Markus Zusak, author of ‘The Book Thief’ (which spent over 500 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller list) joins Katy Brand. He talks about his much anticipated new book ‘Bridge of Clay’ and why it took him over 13 years to write. Markus also explains why special objects are a big feature in his latest book and help unlock his creative process. He brings a surfboard fin, a pebble shaped like a Zippo lighter, postcards and a famous Australian racehorse into the studio! #PenguinPodcast Hosted on ...
Dec 19, 2018•33 min
Pat Barker, bestselling author of the Regeneration trilogy and Booker Prize winner talks to Katy Brand about her latest book ‘Silence of the Girls’ based on the Trojan wars. Pat also brings in objects to the Penguin studio that have inspired her including a copy of Homer’s Iliad, a bronze age loom weight and a pile of dad rats (luckily just a photo). #PenguinPodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 05, 2018•26 min
A special live edition of the Penguin Podcast with comedian, actor, and writer Michael Palin is hosted by David Baddiel. Having been in Monty Python’s Flying Circus and made award-winning travel documentaries around the world, Palin talks about his latest book, ‘Erebus; The Story of a Ship’. He brings objects that have inspired him included an African stool, a piece of fuselage from Ernest Hemingway’s plane and a postcard written by Spike Milligan. #PenguinPodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/...
Nov 21, 2018•36 min
Could you make the grade as an astronaut? Katy Brand talks to Tim Peake about his new ‘Astronaut Selection Test Book’. Tim reveals what is was like hanging onto the outside of the International Space Station with one hand (whilst looking at the rest of The Universe over his right shoulder)…. and what is was like watching ‘Star Wars’ in space. Tim’s chosen inspirational objects include a flag from the back of his spacesuit. #PenguinPodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informati...
Nov 07, 2018•32 min
Lawyer, broadcaster and author Helena Kennedy talks to Nihal Arthanayake about her latest novel, ‘Eve Was Shamed’. The book comes 25 years after her first book ‘Eve Was Framed’ which led to a number of key reforms for women. Her latest work sees how the British Justice system is still failing women. Helena brought along objects that inspire her including her father’s rosary and beach pebbles that help her come up with new ideas. #PenguinPodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inf...
Oct 24, 2018•29 min
Bestselling author William Boyd tells Nihal Arthanayake about his writing methodology; years of research before he even sits down to write. Known for writing novels which span continents and timescales, commissioned by the Fleming Estate to write a James Bond novel and working with David Bowie, Boyd is something of a phenomenon. He’s in the studio to talk about his latest novel, Love Is Blind, and brings with him objects that have inspired him, including a piano tuning hammer and a pistol. #Peng...
Oct 10, 2018•28 min
Bestselling author Colm Tóibín tells Katy Brand why he returns to the theme of home again and again in his work and what it’s like writing about violence for the first time. Colm wrote ‘Brooklyn’, which was made into a feature film starring Saoirse Ronan, and has been nominated for the Booker three times. He brings objects into the Penguin studio that have inspired his new novel ‘House of Names’ including a Greek play and an opera CD. #PenguinPodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mo...
Sep 26, 2018•35 min
Bestselling author Sebastian Faulks tells Nihal Arthanayake how he creates characters, harnesses history to build stories and how he came up with ideas for his new novel ‘Paris Echo’. This year marks the 25th anniversary of Sebastian’s novel ‘Birdsong’ which has sold millions of copies and is taught as part of the National Curriculum. Sebastian also shares some objects that have inspired his writing including an original letter penned by Wordsworth. #PenguinPodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com...
Sep 12, 2018•36 min
Journalist and novelist Viv Groskop joins Katy Brand in the Penguin studio to talk about her Book ‘The Anna Karenina Fix’, a very funny memoir and self-help book which explains how Russian literature has some valuable life lessons. As a young child Viv believed her surname was Russian, which led her to studying, living there and becoming editor at large for Russian Vogue. She later found out she’s not the slightest bit Russian, but recounts what she learnt along the way from the country and its ...
Aug 29, 2018•40 min
Biographer Claire Tomalin joins David Baddiel in the Penguin studio to chat about the art of writing about other people’s lives. She has written bestselling biographies including Mary Wollstonecraft, Charles Dickens and Jane Austen and has been called ‘one of the greatest biographers of our age’. Claire has now written about her own fascinating and surprising life and brings objects into the studio that inspired her including a plaster foot and a Samuel Pepys medal. #PenguinPodcast Hosted on Aca...
