The Conversation with Nadine Matheson

Send us a text What does it truly take to survive in the bewildering world of publishing? My conversation with Catherine Yardley reveals the  resilience at the heart of every writer's journey. From her unconventional start sending manuscripts directly to major publishers (without an agent!) to self-publishing multiple books, Yardley embodies the persistence required to navigate an industry th...

Send us a text What happens when a dedicated poet decides to try their hand at fiction? For Krystelle Bamford , it led to a four-publisher auction and her stunning debut novel, Idle Grounds.   Our conversation delves into the peculiar contradictions of the publishing world, how everything happens both excruciatingly slowly and startlingly fast, how validation feels wonderful yet fleeting, and how...

Send us a text Sunday Times Bestselling author, Dorothy Koomson , is joining me for a 'Coffee Break' to talk about her new short story, 'Beach Hut 512 '. Dorothy reveals how a simple walk along the beach sparked the idea for this tightly-crafted mystery that explores what happens when a woman named Sims finds her sanctuary violated in the most horrific way. Buy Beach Hut 512 Wh...

Send us a text Twenty years after her critically acclaimed novel 'Labyrinth' catapulted her to international recognition in her mid-40s, bestselling and award winning author, Kate Mosse reflects on why finding success later in life can be advantageous.  The conversation explores the fascinating dichotomy between what writers can and cannot control. While commercial success depends largel...

Send us a text In this episode of 'Coffee Break' author Beth Lewis joins me to talk about her stunning new historical crime novel, ' The Rush' .   The gold rush narrative typically conjures images of rugged men panning rivers and staking claims, but Beth Lewis deliberately shifts focus to three women whose paths cross during the Yukon Gold Rush of 1898. The Rush Gold fever has...

Send us a text Publication hasn't come easy for Chris Bridges. After completing a first manuscript during the height of the pandemic while still working hospital shifts, Chris Bridges faced 50 agent rejections before finding his breakthrough through the London Writers Award. Now with his debut, Sick To Death, shortlisted for the McDermid Debut Award and a second novel already in progress, Chr...

Send us a text Watch as a full video episode on YouTube! Subscribe to Adventures in Publishing-land's own feed for future episodes or watch on YouTube! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to the debut episode of Adventures in Publishing Land, a no-holds-barred exploration of the publishing industry's most fascinati...

Send us a text In this episode of 'Coffee Break', bestselling and award winning author of ' Take It Back' , 'Truth Be Told' , 'Next of Kin' and 'Those People Next Door' , Kia Abdullah joins me to talk about her new book, What Happens In the Dark .  With her trademark twists and meticulous plotting, this novel delivers both a page-turning thriller a...

Send us a text Rachel Ward never planned to become an author. After 25 years working in local government, she began writing in her mid-30s simply to explore her creativity. Little did she know this casual exploration would lead to an international bestseller and a complete transformation of her life. During our conversation, Rachel reveals the stunning contrast between her early success with her d...

Send us a text What does it take to find your creative voice in a world that often pushes you toward the practical? In my conversation with debut author Mel Pennant , we explore the winding path that led to her debut novel "A Murder for Miss Hortense" , a journey spanning decades of creative exploration, professional balancing acts, and the courage to tell stories that authentically repr...

Send us a text "Enjoying 'The Conversation' -    Support the podcast by buying me a cup of coffee ☕️!   Lola Akinmade , author, photographer, travel writer, and former IT professional shares her remarkable journey from programming interactive maps to traveling the world capturing stories through multiple creative mediums. Her path hasn't been straightforward; despite facing ov...

Send us a text In this episode of 'Coffee Break',  New York Times Bestselling author of Blacktop Wasteland , Razorblade Tears and All The Sinners Bleed , S.A. Cosby joins me to talk about his new book 'King of Ashes '. Whether you're already a devoted fan or discovering SA Cosby for the first time, this episode offers rare insights into the mind of a writer who continues t...

