In this episode of 'Coffee Break' author Beth Lewis joins me to talk about her stunning new historical crime novel, ' The Rush' . The gold rush narrative typically conjures images of rugged men panning rivers and staking claims, but Beth Lewis deliberately shifts focus to three women whose paths cross during the Yukon Gold Rush of 1898. The Rush Gold fever has taken him. I believe he means to kill me... Canada, 1898. The gold rush is on in the frozen wilderness of the Yukon. Fortunes are made as...
Jun 25, 2025•28 min•Season 3Ep. 135
Publication hasn't come easy for Chris Bridges. After completing a first manuscript during the height of the pandemic while still working hospital shifts, Chris Bridges faced 50 agent rejections before finding his breakthrough through the London Writers Award. Now with his debut, Sick To Death, shortlisted for the McDermid Debut Award and a second novel already in progress, Chris offers invaluable perspective on managing creative ambitions alongside the unpredictable fatigue of MS. Whether you'r...
Jun 23, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Season 3Ep. 135
Watch as a full video episode on YouTube! Subscribe to Adventures in Publishing-land's own feed for future episodes or watch on YouTube! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to the debut episode of Adventures in Publishing Land, a no-holds-barred exploration of the publishing industry's most fascinating developments, delivered with candor and insider perspective. This week: The Unbound Saga continues Authors hounded off soc...
Jun 23, 2025•1 hr 1 min
In this episode of 'Coffee Break', bestselling and award winning author of ' Take It Back' , 'Truth Be Told' , 'Next of Kin' and 'Those People Next Door' , Kia Abdullah joins me to talk about her new book, What Happens In the Dark . With her trademark twists and meticulous plotting, this novel delivers both a page-turning thriller and a thought-provoking exploration of justice. Discover why readers and fellow authors alike find themselves messaging Kia Abdullah after finishing her books, despera...
Jun 18, 2025•42 min•Season 1Ep. 134
Rachel Ward never planned to become an author. After 25 years working in local government, she began writing in her mid-30s simply to explore her creativity. Little did she know this casual exploration would lead to an international bestseller and a complete transformation of her life. During our conversation, Rachel reveals the stunning contrast between her early success with her debut YA novel "Numbers" , the brutal realities she later faced in publishing, her pivot into self-publishing and th...
Jun 16, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 133
What does it take to find your creative voice in a world that often pushes you toward the practical? In my conversation with debut author Mel Pennant , we explore the winding path that led to her debut novel "A Murder for Miss Hortense" , a journey spanning decades of creative exploration, professional balancing acts, and the courage to tell stories that authentically represent her community. Mel shares how she maintained her creative practice alongside a demanding legal career, describing writi...
Jun 11, 2025•1 hr 28 min•Season 3Ep. 132
"Enjoying 'The Conversation' - Support the podcast by buying me a cup of coffee ☕️! Lola Akinmade , author, photographer, travel writer, and former IT professional shares her remarkable journey from programming interactive maps to traveling the world capturing stories through multiple creative mediums. Her path hasn't been straightforward; despite facing over 70 rejections for her debut novel because publishers didn't want Black women centered in Nordic settings, she persisted. That persistence ...
Jun 09, 2025•1 hr 16 min•Season 3Ep. 131
In this episode of 'Coffee Break', New York Times Bestselling author of Blacktop Wasteland , Razorblade Tears and All The Sinners Bleed , S.A. Cosby joins me to talk about his new book 'King of Ashes '. Whether you're already a devoted fan or discovering SA Cosby for the first time, this episode offers rare insights into the mind of a writer who continues to redefine contemporary crime fiction while never losing sight of the human heart beating beneath the darkness. King Of Ashes A son returning...
Jun 08, 2025•45 min•Season 3Ep. 130
"I don't know what it is about writing," muses Linwood Barclay in the opening moments of this conversation. "Even when you've had success and think, 'I don't have to write anymore, I've got money in the bank,' there's always this feeling that if I could write just one more book, maybe it'll be perfect." This pursuit of the perfect novel drives our fascinating conversation with the New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author, whose journey from aspiring writer facing countless rejections t...
Jun 04, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Season 3Ep. 179
What happens when reality becomes stranger than fiction? Author Michael Idov sits down with me to explore the fascinating world of spy fiction writing in our increasingly unpredictable geopolitical landscape. Michael reveals how his spy thriller "The Collaborators" navigates a middle path between cerebral procedurals and over-the-top action fantasies, creating stories grounded in authentic global politics while still delivering heart-pounding sequences. Drawing from actual events like the 2021 R...
