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In this episode we're joined by Stefan and Tara Tobler from And Other stories.  And Other Stories is an award winning Sheffield based publisher of innovative contemporary writing from around the world, and they’re currently celebrating their 10th birthday.   We also hear from author and winner of the Northern Book Prize, Sammy Wright.  His book Fit has been described as a cutting and compassionate peek behind the scenes of a social media Cinderella story.  It really is a must read. Learn more about And Other Stories by visiting their website https://www.andotherstories.org/

During the last week of July, we were joined in Endcliffe Park, one of Sheffield’s many green spaces by a lovely group of Sheffielders as well as the award winning poet and novelist, Helen Mort. Helen led us on a walk through the woods, and beside the river, and along the way read pieces from her various published works.  We enjoyed it so much, we thought it would be nice to share the experience more widely, so Helen very kindly offered to record a condensed version of the walk for you to enjoy at home. If you want to learn more about Helen and her work, you can visit her website, all good bookshops, or of course your local library. https://www.helenmort.com/

Former Carnegie & Kate Greenaway judges Zoey Dixon (Lambeth Libraries) and Liz Chapman (Sheffield Libraries) chat about the best new LGBTQ+ books for children and young people. (Queer pirates may also feature.) To see the books talked about in this podcast, have a watch of the video version on our YouTube channel:

We chat to bestselling romantic fiction author, Paige Toon, about her latest release Someone That I Used to Know. 

In this episode, I chat to author John D Burns about his latest book, Wild Winter. In Wild Winter, John D. Burns, bestselling author of The Last Hillwalker and Bothy Tales, sets out to rediscover Scotland’s mountains, remote places and wildlife in the darkest and stormiest months. He traverses the country from the mouth of the River Ness to the Isle of Mull, from remote Sutherland to the Cairngorms, in search of rutting red deer, pupping seals, minke whales, beavers, pine martens, mountain hares and otters. In the midst of the fierce weather, John’s travels reveal a habitat in crisis, and many of these wild creatures prove elusive as they cling on to life in the challenging Highland landscape. As John heads deeper into the winter, he notices the land fighting back with signs of regeneration. He finds lost bothies, old friendships and innovative rewilding projects, and – as Covid locks down the nation – reflects on what the outdoors means to hillwalkers, naturalists and the folk who make their home in the Highlands. Wild Winter is a reminder of the wonder of nature and the importance of caring for our environment. In his winter journey through the mountains and bothies of the Highlands, John finds adventure, humour and a deep sense of connection with this wild land.

We see in Pride Month 2021 by chatting to author of brand new picture book The Pirate Mums. We chat to Jodie about LGBTQ+ representation in children's books.

We talk with Frank Cottrell-Boyce about his latest children's book, Noah's Gold, screenwriting and all things kind.

Acclaimed writer Emma Jane Unsworth talks to us about her first non-fiction book 'After the Storm', an account of her postnatal depression. She describes the unrealistic expectations we have of new mothers and how many factors caused her depression. It's a brave, important book told in Emma's direct and funny style.

We chat to author of Burton and Lamb legal thriller series, Abi Silver, about this fascinating set of stories, and her latest release The Rapunzel Act. 

In this episode, we chat with Martin Robinson, author of You are not the man you're supposed to be: Into the chaos of modern masculinity.  Martin Robinson is the editor and founder of The Book of Man, a website aiming to deconstruct old school manliness and work towards a new concept of masculinity that benefits us all.

In conversation with author author Anne Booth and illustrator David Litchfield about creative lives and their new collaboration, picture book, A Shelter for Sadness, a beautiful picture book providing hope and support to those experiencing sadness in any form. 

Russ is the author of crime-thriller Firewatching and his new book Nighthawking is published in February 2021.  Protagonist, Detective Sergeant Adam Tyler is a maverick new detective desperate to kickstart his stagnating career.  He also happens to be gay, a rare occurrence in bestselling crime-fiction.