215: Panning for gold - with Chris Lloyd

The Hobcast Book Show

The Occupation Series — Chris Lloyd

35:02

The healing power of fitness goes far beyond physical benefits—for today’s guest, it’s a form of self-expression and a celebration of what the body can do. In this episode, host Nora McInerny sits down with fitness personality Ivylis Rivera, who shares her deeply personal journey of navigating life with Chronic Migraine while holding onto her passion for movement. Ivylis opens up about the struggle of staying active while facing the fear of triggering a headache or migraine attack and the resilience it takes to keep pushing forward—a resilience that carried her through the challenging journey of finding a Chronic Migraine treatment plan that worked for her. Join Nora and Ivylis as they explore the concept of “soft living,” a philosophy Ivylis embraces—staying active, listening to your body, and building trust in oneself. Click here for Product Information, including Boxed Warning and Medication Guide, or visit https://abbv.ie/prescribing_info See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

about a year ago 1:07:33

MP3•Episode home

In the second part of our interview with award-winning historical author Chris Lloyd, we discover how unexpected historical research details impact his storytelling and novels. Chris spends three months digging into the minutiae of life in wartime Paris for each of his Occupation Series novels, and is often surprised by what he finds. As he explains, his plans can change dramatically as a result.

Also this week, we discuss this year's author line-up for the Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Festival in Harrogate. Is it the same old faces, or can we look forward to something a bit different from this year's chair, Mick Herron?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

201 episodes

#Arts #Business #Adrian Hobart #Publishing #Writing #Crime Fiction #Authors #Audiobooks #Indie Publishing

The Hobcast Book Show

215: Panning for gold - with Chris Lloyd

The Hobcast Book Show

published about a year ago

MP3•Episode home

The Occupation Series — Chris Lloyd

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

201 episodes

#Arts #Business #Adrian Hobart #Publishing #Writing #Crime Fiction #Authors #Audiobooks #Indie Publishing

All episodes

The Hobcast Book Show

1
222: Finding inspiration - with Alison Stockham 1:34:42

2 days ago1:34:42

1:34:42

We're thrilled to be speaking to author Alison Stockham again on The Hobcast Book Show . Alison joins us for a third time, to celebrate the recent release of her latest psychological thriller, The Man She Married published by Boldwood Books. Regular listeners will know that Alison has a background in TV and film production, worked with the Cambridge Literary Festival, and is now a full-time author. In this great interview, Alison discusses the challenges she faced ensuring that her latest protagonist, an Australian woman, was authentic and believable. So sit back and enjoy our in depth discussion about accents, Neighbours and coffee! Also this week, Adrian and Rebecca discuss the potential implications of yet another huge change i n the way that audiobook distributor Findaway Voices will operate from August as rights-holders are forced to use two platforms for their productions rather than one. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Man-She-Married-Alison-Stockham-ebook/dp/B0CW1PV9HD Spotify Transitions Select Audiobook Distribution Services to INaudio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Hobcast Book Show

1
221: Meet the queen of Catalan crime fiction - with Teresa Solana 1:31:58

10 days ago1:31:58

1:31:58

Can crime fiction rebuild a national identity? Our guest this week, award-winning author Teresa Solana , believes it can certainly help. Teresa has won admirers world-wide for her crime fiction centered on her native Catalonia and Barcelona, which has been translated into eight languages. But she's most proud of her contribution to rekindling the Catalan language, so long repressed under the regime of General Franco following the Spanish Civil War. Teresa tells us that crime fiction is the perfect vehicle to celebrate the language, the culture and unique humour of the people of the city and wider region. Now living in Bristol, Teresa is also a translator, and was director of the translation center in Tarassona between 1998 and 2004. Her most recent novel, Black Storms , was published in translation by Corylus Books last October. This is a joyous interview celebrating the power of language. Also this week, Amazon and KDP announce a cut in royalties for paperbacks priced below a certain threshold. Does this spell the end of indie and self-publishing? And can Rebecca master a new random accent? Teresa Solana – Corylus Books https://www.amazon.co.uk/Black-Storms-Teresa-Solana/dp/1739298977 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Hobcast Book Show

