Authors' Matters by ALCS

In this episode of Authors' Matters, we celebrate National Poetry Day (1 Oct) by chatting to contemporary poets, Adam Horovitz and Nikita Gill. They discuss how they earn their livings in one of the most challenging genres in which to pursue a writing profession. We also chat to Owen Atkinson, ALCS Chief Executive about the latest ALCS distribution.

In our second remotely-recorded episode, Anthony McGowan, winner of the 2020 CILIP Carnegie Medal, and Wendy Riley, winner of the ALCS Tom-Gallon Trust Award, join us to talk about how winning these respective ALCS-sponsored awards means to them. Alison Baxter, Head of Communications at ALCS, tells us why sponsoring prizes is an important part of ALCS’ work with writers.  We also hear about some u...

Coming to you from lockdown, we talk with books publicist, Georgina Moore (@PublicityBooks) and author Pragya Agarwal (@DrPragyaAgarwal) about their tips for writers when it comes to promotion, social media and taking care of yourself at this strange time. Luke Alcott, Senior Policy and Public Affairs Advisor at ALCS, tells us how ALCS has been campaigning for writers and freelancers since the beg...

In this episode of Authors' Matters, we chat with Sara Collins, author of The Confessions of Frannie Langton , which won the Costa Book Awards First Novel Prize in 2019. She speaks about immersing herself in the writing process, the power of reading and how she got into writing after working as a lawyer for 17 years. Barbara Hayes, Deputy Chief Executive of ALCS, updates us on how ALCS has be...

In this episode of Authors' Matters, we talk to novelist and essayist Priya Basil, one of around 30,000 ALCS members who live and work outside the UK. It's also awards season at ALCS and to celebrate we'll be hearing from Michaela Morgan, one of the judges of this year's ALCS Educational Writers' Award, and Tom Palmer, winner of the 2019 Ruth Rendell Award for outstanding...

In this episode of Authors' Matters, we chat with Wendy Cope, renowned contemporary poet, about how important emotional, as well as financial, support is and how the internet isn’t always the best place for poets. Tony Bradman, children’s author and ALCS Chair, joins us to encourage members to vote in the 2019 ALCS Board election and we catch up with Dr Jim Parker, PLR International Co-Ordina...

On the inaugural podcast, we talk to Paul Powell, comedy scriptwriter and former ALCS Board member, about why writing jokes for a living can be, but isn’t always a barrel of laughs. We talk to Lisa Appignanesi, writer and chair of the Royal Society of Literature, about that organisation’s recent research into the working conditions writers need in order to thrive. Alison Baxter, Head of Communicat...