Shows
Novel ExperienceMinisode 40 - Kate Brody - advice before publicationGuest Author: Kate Brody Twitter: @katebrodyauthor IG: @katebrodyauthor Books: Rabbit Hole by Kate BrodyHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family If you enjoyed this 'minisode' please do check out our full-length episodes: https://www.spreaker.com/show/novel-experienceNovel Experience with Kate Sawyer is recorded and produced by Kate Sawyer - GET IN TOUCH Twitter: @KateSawyer Instagram: @mskatesawyer or visit https://www.mskatesawyer.com/novelexperiencepodcast for more information.2024-02-0104 min
Novel ExperienceS8 Ep1 Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ author of A Spell of Good ThingsBooker, Wellcome Book and Women’s Prize shortlisted; Future Awards Africa, Prix Les Afriques & 9mobile Prize winning, Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀, author of A SPELL OF GOOD THINGS and STAY WITH ME.Ayọ̀bámi chats about:How she visualises the structure of her novels as she writes them.Why she chose to study a creative writing MA at the University of East Anglia after gaining her BA & MA from Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria.How she used Nigerian novels that she loves in the writing of her Booker Prize shortlisted novelHow her interest in...2024-01-021h 03
Novel ExperienceNovel Experience X Not Too Busy To Write - Episode Swap!Something a little different this week...an episode swap with Not Too Busy To Write. I'm a big fan of Penny Wincer's podcast and I was delighted to be her guest back in October. And I'm really pleased to share that episode here today. Not only is it a great opportunity to draw your attention to another great writing podcast but as I am Penny's guest in this episode, we thought it might be fun for regular Novel Experience listeners to hear the interviewer become the interviewee!About Not Too Busy To Write:Penny Wincer is...2023-12-2643 min
Novel ExperienceMinisode 31 Hema Sukumar - tips to stoke creativity & break through writer's blockHema Sukumar, author of MINOR DISTURBANCES AT GRAND LIFE APARTMENTS.Guest Author: Hema Sukumar Twitter: @Hema_Sukumar IG: @hemasukumarwrites Books: MINOR DISTURBANCES AT GRAND LIFE APARTMENTS by Hema SukumarHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family If you enjoyed this 'minisode' please do check out our full-length episodes: https://www.spreaker.com/show/novel-experienceNovel Experience with Kate Sawyer is recorded and produced by Kate Sawyer - GET IN TOUCH Twitter: @KateSawyer Instagram: @mskatesawyerTo receive transcripts and news to your inbox please SIGN...2023-11-3002 min
Novel ExperienceS7 Ep10 Julia Boggio author of Chasing The LightJulia Boggio, author of SHOOTERS & CHASING THE LIGHT.Julia chats about:How she made the decision to self-publish with her agent & what she has learned through that processHow branding is her superpowerHow dancing to Dirty Dancing at her wedding catapulted her photography business to new heightsWhat marketing techniques work to sell her books and what really doesn’tHow a Curtis Brown course and workshops with Jenny Colgan and Julie Cohen played their parts in Julia’s journey to publicationHow having a podcast about books can involve rather a lot of readingWriting about female reproductive healthGuest Author: Juli...2023-11-2853 min
Novel ExperienceMinisode 30 - Alexandra Potter - advice to authors writing their 3rd/4th/5th...etc book!Bestselling author Alexandra Potter, author of CONFESSIONS OF A FORTY SOMETHING F***-UP & MORE CONFESSIONS OF A FORTY SOMETHING F***-UP. Guest Author: Alexandra Potter IG: @alexandrapotter Books: MORE CONFESSIONS OF A FORTY SOMETHING F***-UP by Alexandra Potter, ONE GOOD THING by Alexandra Potter, CONFESSIONS OF A FORTY SOMETHING F***-UP by Alexandra Potter, DO YOU COME HERE OFTEN by Alexandra Potter, ME AND MR DARCY by Alexandra Potter, LOVE FROM PARIS by Alexandra Potter, WHO’S THAT GIRL by Alexandra Potter, YOU’RE THE ONE THAT I DON’T WANT by Alexandra Potter, GOING LA LA by Ale...2023-11-2306 min
Novel ExperienceS7 Ep9 Margaret Meyer author of The Witching TideMargaret Meyer, author of THE WITCHING TIDE.Guest chats about:How a trip to the seaside sparked the idea for her debut novelWhy she decided to centre a non-speaking character, in order to give victims a voiceCentering working class and older characters in her writingHow the imagined village in her novel was created using many real life events in different placesGuest Author: Margaret Meyer Twitter: @margaretmeyer_author Books: The Witching Tide by Margaret MeyerHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family Margaret’s re...2023-11-211h 09
Novel ExperienceMinisode 29 - Celina Baljeet Basra - advice for stoking creativity & breaking through writer's blockCelina Baljeet Basra author of HAPPYGuest: Celina Baljeet Basra Twitter: @CelinaBasra IG: @celinabasra.Host: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family If you enjoyed this 'minisode' please do check out our full-length episodesNovel Experience with Kate Sawyer is recorded and produced by Kate Sawyer - GET IN TOUCH Twitter: @KateSawyer Instagram: @mskatesawyerTo receive transcripts and news to your inbox please SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER or visit https://www.mskatesawyer.com/novelexperiencepodcast for more information.2023-11-1606 min
Novel ExperienceS7 Ep8 Eva Verde author of In BloomEva Verde, author of IN BLOOM & LIVES LIKE MINE.Eva chats about:How it was taking an Open University course when her children started school that led her to writingHow entering a competition through the National Writer’s Centre changed everything for herHow Book 2 Syndrome is very realWriting working class charactersThrowing the rules out of the windowGuest Author: Eva Verde Twitter: @EvaKinder IG: @EvaKinderWrites Books: In Bloom by Eva Verde, Lives Like Mine by Eva VerdeHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family Eva’s reco...2023-11-1459 min
Novel ExperienceMinisode 28 Kia Abdullah - advice for yet to be published authorsKia Abdullah, author of Waterstones Thriller of the Month THOSE PEOPLE NEXT DOORGuest Author: Kia Abdullah Twitter: @KiaAbdullah IG: @kiaabdullah Books: THOSE PEOPLE NEXT DOOR by Kia Abdullah, NEXT OF KIN by Kia Abdullah, TAKE IT BACK by Kia Abdullah, TRUTH BE TOLD by Kia AbdullahHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family If you enjoyed this 'minisode' please do check out our full-length episodesNovel Experience with Kate Sawyer is recorded and produced by Kate Sawyer - GET IN TOUCH Twitter: @KateSawyer...2023-11-0903 min
Novel ExperienceS7 Ep7 Sarra Manning author of The Man of Her DreamsAuthor & Journalist Sarra Manning author of an awful lot of books but most recently THE MAN OF HER DREAMS & LONDON, WITH LOVESarra chats about:Being the first in her family to go to universityThe value of being boredHow she writes 3 drafts before she shows her manuscripts to anyoneSetting out to write a different book each timeBeing able to pitch your book in a single lineThe pros and cons to having a strong authorial voiceWriting filthy sex scenes!Guest Author: Sarra Manning Twitter: @SarraManning IG: @SarraManning Books: The Man of Her Dreams by Sarra Manning, London, With Love...2023-11-071h 14
Novel ExperienceMinisode 27 - Charlotte Levin - tips for stoking creativity & breaking through writer's blockCharlotte Levin, author of IF I LET YOU GO and IF I CAN’T HAVE YOU.Guest Author: Charlotte Levin Twitter: @tinycharlotte72 IG: @tinycharlotte29 Books: IF I LET YOU GO by Charlotte Levin and IF I CAN”T HAVE YOU by Charlotte LevinHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family If you enjoyed this 'minisode' please do check out our full-length episodesNovel Experience with Kate Sawyer is recorded and produced by Kate Sawyer - GET IN TOUCH Twitter: @KateSawyer Instagram: @mskatesawyerTo r...2023-11-0204 min
Novel ExperienceS7 Ep6 Rajasree Variyar author of The Daughters of MaduraiDebut author Rajasree Variyar, author of THE DAUGHTERS OF MADURAI.Guest chats about:Why she studied many subjects, including finance and Indonesian, even though she’d always wanted to writeHow an event with Natasha Pulley & Samantha Shannnon led her to take her own writing seriouslyHow a passing comment made by her mother sparked the idea for her debut novelWriting about the disparity of wealth in IndiaBalancing motherhood, work & writingGuest Author: Rajasree Variyar Twitter: @Raji_Warrior IG: @Raji_Warrior Books: The Daughters of Madurai by Rajasree VariyarHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: Th...2023-10-3149 min
