You Wrote The Book!

Hello and welcome back to You Wrote The Book, a book based podcast hosted by Simon Savidge. Each fortnight over the coming months he will be joined by a special guest author to discuss their life as a writer and as a reader, from the current novel they have published to the first book they read and everything in between. Simon’s first guest for 2014 is Christos Tsiolkas the author of four novels, Loaded, The Jesus Man, Dead Europe and the book that got everyone talking about it, and indeed reading it, The Slap which became a best seller all over the world, winner of the Commonwealth Prize and shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Award in 2009, it was also longlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2010. Now Tsiolkas has followed it up with Barracuda another novel lifting the lid on Australian life as we follow Danny Kelly an astonishing swimmer who wins all then looses everything. Simon started off by telling Christos he wouldn’t ask him what the book was about as it is an authors least favourite question, they then go on to discuss the dark side of Australian life, the fear of being unsuccessful, and much more... In two weeks time Simon will be joined by Natalie Young to discuss Season To Taste, or as it is subtitled How To Eat Your Husband, you may wish to have a notepad to hand so you can jot down some recipes. He will then be joined by Anthony Marra to discuss A Constellation of Vital Phenomena two weeks after that. If you have any questions for them, would like to suggest authors you think Simon should be getting on the show, or simply want to have a natter about books, you can email youwrotethebook@gmail.com or find us on twitter @youwrotethebook. If you want to hear Simon talking more books do join him every other week with Thomas Otto on The Readers Podcast, you can also find him chatting and reviewing book on his blogSavidge Reads. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes where you can find previous episodes with Evie Wyld, Keith Ridgway, Niccolo Ammaniti, John Boyne, Hannah Kent, Taiye Selasi, Joanne Harris, Patrick Ness, Damian Barr, Maggie O’Farrell and many more.

Hello and welcome back to You Wrote The Book, a book based podcast hosted by Simon Savidge. Each fortnight over the coming months he will be joined by a special guest author to discuss their life as a writer and as a reader, from the current novel they have published to the first book they read and everything in between. Simon’s guest for this episode is none other than Jennifer Saunders, yes the Jennifer Saunders. Really she needs no introduction as she has become a national treasure on all sides of the pond, or indeed every pond and has been making us laugh with her words for years. From the Comic Strip to French and Saunders, Absolutely Fabulous to Shrek 2, Jam and Jerusalem, really the list goes on and on as can the giggles. She has finally released her autobiography Bonkers this year which looks at her life through all the funniest moments, including the times you can find the laughter in the darker bits of life. Simon had the pleasure of sitting down with her for a good old natter about the book, books and, of course, Christmas... That’s it for 2013! Simon will be back in two weeks with Christos Tsiolkas to discuss Barracuda, the highly anticipated novel. He will then be joined by Natalie Young to discuss the book already getting many tongues wagging Season to Taste or How to Eat Your Husband. If you have any questions for them, would like to suggest authors you think Simon should be getting on the show, or simply want to have a natter about books, you can email youwrotethebook@gmail.com or find us on twitter @youwrotethebook. If you want to hear Simon talking more books do join him every other week with Thomas Otto on The Readers Podcast, you can also find him chatting and reviewing book on his blogSavidge Reads. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes where you can find previous episodes with Evie Wyld, Keith Ridgway, Niccolo Ammaniti, John Boyne, Hannah Kent, Taiye Selasi, Joanne Harris, Patrick Ness, Damian Barr, Maggie O’Farrell and many more.

