Camilla Balshaw, acclaimed author of the award winning memoir Named joins Nadine Matheson for a captivating conversation about the complexities of identity, naming, and storytelling. Camilla shares her unique journey of reclaiming her name and the cultural significance behind it, while also delving into the challenges of writing a memoir that resonates with readers. They discuss the cultural clash behind her naming (Nigerian and Jamaican heritage), the honesty required to write memoir without "settling scores," the ethics of ghostwritten celebrity memoirs, and how Camilla balanced a career in criminal law with writing. They also talk about self-care, yoga, the discipline of a writing routine and a confession involving green leather trousers.

Join them for a thought-provoking discussion that highlights the power of names and the stories we tell about ourselves.

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Candice Carty-Williams, Sunday Times bestselling and award winning author of Queenie, People Person, and creator of the BBC/Netflix series Champion sits down with Nadine to talk about her new novel, Queenie Is Working On It, the sequel to her 2019 debut. Candice shares her journey of bringing Queenie back to life, exploring the character's growth and the challenges she faces in her 30s.

During their candid conversation, Nadine and Candice delve into:

• What the seven years between Queenie and its sequel taught Candice about herself
• Starting therapy after winning Book of the Year, and the gap between public praise and how she actually felt
• Compartmentalising who you are as a person from who you are in your work
• The exhausting, chaotic experience of showrunning Champion (including an all-night scramble to save a scene while filming in Jamaica) and developing the Queenie TV series over eight years
• Hitting burnout: sleeping two hours a night, her body "giving up," and the day she couldn't function until a friend intervened
• The idea behind Queenie Is Working On It: Queenie, now 33, exploring Black women's journey to conception — fertility testing, IVF, and a topic she felt wasn't being talked about

Join them for an insightful discussion that captures the essence of growth, creativity, and the complexities of navigating life as a writer.

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Saima Mir returns to The Conversation to mark the release of Deliverance, the closing chapter of her Jia Khan trilogy, following The Khan and Vengeance. Two crime writers, both working from lived heritage, sit down to talk about what it actually feels like to let a character go.

In this episode:

• Ending a trilogy — the strange grief of finishing a series years in the making, and Jia Khan's evolution from her origins to a character defined by strength, complexity, and resilience
• From the newsroom to the page — how Saima's years in crime reporting shaped the world of the books
• The double standard — why women of colour writing morally complicated characters get held to a different account than everyone else, and why seeing yourself in a story still matters
• Dismantling the stereotype — the tired narratives about women of colour that Saima's work sets out to challenge
• What the heroine taught the writer — what Jia Khan revealed to Saima about herself, on and off the page

And to close things out: favourite jokes, leaps of faith worth taking, and the strangest thing either of them turned up while researching international money laundering.

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In this episode of The Conversation Coffee Break, Nadine Matheson sits down with debut author Leigh Radford to discuss hwe gripping new novel, One Yellow Eye. Leigh shares the inspiration behind his story, which intertwines themes of love, grief, and the haunting spectre of a zombie apocalypse. As they delve into the emotional complexities of writing about terminal illness and the impact of grief, Leigh reveals how her personal experiences shaped the narrative.

From her childhood memories of caring for her father to the unexpected challenges of writing during a pandemic, Leigh's journey is both poignant and relatable. The conversation touches on the nuances of character development, the importance of research, and the delicate balance of crafting a narrative that resonates with readers. Nadine and Leigh also explore the unique pressures of being a debut author and the lessons learned along the way.

Join them for a thought-provoking, moving and funny discussion that examines the intersection of horror and humanity, and discover what it truly means to fight for the ones we love.

Leigh Radford Recommends: The Pitt

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In this episode of The Conversation, Nadine Matheson welcomes the talented debut author V.A. Vazquez, who shares her unique journey from a middle school teacher, off-Broadway producer to debut author. Victoria (V.A. Vazquez) opens up about the emotional rollercoaster of her debut novel, The Death Row Club, which explores the lives of the children of serial killers and the psychological complexities that arise from their upbringing.

Victoria discusses the inspiration behind her book, rooted in personal experiences that forced her to reassess her life and the people in it. As they delve into the challenges of writing thrillers, the importance of community in the literary world, and the unexpected twists of the publishing journey, Nadine and Victoria remind us that every setback can lead to new opportunities.

Join them for a candid conversation on creativity, perseverance, and the importance of celebrating every achievement along the way.

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On this week's episode, we ask if the publishing industry is "blowing the bloody doors off" author rights. From Michael Caine's voice getting cloned for an epic audiobook to Hachette and Studiocanal's book to film deal, plus 250 UK publishers signing a massive AI licensing deal, we ask if any of this is good for authors.

00:00 Intro

01:04 Hachette/Studiocanal Deal - Good or Bad for Authors?

