On today’s Women’s Outlook show I spent the first half hour talking to Sarah Ash, author of some fine fantasy novels. In addition to being a novelist, Sarah is also an enthusiastic anime fan, and the second half of the interview is spent mainly enthusing over that. I have learned, from her, that there will be a Blu Ray edition of Cowboy Bebop out next year. I’m starting saving up now.

In the second half hour I talked to Claire Judd of Harvey’s Cellars, a fabulous eating an entertainment venue in Bristol based in the old cellars of the Harvey’s Sherry company, which in turn are the old cellars of a 13th Century Augustinian Monastery. According to Claire they have a space that would be idea for author readings, or perhaps a book launch. I am now pondering the possibility of launching a fantasy novel in 13th Century cellars. Oh, and the restaurant specializes in Creole tapas. 🙂

Along the way we also talked about the fabulous Bristol Blue Glass, from which Harvey’s sherry bottles are made. And I learned that the cellars have an art gallery. This gave me the opportunity to utter the phrase “steampunk furries” on air. Check out Julian Quaye to learn more.

All of this is available in the first hour of the show, which you’ll be able to find here for the next few weeks.

The second hour begins with a look at the daft things people leave behind on public transport (a parrot, really?). After 15 minutes we have Sarah back as our Woman of the Week, in which we talk mainly about music and the dire state of British education policy. And the final half hour is Paulette talking about the need to get people from ethnic minorities to give blood. That features the city’s Lord Mayor, Faruk Choudhury.

The second hour is available for listening here.