Waterstones Blog

Michelle Paver spoke to us about her passion for pre-history, dolphins, and the extreme research she has done for her latest series of books, Gods And Warriors... Buy Gods And Warriors at your local Waterstones bookshop (http://bit.ly/s6sdlu) or online at Waterstones.com (http://bit.ly/STABEL) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e87qfuDwO4M&feature=youtu.be

Historian Dominic Sandbrook talked to us about his new history of 1974-79, Seasons In The Sun, the best and worst 70s politicians, and his first experience working on a TV series. Buy Seasons In The Sun at your local Waterstones bookshop (http://bit.ly/s6sdlu) or online at Waterstones.com ( http://bit.ly/Psk7Vg) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8_6IlHbKgU

Jane Furze, the Cheltenham Literature Festival Director, spared some time to talk with us about "people power", this year's festival theme, great events still to come this weekend, and her vision for the future of the festival. Find out more and buy tickets for the events still to come this week.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSBDQjGbL88

Broadcaster and historian Andrew Marr spoke to us at Cheltenham about his ambitious new book A History Of The World, why it is not only individuals that matter but the specific context they find themselves in, and the cultural necessity of bookshops.   Buy A History Of The World at your local Waterstones bookshop (http://bit.ly/s6sdlu) or online at Waterstones.com (http://bit.ly/SMjRj5) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvXNXfBQX6g

The irrepressibly charming Jackie Kay, who defies genre definition by writing across almost every medium there is, caught up with us in The Writers' Room at The Cheltenham Literature Festival. There, she told us about her memoir Red Dust Road, her recent collection of short stories, Reality Reality, the National Poetry Competition and her favourite bookshop. Buy Red Dust Road andReality Reality  at your local Waterstones bookshop (http://bit.ly/s6sdlu) or online at Waterstones.com (http://bit.ly/SQEMU6 and http://bit.ly/R9lnbn) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyVYuAHlw68&feature=youtu.be

Kate Summerscale, the bestselling author of The Suspicions of Mr Whicher talked to us about her new book Mrs Robinson's Disgrace. Buy Mrs Robinson's Disgrace at your local Waterstones bookshop (http://bit.ly/s6sdlu) or online at Waterstones.com (http://bit.ly/Rhewlm) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNxZ7viD3Bw  

The mesmerically inspiring classicist Mary Beard told us why if you want to get into classics you shouldn't fear to go straight to Homer, why Caligula is her favourite emperor and why you can't get sexier than the Roman Empire. Buy All In A Don's Day at your local Waterstones bookshop (http://bit.ly/s6sdlu) or online at Waterstones.com (bit.ly/QJfe79) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9g11-EpKUk     Semper ubi sub ubi.

Master baker, and judge on the BBC's The Great British Bake Off, Paul Hollywood told us about where his love of baking came from, the secret to good sourdough, and shared his favourite recipe with us. Buy How To Bake at your local Waterstones bookshop (http://bit.ly/s6sdlu) or online at Waterstones.com (bit.ly/LMfI9A) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9YQdu-XsTQ&feature=youtu.be

We spoke to broadcaster James Naughtie about his book The New Elizabethans, and the pleasures of a good bookshop. Buy The New Elizabethans at your local Waterstones bookshop (http://bit.ly/s6sdlu) or online at Waterstones.com (http://bit.ly/Uwl6WX) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOa3MeEnKFA&feature=youtu.be

Charlie Higson, "Probably the greatest writer in the world", talks about The Sacrifice, his latest zombie-filled adventure in The Enemy series. As writer of the young James Bond series, we picked his brains on 007's enduring appeal, and also got his thoughts on mixing Agatha Christie and the undead... Buy The Sacrifice at your local Waterstones bookshop (http://bit.ly/s6sdlu) or online at Waterstones.com (http://bit.ly/KqPTvb)   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbNiS_XCg4w

Novelist and playwright Michael Frayn talks about his Man Booker long listed book, Skios, lessons learned from Chekhov, and the joys of a good bookshop. He also outlines the competition to win a bottle of champagne by finding the in-joke in Skios - all you have to do is read everything he has ever written to get the gag. Buy Skios at your local Waterstones bookshop (http://bit.ly/s6sdlu) or online at Waterstones.com (http://bit.ly/OKmaEf) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvzsY1voEKU&feature=youtu.be

The infectiously imaginative Cressida Cowell, author of the How to Train Your Dragon... series, talked to us about dragons, rabbits and dark days ahead for her hero Hiccup... You can pick up a copy of volume ten, How To Seize A Dragon's Jewel, here. Buy How To Seize A Dragon's Jewel at your local Waterstones bookshop (http://bit.ly/s6sdlu) or online at Waterstones.com (http://bit.ly/Q10pgq) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33-VFIAnu7s&feature=youtu.be

Jon Ronson met up with us before his event at The Cheltenham Literature Festival to tell us about his work, his latest book Lost At Sea, alternate career paths, and why you should always keep a PostIt note handy... Buy Lost At Sea at your local Waterstones bookshop (http://bit.ly/s6sdlu) or online at Waterstones.com (http://bit.ly/PYRgUp)   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBzyBdXhzgA&feature=youtu.be

We had a chance to talk briefly with the Director of the British Museum, Neil MacGregor before his talk this afternoon. He told us a little about his new book, Shakespeare's Restless World, which uses objects as a way into a deeper understanding of the turbulent Elizabethan age. And also said a quick hello to a Twitter friend @Charly_Ford. Buy Shakespeare's Restless World at your local Waterstones bookshop (http://bit.ly/s6sdlu) or online at Waterstones.com (http://bit.ly/N6487r) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=be6yl0LNbMw

John Mullan took a moment to talk to us about his book What Matters in Jane Austen?, a companion for "Austen obsessives" like himself to get even more from their favourite author. We even managed to get his opinion on who his money is on for this year's Man Booker Prize... 

Buy What Matters in Jane Austen? at your local Waterstones bookshop (http://bit.ly/s6sdlu) or online at Waterstones.com (http://bit.ly/Q10pgq) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxPI4kkhmdY&feature=youtu.be