Podcasts

Welcome to the Love Your Library podcast

An introduction to the Love Your Library podcast

An introduction to the Hampshire Libraries podcast series: Love Your Library. Each podcast features brilliant authors talking about their wonderful books. But better than that, it’s got recommendations and reviews from the team here at Hampshire Libraries. And there’s few people who know and love books more than our library staff in Hampshire.

Listen now to the introduction to Love Your Library podcast

Island Life – Ann Cleeves interview

Our hosts talk to Ann Cleeves about her latest and last Shetland book, Wild Fire. Ann also gives us the lowdown on her upcoming book The Long Call, the first in her new Two Rivers series.

An interview with fantasy writer Ben Aaronovitch

Match Point – Joanna Trollope

Our hosts talk to Joanna Trollope about her latest and twenty-first book, An Unsuitable Match, which vividly depicts the family tensions and dilemmas caused by love in later life. Joanna also talks about her updated version of Sense and Sensibility published as part of the Austen Project in 2013.

Interview with Hanna Jameson

Introducing the author Hanna Jameson and her latest novel, The Last, a post-apocalyptic thriller set in a remote hotel.

Kids’ Corner – Ali Sparkes interview

We catch up with Blue Peter award winning author, Ali Sparkes. Ali discusses her latest release in the Night Speaker series and offers her top tips for young writers.

Interview with Charlie Higson

We talk to Charlie about how he got involved in writing young James Bond books and the lengths he went to scare his youngest son with his young adult horror Enemy novels.

Interview with Cara Hunter

Int this episode we feature crime writer Cara Hunter, talking about her novel No Way Out – the latest in her series of books based in Oxford with lead character DI Adam Fawley.

A Stitch In Time – Tracy Chevalier interview

Needlepoint, bell-ringing and a ‘surplus’ woman – these are some of absorbing ingredients of Tracy Chevalier’s latest book: A Single Thread. Our guest author for this episode, Tracy is the best-selling author of 10 novels, including the world-famous Girl with a Pearl Earring.

Interview with Mel McGrath

Mel is an award-winning author of crime fiction and historical novels, as well as non-fiction books. Her novel, The Guilty Party, is a chilling tale of four 30-something friends who are bystanders to a violent attack. Aysha Smith from Hampshire Libraries met up with Mel to talk about the book’s themes of guilt, innocence and betrayal.

A Swift Adventure - Michael Morpurgo interview

National treasure Michael Morpurgo is our very special guest in this episode. Sir Michael has written more than 100 much-loved books including War Horse, Private Peaceful and Kensuke’s Kingdom. In this interview, he talks about the inspiration behind his latest book Boy Giant: Son of Gulliver. Inspired by Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels, the story is about Omar, a 12-year-old refugee from Afghanistan.

Behind the Lines - Andy McNab interview

An interview with Bravo Two Zero author Andy McNab, where he gives us the low-down on his latest book, Whatever It Takes.

Mind The Gap - Interview with Caroline Criado Perez

We talk to Caroline about her award-winning book Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men.

At a young age Caroline has already had a big impact on society. Her standout campaigns include co-founding the Women’s Room project which led a drive for female experts to be better represented in the media, successfully opposing the removal of the only woman other than the Queen on British banknotes, pressing Twitter to change its processes for dealing with abuse, and successfully campaigning for a statue of Millicent Fawcett to be put up in Parliament Square.

Interview with Joseph Coelho

Joseph Coelho is a children’s playwright and poet who was chosen to host the bedtime reading hour for this year’s World Book Night (Thursday 23 April 2020). He works extensively in schools and won the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education Poetry Award in 2015 for his first poetry collection, Werewolf Club Rules!

Ghost writing - Louise Doughty interview

Louise Doughty was a warm and entertaining author to interview about her new book Platform Seven. Louise's sixth novel, Whatever You Love, was shortlisted for the Costa Novel award and longlisted for the Orange Prize for Fiction. She’s probably best known for her hugely popular bestseller Apple Tree Yard which has sold over half a million copies in the UK. It was adapted into a hit BBC TV series.

