The Hobcast Book Show

We're delighted to be joined again by our guest, Julie Anderson this week, as we celebrate the launch of her new novel for Hobeck Books, The Midnight Man. Set in post-war Clapham, the book introduces us to two very different women, Elly and Fay, who become an unlikely sleuthing duo following a chance meeting in the cafeteria of the South London Hospital for Women and Children. It was a remarkable institution - created by two pioneering women surgeons who themselves fought the male-dominated Establishment to found the hospital in 1912. It's the perfect setting for this atmospheric thriller, and as Julie tells us, recreating the world of this long-closed hospital where for most of its history all the staff, from surgeons to porters, were women, has been an epic labour of love. It's a remarkable novel.Also this week, we examine this year's long list for the coveted Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2024 and ask, are we right in imagining the same authors are nominated every year? And just how open are independent bookshops to stocking independently published fiction? Julie Anderson – Writer and author (julieandersonwriter.com)https://www.amazon.co.uk/Midnight-Man-FLEMING-ASSOCIATION-LONGLISTED-ebook/dp/B0CY2M5BMQ

We had the pleasure back in February 2024 to appear on The Secret Circle podcast discussing the challenges of running a small publishing house in the current marketplace. This week, we have the pleasure of returning the invitation to the show's host, Dr Luke Deckard. Luke is an author with a deep passion for noir, both written and film, and is a creative writing mentor at the University of Westminster. He holds a Masters and now a PhD in Creative Writing from Kingston University, achievements all the more remarkable as Luke has dyslexia. So how has he navigated the issues that being dyslexic has posed in his journey into the world of writing and literature? It's a fascinating interview.Also this week, the UK publishing industry is gearing up for its award season, with long lists announced for both the National Book Awards and the Crime Writer's Association Daggers. Are Adrian and Rebecca impressed with the choices? Not entirely...DR Luke Deckard

There are so many challenges that publishers face as it is, so is it possible to also tackle the environmental impact of creating books too? Our guest this week, Stuart Debar of UK independent press, SRL Publishing, believes it is. In fact, he argues that publishers have a duty to publish in as sustainably as they can, from choice of paper stock for their print copies, planting trees to offset those felled to create that paper, or paying close attention to the chemicals used in the printing process. As Stuart tells us, this focus on sustainable publishing developed gradually as SRL grew in recent years, and now the company is recognised as the world's first Climate Positive publisher. There's so much to learn from this fascinating interview.Also this week, Adrian and Rebecca again discuss the march of A.I in publishing, with a recent survey revealing that one third of translators say that they've lost work to A.I systems in the past year. SRL Publishing(27) 🌳 Stuart Debar | LinkedIn

Why become an independent publisher? It can't be the hours? Or the pay. So what motivates people to enter the industry? That's a question we put to our guest this week, Joe Chadwick, author and creator of Essex-based micro-publisher Crescent Swan Publishing. Joe set up the company in order to publish his first novel, The Briarmen in 2021, and with that experience behind him, he signed his first author, Tim Franks, who appeared on this podcast recently. Joe says he, like many other small publishers, is still learning as he goes, but he's determined to build his imprint steadily in the coming years. This is an interview where Joe's passion for books shines through.Also this week, Adrian and Rebecca question whether it's right for celebrities to write new books in the Roald Dahl world, and we debate the reaction to the cancellation of a major Scottish literary when a grant application was turned down by Creative Scotland.Independent Publishing | Crescent Swan PublishingThe Briarmen: A fairy-tale for adults: Amazon.co.uk: Chadwick, Joseph A.: 9781838308407: Books

We're heading Stateside again this week on The Hobcast Book Show to meet our guest, C McGee. By day, he's Professor Caleb Husmann, teaching political science at William Peace University in North Carolina, and by night he's C McGee, author of satirical mystery, Owen O'Shea - Stay-At-Home Dad, Wannabe Detective. As Caleb explains to us, once his dreams of becoming a professional soccer player ended, he needed a new challenge, one that took him way outside his comfort zone. That was writing. He also explains how challenging it can be to hold the attention of his students in a world of electronic distractions. It's a great interview.Also this week, Adrian and Rebecca discuss the disturbing findings of a UK publishing industry survey that suggests that 97% of respondents had suffered from burnout, and they explain how April 1st 2024 will go down in publishing history with the launch of their new AI service - CAT GPT!https://www.amazon.co.uk/Owen-OShea-Stay-At-Home-Wannabe-Detective-ebook/dp/B0CPBKPN2B

Would you ever consider writing a chapter from the perspective of an octopus? Our guest this week, New York-based author Tim Maleeny certainly has, but as he explains in this episode of The Hobcast Book Show, he'll consider anything if it entertains his readers. Tim is the author of the Cape Weathers Mysteries series; the latest novel Hanging the Devil was published in 2023, and deals with the murky world of international art dealing. Described by NY Times bestselling-author Gregg Hurwitz as: "A caper stuffed with comedy and crime...equal parts adrenaline and heart," - it's perhaps no surprise that our interview with Tim is also an entertaining thrill ride.Also this week, where do publishers turn when their distributor pulls the plug? And we hear about the latest moves to ensure A.I systems are kept honest.Author Tim Maleenyhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0C7F6TN6N