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Why writing a novel is like riding a horse

August 30, 2026 · 29 min

Show notes

Imagine you walk into your bedroom one day … and there’s a horse going on a rampage. Better yet, it’s a horse from a childhood story that has haunted you ever since you first heard it. Who’s the first person you call? In Ali Smith’s new novel, Glyph, estranged sisters Petra and Patch are brought back together when a story from their childhood comes to life in an incredible way. But what makes a ghost story real? And what can it tell us about the world we live in now? This week, Ali joins Mattea Roach to talk about her connection to horses, the power and wonder of words and whether or not she believes in ghosts.


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All episodes of Bookends with Mattea Roach

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