The Big Kids Book Club Podcast

Hey hey hey! Welcome back to this week’s Author Interview. In this episode, Emma Carroll, queen of middle-grade historical fiction, joins us on the show. Emma and I chatted about finding inspiration in historical events, how working as an English teacher balanced with her life as an author, and the makings of a good ghost story. Emma was great to have on the show and we are very grateful she was a...

Hey, hey, hey! Welcome to our new podcast segment. We're calling it our MID-WEEK REVIEW!!! .... you know, because it's a book review... in the middle of the week? 😂📚🎙🎧 Each week, we're going to be reviewing a Middle Grade or Young Adult novel and giving you the scoop on whether it's any good! Our rating system is out of 5 stars with the following categories being looked at: Plot Pacing Characte...

Hey hey hey! Welcome back to this week’s Author Interview. In this episode, Kieran Larwood, author of the 5 Realms series, stops by the clubhouse to talk about his stories. Kieran and I chatted about the fantasy stories that inspired him, how his drawings fuelled his imagination, and the joy at winning the Blue Peter Award Kieran was so fantastic to have on the show and we are very grateful he was...

Ho, ho, ho! It’s Christmas, so I’m joined by Rab ( @rabtales ) and Emma ( @emmakeane10 ) to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy new year.  Thank  you for your support this year.  See you in 2021!! ----------------------------------------------------- So sit back, relax, and get lost in a good book-ish podcast Follow us on Twitter: @Bigkidsbookclub

Ho, ho, ho! It’s a new month so I’m joined by Rab ( @rabtales ) and Emma ( @emmakeane10 ) as we get into the winter cheer with a series of wondrously winter books. We also put some Christmas films on the naughty and nice lists. Find out if your favourite Christmas film made it onto the list.  ----------------------------------------------------- Books talked about in this episode: The Mouse a...

Hey hey hey! Welcome back to this week’s Author Interview. In this episode, Peter Bunzl, author of the Cogheart series, stops by the clubhouse to talk about his stories. Peter and I chatted about how working in animation made him adapt to writing middle grade, finding the mystery in stories and new upcoming novels. Peter was so fantastic to have on the show and we are very grateful he was able to...

Hey, hey, hey! Welcome to our new podcast segment. We're calling it our MID-WEEK REVIEW!!! .... you know, because it's a book review... in the middle of the week? 😂📚🎙🎧 Each week, we're going to be reviewing a Middle Grade or Young Adult novel and giving you the scoop on whether it's any good! Our rating system is out of 5 stars with the following categories being looked at: Plot  Pacing&nb...

Hey hey hey! Welcome back to this week’s Author Interview. In this episode, Alwyn Hamilton, author of The Rebel of the Sands trilogy drops in to chat to me and Emma about her books. We talk about seeking stories with skillful protagonists, Alwyn writing her "almost" book and how it inevitably led to her trilogy. For Emma and myself, it was an extra special interview. Alwyn was an amazing guest and...

Hey, hey, hey! Welcome to our new podcast segment. We're calling it our MID-WEEK REVIEW!!! .... you know, because it's a book review... in the middle of the week? 😂📚🎙🎧 Each week, we're going to be reviewing a Middle Grade or Young Adult novel and giving you the scoop on whether it's any good! Our rating system is out of 5 stars with the following categories being looked at: Plot Pacing Characte...

Hey hey hey! Welcome back to this week’s Author Interview. In this episode, Alastair Chisholm, author of The Prince, the Witch, the Thief and the Bears series, Inch and Grub, and sci-fi smash hit, Orion Lost, stops by the clubhouse to talk about his stories. Alastair and I chatted about how writing puzzles helped Alastair with plots, telling stories inspired by his own daughters, and finding sci-f...

Hey, hey, hey! Welcome to our new podcast segment.  We're calling it our MID-WEEK REVIEW!!! .... you know, because it's a book review... in the middle of the week? 😂📚🎙🎧 Each week, we're going to be reviewing a Middle Grade or Young Adult novel and giving you the scoop on whether it's any good! Our rating system is out of 5 stars with the following categories being looked at: Plot Pacing Ch...

Hey, hey, hey! It’s a new month so I’m joined by Rab ( @rabtales ) and Emma ( @emmakeane10 ) as we storm the barricades of Young Adult and Middle Grade fiction in this our REVOLUTION themed episode. We talk about rebellion in books, how bookish rebellions can open our eyes to real revolutions in our world today, and finding freedom fighters that are as diverse as we all our. ----------------------...

