The Conversation with Nadine Matheson

Jane Casey, bestselling author of the Maeve Kerrigan crime series, joins Nadine for a wide-ranging, honest conversation about storytelling, faith, ambition, and the writing life. They talk about growing up in a convent school in Ireland, discovering crime fiction while studying at Oxford, the long road to getting published (including five rejections before her breakthrough), building an iconic series character from scratch, and why comparing yourself to other authors is a waste of energy. Jane shares her journey from being a successful editor in children's publishing to becoming a celebrated author of crime fiction. The conversation delves into the challenges of writing, 'Everything She Didn't Say' a standalone novel set in Ireland, the intricacies of character development, and the emotional toll of navigating the publishing industry. Join Nadine and Jane for an engaging discussion about the art of storytelling, the importance of authenticity in writing, and the lessons learned from both success and failure in the literary world.Follow Jane CaseyBuy 'Everything She Didn't Say'

In this episode of The Conversation, Nadine Matheson sits down with former Detective Chief Superintendent and author Russell Wate, who has led over 100 major crime and homicide cases. Russell shares insights from his remarkable career in law enforcement and reveals how his experiences shaped his crime fiction, particularly his new novel, Getting Away With Murder. They delve into the fascinating overlap between police work and storytelling, discussing why many detectives turn to writing crime novels and the complexities of human behavior that drive these narratives. Russell also opens up about the emotional toll of investigating traumatic cases and the importance of maintaining a balance between work and personal life.Join Nadine and Russell for a captivating discussion that explores the intersection of real-life crime and fiction, the challenges of leadership in the police force, and the creative process behind his writing.Follow Russell WateBuy 'Getting Away With Murder'

Jo Morey spent two decades as an executive headhunter before finally writing the novel she'd dreamed about since childhood. In this episode, she and Nadine talk candidly about the realities of breaking into publishing later in life from the Faber Academy course and competition shortlists, to landing agent Madeleine Milburn after a single extraordinary weekend of interest. Jo opens up about writing with tinnitus and hearing loss, the research trips to Belize that shaped her novel The Night Lagoon (titled Lime Juice Money in the US), and why she now sees rejection as simply "subjective" rather than personal. A must-listen for anyone balancing a demanding career with a creative dream.Follow Jo MoreyBuy 'The Night Lagoon'

Watch as a full video episode on YouTubeMarco is in a bad mood this week, and doesn’t hold back when discussing the march of AI into audiobooks…! Plus, we chat about the depressing reaction to a book piracy site being taken down, and wonder if Canongate’s new approach to paying authors more regularly will catch on (we aren’t optimistic…)00:00 Intro00:54 Here Come The Robots - AI voices taking over?20:21 A Pirate’s Life For You? How Piracy Hurts Authors29:38 Opening the (Canon)Gates - Will The Big 5 Follow?35:50 Stranger Than Fiction - Nadine's Idea FactoryLinks:Bolinda creates AI cloned voice of Barbara Cartland[Not linking to the Piracy story as it names the site]Canongate moves to quarterly royalty paymentsAdventures 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

Camilla Balshaw, acclaimed author of the award winning memoir Named joins Nadine Matheson for a captivating conversation about the complexities of identity, naming, and storytelling. Camilla shares her unique journey of reclaiming her name and the cultural significance behind it, while also delving into the challenges of writing a memoir that resonates with readers. They discuss the cultural clash behind her naming (Nigerian and Jamaican heritage), the honesty required to write memoir without "settling scores," the ethics of ghostwritten celebrity memoirs, and how Camilla balanced a career in criminal law with writing. They also talk about self-care, yoga, the discipline of a writing routine and a confession involving green leather trousers.Join them for a thought-provoking discussion that highlights the power of names and the stories we tell about ourselves.Follow Camilla BalshawBuy Named

Candice Carty-Williams, Sunday Times bestselling and award winning author of Queenie, People Person, and creator of the BBC/Netflix series Champion sits down with Nadine to talk about her new novel, Queenie Is Working On It, the sequel to her 2019 debut. Candice shares her journey of bringing Queenie back to life, exploring the character's growth and the challenges she faces in her 30s.During their candid conversation, Nadine and Candice delve into:What the seven years between Queenie and its sequel taught Candice about herselfStarting therapy after winning Book of the Year, and the gap between public praise and how she actually feltCompartmentalising who you are as a person from who you are in your workThe exhausting, chaotic experience of showrunning Champion (including an all-night scramble to save a scene while filming in Jamaica) and developing the Queenie TV series over eight yearsHitting burnout: sleeping two hours a night, her body "giving up," and the day she couldn't function until a friend intervenedThe idea behind Queenie Is Working On It: Queenie, now 33, exploring Black women's journey to conception — fertility testing, IVF, and a topic she felt wasn't being talked aboutJoin them for an insightful discussion that captures the essence of growth, creativity, and the complexities of navigating life as a writer.Follow Candice Carty-WilliamsBuy Queenie is Working on It

Saima Mir returns to The Conversation to mark the release of Deliverance, the closing chapter of her Jia Khan trilogy, following The Khan and Vengeance. Two crime writers, both working from lived heritage, sit down to talk about what it actually feels like to let a character go.In this episode:Ending a trilogy — the strange grief of finishing a series years in the making, and Jia Khan's evolution from her origins to a character defined by strength, complexity, and resilienceFrom the newsroom to the page — how Saima's years in crime reporting shaped the world of the booksThe double standard — why women of colour writing morally complicated characters get held to a different account than everyone else, and why seeing yourself in a story still mattersDismantling the stereotype — the tired narratives about women of colour that Saima's work sets out to challengeWhat the heroine taught the writer — what Jia Khan revealed to Saima about herself, on and off the pageAnd to close things out: favourite jokes, leaps of faith worth taking, and the strangest thing either of them turned up while researching international money laundering.Buy DeliveranceFollow Saima Mir

Watch as a full video episode on YouTubeIn this episode of The Conversation Coffee Break, Nadine Matheson sits down with debut author Leigh Radford to discuss hwe gripping new novel, One Yellow Eye. Leigh shares the inspiration behind his story, which intertwines themes of love, grief, and the haunting spectre of a zombie apocalypse. As they delve into the emotional complexities of writing about terminal illness and the impact of grief, Leigh reveals how her personal experiences shaped the narrative.From her childhood memories of caring for her father to the unexpected challenges of writing during a pandemic, Leigh's journey is both poignant and relatable. The conversation touches on the nuances of character development, the importance of research, and the delicate balance of crafting a narrative that resonates with readers. Nadine and Leigh also explore the unique pressures of being a debut author and the lessons learned along the way.Join them for a thought-provoking, moving and funny discussion that examines the intersection of horror and humanity, and discover what it truly means to fight for the ones we love.Leigh Radford Recommends: The Pitt Follow Leigh RadfordBuy One Yellow Eye