Novel Experience

Author Christina Sweeney-Baird. Author of THE END OF MEN, a speculative polyphonic thriller about a pandemic that wipes out much of the world's male population. Christina chats about: keeping a journal compartmentalising her career as a lawyer to allow her to write shares tips for setting writing goals how to finish projects not reading your reviews Guest: Christina Sweeney-Baird Twitter: @Christi...

Women's Prize and Costa Shortlisted author Jessie Greengrass, author of THE HIGH HOUSE, SIGHT and AN ACCOUNT OF THE DECLINE OF THE GREAT AUK ACCORDING TO THOSE WHO SAW HIM Jessie chats about: losing confidence at university finding your voice on the page when speaking feels impossible the trouble with long titles characters remaining nameless writing out of sequence tackling the climate crisis in...

Julie Owen-Moylan author of THAT GREEN EYED GIRL and 73 DOVE STREET both published by Penguin Michael Joseph. Julie chats about: leaving school at 16 and training as a hairdresser travelling being a creative act how a Creative Writing MA is a great 50th birthday present how the Faber Academy was instrumental in Julie's success the benefits of finishing a draft of your next book before your book is...

Sunday Times Bestselling Author Janice Hallett. Author of THE APPEAL, THE TWYFORD CODE and THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF THE ALPERTON ANGELS. Janice chats about: her background in magazines and writing speeches for politicians amateur dramatics how changing a books cover can be a gamechanger reverse engineering plot the dangers of writing on a laptop Guest: Janice Hallet Twitter: @JaniceHallett Instagram...

Helen Cooper author of psychological thrillers THE DOWNSTAIRS NEIGHBOUR, THE OTHER GUEST and the forthcoming THE COUPLE IN THE PHOTO Helen chats about: the long days required to study creative writing around work how persistence and constant learning can pay off, how your agent believing in you is worth its weight in gold using friends with police and medical backgrounds to check plot holes how re...

Award-winning author Kiran Millwood-Hargrave author of bestselling novels THE MERCIES and THE DANCE TREE were published. Kiran chats about: how poetry led her away from a career in law early rejection not setting the bar for a career the myriad ways readers can discover a writer they love the galvanising power of a five year plan being yourself on social media Guest: Kiran Millwood Hargrave Twitte...

Author, screenwriter and journalist Jamie Russell, author of BOOK OF THE DEAD and the middle grade series SKYWAKE TRILOGY. Jamie chats about: his background in film criticsm his obsession with zombies the impossibility of writing for 'the market' how he balances screenwriting with his fiction commitments the trap of thinking about writing rather than doing the responsibilities in writing for young...

Debut author Sussie Anie, author of TO FILL A YELLOW HOUSE published by Phoenix Books Sussie chats about: protecting the creative magic of writing experimenting with genre how short stories can be a gateway to longer form how writing a novel when the world is so unstable presents authors with challenges the power of being part of a writing group Guest: Sussie Anie Twitter: @AnieSussie Instagram: @...

Literary agent, screenwriter and author Abigail Bergstrom, author of WHAT A SHAME published by Hodder & Stoughton. Abi chats about: her background as an editor how her work as an agent with Gleam and Bergstrom Studio has informed her experience of being published finding a way into publishing when you don't have any contacts burn-out and self-care depicting female friendship in novels and on s...

Travel journalist and debut author Lizzie Pook. Author of MOONL:IGHT AND THE PEARLER'S DAUGHTER published by Mantle Books. Lizzie chats about: her background and continued career in travel journalism putting yourself into your characters the power of character names the horror of first drafts the brilliance of Australian television the impact being published can have on your mental health balancin...

Polly Crosby author of THE ILLUSTRATED CHILD, THE UNRAVELLING and the forthcoming VITA AND THE BIRDS all published by HQ Stories. Polly chats about: early career choices before turning to a writing career finding connections with other authors online amazing booksellers (with a big shoutout to Kate at Harris & Harris Books in Clare, Suffolk) being inspired by the local landscape the incredible...

Author, journalist and podcaster Daisy Buchanan author of novels INSATIABLE and CAREERING Daisy chats about: working on student newspapers the lure of the bildungsroman the subtleties of truthfully representing female desire The Girly Show reading for absolute pleasure and ditching the shame about what we read or what we haven't read Guest: Daisy Buchanan Twitter: @notrollergirl Instagram: @thedai...