Novel ExperienceMinisode 26- Daniel Mason - advice for yet to be published authorsGuest Author: Daniel Mason Books: North Woods by Daniel Mason, A Registry Of My Passage Upon The Earth by Daniel Mason, The Winter Soldier by Daniel Mason, The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason, A Far Country by Daniel MasonHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family If you enjoyed this 'minisode' please do check out our full-length episodesNovel Experience with Kate Sawyer is recorded and produced by Kate Sawyer - GET IN TOUCH Twitter: @KateSawyer Instagram: @mskatesawyerTo receive transcripts and news to...2023-10-2603 min
Novel ExperienceS7 Ep5 Phoebe Morgan author of The Wild GirlsEditor, publisher and bestselling author Phoebe Morgan, author of THE WILD GIRLS.Phoebe chats about:How she started out in journalism, but found it didn’t quite fitHow daring to share her writing sparked the first belief that she might be able to write books herselfHow knowing the industry from the inside as an editor makes her feel when she is being published as an authorThe many tricks of the thriller trade that keep people readingNot taking failure personally but using it as fuel for future successGuest Author: Phoebe Morgan Tw...2023-10-241h 08
Novel ExperienceMinisode 25 - Liz Nugent - advice for yet to be published authorsGuest Author: Liz Nugent Twitter: @LizzieNugent IG: @LizNugentWriter Books: Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent, Our Little Cruelties by Liz Nugent, Skin Deep by Liz Nugent, Lying in Wait by Liz Nugent, Unravelling Oliver by Liz Nugent Host: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family If you enjoyed this 'minisode' please do check out our full-length episodesNovel Experience with Kate Sawyer is recorded and produced by Kate Sawyer - GET IN TOUCH Twitter: @KateSawyer Instagram: @mskatesawyerTo receive transcripts and news to your inbox...2023-10-1901 min
Novel ExperienceS7 Ep4 Victoria Hislop author of The FigurineSunday Times Number One Bestselling Author, Victoria Hislop author of THE FIGURINE, THE ISLAND, THE THREAD, ONE CRETAN EVNING, THE LAST DANCE, CARTES POSTALES, THE SUNRISE, THOSE WHO ARE LOVED & ONE AUGUST NIGHT.Victoria chats about:Why she thinks keeping diaries throughout your life is very important, not just to writersThe benefits of having no ambition!How her travel journalism and a family holiday led to her first smash-hit novelSeeing her debut adapted to the most successful Greek TV series of all timeBeing a contestant on the Greek version of StrictlyHow bad reviews...2023-10-171h 21
Novel ExperienceMinisode 24 - Elizabeth McKenzie - tips for stoking creativity and breaking through writer's blockGuest Author: Elizabeth McKenzie Twitter: @elmckenzie1 Books: THE DOG OF THE NORTH & THE PORTABLE VEBLENHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family If you enjoyed this 'minisode' please do check out our full-length episodesNovel Experience with Kate Sawyer is recorded and produced by Kate Sawyer - GET IN TOUCH Twitter: @KateSawyer Instagram: @mskatesawyerTo receive transcripts and news to your inbox please SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER or visit https://www.mskatesawyer.com/novelexperiencepodcast for more information.2023-10-1203 min
Novel ExperienceS7 Ep3 Amy Engel author of I Did It For YouAmy Engel author of I DID IT FOR YOUAmy chats about:How being a Criminal Defence Lawyer for cases involving the the death penalty informed her writing about it in her novelsHow taking a career break to raise her kids was when she finally committed to her writing practiceTransitioning to mystery novels for adults from her first published YA novelsReading crime though she was working as a Criminal Defence lawyerWriting about small town AmericaGiving the victims voices in crime fictionGuest Author: Amy Engel IG: @amyengelauthor Twitter: @aengelwrites...2023-10-1051 minNovel ExperienceS7 Ep3 Amy Engel author of I Did It For YouAmy Engel author of I DID IT FOR YOUAmy chats about:How being a Criminal Defence Lawyer for cases involving the the death penalty informed her writing about it in her novelsHow taking a career break to raise her kids was when she finally committed to her writing practiceTransitioning to mystery novels for adults from her first published YA novelsReading crime though she was working as a Criminal Defence lawyerWriting about small town AmericaGiving the victims voices in crime fictionGuest Author: Amy Engel IG: @amyengelauthor Twitter: @aengelwrites...2023-10-1003 min
Novel ExperienceMinisode 23 - Khashayar J Khabushani - tips for stoking creativity and breaking through writer's blockGuest Author: Khashayar J. Khabushani Books: I Will Greet The Sun Again by Khashayar J. KhabushaniHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family If you enjoyed this 'minisode' please do check out our full-length episodesNovel Experience with Kate Sawyer is recorded and produced by Kate Sawyer - GET IN TOUCHTo receive transcripts and news to your inbox please SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER or visit https://www.mskatesawyer.com/novelexperiencepodcast for more information.2023-10-0504 min
Novel ExperienceS7 Ep2 Harriet Evans author of The StargazersSunday Times Top 10 Selling author, Harriet Evans, author of The Stargazers.Harriet chats about:Greek Myths and the connections and patterns within them being a key to storytellingHow the Vicar of Dibley taught her so much about the craft of writingHow it was recognising her criticism of others that propelled her into writing her first novelGuest Author: Harriet Evans Twitter: @HarrietEvans IG: @harrietevansauthor Books: The StargazersHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This FamilyHarriet’s recommendations:The Wh...2023-10-031h 02
Novel ExperienceMinisode 22 - Ashley Hickson-Lovence - advice to unpublished authorsGuest Author: Ashley Hickson-LovenceTwitter: @AHicksonLovence IG: @ahicksonlovence Books: Your Show by Ashley Hickson-Lovence, The 392 by Ashley Hickson-LovenceHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family If you enjoyed this 'minisode' please do check out our full-length episodes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/novel-experience/id1615429783Novel Experience with Kate Sawyer is recorded and produced by Kate Sawyer - GET IN TOUCH Twitter: @KateSawyer Instagram: @mskatesawyerTo receive transcripts and news to your inbox please SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER or visit https://www...2023-09-2803 min
Novel ExperienceS7 Ep1 Hannah Gold author of The Last Bear, The Lost Whale & Finding BearBestselling children’s author and winner of the Waterstones and Blue Peter awards Hannah Gold, author of THE LAST BEAR, THE LOST WHALE & her new follow-up to her award winning debut FINDING BEAR.Hannah chats about:How she decided on her (BA) Degree because it involved watching lots of TV!How her jobs reading scripts for theatre producers taught her about her own writingHow personal and professional heartbreak spurred her on to write a book that came from her heartWriting about climate change in a way that’s digestible for childrenWriting a sequel to her prize-winning debutGues...2023-09-261h 04
Novel ExperienceS7 Ep1 Hannah GoldBestselling children’s author and winner of the Waterstones and Blue Peter awards Hannah Gold, author of THE LAST BEAR, THE LOST WHALE & her new follow-up to her award winning debut FINDING BEAR.Hannah chats about:How she decided on her (BA) Degree because it involved watching lots of TV!How her jobs reading scripts for theatre producers taught her about her own writingHow personal and professional heartbreak spurred her on to write a book that came from her heartWriting about climate change in a way that’s digestible for childrenWriting a sequel to her priz...2023-09-261h 04
Novel ExperienceMinisode 21 - Kate Maxwell - advice to unpublished authorsGuest Author: Kate Maxwell Twitter: @KateMax IG: @katethemax Books: Hush by Kate MaxwellHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family If you enjoyed this 'minisode' please do check out our full-length episodesNovel Experience with Kate Sawyer is recorded and produced by Kate Sawyer - GET IN TOUCH Twitter: @KateSawyer Instagram: @mskatesawyerTo receive transcripts and news to your inbox please SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER or visit https://www.mskatesawyer.com/novelexperiencepodcast for more information.2023-09-2103 min
