Chapter 25 Book Club

Welcome back to the podcast, bookish besties! Today, we are joined by the lovely Imani Erriu, author of our January book club pick, Heavenly Bodies, and the newly released Fallen Stars.

Fresh off her tour, Imani settles in with us to chat about her journey as an author, connecting face-to-face with readers, and how community shapes her work.

We explore her pantser writing style, how long walks in the Lake District fuel her imagination, and how astrology inspires her twelve zodiac-based kingdoms. Grab your favourite hot beverage and cosy up with us for an uplifting, deep-dive chat!KEY TAKEAWAYS- Reader Connection: Meeting readers on tour in person provides a vital, heart-warming boost after the isolating process of writing a novel.- The Pantser Approach: Imani shares how she writes without a rigid outline, knowing only the endings and key beats so she can stay surprised by her own story.- Rest & Daydreaming: High productivity for Imani relies on long periods of rest and daydreaming before sitting down for intense writing sessions once or twice a week.- Nature as Fuel: Living in the Lake District and taking long forest walks with music helps unlock plot twists and creative ideas.- Zodiac World Building: The twelve kingdoms in her universe are explicitly inspired by the twelve signs of the zodiac, with each kingdom ruled by its patron star god.✨ JOIN THE BONUS CHAPTER ✨Love our podcast? Join our digital community, The Bonus Chapter, for just £5 a month! https://www.chapter25bookclub.com/thebonuschapter

In this episode, Charlotte sits down with bestselling author Chris Whitaker for a wonderful, wide-ranging chat about his remarkable novel, All the Colours of the Dark. Chris shares the book's initial spark, explaining how the idea of two abducted teenagers forming an unbreakable bond in pitch darkness grew into a sweeping, multi-decade story about love, friendship, and family. We explore the realities of managing a 100-city book tour, the pressure after breakout success, and why readers are truly his favourite people.

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Join our host Neha for a cosy and insightful chat with author Alice Winn as they discuss her acclaimed First World War novel, In Memoriam.

Alice reflects on her journey as a writer, opening up about facing hundreds of agent rejections before finding the inspiration for her masterpiece.

She shares how old school newspapers, literary rivalries between trench poets, and visits to military cemeteries shaped her understanding of the era. It is a deeply moving and honest conversation about history, class, memory, and the power of storytelling.

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Welcome to a very special Summerween episode of Chapter 25! Host Paige Pickering Middleton is joined by authors Joss Wood and Heather Spellman to celebrate all things spooky, sunny, and romantic.

We dive deep into Joss's Halloween-obsessed town in Summerween and Heather's gently magical beachside setting in Cruel Summer. From discussing fast writing schedules to navigating pen names and favourite tropes, this conversation is packed with warmth, laughter, and brilliant bookish insights.

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Welcome back to the podcast, bookish friends! This week, we are sitting down with the wonderful Clare Leslie Hall to chat about her breakout novel, Broken Country.

Clare shares her deeply relatable 15-year journey from journalism to publishing success, detailing the emotional roller coaster of changing agents mid-manuscript and learning to trust her instincts.

We dive into the dark, emotional layers of her writing, the grief and love triangle at the heart of her book, and why stepping away from your desk might just be the best writing advice ever.

Welcome back to another cosy episode of the Chapter 25 Podcast! This week, we are joined by the wonderful author Phoenicia Rogerson to chat about her brilliant novel, Aphrodite. Phoenicia opens up about her lifelong obsession with Greek mythology, her unique name, and why she felt compelled to challenge the trope of Aphrodite as just a superficial flirt. Grab your favorite warm drink and join us for a delightful discussion on ancient translations, complex power dynamics, and the joy of giving forgotten mythological figures a voice.

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In this cosy bonus episode, we sit down with Penn Cole, the brilliant mind behind the hit Kindred's Curse Saga, to discuss her bestselling fantasy novels. Penn shares her journey from growing up in Texas libraries to living in Paris and becoming a full-time author. We explore her meticulous plotting process, the heavy themes of power and cost within her magic system, and her deep appreciation for the passionate romance community.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Penn is an extreme plotter who plans every chapter and scene before drafting to find the most creative story solutions.

• Why magic and choices must carry a real, lasting cost to ground fantasy in emotional reality.

• A passionate defence of Henry as the vital mortal voice in the political conflict of the series.

• The power of self-publishing and how indie authors and readers are reshaping the publishing landscape.

THE BONUS CHAPTER PROMO

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Grab a warm cup of camomile tea and settle in for a cosy chat with the wonderful Beth O'Leary! In this episode, we explore the creation of her romance novel, Swept Away, which features two strangers stranded at sea on a tiny houseboat.

Beth opens up about her unique writing process, how she balances darker emotional depth with comforting lightheartedness, and gives us an exclusive glimpse into her exciting upcoming novel, The Name Game.

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Welcome back to the Chapter 25 podcast! In this episode, our host Paige catches up with the lovely Kate Dramis to discuss her hit contemporary romance, The Odds of You, alongside her popular fantasy series, The Curse of Saints. Kate takes us behind the scenes of her writing process, sharing how a flight to San Diego Comic-Con turned into a full-length novel and how her real-life Scottish road trip inspired Sage's adventures in the Isle of Skye. We also talk about female friendships, writing authentic ADHD representation, favourite romance tropes, and what it is like balancing double writing deadlines.

Welcome back to the Chapter 25 podcast! In this episode, our host, Tara, sits down with bestselling thriller author T.M. Logan for an amazing, warm chat about all things writing.

We explore how his background in journalism influences his fast-paced plotting, what really goes on behind the scenes of a TV adaptation, and where he gets his wild story ideas. Grab a warm drink and settle in as we unlock the mind behind some of your favourite page-turners!

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• T.M. Logan relies on his journalism background to strip away unnecessary words and keep readers hooked from the very first line.

• Story ideas often strike during the most mundane moments, like going on a neighbourhood run or washing the dishes with music on.

• His Google search history for book research has actually triggered automatic warnings when researching dangerous chemicals!

• TV adaptations of books like The Holiday and The Catch are separate visual interpretations rather than line-by-line copies of the text.

• His upcoming 2025 release, The Family, follows a 17-year-old boy trying to prove his father's innocence when everyone else believes he committed a horrific crime.

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Love our podcast? Join our digital community, The Bonus Chapter, for just £5 a month! https://www.chapter25bookclub.com/thebonuschapter