{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/6087d3aca4a81031ba098a59/69de7a018424efe84cd9e3c6?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Tom Rob Smith on 20 Years Together, Love Stories, Writing Endings and Why This Book Is So Personal","description":"<p>In this episode of&nbsp;<em>Quick Book Reviews</em>, Philippa is joined by bestselling author&nbsp;<strong>Tom Rob Smith</strong>&nbsp;to talk about his moving and deeply personal new novel,&nbsp;<strong>20 Years Together</strong>.</p><p>Known for acclaimed books including&nbsp;<strong>Child 44</strong>, and for screen work such as&nbsp;<strong>London Spy</strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>The Assassination of Gianni Versace</strong>, Tom discusses why&nbsp;<em>20 Years Together</em>&nbsp;is such a different book from his previous work, why he chose to write it now, and how it grew out of real emotional and philosophical questions around love, commitment, and marriage.</p><p>This is a conversation about writing, relationships, storytelling, hope, and the challenge of creating an ending that truly lands.</p><h2>In this episode:</h2><ul><li>Why Tom Rob Smith wrote&nbsp;<strong>20 Years Together</strong></li><li>How the novel was inspired by real questions about marriage and long-term relationships</li><li>Why this book is so different from his crime and thriller fiction</li><li>The overlap between&nbsp;<strong>love stories and thrillers</strong></li><li>The challenge of writing emotionally honest fiction</li><li>Why endings matter so much</li><li>How a book can leave readers in tears</li><li>Tom’s thoughts on adapting stories for&nbsp;<strong>television, film, or fiction</strong></li><li>How place, views, and writing environments shape the creative process</li><li>What Tom is reading right now</li></ul><h2>Books and authors mentioned:</h2><ul><li><strong>20 Years Together</strong>&nbsp;– Tom Rob Smith</li><li><strong>Child 44</strong>&nbsp;– Tom Rob Smith</li><li><strong>London Spy</strong>&nbsp;– Tom Rob Smith</li><li><strong>The Assassination of Gianni Versace</strong>&nbsp;– based on the book by Maureen Orth</li><li><strong>Aftermath</strong>&nbsp;– Rachel Cusk</li><li><strong>The Swimming-Pool Library</strong>&nbsp;– Alan Hollinghurst</li><li><strong>The Line of Beauty</strong>&nbsp;– Alan Hollinghurst</li><li><strong>Our Evenings</strong>&nbsp;– Alan Hollinghurst</li><li><strong>The Diving Bell and the Butterfly</strong>&nbsp;– Jean-Dominique Bauby</li></ul><h2>What to expect</h2><p>This episode is perfect for listeners who love:</p><ul><li>thoughtful author interviews</li><li>behind-the-scenes writing conversations</li><li>literary fiction</li><li>emotionally powerful novels</li><li>discussions about relationships, marriage and identity</li><li>Tom Rob Smith’s books, television work, and creative process</li></ul><p>Philippa and Tom also talk about dream and nightmare writing locations, how different stories reveal themselves as books or screen projects, and the emotional complexity of writing a novel that draws more closely on personal experience.</p><h2>A conversation about hope</h2><p>One of the most striking themes in this interview is&nbsp;<strong>hope</strong>&nbsp;— in fiction, in relationships, and in the stories we tell ourselves about the future. Tom reflects on setting&nbsp;<em>20 Years Together</em>&nbsp;against the backdrop of 2012 London, and why he wanted to capture a sense of optimism and possibility.</p><h2>Biscuit verdict</h2><p>A controversial moment for the podcast: Tom Rob Smith is&nbsp;<strong>not much of a biscuit eater</strong>. However, there is a nostalgic nod to the&nbsp;<strong>chocolate digestive</strong>, plus a writing fuel combination of&nbsp;<strong>dates and dark chocolate</strong>.</p><h2>If you enjoyed this episode</h2><p>Please follow, rate and review&nbsp;<em>Quick Book Reviews</em>, and share this episode with a fellow reader.</p>","author_name":"Philippa Hall"}