In this episode, Holly B. and Rogan are joined by novelist Annie Hartnett (Rabbit Cake, Unlikely Animals, Road to Tender Hearts) for a delightful conversation about the animals who fuel her dark comic fiction — from Harvey the Border Collie who inspired her debut, to Pancakes the death-predicting cat in her latest novel, to the brand-new puppy asleep in the next room. Annie opens up about writing humour instinctively while having to actively edit in emotion, why a funny premise is half the battle, and how a pandemic correspondence with her brother in Moscow helped her develop a Russian fox's inner monologue. Warm, funny, and full of great craft advice — plus Border Collie facts you didn't know you needed.

• Rabbit Cake — debut novel. Narrated by a 10–12-year-old girl processing her mother's mysterious drowning (suicide or sleepwalking accident?). Dark comedy; funny because of the girl's strange, scientific way of seeing the world. Dog Boomer based on Harvey.

• Unlikely Animals — partly narrated by cemetery ghosts. Features Moses the Great Pyrenees, a domesticated Russian fox, and a lot of graveyard atmosphere. Annie calls it her "weirdest book."

• Road to Tender Hearts — most recent novel. Her intentionally funniest. An elderly man uses obituaries like Tinder and drives across the country to pursue a high-school sweetheart. Features Pancakes the death-predicting cat and a talking hat.

Annie Hartnett

Author of three novels: Rabbit Cake and Unlikely Animals and new national bestseller The Road to Tender Hearts -- out now! Find it at your bookstore!

anniehartnett.com

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Intro music courtesy of Upbeat Let Good Times Roll

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