Hello and welcome back to You Wrote The Book, a book based podcast hosted by Simon Savidge. Each fortnight over the coming months he will be joined by a special guest author to discuss their life as a writer and as a reader, from the current novel they have published to the first book they read and everything in between. Simon’s guest for this episode is Eimear McBride whose debut novel A Girl Is A Half Formed Thing took nine years to publish before it won the inaugural Goldsmith’s Prize earlier this year; which celebrates ‘fiction at its most novel’. This wonderfully describes Eimear’s debut, a tale of a young woman coming of age in Ireland whilst living with her mother and sick elder brother. A dark and often confronting tale it is written in one of the most unusual, and equally most beautiful, styles – one not for the faint hearted or fast and furious reader as it is one which takes work but the reward is fantastic. Simon started off by asking Eimear if she could read the opening of the book to give you all a taster A Girl Is A Half Formed Thing before we talked about the book in more detail and how Eimear got it to finally be publisher... Simon will be back in two weeks with Jennifer Saunders for a Christmas Special and welcoming in the new year with Christos Tsiolkas and Natalie Young coming in 2014. If you have any questions for them, would like to suggest authors you think I should be getting on the show, or simply want to have a natter about books, you can email youwrotethebook@gmail.com or find us on twitter @youwrotethebook. If you want to hear Simon talking more books do join him every other week with Thomas Otto on The Readers Podcast, you can also find him chatting and reviewing book on his blogSavidge Reads. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes where you can find previous episodes with Evie Wyld, Keith Ridgway, Niccolo Ammaniti, John Boyne, Hannah Kent, Taiye Selasi, Joanne Harris, Patrick Ness, Damian Barr, Maggie O’Farrell and many more.

Hello and welcome back to You Wrote The Book, a book based podcast hosted by Simon Savidge. Each fortnight over the coming months he will be joined by a special guest author to discuss their life as a writer and as a reader, from the current novel they have published to the first book they read and everything in between. Simon's guest for this episode is Charlie Hill. Charlie’s debut novel The Space Between Things came out in 2010 and has just been followed by his new book, all about books, aptly called Books. Taking a satirical look at the publishing industry we meet Richard Anger a bookshop owner, writer and blogger who is disillusioned with the publishing world. When author Gary Sayles novels start to kill people with their mediocrity Richard, along with neurologist and possible love interest Lauren,  decide something must be done. Simon caught up with Charlie to talk about Books and the book industry, the line between satire and farce, what he thought about social media and the author and which books he thinks could possibly save the word. Coming up over the next few episodes will be authors including Susan Hill, Anthony Marra, Natalie Young and Jennifer Saunders. If you have any questions for them, would like to suggest authors you think I should be getting on the show, or simply want to have a natter about books, you can email youwrotethebook@gmail.com or find us on twitter @youwrotethebook. If you want to hear Simon talking more books do join him every other week with Thomas Otto on The Readers Podcast, you can also find him chatting and reviewing book on his blog Savidge Reads. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes where you can find previous episodes with Evie Wyld, Keith Ridgway, Niccolo Ammaniti, John Boyne, Hannah Kent, Taiye Selasi, Joanne Harris, Patrick Ness, Damian Barr, Maggie O’Farrell and many more.

Hello and welcome back to You Wrote The Book, a book based podcast hosted by Simon Savidge. Each fortnight over the coming months he will be joined by a special guest author to discuss their life as a writer and as a reader, from the current novel they have published to the first book they read and everything in between. Simon's guest for this episode is Meike Ziervogel. Meike runs publishing house Peirene Press, translating novella’s from around Europe into English. Her own debut novel ‘Magda’ came out earlier this year and tells, through three different narratives, the tale of Magda Goebbels who was one of the women at the top of Hitler’s Nazi regime. It is a compelling and emotional tale that was shortlisted for the Not The Booker prize earlier this year.  Simon caught up with Meike to talk about her novel ‘Magda’ and why she couldn’t write it in German, as well as discussing Magda Goebbels herself, mother and child relationships, we also discuss how we look at the Nazi regime now both in England and in Germany, how our history does or doesn’t define us. We also discuss translating fiction from Europe to the UK and the power of the novella... Coming up over the next few episodes will be authors including Susan Hill, Anthony Marra, Natalie Young and Jennifer Saunders. If you have any questions for them, would like to suggest authors you think I should be getting on the show, or simply want to have a natter about books, you can email youwrotethebook@gmail.com or find us on twitter @youwrotethebook. If you want to hear Simon talking more books do join him every other week with Thomas Otto on The Readers Podcast, you can also find him chatting and reviewing book on his blog Savidge Reads. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes where you can find previous episodes with Evie Wyld, Keith Ridgway, Niccolo Ammaniti, John Boyne, Hannah Kent, Taiye Selasi, Joanne Harris, Patrick Ness, Damian Barr, Maggie O’Farrell and many more.

