Authors' Matters by ALCS

In this episode we explore the support available for writers, individually and collectively, from three organisations - the Royal Literary Fund, the Society of Authors and ALCS. Find out the different ways these organisations have got your back!

Let's consider the distinctly human skills that go into producing the finished books you find on the shelves of your local bookshop or library. In this episode, we speak with three equally skilled humans who contribute to the collaborative process of creating a finished book: indexer Paula Clarke Bain, editor Kris Doyle and translator Sawad Hussain. We want to celebrate the often unseen work...

The great Maureen Duffy, novelist, poet, playwright, and non-fiction writer, sadly died in May 2026. In this episode we speak to three people who knew Maureen professionally and personally and they share great insight into her life, her work and her activism, particularly all she did for authors' rights including the founding of ALCS.  Host Caroline Sanderson is joined by writer Stella Duffy,...

To celebrate National Poetry on 1 October 2026, journalist Caroline Sanderson sits down with Chris Redmond and Francesca Beard from the Hot Poets Collective to talk about how they're bringing poetry and science together to address the climate emergency.  

We know that adults are reading less than ever and scrolling more but what does this mean for writers and the wider publishing ecosystem? And how can we fix it?  Publisher Joanna Prior and writer Sathnam Sanghera sit down with host Caroline Sanderson to share their thoughts and solutions to the reading crisis - we guarantee listeners will go away inspired to read more.

In the season finale of Authors' Matters, we talk to Trish Cooke, playwright, actress, television presenter, scriptwriter and children's author! Trish reflects on her eclectic writing career and her strong storytelling roots formed in childhood, strengthened by her Dominican heritage. She talks about the highs of her career and the challenges that have pushed her to where she is now. 

Writer of the ITV hit series Mr Bates vs The Post Office, Gwyneth Hughes joins Authors' Matters to discuss how her beginnings as a journalist informed her writing and gave her an early instinct for real people's stories. She also shares her insights on how to write fiction successfully for the screen and how the ecosystem of TV writing has changed during the age of streaming.

Journalist Sarah Shaffi joins us on Authors' Matters to talk all things freelance – how to make the decision to go freelance, what to charge and what to expect from your working life.  She also shares details of her work championing writers of colour and representation across the industry.

Winner of the Branford Boase 2024 for his debut, author Nathanael Lessore talks to Authors' Matters about the importance of writer/editor relationships, how to write authentically for a young audience and why school libraries are so important.

Author and academic Vybarr Cregan-Reid talks to Authors' Matters about his fascinating career trajectory (shout-out to Brighton bus company!) and shares his belief in the importance of protecting the humanities in the education sector and also the creative industries as a whole.

Novelist, poet and non-fiction writer Natasha Carthew talks class, the privilege gap and how she created her own literary festival to tackle these issues head on.

Crime writer and current Chair of the Crime Writers' Association, Vaseem Khan talks to Authors' Matters about the diversification of the most popular literary genre and how he'd love to punch ChatGPT in the face.

Everything you ever wanted to know about generative artificial intelligence (AI) but were afraid to ask! Author and tech expert Tom Chatfield breaks down what AI is and what it means for authors and creators on the season finale of Authors' Matters.

With almost 20 years writing for EastEnders and multiple BAFTAs to his name, there's not much about screenwriting that Simon Ashdown doesn't know. In this episode, he talks to Caroline Sanderson about how he got started in the industry, what makes a great episode of TV and how to navigate the world of screenwriting.

Whether you’re new to freelancing or a saged pro, this episode of Authors' Matters with journalist, author and podcast Anna Codrea-Rado is guaranteed to give you a fresh perspective on the profession and plenty of useful advice.

Expect frank discussion of the publishing industry, author advances, and the ongoing academic strikes in this episode with novelist and creative writing lecturer, Alice Jolly.

Author and educator Jeffrey Boakye joins us for episode 3 where he shares how he manages being a full-time writer with primary school teaching (spoiler: he doesn't) and talks us through his latest works and the goals for social justice behind each one.

In episode 2, multidisciplinary artist and current Children's Laureate Wales Connor Allen shares how he got given a second chance at a young age to turn his life around. This is what made him into the successful poet, performer and ambassador for young people that he is today.

We're back with season 3 of Authors' Matters! In this season opener, our host Caroline Sanderson chats with celebrated children's writer Sita Brahmachari. Sita shares what inspires her to write stories that cross genres and explore themes of culture, history, refugee rights, identity and belonging.

In the season finale, we hear from writer, teacher and researcher Darren Chetty on the economics of the publishing industry and what needs to change in order to level the playing field. Darren also shares his passion for children's literature and hip-hop culture and how the two relate to one another, perhaps more than you might think. 

In this episode, novelist and co-founder of the Authors with Disabilities & Chronic Illnesses (ADCI) group, Claire Wade tells us how she got established as a writer and the challenges she has faced in an industry that is centred around well and able people. Claire shares how to be a good ally to writers experiencing disability or chronic illness and the role that community plays in raising the...

In this episode, Antony Johnston gives us the lowdown on how to organise your writing life! No matter what kind of author you are, Antony's advice could get you focused and meeting every deadline. 

Get inspired with this episode of Authors' Matters - poet Salena Godden tells us about her roots in the DIY punk scene of the 1990s, how she learnt to reject the starving poet cliché and shares the secret to her creative productivity. 

In this episode of Authors' Matters, writer and full-time GP Gavin Francis tells us how he manages to write alongside his busy medical career. Plus we take a deep dive into a writer’s relationship with their physical body – how being active is often the best boost for your brain and how it benefits your creativity to get out from behind your desk.

In episode 3, BAFTA and International Emmy Award-winning writer Helen Blakeman tells us how she got established, why she's drawn to telling the stories of those who aren’t always heard, and she shares some top tips on how to improve your writing skills.