cars to fountain pens and typewriters, Shanon is fascinated by the care and craftsmanship of design that defined an era.
Her mail club, the Spilled Ink Mail Club, was created to connect communities of like-minded people through tangible, handwritten, handmade items.
Connect with Shanon!
www.instagram.com/shanonstewart
thehandwrittenrevolution.substack.com
In this conversation, Holly and Rogan discuss their long-awaited collaboration and the creative ideas that emerge from their discussions. They reflect on the process of working together and the excitement of exploring new concepts.