Today I'm talking to Silvia Saunders about her award-winning novel Homesick, what kept her going after 10 years of querying and tips for writing funny scenes @harpercollins.bsky.social 🎧 bit.ly/45kQ9eS

Sorry to be so basic.

The Traitors at The Proms was so much fun! Incredible orchestra and performers - plus all the special guests were a real treat!

It took me 23 days, and an appeal, but on principle I was not giving up and missing out. Finally received my whopping £2.95 Delay Repay compensation 🎉

Today I'm talking to Krystelle Bamford about her unique greek chorus novel Idle Grounds, creating dread for her child protagonists and the reader and why Krystelle recommends her experience with an early career agent @HutchHeinemann 🎧 bit.ly/COADNkrystelle

Today I’m talking to Mel Pennant about her crime novel A Murder for Miss Hortense, how Mel was inspired by her grandmother and what it’s like to write a novel when you’re used to writing plays @johnmurrays.bsky.social 🎧 bit.ly/COADNmelp

Today I'm talking to Barnaby Martin about his exciting dystopian novel The Quiet, his tips for writing a changed society and how his writing career began with video essays on YouTube @panmacmillan.bsky.social 🎧 bit.ly/COADNbarnaby

From COVID 'Who not to save?' to the welfare cuts to #AssistedDyingBill, the UK is telling us disabled people loud and clear: we are a burden, a drain, a blight, we're unwelcome, unnecessary, better off dead.

Today I’m talking to Lisa Smith about her historical novel Jamaica Road. We discuss how the idea came from a writing exercise and voices that wouldn't leave her alone, using real newspaper extracts to make the political backdrop come alive 🎧 bit.ly/COADNlisas

My local village is hosting an open gardens today. It's perfect for nosey people like me because you get to snoop around posh people's gardens legitimately.

Had a lovely time at the @womensprize.bsky.social ceremony last night! It's been a dream come true to be involved with the trust. Huge congrats to Rachel Clarke and Yael van der Wouden as well as all the nominees!

Today I'm talking to Seán Hewitt about his literary novel Open, Heaven, using 1st person perspective to explore what love feels like and why you should frame a query letter as you giving agents an amazing opportunity 🎧 bit.ly/COADNseanh

Started watching What It Feels Like for a Girl on iPlayer - one of the best things I've watched in ages.

Loved chatting to Chloe about Ordinary Saints, creative process, debut life, and writing community. Have a listen!

Today I'm talking to @niamhsquared.bsky.social about her contemporary novel Ordinary Saints, why she deleted her first 20k words and how entering a competition to give herself a deadline changed her life @manillapress.bsky.social 🎧 bit.ly/COADNniamh

Today I’m talking to Claire Gleeson about her novel Show Me Where It Hurts, writing empathetically about familicide and grief, and how to fit writing around a busy life @sceptrebooks.bsky.social 🎧 bit.ly/COADNclaireg

Interestingly I did two podcast interviews back to back where one author said she writes in the scrappy 20 minute chunks wherever she finds them and the other author said they have to block out 1-2hr writing sessions. Which is closest to your method?

Bought some bougie smoked chilli peanut butter when I was away and believe me when I say it is LIFE CHANGING.

Congratulations to these outrageously talented women! It was a real joy to read your words and a pleasure to be part of the wonderful judging experience!

Today I'm talking to Niloufar Lamakan about her romance novel Aged to Perfection, changing the narrative about women in their 60s and working with a digital first publisher which doesn't require an agent 🎧 bit.ly/COADNniloufar

Your Pope name is: Last thing you ate + number of letters in your first name — Kneel before Pope Marmite-Toast V!

Confessions of a Debut Novelist is back! And a brilliant episode with @katekemp.bsky.social about The Grapevine, the challenge of writing from a 12-year-old's POV and how she used social media to take the plunge in taking her writing seriously 🎧 bit.ly/COADNkatek

Good news! Confessions of a Debut Novelist is back tomorrow with a brand new episode. A tense, atmospheric novel set in 1970s suburban Australia about the hidden lives of women. Can you guess who my guest is?

I cannot resist a Harris Dickinson movie but Babygirl was one of the least erotic things I've ever witnessed. In fact I could not stop thinking of the infamous Celebrity Big Brother moment with George Galloway.

I was BLOWN AWAY by the talent on display in the entries for the #Discoveries Prize and honoured to be among the judges. These women are ones to watch - congratulations to all of you!

