This week Read On is focusing on The Costa Book Awards, which recognise the most enjoyable books published in the UK over the past year in five categories:

Novel, Debut Novel, Biography, Poetry and Children’s Books.

The five category winners were selected earlier this month.

And next week, one overall winner will be crowned Costa Book of the Year, winning the author £30,000.

And Red Szell brings you interviews with four of the five authors in contention:  Ingrid Persaud, Monique Roffey, Lee Lawrence and Natasha Farrant, and talks to the friend and publisher of Eavan Boland, who died shortly before she won the Costa Poetry Award.