Aug 15, 2018•37 min
Bestselling author Jane Fallon joins David Baddiel in the Penguin studio to talk about her new book ‘Faking Friends’. Jane is an award-winning TV producer behind shows such as This Life and EastEnders and has written eight books – selling over a million copies. She talks to David about some of the objects that have been part of her creative process including a Christmas tree covered in very unusual ornaments and the cover of her first book ‘Getting Rid of Matthew’. #PenguinPodcast Hosted on Acas...
Aug 01, 2018•30 min
Caitlin Moran joins David Baddiel in the Penguin Studio. The critically acclaimed journalist and author penned her first book aged 13, has been writing for The Times since she was 18 and has had bestselling novels including ‘How to be a Woman’ and ‘How to Build a Girl’. She’s in to talk about her new book, ‘How to Be Famous’, and bringsobjects that have inspired her including: headphones; a Wolverhampton library ticket; a letter from Clive Anderson and a swimming costume (which she carries every...
Jul 18, 2018•40 min
Oscar nominated actress Gabourey Sidibe joins Katy Brand in the Penguin studio to talk about her hilarious and moving memoir ‘This Is Just My Face: Try Not to Stare’. Gabourey’s breakthrough role was as Precious in the feature film and she’s since starred in TV shows American Horror Story, The Big C and Empire. Gabourey talks about what her sources of inspiration including a collection of NSYNC dolls and her beloved cat Aaron. She also reveals her constant fear of dinosaurs! #PenguinPodcast Host...
Jul 04, 2018•36 min
Arundhati Roy joins Kirsty Lang for a special live edition of the Penguin Podcast. Arundhati burst onto the international literary scene 20 years ago with her novel ‘The God of Small Things’. Since then she has written non-fiction books and essays on contemporary politics, culture, human rights and environmental issues. She returns to the fiction scene to talk about her second novel ‘The Ministry of Utmost Happiness’. With her she brings objects which have inspired her including a newspaper arti...
Jun 20, 2018•38 min
Author Salman Rushdie joins David Olusoga in the Penguin Studio. Salman’s 13 novels have won countless awards worldwide and his second novel ‘Midnight’s children’ won the Best of the Booker over its 40 year history. Salman talks about his latest novel, ’The Golden House’ bringing with him objects that inspired it, including a copy of The Satyricon by Petronius, and a photo of The Joker from Batman. #PenguinPodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jun 06, 2018•38 min
Radio broadcaster and author Simon Mayo joins David Baddiel in the Penguin studio to talk about his first adult novel 'Mad Blood Stirring'. Simon hosts Radio 2’s Drivetime show, the BBC’s flagship film review show Kermode and Mayo and has previously written 4 young adult books. He brings with him objects that have inspired his writing including a map, the periodic table and a Stephen King book. #PenguinPodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
May 23, 2018•41 min
Before she was a critically acclaimed author, Christie Watson was a nurse for 20 years, she joins Paul Smith in the Penguin studio to talk about ‘The Language of Kindness’. It’s an extraordinary account of a profession that witnesses everything from birth to death and a lot in between. Christie brings objects which inspired her work into the studio, including a statue of Florence Nightingale, a fob watch, a mini book on nursing and a photo of a fishing boat. #PenguinPodcast Hosted on Acast. See ...
May 09, 2018•29 min
Much-loved author Tracy Chevalier has written nine novels, including ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’ which sold 5 million copies worldwide and was made into a film starring Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. Tracy joins Paul Smith (Maximo Park) in the Penguin studio to talk about her latest work, ‘New Boy’, a retelling of Othello set in an American school in the 1970s. Tracy brings objects which inspired her work including a tiny music box, her notebook and a school photo. #PenguinPodcast Hosted on...
Apr 25, 2018•37 min
Author of the award winning 'Artemis Fowl’, Eoin Colfer, joins Maxïmo Park frontman, Paul Smith, in the Penguin studio. Eoin talks about his book ‘And Another Thing’, the sixth instalment of the 'Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’ (commissioned by the Douglas Adams Estate), which has recently been made into a drama for BBC Radio 4 starring the original cast - 40 years after the first comedy series aired. Eoin chooses objects that inspired his writing include a shabby red-checked dressing gown and...
