The Quill & Candle — Episode 4: The Walk That Wrote a Novel

The Quill & Candle — Episode 4: The Walk That Wrote a Novel

Author: Fr. Roderick Vonhögen July 14, 2025 Duration: 19:50

This is the episode where it all comes full circle.

Ten months ago, I came to Glendalough in Ireland and had an idea for a fantasy novel. Now, I’ve returned—after two weeks of hiking, dictating, and dreaming through the Irish wilderness—with a finished first draft.

In this episode, I take you with me on my final writing walk through the Wicklow Mountains. Along the way, I share:

  • How walking became my most powerful writing tool

  • How ancient ruins and fairy gardens ended up shaping my fantasy world

  • What a real day looks like on a writing retreat (spoiler: it involves instant noodles)

  • The method I used to write 45,000 words while still exploring, thinking, and resting

This isn’t just a recap—it’s a living snapshot of what it means to create in rhythm with nature, and to trust the story to find you as you go.

Whether you’re a writer, a creator, or simply someone curious about how books are born in the wild—I hope this journey inspires your own.

🕯️ Read the full newsletter version here: The Quill & Candle #4
📬 Subscribe to daily flash fiction & behind-the-scenes writing life at: https://fatherroderick.substack.com
🎧 Looking for creative tools & tips? Try my second Substack: https://storytellerscompanion.substack.com


Ever notice how a great film or television show can linger in your mind long after the credits roll? There’s often something more happening beneath the surface, a resonance that feels almost spiritual. Story Secrets is where we pull on those threads. Hosted by Fr. Roderick Vonhögen, this podcast sits at a unique crossroads, weaving together discussions on faith, popular culture, and pure entertainment. Each episode takes a familiar story-whether from a beloved movie, a gripping TV series, or even a timeless tale-and gently uncovers the themes of meaning, purpose, and humanity hidden within. You won’t find dry lectures here; instead, Fr. Roderick brings a conversational and insightful perspective, revealing how narratives we enjoy in our leisure time can unexpectedly illuminate deeper questions about life, virtue, and connection. It’s for anyone who loves a good story and has ever wondered why it sticks with them. Tuning into this podcast feels like joining a thoughtful friend for a coffee after seeing a fantastic film, where the conversation naturally drifts from plot points to the profound. You’ll come away with a richer appreciation for the craft of storytelling and, perhaps, a new lens through which to view your own journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Story Secrets
Podcast Episodes
Story Secrets - The Great Cheese Roll [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:31
🧀 The Great Cheese Roll is here! One wheel to roll them all — and in the laughter bind them Today is the Gloucestershire Cheese Rolling Race, where brave souls chase a 7lb wheel of cheese down one of the steepest hills i…
Story Secrets - The Lamb and the Catacombs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:20
Today’s story is about a lamb. But not just any lamb. He kicked over jars. He chewed expensive sandals. He absolutely did not want to be a model. Until he met a quiet boy. A boy who carried him—not just for a statue, but…
Story Secrets - The Dark Mage Strikes Back Part II [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:53
In this second and final part of my fantasy homage to The Empire Strikes Back, we return to the snowy peaks, haunted forests, and sacred ruins of a medieval Irish world where story itself is magic—and belief can shape re…
Story Secrets - The Dark Mage Strikes Back Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:55
When I was 12 years old, I sat in a dark cinema and watched The Empire Strikes Back for the first time. I never recovered—and I mean that in the best possible way. It became my all-time favorite film, and it’s shaped the…
Story Secrets - A Little Piece of Heaven [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:11
New Story: A Cup of Hope and a Slice of Heaven The cozy tavern where no brew will ever be the same, and neither will you. Somewhere along an old pilgrimage road in the Irish hills, there’s a crooked little cottage with a…
Story Secrets - The Prelate, the Poodle and the Pizza [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:04
In today's episode, I share the original version of a children's story I made up about a poodle and a chihuahua in Rome. The poodle's owner is a tradition-loving cardinal, whereas the chihuahua is the dog of a chef who o…
Story Secrets - Nothing's Supposed To Live Forever [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:17
There’s a moment in The Ballad of Phil and Phyllis—a TikTok song about an immortal groundhog and his mortal love—when the music quiets, and Phil sings of watching everything fade while he stays the same. The fame, the cr…
Story Secrets - The Boy Who Cried Dragon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:27
He Feared the Worst. The Worst Listened. What if your imagination had power? Not metaphorical power—the real kind. The kind that calls lightning when you expect rain. That conjures monsters when you picture danger. That…
Story Secrets - The Mouse Who Wanted to Be a Saint [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:30
What does it take to become a saint? That’s the question at the heart of today’s story—and one very small mouse is determined to find out. Born behind a cabinet in the sacristy of Saint Peter’s Basilica, Topolino has a d…
Story Secrets - Saint Brendan's First Voyage [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:00
This week, on May 16, we celebrated the feast of Saint Brendan the Navigator, the Irish monk whose sea voyages became the stuff of both Christian devotion and mythic imagination. He’s often remembered for his legendary j…