Hello and welcome back to You Wrote The Book, a book based podcast hosted by Simon Savidge. Each fortnight over the coming months he will be joined by a special guest author to discuss their life as a writer and as a reader, from the current novel they have published to the first book they read and everything in between. The guest for this episode is Charlotte Mendelson. Charlotte’s previous novels include ‘When We Were Bad’ which was short listed for the Orange Prize, 'Love In Idleness' and her debut novel ‘Daughters of Jerusalem’ which won both the Somerset Maugham prize and John Llewellyn Rhys prize. Her latest novel ‘Almost English’, was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize earlier this year, it tells of sixteen year old Marina who has left the home of her mother and crazy Hungarian relatives, and  the safety of her comprehensive for what she thinks will be the glamorous world of a boarding school; a place brimming with endless possibilities of boys, midnight feasts, romance and dare she even admit it sex. In reality though it is nothing like she dreams and Marina feels at odds with her surroundings, a lot like her mother Laura who she left back in London. Simon caught up with Charlotte to talk about her novels, book prizes and juggling the roll of editor and author, and started by asking her to explain why she called ‘Almost English’ a book about the ugly years... Coming up over the next few episodes will be authors including Susan Hill and Anthony Marra. If you have any questions for them, would like to suggest authors you think I should be getting on the show, or simply want to have a natter about books, you can email youwrotethebook@gmail.com or find us on twitter @youwrotethebook. If you want to hear Simon talking more books do join him every other week with Thomas Otto on The Readers Podcast, you can also find him chatting and reviewing book on his blog Savidge Reads. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes where you can find previous episodes with Evie Wyld, Keith Ridgway, Niccolo Ammaniti, John Boyne, Hannah Kent, Taiye Selasi, Joanne Harris, Patrick Ness, Damian Barr, Maggie O’Farrell and many more.

Hello and welcome to the You Wrote The Book! podcast, this week with a special guest host Gavin Pugh kindly stepping in for Simon Savidge as he is off sick. Each fortnight Simon is normally joined by a special guest author to discuss their life as a writer and as a reader, from  the current novel they have published to the first book they read and everything in between. However this week we are bringing you a special Not The Booker Prize edition of the show as Simon was asked to be one of the judges this year. In this episode The Guardian have kindly given us permission to use the audio from the judges meeting where Simon along with TV producer Victoria James, writer and researcher Simon Moore were chaired by Sam Jordison, who started by introducing them all and getting them to spill the beans on what they thought should win... Many thanks again to The Guardian for letting us in on the judging panels final deliberations on the  Not The Booker Prize this year. Next fortnight Simon will be back with another special guest author and a slightly different format to the show. Over the next few months he will be joined by Susan Hill, Charlotte Mendleson, Charlie Hill and Jennifer Saunders. If you have any questions for them, would like to suggest authors you think I should be getting on the show, or simply want to have a natter about books, you can email youwrotethebook@gmail.com or find us on twitter @youwrotethebook. If you want to hear Simon talking more books do join him every other week with Thomas Otto on The Readers Podcast, you can also find him chatting and reviewing book on his blog Savidge Reads. Until next time thank you for listening… And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes where you can find previous episodes with Evie Wyld, Keith Ridgway, Niccolo Ammaniti, John Boyne, Hannah Kent, Taiye Selasi, Joanne Harris, Patrick Ness, Damian Barr, Maggie O’Farrell and many more.