1
220: Juggling Multiple Series - with Douglas Skelton 1:33:24

17 days ago1:33:24

1:33:24

Our guest this week, Scottish crime author Douglas Skelton probably won't mind us saying that he's had an eclectic career, so juggling writing several book series in parallel might be easier for him than it would be for other authors. As we discuss in this wide-ranging interview, Douglas wrote several true crime non-fiction books before switching to crime fiction in 2013. Nominated multiple times for the prestigious McIlvanney prize, Douglas has established himself as one of Scotland's leading crime authors, and last year published three novels: his sixth Rebecca Connolly contemporary thriller The Hollow Mountain , and two books in his historical crime and adventure Company of Rogues series set in the early 18th century. So how does he manage to juggle the demands of two series and be so prolific? Also this week, we discuss how last week's release of an AI enabled writing course from Agatha Christie has gone down on social media, and we celebrate releasing our latest Hobeck title, the brilliant Year Zero by Rob Gittins . Douglas Skelton - Crime Writer The Hollow Mountain: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hollow-Mountain-Rebecca-Connolly-Thriller-ebook/dp/B0CM4N8SDD A Thief's Blood: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Thiefs-Blood-gripping-historical-thriller-ebook/dp/B0D52DXP38 Year Zero : https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=year+zero+rob+gittins&crid=3L1RZ56WH8XHU https://www.hobeck.net Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Hobcast Book Show

1
219: Planning for publishing success - with Jayne Chard 1:33:06

24 days ago1:33:06

1:33:06

We love speaking to true storytellers on The Hobcast Book Show . Our guest this week, Jayne Chard , fits that description perfectly, even though she published her debut novel, More Than Murder this week. It's the first in a series of cosy crime novels Jayne plans to publish. But Jayne is no stranger to telling crime stories. She is a hugely successful and award-winning TV and film drama producer, with the hugely popular BBC cold-case drama Silent Witness prominent in her list of credits. She's also been a documentary maker, playwright and theatre director. But Jayne will be the first to admit that she's found the process of publishing her first book at times challenging and frustrating, with many hurdles thrown up by the publishing platforms and industry systems. So can you plan your way to publishing success, applying the lessons learned from a career at the top of TV and film production? This is a fascinating and wide-ranging interview. Also this week, should we dismayed that Agatha Christie has been brought back to life by the BBC and AI to teach aspiring writers the secrets of her craft? And should a book published by an imprint owned by Penguin Random House feature in the Independent Publishing Bestseller lists? Jayne Chard – Author Of More Than Murder https://www.amazon.co.uk/More-Than-Murder-unputdownable-intriguing-ebook/dp/B0F381RKHS Agatha Christie AI BBC Maestro behind-the-scenes: https://youtu.be/26Tn5OjMcAM?si=0n6HwXpX1oL7D_ZW 6Tn5OjMcAM?si=0n6HwXpX1oL7D_ZW Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Hobcast Book Show

1
218: Protest in America - with Denise Ohio 1:35:59

4 weeks ago1:35:59

1:35:59

It's fair to say that 2025 has been an unusual and surprising year so, driven largely by events in the United States. Almost as soon as we record our news section for The Hobcast Book Show , it fast becomes out of date as President Trump signs a new executive order or publishes his latest social media post. Upheaval in America is nothing new of course, but for our guest this week, author and film maker Denise Ohio , current challenges hold strong echoes with an event she has spent many years researching and publicising, the 1916 Everett Massacre. It's the subject of Ohio's documentary Verona: The Story of the Everett Massacre which took twenty years to make. It tells the story of the events of Sunday 5th November, 1916, when members of a union, the I.W.W arrived on the dock at Everett to support the striking shingle weavers who'd been on strike for five months. When violence broke out, several men lay dead or dying. It's become a celebrated event in the struggle for free speech in the United States, but as Ohio tells us, events were far more complex than that - so much so - she has now embarked on writing eight novels telling the stories of some of the people involved. This is a fascinating and thought-provoking interview that draws parallels between today's events and the struggles of the past. Also this week, we discuss how the closure of crowd-sourced publishing pioneers Unbound will leave some contributors out of pocket, and is it ever write to microwave a mug of coffee? Verona: The Story of the Everett Massacre Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Hobcast Book Show

1
217: What young people read - with Toorop Mavo students, NL 1:21:52

6 weeks ago1:21:52

1:21:52

We're really excited to be bringing you something different in this week's show. We're joined by six students from Toorop Mavo in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, all of whom are taking the Cambridge English course as an additional option to their usual studies. All our guests are around 15 years old, and each read one of our Hobeck books before we interviewed them - choosing between Echo Rock by Robert Daws , and a prequel novella by Lin Le Versha . So what did they make of their first taste of crime fiction? And what do they normally read? This is a fascinating interview that highlights the challenges younger reader face in finding time to read, and even access to books. Also this week, we ask if the UK government are exploiting the country's creative sector to secure a trade deal with the United States, and we discuss a new development for Kindle users - "Recap" - which uses AI to give readers a reminder of key events from book series they love before they read their next instalment. De Toorop Mavo De TooropMavo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Hobcast Book Show

