The Conversation with Nadine Matheson

"You need to find it in yourself if you want to keep going."Ruth DugdallFormer probation officer and crime author Ruth Dugdall joins Nadine Matheson to discuss her journey from working inside prisons to writing the Kate Austin crime series. Ruth shares vivid stories from her probation career, including being handcuffed by a prison officer "for a laugh", and opens up about winning a major writing award only to be told nobody wanted her book. They also explore the ethics of writing about real crimes, Ruth's fascination with the women who keep secrets, and her new novel Mother Missing.Ruth Dugdall is a former probation officer who worked with sex offenders, stalkers, and young men who committed murder, before becoming a crime novelist. She won the Crime Writers' Association Debut Dagger for The Woman Before Me and recently completed a PhD by publication on her own novels, arguing that the probation perspective is uniquely absent from crime fiction. She has just signed a six-book deal with HarperCollins for the Kate Austin series. Her new novel Mother Missing is published on 26th September. Find her on Instagram @ruthdugdall.Follow Ruth DugdallBuy 'Mother Missing'

In this extended coffee break conversation, Nadine Matheson sits down with debut author NJ Hatton (Nick Jones) to discuss his psychological suspense thriller Truth Will Out. They explore the real-life hit-and-run that inspired the novel, the moral grey areas of fatherhood and justice, the transition from screenwriting to novels, and what's coming next, including teasers for books two and three.NJ Hatton is the pen name of Nick Jones, a former screenwriter and kids' media producer turned psychological thriller author. His debut novel Truth Will Out is out now. Before turning to novels, he worked in television development and at Moonbug Entertainment on preschool animation. He lives in Worcestershire with his family.Buy 'Truth Will Out'

"The art isn't created on the page or on the stage. It's created in the mind of the reader or the person watching the play. What you're trying to do is give the watcher or the reader the space to use their imagination and co-create what you've done with them."Ajay ChowdhuryNadine Matheson welcomes bestselling author, tech entrepreneur and theatre director, Ajay Chowdhury, for a wide-ranging conversation about his multi-hyphenate creative life. They discuss how Ajay helped create Shazam, his six-year journey from competition winner to seven published books, the AI fears that drove his latest thriller Eden Falls, and the realities of the publishing industry he didn't see coming.Ajay Chowdhury is a British crime novelist, tech entrepreneur, and theatre director. He co-created Shazam, the music recognition app that became a verb, and has published seven books in six years, including the Kamil Chowdhury detective series and the standalone thriller Eden Falls. His upcoming books include The Patriot (a heist novel about stealing the Koh-i-Noor diamond, out November 2026) and The Outsider. He is also directing the play Dog Mom at Southwark Playhouse in October/November 2025. Find him at ajaychowdhury.com.Buy Eden Falls

Welcome to Season 5 of 'The Conversation with Nadine Matheson' 🎉"No one's asking for the work. No one was asking for Time Jump… but I still have the faith that it will pay off. And I love writing and I think it's the thing I'm best at. So to not do it is you're cheating yourself." Adam SimcoxAuthor and filmmaker Adam Simcox joins Nadine to celebrate the publication of his new novel Time Jump, a time-travelling psychological thriller set between 1997 and 2026. They discuss his journey from law student to filmmaker to novelist, surviving 150+ agent rejections, dumping 70,000 words mid-draft, why AI can't replace the craft of storytelling, and the importance of backing yourself when no one's asking for the work.Adam Simcox is a novelist, filmmaker, and photographer. He wrote and directed three feature films before transitioning to fiction. His debut film sold to Netflix before it became the Netflix juggernaut that we all know. He is the author of The Dying Squad trilogy and his latest novel, Time Jump (Renegade Books, 3 September 2026). He studied law before switching to a master's in film and documentary production at Salford University. Find him on Instagram at @simcoxadam. Follow Adam SimcoxBuy Time Jump by Adam Simcox

Welcome to Season 5 of 'The Conversation with Nadine Matheson' 🎉"Romance and crime are propping up the entire industry. It's billions of dollars and pounds a year. So if it wasn't for these books, good luck getting your breakout literary moment."Lindsey KelkBestselling author Lindsey Kelk joins Nadine to trace her journey from a South Yorkshire mining village to international publishing success. From being told she wasn't "from the right background" at Harper Collins, to writing her debut novel on Boxing Day and moving to New York within weeks of its publication, Lindsey shares how naivety, spite, and an unstoppable imagination built a 17-year career in romance and why she's not apologising for any of it.About Lindsey Kelk:Lindsey Kelk is the bestselling author of romantic comedy novels including the I Heart series and the Bell Witches YA paranormal series. Her new adult college romance series, Hit or Miss, is written under the pseudonym Elle Kelk. Originally from South Yorkshire, she worked in publishing at Harper Collins before writing her debut novel, I Heart New York, in 2007. She now lives in the US and co-hosts the wrestling podcast Tights and Fights. Find her on Instagram at @lindseykelk.Buy The BookHit or Miss by Elle Kelk (ebook) (paperback)

