Welcome one and all to the second episode of Pet Projects, featuring Lancaster-based writer, illustrator and Creative Writing lecturer, Inés G. Labarta. In conversation with host Pete, Inés talks about her two black cats, Nori and Luna, and her current pet project: the release of her new novel The Three Lives of Saint Ciarán (Blackwater Press) this month. Despite their shared hue and origin, Inés’s cats have proven very different in personality, which is perhaps appropriate given variety is the spice of life where she is concerned.

In addition to having published in Spanish and English, Inés learnt Japanese as a student, writes her speculative fiction across a variety of genres (inc. migrant narratives, queer literature, magic realism, RPGs, monstrous fiction and the gothic), and produces her own podcast (The Wandering Bard).

Of herself, she says, ‘I am a citizen of nowhere because I feel at home in the Highlands, in Miyayima, in the Guadarrama mountains, in Edinburgh and Clonmacnoise. I didn’t choose to be born in Spain – but I do choose to consider this planet my home and to connect with others no matter where they come from.’ Fortunately for us, the family she has made with her partner, Nori and Luna is (mostly) keeping her in Lancaster just now.

Pet Projects is a collaborative project devised by writer and editor Peter Humphreys and artist and filmmaker Ana Rebolledo. It is currently available on Spotify, SoundCloud and Amazon Music.

Inés’ website: https://inesglabarta.com

Inés’ highly imaginative new novel The Three Lives of Saint Ciarán: https://www.blackwaterpress.com/product/the-three-lives-of-st-ciaran-pre-order-new/

Inés’ profile page at Lancaster University:

https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/english-literature-and-creative-writing/people/ines-gregori-labarta

Inés’ writing podcast, The Wandering Bard: https://thewanderingbard.net/about/

Welcome one and all to the first episode of Pet Projects, in which host Pete and guest Karl talk about Karl’s beloved, much-missed and inspirational dog, Lola, and his pet projects, leading to Karl offering some fascinating insights from the world of filmmaking in which he is quickly making his mark as a writer-director.

A passionate advocate for Liverpool and northern talent, Karl talks about the making of his award-winning short film ‘Wake’ (shot on the Mersey ferry), his work-in-progress ‘Lucky Cat’ and how Covid encouraged him to pursue his vision more aggressively, in collaboration with his partners at their production company Seven Streets, and a fantastic cast and crew.

The episode also contains a snippet from ‘Mr Moog’s Dancing Light Rats’, an ancient Decaying Leather song named for Pete and brother Guy’s childhood hamster, performed by their family band. Pet Projects is a collaborative project devised by writer and editor Peter Humphreys and artist and filmmaker Ana Rebolledo.

More about today’s special guest:

Award-winning filmmaker Karl Livingstone trained as a theatre actor before studying filmmaking at the University of Salford where he co-founded the Salford Film Society. He now runs the Seven Streets film production company in his native Liverpool alongside partner Catherine and partner-in-crime Selina. Their film ‘Wake’ (written and directed by Karl), set on the Mersey ferry and drawing on personal loss, won best narrative short at the Lancaster International Film Festival in 2024. Realised beautifully by a dedicated cast and crew, it also feature’s music by Karl’s father. Seven Streets’ follow-up, ‘Lucky Cat’ is currently in pre-production. Karl has also worked on music videos and is an outspoken advocate for the talent to be found in Liverpool and the north. His inspirations include Christopher Nolan, Hideaki Anno and Werner Herzog.

You can find more about Karl’s work through these links >>>

Seven Streets on Instagram (@_sevenstreets_): https://www.instagram.com/_sevenstreets_/

Karl’s dad’s, Joseph Livingstone's music on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1XfQ6vPTIUDAZmHfcgkRFw?si=2dtLKugbQ-WzWKoRmf7Edg

A few more links to subject matter covered in the chat >>>

Lancaster International Film Festival: https://totallylocallancaster.co.uk/liff/

Lessons of Darkness, a Werner Herzog film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMIM-ma2juo

Interview with Werner Herzog on the Adam Buxton podcast: https://www.adam-buxton.co.uk/podcasts/rhwkafw2z2x3xe6-6ysb3