1
216: Entertainingly Murderous - with Caroline Westbrook 1:30:52

7 weeks ago1:30:52

1:30:52

A few weeks ago we had the pleasure of speaking to veteran entertainment and celebrity public relations expert and author, Peter Berry . He gave us an insight into how difficult it is to mediate between his celebrity clients and the demands of journalists. It's time to hear from the other side of things. Debut author Caroline Westbrook is an entertainment journalist who has faced the challenge of encouraging her celebrity interviewees to say something fresh and interesting, even if it's the hundredth interview of their promotional tour. Drawing extensively on her career in newspapers, magazines and the BBC, her novel Troublemaker delves into the high-pressure world of entertainment journalism and gives it a murderous twist. As Caroline, writing as C.R Westbrook explains, many of her colleagues believe they've been the inspiration behind her characters. Also this week, Adrian and Rebecca discuss the potential impact of Donald Trump's trade tariffs on the publishing industry. Will books be harder to sell in uncertain economic times? https://www.amazon.co.uk/TROUBLEMAKER-C-R-Westbrook-ebook/dp/B0DQ16S84J Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Hobcast Book Show

1
215: Panning for gold - with Chris Lloyd 1:07:33

8 weeks ago1:07:33

1:07:33

In the second part of our interview with award-winning historical author Chris Lloyd , we discover how unexpected historical research details impact his storytelling and novels. Chris spends three months digging into the minutiae of life in wartime Paris for each of his Occupation Series novels , and is often surprised by what he finds. As he explains, his plans can change dramatically as a result. Also this week, we discuss this year's author line-up for the Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Festival in Harrogate. Is it the same old faces, or can we look forward to something a bit different from this year's chair, Mick Herron? The Occupation Series — Chris Lloyd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Hobcast Book Show

1
214: Embrace your author nature - with Chris Lloyd 1:09:10

9 weeks ago1:09:10

1:09:10

Some interviews are so fascinating we decide to run them over two episodes. That was certainly the case with our guest this week, Chris Lloyd , winner of the Historical Writers' Association Gold Crown for the best historical novel of the year. The winning title, The Unwanted Dead was the opening novel in his Occupation Series, set in wartime Paris, in which Detective Eddie Giral tries to ensure justice is served despite working under Nazi occupation. In part one of this interview, Chris explains that he's learned to accept that he's a born pantser as an author, and that his best work comes when he allows inspiration to lead him, rather than a firm plan. Also this week, we discuss the story that has dominated the minds of indie authors and publishers this week - the revelation that Facebook's parent-company Meta has used illegal pirate websites to ingest vast quantities of copyright-protected fiction and non-fiction to teach its AI models. How should authors react? And what can be done to protect their rights and incomes? Chris Lloyd - Crime Fiction Author https://www.amazon.co.uk/Unwanted-Dead-Chris-Lloyd-ebook/dp/B086GJ2B83 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Hobcast Book Show

1
213: How to follow a dream debut - with Callum McSorley 1:28:38

10 weeks ago1:28:38

1:28:38

We'd like to introduce you to two words, if you haven't already discovered them, that will change your life. One is stramash , a Scottish noun for "uproar, brawl or tumult." The other, which also features in the back cover blurb of our guest Callum McSorley 's second novel, is the brilliant shitemire, which we think succinctly sums up the world at present. As you'll hear, both words feature fairly heavily in our interview with Callum, who enjoyed a stellar debut with his breakthrough novel Squeaky Clean in 2023. Amongst the accolades and amazing critical reviews it received, it won the coveted McIvanney Prize for the best Scottish crime novel. Set in a car wash in East Glasgow, and inspired by Callum's experience of working in one, it's a dazzling and funny crime novel. His follow up, Paperboy , was released last week. So how has Callum coped with the pressure of second-novel syndrome? Also this week, it's an exciting week for Hobeck Books with the release of our psychological thriller , What You See by Hilly Barmby , and Rebecca reflects on her visit to this year's London Book Fair. callummcsorley.com https://www.amazon.co.uk/Squeaky-Clean-Callum-McSorley-ebook/dp/B0BT8SGQLV https://www.amazon.co.uk/Paperboy-Callum-McSorley-ebook/dp/B0DFYC9KFH https://www.amazon.co.uk/What-You-See-page-turning-psychological-ebook/dp/B0DS44FTSG Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Hobcast Book Show

