The Brit Lit Podcast

Claire

Josie Silver

30: What Would the Spice Girls Do?: How the Girl Power Generation Grew Up with Lauren Bravo Nov 15, 2018

Show notes

Lauren Bravo is the author of What Would the Spice Girls Do?: How the Girl Power Generation Grew Up, which makes some fascinating and important points about identity, feminism, and the power of the girl gang. In this episode, Lauren talks to Claire about what she was reading back in the days when the Spice Girls were blaring out from her ghetto blaster, her friendship with previous podcast guest Daisy Buchanan, the book she made her boyfriend read while standing over him to make sure he laughed in the right places, and more.

Books Mentioned on the Podcast:

What Would the Spice Girls Do?: How the Girl Power Generation Grew Up, by Lauren Bravo

Sweet Valley Twins, by Francine Pascal

The Baby-Sitters Club, by Ann M. Martin

Anastasia Krupnik Stories, by Lois Lowry

Bridget Jones's Diary, by Helen Fielding

Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen

I'll Be There for You: The One about Friends, by Kelsey Miller

Promising Young Women, by Caroline O'Donoghue

The Break, by Marian Keyes

OMG, What a Complete Aisling, by Sarah Breen and Emer McLysaght

Conversations with Friends, by Sally Rooney

Work Like a Woman, by Mary Portas

Crudo, by Olivia Laing

Vile Bodies, by Evelyn Waugh

Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging, by Louise Rennison

The Diary of a Nobody, by George and Weedon Grossman

Middle England, by Jonathan Coe

Five Days of Fog, by Anna Freeman

The Story of Crossrail, by Christian Wolmar

Unscripted, by Claire Handscombe

*****

Support Claire on Patreon to get bonus content and personalised book recommendations.

Buy Brit Lit Podcast merch to show your love for your podcast and help support it.

Pre-order Claire's novel, Unscripted.

For daily news and views from British books and publishing, follow the Brit Lit Blog.

Questions? Comments? Need a book recommendation? Email Claire at britlitpodcast@gmail.com

*****

The Brit Lit Podcast

Claire

Lauren Bravo

29: The Adults with Caroline Hulse Nov 01, 2018

Show notes

Caroline Hulse is the author of The Adults, a really enjoyable novel about what happens when two exes go on holiday together, with their new partners and the daughter who links them. What could possibly go wrong? She talks to Claire about her love of board games, how being a writer has changed her relationship with books, why she chose to start her novel with the revelation that someone gets shot with an arrow at the end, and more.

Books Mentioned on the Podcast:

The Adults, by Caroline Hulse

For Richer, For Poorer: A Love Affair with Poker, by Victoria Coren

Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng

Anatomy of a Scandal, by Sarah Vaughan

Standard Deviation, by Katherine Heiney

Degrees of Guilt, by HS Chandler

Unscripted, by Claire Handscombe

It's All a Game: A Short History of Board Games, by Tristan Donovan

Should I Stay Or Should I Go?: And 87 Other Serious Answers to Questions in Songs, by James Ball

Truth, Love & Clean Cutlery: A Guide to the truly good restaurants and food experiences of the United Kingdom, by Giles Coren and Jules Mercer

Let's Get Fizzical: More than 50 Bubbly Cocktail Recipes with Prosecco, Champagne, and Other Sparkling Wines, by Pippa Guy.

*****

Claire's post on bookish board games is here.

Why pre-ordering book is a great way to support an author: read about it here.

Support Claire on Patreon to get bonus content and personalised book recommendations.

Buy Brit Lit Podcast merch to show your love for your podcast and help support it.

Pre-order Claire's novel, Unscripted.

For daily news and views from British books and publishing, follow the Brit Lit Blog.

Questions? Comments? Need a book recommendation? Email Claire at britlitpodcast@gmail.com

*****

The Brit Lit Podcast

Claire

The Story of NOW That's What I Call Music in 100 Artists

Caroline Hulse

Twitter

28: The Most Difficult of Circumstances, with AJ Pearce Oct 18, 2018

Show notes

Our guest this time is AJ Pearce, the author of Dear Mrs. Bird , a lovely novel about female friendship set in World War II's London. Emmy is determined to be a Lady War Correspondent, but instead finds herself working for the redoubtable Mrs Bird at the problem page of a Women's Magazine. AJ spoke to me about how she put herself in the shoes of women who lived during the blitz, the challenges of using real events in her fiction, and her own favourite World War II novels.