Novel ExperienceS6 Ep12 Daniel Mason author of North WoodsDaniel Mason, author of NORTH WOODS, A REGISTRY OF MY PASSAGE UPON THE EARTH, THE WINTER SOLDIER, THE PIANO TUNER, A FAR COUNTRYDaniel chats about:How studying malaria led to him writing his first novelHow he put monthly limits on his writing to help him push forward with his manuscript and how that helped him chart the changes in the natural world in his novelWriting about nature and the non-humanThe joy of writing poetry and songs gave him and the purpose of its inclusion in his workHow a fellowship from the Guggenheim foundation helped him write his...2023-09-191h 17
Novel ExperienceMinisode 20 - Chloë Ashby - advice to unpublished authorsGuest Author: Chloë Ashby Twitter: @chloeashby IG: @chloeashby Books: Wet Paint by Chloë Ashby, Second Self by Chloë AsbhyHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family If you enjoyed this 'minisode' please do check out our full-length episodesNovel Experience with Kate Sawyer is recorded and produced by Kate Sawyer - GET IN TOUCH Twitter: @KateSawyer Instagram: @mskatesawyerTo receive transcripts and news to your inbox please SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER or visit https://www.mskatesawyer.com/novelexperiencepodcast for more information.2023-09-1404 min
Novel ExperienceS6 Ep10 Saima Mir author of The KhanJournalist and bestselling author Saima Mir, author of THE KHAN.Saima chats about:How she locks her imposter syndrome away in order to writeWhere the inspiration for her bestselling debut came fromWhy she didn’t name the town in which her novel is setHow writing is a group effortThe gift of perspective!Guest Author: Saima Mir Twitter: @SaimaMir IG: @ben_raf_remy Books: The Khan by Saima MirHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This FamilySaima’s recommendations:A book for fans of Saima’s work...2023-09-051h 08
Novel ExperienceS6 Ep10 Hema Sukumar author of Minor Disturbances at Grand Life ApartmentsHema Sukumar, author of MINOR DISTURBANCES AT GRAND LIFE APARTMENTS.Hema chats about:Her background in engineering and how working on a geophysical ship led to her writing her first novel\Why food plays such a huge role in her writingHow a Guardian Masterclass helped her get publishedHow she’d highly recommend booking agent 1-2-1 through Jericho writersGuest Author: Hema Sukumar Twitter: @Hema_Sukumar IG: @hemasukumarwrites Books: MINOR DISTURBANCES AT GRAND LIFE APARTMENTS by Hema SukumarHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This FamilyHe...2023-08-2956 min
Novel ExperienceS6 Ep8 Charlotte Levin author of If I Let You Go & If I Can't Have YouCharlotte Levin, author of IF I LET YOU GO and IF I CAN’T HAVE YOU.Charlotte chats about:Her love of plays and theatre leading her to writingHow mental health challenges and personal loss pushed her into writing her first novelWriting objectively about characters who make morally ambiguous choicesWriting working class charactersThe power of banding together with other authorsGuest Author: Charlotte Levin Twitter: @tinycharlotte72 IG: @tinycharlotte29 Books: IF I LET YOU GO by Charlotte Levin and IF I CAN”T HAVE YOU by Charlotte LevinHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stra...2023-08-2258 min
Novel ExperienceS6 Ep7 Kia Abdullah author of Those People Next DoorKia Abdullah, author of Waterstones Thriller of the Month THOSE PEOPLE NEXT DOOR.Kia chats about:The role that her local library played in her journey to becoming an authorWriting morally ambiguous characters to provoke bookclub debateHow she’s a plotter (but wishes she didn’t)How she knows what her characters look like, before she even writes a wordThe struggle to make a living wage as a writerThe work she does as a mentor in the area she grew up inGuest Author: Kia Abdullah Twitter: @KiaAbdullah IG: @kiaabdullah Books: THOSE PEOPLE NEXT DOOR by Kia Abdu...2023-08-151h 01
Novel ExperienceS6 Ep6 Claire Daverley author of Talking At NightDebut author Claire Daverley, author of TALKING AT NIGHT.Claire chats about:Writing an epic lovestory and how plotting involved working out the optimal time for kissing!Her background working in marketing for art and booksHow the Faber Academy changed everything for herThe breakthrough that came from working out how to make her quiet novels louder!Thinking about the rhythm of her prose and how she considers the way the words look on the pagePlotting with her pants off!Guest Author: Claire Daverley Twitter: @ClaireDaverley IG: @clairedaverley Books: Talking At Night by Claire DaverleyHost: Kate...2023-08-081h 10
Novel ExperienceS6 Ep5 Khashayar J. Khabushani author of I Will Greet The Sun AgainDebut author Khashayar J. Khabushani, author of I Will Greet The Sun Again.Khash chats about:How coming out as an Artist held almost as many challenges as coming out as QueerThe transformative power of the Columbia University MFAWriting from memories and remembered sensesWriting to make amends to his childhood self and his inner childWriting hope and joy into a story with trauma and challenges imbedded in itGuest Author: Khashayar J. Khabushani Books: I Will Greet The Sun Again by Khashayar J. KhabushaniHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate...2023-08-0159 min
Novel ExperienceS6 Ep4 Paul Murray author of The Bee StingBooker Prize Shortlisted author Paul Murray, author of THE BEE STING, THE MARK AND THE VOID, SKIPPY DIES and AN EVENING OF LONG GOODBYES.Paul chats about:The role Ali Smith and John Boyne played in his journey to becoming an authorHow he writes all his longhand and how a first draft is a stack of loose sheets of paperBeing careful about what you allow into your head when you are writingWhether he identifies as a writer of Family Sagas or State of The Nation novelsThe challenges and joys of writing multiperspective workGuest Author: Paul...2023-07-251h 04
Novel ExperienceS6 Ep3 Kate Maxwell author of HushAuthor, Presenter and Travel Journalist Kate Maxwell, author of HUSH.Kate chats about:Her work as a travel journalistLiving in and writing New YorkResearching fertility treatment and writing about donor assisted conceptionBeing shortlisted for the Bridport prize (and how she’d recommend every aspiring author to submit work to it!)How she knew what she wanted in an agentGuest Author: Kate Maxwell Twitter: @KateMax IG: @katethemax Books: Hush by Kate MaxwellHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This FamilyKates’s recommendations:A book for fans of K...2023-07-181h 04
Novel ExperienceS6 Ep2 Ashley Hickson-Lovence author of Your ShowAuthor and Creative Writing Lecturer Ashley Hickson-Lovence, author of YOUR SHOW & THE 392.Ashley chats about:Being inspired by a great English teacherWriting with rhythm and how music and dancing influence his proseDrawing on people from real life to build charactersHow his own experiences of refereeing football led to his second novel and his PhdWriting in the second personHow Homes Under The Hammer is integral to his work!Guest Author: Ashley Hickson-Lovence Twitter: @AHicksonLovence IG: @ahicksonlovence Books: Your Show by Ashley Hickson-Lovence, The 392 by Ashley Hickson-LovenceHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by...2023-07-111h 12
Novel ExperienceS6 Ep1 Chloë Ashby author of Second SelfAuthor and Arts Critic Chloë Ashby, author of SECOND SELF and WET PAINT.Chloë chats about:Her career as an Arts CriticThe transformational power of the Faber AcademyRepresentations of whales in literature and artWriting about the decisions involved in choices about motherhood and not-motherhood.TW: FertilityGuest Author: Chloë Ashby Twitter: @chloeashby IG: @chloeashby Books: Wet Paint by Chloë Ashby, Second Self by Chloë AsbhyHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family Chloë’s recommendations:A book for fans of Chloë’s work: Expectation by Anna Hope2023-07-041h 10
