Best Book Forward

Get ready for a heartwarming and hilarious send-off to Season 2! Today I’m delighted to be joined by the incredible Clare Pooley, author of the bestselling How to Age Disgracefully.

Interview Highlights:

• Inspiration Behind the Novel: Discover what sparked Clare's idea for How to Age Disgracefully.
• Flawed Characters: Explore Clare's love for writing flawed characters.
• Real-Life Inspirations: Hear about Clare's connections to Bridget Jones and Thelma & Louise, and how these iconic characters influenced her.
• Five Books That Shaped Her Life: Discover the literary influences that have shaped Clare's writing journey, from classic Austen to contemporary favourites.

Book List:

Emma by Jane Austen

Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding

Rachel's Holiday by Marian Keyes

One Day by David Nicholls

Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin

That's a wrap on Season 2 of Best Book Forward! We've had an incredible time exploring the literary world with our amazing guests. Thank you to Catherine Newman, Nikki May, Marianne Cronin, Susan Fletcher, Josie Fletcher, and Clare Pooley for sharing their insights and passion for books.

Stay tuned for exciting news about Season 3! Follow me on Instagram @bestbookforward for updates and behind-the-scenes glimpses.

See you soon, bookworms 

Welcome back to Best Book Forward! The podcast where we delve into the books that have shaped our favourite authors' lives. Think of it as your literary Desert Island Discs.

Today, I'm thrilled to have the incredible Josie Ferguson join us. Josie is the author of the highly acclaimed debut novel, The Silence in Between, shortlisted for the Waterstones Debut Prize 2024.

In this episode, we'll explore the world of Josie's poignant story, discussing themes of sexual violence, trauma, and the resilience of women in times of trouble.

As always we’ll also look at the five books that have shaped Josie’s life which were.

Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren

Sweet Valley High created by Francine Pascal

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zsafon

Between Shades of Grey by Ruta Sepetys

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

Listeners are also treated to a short clip of one of the beautiful pieces of music that Josie’s brother Micke Bonde created for the characters of The Silence in Between. The clip is used is called Lisette. If you would like to hear more or find out more about Josie’s work please visit her website https://josieferguson.com/

Caution: This episode discusses sensitive topics, including sexual violence and trauma. Listener discretion is advised.

For my bookish chat follow me on Instagram @bestbookforward 

 or visit my website at www.bestbookforward.org

Listeners are invited into a heartfelt conversation with Susan Fletcher as we discuss her brilliant new novel The Night in Question." 

Susan discusses the inspiration behind her protagonist Florrie, an 87-year-old woman who embarks on a quest to uncover the truth behind a mysterious incident in her care home. We also discuss Susan's creative process, particularly how her time during the lockdown influenced her writing and character development. 

Of course, we also discuss the five books that have shaped Susan’s life, she is so passionate about her choices that she inspired me to pick up one that I had always been intimidated by and I loved it as much as Susan did.

Susan’s book choices are:

Death of a Naturalist by Seamus Heaney

Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier

The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje 

 Women Who Run With The Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes 

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett 

Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode of Best Book Forward and be sure to tell your bookish friends all about it. See you next week for more bookish chats with another author.

Join us for a captivating conversation with Nikki May, author of Wahala which is currently being adapted into a major BBC series! Her latest literary masterpiece, This was inspired by Jane Austen's Mansfield Park and explores themes of motherhood, legacy, identity, and culture.

Interview Highlights:

• Mothers and Daughters: Discover the profound impact of mothers on their daughters. Explore how Nikki's characters navigate life without a mother and with a less than ideal one, shaping their identities and relationships.
• Cultural Identity: Dive into the complexities of belonging to multiple cultures. Hear Nikki's personal experiences growing up between England and Lagos.
• Book Recommendations: Discover the five books that have shaped Nikki's life. From dystopian futures to gripping mysteries, this diverse selection offers something for every reader.

Book List:

• Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
• A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton
• Half a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
• Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
• We Were Liars by E. Lockhart 

Prepare to be captivated by Nikki May's insightful perspective and her ability to bring a classic story to life in a fresh and modern way. Don't miss this thought-provoking episode!

PS: Once you’ve listened to this episode you may be wondering if I did pick up one of the books that we discussed and the answer is YES and it is as brilliant as Nikki said it is.

Get ready for a heartwarming hug of an episode with the brilliant Marianne Cronin, author of the novels that'll make you laugh, cry, and believe in the power of human connection: "The One Hundred Years of Lennie & Margot" and "Eddie Winston is Looking for Love".

In this episode we talk about friendship that defies expectations, love that blossoms in the most unexpected places and times, loss that leaves its mark, and the unwavering spirit of self-discovery. You'll also hear Marianne's inspiring story of writing a bestselling novel whilst tackling a PhD – talk about multitasking like a boss!

And of course, we'll chat about these five books and discover how they have shaped Marianne's life

This Lullaby by Sarah Design (not currently available on bookshop.org)

The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce

The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson

Homegoing by Gyasi

Exploring the Language of Poems, Plays and Prose by Mick Short

Heads up, squeaky chair alert! There might be some background noise during the episode, but we promise it won't distract from the heartwarming conversation.

Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode of literary love! We put a lot of heart into these conversations, and we'd love for you to be a part of our bookish community. Rate the episode and share it with your friends who love a good story – the more the merrier!

Season 2 Starts Here and what a better way to kick it off than being joined by New York Times Best Selling Author, Catherine Newman!

Let's face it, motherhood isn't always sunshine and rainbows. In this episode, Catherine discusses her latest novel, "Sandwich", exploring the messy realities of midlife, the unexpected joys (and challenges!) of parenting teenagers, and navigating the hormonal rollercoaster of menopause.

We also delve into the five books that have shaped Catherine's life. From the whimsical world of Amos & Boris to the poignant realities of Beloved by Toni Morrison, these are stories that have truly left their mark.

1. Amos & Boris by William Steig
2. Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls-WIlder (not currently available on bookshop.org)
3. Beloved by Toni Morrison
4. The Namesake by Jumpa Lahiri
5. All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews

And because five just isn't enough, Catherine also shares some honourable mentions:

• As You Like It by William Shakespeare
• Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
• Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
• Dream of a Common Language by Adrienne Rich

Follow Catherine on Instagram - Catherine Newman Instagram or visit her website at https://www.catherinenewmanwriter.com/ 

Ready to dive in? Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode of Best Book Forward!

CONTENT WARNING:

This conversation explores some sensitive topics that may be triggering for some listeners. We discuss issues related to fertility, miscarriage, and blood. Please be advised.

Get ready to dive deeper into the literary worlds of your favourite authors! 

Best Book Forward is back for a brand new season, and we're serving up six weeks of bookish bliss with incredible authors.

Haven't met us yet?

Hi, I'm Helen (@bestbookforward), your friendly book pusher! Think of this podcast as a bookish version of Desert Island Discs where I chat with amazing authors about the five books that have shaped their lives.

Season One was a literary adventure, featuring authors like Beth O'Leary, Matt Cain, and Alice Winn. We explored their inspirations, the stories that made them who they are, and of course, their must-read recommendations (missed any episodes? We've got you covered simply hit the link below).

But wait, there's more!

Season Two is weekly this time around, so get ready for six weeks of author interviews filled with bookish insights and captivating stories.

Who are we talking to? That's a secret for now, but trust us, you won't want to miss it!

Ready to join the bookish adventure?

• Subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts!
• Follow me on Instagram @bestbookforward for behind-the-scenes peeks and bookish fun: 
• Check out the Best Book Forward website: www.bestbookforward.org 
• Catch up on previous episodes Catch up now

In this bonus episode of Best Book Forward I was delighted to be joined again by Alice Winn author of In Memoriam.   Alice talks about her journey to writing her bestselling debut and shares her experiences as dyslexic child learning to read as well as sharing a fabulous bookish secret with us.

Other books mentioned:

Barrington Stokes 

Moby Dick by Herman Melville

War & Peace by Leo Tolstoy

I hope you’ve enjoyed this episode as much as I have. I would be so grateful if you could take the time to like, subscribe and share with your friends. 

For more content from me you follow me on Instagram or visit my website www.bestbookforward.org.

This episode of Best Book Forward was produced by Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative

In this episode of Best Book Forward I was delighted to be joined by Alice Winn author of In Memoriam.  If you know me you will know how much I love this book, I’ve probably tried to force a copy on you, so having the opportunity to chat to Alice was incredible.

The five books that Sophie picked as the books that have shaped her life are:

Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding

Catch 22 by Joseph Heller

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

Passing by Nella Larsen

All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque   

Other books mentioned:

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

The Song of Achilles by Madeleine Miller

Goodbye To All That by Robert Graves

Journey’s End by R. C. Sherriff

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

The Blind Spot & Other Stories by Saki HH Monroe

The Lord of the Rings by JRRTolkein 

Authors mentioned: 

Vera Brittain

Rudyard Kipling

F. Scott Fitzgerald

If you would like to hear more from Alice Winn, please do keep an eye out as there a bonus episode coming where we discuss more about Alice’s life as a reader and a writer and she shares a bookish secret with us!

For more content from me you follow me on Instagram or visit my website www.bestbookforward.org. 

This episode was produced by Decibelle Creative

In this bonus episode I am joined again by Sophie Irwin; author of A Lady's Guide to Scandal 

In this episode Sophie, reads a passage from her new book and we went on to talk more about her life as a writer and a reader and shares a bookish secret with us.

Other books mentioned in this episode are:

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

Rules of Civility by Amor Towles

Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Game of Thrones by George R R Martin

Authors mentioned

Taylor Jenkins-Reid

Niamh Hargan

Lindsey Kelk

Mhairi McFarlane

Sarra Manning

Janice Hallett

Amor Towels

I hope you have enjoyed this episode.  I would be so grateful if you would take the time to like, subscribe and most importantly tell your friends about it.  

I’ll be back next month talking to another author and I really hope you’ll join me for that conversation.

In the meantime, for more content from me you can follow me on Instagram or visit my website www.bestbookforward.org

This episode was produced by Decibelle Creative