Interview with Stephen Moss

An interview with Stephen Moss talking about his new book The Accidental Countryside Hidden Havens for Britain’s Wildlife. Stephen’s book takes a journey of discovery through Britain, in search of the unexpected corners where wildlife survives against all odds.

Miss Austen - Gill Hornby interview

Jane Austen fans will be intrigued to hear Gill Hornby talking about her number one bestseller Miss Austen. Inspired by a real-life mystery that has long puzzled biographers and academics, Miss Austen is a thoroughly researched but fictional account of Jane’s older sister Cassandra. A few years before her death, Cassandra famously destroyed almost all the letters from her beloved sister. What secrets was she trying to hide?

Interview with Judith Heneghan

We interview Judith Heneghan about her debut novel Snegurochka, her first book for adults. Set in Kiev in 1992, the story follows the character of Rachel, a troubled young English mother who joins her journalist husband on his first foreign posting in the city.

Gothic Revived - Sara Collins interview

This edition of the podcast features an interview with rising star Sara Collins. The Confessions of Frannie Langton begins in 1826 at the Old Bailey murder trial of a former slave accused of the murder of her employers Mr and Mrs Benham. Sara has talked about how, as a black woman, she’d initially been reluctant to write a novel about a woman who had been a slave, but realized that, as a younger reader, she’d have loved a gothic romance about a woman who happened to have been born into that life.

Interview with Claire Gradidge

Claire Gradidge picked up the winner’s prize for the Richard and Judy search for a bestseller in 2019 with her debut novel The Unexpected Return of Josephine Fox. This World War Two crime novel set in Romsey, the town in which she was born and brought up.

Hidden Jem - interview with Lisa Jewell

For Lisa's brand new novel, Invisible Girl, the setting is north London, where Lisa delivers an engrossing, twisty story of how we look in the wrong places for bad people.

Stories of hope - interview with Heather Morris

The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Heather Morris’ first book, has already become one of the best selling books of this century. She’s since written the follow-up title Cilka’s Journey and now Stories of Hope, which tells the ‘story behind the story’ of how Lale and Gita’s love story was, at last, shared with the world.

Whodunnit squared - interview with Anthony Horowitz

In this Anthony Horowitz interview, he visited our virtual studio to discuss his new Susan Ryeland book Moonflower Murders, the sequel to Magpie Murders. We also took the opportunity to talk about what’s next in his other brilliant crime series featuring Daniel Hawthorne (The Word is Murder and The Sentence is Death).

Additional killings - interview with Elly Griffiths

Elly is best known for her two crime series, one featuring forensic archaeologist Dr Ruth Galloway, the other set in post-war Brighton. Her new book concentrates on Shoreham-based DS Harbinder Kaur and an unlikely group of friends who set out to help her – or hinder her – as she sets about solving a series of book-related murders.

Herculean Creativity - Interview with Sophie Hannah

In this episode we interview Sophie Hannah who joined us to talk about her new Hercule Poirot novel The Killings at Kingfisher Hill.

Interview with Will Dean

Will Dean is our guest author for this mini episode of the Love Your Library podcast, talking about his brand new book The Last Thing to Burn.

Escape Artist - interview with Katie Fforde

Contemporary romantic novelist Katie Fforde came into our virtual studios to chat with us about her new novel A Wedding in the Country. Katie’s latest book has been described as her most autobiographical to date and is set in 1960s London.

Interview with Mandy Robotham

This episode features an interview with Mandy Robotham, author of The German Midwife and The Secret Messenger. Hattie spoke to Mandy about her latest release – another brilliant historical novel, this time set in the heart of a Berlin on the brink of war.

Disappearing Acts - Interview with CL Taylor

CL Taylor joins Kate in our virtual studio to talk about her new thriller Her Last Holiday. She’s probably best known as the author of Sleep – one of Richard and Judy’s picks from 2019 – and Strangers. She has also written two Young Adult thrillers, The Treatment and The Island.

