The Hobcast Book Show

A few weeks ago we had the pleasure of speaking to veteran entertainment and celebrity public relations expert and author, Peter Berry. He gave us an insight into how difficult it is to mediate between his celebrity clients and the demands of journalists. It's time to hear from the other side of things. Debut author Caroline Westbrook is an entertainment journalist who has faced the challenge of encouraging her celebrity interviewees to say something fresh and interesting, even if it's the hundredth interview of their promotional tour. Drawing extensively on her career in newspapers, magazines and the BBC, her novel Troublemaker delves into the high-pressure world of entertainment journalism and gives it a murderous twist. As Caroline, writing as C.R Westbrook explains, many of her colleagues believe they've been the inspiration behind her characters.Also this week, Adrian and Rebecca discuss the potential impact of Donald Trump's trade tariffs on the publishing industry. Will books be harder to sell in uncertain economic times?https://www.amazon.co.uk/TROUBLEMAKER-C-R-Westbrook-ebook/dp/B0DQ16S84J

In the second part of our interview with award-winning historical author Chris Lloyd, we discover how unexpected historical research details impact his storytelling and novels. Chris spends three months digging into the minutiae of life in wartime Paris for each of his Occupation Series novels, and is often surprised by what he finds. As he explains, his plans can change dramatically as a result. Also this week, we discuss this year's author line-up for the Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Festival in Harrogate. Is it the same old faces, or can we look forward to something a bit different from this year's chair, Mick Herron? The Occupation Series — Chris Lloyd

Some interviews are so fascinating we decide to run them over two episodes. That was certainly the case with our guest this week, Chris Lloyd, winner of the Historical Writers' Association Gold Crown for the best historical novel of the year. The winning title, The Unwanted Dead was the opening novel in his Occupation Series, set in wartime Paris, in which Detective Eddie Giral tries to ensure justice is served despite working under Nazi occupation. In part one of this interview, Chris explains that he's learned to accept that he's a born pantser as an author, and that his best work comes when he allows inspiration to lead him, rather than a firm plan. Also this week, we discuss the story that has dominated the minds of indie authors and publishers this week - the revelation that Facebook's parent-company Meta has used illegal pirate websites to ingest vast quantities of copyright-protected fiction and non-fiction to teach its AI models. How should authors react? And what can be done to protect their rights and incomes?Chris Lloyd - Crime Fiction Authorhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Unwanted-Dead-Chris-Lloyd-ebook/dp/B086GJ2B83

We'd like to introduce you to two words, if you haven't already discovered them, that will change your life. One is stramash, a Scottish noun for "uproar, brawl or tumult." The other, which also features in the back cover blurb of our guest Callum McSorley's second novel, is the brilliant shitemire, which we think succinctly sums up the world at present. As you'll hear, both words feature fairly heavily in our interview with Callum, who enjoyed a stellar debut with his breakthrough novel Squeaky Clean in 2023. Amongst the accolades and amazing critical reviews it received, it won the coveted McIvanney Prize for the best Scottish crime novel. Set in a car wash in East Glasgow, and inspired by Callum's experience of working in one, it's a dazzling and funny crime novel. His follow up, Paperboy, was released last week. So how has Callum coped with the pressure of second-novel syndrome?Also this week, it's an exciting week for Hobeck Books with the release of our psychological thriller , What You See by Hilly Barmby, and Rebecca reflects on her visit to this year's London Book Fair.callummcsorley.comhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Squeaky-Clean-Callum-McSorley-ebook/dp/B0BT8SGQLVhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Paperboy-Callum-McSorley-ebook/dp/B0DFYC9KFHhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/What-You-See-page-turning-psychological-ebook/dp/B0DS44FTSG

Finding time to write can be one of the biggest challenges for any author. That's certainly the experience of our guest this week, Jenny O'Brien, who for years had to find pockets of time in her busy career as a nurse to jot down ideas or write scenes. She tells us she always had a notebook handy, and sometimes used dictation during her breaks on the ward to add to her work in progress. Now the successful author of the popular Detective Gaby Darin series published by HQ Digital, as well as romances and psychological thrillers, her next novel published next month, The Book of Lost Children, is a departure for Jenny; it's partially set in Guernsey in 1943. Also in this inspiring interview, Jenny explains how a love of open water swimming has fueled her creativity.Also this week, we discuss how American tariffs are scaring the U.S publishing industry, and Rebecca looks forward to her visit to this year's London Book Fair in London.Jenny O'Brien Author | Irish writerDetective Gaby Darin (6 book series) Kindle editionhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Book-Lost-Children-Jenny-OBrien-ebook/dp/B0DTX81TG4

We're always on the lookout for ways to unlock the creative juices, and our guest this week, author Cauvery Madhavan recommends an early morning round of golf to set the mood. Born in India, but based in Ireland since her early twenties, Cauvery draws inspiration from both her homeland and her adopted country for her storytelling. The author of four novels, her most recent work, The Inheritance, was published last year. Set in the stunning Beara Peninsular in south-west Ireland, it tells the story of Marlo, a young London-Irish man who moves to the area to recover from a devastating revelation. He inherits a minibus service from a neighbour, unleashing a series of surprising adventures. As Cauvery explains, she never sets out with a plan for her books, but delights in the way her characters and settings guide her work. This is a joyous interview.Also this week, we discuss how several leading UK literary festivals are working together to survive hard times, and how arts bodies in the United States are reacting to tough new directives brought in by the Trump administration.Cauvery Madhavan – Author, Journalist, Bloggerhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Inheritance-Cauvery-Madhavan-ebook/dp/B0DF93T83H