Two Lit Chicks

Hohoho and merry Christmas! Join Julia as she welcomes three fantastic guests into the studio: Uju Asika - author of Raising Boys Who Do Better (listen to Julia's interview with Uju from season 4 here ). Jules Swain - Book Blogger of the Year 2023 - Follow Jules on Twitter here . Suzy K Quinn - author of the Bad Mother series . Follow Suzy on Instagram here . Books recommended The Fourth Wing...

In a departure from literature, quizmaster Meredith Hepner quizzes us on our knowledge of John Hughes and Richard Curtis's Christmas films. Julia got 8/13. This episode is swear-free so you can enjoy it with the family. How did you do? If you want to share your score, join my new Book Club on Facebook , which welcomes fans of all genres. Support Julia by buying her books Order signed paperbac...

Today, Julia chats with Susie Ridell about the art of audio book narration. Susie is a performer, voice over artist and co-Artistic Director of the theatre company, Idiot Child. She trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Susie plays Tracy Horrobin in BBC Radio 4's The Archers and is actually taking a break today from recording to speak with us. Susie has also narrated many aud...

Today, I'm joined by Alivia Fleur , all the way from a farm in Australia. In this brilliant quiz, Alivia asks the vital questions: is it a RAKE or a RADISH? Alivia is a historical romance author who moved from writing short stories to novels when her characters kept showing up with copious amounts of emotional baggage, demanding it be explored. Her love of the Victorian era led her to create...

Carrie Elks is the author of thirty contemporary romance books (and counting). Since 2014, she has been both traditionally and self-published, and her stories have been translated into over ten different languages. She lives in Essex with her husband, two children and a pug called Plato, and when she isn’t reading, writing, or loafing about, she enjoys long walks at the beach, listening to the cra...

This episode is sponsored by Bookfunnel.   Carrie Elks is the author of thirty contemporary romance books (and counting). Since 2014, she has been both traditionally and self-published, and her stories have been translated into over ten different languages. She lives in Essex with her husband, two children and a pug called Plato, and when she isn’t reading, writing, or loafing about, she enjoys lo...

Something wicked this way comes in this quiz with quizmaster Anne Hughes (a.k.a. Julia's mother-in-law). This is a good one and you'll be screaming the answer to number 6, too, as Julia tries desperately to remember who wrote...well, you'll have to listen to the quiz to find out. How did you do? If you want to share your score, join my new Book Club on Facebook , which welcomes fans...

Following on from our episode about writing historical figures as characters, Katie Ginger quizzes us on Historical Figures in Fiction. You can check out Katie's website here . Follow her on Instagram here . How did you do? If you want to share your score, join my new Book Club on Facebook , which welcomes fans of all genres. Support Julia by buying her books Order Shooters here . Order Chasi...

Today I speak with Emma Royal aka Katie Ginger aka Annabel French about writing royalty in fiction.  She has always loved historical fiction and has a Masters degree in history. You can check out her website here . Follow her on Instagram here . Keep in touch Order Shooters  here . Order Chasing the Light , Julia's sequel to Shooters, here . I love our listeners, and I want to hear from you....

Shoulder pads at the ready! You heard the episode about Bonkbusters , now take the quiz! Join Julia as Dr Amy Burge and Dr Jodi McAlister test her knowledge of the eponymous bonkbuster. This is a quiz you do not want to miss.  Dr Amy Burge is Associate Professor of Popular Fiction at the University of Birmingham. Her work centres on popular genres, in particular romance – she has published researc...

To celebrate the release of Jilly Cooper's new book, Tackle, on November 9, I'm speaking with Dr Amy Burge and Dr Jodi McAlister about their research into the BONKBUSTER. Warning: we talk graphically about THAT goldfish scene in LACE. Dr Amy Burge is Associate Professor of Popular Fiction at the University of Birmingham. Her work centres on popular genres, in particular romance – she has...

Today’s quiz master is Vicki Childs, a British expat now living in Florida. Vicki is the author of 'Rachel's Butterflies', as well as the 'At Home in Davis Crest' Holiday romance series. The theme of her quiz is Female Friendship.  Visit Vicki's website . Vicki on Instagram Vicki on Facebook If you want to share your score, join my new Book Club on Facebook , which we...

