In this episode I'm joined by the brilliant Elaine Gregersen. We discuss the need for humour in extremely hard times, writing, ambition, werewolves, awards, creepy hotels and a lot more.

Trigger warning: In this episode we discuss baby loss, grief, miscarriage, funerals and hospital experiences.

Elaine Gregersen is an award-winning writer, public speaker, and podcast coach based in the North East of England. She writes and speaks about baby loss, caring, grief, and creativity. In 2025, she won the Allyson Kent Prize for Fearless Writing. She has also been shortlisted for the Bath Flash Fiction Prize and the Curae Literary Prize, and longlisted for the Motherhood Uncensored competition. Her pop culture podcast, The Honeymoon Period, reaches listeners in over 60 countries and has been featured in The Guardian, My Weekly Magazine and Film Stories.

Don’t miss episode updates: @bethanreadwrites

Follow Elaine - @elainegwrites, substack, website

Elaine & Mark’s fantastic podcast - The Honeymoon Period

Books mentioned:

Stuart Murdoch - Nobody's Empire

Elle Wright - Ask Me His Name

Jingle by @goodebags and Frankie.

Artwork by @georgiamaiaillustrations

Hosted on Acast

*The beginning and end sound a bit muffly and sleepy as I was recording them in the spare room of a friend's house while they slept!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.