10:40 Blow Your Bloody Ears Off - Caine's Digital Odyssey

27:49 Collective AI Licenses - Selling Out Authors?

34:16 Stranger Than Fiction - Nadine's Idea Factory

39.40 The Final Chapter - Level Up Writing

Links:

Hachette Livre and Studiocanal strike book to screen deal

Michael Caine licenses voice to narrate AI adaptation of The Odyssey audiobook

Over 250 UK publishers opt-in to collective AI-licensing scheme

Bungling career burglar caught after leaving passport photo at crime scene

Adventures in Publishing-land is brought to you by STET Podcasts - the one stop shop for all your writing podcast needs, featuring Page One - The Writer's Podcast, The Conversation with Nadine Matheson and more! Find all our shows here!

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In this episode of The Conversation, I sit down with novelist, poet, and Shakespeare scholar Juliano Zaffino for a candid conversation about creativity, perseverance, publishing, and the stories that stay with us.

Juliano’s debut novel, The Steps, is a haunting and deeply human family ghost story that follows a man who falls in love with a grieving widow and becomes entwined in the lives of his five children while sensing that something isn’t quite right beneath the surface. Published by Tramp Press, the novel blends the everyday with the uncanny in a way that lingers long after the final page.

But this conversation goes far beyond the book itself. We discuss Juliano’s early years writing stories in cupboards, launching and running a curated book subscription service, self-publishing his first poetry collection, completing a PhD in Shakespeare during the pandemic, and the difficult period in 2023 when he came close to walking away from writing altogether. Along the way, we explore the realities of creative life: internal rejection versus external rejection, the pressure of tying your identity to your work, the importance of reading widely, and how unexpected moments can reignite a creative career.

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What does it take to survive 25 years on the front line of British policing and come out the other side as a Sunday Times bestselling author? In this episode of The Conversation, Nadine Matheson sits down with John Sutherland, former Metropolitan Police Commander, hostage negotiator, mental health advocate, and author of the acclaimed crime fiction trilogy featuring detectives Alex Lewis and Pip Williams.

John opens up about the nervous breakdown that ended his policing career and became the catalyst for his writing, the staggering frequency of trauma that police officers face compared to the general public, and why "it's people, stupid" is the most important lesson leadership ever taught him.They also get into the making of his latest novel The Castle , a life-or-death chase thriller set in the Scottish Highlands 

Join Nadine and John as they explore the intersection of crime, storytelling, and the human experience, reminding us that we are all more than the worst thing we've done.

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Nadine is joined by three brilliant Black British crime writers for a special live edition of The Conversation. Together they explore the dark, thrilling, and deeply human world of crime fiction and what it means to be writing it right now.

Guests:

• Remi Kone: TV producer (Killing Eve, Spooks) and author of the DI Leah Hutch series. Her second book, Just Kill, is out now.
• Mel Pennant: Solicitor and author of the Miss Hortense Mysteries. Her second book, Miss Hortense and the Last Rites, is out 2nd July.
• Scarlett Brade: Author of The Hive and the upcoming destination thriller The Carnival, set in Jamaica. Out 16th July.

In this episode:

• Why crime fiction? All four writers on what drew them to the genre and why it's ultimately hopeful
• How characters take on a life of their own (and refuse to do what you planned)
• Writing Black women front and centre not as victims or side characters, but as leads
• Caribbean culture, patois, and Nine Nights: writing authentically without explanation
• The subgenres of crime: procedural, cozy, psychological, destination thriller and whether we're seeing a new wave
• The darkest things they've Googled for research (white paint, organ scales, and throat-cutting trajectories)
• What their writing and publishing journeys have taught them about themselves

Books mentioned:

• Just Kill - Remi Kone (out now)
• Miss Hortense and the Last Rites - Mel Pennant (2nd July)
• The Carnival - Scarlett Brade (16th July)
• The Jigsaw Man, The Binding Room - Nadine Matheson

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Watch The Conversation Live: Crime Writers Special Tuesday 16 June 2026 at 7pm: YouTube | Facebook | Instagram Live

This week on The Conversation, Nadine Matheson is joined by the talented Elle McNicoll, bestselling author of the new novel Unapologetic Love Story. Elle shares the inspiration behind her book, which explores the life of a neurodivergent podcaster and her relationship with a surly journalist, all wrapped in a contemporary romance that defies expectations.

In this engaging episode, Elle discusses the challenges of being an autistic author in a public industry, the importance of protecting one’s energy, and the ever-present specter of imposter syndrome. Nadine and Elle dive deep into the realities of writing, the pressure of public perception, and the joy of storytelling without the burden of educational expectations.

Listeners will gain insight into the importance of community among writers, the nuances of navigating the publishing world, and the balance between creativity and the demands of the industry. This conversation is a heartfelt reminder of the power of love, friendship, and the stories we tell.

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