Jun 02, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 128
Author Lola Jaye joins me for a "Coffee Break" to talk about her new book " The Manual For Good Wives." This is the conversation that gave me the idea to launch the 'Coffee Break' series. As well as talking about her novel, Lola Jaye talks about what it takes to succeed as an author when the publishing industry doesn't know "where to place someone like you"? "Maybe that was the problem," she reflects, "be cause I wasn't writing about civil wars in Africa." Instead, she crafted stories about grie...
May 28, 2025•45 min•Season 3Ep. 127
What happens when a solitary writer from the Alaskan wilderness suddenly finds herself thrust into international literary acclaim? Eowyn Ivey , Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of "Black Woods Blue Sky," joins me for a fascinating exploration of the creative journey that took her from newspaper reporter to celebrated novelist. "I absolutely would not have believed it," Ivey confesses about her unexpected success. We dive deep into what she calls "the crying in the elevator stage", that overwhe...
May 26, 2025•1 hr 16 min•Season 3Ep. 126
In this episode of "Coffee Break" Rod Reynolds joins me to talk about the return of Detective Casey Wray in his thrilling new novel "Shatter Creek" . Shatter Creek plunges readers into the chaos of a brazen triple homicide that shatters the relative calm of a Long Island town. When two victims are gunned down in broad daylight, police scramble to determine if they're facing a mass shooting. The discovery of a third body initially simplifies the case, pointing to a domestic dispute with an obviou...
May 21, 2025•33 min•Season 3Ep. 125
What happens when the dream of becoming a published author collides with the harsh realities of the publishing industry? In this candid conversation, Sunday Times bestselling author Heidi Perks reveals the rollercoaster journey that began when she took redundancy in 2012 to pursue writing full-time while raising two small children. Heidi doesn't hold back as she shares the gut-wrenching moment her first agent dropped her after multiple rejections from publishers, leaving her feeling like she was...
May 19, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 124
"Nothing lasts forever," Emmy-nominated TV producer Remi Kone tells us, reflecting on one of life's most important lessons. It's this perspective that has guided her remarkable journey from working on shows like Killing Eve and Spooks to crafting her debut crime novel, "Innocent Guilt." In this captivating conversation, we explore the fascinating parallels between hooking TV viewers across multiple episodes and capturing readers across chapters, with Remi sharing invaluable insights about charac...
May 14, 2025•1 hr 20 min•Season 3Ep. 123
In this captivating conversation with bestselling author Amanda Jennings , we explore the unexpected path that led her from struggling architecture student to successful novelist. Amanda shares the pivotal moment when, as a young mother at 23, she found herself feeling creatively unfulfilled and turned to writing during her baby's naps, a decision that would ultimately launch her career. Now seven books into her career, Amanda discusses her latest novel "Beautiful People" a dark, glamorous explo...
May 12, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Season 3Ep. 122
Ever wondered what happens when you break the unspoken rules of marriage? Nadine Matheson launches an exciting new segment called "Coffee Breaks" – 20-minute conversations with authors about their latest works that feel as intimate and refreshing as catching up with friends over coffee. In this debut Coffee Break episode, psychological thriller author Helen Monks-Takhar discusses her chilling new release "The Marriage Rule." The premise hooks you immediately: what happens when a woman wakes up d...
May 07, 2025•33 min•Season 3Ep. 121
What would you sacrifice to pursue your truest creative calling? For Elaine Garvey , the answer spans decades of her life, multiple career shifts, and countless moments of self-doubt. The Financial Times has already hailed her debut novel " The Wardrobe Department" as the "Best Debut of 2025," but this recognition comes after a twenty-year journey filled with rejections, financial insecurity, and unwavering determination. "If I came home and said to family, I want to be a writer," Garvey laughs,...
May 05, 2025•1 hr 20 min•Season 3Ep. 120
What does it really take to succeed as an author in today's publishing landscape? Bestselling writer John Marrs doesn't hold back in this refreshingly candid conversation about the realities behind his thirteen-book career journey. From writing his first five books on trains and during lunch breaks to receiving 80 rejections (some with just "NO" written in red marker), John Marrs demolishes the myth of overnight success and the perfect writing environment. His path from self-publishing to having...
Apr 30, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Season 3Ep. 119
We all have dreams we've postponed and creative passions set aside while we handle life's practicalities. Award winning author Elissa Soave knows this struggle intimately. Having started law school at just 16, she spent decades in a profession that never quite felt right before finally pursuing her writing dreams in her mid-40s. "Anybody can say 'not yet, not yet' but at some point you have to say no, I'm actually now going to prioritise what I like to do with my time," Elisa shares in our candi...