Novel ExperienceS5 Ep12 Alice Slater author of Death Of A BooksellerAuthor, Editor and Podcaster Alice Slater. Author of Death of A Bookseller a slighted twisted crime thriller about bookselling, obsession and true crime.Alice chats about:Her love for booksellersHer background in bookselling, how it fed into the way she wrote her book and how she’s approached being published herselfHer work with and being inspired by MslexiaHow copywriting for a day job creates a habit and disciplineHow one character can sometimes end up becoming several over the drafting process.I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did recording it. All the books we me...2023-06-201h 03
Novel ExperienceS5 Ep10 Anne Griffin author of When All Is Said, Listening Still & The Island of LongingAnne Griffin author of WHEN ALL IS SAID, LISTENING STILL and THE ISLAND OF LONGING her powerful new novel about grief, hope and communityAnne chats about:Her background as a book buyerHow she was in her mid-forties before she started writingHow she wrote a novel with the title of her third book, before she was publishedSecond novel ‘syndrome’ being very real but third novel syndrome being a thing tooWriting about sad thingsGuest Author: Anne Griffin Twitter: @AnneGriffin_ IG: @AnnegriffinWriter Books: WHEN ALL IS SAID, LISTENING STILL and THE ISLAND OF LONGINGHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @kate...2023-06-1358 min
Novel ExperienceS5 Ep10 Anne GriffinAnne Griffin author of WHEN ALL IS SAID, LISTENING STILL and THE ISLAND OF LONGING her powerful new novel about grief, hope and communityAnne chats about:Her background as a book buyerHow she was in her mid-forties before she started writingHow she wrote a novel with the title of her third book, before she was publishedSecond novel ‘syndrome’ being very real but third novel syndrome being a thing tooWriting about sad thingsGuest Author: Anne Griffin Twitter: @AnneGriffin_ IG: @AnnegriffinWriter Books: WHEN ALL IS SAID, LISTENING STILL and THE ISLAND O...2023-06-1358 min
Novel ExperienceS5 Ep10 Karen Angelico author of Everything We AreKaren Angelico author of Everything We Are a beautifully written a dark and addictive exploration of modern relationships, which plumbs the depths of the human heart.Karen chats about:Her background as an antique jewellery valuer and recruitment consultantWriting with the pram in the hall (or in her case, four prams in the hall!)The biggest thing that has stayed with her since her time on the MA for Creative Writing at UEAHow your agent and editor relationships are so important to your publishing journeyWriting characters in midlifeRecorded at HARRIS & HARRIS BOOKS, Clare. Thanks to Kate...2023-06-061h 24
Novel ExperienceS5 Ep9 Wiz Wharton author of Ghost Girl BananaAuthor and Screenwriter Wiz Wharton, author of GHOST GIRL, BANANA a brilliant historical fiction novel told in two time lines, one in London and one in Hong Kong, about family, identity and belonging.Wiz chats about:How she trained to write for stage and screen before turning her hand to fictionHow she turned down offers for her first novel because she realised it wasn’t in the genre she wanted to write.How a discovery when clearing out her mother’s house led to the idea for her debut novelHow using two timelines helped her to explore inte...2023-05-3058 min
Novel ExperienceS5 Ep8 Elizabeth McKenzie author of The Dog Of The NorthElizabeth McKenzie, author of THE PORTABLE VEBLEN & the Women’s Prize Longlisted THE DOG OF THE NORTH which is an hilarious and epic road trip novel about family and finding yourself when your life has fallen apartElizabeth chats about:How exaggerating when she was studying journalism made her realise that fiction was the route her writing should takeWhy working in publishing was the best training for being an author herselfHow the notebook of rejections she kept is something she still uses in her teaching nowHow although her first book was sold as a ‘novel’ she actually wrote it as...2023-05-2349 min
Novel ExperienceS5 Ep7 Jamie Fewery author of The BrinkJamie Fewery, author of OUR LIFE IN A DAY, THE WAY BACK and the just about to be published THE BRINK a rom-com told in reverse about a couple on the brink of divorce.Jamie chats about:Being part of the marketing team who made Fifty Shades of Grey go stratospheric, and what it taught him about being published himselfHow the first novel he went on submission with wasn’t the book he first published but was what got him a publisherBeing a man who writes about relationships in a market and how those books are his preference to...2023-05-161h 22
Novel ExperienceS5 Ep6 Sarah Hardy author of The Walled GardenJournalist and author Sarah Hardy, author of THE WALLED GARDEN Sarah chats about:How writing a letter to a newspaper led to her journalism career at Vogue.How redundancy led her to writing her first novelHow journalism taught her the discipline of writing every dayHow her home was the inspiration for her historical fiction debutHow she writes flawed characters hoping to evoke compassion for those we don’t agree withGuest Author: Sarah Hardy Books: The Walled Garden by Sarah HardyHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family (co...2023-05-091h 00
Novel ExperienceS5 Ep5 Laura Price author of Single Bald FemaleAuthor, Journalist and Podcaster Laura Price, author of SINGLE BALD FEMALELaura chats about:How her cancer diagnosis lead her to start writing fictionHow the Faber Academy helped her find her writing support systemHer background in food journalism and how it led to her podcast LIFE IN FOODGuest Author: Laura Price Twitter: @LauraPriceWrite IG: @LauraPriceWrite Books: Single Bald Female by Laura PriceHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family (coming May 2023. Laura’s recommendations:A book for fans of Laura’s work: Glittering a turd by K...2023-05-0256 min
Novel ExperienceS5 Ep4 Bethany Rutter author of Welcome To Your LifeAuthor, podcast host, event chair and plus-sized fashion influencer Bethany Rutter. Bethany talks about her first wonderful rom-com novel for adults WELCOME TO YOUR LIFE and the journey to writing her two YA hits NO BIG DEAL and MELT MY HEART.Bethany also chats about:how her background as a journalist and plus-sized fashion blogger led her to writing fictionhow her book about dating is encouraging people to dust off their dating profileswriting fat main charactersplanning the entire story before writing a single wordhow editing one novel teaches her a lot about what to write nextSetting yourself deadlines...2023-04-251h 05
Novel ExperienceS5 Ep3 Georgina Moore author of The Garnett GirlsSunday Times best-selling author and book publicist to some of the biggest names in literature, Georgina Moore. George discusses her best-selling debut novel THE GARNETT GIRLS.George also chats about:what being a bookseller and publicist taught her about being published herselfwriting about women who are thriving in mid-lifefamily saga and how it’s time for the UK to embrace the home-grown books as we do those novels set in the USAthe specificity of writing about a particular place - in this case, the Isle of Wightleaning into the glamorous side of her characters in order to peel ba...2023-04-181h 07
Novel ExperienceS5 Ep2 Liz Nugent author of Strange Sally DiamondLiz Nugent author of BBC Between The Covers book club pick STRANGE SALLY DIAMOND and four previous crime thriller novels UNRAVELLING OLIVER, LYING IN WAIT, SKIN DEEP and OUR LITTLE CRUELTIES. Her novels have all been No1 Bestsellers and she has won four Irish Book Awards, as well as the James Joyce medal for Literature. Liz chats about:How the frustration of working in theatre and tv led her to writingWhy her first novel took her six years to writeHow she discovered that crime was her genreHow her famous ‘killer’ opening lines are how her books startWhy her proc...2023-04-1154 min
Novel ExperienceS5 Ep1 Jo Browning Wroe author of A Terrible KindnessSunday Times best-selling debut author Jo Browning Wroe discusses her Richard & Judy Bookclub pick novel A TERRIBLE KINDNESS.Jo chats about:researching and writing about people who care for the deadwriting about Cambridge and Fitzbillie's Chelsea bunsworking with the Cambridge Literary FestivalTaking time to work out how time works when you are writingGuest Author: Jo Browning Wroe Twitter: @JoBrowningWroe IG: @jobrowningwroe Books: A Terrible Kindness by Jo Browning-WroeHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family (coming May 2023. Jo’s recommendations:A book for fan’s of J...2023-04-0458 min
