Meet the Writers
Georgina Godwin in conversation with top authors. Explore their inspirations, writing processes, and the stories behind their books.
Latest Episodes
Bill Hayes
Bill Hayes, the author, photographer and long-term partner of writer and professor of neurology Oliver Sacks, reveals the stories of their lives and talks about his moving new book ‘Insomniac City, New York, Oliver and Me’.
The Legend of Hay
One of the most important literary events on the planet celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Taking place in a tiny town in Wales, Hay Festival is a party of ideas and stories spread over 800 events in 10 days. We meet some of the big names who’ll be appearing,…
Rowan Pelling
Best known for editing the literary magazine ‘The Erotic Review’, Rowan Pelling discusses her new publication ‘The Amorist’, which invites readers to explore the notion that sexual love is the greatest and most compelling mystery of human existence. This is not cellophane-wrapped top-shelf material – Pelling says that “the erotic…
Irvine Welsh
Georgina Godwin meets Irvine Welsh, the hugely acclaimed and often controversial author who defined a generation with his debut novel ‘Trainspotting’. In his new book ‘The Blade Artist’, Begbie is back. Find out how this bad boy of Glasgow has reinvented himself – and how the author has too.
Donna Leon
Leon is a crime writer and one of Venice’s greatest chroniclers; her fans include Theresa May and Hillary Clinton. She’s written 26 books, been translated into 35 languages – though, crucially, not Italian – and sold millions of copies all over the world.
Samantha Shannon
Author of ‘The Bone Season’, Samantha Shannon wrote her first book at 15 and signed a six-figure book deal for a seven-book adventure series at just 21. Here she talks about growing up in London, “hanging out in Camden market pretending to be a goth”, the importance of experimentation and…
John Boyne
Irish novelist John Boyne’s ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ sold more than nine million copies and changed his life dramatically. He tells Georgina Godwin about his school days – “beatings and abuse were taken for granted” – and his work as a writer. Plus: how his new book ‘The…
Polish literature at The London Book Fair
Born and based in rural Poland, Olga Tokarczuk trained as a psychologist – but after discovering she was more neurotic than her clients she quit to became an author. We visit the London Book Fair to speak to her about her unconventional books – and also meet Andrzej Sapkowski, author…
The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature
It’s the Middle East’s largest celebration of the written and spoken word and brings people of all ages and backgrounds together to promote education and the love of reading and writing. We visit the Dubai festival to hear from crime writer Piyush Jha and editor of India’s ‘Screen’ magazine Priyanka…
Jeffrey Archer
This week’s sun-drenched episode comes from the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in Dubai. Georgina Godwin catches up with Jeffrey Archer, whose books have been published in 97 countries, in more than 37 languages and sold more than 270 million copies worldwide. We also hear from the festival CEO Isobel…
