Showing results by author "Holly Newson" in All Categories

Sean O'Connor brings the period beautifully to life with painstaking research and thorough detail, as well as having access to brand new evidence on the case - journeying from the South London slums in the 1880s to British Columbia, and reaching its dramatic climax in Bournemouth, England. In this interview we talk about how women are treated when accused of murder, what O’Connor’s biggest find was on this case, and how his writing on this murder tied in with a story line on BBC Radio 4’s The Archers.

Joining us at Audible Studios is award-winning novelist and mental health advocate Nathan Filer. His new book, The Heartland, breaks down the misconceptions associated with schizophrenia. It asks big questions, like whether we spend enough time listening to those suffering with mental health issues and whether we truly understand the complex diagnosis of schizophrenia. Filer, who previously worked as a mental health nurse, opens our minds to new way of thinking about mental health and about ourselves.

His latest book, Black, Listed, is an exploration into 21st-century black identity, looking at why it's wrong to call someone a 'lighty', what a roadman really is, and why people think black guys are cool. It examines black identity through a list of insults and insights and everything in between. In this interview, Jeffrey told us what he learnt writing the book, why ‘black’ and ‘white’ are woefully inadequate and about the importance of teaching broad history and not getting stuck in old narratives.

Joining us at Audible Studios is Oscar Duke, a doctor working for the NHS who regularly contributes to The Surgery on BBC Radio 1, has appeared on Channel 4's 24 Hours in A&E, and presented his own documentary about albinism for BBC2, Born Too White. Dr Oscar Duke has written a book, How to Be a Dad, which gives a 'Doctor' section and a 'Dad' section for each and every stage of pregnancy through to birth and after, with handy tips for mums along the way.

The Three Dimensions of Freedom explains how strongman politics and neo-liberalism have dwindled the power of political parties and how voters have been disillusioned into believing they are helpless to effect change. Bragg's book details the argument that accountability is the antidote to authoritarianism and that we can never be free without it. In this interview, Billy spoke about what constitutes freedom, why Trump is so difficult to hold accountable and the problems with the voting system in the UK.

The Beekeeper of Aleppo tells the story of Nuri, a beekeeper, and Afra an artist, who are warmly surrounded by friends and family in the beautiful city of Aleppo in Syria. Their world changes in an instant when war destroys everything they've known and loved and serves them unendurable heartbreak. In this interview we spoke about Lefteri's experiences in refugee camps in Athens, how these weighed on her, and thus her motivations for writing The Beekeeper of Aleppo. We also spoke about learning about beekeeping, PTSD and asylum.

Joining us in the Audible Studios to talk about his latest book and autobiography, A Better Me, is lauded British singer, songwriter and record producer Gary Barlow. Best known as the lead singer of British boy band Take That and head judge of The X Factor UK from 2011-2013, Gary Barlow is one of the UK’s most successful songwriters, with 14 number one singles, 24 top 10 hits and three number one singles as a solo artist. Gary Barlow’s official autobiography, A Better Me, was published in October 2018.

Joining us in the Audible Studios to talk about her latest book, The Curious History of Dating: From Jane Austen to Tinder, is British journalist, broadcaster and author Nichi Hodgson. A regular contributor to The Guardian, Vice and The Telegraph on issues of civil liberties, gender politics and sex, and the law, Nichi Hodgson was one of the first British journalists to court-report via Twitter. Her latest book, The Curious History of Dating: From Jane Austen to Tinder, looks at the history of dating in all its various forms.

Joining us in the Audible Studios to discuss her latest book, Impossible Things Before Breakfast, is award-winning actress, writer and comedian Rebecca Front. Known for her work in both television and radio, including comedies such as The Thick of It, Nighty Night and The Day Today and dramas such as Lewis, War and Peace and Death Comes to Pemberley, Rebecca Front follows on from her 2014 book, Curious: True Stories and Loose Connections, with another collection of personal essays in Impossible Things Before Breakfast.