Hello and welcome back to You Wrote The Book, a book based podcast hosted by Simon Savidge. Each fortnight over the coming months he will be joined by a special guest author to discuss their life as a writer and as a reader, from the current novel they have published to the first book they read and everything in between. The guest for this episode is Erin Kelly whose latest novel ‘The Burning Air’ tells of the MacBrides who initially seem like the perfect family. However everything changes at a gathering where ekdest daughter Sophie’s is abducted by one of her siblings new girlfriends and soon secrets, memories and grudges from the past return for revenge. Erin is also the author of two more psychological thrillers, ‘The Sick Rose’ and ‘The Poison Tree’ which was a Richard and Judy choice and was also adapted for television. Simon caught up with her last week to discuss psychological thrillers vs. crime, how to trick a reader, what the rules for writing a truly gripping tale and a multifaceted villain are, why she doesn’t want to write a series and much more. Coming up over the next few episodes will be authors including Charlotte Mendelson and Susan Hill. If you have any questions for them, would like to suggest authors you think I should be getting on the show, or simply want to have a natter about books, you can email youwrotethebook@gmail.com or find us on twitter @youwrotethebook. If you want to hear Simon talking more books do join him every other week with Thomas Otto on The Readers Podcast, you can also find him chatting and reviewing book on his blog Savidge Reads. Until next time thank you for listening… And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes where you can find previous episodes with Evie Wyld, Keith Ridgway, Niccolo Ammaniti, John Boyne, Hannah Kent, Taiye Selasi, Joanne Harris, Patrick Ness, Damian Barr, Maggie O’Farrell and many more.

Hello and welcome back to You Wrote The Book, a book based podcast hosted by Simon Savidge. Each fortnight over the coming months he will be joined by a special guest author to discuss their life as a writer and as a reader, from the current novel they have published to the first book they read and everything in between. The guest for this episode is Niven Govinden author of We Are The New Romantics, Graffiti My Soul and his latest novel Black Bread White Beer which was longlisted for the DSC South Asian Prize and was recently chosen as part of one of Fiction Uncovered. His short stories have been published by Five Dials, Time Out, First City, Teller, Pen Pusher, Shortfire Press and on BBC Radio 3. Speaking of radio Niven was also one of the regular guest reviewers on Simon Mayo’s Radio 5 book club showing he is as much a reader as a writer which is discussed in the show. Coming up over the next few episodes will be authors including Charlotte Mendelson and Susan Hill. If you have any questions for them, would like to suggest authors you think I should be getting on the show, or simply want to have a natter about books, you can email youwrotethebook@gmail.com or find us on twitter @youwrotethebook. If you want to hear Simon talking more books do join him every other week with Thomas Otto on The Readers Podcast, you can also find him chatting and reviewing book on his blog Savidge Reads. Until next time thank you for listening… And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes where you can find previous episodes with Evie Wyld, Keith Ridgway, Niccolo Ammaniti, John Boyne, Hannah Kent, Taiye Selasi, Joanne Harris, Patrick Ness, Damian Barr, Maggie O’Farrell and many more.

Hello and welcome back to You Wrote The Book, a book based podcast hosted by Simon Savidge. Each fortnight over the coming months he will be joined by a special guest author to discuss their life as a writer and as a reader, from the current novel they have published to the first book they read and everything in between. The guest for this episode is author Hannah Kent whose debut novel ‘Burial Rites’ started to reach great acclaim and gain some serious buzz before it had even come out in the UK and chosen as one of the Waterstones 11 for 2013. Set in Iceland in the 1820’s Hannah creates a gripping and atmospheric tale based  around the case of Agnes Magnussdottir, who was the last woman to be executed in the country. It has recently also been announced as one of the longlist selection for The Guardian First Book Award. Simon had the chance to interview Hannah last week and ask her about how she discovered the true life case, where her love of Iceland came from and much more... I will be back in a fortnight’s time with another guest author. If you have any authors you think I should be getting on the show, or simply want to have a natter about books, you can email youwrotethebook@gmail.com or find me on twitter @youwrotethebook. If you want to hear Simon talking more books do join him every other week with Thomas Otto on The Readers Podcast, you can also find him chatting and reviewing book on his blog Savidge Reads. Until next time thank you for listening… And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes where you can find previous episodes with Evie Wyld, Keith Ridgway, Niccolo Ammaniti, John Boyne, Xiaolu Guo, Alan Bradley, Taiye Selasi, Joanne Harris, Patrick Ness, Damian Barr, Maggie O’Farrell and many more.

