Author Interviews - Being Bookish

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An Interview with Author Cathy Bramley

Sun, 07 May 2023 23:13:00 +0100

Cathy Bramley is the Sunday Times Top Ten best-selling author of The Lemon Tree Cafe and Ivy Lane, to name but two.

On the 11th of May her 16th novel, The Sunrise Sisterhood, is due for release and this week I had the chance to talk with her about the book. It's a story of friendship, family and the strong bonds of sisterhood between three women, Liz, Skye and Clare. Give this episode a listen and then go and order yourself a copy of the book.

Cathy's Links

Cathy's Website

The Sunrise Sisterhood Amazon | Waterstones

An Interview with Author Luna McNamara

Sun, 21 May 2023 23:13:00 +0100

If there is one genre I will admit to loving more than any other it's mythology. This week you will truly get to hear me geek out as I talk with author Luna McNamara about her debut novel, a retelling of the myth of Psyche and Eros. A fantastic tale and it was wonderful to have the opportunity to talk with someone as passionate about the subject as she is. If you love Greek myths and love stories and strong women this is definitely the book for you. Released on the 25th of May in the UK by Orion Books.

Featured Episodes

The Mythology Playlist

Luna's Links

The website

Buy the book - UK | US

An Interview with Author Mari Hannah

Sun, 18 Jun 2023 23:13:00 +0100

If you're a fan of the crime genre then Mari Hannah is for you. Her first novel came out in 2012, about detective Kate Daniels, and since then she has released 12 more novels. Her 14th, the 4th book in her newer Stone and Oliver series, is released this coming Thursday, the 22nd of June, and it's a doozy. This week I am speaking with Mari about her books, her creations and how she came up with the latest intricate plot. Black Fell is set in both Northumberland and Iceland and the contrast and similarities between these two settings give the book added depth and mystery. So join me and find out more about why you should give Black Fell a read.

Mari's Links

Mari's Website

Black Fell: Waterstones | Amazon | Local Bookshops

An Interview with Author Veronica Henry

Sun, 23 Jul 2023 23:13:00 +0100

This week I had the chance to speak with author Veronica Henry about her latest release, Thirty Days in Paris. It's a story of second chances, of new experiences and follows our main character, Juliet, as she travels to Paris to learn about herself after an amicable divorce. We talk about everything from au pairs to first and second loves, to redemption arcs and travel. And of course, the book, which is a perfect book to read around the pool on holiday or on your sofa on a Sunday afternoon with a cup of tea and a packet of digestives.

Veronica's links

Thirty Days in Paris UK | US

An Interview with Author Kate Eberlen

Sun, 30 Jul 2023 23:13:00 +0100

I hadn't planned on posting this treat quite so soon, but work schedules (you know how it is). I was lucky enough to get the chance to chat with the author Kate Eberlen about her latest novel, Ever After, which is a fascinating and moving book following on from her 2016 release, Miss You. It follows Tess and Gus for 7 years of their lives after they meet and fall in love in Florence; their families, the changes they experience and the complexities of life as you're living it. We had a wonderful talk about Italy, about life, and about the characters she has created, who are so real that it's sometimes difficult to remember that they're not. To find out more about how Kate created them, and why Italy is such an inspiration, give this episode a listen, and then find her on Instagram and check out the beautiful pictures and videos of her Italian travels (they are stunning).

Kate's Links

Book launch at Malaprop's Bookstore

Ever After Book - Buy the Book UK | US

Miss You - Buy the Book UK | US

An Interview with Author F.T. Lukens

Sun, 31 Mar 2024 23:13:00 +0100

Sit back, relax and enjoy this incredible chat with author F.T. Lukens as we talk about their new YA Fantasy novel, Otherworldly (due for release on the 2nd of April 2024). Otherworldly is the story of non-believer Ellery who moved from their family farm to the city when the winter didn't end five years previously, destroying the family's livelihood. When they meet Knox, a familiar who has been living in the mortal realm for five years, they find themselves involved in things they don't believe and don't want to. The story has some incredibly strong themes, such as the environment, LGBTQ+ identity and underlying mythology.

Of course, there is also talk about post-it notes, storyboards and stationery!

Episode links

F.T. Lukens on Instagram

F.T. Lukens' website

Special Editions from Dazzling Bookshop

An Interview with Author Katy Moran

Sun, 28 Jul 2024 23:13:00 +0100

Do you love historical novels? Specifically, those based during the Regency period?

Do you love learning things that you may not have heard about in high school history? How about the first real celebrity (I'm talking Byron here, people!)?

