Have you ever found yourself at the crossroads of passion and profession, wondering if the risk of following your dream is worth taking the leap? Today I'm in conversation with  Ola Tundun, a writer who turned the page from private musings to public acclaim, to bring you an episode that shines a light on the raw, often untold stories of making it in the publishing world. From the emotional rollercoaster of securing a book deal to the courage required to surmount rejection and criticism, Ola's journey is a testament to every writer's battle with self-doubt and the pursuit of authenticity.

Ola Tundun's debut novel, Roommates, described as a sparkling  romantic comedy was released in 2023. Her second novel, Complicated, is out now:

Complicated
Ariella doesn’t want drama. Well, that’s too bad.

All she wants is to stay wrapped up in her grapefruit-scented love bubble with reformed playboy Caleb. But then her new boss turns up, the high-flying, high-maintenance Melissa, who has a mysterious history with Caleb.

Suddenly Ariella finds herself working miles from home, fighting with Caleb, and wondering where it all went wrong?

And just as they’re about to sort it out, real trouble comes knocking…

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Ever wondered what it's like to wander the labyrinth of the publishing world, with all its highs and lows? That's exactly where I, Nadine Matheson, alongside my guest, Sunday Times Bestselling author, Jo Callaghan take you in our conversation about the exhilarating rollercoaster of an author's life.  Jo and I talk about her crime fiction debut, 'In the Blink of An Eye',  the sequel Leave No Trace , the influence of AI in publishing and the human attributes it can never replicate.

We also critique the illusion of overnight success and confront the emotional toll of the creative process, while celebrating the unique satisfaction derived from breathing life into our stories. Plus, we tackle the guessing game of publishing, providing insights into the vested emotional and creative stakes that authors navigate.

Leave No Trace
DCS Kat Frank and AIDE Lock return in the provocative new thriller from the Sunday Times bestselling author of In the Blink of an Eye.

One detective driven by instinct, the other by logic.
It will take both to find a killer who knows the true meaning of fear . . .
 
When the body of a man is found crucified at the top of Mount Judd, AIDE Lock – the world’s first AI Detective – and DCS Kat Frank are thrust into the spotlight as they are given their first live case.
 
But with the discovery of another man’s body – also crucified – it appears that their killer is only just getting started. With the police warning local men to be vigilant, the Future Policing Unit is thrust into a hostile media frenzy as they desperately search for connections between the victims. But time is running out for them to join the dots and prevent another death.
 
For if Kat and Lock know anything, it’s that killers rarely stop – until they are made to.

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In 2017 Caz Frear won the Richard and Judy 'Search for a Bestseller' competition.  Her debut novel, Sweet  Little Lies was followed by Stone Cold Heart. Embarking on the creation of a second novel often feels like navigating through a darker, more complex sequel to the joyous tale of writing a debut.  Caz Frear and I  peel back the curtain on the pressures and pleasures that accompany of being a writer. Listen as we dissect the emotional rollercoaster Caz's breakthrough experiences post-writing competition triumph, all while battling the ever-present imposter syndrome, the shifting landscapes of the literary world and her new novel, Five Bad Deeds.

Five Bad Deeds
Teacher, mother, wife, and all-around good citizen Ellen is juggling non-stop commitments, from raising a teen and two toddlers to job-hunting, to finally renovating her dream home, the Meadowhouse. Amidst the chaos, an ominous note arrives in the mail declaring:

SOONER OR LATER EVERYONE SITS DOWN TO A BANQUET OF CONSEQUENCES.

Why would someone send her this note? Ellen has no clue. She's no angel - a white lie here and there, an occasional sharp tongue - but nothing to incur the wrath of an anonymous enemy.
Everyone around Ellen - her husband, her teenage daughter, her sister, her best friend, her neighbours - can guess why, though.  They all know from bitter experience that while Ellen’s intentions are always good, this ultimately counts for very little when you’ve (unintentionally?) blown up someone’s life.  Could the five bad deeds that come to haunt Ellen explain why things have gone so horribly wrong?

As she races to discover who’s set on destroying her life, Ellen receives more anonymous messages, each one more threatening than the last . . . and each hitting closer and closer to home and everything she cherishes.

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Navigating the labyrinth of the publishing world can be daunting, but with the insights shared in this episode from author and commercial fiction publishing director, Phoebe Morgan,  aspiring writers and book enthusiasts alike will find a guiding star. Phoebe and I unravel the nuances of writer-editor dynamics, discussing everything from handling rejection to the realities  of book deals and fifth novel, The Trip. We don't hold back as we lay bare the strategic underpinnings of the publishing calendar, the emotional rollercoaster of writing schedules, and the balancing act of managing talented authors.

