Interview with Liz Shipton

Book Talk for BookTok

Cloud10

Arts, Books

4.8 • 642 Ratings

🗓️ 4 February 2026

⏱️ 65 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this episode, we sit down with Liz Shipton, author of Dot Slash Magic, to talk about one of the most emotionally nuanced and quietly subversive fantasy novels we’ve read. We dive deep into the evolution of Seven as a female main character and how reader perception shifts over the course of the novel, and what it was like for Liz to write a protagonist who masks loneliness with humor, bravado, and sharp edges. A major focus of our conversation is Dot Slash Magic’s bold engagement with AI, technology, and creativity. Liz unpacks how the story interrogates the idea that art must look a certain way to be considered “real,” and why the novel deliberately blurs the line between magic, tech, art, and athletic flow states. We also talk about mental health as something hidden in plain sight: how loneliness, addiction, and internal struggle are embedded into each character rather than treated as a single narrative device. This conversation is for readers who love character-driven fantasy, are curious about AI and art in fiction, and want stories that trust the audience to read between the lines. The Subtext Society Journal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thesubtextsocietyjournal.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We’re thrilled to announce our newest venture: The Subtext Society Journal—the first of its kind, dedicated to Romance, Romantasy, and fandom with an academic yet accessible voice. We’re publishing original essays and thought pieces, and we encourage listeners to submit their own articles for a chance to be featured. Sponsor: Vionic Use code BOOKTALK at checkout for 15% off your entire order at www.vionicshoes.com when you log into your account. 1 time use only. Share your thoughts for a chance to be featured! Submit them at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠booktalkforbooktok.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a future mini-episode or exclusive Patreon discussion. Support the Show: Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/booktalkforbooktok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Merch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Etsy Store⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Us on Social: Instagram: @BookTalkForBookTok TikTok: @BookTalkForBookTok YouTube: @BookTalkForBookTok Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	The Philly Cheese Stack is back at McDonald's and it's still intensely cheesy. Imagine the cheesiest thing ever.
0:05.5	Now cover it in cheese. Add two beef patties, cheddar cheese sauce, crispy onions and even more cheese.
0:10.5	The Philly Cheese Stack. Did we mention it's cheesy? Available until the 16th of March, 26 from 11 a.m.
0:17.1	Fees applied to delivery orders. Price and participation may vary. Subject to availability.
0:19.8	Hey friend, Jen Gottlieve here, the host of the Jen Gottlieb show, where you can find powerful
0:25.7	episodes that will leave you inspired to dream big and live boldly. If you're ready to create change
0:31.6	in your life, this podcast is a must listen. Be ready to laugh, learn, and take action to become
0:37.3	who you were always meant to be.
0:39.3	It's time to step out of your comfort zone and live your best life, one dare at a time.
0:45.3	So, join me and listen to the Jen Gottlieb show wherever you get your podcast. See you there. Welcome to Book Talk for Book Talk with Jack and Amy.
1:04.6	You're a besties with a literary podcast that deep dives into your favorite novels.
1:08.6	This is Jack.
1:09.6	And I'm Amy, and we're currently taking a break
1:12.0	from our Season of Aquarius Book Club to talk to Liz Shipton, author of dot slash magic. Liz is a writer
1:19.9	an off-grid, live-a-board sailor, who travels the high seas with her partner and dog. Her books
1:26.6	explore themes adjacent to mental health,
1:29.6	the loneliness epidemic, addiction, tech creep, climate change, and the looming collapse of
1:35.6	society, but like in a fun way. Welcome, Liz. Welcome. Hi. Hi. Thanks for having me. I'm very excited
1:44.1	to be here. Thank you. Yes. Yes. Thanks for having me. I'm very excited to be here.
1:45.3	Thank you.
1:46.3	Yes.
1:46.9	Yes.
	...

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