Apr 04, 2018•36 min
Guardian Columnist and author Afua Hirsch joins historian and broadcaster David Olusoga in the Penguin studio. Afua talks about her bestselling book ‘BRIT (ish)’ which tackles questions of race, identity and belonging in the UK. She brings along objects that inspired her work including a hot water bottle, poetry she wrote when she was a child and an Alan Paton book. #PenguinPodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 21, 2018•42 min
Playwright, novelist, poet and author Deborah Levy joins David Baddiel in the Penguin studio to talk about her critically acclaimed novel ‘Hot Milk’, which was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2016. Deborah has written 6 novels including ‘Swimming Home’ (another Man Booker finalist), has written extensively for the BBC and her work has been staged by the Royal Shakespeare Company. She tells David about her upcoming autobiography ‘The Cost of Living’ and brings along objects that have insp...
Mar 09, 2018•44 min
Radio 1 DJ, actor and television presenter Reggie Yates joins David Baddiel in the studio to talk about his new book. ‘Unseen’ explores how he made the transition from TV personality to documentary storyteller, covering difficult subjects such as far right groups in Russia to gun crime in Chicago. Reggie brings with him objects that inspired his writing, including DJ decks, a moleskin notebook and humbug mints. #PenguinPodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Feb 21, 2018•51 min
‘Exit West’ was chosen by Barack Obama as one of his favourite books of last year. The author Mohsin Hamid, joins Paul Smith in the Penguin studio, and has chosen five objects that have inspired his book. They include a book by C.S. Lewis, a photograph of a bomb blast in Lahore taken by his sister and a CD by Gilberto Gil and Jorge Ben. Mohsin is a two time Booker prize nominee and his novel ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’ was made into a major motion picture starring Riz Ahmed and Kate Hudson. #...
Feb 07, 2018•40 min
Jojo Moyes, author of the hugely successful novel ‘Me Before You’, joins us in the Penguin studio to talk about the final book in her Lou Clarke trilogy ‘Still Me’. Jojo’s books have sold more than 30 million copies and she’s one of the few authors to have had three novels on the New York Times bestseller list at the same time. ‘Me Before You’ was also adapted into a major feature film starring Emilia Clarke and Sam Clafin. Jojo introduces five objects that have been an inspiration - including a...
Jan 24, 2018•43 min
The Chalk Man is one of this years most anticipated thrillers. Its author, C.J. Tudor, joins Konnie Huq in the Penguin studio to talk about writing her debut novel and how it became part of a furious bidding war. C.J. brings in five objects that have inspired her writing, including a Stephen King book and a glass dolphin. #PenguinPodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 10, 2018•44 min
Jeff Kinney, author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, joins Konnie Huq in the Penguin studio to talk about his latest in the series: The Getaway. Jeff’s books have sold more than 194 million copies, they’ve inspired four feature films and he’s been named as one of Time Magazine’s Most Influential People in the World. Jeff brings in some objects to the studio that have inspired his writing including: An Uncle Scrooge Comic, a boom box and an airplane sickness bag. #PenguinPodcast Hosted on Acast...
Dec 27, 2017•42 min
Author of the hugely successful Inspector Rebus novels, Ian Rankin, joins David Baddiel in the Penguin studio to talk about his short story made for radio, The Deathwatch Journal. Ian is regarded at one of the most popular authors of the last 100 years, has won four Crime Writer’s Association Dagger Awards and has received an OBE for services to literature. A map of Edinburgh, Hawkwind single and Captain Scarlet toy car are among the objects Ian brings to the studio. #PenguinPodcast Hosted on Ac...
Dec 13, 2017•49 min
Author of 'Love, Nina’ (adapted for TV starring Helena Bonham Carter) and the critically acclaimed novels, 'Man at the Helm' and 'Paradise Lodge', Nina Stibbe joins Konnie Huq in the Penguin studio. Nina talks about her new book 'An Almost Perfect Christmas' and kicks off the festive season by bringing in objects including an unusual Christmas tree, a turkey on the loo and her mum. #PenguinPodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Nov 29, 2017•40 min
Fact researchers, presenters of the hugely successful No Such Thing as a Fish podcast, TV show hosts and authors the QI Elves join Paul Smith in the Penguin studio to talk about The Book of the Year. Dan Schreiber, Anna Ptaszynski, Andrew Hunter Murray and James Harkin bring in an object each which has inspired their book on the fascinating and funny facts of the year including an Oscar statuette, The Loch Ness Monster's dandruff and a pint of champagne. #PenguinPodcast Hosted on Acast. See acas...
Nov 15, 2017•44 min
Comedian, actor, broadcaster and writer Stephen Fry joins David Baddiel in the Penguin studio to talk about his new book Mythos, which retells the Greek Myths. Stephen brings in words (instead of objects) that have inspired him and he and David discuss typewriters, AI teachers and of course the Greek gods. #PenguinPodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 01, 2017•1 hr 1 min