1
212: Writing on the job - with Jenny O'Brien 1:33:57

11 weeks ago1:33:57

1:33:57

Finding time to write can be one of the biggest challenges for any author. That's certainly the experience of our guest this week, Jenny O'Brien , who for years had to find pockets of time in her busy career as a nurse to jot down ideas or write scenes. She tells us she always had a notebook handy, and sometimes used dictation during her breaks on the ward to add to her work in progress. Now the successful author of the popular Detective Gaby Darin series published by HQ Digital, as well as romances and psychological thrillers, her next novel published next month, The Book of Lost Children , is a departure for Jenny; it's partially set in Guernsey in 1943. Also in this inspiring interview, Jenny explains how a love of open water swimming has fueled her creativity. Also this week, we discuss how American tariffs are scaring the U.S publishing industry, and Rebecca looks forward to her visit to this year's London Book Fair in London. Jenny O'Brien Author | Irish writer Detective Gaby Darin (6 book series) Kindle edition https://www.amazon.co.uk/Book-Lost-Children-Jenny-OBrien-ebook/dp/B0DTX81TG4 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Hobcast Book Show

1
211: The Wonder of Storytelling - with Cauvery Madhavan 1:22:34

12 weeks ago1:22:34

1:22:34

We're always on the lookout for ways to unlock the creative juices, and our guest this week, author Cauvery Madhavan recommends an early morning round of golf to set the mood. Born in India, but based in Ireland since her early twenties, Cauvery draws inspiration from both her homeland and her adopted country for her storytelling. The author of four novels, her most recent work, The Inheritance , was published last year. Set in the stunning Beara Peninsular in south-west Ireland, it tells the story of Marlo, a young London-Irish man who moves to the area to recover from a devastating revelation. He inherits a minibus service from a neighbour, unleashing a series of surprising adventures. As Cauvery explains, she never sets out with a plan for her books, but delights in the way her characters and settings guide her work. This is a joyous interview. Also this week, we discuss how several leading UK literary festivals are working together to survive hard times, and how arts bodies in the United States are reacting to tough new directives brought in by the Trump administration. Cauvery Madhavan – Author, Journalist, Blogger https://www.amazon.co.uk/Inheritance-Cauvery-Madhavan-ebook/dp/B0DF93T83H Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Hobcast Book Show

1
210: Finding the spark - with Roxie Key 1:16:24

13 weeks ago1:16:24

1:16:24

Over the course of four years of creating this podcast we've noticed certain themes emerge, not least the challenging path many writers take to final publication. Our guest this week, author Roxie Key , is a good example. As she tells us, she faced dozens of rejections from both publishers and agents before she secured representation and finally a deal with HQ for her debut novel, The Deadly Spark . It's an inspiring tale of perseverance. Roxie also explains how a creative writing degree from Middlesex University helped her to discover her voice, but perhaps more importantly showed her which writing styles and genres suited her best. The final key moment came when she discovered the crime fiction of Jane Casey in a charity shop, and Roxie fell in love with the genre. Also this week, we discuss how many of the UK's leading creative figures are pressuring the government not to give AI companies free-reign to use their work without compensation, and we celebrate the publication of two new Hobeck Books titles by Lin Le Versha and David Jarvis . Roxie Key - Author | Facebook https://www.amazon.co.uk/Deadly-Spark-brand-new-addictive-psychological-ebook/dp/B0CLN33FG3 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Spots-gripping-Suffolk-mystery-ebook/dp/B0DPRCPBDY https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mongoose-Cobra-Mike-Kingdom-Thrillers-ebook/dp/B0DLQV47YV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Hobcast Book Show

