Episode 3

Episode 3 - Author Ilona Bannister - When I Ran Away

Published on: 3rd March, 2021

This week Ali and Penny are joined by debut author, Ilona Bannister, whose novel, When I Ran Away, is released in the UK on 4th March by Two Roads books and on 30th March in the US with Doubleday Books.

When I Ran Away is a startling novel, funny and hard hitting, it tells the story of GiGi, an American mother of two living in London who just can't manage to do it all.

In this fascinating and wide reaching episode, Ilona talks about how, after having children, she felt it was hugely important to write honestly about the effects of motherhood, trauma and grief, and in doing so breaking the narrative that we can have it all.

Ilona tells Ali and Penny about her journey to publishing, how she set her own deadlines, treated the novel writing process like work before it was paid work, as well as what steps she took to maximise her changes of success.

Books discussed

When I Ran Away - Ilona Bannister

Wow, No Thank You - Samantha Irby

Mrs Death Misses Death - Salena Godden

Luster - Raven Leilani

H(A)PPY - Nicola Barker

Insatiable - Daisy Buchannon

You can find Ilona Bannister on Instagram @ilona.bannister

You can find Ali Millar of instagram @ali_millar_writes

And Penny Wincer on instagram @pennywincer

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for Not Too Busy To Write

About the Podcast

Not Too Busy To Write
Writing amongst life's many other demands
Penny Wincer is not too busy to write. Except of course, sometimes she is too busy to write as much as she would like. Join Penny as she has conversations with other writers about writing, publishing and creativity whilst juggling all the demands on them such as motherhood, caring and other paid work.

Penny Wincer is the author of Tender (Hodder, June 2020), a mother of two, a non-fiction writing coach and an Australian and long-term resident of London. She’s currently writing her second narrative non-fiction book, Home Matters (July 2024) and working on her first novel.

About your host

Profile picture for Penny Wincer

Penny Wincer

Penny Wincer is the author of Tender: The Imperfect Art of Caring (Hodder, June 2020) and is a single parent to two kids, one of whom is disabled. She is also a non-fiction book coach and an Australian and long-term resident of London. She’s currently writing her second non-fiction book and working her first novel.