This Book Could Change Your Life

Douglas Stuart joins host James Clarke to discuss his debut novel, Shuggie Bain, which was recently longlisted for the Booker Prize 2020.

Douglas Stuart is a Scottish - American author. His debut novel, Shuggie Bain, is published by Grove Atlantic in the US and Picador in the UK. It is to be translated into eleven languages.

He wrote Shuggie Bain over a ten year period and is currently at work on his second novel, Loch Awe.

His short story, Found Wanting, was published in The New Yorker magazine. His essay, Poverty, Anxiety, and Gender in Scottish Working-Class Literature was published by Lit Hub.

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, he has an MA from the Royal College of Art in London and since 2000 he has lived and worked in New York City.

Read James’ review of Shuggie Bain in full at whatjamesread.com

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Riley Sager joins host James Clarke to discuss his fourth novel, the instant New York Times Bestseller, Home Before Dark. Riley’s first novel, Final Girls, was a national and international bestseller that has been published in more than two dozen countries and won the ITW Thriller Award for Best Hardcover Novel. Sager’s novels The Last Time I Lied and Lock Every Door were New York Times bestsellers.

Riley talks about one of the inspiration for his latest psychological thriller, The Amityville Horror; the book-within-a-book structure, and why he enjoys writing flashbacks; his love of horror movie, and their strong female protagonists, and how they influenced the creation of Maggie Holt, the female protagonist of Home Before Dark.

Read James’ review of Home Before Dark in full at whatjamesread.com

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Author John Fram joins host James Clarke to discuss his debut novel The Bright Lands, a rural queer thriller set in Texas, described as "Friday Night Lights meets Twin Peaks,” and published by Hanover Square Press on July 7.

John explains the importance of the queerness at the center of his story; his experiences growing up in Texas, and its role in his novel; he also explains why he embraced the moniker, “Stephen Queen,” after many comparisons with master horror writer, Stephen King.

Read James’ review of The Bright Lands in full at whatjamesread.com

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