The Book Alchemist

Lazara Canton is a self-published author. The 45 year-old mum of two has called Hong Kong, Scotland, Istanbul and Spain home, travelling with her role in corporate leadership training. Growing up in Shotts, a small town in Scotland, at an early age she experienced the loss of her Dad and sister, and after leaving her high profile career she decided to write a self-help memoir. She is now a Mindset...

The Book Alchemist is a celebration of the magic of books and the joy of storytelling and Dr Gillian Shirreff's debut novel Brodie is the topic of conversation alongside the books which mean the most to her. She shares her journey receiving an MS diagnosis and years later a devastating breast cancer diagnosis. Her gorgeous novel Brodie was a labour of love and celebration of Gillian's love of Muri...

Life is too short for s*** books and in this episode we meet James Taylor , who has a passion for books 24/7 as he's a bookseller with Waterstones. We talk about the perks of being a bookseller, his favourite books and the joys of an unintentionally funny book. Like what you hear? Please subscribe and review The Book Alchemist wherever you listen to your podcasts and if you'd like to contact me, m...

This episode features Sheila Grier, an avid reader and wonderful TV and film actress from the iconic soap, Brookside and so much more. She loves biographies, Billy Connolly, libraries and the escapism that books allow. Sheila tells us how she landed her dream job on Brookside and how reading has shaped her life.

Life is too short for s*** books and Graeme Armstrong is a highly celebrated Scottish writer. His teenage years were spent within North Lanarkshire’s gang culture. His bestselling debut novel, ‘THE YOUNG TEAM’, is inspired by his experiences. We chat about his book and how it came to be. The books we discuss are: The Young Team Trainspotting Alongside overcoming struggles with drug addiction, alco...

Life is too short for s*** books! This podcast is a celebration of great reads and in this episode, journalist, avid reader and dog mama Alice Hinds shares the books which have shaped her life. We talk brilliant biographies, librarians, and being a celebrity ghostwriter. The books and authors we discuss are: Sanjay and the Baker by Robin Tzannes The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole From A to Biba by Bá...