Episodes

  • 'Lights Out' with Louise Swanson: Northern Representation, A Little Life & Writing Advice

    'Lights Out' with Louise Swanson: Northern Representation, A Little Life & Writing Advice
    Nov 20 2024
    For today's episode Hannah was joined by author Louise Swanson (Beech) to discuss her latest book Lights Out. They discuss Northern representation, the unsung heroes of the NHS, advice for writers facing lots of rejections, complicated families & lots more! If you enjoy this episode please do rate, review & subscribe as it's a free way to support the pod! For less than £3 a month you can access extra exclusive content via our Patreon.
    You can follow Louise & her work via her blog/website, Instagram, & Twitter/X
    You can follow us via Instagram, Twitter/X & Tik Tok

    Books mentioned in this episode:
    Beautiful People by Amanda Jennings
    A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
    Eighteen Seconds by Louise Beech
    Call Me Star Girl by Louise Beech
    How To Be Brave by Louise Beech

    Thanks so much for listening! Until next time, happy reading!
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    45 mins
  • Bonus Books- The Book of Witching with C.J. Cooke: Witch Trials, Misogyny & Cults

    Bonus Books- The Book of Witching with C.J. Cooke: Witch Trials, Misogyny & Cults
    Nov 13 2024
    On today's Bonus Books episode Hannah is joined by the brilliant poet, novelist & academic C.J. Cooke to discuss her latest book The Book of Witching. They dive into the historic Witch Trial of Allison Balfour, chat about writing for different timelines and the evolution of language and loads more, if you enjoy please do rate, review & subscribe so we can reach more of you!
    To follow Carolyn & her work you can find her via https://carolynjesscooke.com/, Instagram & Facebook
    For exclusive content from us & a recent episode on Intermezzo you can find us over on Patreon
    You can also follow us via Instagram, Twitter/X & Tik Tok

    Books mentioned in this episode:
    Meet Me at the Surface by Jodie Matthews
    The Nesting by C.J. Cooke
    Audible: Starling House by Alix E.Harrow
    Audible: Normal Women by Philippa Gregory
    Audible: Poet, Mystic, Widow, Wife by Hetta Howes

    Thanks so much for listening, until next time- happy reading! x
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    36 mins
  • November Book Club with Eliza Clark (Author of She's Always Hungry): Body Horror, Climate Anxiety & Writing Influences

    November Book Club with Eliza Clark (Author of She's Always Hungry): Body Horror, Climate Anxiety & Writing Influences
    Nov 6 2024
    For our November Book Club episode Hannah was joined by the one & only Eliza Clark to discuss her new short story collection She's Always Hungry. They discuss Body horror, her writing influences, weird takeaway mishaps & more, if you enjoy this episode please do rate, review & subscribe as it's a free way to support the pod and means the world! You can also find us over on Patreon.
    You can find Eliza over on Instagram and Twitter/X
    You can find us on Instagram, Twitter/X& Tik Tok
    For all books mentioned in this episode click here

    Recs for writers:
    https://nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/
    https://mslexia.co.uk/
    https://newwritingnorth.com/

    Books & other mentions in this episode:
    Boy Parts by Eliza Clark
    Boy Parts (Play) adapted by Gillian Greer
    Penance by Eliza Clark
    The Time of The Hero by Mario Vargas Llosa
    Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
    George Saunders
    Edgar Allen Poe
    Shirley Jackson
    Killing for Company by Brian Masters
    Guinea Pig 5: Mermaid in the Manhole
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/p0gd295l/interview-with-the-vampire

    Thanks so much for listening! Until next time, happy reading!
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    33 mins
  • October Book Club with Marieke Bigg (author of A Scarab Where the Heart Should Be): Unlikeable female characters, cancel culture & beetles

    October Book Club with Marieke Bigg (author of A Scarab Where the Heart Should Be): Unlikeable female characters, cancel culture & beetles
    Oct 30 2024
    For our October Book Club episode Hannah was joined by author Marieke Bigg to discuss her latest novel A Scarab Where the Heart Should Be. They discuss Marieke's career so far and how she always knew she wanted to write fiction, they also talk about cancel culture, complex female characters, book recs and lots more.
    For more of Marieke's work you can find her website here. You can follow her on Instagram & Twitter/X

    If you enjoy this episode please do rate, review & subscribe and for more exclusive content you can find us over on Patreon.
    You can also follow us via Instagram, Twitter/x & Tik Tok

    Books mentioned in this episode:
    Waiting for Ted by Marieke Bigg
    One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
    Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
    Gestalt Therapy

    Thank you so much for listening! Until next time, happy reading!
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    26 mins
  • S4 Debut Spotlight Finale: Moira Buffini on her 'Songlight' trilogy, Gender roles & The Chrysalids

    S4 Debut Spotlight Finale: Moira Buffini on her 'Songlight' trilogy, Gender roles & The Chrysalids
    Oct 23 2024
    It's the FINALE of Season 4 in our Debut Spotlight series and going out with a bang, Hannah was joined by BAFTA nominated screenwriter Moira Buffini to chat about her debut novel, the first in the YA 'Songlight' trilogy. They discuss the differences in writing for screen, stage and the page, why The Chrysalids by John Wyndham stayed with her, why YA books are for everyone and loads more.
    If you enjoy this episode please do rate, review & subscribe, tell a bookish pal etc, it all helps in reaching more of you! You can follow us via Instagram, X/Twitter & Tik Tok
    You can buy 'Songlight' here.