Hello and welcome back to You Wrote The Book, a book based podcast hosted by Simon Savidge. Each fortnight over the coming months he will be joined by a special guest author to discuss their life as a writer and as a reader, from the current novel they have published to the first book they read and everything in between. This guest for this episode is author Niccolo Ammaniti who rose to fame with the cult novel ‘I’m Not Scared’ which also became a cult movie of the same name. The novel became an international bestseller and saw his novels being translated worldwide from his native Italian. Since then he has had much worldwide success and critical acclaim with ‘The Crossroads’ and ‘Me and You’, the latter which again became a film. His current novel, which was published this month, but four years ago in Italy, ‘Let The Games Begin’ seems like a very different book, one that is still as dark as its predecessors but also laugh out loud funny and takes a look at the world of literature, the people of Italy and the city itself, oh and the small matter of satanic cults. Next time on the show Simon will be joined by Hannah Kent. If you have any questions you would like to ask her or simply want to have a natter about books, you can email youwrotethebook@gmail.com or comment on twitter @youwrotethebook. If you want to hear Simon talking more books do join him every week with Gavin Pugh on The Readers Podcast, you can also find him chatting and reviewing book on his blog Savidge Reads. Until next time thank you for listening… And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes where you can find previous episodes with Evie Wyld, Keith Ridgway, John Boyne, Xiaolu Guo, Alan Bradley, Taiye Selasi, Joanne Harris, Patrick Ness, Damian Barr and Maggie O’Farrell.

Hello and welcome back to You Wrote The Book, a book based podcast hosted by Simon Savidge. Each fortnight over the coming months he will be joined by a special guest author to discuss their life as a writer and as a reader, from the current novel they have published to the first book they read and everything in between. This week Simon is joined by author Will Schwalbe whose memoir ‘The End of Your Life Book’ was one of Simon's books of 2012 and has become a cult classic already with book lovers all over the world. In his memoir Will tells of the unofficial book club that he and his mother started after she had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. As someone who has recently been through the same thing, and indeed was at the time he read the book last year, this book struck so many chords with Simon he simply couldn't not have Will on the show. In this episode Will and I discuss his mother and their reading relationship, why people avoid the subject of death, libraries in Kabul, obsessions with cook books and books about books and much more... Next time on the show Simon will be joined by Niccolo Ammaniti. If you have any questions you would like to ask him, or simply want to have a natter about books, you can email youwrotethebook@gmail.com or comment on twitter @youwrotethebook. If you want to hear Simon talking more books do join him every week with Gavin Pugh on The Readers Podcast, you can also find him chatting and reviewing book on his blog Savidge Reads. Until next time thank you for listening… And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes where you can find previous episodes with Evie Wyld, Keith Ridgway, John Boyne, Xiaolu Guo, Alan Bradley, Taiye Selasi, Joanne Harris, Patrick Ness, Damian Barr and Maggie O’Farrell.

