The Conversation with Nadine Matheson

Award-winning author David Goodman returns to The Conversation for a Coffee Break to talk about his second spy thriller, Solitary Agents, the follow-up to his debut A Reluctant Spy. David won the McDermid New Blood Award and the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize and in this conversation, he gets honest about how lucky he was to have finished his second book before that happened.We get into the premise of Solitary Agents (what if you thought something was an exercise, but it wasn't?), the joy of finally giving fan-favourite Sally Lime her own point of view, and the two walls David hit during the drafting process and how he got through them. We also talk about the unexpected side of publishing life, the difference between being a writer and being an author, why both of us are glad we came to this in our forties, and why writing what you love will always beat chasing trends.David Goodman's Book recommendation: Rat Race by Callum McSorleyBuy Solitary AgentsFollow David Goodman

What does it take to walk away from a West End career, start over as a novelist and then have every major publisher turn you down before landing a three-book deal?In this episode of The Conversation, Nadine Matheson sits down with Felix Mosse, former West End actor (Les Misérables, The Book of Mormon), TV and film script editor, and now debut author of the epic fantasy The Mistral.Felix is refreshingly candid about the whole journey, the moment COVID forced him to rethink acting, what it actually feels like to sit on submission for the better part of a year, and how a decade spent shaping other people’s scripts made him a sharper and more resilient writer. He and Nadine also dig into the world of The Mistral itself: a dying divine wind, a deliberately diverse cast, and the choice to leave most of his characters’ appearances open to the reader’s imagination. It’s a warm, honest conversation about reinvention, persistence, and making peace with your inner nerd.Follow Felix MosseBuy The Mistral Listen To: Nerd Culture: Lore & Craft Podcast

This week on The Conversation, Nadine Matheson is joined by the talented author Foluso Agbaje, whose new novel The Talk of the Party invites readers into the glamorous yet tumultuous world of high society Lagos. What does it take to leave a corporate career and survive the chaos of the publishing world.Foluso Agbaje reflects on her journey from childhood storytelling to becoming a published author, discussing the challenges of writing diverse voices and the importance of representation in literature. With insights into her creative process and the emotional rollercoaster of writing, this episode is a rich exploration of resilience, creativity, and the power of narrative. Get ready for a conversation filled with laughter, wisdom, and the undeniable magic of storytelling.Buy The Talk of the PartyFollow Foluso Agbaje

Watch as a full video episode on YouTubeThis week, we're expanding on our discussion from the last episode about the depressing HarperCollins report on children's reading habits. Author and teacher Cailean Steed joins us to break down the underlying data and explain exactly how hyper-fixating on rigid literacy metrics is actively destroying the sheer joy of reading for kids. Plus, we talk about - of course - AI, as we talk about the Commonwealth Short Story Prize winner scandal, and discuss Nobel Laureate Olga Tokarczuk response to the talk of AI involvement in her work. And we find time to talk about the Guardian's "Best books of all time" list - and make Tariq talk about football again.00:00 Intro01:08 Literacy vs Joy: Let Kids Enjoy Reading: Cailean Steed Interview22:15 Snake Oil Award - Prize-winning Pile On37:50 Tokarczuk Prize - An Ignoble Use of AI?44:02 Stranger Than Fiction - Nadine's Idea Factory52.26 The Final Chapter - Who are books lists for?Links:Literacy focus ‘actively undermining’ reading for pleasure, HarperCollins finds‘Obvious markers of AI’: doubts raised over winner of short story prizeRead The Serpent in the Grove and decide for yourselfOlga Tokarczuk has responded to the controversy over her reputed use of AIThe Guardian 100 Best Books of All TimeAdventures in Publishing-land is brought to you by STET Podcasts - the one stop shop for all your writing podcast needs, featuring Page One - The Writer's Podcast, The Conversation with Nadine Matheson and more!Follow us on BlueskyFollow us on Instagram

In this episode of 'The Conversation Coffee Break', I sit down with the brilliant bestselling thriller author Lucy Clarke to talk about her brand new book The Surf House, a gripping, sun-soaked thriller set on the stunning shores of Morocco.Lucy shares the fascinating story of how she went from advertising executive to internationally published author , what it was like to be invited into the writers' room for the TV adaptations of her books, and how she wrote an 80,000-word first draft in just 17 days. We also get into the emotional rollercoaster of receiving editor's notes , the importance of finding your writing tribe and why success in publishing is never as straightforward as it looks from the outside.Lucy Clarke's Recommendation: Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaugheyBuy The Surf HouseFollow Lucy Clarke

We're re-releasing this conversation with Marcia Hutchinson, and what a moment to do it. Since we first spoke, Marcia has won the Discover Prize at the British Book Awards 2026 and landed a shortlist spot for the Women's Prize for Fiction all for her debut novel, The Mercy Step. Oh, and The Observer called her one of the debut novelists to watch in 2025. Not bad, Marcia. Not bad at all.In this conversation, we go back to where it all began, Marcia's journey from a challenging childhood in Bradford to becoming one of the most exciting new voices in British fiction. We talk about what success really means when you've spent your life running away from things rather than running towards them, and how she's learning to slow down and actually celebrate the extraordinary thing she's achieved.The Mercy Step follows Mercy a precocious, imaginative young girl born into a chaotic household in Bradford in December 1962. Her mother is devoted to the Church, her father's temper rules the house, and Mercy finds her comfort in books, her imagination, and her beloved toy Dolly. It's a story about quiet rebellion, survival, and the fierce desire to be seen and heard.This is a conversation about resilience, creativity, and what happens when you finally let yourself believe you're allowed to win.Buy The Mercy StepFollow Marcia Hutchinson