1
209: Meet the Deadly Dozen - with Peter Berry 1:31:07

14 weeks ago1:31:07

1:31:07

Regular listeners to The Hobcast Book Show will know how obsessed Adrian is about Sir Michael Caine. So imagine his excitement when he found out our guest this week has acted as the great man's P.R. Not only that, but Peter Berry has represented some of the biggest film, TV, and music stars of the past thirty years, not to mention superstar chef Jamie Oliver too. Now Peter has become an author, with the second of his crime novels featuring The Deadly Dozen, Revenge of the Deadly Dozen , published by Bloodhound last month. As Peter explains, he wanted to create a team of retired protagonists for these novels - each bringing their specialist skills to the collective. But isn't managing the storylines of so many characters a huge challenge? Listen to hear how Peter dealt with that issue, and how a certain Hollywood superstar would call him each year to wish him a happy Christmas... Also this week, we discuss how a cyber attack has disrupted one of the UK's leading book printing companies, and ask if the UK industry is ready to follow the lead of Simon and Schuster and abandon the practice of seeking puffs or blurbs to put on book covers. Peter Berry — Bloodhound Books https://www.amazon.co.uk/Revenge-Deadly-Dozen-unmissable-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B0DFYP926Y Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Hobcast Book Show

1
208: From Comedy to Crime - with Colin Bostock-Smith 1:24:13

15 weeks ago1:24:13

1:24:13

We often get a little giddy when we anticipate speaking to our guests on the show. That was certainly the case when we perused Colin Bostock-Smith's extraordinary list of comedy writing credits: The Two Ronnies, Not the Nine O'Clock News, The Clive James Show and Metal Mickey to name but a few. Now Colin has turned his hand to crime fiction. His debut novel, Sting of the Nettle was published by Diamond Books last month. It's a cosy murder mystery set in rural Devon in the 1950s, and draws extensively on Colin's childhood memories. As Colin tells us, the novel, the first in a series, came together quickly - a career of having to write rapidly for TV and radio certainly helped. This is a fascinating interview that takes you straight into the writing rooms of some of the greatest shows in British TV history. Also this week, we discuss how the 'Big Six' UK publishers all enjoyed sales growth for their e-books in 2024, and the revelation that 90% of all e-book sales last year were sold through Amazon. Colin Bostock-Smith ⋆ Diamond Books https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sting-Nettle-Martin-Mysteries-Book-ebook/dp/B0DSGPPYFX Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Hobcast Book Show

1
207: The power of prizes - with Anna Vaught 1:30:57

16 weeks ago1:30:57

1:30:57

As you may be aware, we run a short-story competition alongside presenting The Hobcast Book Show and our publishing firm, Hobeck Books. The Henshaw Short Story competition has uncovered many new talented authors, and raised funds to support school libraries. So we were delighted to be contacted by author Anna Vaught who has created The Curae Prize for non-paid carers. There are millions of people in the UK alone who fall into this category, and Anna is proud that it has given so many people their first opportunity to explore their creativity despite often very difficult day-to-day circumstances. Anna herself is an accomplished published author of fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Her fascination with magical realism shines through her work. She's also an editor, reviewer and English teacher. This is a fascinating, and dare we say it, magically eclectic interview! Also this week, we welcome the decision by one Simon and Schuster executive, Sean Manning , to call for an end to the industry-wide practice of chasing authors for 'blurbs' or 'puffs' from their contemporaries. He argues that all that time spent chasing around for nice comments that can be splashed on the cover or inside pages is a waste of time, which could be better used writing more books instead. And we ask, will the new international trade tariffs imposed by President Trump signal difficult times ahead for publishing? Anna Vaught Writes – Dr Anna Vaught: teacher, mentor, author, campaigner – Novels, short fiction, nonfiction, teaching, mentoring and editing The Curae Prize – A writing prize – just for writers who are also carers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Hobcast Book Show

1
206: The state of the crime fiction nation - with Donna Morfett 1:08:16

16 weeks ago1:08:16

1:08:16

As we start 2025's run of shows, we thought we'd catch up with one of UK crime fiction's biggest champions, Donna Morfett , who returns to the show for the third time. Donna is a prolific blogger, the founder of The Dark Side of Brighton weekend crime festival, and an author in her own right. In recent weeks though, she's revealed how she's become embroiled in a dispute with a well-known fiction editor who she offered to help by lending her PayPal account. The act, made in good faith, left Donna owing a debt recovery company £1000. Encouraged by many members of the UK Crime Fiction community, Donna launched a Go Fund Me campaign and raised enough money to cover the debt in less than three days. As she tells us, the generosity of the donors has been extraordinary, and she remains determined to ensure that others don't face the issues she has. Also this week, we pay tribute to former guest Amer Anwar (episode 118) who very sadly passed away this week. And we ask, will the potential sale of the WH Smith UK high shops change the publishing landscape? Donna Morfett - Author Select tickets – The Darkside of Brighton 2025 – Old Ship Hotel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Hobcast Book Show