Lily Bailey, mental health advocate, model and journalist, talks to us about the release of her debut audiobook, Because We Are Bad: OCD and a Girl Lost in Thought. A beautifully written and poignant memoir, it tracks Lily’s battle with a debilitating disorder in an astonishingly honest and intimate manner. In this interview, Lily refers back to a childhood plagued with fear and anxiety and what it was like to recall her experiences for the book. She is now a highly successful author and model, and we also take a look at her career goals and upcoming projects as well as examine the way OCD is portrayed in comparison to what the condition really is.

Doctor, journalist and author Rachel Clarke joins Audible Studios to discuss her semiautobiographical audiobook, Your Life in My Hands. A poignant and honest depiction of the daily challenges faced by junior doctors on the NHS front line, the audiobook has been praised and applauded by the likes of Jon Snow, Alastair Campbell and Professor Neena Modi. In this interview, Rachel addresses the difficult working conditions she’s had to endure as an NHS doctor, the overcrowding and underfunding of the institution she dedicates her life to and her hopes for a future in which the National Health Service stands strong once again.

Joining us in the Audible Studios to discuss her latest book, Faking Friends, is Sunday Times best-selling author Jane Fallon. With an extensive career as a TV producer for shows such as Eastenders, Teachers and This Life behind her, Jane Fallon has gone on to publish six top 10 best-selling novels, the first of which was selected for the Richard and Judy Book Club. Her seventh novel, Faking Friends, was published in January 2017.

With over 70 titles available on Audible, narrator and actor Daniel Weyman is one of Audible’s most popular narrators, even winning Narrator of the Year in 2016. He’s well-known for being the voice of novels from the likes of P. D. James, Paula Hawkins and Peter James and appearing on hit TV series Foyle's War and Silent Witness. In this interview he talks about the recording and preparation process for audiobook narration, how he got into it and how he portrays different characters.

Neurologist Ash Ranpura and Buddhist monk Gelong Thubten have recently collaborated with Ruby Wax - comedian, mental health advocate and best-selling author of Frazzled - to produce a new book called How to Be Human: The Manual. In this interview they reveal what they learnt from each other, where they found common ground and where, perhaps, they might disagree. We hear about mindfulness and what science can really tell us about who we are.

Solicitor-turned-author Sarah Haywood joins us in the Audible studios to talk about her debut novel, The Cactus, a story of a control freak losing control. Sarah discusses the highs and lows of becoming a published author, turning her back on law to pursue a novel and how her own life influenced the book.

Joining us in the Audible Studios to discuss his latest novel, Smile, is award-winning novelist, dramatist and screenwriter Roddy Doyle, who talks to us about his own childhood growing up in Dublin and the backstory behind his 11th novel. One of the most celebrated Irish authors of the late 20th century, Roddy Doyle tells us why his latest novel is different from the others.

BBC North America Editor Jon Sopel visits the Audible Studios to discuss his latest title, If Only They Didn't Speak English: Notes From Trump's America. With a career as a BBC correspondent spanning across 30 years, Jon explains to us why now is the time to discuss America and what we can expect to see in the years to come.

Joining us at Audible Studios for a second time is acclaimed historian and best-selling author Alison Weir, who has drawn on a range of sources to produce a startling image of Anna of Kleve: a charming woman loved by all who knew her, even by the King who rejected her. We spoke about Weir's fascination with history and research, the rumours that circulated about Henry VIII’s fourth wife, Anna von Kleve, and which Tudor queen she’d most like to be able to speak to.

Award-winning author and photojournalist Bella Bathurst talks to Audible about her latest title, Sound: Stories of Hearing Lost and Found. Having lived without hearing for over 12 years, in this interview Bella talks about the changes she had to make in order to adapt to her new life, the impact it had on her work and relationships and the eventual discovery that her condition could be treated and her hearing restored. Also addressing the ways in which society can work towards making deaf people feel more included in daily life, Bella provides unique insight into the psychology behind going deaf.

Joining us at Audible Studios is Irish physicist, cancer researcher and science writer David Grimes, who has penned his first book, The Irrational Ape, which aims to illustrate the power of critical thinking, and how it can literally save the world. He speaks to us about how as humans we look to balance the rational and the emotional, why we need to be skeptical about everything, and why some issues should not be debated.