Interview with Helen Fields

In this interview, Helen talks about the real life FBI profiler who provided insight for her book The Shadow Man, the inspiration of Edinburgh, and how much Romsey Library meant to her as a child.

Unsettling origins - Interview with Claire Fuller

Claire Fuller's new book Unsettled Ground, is a beautifully written celebration of the natural world, with long-hidden family secrets to be unearthed.

Interview with Emma Kennedy

This mini episode features an interview with Emma Kennedy: comedian, TV presenter, actor, scriptwriter, author and X (formerly Twitter) star. Emma’s latest novel, The Never-Ending Summer is set in the summer of 1971 when best friends Agnes and Bea decide on one last adventure before their adult lives begin. And while Agnes heads off to London, her mother Florence, sets off on her own voyage of self-discovery into Europe.

Interview with TM Logan

Thriller writer and million copy bestseller T.M. Logan was our guest for this edition of the podcast. He joined Lisa Barfoot in our virtual studio to talk about his new book Trust Me.

Interview with Rory Cellan-Jones

Rory Cellan-Jones talks about his new book Always On: Hope and Fear in the Social Smartphone Era, which captures his experiences and reflections on the relentless ascent of technology over the last 15 years.

Historic Times - Interview with Philippa Gregory

Our guest on this episode is queen of historical fiction Philippa Gregory, who is talking about her latest novel Dark Tides, which takes the reader between London, New England and Venice in the 17th Century. This is the sequel to her bestseller Tidelands, which introduced Alinor and her family. Philippa talks about characters which take writers by surprise, how she goes about the research for her novels, and why no woman should want to have been born before 1960.

Interview with Eva Verde

This episode features an interview with debut novelist Eva Verde about her latest release, Lives Like Mine. It's an honest exploration of the themes of family relationships, motherhood, race and identity as it focuses on the life of Monica, who wonders whether her roles as wife, mother, daughter and woman are all there is.

Opening up - Interview with Joanne Harris

Chocolat author Joanne Harris joins Kate in our virtual studio to talk about her novel A Narrow Door. It’s the latest in the St Oswald’s Boys Grammar School series which started with 2005’s Gentlemen and Players. This darkly comic series is set in the north of England and features the eccentric Latin Master Roy Straitley.

Interview with Sharon Gosling

We talk to Sharon Gosling about her new novel The House Beneath the Cliffs. It’s the story of Anna who on impulse buys a tiny cottage in a remote Scottish fishing village, about how she rediscovers her love of cooking and what she uncovers about herself and the community into which she’s landed.

High Society - Interview with Louise Candlish

Bestselling author Louise Candlish was our guest on this episode, when she joined Kate to talk about her brand new novel The Heights. Louise has written more than a dozen books but it’s been a move to psychological thrillers which has brought her to an even wider audience in the last few years.

Killer Consequences - Interview with Steve Cavanagh

Steve Cavanagh joins us in this episode of the podcast to talk about the latest edition to his million bestselling Eddie Flynn series. The Devil’s Advocate takes con-man-turned-lawyer Eddie Flynn to Alabama where he is the only thing standing between an innocent man and the electric chair. Steve tells us about the real-life inspiration behind his latest novel, his experience as a civil rights attorney, and the supportive world of crime fiction authors.

Interview with Femi Fadugba

We met with Femi Fadugba – an author whose talents seem limitless. With a background in quantum physics, Femi’s debut novel The Upper World is as scientifically impressive as it is gripping, telling a tale of love, violence and time travel – set against the unsuspecting backdrop of Peckham.

Spy another day - Interview with Charles Cumming

We were joined by British writer Charles Cumming. His latest book, Judas 62, is the second book in Charles’ gripping Box 88 series and tells the story of Lachlan Kite in two interlinked time periods: Russia in the 1990s and Dubai in the present day. Kite needs to navigate the dangerous territory of the FSB, Russia’s modern-day security service and successor of the KGB, with the focus on a list of Russia’s enemies who have been targeted for assassination.