1
205: Learning from co-writing - with Joel Hames 1:29:55

18 weeks ago1:29:55

1:29:55

As we return for 2025, the new year has already proved one thing - nothing in publishing ever stands still. It's an industry that is constantly evolving and adapting and facing new challenges. Our guest this week, author and editor Joel Hames , in many ways reflects this. As he tells us, when he released his first novel in 2014 he assumed the world would be ready to embrace it. Now, as an editor of dozens of books and a much more experienced author, he views his craft very differently. It's his close working relationship with bestselling author Rachel McLean that has made the biggest difference, Joel says. The fifth novel in their co-authored Cumbria Crime Series, The Lake , is released this week. With three books scheduled to be released each year, with reader magnets in between, Joel has had to become far more prolific and adapt his craft. In this fascinating interview he shares how he's adapted and changed as an author over the past decade. Also this week, does the brief TikTok shutdown in the U.S herald more upheaval in the marketing sphere, and we discuss the issues facing innovative crowd-sourced publisher, Unbound. Joel Hames – Author – Books that make you want to read https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lake-Cumbria-Crime-Book-ebook/dp/B0DGYN1DFT Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Hobcast Book Show

1
204: Crossing Genres - with Claire Sheldon 1:30:20

23 weeks ago1:30:20

1:30:20

We're delighted to be joined this week by crime author Claire Sheldon , author of the Jen Garner series . Published by Choc Lit, an imprint of Joffe Books, Claire has laced her main character's life with a host of secrets and contradictions that threaten her perfect life. With four books published to date, the series offers a mix of psychological fiction and police procedural, and has built a loyal fan base. Also this week, Adrian and Rebecca ask if The Bookseller 's attempt to rank commissioning editors using data science misses the whole point and art of discovering new talent, and they reflect on another busy year as we approach Christmas. NOTE - The Hobcast Book Show will return in the New Year. Claire Sheldon - Author | Facebook https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-Lie-addictive-thriller-Detective-ebook/dp/B0DJDG4L1F Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Hobcast Book Show

1
203: Finding your voice in poetry - with Maria Cohut 1:27:01

24 weeks ago1:27:01

1:27:01

We've delved into poetry on a few rare occasions on The Hobcast Book Show , so it feels right we explore it again with our guest, Maria Cohut . Maria's most recent published collection is Spatter Pattern , in which she takes inspiration from her love of classic crime fiction to give her poetry a narrative theme and power. As Maria tells us, she wants to explore challenging themes, particularly around gender-related violence, and leaning into crime fiction themes and metaphors gave her greater freedom creatively. This is a fascinating and thought-provoking interview. Also this week, Adrian and Rebecca react to the news that next year's Crimefest will be the last, and ask with that platform gone, how will up-and-coming crime authors get their voices heard? Maria Cohut (@mariac_phd) • Instagram photos and videos Spatter Pattern - Maria Cohut CrimeFest - Bristol's Annual Crime Fiction Convention Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Hobcast Book Show

1
202: A career as a storyteller - with Georgia Jeffries 1:37:10

25 weeks ago1:37:10

1:37:10

We're delighted to be joined this week by multi-award winning author and screenwriter Georgia Jeffries from her home in Pasadena, California. Georgia's career in Hollywood began in the early 80s when she was invited to join the team behind a new cop drama, Cagney and Lacey , after she sent in a script on spec. With countless Writers Guild Awards and Golden Globes to her name, Georgia has recently released her most personal project to date - The Younger Girl - a historical thriller based on the tragedy that befell her aunt Aldine Younger in 1933 just outside Chicago. Georgia explains how the novel emerged from a journey that she and her father took shortly before he died to uncover the true story of Aldine's fate. Now a professor at the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts, Georgia explains how she has drawn on her extensive career in TV and film to bring this family story to life. Also this week, Adrian and Rebecca discuss the claim by new publishing startup Spines they'll be able to publish 8000 books next year by leaning heavily into AI publishing technology. Is it a threat to the existing publishing model, or is it vanity publishing in a different guise? About | Author Georgia Jeffries https://www.amazon.co.uk/Younger-Girl-Historical-Thriller-Based-ebook/dp/B0DFRC4YD3 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Hobcast Book Show