Novel ExperienceA Year of Novel Experience - A Message From KateThere is no full-length episode of Novel Experience this week but there is some news.1) It's Novel Experience's Birthday!! I've been making this podcast for a year, so this week I've made a few changes.2) First change is the look- we got a face lift. I hope you like the new look. 3) I'm slowly transcribing the episodes you'll find them HERE or SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER to get them to your inbox as I upload them4) All books recommended and discussed in every episode are available to be purchased from the Novel Experience Bookshop.Org...2023-03-2803 min
Novel ExperienceS4 Ep12 Bryan Moriaty author of Sounds Like FunDebut author and actor Bryan Moriaty. Bryan’s novel SOUNDS LIKE FUN, a charming gay rom-com, is published by Hodder Books and was the winner of the Irish Writer's Centre Novel Fair.Bryan chats about:writing acting monologues being the gateway drug that bought him to writing fictionhow NaNoWriMo helped him draft his debutbeing selected by the Irish Writers’ Centre Novel Fairusing Grindr as a means of advancing plothis love of writing in public librariesGuest: Bryan Moriaty Books: Sounds Like Fun by Bryan MoriatyHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate...2023-03-211h 06
Novel ExperienceS4 Ep11 Sophie Haydock author of The FlamesAward winning journalist and author, Sophie Haydock. Sophie's debut Novel THE FLAMES is the story of Egon Schieie’s four muses in early 20th century Vienna, which was published by Transworld in the UK and is soon to be published in the US.Sophie chats about:how she was inspired to write by an exhibition at the Courthald Gallerygiving women from the past their voicesthe difficulties in depicting the problematic behaviour of men in a different erahow applying for prizes (and winning the impress prize first novel award) helped her to push forward her writing of The Flames.2023-03-141h 00
Novel ExperienceS4 Ep10 Cecile Pin author of Wandering SoulsJournalist and debut author Cecile Pin. Author of Women's Prize long-listed WANDERING SOULS, a luminous debut about the lives of three young refugees and the echo their experience has through generations.Cecile chats about:how her philosophy degrees feed into her writinginterviewing Ocean Vuong as her first journalism gighow the background of her book was pieced together using her own family history transcripts from downing street meetings and videos on youtubethe benefits of being in a writing group.Guest: Cecile Pin Twitter: @CecilekvPin. IG: @cecilekvpin Books: Wandering Souls by Cecile PinHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer...2023-03-0754 min
Novel ExperienceS4 Ep9 Kirsty Capes author of CarelessKirsty Capes, author of the Women’s Prize long-listed CARELESS, the story of Bess a young woman who discovers she is pregnant while living in care, and LOVE ME, LOVE ME NOT, which deals with discovering your adoption as an adult, both published by Orion.Kirsty chats about:the three writing degrees that let her believe that writing was something she could do professionallybalancing publicising your book with wanting to protect your privacywriting characters with experience of carewhat her experience in working in publishing taught her about her own book being publishedthe epic sci-fi dystopia that is yet to...2023-02-281h 11
Novel ExperienceS4 Ep8 Aingeala Flannery author of The AmusementsAward winning journalist and broadcaster Aingeala Flannery, author of THE AMUSEMENTS, a polyphonic portrait of the seaside town of Tramore in County Waterford Ireland.Aingeala chats about:the journalism career and how she transitioned to writing fictionher wonderful novel, how she wrote it and her reasons for setting it in Tramorestructure and composite novelswhat makes a narrative satisfyinghow painting a wall in her kitchen with blackboard paint was involved in the edits of The Amusements.I hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as I did recording it. All the books that we mention are...2023-02-211h 07
Novel ExperienceS4 Ep7 Ania Bas author of Odd HoursAnia Bas, artist and debut author of the darkly comic ODD HOURS, about a misanthropic supermarket check-out girl who is finding herself despite her awful job, her irritating friends, her chaotic family and her terrible love life.Ania chats about:her education in Poland and how her early television viewing was formativehow her career in visual arts led to writing and how it still informs her work.how she schedules non-negotiable writing timehow she dons and alter-ego while she is at her keyboard in order to overcome imposter syndromeher influences and how they have led to her enforcing...2023-02-141h 06
Novel ExperienceS4 Ep6 Matson Taylor author of The Miseducation of Evie EpworthMy guest today is Matson Taylor, author of Richard and Judy Bookclub pick THE MISEDUCATION OF EVIE EPWORTH about a young woman coming of age in the late 60's in rural Yorkshire and the follow-up novel, set ten years later, ALL ABOUT EVIE where Evie is finding out what living in the London she has always dreamed of is really like- both books are published by Simon & Schuster.Matson chats about:his work as a design historian at the V&A and how that fed into the Evie bookswriting through decades and writing funny stories about serious thingsthe...2023-02-071h 17
Novel ExperienceS4 Ep5 Sarah Bonner author of Her Perfect TwinSarah Bonner, author of psychological thrillers HER PERFECT TWIN, about a woman who murders her twin, and the soon to be published HER SWEET REVENGE, another thriller full of suspense.Sarah chats about:how writing thrillers has surprising similarities to her career as an accountantthe novel that started her writing journey but has yet to see the light of dayhow being made redundant during the first covid lockdown effectively led to her putting together her own writing traininghow changing tense can help you find your voicesome of the tips she brings from her analytical, project management background that...2023-01-3159 min
Novel ExperienceS4 Ep4 Clover Stroud author of The Red of My BloodJournalist and Sunday Times Bestselling author Clover Stroud. Clover is my first guest writer whose published books are non-fiction, or 'life-writing'. She is the author of THE WILD OTHER, about her travels and the catastrophic accident of her mothers that changed her family life, MY WILD AND SLEEPLESS NIGHTS, about motherhood in all its guises and her most recent book, THE RED OF MY BLOOD, about death and life following the death of her beloved sister Nell. Clover chats about:why life-writing is storytellingcuriosity about how people live their livesthe novels that she wrote before turning to memoirfinding...2023-01-241h 22
Novel ExperienceS4 Ep3 Jessica Moor author of Young WomenJessica Moor author of KEEPER, a literary thriller dealing with suicide and domestic abuse and YOUNG WOMEN, a literary look at the intensity of female friendship and the 'Me Too' movement.Jess chats about:how habits and habit stacking can help with writinggiving ourselves and others a break on social mediawhy booksellers are such an important part of the ecology of publishing.Guest: Jessica Moor Twitter: @jessicamoor IG: @ms_jessica_moor Books: Keeper by Jessica Moor & Young Women by Jessica MoorHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family...2023-01-171h 14
Novel ExperienceS4 Ep2 AK Blakemore author of The Manningtree Witches & The GluttonAK Blakemore, poet and author of the Costa Shortlisted, Demond Elliot prize winning, THE MANNINGTREE WITCHES, vital historical fiction about the East Anglian witch trials and the forthcoming THE GLUTTON, both published by Granta Books.Amy chats about:her early introduction to writing through her poetrythe freedom that writing offershow a job other than writing can be a necessity for more than financial reasonsabout writing the humanity in the monsterousGuest: AK Blakemore Twitter: @akblakemore IG: @barbiedreamhearse Book: The Manningtree Witches Host: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer , This Family2023-01-101h 07
Novel ExperienceS4 Ep1 Bonnie Garmus author of Lessons In ChemistryNew York Times and Sunday Times Bestselling, Waterstones Author of The Year Bonnie Garmus, author of LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY the story of chemist Elizabeth Zott who ends up having to host an evening cooking show to make ends meet and uses it as a call to arms for the women of 1950s USA.Bonnie chats about:*not* writing what you knowabout balance in writing and the text you are writinghow you can only learn to write by writing.Please note: I discovered when I came to edit this episode that we’d had a dodgy line wh...2023-01-0336 min