Writing advice from best-selling writer, Victoria Hislop, author of 10 novels, including The Island   about a leprosy colony in Greece. The novel became an international best-seller, translated into 40 languages and turned into a 26 part Greek TV series. Her most recent book, The Figurine , is also set in Greece and is a page-turner full of history, romance and family secrets.  Join the Two Lit Ch...

Today’s other lit chick is Victoria Hislop, author of 10 novels, including The Island   about a leprosy colony in Greece. The novel became an international best-seller, translated into 40 languages and turned into a 26 part Greek TV series. Her most recent book, The Figurine , is also set in Greece and is a page-turner full of history, romance and family secrets. In this episode we talk about what...

Something wicked this way comes in this week's witchy quiz, courtesy of author  Emma Jackson, author of WITCH YOU WEREN'T HERE , a romcom full of misbehaving magic, brother's best friend angst, and only one bed shenanigans, is available now, just in time for Halloween. It will not be hard to beat Julia's score this week! If you want to share your score, join my new Book Club on...

This episode is sponsored by Reedsy. Today we are discussing world building in fiction with  Emma Jackson, author of the Best Selling A MISTLETOE MIRACLE. Emma is also a host on the SFFRomCast , a podcast dedicated to celebrating fantasy and sci-fi romance. Her latest book, WITCH YOU WEREN'T HERE , a witchy romcom full of misbehaving magic, brother's best friend angst, and only one bed s...

This episode is sponsored by Reedsy. It's Friday and we've got an extra special quiz for you about Love Stories. Our quizmaster today is Beth O'Leary, writer of five best-selling romcoms, including The Wake Up Call. Let us know how you did! The best way to do that is to join my new Book Club on Facebook , which welcomes fans of all genres. More about our sponsors Reedsy is a publish...

This episode is sponsored by Reedsy. Excellent writing advice with writer Beth O'Leary, Sunday Times Bestselling author of The Wake Up Call . If you want to keep the book chat going, join my new Book Club on Facebook , which welcomes fans of all genres. Empowered Author Marketing Show Check out the Empowered Author Book Marketing & Publicity Show, taking place online from November 3-5. Yo...

Beth O'Leary is a Sunday Times bestselling author whose novels have been translated into more than thirty languages. Her debut, The Flatshare , sold over a million copies and changed her life completely. Her second novel, The Switch , has been optioned for film by Amblin Partners, Steven Spielberg's production company. The Road Trip , Beth's third novel, went straight to No.4 in the...

This episode is sponsored by Reedsy. In today's quiz, author and best-selling ghostwriter Tom Bromley tests our knowledge of ghostwritten books. I managed to dredge my memory for some of those answers!  A thoroughly enjoyable quiz and I got 6/10. Let us know how you did! The best way to do that is to join my new Book Club on Facebook , which welcomes fans of all genres. Tom's Contacts We...

This episode is sponsored by Reedsy. Today, I’m excited to be chatting with Tom Bromley, who has basically done every job in publishing and is now the Head of Learning for Reedsy. Tom’s been working in publishing for 25 years, starting off as a bookseller in Waterstones. Then he went to work at Little Brown as a copywriter. From there he went on to be a commissioning editor, editorial director, cr...

Think you're ready to write a spy thriller? Then you'd better take this quiz by David Bickford, the ex-legal director of MI5/MI6. Can you beat Julia's final score? (Yes, probably). Keep in touch Order Chasing the Light, Julia's sequel to Shooters, here . I love our listeners, and I want to hear from you. Please leave a review on one of my podcast platforms and chat with me on s...

This episode is sponsored by Reedsy. A follow-up chat with author David Bickford, former Under Secretary of State and Legal Director to the British Intelligence Agencies, MI5 & MI6. His spy thriller book, Katya , is available now (audio as well) and his second book, The Informer , will be out on December 1. David's social media Instagram Empowered Author Marketing Show Check out the Empow...

An enlightening chat with David Bickford, a British author and former Under Secretary of State and Legal Director to the British Intelligence Agencies, MI5 & MI6. David spent his working life diving into the cold murky seas of terrorism, espionage and organised  crime. At the forefront of the battle against international terrorism he was among the first to predict its onslaught. David is recog...

This episode is sponsored by Reedsy. Anita Chapman is a self-published author. Her first book, The Venice Secret, came out in March 2023, and in its first six months reached number one in four Amazon UK Kindle charts, including Historical Fiction, and made it into the top one hundred in the overall Amazon UK Kindle chart. It’s also had 2.5 million Kindle Unlimited page reads and reached almost 200...