The Hobcast Book Show Adrian Hobart

"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 Owen
Christ on a Bike | Bluemoose Books

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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-thomson
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vigilante-City-3-Detective-Coma/dp/1915649382

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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 M
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Her-Charming-Gloucestershire-Crime-Book-ebook/dp/B0CY5ZFRR4

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We're always keen to explore where an author's inspiration comes from. What inspires that kernel of an idea that leads to a novel? In this week's episode we speak to Alison Stockham, who explains how the seeds for her recently published third novel, The New Girl, were sown some years ago after a conversation with a friend. As Alison explains, she's always had a gift for taking inspiration from overheard conversations, and that's one of the reasons she'll often be found in a Cambridge cafe both writing and picking up ideas for her writing. It's a strategy that clearly works, as Alison shares the news that she's now a full-time author.
Also this week, we reflect on the impact that this week's extraordinary general meeting of the Society of Authors has had, and we reveal the latest changes that Amazon have made to the way they run advertising for authors and publishers.
Alison Stockham-Author | Facebook
https://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Girl-addictive-psychological-BESTSELLER-ebook/dp/B0CPBJRDLB

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We're delighted to be joined again by our guest, Julie Anderson this week, as we celebrate the launch of her new novel for Hobeck Books, The Midnight Man. Set in post-war Clapham, the book introduces us to two very different women, Elly and Fay, who become an unlikely sleuthing duo following a chance meeting in the cafeteria of the South London Hospital for Women and Children. It was a remarkable institution - created by two pioneering women surgeons who themselves fought the male-dominated Establishment to found the hospital in 1912. It's the perfect setting for this atmospheric thriller, and as Julie tells us, recreating the world of this long-closed hospital where for most of its history all the staff, from surgeons to porters, were women, has been an epic labour of love. It's a remarkable novel.
Also this week, we examine this year's long list for the coveted Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2024 and ask, are we right in imagining the same authors are nominated every year? And just how open are independent bookshops to stocking independently published fiction?
Julie Anderson – Writer and author (julieandersonwriter.com)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Midnight-Man-FLEMING-ASSOCIATION-LONGLISTED-ebook/dp/B0CY2M5BMQ

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We had the pleasure back in February 2024 to appear on The Secret Circle podcast discussing the challenges of running a small publishing house in the current marketplace. This week, we have the pleasure of returning the invitation to the show's host, Dr Luke Deckard. Luke is an author with a deep passion for noir, both written and film, and is a creative writing mentor at the University of Westminster. He holds a Masters and now a PhD in Creative Writing from Kingston University, achievements all the more remarkable as Luke has dyslexia. So how has he navigated the issues that being dyslexic has posed in his journey into the world of writing and literature? It's a fascinating interview.
Also this week, the UK publishing industry is gearing up for its award season, with long lists announced for both the National Book Awards and the Crime Writer's Association Daggers. Are Adrian and Rebecca impressed with the choices? Not entirely...
DR Luke Deckard

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