The Writers' Cafe

Sevenoaks Bookshop
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From award-winning indie, Sevenoaks Bookshop presents The Writers' Cafe: a brand-new podcast featuring the best writers and most interesting voices in fascinating conversation Inspired by our own in-shop cafe of the same name and the discussions about life, literature, and everything in-between that take place every single day - as well as the literary salons of old where gossip thrived - this new podcast seeks to highlight and celebrate the best writers and voices every episode with a warm, detailed conversation about their work and craft. Sevenoaks Bookshop is an award-winning, independent, black-owned bookshop run by a team of enthusiastic booksellers.  All books and writers featured, and many more beside that, can be purchased in-shop or online with us at: https://sevenoaksbookshop.co.uk/ To keep up to date with the bookshop—our wide and exciting events calendar, staff recommendations, and more—sign up to our mailing list here: https://sevenoaksbookshop.co.uk/join-our-mailing-list/ Credits: Produced by Harry Edmundson Cover Artwork - Imogen Mott (an original based off our real-life cafe interior!) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Jul 13

    Robin Givhan - Make It Ours

    Welcome to Season 3 of The Writers' Cafe! Brought to you from the award-winning indie, Sevenoaks Bookshop! This week's visitor to the cafe is the incredibly insightful Robin Givhan! Robin is Pulitzer Prize winning fashion and culture critic, best known for her work at The Washington Post. Her new book, Make It Ours: Crashing the Gates of Culture with Virgil Abloh, is the first major biography of the late designer - tracing his rise from Rockford, Illinois to becoming the first Black artistic director at Louis Vuitton, and situating his story within a broader reckoning over race, taste, and exclusivity in the fashion industry. Join us as we discuss who gets to define culture; the role of social media in shaping fashion; sneaker culture; legacy; and the designers who paved the way before Virgil! If you are new to The Writer's Cafe pod: Inspired by our own in-shop cafe of the same name and the conversations about books, life, literature, and so much more every single day - as well as the literary salons of old where gossip thrived - this podcast seeks to highlight and celebrate the best writers and voices every episode with a warm, detailed conversation about their work and craft. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  2. Jul 12

    Shannon Sanders - The Great Wherever

    Welcome to Season 3 of The Writers' Cafe! Brought to you from the award-winning indie, Sevenoaks Bookshop! This week's visitor to the cafe is the wondeful Shannon Sanders! Shannon is an award-winning American author and an attorney, whose debut novel, The Great Wherever, follows a woman who inherits her late father's share of a haunted Tennessee farm. It is a multigenerational family saga narrated in part by the family's own ghosts. Shannon is also the author of the linked story collection Company, which won the 2024 LA Times Book Prizes' Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction and was shortlisted for the William Saroyan International Prize. Join us as we discuss all things family legacy, gentrification, storytelling, and the ghosts--literal and otherwise--that never quite let go. Denise's Bookseller review: “Wow! I was completely invested in every character from start to finish! This is a wonderful, wry family saga about Aubrey Lamb, a directionless 30-something-year-old who's just lost her father and her relationship in the same breath - and then inherits his stake in a Tennessee farm tangled up in old secrets. The twist is that the story is narrated in part by the family's ancestors, who linger on the land watching, gossiping, and correcting the record. Sanders grounds the novel with genuinely complex, funny and flawed characters, and it makes readers think about just how true it is that storytelling is a form of immortality. Moving between generations and time periods, it's ultimately a book about grief, inheritance, and how we come to understand ourselves through family we didn't choose. I laughed, I cried, and devoured this book in a single sitting!!" If you are new to The Writer's Cafe pod: Inspired by our own in-shop cafe of the same name and the conversations about books, life, literature, and so much more every single day - as well as the literary salons of old where gossip thrived - this podcast seeks to highlight and celebrate the best writers and voices every episode with a warm, detailed conversation about their work and craft. Shannon's work can be purchased with us here: The Great Wherever: https://sevenoaksbookshop.co.uk/shop/the-great-wherever-by-shannon-sanders/ Company: https://sevenoaksbookshop.co.uk/shop/company-by-shannon-sanders/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  3. May 17