Books Mentioned on the Podcast:

Dear Mrs. Bird, by AJ Pearce

Cheerfulness Breaks In, by Elizabeth E. Wein

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, by John Boyne

Code Name Verity, by Angela Thirkell

Queenie, by Candice Carty-Williams

Pigeon Pie, by Nancy Mitford

Louis & Louise, by Julie Cohen

If Only I Could Tell You, by Hannah Beckerman

The Doll Factory, by Elizabeth Macneal

What Would the Spice Girls Do?: How the Girl Power Generation Grew Up, by Lauren Bravo

The Book of the Year 2018: Your Definitive Guide to the World's Weirdest News, by No Such Thing As a Fish

Brief Answers to the Big Questions, by Stephen Hawking

The Life and Times of a Very British Man, by Kamel Ahmed.

Unscripted, by Claire Handscombe

***** Support Claire on Patreon to get bonus content and personalised book recommendations.

Buy Brit Lit Podcast merch to show your love for your podcast and help support it.

Pre-order Claire's novel, Unscripted.

For daily news and views from British books and publishing, follow the Brit Lit Blog.

Questions? Comments? Need a book recommendation? Email Claire at britlitpodcast@gmail.com

*****

The Brit Lit Podcast Instagram / Twitter / Facebook / Website

Claire Twitter / Facebook / Blog / Novel

AJ Pearce Twitter / Website

27: Looking Through the Spy Hole, with Claire Fuller Oct 04, 2018

Show notes

In this first anniversary episode, we hear from Claire Fuller, who is the author of three novels: Our Endless Numbered Days, Swimming Lessons, and Bitter Orange, which came out in the UK in September and is out in the US next week. She talks about the intriguing dedication in that novel, her love of Shirley Jackson, how Leonard Cohen's music coloured her writing of her latest novel, and more.

Books Mentioned on the Podcast:

Bitter Orange, by Claire Fuller

No Voice from the Hall: Early Memories of a Country House Snooper, by John Harris

The Haunting of Hill House, by Shirley Jackson

We Have Always Lived in the Castle, by Shirley Jackson

The Lottery and Other Stories, by Shirley Jackson

The Hours, by Michael Cunningham

The Essex Serpent, by Sarah Perry

Melmoth, by Sarah Perry

A Better Me: The Official Autobiography, by Gary Barlow

Best of Today: 60 Years of Conversations, Contradictions and Controversies, by the BBC

Unscripted, by Claire Handscombe

(A note on my book links: they usually take you to Amazon, and I get a few pence per sale at no extra cost to you if you click them and buy from there, which will help me make this podcast viable long-term. But better than Amazon, who are, let's be honest, not the greatest, is Blackwells or Waterstones, or, even better, your local independent bookshop. If you live in the US or elsewhere further afield, you can find UK books at Book Depository (also owned by Amazon) at a good price and with no postage cost, or sometimes at Wordery.com, or you can buy them from Amazon US, or, even better, an independent bookshop.)

*****

Support Claire on Patreon to get bonus content and personalised book recommendations.

Buy Brit Lit Podcast merch to show your love for your podcast and help support it.

Pre-order Claire's novel, Unscripted, help make the book happen, and get rewards too.

For daily news and views from British books and publishing, follow the Brit Lit Blog.

Questions? Comments? Need a book recommendation? Email Claire at britlitpodcast@gmail.com

*****

The Brit Lit Podcast

Claire

Claire Fuller

26: Dark Undercurrents of Everyday Life Sep 20, 2018

Show notes

Claire speaks to Charlotte Duckworth, author of psychological suspense novel The Rival. They discuss Charlotte'slong journey as a writer and some of her novel's themes: how motherhood changes a woman and often rocks her sense of identity and how that can play out against the backdrop of her work.

Books Mentioned on the Podcast:

The Rival, by Charlotte Duckworth

Our Kind of Cruelty, by Araminta Hall

No Further Questions,by Gillian McAllister

Rosie Loves Jack, by Mel Darbon

Help Me!: One Woman's Quest to Find Out if Self-Help Really Can Change Her Life, by Marianne Power

Dear Mr Pop Star, by Derek and Dave Philpott

The Good Guys: 50 Heroes Who Changed the World with Kindness, by Rob Kemp

Unscripted, by Claire Handscombe

*****

Pregnant Then Screwed offers support for women who have faced maternity of pregnancy discrimation.

The Faber Academy's Writing a Novel course is a comprehensive six-month writing course for the serious writer, with access to some of the biggest names in publishing.

Support Claire on Patreon to get bonus content and personalised book recommendations.

Buy Brit Lit Podcast merch to show your love for your podcast and help support it.

Pre-order Claire's novel, Unscripted, help make the book happen, and get rewards too.

For daily news and views from British books and publishing, follow the Brit Lit Blog.

Questions? Comments? Need a book recommendation? Email Claire at britlitpodcast@gmail.com

*****

The Brit Lit Podcast

Claire

Charlotte Duckworth

Twitter / Instagram

25: This Inexhaustible Canvas Sep 06, 2018

Show notes

Diana Evans is the author of three novels, 26a, The Wonder, and most recently Ordinary People, which came out this spring in the UK to much acclaim and is out nextz week in the US. She talked to Claire about her favourite London-set books, her own past life as a dancer, why it was important for her to capture the experience of middle class black Brits, and more.

