Sarah Leipciger breathes new life into two historical figures

and lets her imagination flow in her novel 'Coming Up for Air'.

 

We celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month by revisiting 'How To Be Both' with author Ali Smith.

 

And winner of last year’s CILIP Carnegie Medal for children’s literature, Anthony McGowan, discusses the series of books he has created for reluctant readers.

Journalist Saba Salman introduces us to 'Made Possible', a collection of stories that she hopes will change the public perception of people with learning disabilities.

Sarah Waters talks to Robert Kirkwood about 'The Little Stranger', a novel in which she changed era and also for the first time, the gender of the protagonist.

And children’s author Caroline Lawrence, famous for her 'Roman Mysteries', takes us to Ancient Greece with her 'Time Travel Diaries'.

CJ Skuse reveals why girl-next-door serial killer Rhiannon Lewis is feeling all at sea in her latest novel, 'Dead Head'.

 

Costa winner Monique Roffey reveals which books have resonated most with her as a writer.

  

Robert Kirkwood looks back on the day that creator of 'The Gruffalo', Julia Donaldson, visited the RNIB Talking Books Studios.

  

We celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month by reviewing the short-story that became the Oscar-winning film 'Brokeback Mountain'.

And we return to CJ Skuse for the Books of Her Life.

Amy Raphael takes us back to The English Civil War in her new children’s adventure ‘The Forest of Moon and Sword ‘.

Story-teller and Talking Book narrator Giles Abbott reveals how sight loss has influenced the way he brings stories to life.

And Jane Harris transports us to Victorian Glasgow in her novel Gillespie and I.

Helen Fisher introduces us to Space Hopper, her must-read debut novel, featuring a blind character drawn from her years working at RNIB.

We bring you news of the winner of this year's Costa Book of the Year Award.

Narrator David Graham reminisces on his many years of working for RNIB, and the iconic roles he helped create in Thunderbirds and Dr Who.

And Laura Barnett brings words and music together in her soulful novel Greatest Hits.

This week Read On is focusing on The Costa Book Awards, which recognise the most enjoyable books published in the UK over the past year in five categories:

Novel, Debut Novel, Biography, Poetry and Children’s Books.

The five category winners were selected earlier this month.

And next week, one overall winner will be crowned Costa Book of the Year, winning the author £30,000.

And Red Szell brings you interviews with four of the five authors in contention:  Ingrid Persaud, Monique Roffey, Lee Lawrence and Natasha Farrant, and talks to the friend and publisher of Eavan Boland, who died shortly before she won the Costa Poetry Award.

In Read On this week, we are focusing on resilience:

Mick Dawson and blind veteran Steve Sparky Sparks discuss their gruelling journey to row across the Pacific Ocean.

Sarah Jane Douglas and Richard Frazer reveal the reconciliation each of them found through walking and contemplation.

Ed Caesar introduces us to 'The Moth and The Mountain': the extraordinary story of a World War One veteran who sought to climb Mount Everest.

And we return to Mick Dawson, to hear the books of his life.

Vicky Goldie reveals how working for RNIB and her own personal circumstances informed the character of her blind detective.

 

Paul Mylrea reviews Ngaio Marsh's 'Scales of Justice'.

 

Tim Finch discusses his novel Peace Talks, which has been short listed for the Costa Award.

 

And Anna Bell shares a cautionary tale in her new rom com We Just Clicked.

In this Read On 2020 Booker Prize special episode, host Red Szell interviews each of the six shortlisted authors, shares some fun facts about the world's most prestigious literary prize and reveals the winner through the Books of Their Life.

The Best of Read On 2020 Part 2: 

Robert Kirkwood talks to the winner of the Costa First Novel award, Sarah Collins.

Stuart Turton takes us on a mysterious  and murderous voyage in his new novel The Devil and the Dark Water.

 

We hear the heart warming story of how an RNIB volunteer, a musician and a holocaust survivor came together to create a Talking Book

 

The RNIB Library’s Lynne Livingstone gives us her literary antidote to lockdown.

 

Best selling novelist Sarah Morgan transports us to the Lake District in search of family harmony.

 

And SD Robertson shares the Books of His Life.