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Podcast: November 2023

Hi. I have a new podcast online in which I talk about why this site recently went weird (big red Google warning slapped on it), my unknown allergy, where I am with my writing at the moment, getting inexplicably weepy about Princess Diana in 1997, and naturally, Pauline and I discuss what’s been on our TV lately. You can listen to the episode on your podcast app of choice, or listen right now by clicking this link: Listen to “MBP November 2023” on Spreaker.

Links to things mentioned in this episode
If you have the BlueSky app, you can find me here: @mikebennett.bsky.social

The Persuaders theme by John Barry: https://youtu.be/b6Ljwz7SueY?si=6FDVDp5BIfQ4n_BM

Harsh criticism for The Crown, Season 6: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/nov/16/the-crown-season-6-review-so-bad-its-like-an-out-of-body-experience-netflix

Mike, Podcasts

The Mike Bennett Podcast Begins

I just posted the first episode of a new monthly show: The Mike Bennett Podcast (it took me seventeen years of podcasting to think of that title). It’s a “me talking about stuff” podcast, and this first one features an update about whatโ€™s going on with me, the latest on the possible U&F TV series, and some listener feedback I received regarding the โ€œcut sceneโ€ episode from U&F Season 4. It was the one where Ronnie Bishop told David about an old flame called Isobel May, who disappeared after becoming involved with a mysterious (vampire) figure called โ€œVincentโ€. So if youโ€™ve unsubscribed from my podcast, resubscribe to get plugged back in. Iโ€™ll be posting a new podcast every month from now on.

Also, I ask a listener question in the show: Which Actress Would You Like to See Cast as Lydia Flinch? Do you have anyone you can see in the role? Someone who always โ€œplaysโ€ Lydia in your head whenever you hear her in U&F? If so, Iโ€™d love to hear from you.

If the show ultimately gets the green light, Iโ€™ll pass on all the listener feedback on this to the TV people. It would be so cool if U&Fโ€™s listeners could actively influence who gets cast in the role (assuming it gets greenlit, of course. We live in hope) ๐Ÿง›๐Ÿผโ€โ™‚๏ธ

You can leave your Lydia casting feedback either here (if you have a WordPress account), SubStack, Twitter, or Facebook.

Patreon Podcasts, Season 8

U&F Season 8 Begins at Patreon

Season 8? It’s complicated. Basically, it will go like this …
Season 1 – Underwood and Flinch
Season 2 – Blood and Smoke
Season 3 – Underground Part 1
Season 4 – Underground Part 2
Season 5 – Underground Part 3
Season 6 – Underground Part 4
Season 7 – The Devil of Claverton
and so now …
Season 8. Starting today at my Patreon. There’s no book title yet as it’s still a work in progress.

Podcasts, Video

New Q&A Podcast Video

Well, I say “new”, what I mean is, new to the vast majority of my listeners. This was originally recorded in November 2016 and has previously only been available at the $5+ pledge level at my Patreon. It’s a listeners’ Q&A session, much like U&F After Hours, but one you’ve never heard before (unless you’re a $5+ patron of mine). The questions are:

1. When did you start writing; and why?

2. In those early days, how did you approach the novel – I know you started One Among The Sleepless and took the decision to podcast it, what made you decide to do that, and how did you make the word count?

3. How do you approach outlining a plot, what methods do you use?

4. Were there any particular snags you hit with the production/writing of U&F 1, and similarly, how has your workflow changed now?

5. You read a lot of H.P Lovecraft’s stories; Do you plan to write some of your own original horror stories?

Meanwhile ...

Phone Drama

Pauline dropped her phone. It cracked the face. It seemed okay for a while, but then it started repeatedly – and constantly – phoning emergency services, hanging up, then redialling. We couldn’t stop it. If we turned it off, it’d turn itself back on again (Hello Moto!). We couldn’t take the back off to get the battery out because it was practically welded closed. So, only one solution remaining…