If this sounds like something you'd be really into (and even if it doesn't, because minds can be changed!!!) join me for my interview with author Katy Moran as we talk about her new novel, My Lady's Secrets, which is based during the Napoleonic war, and follows our heroine Cressida through Spain, English society and the north of Scotland...as well as talk about events in history that may not be as well known as they probably should be!

Where to find Katy

Her website

Alex's X (Twitter) account

Twitter/X

My Lady's Secrets: Amazon UK | Amazon US | Waterstones | Bookshop.org

An Interview with Author Julie Owen Moylan

Mon, 09 Sep 2024 00:13:00 +0100

This week I am talking with author Julie Owen Moylan about her latest historical novel, Circus of Mirrors which is due for release on Thursday 12 September in the UK. A story full of complex characters, growth, love and heartbreak set across four decades in post-war Berlin.

Berlin, 1926. After the death of their parents, sisters Leni and Annette only have each other. Dreaming of better days, but desperate, Leni finds work at the notorious Babylon Circus. From the dancer’s barely-there costumes, to the glimmering mirrors that cover the walls, the Babylon Circus is a place where reality and fantasy merge. For Leni, it’s an overwhelming new world, and she’s happiest hiding in the shadows. Until she meets the cabaret’s resident pianist, Paul… Twenty years later, the Babylon Circus is in ruins. Leni and Annette have a new mouth to feed. And Paul is nowhere to be seen. Once again, Leni and Annette must depend on each other. But one of the sisters is hiding a secret. And, sooner or later, it must come to light.

We talk about the Weimar Republic, character complexity and the difficult relationship between sisters.

Julie's Links

Julie's Website

Julie's X/Twitter

Julie's Instagram

Buy the Book: Amazon | Indie | Waterstones

An Interview with Author Alex Pavesi

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 00:13:00 +0100

This week I was lucky enough to have some time with author Alex Pavesi to talk about his second novel, Ink Ribbon Red, which is released by Penguin Michael Joseph on the 7th of November.

Six friends gather at a country house for a birthday weekend. They decide to play a game.

All six names go in a hat. Choose two, and imagine one murdering the other.

Write it down. Type it up. Read it out.

Points are given for making the murders sound convincing.

Of course, when given such a task, it’s only natural to use what you know.

Secrets. Grudges. Affairs.

But once you’ve put it in a story, that secret is out.

So with each fictional murder, someone gets a motive for a real one.

Which leads to the most important question:

When a real murder comes, will you be able to spot it in time?

If you love a mystery with a dark edge then this is definitely one you should be adding to your TBR for the chilly winter nights.

We talk books, writing methods and how the plot line is not as linear as you may expect.

Alex's web presence

Alex's Website

Buy Ink Ribbon Red

Waterstones | Amazon | Indie Bookstores

An Interview with Author Elba Luz

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 00:13:00 +0100

In the first episode of a brand new season AND a brand new year, I bring you the first of two interviews with an author. This week I am talking with author Elba Luz about her debut novel with Simon and Schuster, Build a Girlfriend. Everything from the book's stunning cover, to the story within is an enjoyable ride and I heartily recommend you get yourself a copy if you love coming-of-age and self-discovery tales.

Watch the Video of this interview on my YouTube channel.

A teen deep-dives into her dating history to uncover her mistakes, become the perfect girlfriend, and get revenge on the wrong guy so she can ride into the sunset with the right one in this debut rom-com.

To the surprise of no one, Amelia Hernandez is once again single. It’s her family curse at work; whether it’s by heartbreak, scandal, or even accidental death, every romantic relationship that a Hernandez woman has will meet its demise eventually. And that may be fine with Amelia’s sisters, mom, and aunts, but definitely not with Amelia.

So, convinced that she is the problem, Amelia decides to embark on an “Ex Retrospective:” tracking down her exes, finding out where she went wrong, and using that information to finally become un-break-up-able for whenever her next relationship comes along. Because Amelia is determined to be free of the family curse…and her family.

However, when Amelia is unwillingly reunited with Leon, the ex to end all exes, she can’t resist having a little revenge on the side, too. After all, what better way to test out her new persona of perfect girlfriend traits than on the boy who broke her heart?

But old loves die hard, and as Amelia’s feelings grow more complicated, she suspects that she may be in for more than she bargained for.

Elba's socials

Help for Heroes: Hidden Wounds

X (Twitter)

Buy Build a Girlfriend US | UK

An Interview with Author Lisa Carter

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 00:13:00 +0100

Six Poppies is released on the 30th of January and is the heartbreaking tale of Sarah and Carl who meet at Camp Bastian in Afghanistan. She's a nurse, he's a soldier and what they experience while there haunts everyone involved.