Send us a text "I don't know what it is about writing," muses Linwood Barclay in the opening moments of this conversation. "Even when you've had success and think, 'I don't have to write anymore, I've got money in the bank,' there's always this feeling that if I could write just one more book, maybe it'll be perfect." This pursuit of the...

Send us a text What happens when reality becomes stranger than fiction? Author Michael Idov sits down with me to explore the fascinating world of spy fiction writing in our increasingly unpredictable geopolitical landscape. Michael reveals how his spy thriller "The Collaborators" navigates a middle path between cerebral procedurals and over-the-top action fantasies, creating stories grou...

Send us a text Author Lola Jaye joins me for a "Coffee Break" to talk about her new book " The Manual For Good Wives." This is the conversation that gave me the idea to launch the 'Coffee Break' series.  As well as talking about her novel, Lola Jaye talks about what it takes to succeed as an author when the publishing industry doesn't know "where to place so...

Send us a text What happens when a solitary writer from the Alaskan wilderness suddenly finds herself thrust into international literary acclaim? Eowyn Ivey , Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of "Black Woods Blue Sky," joins me for a fascinating exploration of the creative journey that took her from newspaper reporter to celebrated novelist. "I absolutely would not have believed i...

Send us a text In this episode of "Coffee Break" Rod Reynolds joins me to talk about the return of Detective Casey Wray in his thrilling new novel "Shatter Creek" .  Shatter Creek plunges readers into the chaos of a brazen triple homicide that shatters the relative calm of a Long Island town. When two victims are gunned down in broad daylight, police scramble to determine if th...

Send us a text What happens when the dream of becoming a published author collides with the harsh realities of the publishing industry? In this candid conversation, Sunday Times bestselling author Heidi Perks reveals the rollercoaster journey that began when she took redundancy in 2012 to pursue writing full-time while raising two small children. Heidi doesn't hold back as she shares the gut-...

Send us a text "Nothing lasts forever," Emmy-nominated TV producer Remi Kone tells us, reflecting on one of life's most important lessons. It's this perspective that has guided her remarkable journey from working on shows like Killing Eve and Spooks to crafting her debut crime novel, "Innocent Guilt." In this captivating conversation, we explore the fascinating parall...

Send us a text In this captivating conversation with bestselling author Amanda Jennings , we explore the unexpected path that led her from struggling architecture student to successful novelist. Amanda shares the pivotal moment when, as a young mother at 23, she found herself feeling creatively unfulfilled and turned to writing during her baby's naps, a decision that would ultimately launch h...

Send us a text Ever wondered what happens when you break the unspoken rules of marriage? Nadine Matheson launches an exciting new segment called "Coffee Breaks" – 20-minute conversations with authors about their latest works that feel as intimate and refreshing as catching up with friends over coffee. In this debut Coffee Break episode, psychological thriller author Helen Monks-Takhar di...

Send us a text What would you sacrifice to pursue your truest creative calling? For Elaine Garvey , the answer spans decades of her life, multiple career shifts, and countless moments of self-doubt. The Financial Times has already hailed her debut novel " The Wardrobe Department" as the "Best Debut of 2025," but this recognition comes after a twenty-year journey filled with rej...

Send us a text What does it really take to succeed as an author in today's publishing landscape? Bestselling writer John Marrs doesn't hold back in this refreshingly candid conversation about the realities behind his thirteen-book career journey. From writing his first five books on trains and during lunch breaks to receiving 80 rejections (some with just "NO" written in red ma...

Send us a text We all have dreams we've postponed  and creative passions set aside while we handle life's practicalities. Award winning author Elissa Soave knows this struggle intimately. Having started law school at just 16, she spent decades in a profession that never quite felt right before finally pursuing her writing dreams in her mid-40s. "Anybody can say 'not yet, not ye...

Send us a text In this illuminating conversation with crime author Marnie Riches , we dive deep into the unpredictable world of professional writing and publishing. With remarkable candor, Marnie shares the rollercoaster journey that's taken her from writing children's books under a pseudonym to becoming an award-winning crime novelist with 22 publications to her name. "Writers are...