We talk candidly about the importance of diversity and transparency in publishing, and the profound satisfaction that comes from career milestones. Whether you're penning your first draft or simply love getting lost in a good book, this conversation will inspire, inform, and connect you to the world of words in ways you never imagined.

The Trip
The perfect holiday. The perfect crime.

Four friends on the holiday of a lifetime. Until a vicious murder shatters their paradise.

Four friends who'd do anything for each other, until now.

Only one of them committed a crime.

But all four know how to keep a secret.

And they're all guilty of something…

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"Enjoying 'The Conversation'? Support the podcast by buying me a cup of coffee ☕️! Every contribution helps keep the show going.
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You can purchase books by the authors featured in our conversations through my affiliate shop on Bookshop.org. By using this link, you’ll be supporting independent bookstores, and I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

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Ever wrestled with the decision to switch lanes mid-career, or felt the tug of a creative calling that defies expectations? Chioma Okereke is a poet and author who transitioned from the structured world of law to the fluid realm of literature. We take you through the peaks and valleys of releasing a novel, and the realities of authorship in our digital age—yes, including that tricky dance of social media for writers. Chioma and I talk about the  resilience needed to navigate the unpredictable tides of the publishing world, her new novel, Water Baby, which is a coming-of-age story set in the real settlement of Makoko in  Lagos. Nigeria and her charity Makoko Pearls.

Water Baby
She's the Pearl of Makoko and the world is her oyster.

In Makoko, the floating slum off mainland Lagos, Nigeria, nineteen-year-old Baby yearns for an existence where she can escape the future her father has planned for her.

With opportunities scarce, Baby jumps at the chance to join a newly launched drone-mapping project, aimed at broadening the visibility of her community.

Then a video of her at work goes viral and Baby finds herself with options she could never have imagined - including the possibility of leaving her birthplace to represent Makoko on the world stage.

But will life beyond the lagoon be everything she's dreamed of? Or has everything she wants been in front of her all along?

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"Enjoying 'The Conversation'? Support the podcast by buying me a cup of coffee ☕️! Every contribution helps keep the show going.
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You can purchase books by the authors featured in our conversations through my affiliate shop on Bookshop.org. By using this link, you’ll be supporting independent bookstores, and I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

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In today's conversation, Sunday Times and New York Times Bestselling author S J Watson and I navigate the uncertain waters of a writer's psyche, we swim through the currents of success and the hold it has on our sense of self.  It's a raw look at the myths of writing and publishing, and the significance of authenticity in a world that often prioritizes market appeal over original voice. 

S J Watson's debut novel, Before I go to Sleep was a global phenomon that has sold over 6,000,000 copies and was adapted into a major film staring Nicole Kidman, Colin Firth and Mark Strong.  Our  conversation includes how S.J. Watson navigated the rollercoaster of success with a practical guide to navigating the ever-changing landscape of the publishing industry and the balance between creativity and commercialism. We also ponder the advice we might offer to our younger selves, embracing the joys and challenges that define the creative spirit

Before I Go To Sleep
Memories define us.

So what if you lost yours every time you went to sleep?

Your name, your identity, your past, even the people you love - all forgotten overnight.

And the one person you trust may only be telling you half the story.

Welcome to Christine's life.

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For Sunday Times Bestselling author, Erin Kelly, every book launch feels like stepping into the spotlight for the first time, each page a new opportunity to captivate an audience or fall flat. This episode is an expedition through the complexities of authorship, examining the delicate equilibrium between the creative spirit and the unforgiving marketplace.  Together, Erin Kelly and I uncover the ambitious path of securing book deals, confront the stark realities of writers' earnings, and celebrate the tradition of mentorship that binds the community of storytellers. Erin Kelly's debut, The Poison Tree was an instant Sunday Times Bestseller, became a major ITV drama and was a Richard & Judy Summer Read in 2013. Her tenth novel, The House of Mirrors, the sequel to 'The Poison Tree' is available now.

The House of Mirrors
One of them has killed before.
One of them will kill again.

In the sweltering summer of 1997, straight-laced, straight-A student Karen met Biba - a bohemian and impossibly glamorous aspiring actress. A few months later, two people were dead and another had been sent to prison.

Having stood by Rex as he served his sentence, Karen is now married to him with a daughter, Alice, who runs a vintage clothing company in London. They're a normal family, as long as they don't talk about the past, never mention the name Biba, and ignore Alice's flashes of dark, dangerous fury.