1
201: Juggling a complex narrative - with Ben Hawken 1:33:03

26 weeks ago1:33:03

1:33:03

The great American novelist, Sinclair Lewis, was once asked by another writer how to approach flashbacks in fiction. The answer was simple and blunt. "Don't." So what do you do if your story demands time jumps? How do you deal with the complex narrative threads and keep your readers on board? It's one of the issues that our guest, Ben Hawken , faced with his debut novel Chandelier . His solution came in his editing process. He revised his manuscript repeatedly and read it out loud to spot any inconsistencies or issues. Ben says he hopes the result is a thrilling and expansive story, "both breathtaking in its scope and intensely intimate in its approach." This is a fascinating interview delving deep into how Ben realised his ambitious vision for the novel. Also this week, we ask if Elon Musk's reach and power is really scaring publishers off from releasing biographies of him, and we delve into the new phenomenon of low-cost re-releases of classic works that have gone out of copyright. Is it really ok to add AI generated analysis of Dickens in the preface and call it scholarship? https://www.benhawken.com/ https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chandelier-Ben-Hawken-ebook/dp/B0DFP6R3B8 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Hobcast Book Show

1
200: The secrets of a successful series - with Michael Wood 1:16:07

27 weeks ago1:16:07

1:16:07

We've done it! 200 episodes of The Hobcast Book Show ! To celebrate this landmark, we're joined by bestselling crime author Michael Wood , creator of the DCI Matilda Darke series . His twelfth novel in the series, Last One Left Alive , was published by Harper Collins imprint One More Chapter last month. In this fascinating interview, Michael explains how he moved from being an avowed crime fiction fan to successful author, and his secrets for keeping the novels fresh and inventive, as well as taking his principal character into unexplored challenges and difficulties. He also shares with us the challenges he's faced creating a new psychological thriller series, starring Dr Olivia Winter. Also this week. we discuss the implications of a major takeover in the UK crime fiction publishing scene, and we're delighted to hear that 50 year old book tokens can still be used to buy books! Amazon.co.uk: Michael Wood: books, biography, latest update DCI Matilda Darke (13 book series) Kindle edition https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0CV4YPDST Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Hobcast Book Show

1
199: The Future of Truth - with Lindley Gooden 1:29:25

28 weeks ago1:29:25

1:29:25

Never has "truth" been under greater scrutiny than in the past months leading up to Donald Trump's re-election to the Presidency last week. It seems that every side of every debate claims to be speaking the truth, and accuses their opponents of spreading disinformation or downright lying. No matter what the issue, not everyone can be right, can they? So how do you discern what you can believe and what you can't. Our guest this week, Lindley Gooden , has written The Future of Truth: And How to Get There . Drawing on his many years as a journalist, Lindley offers some tips and techniques anyone can apply to check the veracity of what they read, are told and what they see. As Lindley tells us, these techniques have never been more needed. Also this week, we discuss why Jamie Oliver has been forced to withdraw his latest children's book from sale worldwide, and we run through the shortlist for the world's weirdest book titles this year. Lindley Gooden The Future of Truth (and How to Get There) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Hobcast Book Show

1
198: Drawing on your life experience - with Gillian Jackson 1:19:49

29 weeks ago1:19:49

1:19:49

Every so often an interview will take a truly unexpected direction. That's the case this week as we speak to prolific author Gillian Jackson in her first ever podcast appearance. Gillian principally writes psychological fiction, which to some extent draws on her professional experiences as a therapeutic counsellor working with Victim Support. But as she reveals in this startling interview, she also draws on some difficult experiences of her own. He most recent novel, Ask Laura , marks a departure for Gillian into women's fiction, but all her work is imbued with humanity and empathy. Also this week, Adrian and Rebecca discuss the results of the Written Word Media Survey of independent authors which reveals a growing antipathy towards paid advertising platforms like Facebook and Amazon Ads. So what's the alternative? Gillian Jackson – Fiction, Non-fiction and Short Stories https://www.writtenwordmedia.com/2024-indie-author-survey-results-insights-into-self-publishing-for-authors/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Hobcast Book Show

1
197: Bringing it home - with A J Aberford 1:25:46

30 weeks ago1:25:46

1:25:46

We're delighted to be speaking to Hobeck Books author Tony Gartland , writing as AJ Aberford , in this episode, to mark the release of The Car Horn Revolution - the sixth and potentially final novel in the George Zammit series . It's perhaps the most personal adventure for our accidental Maltese police hero, as the book is set firmly in Malta, and his whole family face danger as geopolitical intrigue and outside forces threaten the island. It's been a remarkable journey for author and character alike - originally Tony wrote Bodies in the Water as a standalone thriller, but three years and five books further, George has risen through the ranks of the Maltese police. We discuss the cultural impact that George has made on Malta, and Tony also shares plans for a change of direction in his writing career. Also this week, will a letter signed by over ten thousand famous creators really make the AI companies pause for thought? And we hear how Bob Dylan lost sleep thanks to the night time antics of hordes of publishers. Home | AJ Aberford https://www.amazon.co.uk/Car-Horn-Revolution-action-packed-Inspector-ebook/dp/B0DDHSWZKL Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Hobcast Book Show