Interview with Dave Goulson

We’re joined by Dave Goulson – professor of biology at the University of Sussex. Specialising in insect ecology and conservation, his new book Silent Earth: Averting the Insect Apocalypse draws on the latest research to offer an accessible and motivating look into the decline in insect populations. We spoke with him about the wonderfully strange insect world and what we can do to support our insect populations.

Fiction From Fact - Interview with Alison Weir

We caught up with bestselling historian and novelist Alison Weir. Her latest novel, Katharine Parr: The Sixth Wife, follows the story of the survivor of Henry VIII’s rule in the final instalment of Alison’s Six Tudor Queens series. We spoke with Alison about the difficulties of writing fiction about historical figures and the trials of Katharine Parr.

Interview with Janice Hallet

Janice Hallet talks about her crime novel with a difference, The Appeal. The book consists of a series of documents inviting you to solve the crime as you discover the plot. Janice tells us about how we shouldn’t forget about the horror of some crimes when reading crime fiction, and gives us a peek into the writing of her upcoming second novel, The Twyford Code.

Interview with Jacqueline Roy

We were joined by author Jacqueline Roy, who spoke to us about her latest book, The Gosling Girl. It follows the aftermath of Michelle Cameron’s release from imprisonment, years after the horrifying crime she committed as a child has taken place.

Interview with Jennifer Saint

Jennifer Saint, author of Ariadne, joins us in this episode. Her debut novel breathes new life into the myth that many of us know as “Theseus and the Minotaur”, retelling the story through the eyes of Ariadne and Phaedra, the two princesses of Crete. Jennifer speaks with us about the inspiration behind her novels and why it’s so important that we revisit our classical myths with a new lens.

Half human, half stories - The Amplify Project

We caught up with Patricia Cumper and Pauline Walker, hosts and founders of The Amplify Project. A podcast that explores the work, lives, and inspiration of Black writers for the stage, page, and screen through a series of relaxed and intimate interviews. We spoke with the podcasting duo about why they started The Amplify Project and what the future holds for them.

Interview with Claire Frost

Claire Frost, author of Married at First Swipe and Living My Best Life, joins us in this mini episode of the Love Your Library podcast to talk about her latest novel The One.

Mental Health Matters - Interview with Soon Wiley

This episode features an interview with debut novelist from across the pond, Soon Wiley, about his new release, When We Fell Apart: a compelling story of a tragic death and the harrowing steps that led up to it.

No Harm Done - Interview with Jack Jordan

Jack Jordan is the author joining us on this edition of the Love Your Library podcast, here to talk about his latest book Do No Harm. Do No Harm is a high-concept thriller that explores the chilling premise of what might happen if a skilled surgeon and mother was given the ultimatum to commit murder on the operating table in order to save her son.

Extraordinary Authors- Interview with Mike Gayle

This edition of the Love Your Library podcast sees us chat to the prolific British writer, Mike Gayle. Mike recently became the first ever male recipient of the outstanding achievement award at the 2021 Romantic Novel Awards for his contribution to the literary genre. We spoke to him about his latest book, The Museum of Ordinary People, and why his writing in this space is so powerful.

Reading For Life - The Reading Agency interview

On this mini episode of the Love Your Library podcast, we speak to Emma Braithwaite from The Reading Agency about all of the fantastic work it’s doing in libraries all over the country. From the Summer Reading Challenge to World Book Night, The Reading Agency has something for everyone, from children to adults and new readers to book fanatics.

Hypothetical Science - Interview with Ali Hazlewood

In this edition of the Love Your Library podcast, Kate speaks to writer and neuroscientist Ali Hazelwood about her works of romantic fiction set among the backdrop of laboratories and research stations. These STEMinist rom-coms, including her latest, Love on the Brain, have earned her the firm position as a bestselling author in today’s literary landscape.

Moving and belonging - Interview with Rachel Hore

We’re joined by author Rachel Hore to hear about her most recent novel, One Moonlit Night. With her husband, Philip, missing in action, Maddie and her daughters are forced to flee wartime London. Seeking refuge in Philip’s childhood home, Maddie soon learns that her husband has been keeping a deep secret.

