The Hobcast Book Show

Who knew that the innocent looking Foxglove at the bottom of the garden could kill you? Or could your Peace Lily be trying to poison you? Our guest this week, author Jill Johnson, has drawn on her knowledge from her degree in Ornamental Horticulture and wider passion for plants to create her Eustacia Rose mystery series. Eustacia is the putative professor of Botanical Toxicology at University College London, and her expertise in the poisonous qualities of various plants draws her into becoming an amateur sleuth. Jill's first novel, Devil's Breath was featured on BBC2's Between the Covers review show, and her second book in the series, Hell's Bells is published on 11th July 2024. But Jill's literary roots, (awful pun, we know) are deep - she opened London's leading comic-book store Gosh! comics shortly after arriving in the UK. This is a fascinating interview in which Jill reveals although she writes crime novels, she's not read many other books in the genre. Does that hold her back?Also this week, what will the UK general election result mean for publishing? And how are UK book festivals doing to bridge the funding gap caused by the withdrawal of support by controversial investment management firm, Baillie Gifford?Jill Johnson – Author of Devil's Breath & The Time Before The Time To Come (jilljohnsonwrites.com)https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CJ2YHCXQhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0CC4YW9M9

Whatever happened to the Artful Dodger? That's a question that our guest James Benmore has explored with The Dodger Papers trilogy of novels, exploring how one of Charles Dickens' most-beloved characters might react on his return to London after five years hard labour in Australia which was his fate at the end of Oliver Twist. Some might say that it's a brave call to return to the world of a literary giant like Dickens and ask 'what if?', but for James it was something he felt compelled to do. He secured a publishing deal with Quercus, before taking the rights back and publishing the books himself. His most recent novel is Ask for Mercy, a contemporary crime thriller. So what has he learned from the transition from traditionally published author to becoming an indie author? Also this week, we discuss what's behind that rarest of phenomena in publishing - industrial action - and we look ahead to our visit to the Self Publishing Show Live in London this week.James Benmore Author Website | mystery thrillers (james-benmore.com)https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0CV8ZW2CXhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Ask-Mercy-James-Benmore-ebook/dp/B0CJ8BPM5V

You'll forgive us for talking shop this week on The Hobcast Book Show, as we speak to fellow indie-publisher, Phil Rowlands of Diamond Books. Set up by three friends during the Covid crisis, Diamond Books specialises in crime fiction. Phil, and his fellow founders Jeff Dowson and Steve Timmins all had experience as authors, directors and script writers in their own right. Born partly out of frustration at their experiences with the publishing industry, they set up Diamond Books to give a platform to talented unpublished writers. So what's their publishing journey been like? What challenges have they faced and how have the adapted? As you'll hear in this revealing interview, it's been tough at times, but they remain determined to forge on and continue to publish work by new authors.Also this week, we discuss the shortlist for the new Theakstons McDermid Debut Award for newly published crime writers, and we examine the implications of a survey of Canadian readers that suggests that more than half of them access all their books and audiobooks from free sources.https://diamondbooks.co.uk/https://diamondbooks.co.uk/authors/phil-rowlandsMcDermid Debut Award - Harrogate Theakston Crime Awards

One of the joys of interviewing authors for The Hobcast Book Show is delving into the myriad ways they conduct research for their novels. Our guest this week, Liz Webb, is a great believer in immersing herself in a setting and finding inspiration from those experiences. So it was quite natural for Liz to take the plunge into the freezing waters on a remote 'slate' island off the west coast of Scotland to gain insights for her most recent novel, The Saved, which begins with a husband being resuscitated despite being clinically dead after drifting in the water following a boat accident. We also explore Liz's varied career - she spent ten years on the UK stand up comedy circuit, before becoming a radio drama producer with the BBC. This interview is a celebration of storytelling and making connections with the people and the world around us.Also this week, we discuss the continuing impact of the campaign by pressure group Fossil Free Books as investment firm Baillie Gifford pull their support for a number of UK book festivals, and hear how some authors are alarmed that their Facebook ads have suddenly begun to spend far more than they budgeted for.Liz Webb, Author. Order The Saved now!https://www.amazon.co.uk/Saved-Secrets-bodies-remote-Scottish-ebook/dp/B0C6FS7NMT

