Across the Pond

We mark the death of poet and social activist Benjamin Zephaniah and talk about a new literary prize to be awarded by US prison inmates; author Don Gillmor joins us on his provocative new novel, Breaking and Entering, Canadian publisher Biblioasis' submission for the 2023 Republic of Consciousness Prize. Thank you for listening! If you like what you hear, give us a follow at: X: Across the Po...

Reading Grace Paley's short story, "Wants;" and we talk to debut novelist Christine Lai about her novel Landscapes, submitted by Two Dollar Radio for the 2023 Republic of Consciousness Prize, US & Canada. Thank you for listening! If you like what you hear, give us a follow at: X: Across the Pond , Galley Beggar Press , Interabang Books , Lori Feathers , Sam Jordison Instagram: A...

Across the Pond guest Benjamin Myers wins the 2023 Goldsmiths Prize for Cuddy; literary agent Andrew Wylie has us talking; and we welcome writer and translator Kate Briggs to talk about her new novel, The Long Form, submitted for the 2023 Republic of Consciousness Prize, US & Canada by Dorothy, a publishing project. Thank you for listening! If you like what you hear, give us a follow at: X: Ac...

AI's Vesuvius Challenge; are reports of the death of our attentions greatly exaaggerated?; and, we talk to author Adam Biles about his novel Beasts of England, a clever and amusing sequel to Animal Farm.  Thank you for listening! If you like what you hear, give us a follow at: X: Across the Pond , Galley Beggar Press , Interabang Books , Lori Feathers , Sam Jordison Instagram: Across the Pond...

What is literary fiction?; and writer Caleb Azumah Nelson returns to the podcast to talk about his sensory-rich, sophomore novel, Small Worlds.  Thank you for listening! If you like what you hear, give us a follow at: X: Across the Pond , Galley Beggar Press , Interabang Books , Lori Feathers , Sam Jordison Instagram: Across the Pond , Galley Beggar Press , Interabang Books , Lori Feathers , Sam J...

AI book theft; The White Review suspends publication; Amazon is sued; and we welcome writer Ben Fountain to the podcast to discuss his immersive and thrilling new novel, Devil Makes Three. Thank you for listening! If you like what you hear, give us a follow at: X: Across the Pond , Galley Beggar Press , Interabang Books , Lori Feathers , Sam Jordison Instagram: Across the Pond , Galley Beggar Pres...

Sam and Lori talk about the prescient, 1901 H.G. Wells short story, The New Accelerator, and our guest is Sheena Patel, who joins the podcast to discuss her very funny and very provocative new novel, I'm a Fan. Thank you for listening! If you like what you hear, give us a follow at: X: Across the Pond , Galley Beggar Press , Interabang Books , Lori Feathers , Sam Jordison Instagram: Across th...

Fall Books!  And we talk to writer Paola Ferrante about her fantastic eco-horror story collection, Her Body Among Animals, published by Book*hug Press in Canada.  Thank you for listening! If you like what you hear, give us a follow at: X: Across the Pond , Galley Beggar Press , Interabang Books , Lori Feathers , Sam Jordison Instagram: Across the Pond , Galley Beggar Press , Interabang Books , Lor...

Can you really trust that book cover blurb?; Sam and Elly's "Literary London" gets a second life; and we welcome graphic designer, artist, and writer Rian Hughes to talk about his latest book, "The Black Locomotive," a novel, graphic.  Thank you for listening! If you like what you hear, give us a follow at: X: Across the Pond , Galley Beggar Press , Interabang Books , Lori...

Have we killed literary fiction?; plus, an interesting discussion with Frances Riddle about her translation of Claudia Piñeiro's novel, A Little Luck, published by Charco Press. https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/books/a44496450/literary-fiction-death-digital-age/ Thank you for listening! If you like what you hear, give us a follow at: X: Across the Pond , Galley Beggar Press , Interabang...

What we plan to read this summer, and we talk to Colin Walsh about his debut novel Kala, a satisfying mystery that explores memory, belonging, and violence in a small Irish town. Thank you for listening! If you like what you hear, give us a follow at: X: Across the Pond , Galley Beggar Press , Interabang Books , Lori Feathers , Sam Jordison Instagram: Across the Pond , Galley Beggar Press , Intera...

Lori and Sam meet up in Cambridge, UK for punting and pints, and author Stephanie Bishop joins the podcast to talk about her thought provoking thriller, The Anniversary. Thank you for listening! If you like what you hear, give us a follow at: X: Across the Pond , Galley Beggar Press , Interabang Books , Lori Feathers , Sam Jordison Instagram: Across the Pond , Galley Beggar Press , Interabang Book...

