Joining us on Mythmakers today is Darren Simpson, author of Thirst—a spooky folkloric tale for readers aged 11 and up. In conversation with Julia Golding, Darren shares how he crafted the eerie world of his novel, drawing inspiration from myths and legends while carefully navigating messaging, naming, and the challenges of writing and editing.But that’s not all, as his book is populated by splendid revenant creatures from the river, we take the opportunity to ask: where is the best place in all fantasy to be a zombie? You might be surprised by our picks...Learn more about Darren, and his works, at https://darrensimpsonwrites.co.uk/ (00:05) Fantasy Writers Explore Inspirations and Books(06:24) Folklore-Inspired Fantasy Novel Thirst(15:16) Character Naming and Moral Complexity(20:24) Folklore, Magic, and Moral Dilemmas(31:49) Publishing Journey and Working With Editors(35:02) Authors Discuss Editing, Publishing RealitiesFor more information on the Oxford Centre for Fantasy, our writing courses, and to check out our awesome social media content visit: Website: https://centre4fantasy.com/website Instagram: https://centre4fantasy.com/Instagram Facebook: https://centre4fantasy.com/Facebook TikTok: https://centre4fantasy.com/tiktok