Award-winning British-Turkish novelist and 2022 Women’s Prize for Fiction shortlisted author Elif Shafak reveals the five books that have shaped her life and career.

S7 Ep7: Bookshelfie: Elif Shafak

Every week, join Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, and her inspirational guests as they celebrate the best books written by women. They'll discuss this year's shortlisted titles, explore the life-changing books that sit on other women’s bookshelves and talk about what the future holds for women writing today. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and has been running for over 25 years. Sit back and enjoy.

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Ann Akinjirin is an actress, writer, director and producer working across screen and stage and is currently starring in the BBC’s new adaptation of Enid Blyton’s The Famous Five. 



Ann is best known for her recurring roles in BBC 1 /HBO’s The Strike Series playing ‘DS Vanessa Ekwensi’ and ‘Dee’ in BBC Two’s Trigonometry. More recently, Ann played 'Bobbi' in Marvel Studios series Moon Knight on Disney+. 



Ann set up her own theatre company Harts in 2010, of which she was Artistic Director until 2020. Ann is extremely passionate about creative accessibility within theatre and has worked as movement director for Deafinitely Theatre as well as with National Youth Theatre as a writer and director, creating shows for audiences inclusive of deaf and visually impaired members. 



Ann’s book choices are:

** Secrets by Francine Pascal

** All About Love by bell hooks

** A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

** Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

** Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors



Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season seven of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.


Don’t want to miss the rest of season six? Listen and subscribe now!


This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.






S7 Ep8: Bookshelfie: Ann Akinjirin

Best-selling food writer, stylist, and author, Anna Jones explains how Nigella Lawson’s How to Be a Domestic Goddess gave her the confidence to just be herself in the kitchen.

S7 Ep6: Bookshelfie: Anna Jones

Historian, author and broadcaster Suzannah Lipscomb shines the spotlight on women throughout history who are too often missed from books. 



A distinguished historian, Suzannah is Professor Emerita at the University of Roehampton, Senior Member at St Cross College, Oxford, and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and the Society of Antiquaries. 



She has written and edited seven books, most recently, What is History, Now? with Helen Carr, and The Voices of Nîmes: Women, Sex, and Marriage in Reformation Languedoc. She has presents history programmes on the BBC, ITV, More4 and Channel 5, and she hosts the popular Not Just the Tudors podcast from History Hit. 



A close friend of the Women’s Prize Trust, Suzannah is the chair of judges for the inaugural Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction.



Suzannah’s book choices are:

** Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild

** The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom

** The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri

** The Return of Martin Guerre by Natalie Zemon Davis

** Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers





Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season seven of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.


Don’t want to miss the rest of season six? Listen and subscribe now!


This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.






S7 Ep5: Bookshelfie: Suzannah Lipscomb


A New York Times bestselling author, Kristin Hannah’s books are beloved the world over and read by millions. Listen as she discusses the art of creating empathy with readers and the importance of putting women at the centre of stories. 



Kristin is the author of 25 novels, including historical fiction masterpiece The Nightingale, which has now sold millions of copies worldwide and has been translated into 45 languages. 



Kristin started her working life as a lawyer but decided to take writing seriously when she was bedridden in pregnancy and needed something to do. The decision totally changed her life. 



Her books often focus on the stories of women in history and her new title The Women - is no different. It  follows a young Army nurse during the Vietnam War whose world is turned upside down by the conflict and its legacy, and is out now.



Kristin’s book choices are:

** Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder

** To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

** The Witching Hour by Anne Rice

** Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

** Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke 



Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season seven of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and they continue to champion the very best books written by women.


Don’t want to miss the rest of season six? Listen and subscribe now!


This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.






S7 Ep7: Bookshelfie: Elif Shafak

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