The Honest Authors' Podcast

S7E05 - We answer listener questions!

Gilly and Holly answer a whole heap of quick fire listener questions on plotting, writers' block, the publishing industry, making a living as an author and more!

S7E04 - Our Achilles Heels, plus chat about reviews

We chat our Achilles heels, plus chat about reviews and Mastermind specialist subjects, and - what we don't talk about - why our voices are so husky and coldy.

S7E03 - Our incredibly late new year episode

In keeping with all the preceding years, the Honest Authors Christmas and New Year episode is dropping late. Gilly and Holly talk hopes, fears, and book prices.

S7E02 - With special guest Mhairi McFarlane

Gillian and Holly chat to Mhairi McFarlane about getting started, coming up with fresh ideas, bad reviews and Archilles heals.

S7E01 - We're back! And we have Linwood Barclay with us

Gillian and Holly are back, talking about their years, fears and Archilles heals. PLUS in-depth interview with Linwood Barclay on how he keeps writing super hooky bangers, year on year.

S6E08 - Season finale PLUS we answer your probing questions

Before signing off for maternity leave, Gilly and Holly talk future plans and answer your questions. *Some slightly rude chat so wait until your kids aren't listening*

S6E07 - How Alex Michaelides writes a novel

Multi-million selling author of The Silent Patient and The Maidens, Alex Michaelides, talks process, sudden bestsellerdom and finding renewed joy in writing.

S6E06 - How Clare Mackintosh writes a novel

Clare Mackintosh talks us through precisely how she writes her international bestsellers, from idea to planning to writing to rewriting until it's a 10/10 novel.

S6E05 - How Lisa Jewell writes a novel

The Honest Authors interview the incomparable Lisa Jewell about how she writes a novel, from idea to delivery.

S6E04 - How WE write our novels

The Honest Authors interview each other about how we write a novel - from the germ of an idea to hanging the manuscript in to our editors.

S6E03 - How Jill Mansell writes a novel

Gilly and Holly talk to Sunday Times bestseller of over 30 books, Jill Mansell, about how she writes her novels...

S6E02 - End of Year Review

The Honest Authors discuss their 2021 in review, and look forward to 2022.

S6E01 - How Giovanna Fletcher writes a novel

The Honest Authors' Podcast S5E10 - Season finale! With big news from Gilly and Holly.

The Honest Authors both have big news, plus listener questions answered on money and agent submission. Warning: a few swearwords so don't listen with your kids...

The Honest Authors' Podcast S5E09 - With Jane Fallon and Lindsey Kelk

The Honest Authors talk finding fresh ideas, giving readers what they want and writing through these weird times with fascinating and funny veteran writers, Jane Fallon and Lindsey Kelk. PLUS some quick fire listener questions.

The Honest Authors' Podcast S5E08 - With special guest Tim Weaver

Tim Weaver is on the podcast talking standalone novels, keeping a series fresh and how success is not always linear.

The Honest Authors' Podcast S5E07 - Redrafts, professional jealousy and finding time to write

Gilly and Holly talk about redrafting, how long it takes to write a book, dealing with professional jealousy and finding time (and space) to write.

The Honest Authors' Podcast S5E06 - We interview our agents!

The Honest Authors interview their own agents. What have you always wanted to ask an agent but were too afraid to? Well, look no further.

The Honest Authors' Podcast - S5E05

Writing through lockdown (yawn, of course), Gilly and Holly's plans for 2021 and answering listener questions.

The Honest Authors' Podcast - S5E04 - A Christmas special! On time! It's a Christmas Miracle!

The Honest Authors' Podcast - S5E03 - Mental health roundtable with Charlotte Levin, Robin Morgan-Bentley and Sunita Thind

Three writers join the Honest Authors to talk mental health and creativity, coping strategies and more.

The Honest Authors' Podcast - S5E02 - Prolific authors who publish more than one book per year

The Honest Authors talk to prolific authors who publish more than one novel per year.

The Honest Authors' Podcast - S5E01 - Debuts who were published in lockdown, roundtable

Gillian McAllister and Holly Seddon talk to debut authors published during the 2020 lockdown.

The Honest Authors' Podcast - S4 summer special all about audiobooks

The Honest Authors talk audiobooks and audio writing opportunities with star actor Tuppence Middleton and audio expert Paul Stark from Orion Publishing. PLUS sneak peek excerpts of The Hit List audiobook.

The Honest Authors' Podcast - S4E10 - OMG it's a season finale! Featuring brilliant bestseller Fiona Barton

In the season four finale, we interview Fiona Barton (author of The Widow, The Child and The Suspect) and talk about our big publication news.

The Honest Authors' Podcast - S4E09 - Are newsletters worth it? How do you choose which idea to write?

We take questions from listeners including how you know which idea is a 'runner' and whether having an author newsletter is worth it.

The Honest Authors' Podcast - S4E08 - Featuring Mark Edwards and his wild ride to becoming a bestseller!

The Honest Authors hear from bestseller Mark Edwards, whose real life journey to publication features more twists than any thriller.

The Honest Authors' Podcast - S4E07 - How to write a novel during lockdown... without losing your mind

The Honest Authors are still locked down... and still writing. They talk about their writing processes and how they're staying on track during such strange times.

The Honest Authors' Podcast - S4E06 - With special guest CL Taylor

Sunday Times bestseller CL Taylor joins Gilly and Holly for a candid chat about writing life, changing genres, writing processes and more.

The Honest Authors' Podcast - S4E05 - What things do you do that are part of being a writer but aren't writing?

The honest authors discuss creative panic, anxiety and things they do that are part of being a writer but aren't writing.

The Honest Authors Podcast - S4E04 - The end of year review

Horrific shower scenes, changing agents, canine chaos, the best of times, the worst of times AND SO ON. Happy 2020!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S4E03 - We answer your questions

The Honest Authors answer your questions on series versus standalone, the differences between publishers, how to write a synopsis and more!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S4E02 - The d*ck pic episode

Everything bad you wanted to know about being an author but were too afraid to ask...

The Honest Authors Podcast - S4E01 - With Paula Daly

The Honest Authors are back! Paula Daly tells Gilly and Holly all about having her books turned into TV and how she approaches writing bestsellers with loads of reassuring advice.

The Honest Authors Podcast - S3E12 - Finale with Shari Lapena

The Honest Authors interview Shari Lapena and talk self doubt, shelving books, and how to have a steady stream of new ideas.

The Honest Authors Podcast - S3E11 - LIVE from the Breakthrough Festival!

Gilly and Holly's first live appearance as the Honest Authors, talking publication, hooks, setbacks and successes.

The Honest Authors Podcast - S3E10 - Tony McAllister and YOUR pitches

We're joined by Gilly's dad, Tony McAllister, who talks about how he helps Gilly (and Holly!) with her books plus we discuss listeners' pitches.

The Honest Authors Podcast - S3E09 - Hilda Burke, Psychotherapist

Are creatives more prone to anxiety and stress? Does extensive phone use get in the way of writing and thinking? How can authors cope better with the weirdness of being in the public eye? The Honest Authors discuss this and...

The Honest Authors Podcast - S3E08 - Phoebe Morgan

Phoebe Morgan, editorial director AND author, tells the Honest Authors why manuscripts get chosen, how publishers spot trends, what she's working on right now and her own publishing journey.

The Honest Authors Podcast - S03E07

The Honest Authors are back from the Easter break! Talking about Gilly's latest publication, the latest weird worries and, for some reason, floatation tanks again.

The Honest Authors Podcast - S03E06 - Mark Billingham

The Honest Authors grill expert bestselling author Mark Billingham on how he's managed to write a book a year for nearly 20 years, how he keeps coming up with fresh ideas and what he'd tell his younger self.

The Honest Authors Podcast - S03E05 - Isabelle Broom

The Honest Authors Podcast - S3E04 - Therese Coen

What do we mean by foreign rights? What actually happens at book fairs? How much money can authors make from translated copies of their books? The Honest Authors grill foreign rights expert Therese Coen about all this and more.

The Honest Authors Podcast - S3E03 - Sam Eades

The Honest Authors get the chance to grill phenomenal Trapeze Books publishing director Sam Eades about the acquisitions process, what happens behind the scenes and what editors really look for in a book.

The Honest Authors Podcast - S3E02 - Alison Barrow

The honest authors answer Q&As on writing processes and chat to Alison Barrow about publicity including the most effective way to promote a book.

The Honest Authors Podcast - S3E01

The Honest Authors are back! Talking full-time writing, routines, redrafts, weird messages, switching off and, er, spinning, Cardi B and Wall-E.

The Honest Authors Podcast - S2E10 - Season Finale with Caroline Hulse

In the season three finale episode, the authors talk honestly about life changes, career changes, representation changes and why it's so very hard to talk about money. Featuring an interview with the brilliant Caroline Hulse.

The Honest Authors Podcast - S2E09 - Helen Cullen

Helen Cullen, author of The Lost Letters of Willam Woolf, talks to the Honest Authors about her publication journey, giving up the London rat race to decamp to rural Ireland and her writing process. Plus there's the usual bad reviews...

The Honest Authors Podcast - S2E08 - Claire Allan

We interview Claire Allan and talk social media, word counts, and writing two books a year.

The Honest Authors Podcast - S2E07 - Lia Louis and Anxiety

We talk to debut novelist Lia Louis during an anxiety special!