Karen has kept what really happened that summer of '97 hidden deep inside her. Alice is keeping secrets of her own. But when anonymous notes begin to arrive at Alice's shop, it seems the past is about to catch up with them all ...

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You can purchase books by the authors featured in our conversations through my affiliate shop on Bookshop.org. By using this link, you’ll be supporting independent bookstores, and I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

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Sunday Time Bestselling author  Harriet Tyce joins me as we share our journeys from the legal world to the literary landscape, revealing the resilience required to embrace the vulnerabilities of writerhood. Whether it's transitioning from barrister to full-time parent, or confronting the fear of unveiling our innermost thoughts to readers, we dissect the emotional and professional pivot points that led us to where we are today. Her debut novel, Blood Orange was a Sunday Times bestseller and long listed for the Theakstons Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the Year 2020.  Our discussion meanders through the cathartic process of writing that balances our sustained passions with life's unpredictable rhythm and Harriet's new novel, "A Lesson In Cruelty."

A Lesson in Cruelty

They say you can't always get what you want. But you can take it.

Anna wants a fresh start. She doesn't believe she deserves it, but after three years behind bars she has finally paid her dues. Most of them, anyway.

Lucy craves the attention of the only man she can't have, her alluring Oxford professor. He's married - not for the first time. Maybe she should be next in line?

Marie the recluse has been locked up for too long. She's not ready to be free, but some rules are meant to be broken.

Everyone wants a perfect life. But not everyone is prepared to take it.

Unless someone decides to teach them a lesson.

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"Enjoying 'The Conversation'? Support the podcast by buying me a cup of coffee ☕️! Every contribution helps keep the show going.
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You can purchase books by the authors featured in our conversations through my affiliate shop on Bookshop.org. By using this link, you’ll be supporting independent bookstores, and I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

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 Our latest episode with Sunday Times bestselling author, C.L. Taylor, uncovers the raw emotions and steadfast determination behind her shift from romantic comedy to gripping crime fiction. C.L. Taylor opens up about the tumultuous voyage from being dropped by an editor to reviving her career with a surge in ebook sales, providing an authentic roadmap for writers navigating the unpredictable tides of the publishing world.

Her latest novel, "Every Move You Make," draws from her own daunting experiences with stalking, teaching us about the weight of turning personal history into public narrative. The episode doesn't just recount an author's tale—it offers a mirror for self-reflection and underlines the resilience necessary to forge a triumphant path in the ever-evolving narrative of the publishing landscape. Join us for this intimate exploration into the heart of a writer's craft and the courage to share one's truest stories with the world.

Every Move You Make
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer…

Alexandra, Lucy, Bridget, River and Natalie. Five friends who wish they’d never met. Because the one thing they have in common is the worst thing in their lives: they are all being stalked.

When one of their group is murdered, days after their stalker is released from prison, time stands still for them all. They know their lives could end just as brutally at any moment – all it takes is for the people they fear the most to catch up with them.

When the group receive a threat that one of them will die in ten days’ time, the terror that stalks their daily lives becomes all-consuming. But they know they don’t want to be victims anymore – it’s time to turn the tables and finally get their revenge.

Because the only way to stop a stalker is to become one yourself…

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In the intricate dance between public fascination with crime and the harsher truths of the streets, Neil  Lancaster and Nadine Matheson  ponder the poignant narratives that informed  his career in law enforcement—the young lives ensnared in cycles of violence, the societal underpinnings of crime, and the quest for redemption. Neil's forthcoming book, "The Devil You Know, promises a tale that not only grips the reader but highlights the consequential nature of missing persons cases. We dissect the unpredictable alchemy of writing success—where a blend of fortuitous timing and heartfelt reader relationships can coalesce into accolades like a McElvaney Prize long-listing or the coveted title of Waterstones Scottish Book of the Month.  This conversation is an immersion into the profound journeys that shape us and the impact of embracing the unexpected chapters of our lives.

The Devil You Know

A CASE GONE COLD

Six years ago, Beata Dabrowski arranged to meet her lover in Glasgow and was never seen again. There were no leads. . . until now.

AN UNRELIABLE WITNESS 

Imprisoned gang boss Davie Hardie wants to talk in exchange for his freedom. He knows exactly where Beata is buried, and he’s prepared to take the police to her grave.

A KILLER DESPERATE TO ESCAPE

But when the mission to locate Beata’s body is hijacked, DS Max Craigie is drafted on to the case. Someone is selling secrets.

Max will stop at nothing to expose police corruption and uncover Beata’s murderer. . . but can you ever really trust a killer to catch a killer?

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