Sunday Times bestselling debut author Joanna Quinn. Author of THE WHALEBONE THEATRE, a family saga set over the course of WW2. Joanna chats about: her journey to being published via journalism, an MA, motherhood, a PHD and a pandemic being inspired by what you know whale bones the perils of book promotion for introverted authors Guest: Joanna Quinn IG: @joannabquinn Books: The Whalebone Theatre by...

Sunday Times Bestselling author, journalist and podcaster Bobby Palmer. Author of ISAAC AND THE EGG. Bobby chats about: the cross-over between journalism and fiction writing listening to your mum's criticism how timing is everything when it comes to submissions the work that goes into bring a book into the world by people other than the author Guest: Bobby Palmer Twitter: @thebobpalmer IG: @thebob...

Author and podcast host Chloe Timms, author of THE SEAWOMEN. Chloe chats about: how there is always more to learn about writing how reading can support your writing the fear of not having an 'idea' learning what to focus on & what is out of your control about your book being published setting up a writing podcast mentoring unpublished writers making events accessible with the movement #keepeve...

Winner of the Waterstone's Children's Book Award Liz Hyder author of BEARMOUTH, THE GIFTS and the forthcoming THE ILLUSIONS. Guest: Liz Hyder Twitter: @londonbessie IG: @londonbessie Host: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family by Kate Sawyer Liz’s recommendations: A book for fans of Liz’s work: The Empty Greatcoat by Rebecca F John...

Screenwriter and author Lizzy Dent author of rom-coms THE SUMMER JOB and THE SET UP Lizzy chats about: when to break-up with your book the mystery of the em dash daring yourself to finish writing your book wine always trying to remember how far you've come whilst managing your expectations the stress & joy of being a debut author Guest: Lizzy Dent Twitter: @dentlizzy IG: @lizzy.dent Books: The...

Author Annie Garthwaite discusses her novel CECILY a reimagining of the life of Cecily Neville, mother of Richard III wife of Richard Duke of York. Annie chats about: how a good teacher can change the course of your life how sometimes there can be a longtime between the idea for a novel and writing it falling in love with men who died over 400 years ago what has changed for women since the 15th ce...

Co-authors Natasha Calder and Emma Szewczak authors of sci-fi debut THE OFFSET about a world in which children have to choose one parent to be executed as a carbon offset for their own life, when they turn eighteen, published by Angry Robots. Natasha and Emma chat about: the honesty of co-writing literature how conversations and experimentation can lead to great ideas how dark it is feasible for Y...

Journalist and author Emma Hughes discusses her debut novel No Such Thing as perfect published by Penguin. Emma chats about: being put off writing by well meaning criticism how writing competitions can help build your confidence distraction techniques to navigate the highs and lows of publication how characters are rather like dahlias! Guest: Emma Hughes Twitter: @emmadhughes IG: @emmahughes86 Boo...

Actor and author Susannah Wise author of sci-fi novel THIS FRAGILE EARTH and literary off-the wall novel OKAY THEN THATS GREAT. Susannah chats about: being inspired by life and death the difference in the way people speak and 'truthful' dialogue how working as an actor informed her transition into writing novels Guest: Susannah Wise Twitter: @susannahwise IG: @calamitysusannah Books: Okay Then Tha...

Author Aliya Ali-Afzal author of domestic thriller WOULD I LIE TO YOU? Aliya chats about: her background in languages working in the city as a head-heanter to a background hum of sexism writing for years without realising she was a writer using her career coaching skills as a way of finding a literary agent Guest: Aliya Ali-Afzal Twitter: @AAAiswriting IG: @aliyaaliafzalauthor Books: Would I Lie T...

Author and journalist Frances Quinn. Author of THE SMALLEST MAN and THAT BONESETTER WOMAN Frances chats about: researching historical fiction her experiences of being working class in Oxbridge int he 1980's how her career in journalism led to her dream of being published...after a little prevarication Guest: Frances Quinn Twitter: @fraquinn IG: @franquinn21 Books: The Smallest Man by Frances Quinn...

Jodie Chapman author of ANOTHER LIFE and OH, SISTER both published by Penguin Micheal Joseph. Jodie chats about: her route to being published closing the door on people in order to find space to write how she encourages inspiration Guest: Jodie Chapman Twitter: @jodiechapman IG: @jodiechapman Books: Another Life by Jodie Chapman Host: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The S...

Debut author Buki Papillon author of AN ORDINARY WONDER. Buki chats about: discovering writing as a consequence of circumstance discipline in order to concentrate on writing how stories repeat themselves in different cultures and folklore around the world Guest: Buki Papillon Twitter: @bukipapillon IG: @bukipapillon Books: An Ordinary Wonder by Buki Papillon Host: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer...