The Hobcast Book Show

It sometimes feels as if this podcast feeds our "must visit pile". Whether it's Iceland, Seattle, Barcelona, Romania or Maine, our guests fuel our wanderlust with their passion for their home areas. That's the case again this week with our enthralling conversation with Dr. Nicholas Louis Baham III as we discuss his debut crime novel, The People's Detective. Set in present day Oakland, California, it's a celebration of all facets of Nick's fascinating home city. As he tells us, Oakland is a city of contradictions with great wealth and considerable poverty, and being a major port, a true melting pot of different nationalities. It's also a city with a proud record of protest and the struggle for equality, which underpin Nick's work. Nick's passion for Oakland shines through in this fascinating interview.Also this week, as the dust settles on another Harrogate Crime Fiction festival for another year, we ask "how much?". Yes, it seems bar prices have reached a new stratospheric level at the UK's premier crime fiction event. And we celebrate the growth of niche independent bookshops as a romance specialist store opens in Notting Hill in London.Home | Nicholas Louis Bahamhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Peoples-Detective-Sonny-Trueheart-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0D886W1ZG

Some guests are so good we have to give them two shows. So we're delighted to welcome back Antony Johnston again this week to discuss the methods and techniques he uses to cope with writing multiple projects in multiple formats at the same time. His advice is based on years or trial and error during his career as a writer for video games, films, graphic novels and fiction, as well as extensive research into many productivity systems and ideologies. First published in 2020, his book The Organised Writer distils all this research and advice, and suggests methods all creative professionals can adopt to improve their productivity and flow. So prepare to put aside a weekend, re-organise your workspace, and enjoy the benefits of uninterrupted creative endeavour. It's a brilliant interview full of useful insights and advice.Also this week, we delve into the controversy surrounding Raynor Winn, the author of the best-selling memoir The Salt Path, and we discuss if AI really can translate your work into multiple languages at the press of a button.Antony Johnstonhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Organised-Writer-projects-never-deadline/dp/1472977181

Antony Johnston's list of achievements as a writer take the breath away. His work has been made into a star-studded Hollywood film. He's a legend in the video games industry with some of the biggest franchises amongst his credits. He's worked in the Marvel Comic universe with superheroes such as Daredevil and Wolverine. Antony is also an accomplished novelist working across a number of genres, including thrillers, cosy crime, and now, an innovative take on the "whodunnit" where readers try to solve the crime themselves and have to make decisions as they read Can You Solve The Murder which was published last month. This is a fascinating interview. So good in fact, that we've split it into two parts. Next week Antony will take us through his system for improving your productivity as a writer or freelance creative.Also this week, we run through the winners of this year's CWA Daggers, and ask, should job-sharing become standard practice in publishing?Antony JohnstonCan You Solve The Murder: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Can-You-Solve-Murder-Investigate-ebook/dp/B0D5QP9W2HDog Sitter Detective series: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BW9MGPQC

We had one of those moments this week. In fact we had a few. Those moments when you are given an insight or information that challenges your perception of the world or the work you do. One of those came during our interview with author Jodie Robins, whose debut novella The Off-Season was published earlier this month. Jodie adopted the Eastern Story Structure or Kishōtenketsu, which is traditionally divided into four acts and, in contrast with western story structures, does not require conflict to drive the narrative. As Jodie tells us, it was both challenging and liberating in equal measure. The result is a captivating story set in wintry Blackpool, described by one reviewer as a "darkly glittering fairground of a novella." It's been published by our friends at Wild Hunt Books as part of their Northern Weird series.As for the other moments of insight, Rebecca and Adrian attended this year's Self Publishing Show Live 2025 in London this week. How has the show changed since we first attended five years ago? What are the latest trends in book marketing for independent creators? And how will a landmark legal ruling impact the long-running battle between copyright holders and big tech companies looking to fuel their AI systems? Jodie Robins | SubstackThe Off-Season by Jodie Robins The Northern Weird Project — wild hunt booksThe Northern Weird Project — wild hunt booksThe Self Publishing Show LIVE! 2024 - Digital Tickets

The rise and rise of Icelandic crime fiction continues, and we at The Hobcast Bookshow are here for it! We're delighted to be joined this week by internationally acclaimed playwright, screenwriter and author Jón Atli Jónasson, whose brilliant novel Broken was published in translation this month by Corylus Books. His plays have been performed in major cities including London, Paris, Berlin, Stockholm, Copenhagen and Athens.Jón has also written a number of film scripts, most notably The Deep, produced by 101 Studios Iceland and based on his own play, which was shortlisted for Best Foreign Feature at the 85th Academy Awards in 2015. His crime novels all take place in modern-day Iceland and focus on themes such as corruption within the police force, changing dynamics in Iceland’s society, the evolving underworld and shifting power structures in politics and business. This is a brilliant interview with a master storyteller, who is also joined by translator and former Hobcast guest, Quentin Bates.Also this week, we discuss major changes at leading UK indie crime publisher Bloodhound Books including a partnership with AI-powered editing service, Pro Writing Aid, and is a 31% rise in UK audiobook sales in 2024 as exciting as it seems?Jón Atli Jónasson – Corylus BooksBroken: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Broken-J%C3%B3n-Atli-J%C3%B3nasson-ebook/dp/B0DVZFZ6Y7132: Inside Icelandic Noir - with Quentin Bates - The Hobcast Book Show | AcastEnhancing Our Editorial Process: A New Partnership with ProWritingAid — Bloodhound BooksAudiobooks and fiction drove growth in 2024 - Publishers Association

Every so often, when Rebecca and I put down our microphones after an interview, we turn to each other and say: "That was great." Our interview with New York Times bestseller J.D. Barker is a classic example of that feeling. His journey to the top of the bestseller lists is remarkable. Encouraged by his wife, J.D. sold up everything and they moved to a small duplex in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania while he wrote his debut novel Forsaken. With some support from Stephen King, the book took off, and soon J.D. was being approached by major publishers. He's also written six novels in partnership with James Patterson, and in this fascinating interview J.D. reveals how the two men have influenced each other in the way they approach the craft. J.D's latest novel, Something I keep Upstairs, is his latest release under his own imprint within the Simon and Schuster empire. This is a remarkable story of how taking a huge risk can pay off with skill, creativity, and daring.Also this week, we look again at the downwash from the issues at struggling indie-publisher Boundless/Unbound, and we ask - why are children reading less?J.D. BARKER - NY Times Bestselling Author | Master of Suspensehttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Forsaken-J-D-Barker-ebook/dp/B00P1W6RDQhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Something-Keep-Upstairs-J-D-Barker-ebook/dp/B0DJW9ZHWV

You'll know by now that we're obsessed with good storytelling here at The Hobcast Bookshow. Our guest this week, author Anne Booth, has a passion for engaging readers, whatever their age. Anne waited until she was 49 before her first book was published, but she's certainly making up for lost time. Her publisher credits include Puffin, Nosy Crow, OUP, Walker Books, Templar, Tiny Owl, Egmont and Lion, and Catnip. Her works range from picture books for the under fives, through to cosy mysteries for adults. Her story is an inspiring one, demonstrating an unrelenting commitment to creativity and a determination to persevere. As Anne tells us, not all her ideas are going to attract interest, but you should never be disheartened or give up. Also this week, we examine the shortlist for the Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the year, and we hear how one aspect of publishing is being positively influenced by AI.Anne Booth – Authorhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=anne+booth&i=amazon-devices&crid=15TPMJP6M5ZU8

Anyone embarking on writing a book will know how tough a journey that can be, and how many unexpected bumps and hurdles can be encountered. Our guest this week, Rachel Grosvenor, has combined her knowledge as a writer and editor with her training as a certified life coach to become a writing coach. She aims to help her clients through the creative writing process from idea to completion, and help them to balance busy lives with completing their writing goals. Rachel draws heavily on her own experience - she completed her PhD while working two jobs, so she understands the competing pressures facing her clients. Rachel is also a successful author: The Finery was published to great acclaim in August 2023, and her next novel, Witchborne will be published in September.Also this week we reveal how authors formerly published by UK independent publisher Unbound will have to wait longer to receive the money they're owed, and we look at the CWA Daggers shortlist for 2025, how many former Hobcast guests feature on the lists.Rachel Grosvenor Author – Rachel Grosvenor Authorhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Finery-Rachel-Grosvenor-ebook/dp/B0CGVF282QWitchborne by Rachel Grosvenor | flyonthewallpress

We're thrilled to be speaking to author Alison Stockham again on The Hobcast Book Show. Alison joins us for a third time, to celebrate the recent release of her latest psychological thriller, The Man She Married published by Boldwood Books. Regular listeners will know that Alison has a background in TV and film production, worked with the Cambridge Literary Festival, and is now a full-time author. In this great interview, Alison discusses the challenges she faced ensuring that her latest protagonist, an Australian woman, was authentic and believable. So sit back and enjoy our in depth discussion about accents, Neighbours and coffee!Also this week, Adrian and Rebecca discuss the potential implications of yet another huge change in the way that audiobook distributor Findaway Voices will operate from August as rights-holders are forced to use two platforms for their productions rather than one. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Man-She-Married-Alison-Stockham-ebook/dp/B0CW1PV9HDSpotify Transitions Select Audiobook Distribution Services to INaudio