Novel ExperienceS4 Ep1 Bonnie Garmus - Novel ExperienceNew York Times and Sunday Times Bestselling, Waterstones Author of The Year Bonnie Garmus, author of LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY the story of chemist Elizabeth Zott who ends up having to host an evening cooking show to make ends meet and uses it as a call to arms for the women of 1950s USA. Bonnie chats about: *not* writing what you knowabout balance in writing and the text you are writinghow you can only learn to write by writing. Please note: I discovered when I came to edit this episode that we’d...2023-01-0336 min
Novel ExperienceS3 Ep12 Claire Fuller author of Unsettled GroundCosta Award Winning & Women's Prize Shortlisted author Claire Fuller. Author of OUR ENDLESS NUMBERED DAYS, SWIMMING LESSONS, BITTER ORANGE, UNSETTLED GROUND and the forthcoming THE MEMORY OF ANIMALS.Claire chats about:the similarities between writing and her career in sculpturethe power of marketingwriting without a planreading and reviewing other authors workGuest: Claire Fuller Twitter: @ClaireFuller2 Instagram: @writerclairefuller Books: Our Endless Numbered Days by Claire Fuller, Swimming Lessons, Bitter Orange, Unsettled Ground, The Memory of AnimalsHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer &This Family Claire’s recommendations:A...2022-12-221h 06
Novel ExperienceS3 Ep11 Rónán Hession author of Leonard and Hungry PaulAward-winning author and musician Rónán Hession. Author of LEONARD AND HUNGRY PAUL and PANENKA.Ronan chats about:publishing with an indie publisherbalancing his full time job as a civil servant with writingplotting your own creative developmenthow reading outside the anglophone world can open your eyes to variety of structurewriting like you're driving in the darkthe power of word of mouth and booksellers to make a book break outGuest: Ronan Hession Twitter: @MumblinDeafRo Books:Leonard and Hungry Paul by Rónán Hession & Panenka by Rónán Hession Host: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @m...2022-12-061h 05
Novel ExperienceS3 Ep10 Christina Sweeney-Baird author of The End Of MenAuthor Christina Sweeney-Baird. Author of THE END OF MEN, a speculative polyphonic thriller about a pandemic that wipes out much of the world's male population.Christina chats about:keeping a journalcompartmentalising her career as a lawyer to allow her to writeshares tips for setting writing goalshow to finish projectsnot reading your reviewsGuest: Christina Sweeney-Baird Twitter: @ChristinaRoseSB Instagram: @ChristinaSweeneyBaird Book: The End of Men by Christina Sweeney-Baird Host: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family (coming May 2023. Christina’s recommendations:Books for fans of The End of Me...2022-11-291h 01
Novel ExperienceS3 Ep9 Jessie Greengrass author of The High HouseWomen's Prize and Costa Shortlisted author Jessie Greengrass, author of THE HIGH HOUSE, SIGHT and AN ACCOUNT OF THE DECLINE OF THE GREAT AUK ACCORDING TO THOSE WHO SAW HIMJessie chats about:losing confidence at universityfinding your voice on the page when speaking feels impossiblethe trouble with long titlescharacters remaining namelesswriting out of sequencetackling the climate crisis in her workGuest: Jessie Grrengrass Twitter: @jessiegreengrass Books: The High House by Jessie Greengrass, Sight by Jessie Greengrass & An Account of the Decline of the Great Auk According to One Who Saw It by Jessie GreengrassHost...2022-11-221h 09
Novel ExperienceS3 Ep8 Julie Owen-Moylan author of That Green Eyed Girl and 73 Dove StreetJulie Owen-Moylan author of THAT GREEN EYED GIRL and 73 DOVE STREET both published by Penguin Michael Joseph.Julie chats about:leaving school at 16 and training as a hairdressertravelling being a creative acthow a Creative Writing MA is a great 50th birthday presenthow the Faber Academy was instrumental in Julie's successthe benefits of finishing a draft of your next book before your book is publisheddealing with the oddly destabilising feeling that come with publicationusing Twitter like smoking breaksGuest: Julie Owen-Moylan Twitter: @JulieOwenMoylan Instagram: @julieowenmoylan Books:That Green Eyed Girl by Julie Owen-Moylan & 73 Dove Street by Julie Owen...2022-11-151h 07
Novel ExperienceS3 Ep7 Janice Hallett author of The Appeal, The Twyford Code and The Mysterious Code of the Alperton AngelsSunday Times Bestselling Author Janice Hallett. Author of THE APPEAL, THE TWYFORD CODE and THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF THE ALPERTON ANGELS.Janice chats about:her background in magazines and writing speeches for politiciansamateur dramaticshow changing a books cover can be a gamechangerreverse engineering plotthe dangers of writing on a laptopGuest: Janice Hallet Twitter: @JaniceHallett Instagram: @janice.hallett Books: The Appeal by Janice Hallett , The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett, The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett (pre-order for Jan 2023) Host: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books:The Stranding by Kate Sawyer...2022-11-0856 min
Novel ExperienceS3 Ep6 Helen Cooper author of The Downstairs Neighbour, The Other Guest & The Couple In The PhotoHelen Cooper author of psychological thrillers THE DOWNSTAIRS NEIGHBOUR, THE OTHER GUEST and the forthcoming THE COUPLE IN THE PHOTOHelen chats about:the long days required to study creative writing around workhow persistence and constant learning can pay off,how your agent believing in you is worth its weight in goldusing friends with police and medical backgrounds to check plot holeshow rewriting can be helpful to flesh out characters and plotGuest: Helen Cooper Twitter: @HelenCooper85 Instagram: @HelenCooperWriter Books: The Other Guest by Helen Cooper Host: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books:The Stranding...2022-11-0155 min
Novel ExperienceS3 Ep5 Kiran Millwood Hargrave author of The Mercies & The Dance TreeAward-winning author Kiran Millwood-Hargrave author of bestselling novels THE MERCIES and THE DANCE TREE were published.Kiran chats about:how poetry led her away from a career in lawearly rejection not setting the bar for a careerthe myriad ways readers can discover a writer they lovethe galvanising power of a five year planbeing yourself on social mediaGuest: Kiran Millwood Hargrave Twitter: @Kiran_MH IG: @kiran_mh Books: For Adults The Dance Tree by Kiran Millwood Hargrave The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave For Young Adults: The Deathless Girls by Kiran Millwood Hargrave For Middle-Grade (8-11): The...2022-10-251h 07
Novel ExperienceS3 Ep4 Jamie Russell author of the Skywake TrilogyAuthor, screenwriter and journalist Jamie Russell, author of BOOK OF THE DEAD and the middle grade series SKYWAKE TRILOGY.Jamie chats about:his background in film criticsmhis obsession with zombiesthe impossibility of writing for 'the market'how he balances screenwriting with his fiction commitmentsthe trap of thinking about writing rather than doingthe responsibilities in writing for young peopleGuest: Jamie Russell Twitter: @jamierussel_74 Instagram: @jamie_russell74 Books: Book Of The Dead , Skywake Invasion & Skywake Battlefield Host: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer This Family by Kate Sawyer Jamie’s recommendations: A...2022-10-1855 min
Novel ExperienceS3 Ep3 Sussie Anie author of To Fill A Yellow HouseDebut author Sussie Anie, author of TO FILL A YELLOW HOUSE published by Phoenix BooksSussie chats about:protecting the creative magic of writingexperimenting with genrehow short stories can be a gateway to longer formhow writing a novel when the world is so unstable presents authors with challengesthe power of being part of a writing groupGuest: Sussie Anie Twitter: @AnieSussie Instagram: @sussieoanie Books: To Fill A Yellow House by Sussie Anie Host: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family (coming May 2023. Sussie’s recommendations: A book for fa...2022-10-1157 min