Upon returning to England they try to get on with their lives. Sarah's fiancee Danny served with Carl and he's been irrevocably changed by what he saw.

When circumstance throws Carl and Sarah back together, it's obvious that what they went through has left them broken, but the question is how will they continue? Will they allow the situation to ruin their lives forever?

The book asks a lot of important questions about the support available for those who have served and witnessed incredible and terrifying things while doing so - is it enough? Should there be more?

Find out what Lisa has to say about the inspiration behind the novel and what she hopes will happen to help those in need.

Head-up: The Mental Health Charity for the Armed Forces Community

Combat Stress

Buy the Book: Waterstones | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Indie Bookshops

An Interview with Author Carmel Harrington

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 00:13:00 +0100

The Stolen Child is a brand new release from author Carmel Harrington. An emotional thriller, it looks at every parent's worst nightmare. We talk about the inspiration behind the writing of the book, the shocking views some people seem to have of step-parents, and also the relationships in the book that make it oh-so relatable and realistic for some people.

It's every parent's worst nightmare. But there's no waking up from this...

On board a cruise ship in the Mediterranean, Kimberley wakes to discover that her two-year-old son Robert has vanished from the cabin overnight. She and her husband Jason vow to do whatever it takes to bring Robert home.

But he is never found.

Forty years later, their therapist daughter Lily welcomes a new client into her home. Zach has a shocking theory about what happened to her brother years before.

If Zach is to be believed, someone out there knows what happened on that ship. And they would do anything to stop the truth getting out.

But secrets always find a way to reveal themselves.

Carmel's links

Facebook

Buy The Stolen Child Waterstones | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Bookshop.org | B&N

An Interview with Author Christina Fonthes

Mon, 05 May 2025 00:13:00 +0100

Where You Go, I Will Go by Christina Fonthes is a gripping and poetic exploration of identity, migration, and finding where you feel you belong. Told across two timelines, blending events in the Congo and the UK, this powerful novel captures the ache of displacement and the quiet resilience of queer Black womanhood.

This week I talk with Christina about her book, the books and experiences that inspired its creation and touch on the sensitive subjects contained within the pages.

There's also talk of favourite books, unredeemable characters and what makes a character human in the eyes of the author and the reader.

It's a deep one this week, people, so buckle up and enjoy the ride. I loved this opportunity to talk with Christina about this novel, and I think it's a wonderful read.

Christina's Links

Buy the book

An Interview with Author Mandy Robotham

Wed, 14 May 2025 00:13:00 +0100

This week, I’m joined by bestselling author Mandy Robotham to talk about her latest novel, Mrs Spy, a gripping and atmospheric story of secrets, betrayal, and the high personal cost of espionage. The book is released on Thursday, the 15th of May and published by Head of Zeus.

Set against the tense backdrop of 1960s Britain at the height of the Cold War,we follow widowed single mother, Maggie Flynn, who, following the unfortunate and sudden passing of her husband, works for MI5. Maggie’s world is one of order and duty, balancing the demands of intelligence work with raising her Beatles-fanatic daughter and spending time with her colourful and exuberant mother.

Things begin to unravel when she meets Yuri. He knew her husband, and knows things about his career that he had kept a secret from her.

As Maggie delves deeper, she finds herself questioning everything: her colleagues, her past, and even her memories of her husband. In a world where deception is currency and silence can be deadly, Maggie must rely on her instincts and inner strength to uncover the truth. But with powerful forces determined to keep her quiet, will she be silenced before she can expose what really happened?

Mrs Spy is an evocative and emotionally charged novel that captures the danger of the Cold War era and the quiet bravery of women who refuse to be overlooked—or silenced.

Find Mandy Robotham online

Facebook

Buy Mrs Spy

Amazon UK

Waterstones

Bookshop.org UK

An Interview with Author Niloufar Lamakan

Tue, 27 May 2025 00:13:00 +0100

When you reach a certain age, you can feel as though you're forgotten, whether that's because you've suddenly reached the age of grandmothers in books who sit and knit while adoring their grandchildren, or because you are no longer seen as anything but the extension of the family unit. Aged to Perfection, the debut novel by author Niloufar Lamakan, is one of a recent batch of romantic comedy novels that turns this preconception on its head. With a leading lady in her early 60s who wants to go out and enjoy life - and by that I don't mean sitting on her deck with a sherry as people bring her a birthday cake that could set a house on fire...Sophia has a goal: 52 dates in 52 weeks. She's in her new romantic era.