The lasting legacies of Cormac McCarthy and editor Robert Gottlieb, and we talk to author Kathryn Bromwich about her debut novel, At the Edge of the Woods. Thank you for listening! If you like what you hear, give us a follow at: X: Across the Pond , Galley Beggar Press , Interabang Books , Lori Feathers , Sam Jordison Instagram: Across the Pond , Galley Beggar Press , Interabang Books , Lori Feath...

What the British PM reads, small glimmers of hope in the fight against book bans, and we talk to author Isabella Hammad on her new novel, Enter Ghost, about Palestinian actors set to perform a stage production of Hamlet in the West Bank.  Thank you for listening! If you like what you hear, give us a follow at: X: Across the Pond , Galley Beggar Press , Interabang Books , Lori Feathers , Sam Jordis...

A tribute to the late author Martin Amis; Jenny Erpenbeck joins us for a fascinating discussion of her new novel, Kairos, which explores the public and private sense of loss and precarity for two lovers in East Berlin in the years surrounding the fall of the Berlin Wall.  Thank you for listening! If you like what you hear, give us a follow at: X: Across the Pond , Galley Beggar Press , Interabang...

Sam and Lori read Henry James' short story, "The Figure in the Carpet," which even Sam admits is pretty good; and we talk to writer Brad Fox about his fascinating look at early deep sea exploration, The Bathysphere Book: Effects of the Luminous Ocean Depths. Thank you for listening! If you like what you hear, give us a follow at: X: Across the Pond , Galley Beggar Press , Interabang...

Sam brings back news from the London Book Fair, and we talk to author Toby Litt about his latest novel, A Writer's Diary, published by Galley Beggar Press! Thank you for listening! If you like what you hear, give us a follow at: X: Across the Pond , Galley Beggar Press , Interabang Books , Lori Feathers , Sam Jordison Instagram: Across the Pond , Galley Beggar Press , Interabang Books , Lori...

In this special episode with writer and publisher Martin Riker, we talk about running a small publishing house, influential books, Dorothy, a publishing project's upcoming titles, and Martin's recent, critically acclaimed novel, The Guest Lecture. Thank you for listening! If you like what you hear, give us a follow at: X: Across the Pond , Galley Beggar Press , Interabang Books , Lori Fe...

Book-Tok's authenticity problem, and we talk to author Catherine Lacey about her latest, breathtakingly incisive novel, Biography of X.  Thank you for listening! If you like what you hear, give us a follow at: X: Across the Pond , Galley Beggar Press , Interabang Books , Lori Feathers , Sam Jordison Instagram: Across the Pond , Galley Beggar Press , Interabang Books , Lori Feathers , Sam Jord...

We rave about some pretty cool literary prizes and talk to writer Todd McEwan on his funny and warm memoir, Cary Grant's Suit: Nine Movies that Made Me the Wreck I Am Today. Thank you for listening! If you like what you hear, give us a follow at: X: Across the Pond , Galley Beggar Press , Interabang Books , Lori Feathers , Sam Jordison Instagram: Across the Pond , Galley Beggar Press , Intera...

Should we edit Roald Dahl and other children's classics? Plus our not-to-be-missed conversation with Donal Ryan on his latest novel, The Queen of Dirt Island, which features four generations of fierce Irish women.  Thank you for listening! If you like what you hear, give us a follow at: X: Across the Pond , Galley Beggar Press , Interabang Books , Lori Feathers , Sam Jordison Instagram: Acros...

Readers share their pet peeves about contemporary fiction, and we talk to author Stephen May about his recent novel, Sell Us the Rope, a portrait of Stalin as a young man during his visit to London.   Thank you for listening! If you like what you hear, give us a follow at: X: Across the Pond , Galley Beggar Press , Interabang Books , Lori Feathers , Sam Jordison Instagram: Across the Pond , Galley...

The Republic of Consciousness Prize for small presses in the US & Canada announes its 2022 longlisted titles, are we facing the end of "book twitter?" and Pulitzer Prize winning author Paul Harding joins us to talk about his stunning new novel, This Other Eden.   Thank you for listening! If you like what you hear, give us a follow at: X: Across the Pond , Galley Beggar Press , Intera...

Across the Pond celebrates its 50th episode, and we talk to Maddie Mortimer about her polyphonic, visually imaginative novel, Maps of Our Spectacular Bodies, winner of the 2022 Desmond Elliott Prize. Thank you for listening! If you like what you hear, give us a follow at: X: Across the Pond , Galley Beggar Press , Interabang Books , Lori Feathers , Sam Jordison Instagram: Across the Pond , Galley...

What we love and hate about new year reading resolutions, and we talk to author Selby Wynn Schwartz on her 2022 Booker-longlisted novel, After Sappho, a fictionalized account of the legendary poet Sappho and how her life and writing inspired generations of feminist artists.  Thank you for listening! If you like what you hear, give us a follow at: X: Across the Pond , Galley Beggar Press , Interaba...