Instead of the usual episode of Confessions of a Debut Novelist today, a little notice to say I'll be taking a very short break to recover from pneumonia. Big thank you to @jenniegauthor.bsky.social for recording the announcement for me!

unfollowing everyone on linkedin except this guy

This time last week I had to call an ambulance because I couldn't breathe. Glad to be a week on, convalescing in front of Sense and Sensibility instead.

Not fallen this ill this quickly since I ended up hospitalised with pneumonia. Really need that not to happen so I can have a semi-average birthday at the weekend. Please?

Very proud of my talented friend!

Today I'm talking to @celiasilvani.bsky.social about her gripping bookclub novel Baby Teeth, how her research helped her delve into the world of internet forums and cults and why you should never send out the first draft of your manuscript to agents @orionbooks.bsky.social 🎧 bit.ly/COADNcelia

Today UK authors are protesting against Meta for stealing our work to train their AI model. Authors earn an average of £7000 per year, we are not rich, and yet a trillion dollar company decided it didn’t want to license our work fairly as it was “too expensive” Theft is not a valid alternative.

Today I'm talking to Louise Hegarty about her puzzle box mystery novel Fair Play, how absorbing so many Poirot novels helped her find the voice for her detective and the reason she didn't have to look for an agent but was discovered @picadorbooks.bsky.social 🎧 bit.ly/COADNlouiseh

I was travelling on a heavily delayed train tonight and I swear they moved it by about two metres after 57 minutes just so they didn't have to pay the full whack on delay repay 🙃

It’s been 12 years since The Goldfinch was released… Donna Tartt, please give us something, literally ANYTHING. We’ll take your shopping list at this point

Today I'm talking to Katie Buckley about her literary novel Hero, why she loves autofiction, what to do when you don’t have an instinct for plot and why you need to be emotionally ready before you start querying agents @tinderpress.bsky.social 🎧 bit.ly/COADNkatiebuck

Just had a wonderful 90 minutes on a Zoom panel with two of my fellow Discoveries judges about writing, publishing and everything in between! Over 500 people attended and I can tell you that was hugely inspiring to ME! @womensprize.bsky.social @cbcreative.bsky.social

Thoroughly enjoying reading The Seawomen by @clotimms.bsky.social. Part parable, part fantasy, part social commentary. Let's see where it goes! :-)

We are disappointed but not surprised that Meta has used millions of pirated books to develop its AI systems. As a matter of urgency, Meta needs to compensate the rightsholders of all the works it has been exploiting. But what can authors do? Read here: societyofauthors.org/2025/03/21/t...

You have to feel sorry for the poor staffer who had to dress as a watermelon to flog this outfit for ITV Preloved on eBay!

Like so many other authors I know, my novel was stolen and used to train AI. What's the future for those of us in creative careers when tech companies are stealing our work without consequence?

Today I'm talking all things romance and enemies to lovers with Bianca Gillam and her publishing based novel Bad Publicity. Bianca used to work in publishing and she gives advice about building a "package" for your book @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social 🎧 bit.ly/COADNbiancag

Yes, I read *that* Facebook memoir. Loved it. Nothing really surprised me but still deeply fascinating.

The BBC cancelled Holby City to bring in new continuing drama productions in the "nations and regions" (outside the M25) and has since then axed both of its nations and regions continuing dramas.

One of the best things I've read in a long time!

Yesterday it was a real honour to speak at London Book Fair alongside @kitdewaal.bsky.social and Claire Shanahan about inequality and why we still need the @womensprize.bsky.social

Today I'm talking to @womensprize.bsky.social's long-listed author Sanam Mahloudji about The Persians, how this novel started life as a short story and how she impressed an agent at a book event by asking an insightful question @4thestatebooks.bsky.social 🎧 bit.ly/COADNsanam

London Book Fair! Me and @clotimms.bsky.social are here, it's overwhelming but amazing. Chloe will be speaking soon with @kitdewaal.bsky.social #LBF2025

I'm speaking at Authors' HQ at The London Book Fair tomorrow with @kitdewaal.bsky.social about The @womensprize.bsky.social Years on: Why We Still Need to Tackle Inequality for Female Writers Really looking forward to it!

It was an honour to contribute to Hits & Misses this week for the first time. It's always been my favourite page in Inside Soap!