Hey hey hey! Welcome back to this week’s episode of the Big Kids Book Club. In this episode, Guy Bass, author of over 30 books, including the Spyosaur, Stitchhead, Skeleton Keys, and Dinkin Dings series stops by the clubhouse to talk about his books. Guy and I talk about how drama school influenced his writing, the fun you have writing heroes and monsters (with a little bit of alien thrown in) and...

Hey hey hey! Welcome back to this week’s episode of the Big Kids Book Club. In this episode, J.M.Lee, author of The Dark Crystal Prequel YA novel series and upcoming The Nightland Express (Erewhon, March 2021) joins us to talk about his writing career to date. Joe and I talk about entering writing competitions on a whim, writing in Hollywood for huge multi-format projects, and finally taking road...

Hey hey hey! Welcome back to this week's episode of the Big Kids Book Club. In this episode, Tom Palmer, author of over 30+ books including Roy of the Rovers, Football Academy, and many historical fiction novels,  joins us in the clubhouse to talk about his journey as a children's author. Tom and I talk about finding ways to read growing up, learning to write stories with confidence, and runn...

It’s a new month so I’m joined by Rab ( @rabtales ) and Emma ( @emmakeane10 ) for a spooktacular Halloween episode that looks at all things horror and spooky-kooky in middle grade and young adult. Includes guest appearances by Dracula, Frankenstein, and a spooky ghost. ----------------------------------------------------- Books talked about in this episode: Something Wicked this Way Comes by Ray B...

Hey hey hey! Welcome back to this week’s episode of the Big Kids Book Club. In this episode, M.G.Leonard & Sam Sedgman, author of the Adventures on Trains Series join us in the clubhouse to talk about their journey working together as children authors. We chat about visiting the national railway museum https://www.railwaymuseum.org.uk/ , creating real journeys through characters and research,...

Hey hey hey! Welcome back to this week's episode of the Big Kids Book Club. This episode, Vashti Hardy, author of Brightstorm Series and the Blue Peter award-winning Wildspark, joins us in the clubhouse to talk about her journey as a children's author. Vashti and I catch up on writing stories that create a spark of adventure, winning the award of a lifetime, and sneaking in creative writing journa...

Hey hey hey! Welcome back to this week's episode of the Big Kids Book Club. This episode, Jemma Hatt, author of Adventurers series joins us in the clubhouse to talk about her journey as a children's author. Jemma talks about how family holidays growing up gave her the inspiration for her books, as well as working with a German publisher while not speaking a word of German! Jemma was a fantastic gu...

Hey hey hey! Welcome back to this week's episode of the Big Kids Book Club. This episode, Dan Walker, author of Sky Thieves and Light Hunters joins us in the clubhouse to talk about his journey as a children's author. Dan talks about his experiences, including his near-misses and struggles early on in his writing career to his new work and narrating his 1st audiobook Dan was so much fun and we wer...

So as we seemed to have talked a bunch this month, we return to the 2nd half of our monthly podcast session! We continue with myself,  Rab ( @rabtales ) and Emma ( @emmakeane10 ) as we recount our “Back to School” reads and books we're looking forward to reading (or have already read in Rab's case!) ----------------------------------------------------- Books talked about in this episode: I’d...

It’s a new month so I’m rejoined alongside Rab ( @rabtales ) and Emma ( @emmakeane10 ) looking at our favourite “Back to School” reads and taking some time to ponder about why School-based stories are so numerous and captivate us. ----------------------------------------------------- Books talked about in this episode: The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy Animorphs by K. A. Applegate The Perks of Being...

Hey hey hey! Welcome back to this week's episode of the Big Kids Book Club.  This episode, Thomas Taylor, author of Malamander and Gargantis joins us in the clubhouse to talk about his journey from children's book illustrator to middle-grade maestro.  Thomas talks about his experiences, including almost giving up writing to find his inspiration wash up ashore while walking his dog on the...

This month we trial a new format as I'm joined alongside Rab (@rabtales) and Emma (@emmakeane10) as we talk about what makes a Summer Read as well as talk about some of the books we've been reading recently and looking forward to reading.  Books discussed in this episode: Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion Dry by Jarrod and Neal Schusterman Malamander by Thomas Taylor The Pearl in the Ice by Cathryn...