Novel ExperienceS3 Ep2 Abigail Bergstrom author of What A ShameLiterary agent, screenwriter and author Abigail Bergstrom, author of WHAT A SHAME published by Hodder & Stoughton.Abi chats about:her background as an editorhow her work as an agent with Gleam and Bergstrom Studio has informed her experience of being publishedfinding a way into publishing when you don't have any contactsburn-out and self-caredepicting female friendship in novels and on screentrying to capture the disorientation of grief in her writingGuest: Abigail Bergstrom Twitter: @abigailbergstrm Instagram: @abigailbergstrom Book: What A Shame by Abigail Bergstrom Substack: Something To Say Host: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books:The...2022-10-041h 02
Novel ExperienceS3 Ep1 Lizzie Pook author of Moonlight and The Pearler's Daughter & Maude Horton's Glorious RevengeTravel journalist and debut author Lizzie Pook. Author of MOONL:IGHT AND THE PEARLER'S DAUGHTER published by Mantle Books.Lizzie chats about:her background and continued career in travel journalismputting yourself into your charactersthe power of character namesthe horror of first draftsthe brilliance of Australian televisionthe impact being published can have on your mental healthbalancing your yin and your yangworking with a chronic illnesstaking time to rest away from the page and letting your left brain do the work!Guest: Lizzie Pook Twitter: @lizziepook Instagram: @lizziepook Book: Moonlight and the Pearler’s Daughter by Lizzie PookHo...2022-09-271h 06
Novel ExperienceS2 Ep12 Polly Crosby author of Vita and The Birds, The Unravelling & The Illustrated ChildPolly Crosby author of THE ILLUSTRATED CHILD, THE UNRAVELLING and the forthcoming VITA AND THE BIRDS all published by HQ Stories.Polly chats about:early career choices before turning to a writing careerfinding connections with other authors onlineamazing booksellers (with a big shoutout to Kate at Harris & Harris Books in Clare, Suffolk)being inspired by the local landscapethe incredible enthusiasm of readersnavigating writing when living with a chronic illnesshow not knowing what the future holds is the most hopeful way to liveGuest: Polly Crosby Twitter: @writerpolly Instagram: @writerpolly Books: The Unravelling by Polly Crosby The Illustrated...2022-09-191h 01
Novel ExperienceS2 Ep11 Daisy Buchanan author of Insatiable, Careering and How To Be A GrownupAuthor, journalist and podcaster Daisy Buchanan author of novels INSATIABLE and CAREERINGDaisy chats about:working on student newspapersthe lure of the bildungsromanthe subtleties of truthfully representing female desireThe Girly Showreading for absolute pleasure and ditching the shame about what we read or what we haven't readGuest: Daisy Buchanan Twitter: @notrollergirl Instagram: @thedaisybee Books: Careering by Daisy Buchanan, Insatiable by Daisy Buchanan, The Sisterhood by Daisy Buchanan, How To Be A Grown-Up by Daisy Buchanan, Meeting Your Match by Daisy Buchanan Podcasts: You're Booked, Daisy is Careering, Daisy is InsatiableHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer...2022-09-131h 16
Novel ExperienceS2 Ep10 Joanna Quinn author of The Whalebone TheatreSunday Times bestselling debut author Joanna Quinn. Author of THE WHALEBONE THEATRE, a family saga set over the course of WW2.Joanna chats about:her journey to being published via journalism, an MA, motherhood, a PHD and a pandemicbeing inspired by what you knowwhale bonesthe perils of book promotion for introverted authorsGuest: Joanna Quinn IG: @joannabquinn Books: The Whalebone Theatre by Joanna Quinn Host: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family by Kate Sawyer Joanna's recommendations: Books for fans of The Whalebone Theatre: The Cazalet Chronicles by...2022-09-061h 11
Novel ExperienceS2 Ep9 Bobby Palmer author of Isaac and the EggSunday Times Bestselling author, journalist and podcaster Bobby Palmer. Author of ISAAC AND THE EGG.Bobby chats about:the cross-over between journalism and fiction writinglistening to your mum's criticismhow timing is everything when it comes to submissionsthe work that goes into bring a book into the world by people other than the authorGuest: Bobby Palmer Twitter: @thebobpalmer IG: @thebobpalmer Books: Isaac and The Egg by Bobby Palmer Host: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family Bobby’s recommendations: A book for fans of Isaac and the Egg: Pi...2022-09-011h 01
Novel ExperienceS2 Ep8 Chloë Timms author of The SeawomenAuthor and podcast host Chloe Timms, author of THE SEAWOMEN.Chloe chats about:how there is always more to learn about writinghow reading can support your writingthe fear of not having an 'idea'learning what to focus on & what is out of your control about your book being publishedsetting up a writing podcastmentoring unpublished writersmaking events accessible with the movement #keepeventshybridGuest: Chloe Timms Twitter: @clotimms IG: @clotimms Books: The Seawomen by Chloe Timms Podcast: Confessions of a Debut NovelistHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer &This Family by Kate...2022-08-231h 05
Novel ExperienceS2 Ep7 Liz Hyder author of The Gifts, The Illusions & BearmouthWinner of the Waterstone's Children's Book Award Liz Hyder author of BEARMOUTH, THE GIFTS and the forthcoming THE ILLUSIONS.Guest: Liz Hyder Twitter: @londonbessie IG: @londonbessie Host: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family by Kate SawyerLiz’s recommendations: A book for fans of Liz’s work: The Empty Greatcoat by Rebecca F John, Fannie by Rebecca F John A book Liz has always loved: Boneland by Alan Garner A book coming soon or recently released that Liz recommends: The Young HG Wells by Claire Tomalin, The Secret Diar...2022-08-1655 min
Novel ExperienceS2 Ep6 Lizzy Dent author of The Summer Job, The Set-Up & The Sweetest RevengeScreenwriter and author Lizzy Dent author of rom-coms THE SUMMER JOB and THE SET UPLizzy chats about:when to break-up with your bookthe mystery of the em dashdaring yourself to finish writing your bookwinealways trying to remember how far you've come whilst managing your expectationsthe stress & joy of being a debut authorGuest: Lizzy Dent Twitter: @dentlizzy IG: @lizzy.dent Books:The Summer Job by Lizzy Dent & The Set-Up by Lizzy DentHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family by Kate SawyerLizzy’s re...2022-08-0957 min
Novel ExperienceS2 Ep5 Annie Garthwaite author of CecilyAuthor Annie Garthwaite discusses her novel CECILY a reimagining of the life of Cecily Neville, mother of Richard III wife of Richard Duke of York.Annie chats about:how a good teacher can change the course of your lifehow sometimes there can be a longtime between the idea for a novel and writing itfalling in love with men who died over 400 years agowhat has changed for women since the 15th centuryGuest: Annie Garthwaite Twitter: @anniegarthwaite IG: @anniegarthwaite Book: Cecily by Annie Garthwaite Host: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family...2022-08-0244 min
Novel ExperienceS2 Ep4 Emma Szewczak & Natasha Calder co-authors of The OffsetCo-authors Natasha Calder and Emma Szewczak authors of sci-fi debut THE OFFSET about a world in which children have to choose one parent to be executed as a carbon offset for their own life, when they turn eighteen, published by Angry Robots.Natasha and Emma chat about:the honesty of co-writing literaturehow conversations and experimentation can lead to great ideashow dark it is feasible for YA to getwhat classic sci-fi and medieval literature have in commonthe limitations on writing when you're a parentGuests: Natasha Calder and Emma Szewczak Twitter: @calderszewczak @emmaszewczak IG: @emma.szewczak Book: The...2022-07-2656 min
Novel ExperienceS2 Ep3 Emma Hughes author of No Such Thing As Perfect & It's ComplicatedJournalist and author Emma Hughes discusses her debut novel No Such Thing as perfect published by Penguin.Emma chats about:being put off writing by well meaning criticismhow writing competitions can help build your confidencedistraction techniques to navigate the highs and lows of publicationhow characters are rather like dahlias!Guest: Emma Hughes Twitter: @emmadhughes IG: @emmahughes86 Books: No Such Thing As Perfect by Emma Hughes Host: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family by Kate SawyerEmma’s recommendations:A book for fans of No Su...2022-07-1959 min