    Books & other recs mentioned in this episode:
    Powerless by Lauren Roberts
    You Could Be So Pretty by Holly Bourne
    wonder.land by Moira Buffini (play)
    The Chrysalids by John Wyndham
    The Outrun (in cinemas right now)

    Thanks so much for listening, if you want to get in touch you can contact us via apairofbookendspod@gmail.com or for more content find us on Patreon!
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    35 mins
  • Laura Kay, Author of 'Making It' on Creating Art, Depression & Writing Sex

    Laura Kay, Author of 'Making It' on Creating Art, Depression & Writing Sex
    Oct 16 2024
    On today's episode Hannah was joined by the author Laura Kay to chat about her latest novel 'Making It' (spoiler free!) They discuss everything from chinchillas to writing sex scenes to the power of creating art, this chat also contains discussion around depression and anxiety so please bear that in mind before listening.
    If you enjoy this episode please do rate, review & subscribe as it's a free way to support the pod and means the world! For more exclusive content you can support us here: https://www.patreon.com/APairofBookends and you can follow us via Twitter/X, Instagram & Tik Tok

    You can buy Making It here. You can also support Laura via subscribing to her on https://lauraekay.substack.com/
    You can also follow her and her work via https://www.laurakayauthor.co.uk/, or on Instagram & Twitter/X

    Books & other mentions in this episode:
    Evenings and Weekends by Oisín McKenna
    Marian Keyes
    David Nicholls
    Sarah Waters
    Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison
    Bethany Rutter
    Slow Horses (Apple TV)

    For all books mentioned in all our epiodes head here!
    Thanks so much for listening, until next time- happy reading!
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    32 mins
  • Bonus: In Conversation with Kate Mosse CBE, Founder of the Women's Prize & Author of 'The Map of Bones'

    Bonus: In Conversation with Kate Mosse CBE, Founder of the Women's Prize & Author of 'The Map of Bones'
    Oct 9 2024
    For today's Bonus episode Hannah is in conversation with Kate Mosse, Novelist and Founder Director of our favourite literary prize, Women's Prize for Fiction and Non-Fiction. We discuss the fourth and final instalment in The Joubert Family Chronicles 'The Map of Bones', her research process and what she has taken from this epic twelve-year-long project. They also discuss her Women's Prize highlights, what screenwriter we could all learn from, why graveyards are a place of inspiration and loads more. If you enjoy this episode please do rate, review & subscribe as it's a free way to support the podcast and means the world.
    The Map of Bones by Kate Mosse is published tomorrow by Mantle (Pan Macmillan) and is available as a hardback, ebook and audio recording. Kate’s live one-woman stage show, Labyrinth, will be on tour in 2025. Dates and info can be found here: www.labyrinthlive2025.com
    You can follow Kate via Instagram, Facebook & Threads or visit her website: https://www.katemosse.co.uk/
    You can follow us via Instagram, Twitter & Tik Tok

    Books & other mentions in this episode:
    Women's Prize
    Moederland: Nine Daughters of South Africa by Cato Pedder
    Labyrinth by Kate Mosse
    The Ghost Ship by Kate Mosse
    Hercule Poirot
    Miss Marple
    Madame Bovary
    Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
    Grey's Anatomy
    Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

    Thanks so much for listening, until next time-happy reading!
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    36 mins
  • S4 Debut Spotlight- 9. Lucy Jane Wood (90s Nostalgia, Magic & Female Friendship)

    S4 Debut Spotlight- 9. Lucy Jane Wood (90s Nostalgia, Magic & Female Friendship)
    Oct 2 2024
    For today's episode Hannah was joined by author & content creator Lucy Jane Wood, to discuss her new novel Rewitched.
    They discuss the positive side of being online & how it led to Lucy's unconventional publishing journey, magic, nostalgia and female friendship. You can subscribe to Lucy on Youtube here.
    If you enjoy this episode please do rate, review & subscribe. You can follow Lucy via Instagram, Twitter/X & Tik Tok
    You can also follow us via Instagram, Twitter & Tik Tok
    For extra exclusive content, subscribe to our Patreon

    Books mentioned in this episode:
    Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
    Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber

    You can buy the books mentioned in this episode and in our back catalogue via our bookshop.org page

    Thanks so much for listening, until next time- happy reading!
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    38 mins