Hello there, ahoy, welcome along to a brand new episode of writer's routine. This week, chatting to Ellen Alpston. She's worked as a producer and presenter on the telly. She's won big short story competitions and she's

got a brand new book out. Her second called The Sarina's daughter, which is based on Catherine

the first of Russia's daughter, Elizabeth. We talk about blending historical fiction with fact.

Also, you can get some inspiration with her publication story. And talking about

publication, she reveals why that was such a big deal for her and how it completely changed

the way that she writes. Once you have an agent and a publisher, throwing time at you, the

author, is the one thing that makes a difference between

success and not being noticed because it is just so easy for an author, however talented,

however gifted, however hardworking, for their work to slip through the cracks.

There is more with Ellen Alpsdon in this week's writer's routine.

Yes, welcome along.

My name's Dan Simpson.

Thank you for finding us, for following, for listening, for sharing.

However you're there, I really appreciate it.

This is writers routine where we take a look inside an author's working day. It's much more

inspiring than that, though I promise, it's a lot more enjoyable than just meandering through

their diary. We get right down to the nub of it, into the nitty gritty of how they think of

stories, how they plot and plan those stories, and then

plan their day to get them published as well. This week is with Ellen Alpston, who was raised in

Kenya and studied in Paris. She won a short story competition over there, worked for Bloomberg TV

in London, and published her first novel, Sarina, in 2020, which was long listed for the

Authors Club Best First Novel Award. And she's back with a second, the Sarina's daughter,

...