'Talking Books' is a series of intimate public conversations by novelist, playwright and poet Dermot Bolger with leading Irish writers about the art of writing and the everyday practices, routines and difficulties involved with creating a sustained piece of literature. Broadening out to include questions and comments from the audience, these evenings are intended to be enjoyed by emerging writers and by anyone interested in contemporary Irish writing. In this, the first of three podcasts, Dermot talks to Gerard Donovan, the author of "Schopenhauer's Telescope" and "Julius Winsome". It was recorded before an audience at Deansgrange Library on the 16th April 2009.