Louise Beech/Swanson, author of 'Wonderful' on Marilyn Monroe, Fame & Shame

For our October Book Club episode Hannah was joined by Ríoghnach Robinson to discuss her debut novel, our October Book Club pick Bad Words which you can buy here (UK) & here (US) In this episode they discuss the novel (spoiler free!), they get into the art of critism, how social media impacts the way criticism now operates, writing Asian American protagonists, the authors they would lose their mind over meeting, the New York literary scene, the books she's been enjoying & much more! If you enjoy this episode please do rate, review & subscribe, for more content you can find us over on Patreon. You can follow us via Instagram, X & Tik Tok. You can follow Ríoghnach via Instagram & rioghnachrobinson.com

Today's episode brings you a live recording of an event at Blackwell's Manchester, Hannah interviewed author Stacey Yu about her debut novel 'Kitten'. Thank you to Red Newsom for making this episode possible. In this episode they discuss 'Kitten' (spoiler free!), what the pre-publication hype was like, how the novel evolved from first draft to final copy, they also talk about the intersections of race, class and regionality, vulnerability & care, our relationship to pets, Mamma Mia! & much more! If you enjoy this episode please do rate, review & subscribe, for more content you can find us over on Patreon. You can follow us via Instagram, X & Tik Tok. You can follow Stacey via Instagram & Tik Tok You can buy Kitten here (UK) & here (US)

For the latest instalment in our Debut Spotlight series Hannah was joined by Danish poet and writer Ulrikka S.Gernes to discuss her debut novel, the Danish bestseller A Girl Left The Room which you can buy here. In this episode they discuss the response to the novel in Denmark, the power of poetry, complicity and manipulation, the autobiographical nature of the novel, the writers that have influenced her style and much more. If you enjoy this episode please do rate, review & subscribe, for more content you can find us over on Patreon. You can follow us via Instagram, X & Tik Tok. You can follow Ulrikka via Instagram

For our September Book Club episode, we are delighted to be bringing you this episode with the author of one of Hannah's all time favourite books Sorrow and Bliss, that author is of course Meg Mason and for this episode Meg joins Hannah to discuss her latest novel Sophie, Standing There which you can buy here: UK, US & AUS. In this episode they discuss the new novel (spoiler free!), how literary festivals became the backdrop for this book, what it was like featuring the familiar faces we meet throughout the novel, some of Meg's favourite bookshops & how they influenced the bookshop in this book, growing up in a sect and how that informed her protagonist's childhood plus much more! If you enjoy this episode please do rate, review & subscribe, for more content you can find us over on Patreon. You can follow us via Instagram, X & Tik Tok. You can follow Meg & her work via megmason.com

For today's episode Hannah was joined by award-winning author Laurie Petrou to discuss her new novel The Rayburn Affair which you can buy here: (CA), (US), (UK) & (AUS) In this episode they discuss the differences between Laurie's creative and academic life and how each of those worlds respond differently to generative AI, they talk about the messy women in this book, marriage imbalances, exploring the choice to be childfree, the price of fame, book cover designs, ambition, Simone de Beauvoir & much more! If you enjoy this episode please do rate, review & subscribe, for more content you can find us over on Patreon. You can follow us via Instagram, X & Tik Tok. You can follow Laurie via Instagram Buy Laurie's other books: Stargazer, Sister of Mine, The Rehearsal Club, Love, Heather by Laurie Petrou