    Jessica George - Love by the Book (Live Event Special)

    Welcome to Season 3 of The Writers' Cafe! Brought to you from the award-winning indie, Sevenoaks Bookshop! This week's visitor to the cafe is the hilarious and loving Jessica George! We were absolutely overjoyed and excited to have Jess with us for an evening event wherein we discussed her novel: Love by the Book! Bookseller Review: "I don’t believe in reserving romance for romantic relationships.” Jessica George’s books always seem to find me when I need them most! An endearing ode to the intimacy of true, female friendship; an ode to growing up, apart, and together again; an ode to all of life’s bumps and curves; to feminism, to women’s rights to stand firm in decisions pertaining to our bodies.  Love by the Book is an endearing, chaotic novel with many twists. It’s as heart-warming as it is heart-breaking, and explores the ways our friends help us discover our own previously unexplored depths. George delves into the complexities of female friendships — from stumbling on shaky legs when attempting to form friendships in adulthood, to friendship breakups and makeups. I loved everything about this book, I couldn’t put it down once I started! The characters are so real to me, they burst with life, humour and beauty! I was rooting for them every step of the way!" - Denise. If you like the sound of this live event, then more information can be found on our website, featuring all of our immensely exciting events coming up: https://sevenoaksbookshop.co.uk/events/ Signing up to our mailing list is a great way to ensure you never miss out on the great writers coming through our doors: https://sevenoaksbookshop.co.uk/join-our-mailing-list/ If you are new to The Writer's Cafe pod: Inspired by our own in-shop cafe of the same name and the conversations about books, life, literature, and so much more every single day - as well as the literary salons of old where gossip thrived - this podcast seeks to highlight and celebrate the best writers and voices every episode with a warm, detailed conversation about their work and craft. Jessica's work can be purchased with us here: Love by the Book: https://sevenoaksbookshop.co.uk/shop/love-by-the-book-by-jessica-george/ Maame: https://sevenoaksbookshop.co.uk/shop/my-name-is-maame-by-jessica-george/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  4. May 7

    Virginia Evans - The Correspondent (Live Event Special)

    Welcome to Season 3 of The Writers' Cafe! Brought to you from the award-winning indie, Sevenoaks Bookshop! This week's visitor to the cafe is the wonderfully wise Virginia Evans! We were absolutely thrilled to have Virginia with us for an evening event wherein we discussed her Women's Prize shortlisted novel: The Correspondent! Bookseller Review: "I loved this book SO much! I genuinely did cry! Unbelievable that it's a debut. A portrait of a woman, and a life, so cleverly, sensitively, beautifully done. Give this book to friends! Enjoy it for yourself! A wonderful book." - Fleur. If you like the sound of this live event, then more information can be found on our website, featuring all of our immensely exciting events coming up: https://sevenoaksbookshop.co.uk/events/ Signing up to our mailing list is a great way to ensure you never miss out on the great writers coming through our doors: https://sevenoaksbookshop.co.uk/join-our-mailing-list/ If you are new to The Writer's Cafe pod: Inspired by our own in-shop cafe of the same name and the conversations about books, life, literature, and so much more every single day - as well as the literary salons of old where gossip thrived - this podcast seeks to highlight and celebrate the best writers and voices every episode with a warm, detailed conversation about their work and craft. Virginia's work can be purchased with us here: The Correspondent: https://sevenoaksbookshop.co.uk/shop/the-correspondent-by-virginia-evans/ Women's Prize Shortlist 2026 Bundle - 15% Off Total Price: https://sevenoaksbookshop.co.uk/shop/womens-prize-shortlist-2026-bundle-15-off-total-price/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  5. May 7

    Tina Andrews - Queen Charlotte Sophia: A Royal Affair (Live Event Special)

