Imagine starting your journey as a fantasy writer in a media storm where you are greeted as the next J K Rowling. That's precisely what faced Samantha Shannon when her first novel The Bone Season was published while she was in her early 20s. Ten years on and an established writer, Samantha has re-edited the book and is celebrating this anniversary by finishing the fifth in the series.

Join us on today’s episode of Mythmakers as she discusses her beginnings as an author, her relationship to Oxford, and how she goes about her writing. You’ll want to hear her fantasy tips and find out her pick for the best place to have ESP!

For more information on Samantha visit her website at www.samanthashannon.co.uk and view her works on her publisher’s site at www.bloomsbury.com/uk/author/samantha-shannon

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0:00 Introduction to Mythmakers

4:20 Revisiting The Bone Season

5:54 Revising the Entire Series

6:31 Cathartic Editing Process

9:00 Coping with Media Expectations

10:36 Navigating Publishing Pressures

14:25 Unveiling the Atmosphere

18:10 Planting Seeds in Oxford

20:19 Finding Light in Darkness

23:54 Finding Family and Courage

25:53 Craft of World Building

35:20 Balancing Multiple Storylines

43:38 Writing Tip: Music Inspiration

45:38 Challenges of Magic Users

47:38 Exploring Different Worlds