Join me today as I talk with Niloufar about Aged to Perfection, the preconceived belief that women in their 60s are old and past it, and why she wrote this novel.

Niloufar online

An Interview with the Author

Facebook

Buy the book

Amazon

Waterstones

Indie Bookstores

An Interview with Author Heidi Swain

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 00:13:00 +0100

This week I am really happy to have had the opportunity to chat with author Heidi Swain who is the Queen of Seasonal Romances. Her latest novel, All Wrapped Up, takes us to autumn in the town of Wynbridge, where love may (or may not) be in the air for the latest residents.

We're talking all things bookish, including inspiration for her novels, love of all things seasonal, and the fact that All Wrapped Up is her first venture into autumn in her books.

All Wrapped Up would make a really great Hallmark movie and has a cosy Gilmore Girls, community village/town feel.

Episode Links

Heidi's Instagram

Buy the book

Intro music by Darren Curtis

An Interview with Author Victoria Prince

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 00:13:00 +0100

This week, I’m joined by author Victoria Prince to talk about her gloriously escapist debut novel, The Chalet Girl, which is released on 4th December 2025 by Penguin. It's a sparkling, sexy, snow-dusted romp that channels the glamour, drama, and irresistible excess of classic 80s bonkbusters.

Set in a luxury Alpine resort where secrets simmer beneath the snow, and desire is as dangerous as a black-diamond run, The Chalet Girl follows three women navigating ambition, temptation, and the intoxicating world of the ultra-rich. Think Jackie Collins glitz combined with Jilly Cooper mischief, all wrapped up in Victoria’s fresh, funny, fiercely readable voice.

Victoria and I chat about the inspirations behind the book, from retro paperbacks with gold-foiled titles to the larger-than-life heroines who strutted through the stories of Collins and Cooper. We get into writing bold characters, crafting deliciously chaotic plotlines, and bringing back the unapologetic glamour and fun of the bonkbuster.

If you’re into big personalities, snowy scandals, and fiction that lets you escape into a world of outrageous luxury and even more outrageous behaviour, this episode is for you.

So grab a hot chocolate, get cosy, and let’s head up the mountain together.

Episode Links

Victoria's Instagram

Buy the Book

Victoria's other Instagram

An Interview with Author Hannah Brohm

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 00:13:00 +0100

This week is the first of my author interviews for 2026, and I am chatting with Hannah Brohm about her debut STEM romance, Love and Other Brain Experiments.

Released by Head of Zeus on the 12th February, this novel is the ideal read if you love Ali Hazelwood. The story is one of fake dating, forced proximity, a great deal of chemistry and academic enmity!

We talked about everything from inspiration, dream TV show/film casting and the writing process.

As always, we don't cover any spoilers, because the book should be enjoyed without spoilers!

So, boil your kettle, make a cup of something hot and settle down with the latest episode of Being Bookish.

Hannah's Links

Buy the Book

An Interview with Author Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:13:00 +0100

This week, I had the pleasure of talking with author and Guardian Columnist Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett about her latest brilliant novel, Female, Nude.

Released on the 12th of February by Tinder Press, it is an exploration of the female gaze, set against a stunning Grecian backdrop.

Sophie, an artist, is contemplating her life when she spends time with university friends in the run-up to a wedding. In relation to a study of female self-portraits, she analyses her life, the choices she must make, and what it means to be a woman of a certain age under the pressures of societal expectations.

We talked about everything from her inspiration and the research that went into the book to the writing process and her ideas behind the narrative.

So, boil your kettle, make a cup of something hot and settle down with the latest episode of Being Bookish.

Rhiannon's Links

Guardian Column

Buy the book

An Interview with Author Venetia Constantine

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:13:00 +0100

Join me this week for the third in my 2026 author interviews. This time I'm talking with Venetia Constantine about her captivating debut fantasy novel, The Last Starborn Seer.

Released by Aria on the 5th of March, it is a sweeping, high-stakes journey through a world of ancient prophecies and celestial magic. It follows Leilani, a young woman whose volatile magic grants her visions of the future while slowly taking a toll on her mind. It is a brilliant read for anyone who loves epic world-building and high-stakes quests.

We talked about everything from her inspiration, an incredibly fascinating (and terrifying) story about how she came to write the book when she did (honestly, it is incredible), and her journey to traditional publication.

As always, we both did our best to avoid revealing any spoilers, because the book should be enjoyed without spoilers!

So, get yourself a cup of something hot and warming or cool and refreshing and settle down to enjoy the latest episode of Being Bookish.

Venetia's Links