Comedian, writer and podcaster Cariad Lloyd joins me to talk about Jane Austen. Cariad is the co-creator of Austentatious, the improvised Jane Austen play, the host of Griefcast, and Sara & Cariad’s Weirdos Book Club with Sara Pascoe. She’s also the author of The Christmas Wish-Tastrophe, amagical middle grade Regency story.

We started with Pride and Prejudice but cover a bit of everything Austen. We talk about our favourite and least favourite Austen novels, the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, and why writing and reading the Regency period is such fun. 

You can find The Christmas Wish-Tastrophe, my favourite Austen editions and my books at my Bookshop page: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/bookwandering-the-podcast? and find our more about Brian's work at https://cariadlloyd.com/

The podcast is produced by Adam Collier with artwork by Hester Kitchen.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Theatre producer and friend of the pod Brian Hook joins me to talk about the first three books in Ursula K Le Guin's Earthsea series. Brian is the co-owner of Hartshorn Hook which has produced shows including Immersive Gatsby, Choir of Man, Amelie the Musical and Immersive Peaky Blinders. Brian and I are both huge fans of Earthsea and we chatted about why it means so much to us, bookish tattoos, and why the natural pause point in the series is after book three, not the traditional book four break.

You can find Earthsea and my books at my Bookshop page: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/bookwandering-the-podcast? and find our more about Brian's work at https://hartshornhook.com/ 

The podcast is produced by Adam Collier with artwork by Hester Kitchen.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laura Wood joins me to talk about Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. Laura is the bestselling author of several books for children, teens and adults including newly released Under Your Spell, Laura's debut adult romcom. Laura's choice was Gail Carson Levine's 1997 classic Ella Enchanted and we chatted about retellings, library book limits and the Anne Hathaway film adaptation. 

You can find Laura's and my books at my Bookshop page: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/bookwandering-the-podcast?

The podcast is produced by Adam Collier with artwork by Hester Kitchen.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode ten, Jay McGuiness joins me to talk about Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings. 

Jay is a member of boyband The Wanted and previous winner of Strictly Come Dancing but also the author of Blood Flowers, his debut YA novel, which is out in February and available to pre-order now. Jay’s choice was David Eddings’ 1982 fantasy book Pawn of Prophecy, the first book in the Belgariad series. We chatted about what makes a book YA, how fantasy can be used to explore almost any idea or issue and the similarities and differences between the publishing and music industry.  

You can find Blood Flowers, Pages & Co, and Pawn of Prophecy at my Bookshop page: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/bookwandering-the-podcast-s2

This is the last episode of series two but Bookwandering will be back in the New Year for series three. The podcast is produced by Adam Collier with artwork by Hester Kitchen.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode nine, C Pam Zhang joins me to talk about American classic A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. 

Pam is the author of Booker Prize-longlisted How Much of These Hills is Gold and this year's Land of Milk and Honey, one of my favourite books of the year. Pam's pick was A Wrinkle in Time, Madeleine L'Engle's beloved 1962 award-winning novel which kicked off the Time Quintet. We chatted about world hopping and climate change, the religious elements of the book and its refusal to sit neatly in a genre. 

You can find Pam's books, Pages & Co, and A Wrinkle in Time at my Bookshop page: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/bookwandering-the-podcast-s2

Next week's episode features Jay McGuiness on Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings. 

The podcast is produced by Adam Collier with artwork by Hester Kitchen.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode eight, Sophie Dahl joins me to talk about a mutual favourite, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken.

Sophie has written books across ages and genres - novels for adults, non-fiction food writing and most recently children's fiction including her two Madame Badobedah picture books illustrated by Lauren O'Hara. Sophie's pick was The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken, set in an alternate version of 19th century England and written in 1962. We chatted about the book's massive heart, glorious food writing and truly excellent villains.

You can find Sophie's books, Pages & Co, and The Wolves of Willoughby Chase at my Bookshop page: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/bookwandering-the-podcast-s2

Next week features C Pam Zhang on A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle.

The podcast is produced by Adam Collier with artwork by Hester Kitchen.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode seven, Nikita Gill joins me to talk about JM Barrie's beloved children's novel Peter Pan. 

Nikita is a poet and has published several books of poetry including These Are the Words, Great Goddesses and Fierce Fairytales. She's also one of the most popular poets on Instagram, with over 750k followers at @nikita_gill. We chat about some of the more tricky and Oedipal elements of Peter Pan, its sometimes unsettling tone but also its whimsy and wonder. 

You can find Nikita's books, Pages & Co, and Peter Pan at my Bookshop page: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/bookwandering-the-podcast-s2

Next week features Sophie Dahl on The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken.

The podcast is produced by Adam Collier with artwork by Hester Kitchen.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kate DiCamillo joins me to talk about Mary Norton's 1952 children's classic, The Borrowers. 

Kate is the beloved and multi-million bestseller of many books for young readers and one of only a few authors who have won the Newbery Medal twice. Her most recent book is the immediate New York Times bestseller, The Puppets of Spelhorst. We chat about the borrowers decorating habits, stories within stories and how Kate comes to truly understand her own books through conversations with her readers.

You can find The Puppets of Spelhorst and The Borrowers on my Bookshop.org page, where you can get free shipping with the code BOOKWANDERER: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/bookwandering-the-podcast-s2

This is our last episode before a short break, and we'll be back later in the year for more bookwandering. The podcast is produced by Adam Collier with artwork by Hester Kitchen.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode five, Kiran Millwood Hargrave joins me to talk about Garth Nix's 1995 fantasy classic, Sabriel. 

Kiran is the award-winning and bestselling writer of several books for adults and young people including The Girl of Ink and Stars, The Mercies and most recently the start of brand new fantasy series, In the Shadow of the Wolf Queen. We chat about magical bells, how Kiran uses books of power for each of her projects, and why it’s so important not to patronise young readers.

You can find Sabriel and In the Shadow of the Wolf Queen on my Bookshop.org page, where you can get free shipping with the code BOOKWANDERER: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/bookwandering-the-podcast-s2

Next week's episode is the last before we take a small break and features Kate Di Camillo on The Borrowers by Mary Norton. 

The podcast is produced by Adam Collier with artwork by Hester Kitchen.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode four, Jeffrey Boakye joins me to talk about Louis Sachar's beloved 1998 novel Holes. 

Alongside his broadcast and education work, Jeffrey is the author of several works of non-fiction about teaching, race and music. He’s also the author of Kofi and the Rap Battle Summer, his debut children’s novel which came out earlier this year. We chat about Jeffrey teaching the novel to young people, how sitcoms have influenced him and why setting a book in the 90s is basically magical realism.

You can find Holes and Kofi at the Rap Battle Summer on my Bookshop.org page, where you can get free shipping with the code BOOKWANDERER: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/bookwandering-the-podcast-s2

Next week's episode features Kiran Millwood Hargrave on Sabriel by Garth Nix. The podcast is produced by Adam Collier with artwork by Hester Kitchen.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.