Book Off!

Bestselling author and co-founder of the Women's Prize For Fiction, Kate Mosse goes head to head with critic, journalist and author SJ Parris in the Book Off! They also discuss the importance of literary prizes, their latest novels, how to plan your writing routine and jet-lag.

Bestselling crime writer Mark Billingham goes head to head with music journalist extraordinaire David Hepworth. As well as a hotly contested Book Off between Lyndon B Johnson and The Maltese Falcon (yep, seriously!) Joe Haddow gets geeky with both writers about music. They talk Steely Dan, Elvis Costello and The Beatles and why music genre trends only occur every forty years.

Irish author Donal Ryan and debut author Imogen Hermes Gower join Joe Haddow to go head to head in the Book Off, putting John Steinbeck against Beryl Bainbridge. Imogen discusses the pressures of writing after a huge bidding war and financial deal and Donal explains how he has only really been a full-time author for 3 months of his life. All this plus no carb diets and how docks can be romantic.

Jess Kidd (Himself/The Hoarder) and Simon Wroe (Chop Chop/Here Comes Trouble) join Joe Haddow to talk books, writing styles and literary parties. They discuss what it means to be described as "humorous writers", writing on a hangover, hoarding and the art of writing young narrators. In the Book Off it's True Grit by Charles Portis up against Sal by Mick Kitson...but which one will Joe take home???

Authors Kit de Waal (My Name Is Leon/The Trick To Time) and Ned Beauman (Boxer, Beetle/Glow) join Joe Haddow for another Book Off! As well as going head to head in a literary fight for glory, they discuss growing up around books, previous careers...and the golden age of cinema.

Bestselling author John Niven and writer, broadcaster and comedian Viv Groskop go head to head in a very competitive Book Off! As well as talking to Joe Haddow about their latest books, they also discuss school reunions and great Russian novels! Naturally.

The bestselling authors of We Need To Talk About Kevin and Girl With The Pearl Earring, Lionel Shriver and Tracy Chevalier, bring two contemporary novels to the Book Off! to pitch against each other. As well as a heated book fight, Lionel and Tracy talk "covering" Shakespeare, cycling and how jazz drummers can sometimes ruin dinner.

Bestselling authors Paula Hawkins (The Girl On The Train) and John Boyne (The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas) go head to head in the first ever Book Off! LP Hartley's "The Go Between" will be put against "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood - but which will win!?

Book Off is coming...watch this space.