    Welcome to Season 3 of The Writers' Cafe! Brought to you from the award-winning indie, Sevenoaks Bookshop! This week's visitor to the cafe is the delightful Tina Andrews! We were absolutely overjoyed to have Tina with us for a lunchtime event wherein she discussed her latest novel: Queen Charlotte Sophia: A Royal Affair! If you like the sound of this live event, then more information can be found on our website, featuring all of our immensely exciting events coming up: https://sevenoaksbookshop.co.uk/events/ Signing up to our mailing list is a great way to ensure you never miss out on the great writers coming through our doors: https://sevenoaksbookshop.co.uk/join-our-mailing-list/ If you are new to The Writer's Cafe pod: Inspired by our own in-shop cafe of the same name and the conversations about books, life, literature, and so much more every single day - as well as the literary salons of old where gossip thrived - this podcast seeks to highlight and celebrate the best writers and voices every episode with a warm, detailed conversation about their work and craft. Tina's work can be purchased with us here: Queen Charlotte Sophia: https://sevenoaksbookshop.co.uk/shop/queen-charlotte-sophia-a-royal-affair-by-tina-andrews/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  6. Apr 25

    Andrew Miller - The Land in Winter (Live Event Special)

    Welcome to Season 3 of The Writers' Cafe! Brought to you from the award-winning indie, Sevenoaks Bookshop! This week's visitor to the cafe is the astounding Andrew Miller! We were absolutely delighted to have Andrew with us for an evening event wherein we discussed his Booker Prize shortlisted novel: The Land in Winter! Bookseller Review: "An engrossing, atmospheric tale set in the bleak, snowy winter of 1963. Two young couples, from very different backgrounds, have arrived in a Somerset village both hoping to settle into new lives there. In mesmerising prose and convincing sense of place, we are drawn into their back stories and that of their wives as the personal drama unfolds." - Valerie. If you like the sound of this live event, then more information can be found on our website, featuring all of our immensely exciting events coming up: https://sevenoaksbookshop.co.uk/events/ Signing up to our mailing list is a great way to ensure you never miss out on the great writers coming through our doors: https://sevenoaksbookshop.co.uk/join-our-mailing-list/ If you are new to The Writer's Cafe pod: Inspired by our own in-shop cafe of the same name and the conversations about books, life, literature, and so much more every single day - as well as the literary salons of old where gossip thrived - this podcast seeks to highlight and celebrate the best writers and voices every episode with a warm, detailed conversation about their work and craft. Andrew's work can be purchased with us here: The Land in Winter: https://sevenoaksbookshop.co.uk/shop/the-land-in-winter-winner-of-the-walter-scott-prize-for-historical-fiction-by-andrew-miller/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  7. 11/25/2025