Hello and welcome back to You Wrote The Book, a book based podcast hosted by Simon Savidge. Each fortnight over the coming months he will be joined by a special guest author to discuss their life as a writer and as a reader, from the current novel they have published to the first book they read and everything in between. After a small hiatus from the show Simon is back with an interview he recorded earlier in the year with Keith Ridgway. Keith Ridgway’s latest book, entitled ‘Hawthorn and Child’, was a book which thrilled people and divided them on if it was a novel or collection of interlinked/interweaving short stories. Regardless it  was one of Simon's favourite books of 2012 as it read rather unlike any book he had read before and was hooked. In this show they discuss (in a pub in Liverpool so watch out for some music in the background) 'Hawthorn and Child', if it is indeed a novel or a collection of interweaving short stories, just what on earth constitutes a novel, his debut novel ‘The Long Falling’ which was awarded both the Prix Femina Etranger and the Prix Premier Roman in 2001 and also  how stories might change in the future, ghosts and much more... If you have any suggestions for authors you would like on the show or questions you would love to ask an author, then please feel free to email youwrotethebook@gmail.com or comment on twitter @youwrotethebook If you want to hear Simon talking more books do join him every week with Gavin Pugh on The Readers Podcast, you can also find him chatting and reviewing book on his blog Savidge Reads. Until next time thank you for listening… And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes where you can find previous episodes with Evie Wyld, John Boyne, Xiaolu Guo, Alan Bradley, Taiye Selasi, Joanne Harris, Patrick Ness, Damian Barr and Maggie O’Farrell.

Hello and welcome back to You Wrote The Book, a book based podcast hosted by Simon Savidge. Each fortnight over the coming months he will be joined by a special guest author to discuss their life as a writer and as a reader, from the current novel they have published to the first book they read and everything in between. The guest for this episode is author Evie Wyld whose debut novel ‘After a Fire, A Still Small Voice’ reached critical acclaim on release in 2009. In 2010 it went on to win the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize and a Betty Trask Award and was shortlisted for several more. Evies much anticipated second novel ‘All The Birds, Singing’ a dark and menacing tale which alternates between a remote British Isle and Australia, has recently been published hot on the heels of her being announced as one of Granta’s best british young novelists. If that wasn’t enough Evie works and co-runs The Review Bookshop in Peckham. In this episode she joins Simon to talk difficult second book syndrome, her Granta listing, running a bookshop whilst writing a book and reading slowly, jars of pickled moles and why sheep know too much... Over the next few weeks Simon will be joined by Sophie Hannah and Keith Ridgway. If you have any questions you would like to ask the author, or any feedback then you can email youwrotethebook@gmail.com or comment on twitter @youwrotethebook If you want to hear Simon talking more books do join him every week with Gavin Pugh on The Readers Podcast, you can also find him chatting and reviewing book on his blog Savidge Reads. Until next time thank you for listening… And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes where you can find previous episodes with John Boyne, Xiaolu Guo, Alan Bradley, Taiye Selasi, Joanne Harris, Patrick Ness, Damian Barr and Maggie O’Farrell.

Hello and welcome back to You Wrote The Book, a book based podcast hosted by Simon Savidge. Each fortnight over the coming months he will be joined by a special guest author to discuss their life as a writer and as a reader, from the current novel they have published to the first book they read and everything in between. The guest for this episode is author John Boyne who reached world acclaim with ‘The Boy In The Striped Pyjama’s’ which became a huge hit with both adults and younger readers alike and was soon adapted as a highly successful film. This was John’s fifth novel and since then he has written the highly acclaimed ‘House of Special Purpose’ and ‘The Absolutist’ for adults, along with ‘Noah Barleywater Runs Away’ and ‘The Terrible Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brocket’ for children. His latest novel ‘This House is Haunted’ is a ghost story set in Victorian England. Simon managed to catch up with him when he was touring with the book last month when they discussed ghost stories, writing for younger readers and adults and what happens when your book becomes a surprise best seller... Over the next few weeks Simon will be joined by Sophie Hannah and Keith Ridgway. If you have any questions you would like to ask the author, or any feedback then you can email youwrotethebook@gmail.com or comment on twitter @youwrotethebook If you want to hear Simon talking more books do join him every week with Gavin Pugh on The Readers Podcast, you can also find him chatting and reviewing book on his blog Savidge Reads. Until next time thank you for listening… And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes where you can find previous episodes with Xiaolu Guo, Alan Bradley, Taiye Selasi, Joanne Harris, Patrick Ness, Damian Barr and Maggie O’Farrell.