*This podcast is made possible through the generous support of Book Alchemy’s paid membership. To support the show, please consider becoming at member at secretlibrarypodcast.com
Diving into the Cold
In this episode of the Secret Library Podcast, I speak with Anna Brones from the middle of her current book writing adventure. Anna shares her experiences working on her forthcoming book about cold water practices and communities, inspired by her own cold water swimming routine. We look at the shift in her creative process as she takes on a research-heavy nonfiction book, which is a new direction after her previous titles. She also shares historical and cultural context for cold water immersion. We get into the challenges of balancing different types of creative work and the importance of celebrating small victories along the way. Join us for a fascinating conversation about the intersections of art, writing, and the natural world.
Chapters:
01:40 Anna's Journey: From Cookbooks to Cold Water03:45 The Concept of Cold: Exploring the New Book04:32 Cold Water Practice: A Personal Journey05:33 Building a Cold Water Community08:41 The Writing Process: Challenges and Insights10:51 Travel and Research: Immersing in Cold Cultures15:19 The Creative Process: Embracing the Struggle19:03 Writing Gnomes: The Magic Behind the Words21:20 The Unknowable Element of Creativity22:25 Visual Art vs. Writing: A Creative Comparison23:54 Balancing Passion and Relaxation26:47 Victorian Ladies and Cold Water Cures34:11 The Fluidity of Creative Processes41:18 Celebrating the Creative Journey
About Anna:
Anna is a writer, artist, and educator based in the Pacific Northwest. She works as a papercut artist, hand cutting illustrations from single pieces of paper, which have been used everywhere from books to wine labels to public art installations. Passionate about sharing creativity with others, she regularly teaches workshops, both in person and virtually. She is also the author of several books including Fika: The Art of the Swedish Coffee Break, Live Lagom: Balanced Living the Swedish Way, and Best Served Wild: Real Food for Real Adventures. She contributes to a variety of digital and print publications and is currently at work on her forthcoming book Cold: Lessons of Place, Presence, and Practice (2026)
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thetattooedgoverness.com/subscribe
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Betrayal Weekly
Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com