Simon Mayo's Books of the Year

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Simon Mayo & Matt Williams invite the world's finest authors in for a chat

  1. 2 days ago

    Dawn French

    Comedian, actor and bestselling author Dawn French joins Simon and Matt for a natter about her new novel, 'Enough'. She talks about her personal inspirations for the story, white crows, teenage crushes (Donny Osmond VS David Cassidy) and how she sees her book a as a film. There are some deep and poignant moments too - where Dawn talks about her father's suicide, and her Mum's death - specifically the agency her mum had over the end of her life. They also chat about a shared love of Barcelona, family recipes - and - Dean Friedman. Here's a little more on Dawn's novel - 'Enough': Etta is sixty-eight years old. Happy, healthy and an active participant in her world, she’s gathered her family together for an unforgettable weekend.Tick. At 5am that Saturday morning, Etta wakes her daughter, her granddaughter, her son and her daughter-in-law up to lead everyone down to the beach. To ‘Etta’s Hollow’, where a roaring fire has already been lit. Drowsy but delighted – the sun is just starting to rise for a glorious dawn – Etta’s family bask in the beauty of the moment. A memory to be cherished forever.Tick. Until twenty minutes later, when Etta announces to her assembled beloveds something as shocking as it is alarming. ‘I have brought you all down to the beach this morning to tell you something important. You see, the thing is, today is my last day alive.’Boom. Over the next twenty-four hours, Etta and her family are about to have the most surprising, affecting and life-affirming day of all their lives.

    37 min

  2. 16 Jun

    Matt Haig Q&A

    In our Q&A episode - international bestselling author Matt Haig talks about some of the books he's been enjoying recently (including 'Yesteryear' by Caro Claire Burke), the Brontes, how he orders his bookshelves and his favourite film adaptation of a book. Simon and Matt also ask him about his mentor - and whether he takes risks as a writer.

    17 min

  3. 10 Jun

    Matt Haig

    Matt Haig joins Simon and Matt to talk about his new novel, 'The Midnight Train'. They discuss the inspirations for this book, how Matt see's it as a sibling to The Midnight Library- and why he wants us to challenge the fears of getting older. Matt talks about optimism and hopefulness, wasting time (and life) on the wrong things and what we should do about regrets. They also talk about the film adaptation of The Midnight Library, which is going to star Florence Pugh as Nora Seed - and we're very excited to see it. Remember you can watch all our episode now on our YouTube channel! TOP QUOTES:'These will always be the good old days!' 'This part of the book was an exquisite type of torture' 'Sometimes happiness has the least to teach us.' Here's a little more info on the book: When your life flashes before your eyes, what will matter most?For Wilbur it was his time with Maggie, the love of his life. Their honeymoon in Venice. Before he threw it all away.Years later, on the brink of his own death, a train arrives. It can take Wilbur back in time. To relive his most important moments. Soon he realises just how much he would have changed.An adventure through time, The Midnight Train is a story of love and second chances, from the world of The Midnight Library.

    36 min

  4. 2 Jun

    Anthony Horowitz Q&A

    Anthony Horowitz (known for his Alex Rider series, Foyles War, Sherlock Holmes mysteries, the Magpie Murders and many more) joins Simon Mayo and Matt Williams for a natter about his writing and favourite authors! He also shares a story about working with Meryl Streep (or rather, NOT working with her) and reveals who he would invite to his fantasy dinner party. We also surprise Anthony with a question from fellow author - Lucy Foley! Remember you can now watch all our episodes on YouTube! Follow and subscribe so you never miss an episode - you can find our channel here!

    15 min

  5. 26 May

    Anthony Horowitz

    Bestselling author and Screenwriter - Anthony Horowitz - joins Simon and Matt for a natter about his new 'Hawthorne' novel. They chat about his meta approach to having himself as a character in his books, his dislike when readers guess his endings and twists - and why his writing is getting funnier. Anthony also talks positively and optimistically about the future of books and reading - and whilst no dragons are going to appear in any of his novels anytime soon - he loves the fact Romantasy is getting people into reading (and into the charts) Here's a little more on Anthony's new novel, 'A Deadly Episode': How do you investigate your own murder…?The good news is that The Word is Murder, the first book in the Hawthorne series, is being turned into a major feature film.The bad news is that the director is pretentious, the two stars hate each other, and the producer has run out of money.And things are about to get much worse.In the middle of shooting, the actor playing Hawthorne is stabbed – which leaves the real Hawthorne with no choice. He has to step in and investigate his own murder.Because the killer may not have got the right man. Was it Hawthorne himself who was meant to be the target?

    35 min

  6. 19 May

    Michael Connelly Q&A

    Michael Connelly joins Simon and Matt for a good ole Q&A. He gives us some great book recommendations, talks about his collection of jazz biographies and tells us which authors he'd invite to a fantasy dinner party. We also surprise him with a question from fellow author and fan, Denise Mina!

    16 min

  7. 13 May

    Michael Connelly

    International bestselling author, Michael Connelly, joins Simon and Matt for a natter about his new novel 'Ironwood'. Set on the island of Catalina, they discuss settings, sense-of-place, and how certain landscapes or communities inspire Michael's stories. They also chat about his iconic characters - Bosch, Ballard and Haller - and why he can't help himself write cameos for them all in other books. As well as this, they delve a little into his writing process - and - check that Harry Bosch isn't close to retirement yet! Here's a little more info on 'Ironwood': Sworn to protect a scenic island meant to be far from the evils of the mainland, Detective Sergeant Stilwell can feel danger closing in.Detective Sergeant Stilwell knows that his posting on Catalina Island is no paradise, but to most residents, it seems blissfully separated-by twenty-two miles of ocean-from the troubles of Los Angeles County. But now a threat is coming to his safe haven.Acting on a tip from a confidential informant, Stilwell and his deputies watch a plane land in the middle of the night at the Airport in the Sky, a remote airstrip in the mountains. A duffel bag of drugs is dropped and the deputies move in, but things quickly go sideways. While Stilwell chases the fleeing pickup man into the mountainside brush, shots are fired on the runway and the plane flies off.An internal inquiry follows, putting Stilwell on the bench until he is cleared of responsibility for the disastrous operation. But he is determined to find out who brought deadly violence to his island, and begins his own secret investigation into the drug deal gone wrong.While under orders to remain in the sheriff's substation, he finds in the lost and found a valuable backpack that was never claimed. He traces it to a woman who disappeared while hiking on the island four years ago. But then why was the pack only turned in two months back? Now thoroughly intrigued, he follows the mystery all the way to the LAPD's Open-Unsolved Unit and Detective Renée Ballard.Stilwell and Ballard work the case from both sides of the channel, and soon realize they are on the trail of a criminal who revels in taunting the authorities. Meanwhile, frustrated at being shut out of an investigation on his own island, Stilwell risks his already shaky standing in the department to pursue a case whose reach is wider than he ever imagine.

    35 min

  8. 5 May

    Bryony Gordon Q&A

    Journalist and author, Bryony Gordon, joins Simon Mayo and Matt Williams for a Q&A about her favourite authors, books, writing processes - and - tells us who she'd invite to her fantasy dinner party.

    18 min
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Simon Mayo & Matt Williams invite the world's finest authors in for a chat

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