HIF Player

Featuring: Val McDermid, and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Who better to put the world to rights, and to help us celebrate Burns Night, than two Scottish supernovas!?

Best-selling author Val McDermid has been publishing acclaimed crime fiction for over 30 years. An international bestseller, her books have been translated into 40 different languages and sold over 16 million copies worldwide. Passionate about writing, and Scotland, in her book My Scotland, she takes readers to the landscapes she has known all her life, and the places where her stories and characters reside.

An enthusiastic reader, the First Minister of Scotland: Nicola Sturgeon, views books as one of life’s great pleasures. She regularly shares her recommendations on social media on a Saturday night and is an avid supporter of libraries. She’s also become a regular interviewer of writers at book festivals. She has contributed the foreword to My Scotland.

This event was recorded live at 2019's Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival.

Podcast music: Joseph McDade.

Featuring: Harriet Tyce, Simon Kernick, Allie Reynolds and Lauren North.

Have you ever questioned what lengths you would be prepared to go to if a loved one was in danger?

What would push you over the edge to act out of character, even commit a crime?

Join us for a very special Harrogate International Festivals virtual event with bestselling crime thriller authors Harriet Tyce and Simon Kernick and introducing debut author Allie Reynolds, who will be discussing how they and their fictional characters have grappled with this question in their novels – chaired by author and host of In Suspense podcast Lauren North.

In the beautifully written and illuminating polemic, How To Stay Sane In An Age Of Division, Booker Prize nominee Elif Shafak reflects on our age of pessimism, when emotions guide and misguide our politics, and misinformation and fear are the norm. Shafak draws on her own memories and delves into the power of stories to reveal how writing can nurture democracy, tolerance and progress.

Elif Shafak in conversation with Matthew Stadlen was recorded live as part of the digital Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival 2020.

Podcast music by: Joseph McDade.

Racism is real, despite race having no scientific basis. But in a time of fake news and divided politics, the appeal for science to strength racist ideology is on the rise. Scientist Adam Rutherford makes the case against race and using fake science to justify prejudicial politics.

Adam Rutherford - How to Argue with a Racist was recording for Berwin's Salon North as part of the HIF Weekender 2020, and was hosted by Helen Bagnall.

Podcast music by Joseph McDade.

Anthony Horowitz is one of the most prolific and successful writers working in the UK – and is unique for working across so many media. Anthony shares anecdotes from his career and discusses his new novel The Moonflower Murders alongside the celebrated Alex Rider YA series.

Anthony Horowitz in Conversation with Joe Haddow was recorded as part of the 2020 HIF Weekender.

Podcast music by Joseph McDade.

In traditional retellings of the Greek myths, the focus is invariably on gods and men, but in Pandora’s Jar: Women in the Greek Myths, classicist and Women’s Prize shortlisted writer Natalie Haynes refocuses our gaze on the remarkable women at the centre of these ancient stories.

Natalie Haynes in conversation with Gerry Foley was recorded live as part of the digital Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival 2020.

Podcast Music By: Joseph McDade.

Best known for his BBC Radio 2 lunchtime programme and Eggheads, much loved presenter and broadcaster Jeremy Vine presents his debut novel The Diver and The Lover. Inspired by true events and Vine’s obsession with Salvador Dali, this is a powerful story of love and sacrifice and the lengths we will go to for who – or what – we love.

Jeremy Vine in conversation with Matthew Stadlen was recorded live as part of the digital Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival 2020.

Podcast Music By: Joseph McDade.

Join the award-winning and bestselling author, Matt Haig, as he talks about his latest novel, The Midnight Library.

Welcome to the strangest library of them all – one that houses second chances. From the author of How to Stop Time and The Humans comes this poignant, unique novel about regret, hope and forgiveness. Profound and sparkling with imagination, The Midnight Library gifts us with a burning question: if you could wipe away your past mistakes and choose again, would you definitely make better choices?

Matt Haig in conversation with Matthew Stadlen was recorded live as part of the digital Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival 2020.

Podcast Music By: Joseph McDade.

Join authors and podcasters The Red Hot Chilli Crime Writers: Abir Mukherjee and Vaseem Khan as they take to our digital stage to discuss making crime a career with Mark Edwards, Claire McGowan, Dreda Say Mitchell and Susi Holliday.

The Red Hot Chilli Writers present Career Criminals was recorded live as part of the digital Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival 2020.

This episode is kindly supported by Thomas & Mercer.

To download a free, exclusive sampler of Susi Holliday's fantastic book, The Last Resort, a gift from Thomas & Mercer, visit our website here: http://bit.ly/CareerCriminals

Podcast Music By: Joseph McDade.

To celebrate the upcoming release of 'The Sentinel', which heralds a new dawn for everyone's favourite literary avenger, as Lee Child and Andrew Child (Grant) take on co-authorship, we share a very special event from the archive.

In 2009 Lee Child and his brother Andrew took to the stage together at the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival. Were there inklings of what was to come? What was their response when asked if they would ever work together? You'll just have to listen to find out.

Don't miss Lee Child in 'The Reacher Guy': A Life In Pictures, in conversation with his biographer Dr Heather Martin, streaming for free on HIF Player on the Harrogate International Festivals website on Sunday 25th October. harrogateinternationalfestivals.com

Podcast music by Joseph McDade.