Watch as a full video episode on YouTubeOn this week’s episode, we are talking about MrBeast & James Patterson’s apparent book flop, and wondering if publishers will learn that social media following doesn’t translate into book sales. Plus, we talk about the Self-Publishing Partnership’s collapse, and discuss how NOT to behave at conventions after stories of a very pushy author came out of WorldCon.00:00 Intro01:02 From the Slush Pile - Listener Comments17:43 Self-Publishing Panic - Another Unbound?26:09 WorldCon Drama - When the Hustle Goes Wrong34:02 MrBeast Book Bomb - Is Publishing The Most Dangerous Game?42:45 Stranger Than Fiction - Nadine's Idea Factory45:19 The Final Chapter - Entertainment Catch-upLinks:Almost 100 authors affected by Self-Publishing Partnership collapseIs There a Wrong Way to Chase Your Dreams?Is MrBeast and James Patterson’s Novel Collaboration Headed for a Disastrous Debut?South Korean police officer admits to closing missing person cases to avoid workAdventures 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! Find all our shows here!Follow us on BlueskyFollow us on Instagram

🌞 Summer Rewind: While we count down to Season 5 (launching 8 September 2026), we're revisiting some of the best conversations and fan favourites from Season 4."The more rejections you get, the less they matter because they become ordinary."Tayari JonesIn this final summer rewind episode, we dive deep into the world of storytelling with the remarkable Tayari Jones, an acclaimed author known for her powerful narratives and profound insights into the writing process. Tayari shares her journey from a talkative child with a passion for storytelling to a successful writer whose works resonate with readers around the globe.One of the most captivating moments in our conversation revolves around the challenges of rejection. Tayari candidly discusses her experience of receiving 22 rejections before finally publishing her first book. She reflects on how resilience builds over time and how rejections lose their sting once they stop feeling exceptional and start feeling routine. This perspective is not only refreshing but also serves as a reminder that persistence is key in the creative world.We also explore the significance of mentorship in Tayari's life. She recalls her university days, where a teacher encouraged her to write down her thoughts instead of merely speaking them. This pivotal moment ignited her passion for writing and helped her find her voice. Tayari believes that the encouragement, or lack thereof from family can shape a writer's journey, highlighting the importance of self-definition in art.As we discuss her best-selling novel and Oprah Book Club pick, Kin, Tayari reveals that the narrative focuses on the complexities of friendship and the bonds that shape our lives, describing friendships as the other great love stories we live through.Follow Tayari JonesBuy KinSeason 5 of The Conversation with Nadine Matheson launches 8 September 2026.

🌞 Summer Rewind: While we count down to Season 5 (launching 8 September 2026), we're revisiting some of the best conversations and fan favourites from Season 4."I think you just have to keep at it. You cannot give up. You just cannot give up."Lily KingIn this episode, Nadine sits down with Lily King, best known for Writers and Lovers, to talk about her latest novel, Heart the Lover, and the long road that shaped her writing life.Lily opens up about her early career, including the pressure of finishing her first book while watching peers find success faster. She talks candidly about self-doubt, what "overnight success" really looks like, and why writing for yourself first, before an audience, is what protects a writer's authenticity. She also walks through her process book by book, including a difficult stretch while writing Heart the Lover that forced her to confront her own struggles in order to finish the story. And she looks back on a high school teacher who first spotted her talent and encouraged her toward creative writing, a moment she credits with setting her on this path.In this episode:Lily's early career and the pressure of watching peers succeed firstThe myth of "overnight success" and what actually sustains a writing careerWriting for yourself vs. writing for an audienceThe specific challenges of writing Heart the LoverThe teacher who first recognised her talentAdvice for aspiring and seasoned writers alikeFollow Lily KingBuy 'Heart the Lover'Season 5 of The Conversation with Nadine Matheson launches 8 September 2026.

☀️This is a Summer Rewind. One of our favourite conversations, back in your feed while we get ready for Season 5.In this episode of The Conversation with Nadine Matheson, we're joined by the insightful Kasim Ali, author of the thought-provoking novel Who Will Remain. Together we delve into the complexities of identity, family, and the struggles young men face in today's society.Kasim shares his journey as a writer, discussing the challenges of portraying the realities of his community authentically while navigating the expectations placed on him as a South Asian author. We explore the themes of his novel, which follows Ahmed, a young man grappling with loss, societal pressures, and the quest for self-identity amidst chaos. As he turns to a life of crime in search of respect and control, the narrative raises poignant questions about choices, consequences, and the quest for belonging.Along the way, Kasim also reflects on his career in publishing as both author and editor, including some sharp, funny observations on the meeting-heavy culture of post-COVID work life, and what it's taught him about respecting people's time and communicating with clarity. It's a candid look at balancing creative ambition with the practical (and sometimes absurd) realities of working in a predominantly white industry.Listeners will gain valuable insight into the creative process, the importance of representation in literature, and the personal experiences that shape a writer's voice. This episode is a compelling exploration of how our backgrounds influence our narratives and the power of storytelling to challenge societal norms.Follow Kasim Ali Buy Who Will Remain