Apr 28, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Season 3Ep. 118
In this illuminating conversation with crime author Marnie Riches , we dive deep into the unpredictable world of professional writing and publishing. With remarkable candor, Marnie shares the rollercoaster journey that's taken her from writing children's books under a pseudonym to becoming an award-winning crime novelist with 22 publications to her name. "Writers are gamblers," Marnie reveals early in our discussion. "Even on days where we don't love writing because it is a grind, there's always...
Apr 21, 2025•1 hr 23 min•Season 3Ep. 117
What makes the difference between a forgettable story and one that lingers in your mind long after you've turned the final page? Best-selling author and playwright Greg Mosse reveals the secret early in our conversation: "Boring books are finished by their writers, and good books are completed by their readers, because there's space for the reader's imagination within the story." This philosophy of collaborative storytelling runs throughout our conversation as Greg shares his remarkable journey ...
Apr 14, 2025•1 hr 23 min•Season 3Ep. 116
What happens after you get that coveted book deal? Award-winning author Tariq Ashkanani pulls back the curtain on the publishing industry with refreshing honesty, revealing the unexpected challenges and disappointments that come after signing with an agent. From the marketing struggles that leave authors shouting into the void to the strange disconnect between publicity budgets and actual book sales, Tariq and Nadine explore the parts of the writer's journey rarely discussed in public. But this ...
Apr 09, 2025•1 hr 28 min•Season 3Ep. 115
What makes a truly compelling story? In this deeply insightful episode, I sit down with Alex Hay , author of the award-winning "The Housekeepers" and the newly released " The Queen of Fives ," to explore the psychology behind writing con artists and morally complex characters. From learning how to pitch effectively to understanding the complex retail landscape that determines a book's success, he offers rare insights into the business side of creativity. Whether you're a writer seeking inspirati...
Apr 07, 2025•1 hr 18 min•Season 3Ep. 114
What happens when you realise your life's potential extends far beyond your current path? Multi-award winning luxury business strategist and author Elizabeth Solaru faced this exact moment while working as a microbiologist, sparked by a mundane conversation about courgettes that made her question everything. Her remarkable journey from laboratory technician to luxury cake artist serving royalty demonstrates how recognising your untapped potential can transform your entire existence. With unflinc...
Mar 31, 2025•1 hr 21 min•Season 3Ep. 113
What does it really take to survive as a professional author? In this refreshingly honest conversation, bestselling and award winning Maz Evans of 'Who Let the Gods Out' and I pull back the curtain on the realities of writing for a living. "We aren't writers floating around in scarves," Maz declares with her characteristic wit. "We're business people running a business." This sentiment sets the tone for a discussion that reveals the genuine struggle behind the glamorous facade of publishing succ...
Mar 25, 2025•1 hr 32 min•Season 3Ep. 112
What happens when the voice of a character is so powerful it shatters years of self-doubt? Finnish author Maarta Kaukonen never thought she could write a novel until the night she heard her protagonist Ida, a 20-year-old serial killer, speak to her so clearly that she had to get up and record the words. This moment transformed everything for Kokkonen, who struggled with learning disabilities as a child and spent years believing becoming an author was impossible. In this captivating conversation,...
Mar 18, 2025•1 hr 21 min•Season 3Ep. 111
In this captivating episode, Mari Hannah , a bestselling author and former probation officer, takes us on a journey through her unique path to success in the literary world. She reveals how her earlier career as a probation officer, has deeply influenced her storytelling, allowing her to craft authentic narratives that resonate with readers. With her sixteenth book, 'Her Sister's Killer', Mari delves into the emotional challenges of character development, the significance of prologues, and the i...
Mar 11, 2025•1 hr 14 min•Season 3Ep. 110
Dive into the fascinating world of espionage and writing with David Goodman, author of "A Reluctant Spy". Our conversation reveals David's enlightening journey from aspiring writer to published author, shedding light on the intricacies of crafting a compelling spy thriller in today's publishing landscape. David shares candid stories about navigating the complexities of rejection and persistent self-doubt, all while maintaining a passion for storytelling. The episode is rich with practical insigh...
Mar 04, 2025•1 hr 28 min•Season 3Ep. 109
What happens when a penniless writer from the 90s transforms into a celebrated author who masters the art of storytelling across genres? Josie Lloyd joins us to unravel her fascinating journey, from enjoying the wild ride of early media appearances to battling personal challenges that fuelled her creative spirit. With Josie by our side, we explore the ins and outs of the literary world, including the unexpected hilarity of public engagements and the solitary comfort of writing. We share laughs o...
Feb 25, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Season 3Ep. 108