Academically dark - Interview with Ruth Ware

We’re joined by bestselling author Ruth Ware to hear about her latest novel, The It Girl. A dark thriller full of unforeseen twists, The It Girl sees a decade-old murder case being reopened, and asks whether the testimony that closed it in the first place put an innocent man behind bars.

Reading for Empathy - Interview with Empathy Lab

We speak to Sarah Mears from Empathy Lab and Libraries Connected. We talk about the amazing work libraries across the country did during the pandemic, and about how reading can boost empathy skills in children.

A Children’s Book Special - Interview with Jake Alexander and Harry Woodgate

On this special episode of Love Your Library, we’re joined by prize winning author and illustrators Jake Alexander and Harry Woodgate to hear about their experiences writing and illustrating children’s picture books.

Reading Buddies - Cantell School and the University of Southampton

Jess and James from Cantell School and the University of Southampton to talk about their Reading Buddies initiative. This project sees Key Stage 3 pupils paired with sixth form and university students to help build confidence with reading.

Foul Lady Fiction - Interview with Chloe Gong

International bestseller Chloe Gong joins us on this episode of the Love Your Library podcast to talk about her latest release, Last Violent Call. Containing two captivating novellas that expand upon her Secret Shanghai series, Last Violent Call allows the stories from the world of These Violent Delights and Foul Lady Fortune to continue

Celebrating the Solent - Poetry Ambassadors

On this episode we find out about how Artful Scribe, the University of Southampton and Winchester Poetry Festival support young poets across the region. Hattie is joined by Matt West from Artful Scribe and Will May from the University of Southampton on the Poetry Ambassadors mentoring scheme run with support from Winchester Poetry Festival. We also hear from Eve Wright, one of the young poets mentored through the scheme.

Otherworldly Adventures - Interview with Shannon Chakraborty

Shannon Chakraborty is our guest for this episode of the Love Your Library podcast. Chatting to us about all things fantasy, we get to learn all about her latest book and the kick-off novel to her new series, The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi.

Libraries for Everyone - Fostering Hampshire Children

On this episode we talk about how we make our libraries places for the whole community. We talk to Johnny, a foster carer and Hive Care Support Worker, and Laura from Fostering Hampshire Children all about providing a foster home for Hampshire’s most vulnerable children.

Interview with Annabelle Thorpe

Annabelle Thorpe joins us to chat about her latest book, The Enemy of Love. She also tells us about her time as a travel writer, and how she creates strong female characters.

Pride month - interview with Sam Kenyon

On this Pride Month edition of Love Your Library, we’re joined by Sam Kenyon who talks to us about his debut novel, I Am Not Raymond Wallace. Hear about the stories, articles and experiences that inspired Sam, as well as about what else he’s got in the pipeline at the moment.

Interview with Faith Hogan

The Love Your Library podcast was joined by Faith Hogan for this episode. Faith Hogan is the bestselling author of uplifting fiction titles like The Ladies’ Midnight Swimming Club, The Girl I Used to Know, and My Husband’s Wives. Hattie chatted to Faith about her latest book, The Guest House by the Sea.

Ready, Set, Read! - Summer Reading Challenge

To celebrate the Summer Reading Challenge, this episode of Love Your Library is all about children’s books. First, Kate talks to author and illustrator Kev Payne about how he got into writing and why libraries are magical places. Then, Kate and Anna speak to Rebecca, who works at Winchester and Alresford libraries.

Romanticise Reading - interview with Fiona Walker

In this edition of the Love Your Library podcast, we speak to much loved romance writer, Fiona Walker. With an impressive career spanning several decades and including over 20 books, we were thrilled to get a chance to catch up with her about her latest countryside romp – Country Secrets.

Unlikely connections - interview with Beth O'Leary

Beth O’Leary joins us for this episode of Love Your Library to talk about her new novel, The Wake-Up Call. Hear about what inspires her – including her love of Hampshire! With her popular debut book The Flatshare hitting TV screens in 2022, we were delighted to chat to Beth.