Crime fiction is the most enduring genre in UK publishing, as well as the most popular. For over two hundred years, readers have had a love affair with whodunnits and murder mysteries, police procedurals and amateur sleuths. So what lies behind crime fictions eternal appeal? Who better to ask than our guest this week, Martin Edwards, who is recognised as the foremost authority on the history of British crime fiction. Martin is the president of the Detection Club, succeeding such legendary figues as G.K Chesterton, Dorothy L. Sayers and Agatha Christie. He's also a former chair of the Crime Writer's Association, a Diamond Dagger recipient and the author of dozens of novels and non-fiction works. His most recent books are Sepulchre Street, the fourth novel in the Rachel Savernake Golden Age mystery series, and award-winning non-fiction work, The Life of Crime - Detecting the History of Mysteries and their Creators. In this fascinating and wide-ranging interview, we ask what lies behind crime fiction's popularity and how has the genre changed to meet changing public taste?Also this week, we ask how the once powerful Romance Writers of America organisation has collapsed into bankruptcy, and we discuss the challenge that arts festivals face as campaigners force the Edinburgh Literary Festival to become the latest event to sever links with a major sponsor over their links to fossil fuel companies.Martin Edwards - Martin Edwards Bookshttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Sepulchre-Street-Rachel-Savernake-Book-ebook/dp/B0B2FFJR12https://www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Crime-Detecting-Mysteries-Creators-ebook/dp/B09JB4GV7Q

"Relax. The inspiration will come." That's the message for writers from our guest this week, novelist Orla Owen. The author of the critically acclaimed Christ on a Bike, Orla has learnt to trust in the writing process to solve problems she faces, whether it be a plot point or character development, or any other of the myriad puzzles that need solving during the creation of a novel. Orla is also a great believer in putting a manuscript aside and returning to it several months later. She finds that will help her to recognise any issues or flaws that need solving, and she also finds reading the work aloud a great help in improving the flow of the prose. This is an interview full of insight into the creative process and a deep dive into the writing craft.Also this week, as a UK general election is called, Adrian and Rebecca reflect on the potential impact that an important piece of legislation that was passed last week may have on the way that publishing is impacted by the big digital companies such as Amazon and Facebook.Orla OwenChrist on a Bike | Bluemoose Books

So much of publishing of the publishing process has been sped up by waves of digital technology over the past three or four decades, so it's rare to meet an author who believes in the creative power of putting pen to paper rather than slaving in front of the computer screen. For our guest, Jennifer Lee Thomson, the magic of writing longhand unlocks her creativity in a way that a word processor or typewriter never could. It may be a slower process, but it's one that's allowed Jennifer to write crime and zombie fiction as well as several self-help titles. Her most recent novel is Vigilante City, the third in her 'Detective in a Coma' crime series. Detective Inspector Duncan Waddell is assisted by his colleague DC Stevie Campbell, even though the latter is in a coma due to an injury in the line of duty. During this fascinating interview, Jennifer shares details of how her agoraphobia has impacted and even fueled her creative process.Also this week, Adrian and Rebecca discuss the latest shockwaves being felt in digital marketing and ask - is advertising on Facebook worth it or just too much of a gamble?https://diamondbooks.co.uk/authors/jennifer-lee-thomsonhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Vigilante-City-3-Detective-Coma/dp/1915649382

It's only in the past few years that neurodiversity has entered the wider consciousness. For instance here at The Hobcast Book Show, we are both touched by Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), but we've only become aware of it recently. It helps explain our lifelong experience of feeling on the outside of society - never quite fitting in or being comfortable behaving as others would expect. It's simply not how our brains are wired or function. For authors, neurodiversity can present a range of challenges, not least trying to implement structure to their work or applying strategies for productivity drawn up for neurotypical writers. Our guest this week, author Amanda Marples, knows these challenges well: she is neurodiverse herself, and as a mental health professional she works as a mentor for students with a range of backgrounds and conditions. Drawing on her expertise and personal experience, Amanda has created a mentoring service for neurodivergent writers called Reconcile Creative, helping authors to overcome the hurdles they face and explore unconventional strategies to reach their goals. This is a fascinating, valuable and insightful interview.Also this week, we discuss the shortlists for the UK crime writing 'Oscars' - the CWA Daggers, and look ahead to the release of our latest Hobeck Books title, Her Charming Man by Rachel Sargeant.innercritic | Reconcile Creative Mhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Her-Charming-Gloucestershire-Crime-Book-ebook/dp/B0CY5ZFRR4