True Voyage Is Return
Throughout October 2024, writer Philip Holyman invited eight other professional authors — along with members of the public from across Birmingham and the Black Country — to create pieces for an anthology of brand-new work.
Each contributor responded to a broad inspirational theme, a four-word quote from Ursula K. Le Guin’s iconic novel The Dispossessed — True Voyage Is Return. The works they produced are as unique and individual as the writers themselves — and you can read them all over at philipholyman.com.
You can also hear from some of the amazing people who took part, right here in this ten-episode podcast. We’ll be digging deeper into each writer’s journey, both during this project and across their career. We’ll also be exploring their radically different experiences of creating new work under some truly unusual circumstances.
True Voyage Is Return was produced in partnership with University of Birmingham, and the podcast was produced in partnership with Midlands Arts Centre. The entire project was supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
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- Update frequency
- every day
- Average duration
- 61 minutes
- Episodes
- 10
- Years Active
- 2025
True Voyage Is Return — Episode 10 — Anthology
This episode features extracts from some of the 45 works featured in the anthology — poems and short stories, a memoir and a novel. You’ll hear (amongst other things) about queer romances on planets …
True Voyage Is Return — Episode 9 — Philip Holyman
This episode features theatre and fiction writer and True Voyage project leader Philip Holyman, who talks (amongst other things) about attempting to write an entire novel in a month — the tyranny of …
True Voyage Is Return — Episode 8 — Wren James
This episode features Young Adult novelist Wren James, who talks (amongst other things) about deep time and deep space — optimistic approaches to the climate crisis — the torture and the relief of th…
True Voyage Is Return — Episode 7 — Lorna French
This episode features playwright and dramaturg Lorna French, who talks (amongst other things) about observing and collaborating with the audience — the differences between live and radio drama — writ…
True Voyage Is Return — Episode 6 — Shaun Hill
This episode features poet, filmmaker and movement artist Shaun Hill, who talks (amongst other things) about pre-colonial history — anti-capitalism and post-capitalism — queer community and the Radic…
True Voyage Is Return — Episode 5 — Romalyn Ante
This episode features Filipino-British poet and editor Romalyn Ante, who talks (amongst other things) about the Wolverhampton twang — balancing writing with a nursing career in the NHS — juggling mot…
True Voyage Is Return — Episode 4 — Stephen Aryan
This episode features fantasy novelist Stephen Aryan, who talks (amongst other things) about fathers, sons and the struggle to get men talking — the gamification of reading — the candy floss machine …
True Voyage Is Return — Episode 3 — Charlotte Bailey
This episode features visual storyteller Charlotte Bailey, who talks (amongst other things) about free writing — nutmeg, family farms and the resource curse — self-publishing and commercialism — the …
True Voyage Is Return — Episode 2 — Thomas Glave
This episode features Bronx-born, Jamaica-raised novelist, essayist and academic Thomas Glave, who talks (amongst other things) about falling in love with Birmingham — marathon running — magical real…
True Voyage Is Return — Episode 1 — Catherine O'Flynn
This episode features novelist, children’s book author and all-round Birmingham literary icon Catherine O’Flynn, who talks (amongst other things) about the differences between English and American ed…