1
196: AI Can't Write, But You Can - with Tom Albrighton 1:17:43

31 weeks ago1:17:43

1:17:43

Regular listeners to The Hobcast Book Show might be forgiven for thinking that we're obsessed with AI. There's barely a week when we don't discuss the latest encroachment of AI into the publishing world, whether it be machine generated text and covers, or AI mimicking the work of audiobook narrators. Above all, we're concerned about how the big tech companies have ingested copyrighted works into their systems without any recompense for their creators. Our guest this week, Tom Albrighton , has just released a book examining these issues and assessing the scale and impact of AI systems on human creativity, particularly writing. How much of a threat do AI systems pose? In AI Can't Write, But You Can: Why human writing matters in the age of ChatGPT , Tom argues that AI systems are essentially highly-developed predictive text machines. They're good at synthesising what's expected in a certain type of writing, but they remain soulless and prone to mistakes. Tom says that humans should lean in to what makes them unique as authors, and make the most of what AI's lack - emotion. This is a provocative and timely interview. Also this week, have Penguin Random House found a way to beat the AI companies? And why are hardback sales down year-on-year? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cant-Write-But-You-Can-ebook/dp/B0DFJ3RXRB (25) Tom Albrighton | LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Hobcast Book Show

1
195: The melody of great writing - with Nigel Stewart 1:30:49

32 weeks ago1:30:49

1:30:49

It's been an odd week here at The Hobcast Book Show . Rebecca and I have been watching the BBC's new smash-hit cosy crime series, Ludwig , starring David Mitchell. Nothing unusual in that you might say, but each episode has multiple aerial shots of the centre of Cambridge, where the stories are set. Each time they pop up, I exclaim, "there's my church!". I'm referring to Great St Mary's, where I was head chorister back in the early 80s. It reminds me of one of the happiest periods of my life. So why am I mentioning it now? Well, our guest this week, Nigel Stewart was also a chorister in the rather grander setting of Hereford Cathedral. Unlike me, he carried on with his passion for making and writing music. He's also a novelist, with five books released to date, including Colouring In , The Road Home , and Justinian's Daughters . How much do music and writing overlap? Listen to this fascinating interview to find out. Also this week, Adrian and Rebecca react to the claim by Sir Ian Rankin that crime novels are becoming too long, and should be capped at 300 pages. Is that realistic? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Colouring-Nigel-Stewart/dp/1912677067 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Road-Home-Nigel-Stewart/dp/1739501217 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Justinians-Daughters-Nigel-Stewart/dp/173916525X https://www.thetimes.com/article/2a5a03a7-af9d-4b2f-ba4a-b6c29bc8eb84?shareToken=1c45daea137b5399b42bd662d66c1fe4 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Hobcast Book Show

1
194: The power of tropes - with Jennifer Hilt 1:36:13

33 weeks ago1:36:13

1:36:13

We'd be the first to admit that when we hear the word "trope", we give it negative connotations. It might be a British thing, but a trope is often equated to a cliche - something to be shunned and avoided. But our guest this week, bestselling author Jennifer Hilt , believes that authors should embrace tropes and lean into them as much as possible. She argues that all celebrated literature is full of tropes, and that they are the foundation stones of great storytelling. Jennifer, known colloquially as "The Trope Lady", explains her philosophy in her book, The Trope Thesaurus . Jennifer says she was initially slow to recognise the importance and power of tropes, but once she'd made that realisation, she couldn't enjoy a favourite book or film without spotting them. She hopes that authors will also see their importance, and lean into and twist tropes to strengthen their work. Also this week, Adrian and Rebecca reflect on their trip to London for the inaugural gathering of the new Indie Press Network, and ask if publishing is ready to cope with some new EU legislation that will significantly complicate printing books in future. Jennifer Hilt, USA Today Bestselling Author of Non-fiction and Urban Fantasy https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trope-Thesaurus-Jennifer-Hilt/dp/B09PHG395P Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

The Hobcast Book Show

1
193: Coming of age as an author - with Jon McBrine 1:26:12

34 weeks ago1:26:12