<p>In this episode, Nadine Matheson sits down with bestselling Irish author <a href="https://www.facebook.com/patriciascanlanauthor/?locale=en_GB" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Patricia Scanlan</a>, one of the pioneers of modern Irish commercial fiction, to talk about her brand new book, <a href="https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14776/9781398538382" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">City Girls Forever</a>.</p><p>📚 In this conversation:</p><ul><li>How Patricia's debut novel <a href="https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14776/9781471194894" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">City Girl (1990)</a> was darker than she ever realised</li><li>Revisiting Devlin, Maggie, and Caroline — 30+ years later and in their "powerful age"</li><li>The heavy themes hiding beneath the frothy covers: domestic violence, sexual assault, anorexia, and the strength of female friendship</li><li>What it's like to write characters who surprise even their own author</li><li>Patricia's writing process from typing at the kitchen table to writing in bed with two dressing gowns on! 😂</li><li>Her next project: fictionalised Irish goddesses 🔥</li><li>The writing advice that changed everything: "Write with fire in your veins. Edit with ice." ✍️</li></ul><p>💬 Patricia and Nadine also bond over the unexpected plot twists that blindside you mid-draft, the universal power of storytelling, and why a good book can unite a 90-year-old and a 12-year-old.</p><p>🎬 Film recommendation from Patricia: <a href="https://www.imdb.com/video/vi4231841049/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Death at a Funeral (the British version!)</a> a must-watch!</p><br><p>👇 Have you read <a href="https://uk.bookshop.org/a/14776/9781398538382" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">City Girls Forever</a> or the original City Girl trilogy? Let us know in the comments!</p><p>Support the podcast - Buy me a<a href="https://ko-fi.com/nadinematheson" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">&nbsp;cup of coffee</a>&nbsp;☕️.</p><br><p>Buy books by my guests &nbsp;<a href="https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/the-conversation-with-nadine-matheson-podcast-booklist?" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bookshop.org</a></p><br><p>Follow Me</p><p><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/nadinematheson.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bluesky&nbsp;</a>|&nbsp;<a href="https://nadinematheson.substack.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Substack</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/queennads" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/NadineMathesonBooks/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.threads.com/@queennads?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Threads</a></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>