Novel ExperienceS2 Ep2 Susannah Wise author of This Fragile Earth & Okay Then That's GreatActor and author Susannah Wise author of sci-fi novel THIS FRAGILE EARTH and literary off-the wall novel OKAY THEN THATS GREAT.Susannah chats about:being inspired by life and deaththe difference in the way people speak and 'truthful' dialoguehow working as an actor informed her transition into writing novelsGuest: Susannah Wise Twitter: @susannahwise IG: @calamitysusannah Books: Okay Then That's Great by Susannah Wise & This Fragile Earth by Susannah WiseHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family by Kate SawyerSusannah’s recommendations: A book fo...2022-07-1253 min
Novel ExperienceS2 Ep1 Aliya Ali-Afzal author of Would I Lie To You?Author Aliya Ali-Afzal author of domestic thriller WOULD I LIE TO YOU?Aliya chats about:her background in languagesworking in the city as a head-heanter to a background hum of sexismwriting for years without realising she was a writerusing her career coaching skills as a way of finding a literary agentGuest: Aliya Ali-Afzal Twitter: @AAAiswriting IG: @aliyaaliafzalauthor Books: Would I Lie To You by Aliya Ali-AfzalHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family by Kate SawyerAliya’s recommendations: A book for fans of Another Life: Bi...2022-07-0459 min
Novel ExperienceS1 Ep12 Frances Quinn author of The Smallest Man & That Bonesetter WomanAuthor and journalist Frances Quinn. Author of THE SMALLEST MAN and THAT BONESETTER WOMANFrances chats about:researching historical fictionher experiences of being working class in Oxbridge int he 1980'show her career in journalism led to her dream of being published...after a little prevaricationGuest: Frances Quinn Twitter: @fraquinn IG: @franquinn21 Books: The Smallest Man by Frances Quinn & That Bonesetter Woman by Frances Quinn Host: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family by Kate SawyerFrances’ recommendations: A book for fans of The Smallest Man: The Vizard Ma...2022-06-2843 min
Novel ExperienceS1 Ep11 Jodie Chapman author of Another Life & Oh Sister!Jodie Chapman author of ANOTHER LIFE and OH, SISTER both published by Penguin Micheal Joseph.Jodie chats about:her route to being publishedclosing the door on people in order to find space to writehow she encourages inspirationGuest: Jodie Chapman Twitter: @jodiechapman IG: @jodiechapman Books: Another Life by Jodie Chapman Host: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family by Kate SawyerJodie’s recommendations: A book for fans of Another Life: The End of the Affair by Graham Greene A book Jodie has always loved: The Bell Jar by...2022-06-1459 min
Novel ExperienceS1 Ep10 Buki Papillon author of An Ordinary WonderDebut author Buki Papillon author of AN ORDINARY WONDER.Buki chats about:discovering writing as a consequence of circumstancediscipline in order to concentrate on writinghow stories repeat themselves in different cultures and folklore around the worldGuest: Buki Papillon Twitter: @bukipapillon IG: @bukipapillon Books: An Ordinary Wonder by Buki PapillonHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family by Kate SawyerBuki’s recommendations: A book for fans of An Ordinary Wonder: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennet A book Buki has always loved: The Icarus Gi...2022-06-0738 min
Novel ExperienceS1 Ep9 Bethany Clift author of Last One At The Party & Love And Other Human ErrorsAuthor Bethany Clift discusses her novels LAST ONE AT THE PARTY and LOVE AND OTHER HUMAN ERRORS.Beth chats about:the novel she wrote over 20 years ago that was *nearly* but not quite publishedwriting about a pandemic during a pandemichaving your book optioned for screenwriting genre defying booksGuest: Bethany Clift Twitter: @Beth_Clift IG: @beth_writes_stuff Books: Last One At The Party by Bethany Clift & Love and Other Human Errors Host: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family by Kate SawyerBeth’s recommendations: A book fo...2022-05-3147 min
Novel ExperienceS1 E8 Emma Stonex author of The LamplightersSunday Times bestselling author Emma Stonex author of THE LAMPLIGHTERS.Emma chats about:writing being a collaborative processhow the success of a book is only ever partly down to its qualityhow much joy there is to be had in the writing of a bookhow different books command to be written to a background of either music or soundtrackGuest: Emma Stonex Twitter: @stonexemma Instagram: @stonexemma Books: The Lamplighters by Emma Stonex Host: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer Instagram: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer &This Family by Kate SawyerEmma’s recommendations: A book for fa...2022-05-2449 min
Novel ExperienceS1 Ep7 Greg Buchanan author of Sixteen Horses & ConsumedBestselling author and game writer Greg Buchanan, author of crime thriller SIXTEEN HORSES and the forthcoming CONSUMED.Greg chats about:the pacing in his novelshis PHD on sequencing in fictionbeing inspired by Stephen King at a very young agehow writing for video games informs his fiction writingGuest author: Greg Buchanan Twitter: @gregbuchanan Instagram: @gregbuchananwriter Books: Sixteen Horses by Greg BuchananHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer NOW OUT IN PAPERBACK & This Family by Kate SawyerGreg’s recommendationsA book for fans of Sixteen Horses: The Picnic at Ha...2022-05-1947 min
Novel ExperienceS1 Ep6 Jennifer Saint author of Ariadne, Elektra & AtalantaInternational Bestselling author Jennifer Saint. Author of ARIADNE, ELEKTRA and ATALANTAJennifer chats about:retelling ancient stories through a modern lensher background in studying and teaching the classicshow she manages her time in order to write a novel a yearGuest: Jennifer Saint Twitter: @jennysaint IG: @jenifer.saint.author Books: Ariadne by Jennifer Saint, Elektra by Jennifer Saint, Atalanta by Jennifer Saint Elektra Host: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family by Kate SawyerJennifer’s recommendations: A book for fans of Jennifer’s work: Greek Myths by Char...2022-05-0342 min
Novel ExperienceS1 Ep5 Fíona Scarlett author of Boys Don't CryFiona Scarlett author of BOYS DON'T CRYFiona chats about:rhythm of language and finding your prose stylethe value of a virtual writing groupwriting around children and workhow bursaries can change a writer's futureGuest author: Fíona Scarlett Twitter: @Scarlett_for_ya Books: Boys Don't Cry by Fiona ScarlettHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family (coming May 2023. Fiona’s recommendationsA book for fans of Boys don’t Cry: Grief is the Thing with Feathers by Max Porter The Commitments by Roddy Doyle The Barry Town Trilo...2022-04-2650 min
Novel ExperienceS1 Ep4 Neema Shah author of Kololo HillNeema Shah author of KOLOLO HILL published by Picador.Neema chats about:writing around a full-time jobusing her family history as a basis for a story but transposing it to a different countryresearching in Ugandahow her background in marketing informed the launch of her debut when everything was onlineGuest author: Neema Shah Twitter: @NeemaMShah Instagram: @NeemaShahAuthorHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family (coming May 2023. Neema's recommendationsA book for fans of Kololo Hill: Fragile Monsters by Catherine Menon A book Neema has always loved:Fingersmith by...2022-04-1942 min
Novel ExperienceS1 Ep3 Laura Kay author of The Split, Tell Me Everything & Wild ThingsAuthor and journalist Laura Kay author of queer romcoms WILD THINGS, TELL ME EVERYTHING and THE SPLIT.Laura chats about:writing about friendshipfinding the route through plot by walkingfinding a good space to writereading and writing spicy gay relationshipsGuest: Laura Kay Twitter: @lauraelizakay Instagram: @lauraekay Books: Tell Me Everything by Laura Kay, The Split by Laura Kay & Wild Things by Laura KayHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family (coming May 2023. Laura's recommendationsBooks for fans of Laura Kay:In At The Deep End by Kate Davies...2022-04-1230 min
Novel ExperienceS1 Ep2 - A.J. West author of The Spirit EngineerGuest author: AJ West Twitter: @AJWestAuthor Instagram: @ajwestauthor Book: The Spirit Engineer by AJ West Host: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family (coming May 2023. AJ's recommendations A book for fans of The Spirit Engineer: A Magician Among the Spirits by Harry Houdini A book AJ has always loved: Jude The Obscure by Thomas Hardy Something AJ has enjoyed recently: The Other Guest by Helen Cooper & The Book You Need to Read to Write the Book you Want to Write by Sarah Burton and Jem Poster Other books mentioned in the...2022-04-0546 min