To commemorate the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (VE Day), we set up a telephone interview with two of our Calibre volunteers to talk about their experiences with the war, and how they celebrated this special day.

Paul is curator and host of award-winning LGBT+ literary salon Polari at the Southbank Centre and founder of The Polari First Book Prize for debut writers and The Polari Prize for established writers.

In 2016, he featured in the British Council’s Global List of  ‘33 visionary people promoting freedom, equality and LGBT rights around the world.’

His writing has appeared in The Guardian, The Sunday Times and other publications. He has also written and presented documentaries for Channel 4 and often contributes to TV and radio. He is the author of six novels and editor of two short story collections and his debut novel Shameless (2001) was shortlisted for the State of Britain Award.

A journalist for over 25 years, Stephen Booth always wanted to be a writer and wrote his first novel at 12. Shortlisted for the Gold Dagger and winner of two Barry Awards, the Cooper & Fry series has been published in 16 languages. Here, Stephen talks to Emma Scott about discovering characters as he writes, the Peak District, breeding goats and being caught out on inconsistencies.

Kate Griffin, a true-born cockney, has worked in antiques and journalism before becoming the creator of The Kitty Peck Mysteries. In this interview with Emma Scott, Kate talks about Mayhew's Night Walks, Wilton's Music Hall and writing right through Christmas.

Author of The Woolworths' Girls, Elaine is also mad about dogs and has exhibited her dog, Henry, at Crufts. In this interview, Emma Scott talks to Elaine about Having Sarah live in her old house, Billy Butlin and being big in China. We also get to the question of how old is Ruby?

Elly Griffiths is the pen name of Domenica de Rosa. Author of the Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries and the Stephens & Mephisto novels, Elly (or Domenica?) talks to Emma about Norfolk, Brighton and Forensic Archaeology. She also discusses whether we will see Ruth on television and killing Starsky or Hutch…

Lynne Reid Banks is a prolific author of both children and adult novels, having written some forty-five books to date. From The L-Shaped Room (which was later turned into a movie) to Harry the Poisonous Centipede, Banks has turned her hand to a diverse range of subjects.

In this interview, Emma talks to Lynne about acting, living on a kibbutz, losing the ability to read, and being the first female reporter on British TV!

Kate Ellis, author of the Wesley Peterson series and the DI Joe Plantagenet series talks to Emma about history, writing about what you love and the supernatural 👻…

This is the complete interview rather than the edited version heard on the Echo newsletter.

Alison Weir is a British writer of history books, and latterly historical novels, mostly in the form of biographies about British royalty. She has written well over twenty books, including the "Six Tudor Queens" series, and "A Dangerous Inheritance".

This is the complete interview rather than the edited version heard on the Echo newsletter.

The full interview with James Runcie, author of (amongst others) the Sidney Chambers series of books. This is the complete interview rather than the edited version heard on the Echo newsletter.