    Derek Owusu - Borderline Fiction

    Welcome to Season 2 of The Writers' Cafe! Brought to you from the award-winning indie, Sevenoaks Bookshop! We're wrapping up Season 2 with the awe-inspiring Derek Owusu! Derek is one of Denise’s favourite writers, so it was a great honour to have him on for the last episode to chat about his latest novel: Borderline Fiction. Derek is an award-winning writer, poet and podcaster whose work explores identity, masculinity, and the nuances of Black British Life. His debut novel That Reminds Me won the Desmond Elliott Prize, and his follow-up, Losing the Plot, blends prose and poetry in a moving portrait of mother-son relationship. Beyond his books, Derek's openness has made him a vital, reassuring voice in conversations about mental health and the lived experience of BPD.  Join us in this episode as we delve into the inner realms of Marcus' life with BPD, flitting between Marcus at 19 and 25 as he navigates love, addiction, performance, and the shifting constancy of the self. Bookseller Review: "Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. When talking with Derek, he said he hopes people notice how the book itself, from its very title, "is a symptom of BPD." There's a fracturing of the self throughout: we move quickly between Marcus at 19 and at 25, and the shifts in how he speaks, behaves, and carries himself is so intriguing. What drew me in most is how much this book is poetry in unstoppable motion. And then there's the written MLE in 19-year-old Marcus' voice! So clever, so familiar, so true to that age and environment! This is a book I'll cherish for a long time. Derek crafts his words with such precision and care that they feel unbreakable; each one feels placed with intention. It's firmly on my list of books I hope everyone reads at least once (or x200 times!!)" If you are new to The Writer's Cafe pod: Inspired by our own in-shop cafe of the same name and the conversations about books, life, literature, and so much more every single day - as well as the literary salons of old where gossip thrived - this podcast seeks to highlight and celebrate the best writers and voices every episode with a warm, detailed conversation about their work and craft. Derek's work can be purchased with us here: That Reminds Me https://sevenoaksbookshop.co.uk/shop/that-reminds-me-winner-of-the-desmond-elliott-prize-2020-by-derek-owusu/ Losing the Plot https://sevenoaksbookshop.co.uk/shop/losing-the-plot-by-derek-owusu/ Borderline Fiction https://sevenoaksbookshop.co.uk/shop/borderline-fiction-by-derek-owusu/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  8. 06/16/2025

    Miranda Cowley Heller - What The Deep Water Knows

    Welcome to Season 2 of The Writers' Cafe! Brought to you from the award-winning indie, Sevenoaks Bookshop! This week's visitor to the cafe is the lyrical and deeply contemplative Miranda Cowley Heller. Miranda is the bestselling author of The Paper Palace, a Reese's Book Club pick and long-listed for the Women's Prize for Fiction. Her debut poetry collection, What The Deep Water Knows, traces the arc of womanhood; it is a mediation on self-discovery, love and its losses; the complexity of family, and nature's quiet role in shaping memory and resilience. Join us as this episode as we delve into the inner realm of girlhood and womanhood illustrated through poetry; the nature of love, family, nature, and 'soul hunger'. Bookseller review: “This poetry collection chronicles a woman's life in six parts. It is a collection I know I will hold dear for a long time, as it made me fall back in love with poetry. What The Deep Water Knows is beautiful, deeply vulnerable and terribly gut-wrenching at times. With wonderful, intimate reflections on love--familial, self, romantic-- I hope everyone gives it a read and comes away as in awe of Miranda's weaving of words as I was!" If you are new to The Writer's Cafe pod: Inspired by our own in-shop cafe of the same name and the conversations about books, life, literature, and so much more every single day - as well as the literary salons of old where gossip thrived - this podcast seeks to highlight and celebrate the best writers and voices every episode with a warm, detailed conversation about their work and craft. Miranda's work can be purchased with us here: The Paper Palace https://sevenoaksbookshop.co.uk/shop/the-paper-palace-by-miranda-cowley-heller-2/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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About

From award-winning indie, Sevenoaks Bookshop presents The Writers' Cafe: a brand-new podcast featuring the best writers and most interesting voices in fascinating conversation Inspired by our own in-shop cafe of the same name and the discussions about life, literature, and everything in-between that take place every single day - as well as the literary salons of old where gossip thrived - this new podcast seeks to highlight and celebrate the best writers and voices every episode with a warm, detailed conversation about their work and craft. Sevenoaks Bookshop is an award-winning, independent, black-owned bookshop run by a team of enthusiastic booksellers.  All books and writers featured, and many more beside that, can be purchased in-shop or online with us at: https://sevenoaksbookshop.co.uk/ To keep up to date with the bookshop—our wide and exciting events calendar, staff recommendations, and more—sign up to our mailing list here: https://sevenoaksbookshop.co.uk/join-our-mailing-list/ Credits: Produced by Harry Edmundson Cover Artwork - Imogen Mott (an original based off our real-life cafe interior!) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Sevenoaks Bookshop
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Sevenoaks Bookshop
  • Show Website
    The Writers' Cafe

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