Books Mentioned on the Podcast:

26a, by Diana Evans

The Wonder, by Diana Evans

Ordinary People, by Diana Evans

After Leaving Mr. Mackenzie, by Jean Rhys

On Beauty, by Zadie Smith

This Is London: Life and Death in the World City, by Ben Judah

Heart Berries, by Terese Marie Mailhot

Tender Is the Night, by F Scott Fitzgerald

Dancer, by Colum McCann

Lucia Joyce: To Dance in the Wake, by Lucia Joyce

Nijinski, by Richard Buckle

The Cranes Dance, by Meg Howrey

Revolutionary Road, by Richard Yates

Rise, by Gina Miller

Ballet: The Definitive Illustrated Story, by Viviana Durante

Ed Sheeran: Memories We Made, by Christie Goodwin

Unscripted, by Claire Handscombe

*****

Support Claire on Patreon to get bonus content and personalised book recommendations.

Buy Brit Lit Podcast merch to show your love for your podcast and help support it.

Pre-order Claire's novel, Unscripted, help make the book happen, and get rewards too.

For daily news and views from British books and publishing, follow the Brit Lit Blog.

Questions? Comments? Need a book recommendation? Email Claire at britlitpodcast@gmail.com

*****

The Brit Lit Podcast

Claire

Diana Evans

Twitter

24: You Can Pretty Much Do Anything Aug 23, 2018

Show notes

Claire's guest today is Joanna Penn, who's a bit of a superstar in the world of self-publishing. She's the author of 28 books to date, including thrillers and non-fiction to help authors with their careers, and she's an award-winning creative entrepreneur, podcaster, and professional speaker. Her website, TheCreativePenn.com, has been named as one of the Top 100 sites for writers by Writer's Digest. She talks about her own career journey, the state of self-publishing now and how it has changed, and more. If you're an aspiring author, this episode is full of practical tips -- as well as a lot of encouragement!

Books Mentioned on the Podcast:

Valley of Dry Bones, by JF Penn

How To Write Non-Fiction, by Joanna Penn

Successful Self-Publishing, by Joanna Penn

Map of Shadows, by JF Penn

A Thousand Fiendish Angels, by JF Penn

Crypt of Bone, by JF Penn

Danse Macabre, by Stephen King

Rot & Ruin, by Jonathan Maberry

State of Play: Under the Skin of the Modern Game, by Michael Galvin.

Four Feet Under: Thirty Untold Stories of Homelessness in London, by Tamsen Courtenay.

The Island, by M A Bennett

Prague Spring, by Simon Mawer

Unscripted, by Claire Handscombe

*****

Support Claire on Patreon to get bonus content and personalised book recommendations.

Buy Brit Lit Podcast merch to show your love for your podcast and help support it.

Pre-order Claire's novel, Unscripted, help make the book happen, and get rewards too.

For daily news and views from British books and publishing, follow the Brit Lit Blog.

Questions? Comments? Need a book recommendation? Email Claire at britlitpodcast@gmail.com

*****

The Brit Lit Podcast

Claire

Joanna Penn

Twitter / Website / Podcast

23: A Particular Kind of Loneliness Aug 09, 2018

Show notes

On this week's episode, we hear from Sarah J Harris, who's the author ofThe Color of Bee Larkham's Murder, as well as YA novels under a different name. She discusses the particular loneliness of synaesthesia, her love for the martial arts, the long path to publication, and more.

Books Mentioned on the Podcast:

The Colour of Bee Larkham's Murder, by Sarah J Harris

Jessica Cole: Model Spy, by Sarah Sky

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, by Stuart Turton

Don't You Cry, by Cass Green

The Woman Next Door, by Cass Green

In a Cottage in a Wood, by Cass Green

I Am Heathcliff, ed. by Kate Mosse

Hold Back the Stars, by Katie Khan

The Light Between Us, by Katie Khan

The Versions of Us, by Laura Barnett

The Summer of Impossible Things, by Rowan Coleman

Bitter Orange, by Claire Fuller

Are We All Lemmings and Snowflakes?, by Holly Bourne

Perfidious Albion, by Sam Byers

Country, by Michael Hughes

Unscripted, by Claire Handscombe

*****

Support Claire on Patreon to get bonus content and personalised book recommendations.

Buy Brit Lit Podcast merch to show your love for your podcast and help support it.

Pre-order Claire's novel, Unscripted, help make the book happen, and get rewards too.

For daily news and views from British books and publishing, follow the Brit Lit Blog.

Questions? Comments? Need a book recommendation? Email Claire at britlitpodcast@gmail.com

*****

The Brit Lit Podcast

Twitter / Facebook / Website /Instagram

Claire

Sarah J Harris