Sabba Khan: 'The terraced house is a big character in this story'

Sabba Khan: 'The terraced house is a big character in this story'

Author: Fictionable August 23, 2023 Duration: 20:55

This summer we've been hearing a little more from our amazing authors in an expanded series of podcasts. Joyce Carol Oates confessed she feels "like a fourteen-year-old girl" while Fiona Mozley admitted to an "awkward personality". José Falero – voiced by Maria Jacqueline Evans – argued that the 21st century's obscene inequalities can only be addressed through "diversity in the spaces of power" and Donal McLaughlin declared that he does "expect the reader to keep up".


We bring this series to a close with Sabba Khan, who joins us to talk about At the Door. She tells us how she started working on this graphic short story at a difficult time in her own life, and how the move from memoir into fiction gave her a sense of freedom. She reveals her obsession with London's Victorian terraced housing and a fascination with the spirit realm of black magic, djinns and demons. Khan also examines the barriers that divide comics from writing in prose, and reflects on the mystery of her mother tongue.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Fictionable is a space for those drawn to the compact power of short stories and the vivid narratives of graphic fiction. Each episode delves into the craft and culture surrounding these forms, featuring conversations with the writers and artists themselves. We explore the techniques behind compelling brevity, the unique challenges of visual storytelling, and the diverse literary scenes influencing work today. The discussion often extends to broader book chat, examining how these shorter pieces fit into the wider landscape of reading and creativity. It’s a podcast built for curious readers who find entire worlds in a few pages or panels, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the stories published in the Fictionable collection. You’ll hear about inspiration, process, and the personal connections that fuel these works, all sourced from a global community of creators. The aim is to deepen appreciation for the art form while celebrating the voices shaping it. This isn’t just analysis; it’s an invitation into the ongoing conversation between author, artist, and audience. Join us for a thoughtful and engaging exploration of narrative in its most concentrated and visually dynamic forms.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 59

Fictionable
Podcast Episodes
Liam Hogan: 'I want to be entertained' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:20
We've already heard from Linda Mannheim, Richard Smyth, Ariel Marken Jack. and Robert Neuwirth in this Winter series of podcasts. Now we bring it to a close with Liam Hogan and his short story Backstory.Hogan tells us ho…
Robert Neuwirth: 'I wanted it to be plausible as a machine thinking' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:18
In this Winter series of podcasts we've heard from Linda Mannheim, Richard Smyth and Ariel Marken Jack. This time we welcome Robert Neuwirth and his short story The Disambiguation.Neuwirth tells us how his story started…
Ariel Marken Jack: 'The way I fight back is through my writing' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:47
We've already heard from Linda Mannheim and Richard Smyth in this Winter series, and now it's time for Ariel Marken Jack and their story The Bread Boy.Marken Jack tells us how their writing began in isolation, flat on th…
Richard Smyth: 'We all need an Otherland' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:58
Last week we heard from Linda Mannheim, who told us that the only way she can go back to the neighbourhood where she grew up is in fiction. This time we welcome Richard Smyth and his short story Karóly Bálint's Metaphor.…
Linda Mannheim: 'What is a happy ending?' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:06
In this Winter series of podcasts, we'll be hearing from Richard Smyth, Ariel Marken Jack, Robert Neuwirth and Liam Hogan. We start off with Linda Mannheim, who joined us down the line from Berlin.Mannheim explains how t…
Irena Karpa: 'Literature must entertain, especially in dark times' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:19
After hearing last week from M John Harrison, who discussed how he makes fiction from fragments of reality, this week we turn it up to eleven as we welcome Irena Karpa. Fuelled by the latest track from her band, Qarpa, s…