Write Club Podcast

In this month’s Bookclub episode, Mary and Beth talk all about The Stolen Child by Carmel Harrington – a gripping, emotional novel that weaves together three timelines across decades of love, loss, and mystery.

From the shocking disappearance of two-year-old Robert on a Mediterranean cruise in 1983, to the lives of two orphan girls in 1970s London, and finally to 2023, where new revelations shake the Murphy family to their core – this story asks haunting questions about family, resilience, and the secrets we carry.

We talk about our reading experience, the characters who captured our hearts (and the ones who broke them), the emotional punches, and the imagery that lingers long after the last page.

As Carmel was our very first guest on Write Club (and our most popular episode to date!), we couldn’t resist revisiting her work. We even play an eerie excerpt from our conversation with her that sets the tone perfectly.

In this episode of the Write Club Podcast, Mary and Beth are joined by the award-winning and million-copy bestselling author Faith Hogan. Faith is a USA Today bestseller, Irish Times Top Ten author, and Amazon UK #1 bestselling writer of eleven uplifting and inspiring contemporary fiction novels.

She talks about her brand-new summer read, The Women At Ocean’s End – a moving story of friendship, secrets, and resilience set against the stunning backdrop of Ireland’s wild Atlantic coast. Faith shares how her character Constance came to life, why Achill Island inspired the setting, and how she balances exploring darker themes with the feel-good storytelling her readers love.

We also dive into Faith’s route to publication, her creative process, and her best advice for aspiring writers. A must-listen episode full of warmth, wisdom, and inspiration.

This week on the Write Club Podcast, hosts Mary and Beth sit down with international bestselling author Laurie Gilmore, the queen of small-town romance and creator of the beloved Dream Harbor series. Laurie’s debut, The Pumpkin Spice Café, won TikTok Shop’s Book of the Year in 2024, and with Book 5: The Gingerbread Bakery publishing this September, her heartwarming world continues to capture readers everywhere.

In this exclusive conversation, Laurie opens up about the inspiration behind her books, her love of blending sweetness and spice in storytelling, and the surprising role that food—and TikTok—have played in her success. She also shares her journey to publication, how she balances writing with the pressures of social media, and what’s next for Dream Harbor.

In this episode of the Write Club Podcast, Beth and Mary are joined by novelist Hazel Barkworth, author of Heatstroke and the newly released The Drownings.

Hazel takes us inside her creative process and talks about the themes at the heart of her latest novel: women’s voices, competitive swimming, and the rivalries that play out both in sport and online. We explore her character Serena’s journey, the pressures of influence and performance, and how Hazel balances meticulous craft with letting a story evolve on the page.

Along the way, Hazel shares the best writing advice she’s ever received, offers her tips for aspiring authors, and gives us a peek at what’s coming next in her writing journey.

In this week’s episode of The Write Club Podcast, we’re thrilled to welcome the brilliant debut novelist Daria Lavelle. Born in Kyiv, raised in New York, and now an acclaimed voice in speculative fiction, Daria brings magic, wit, and emotional depth to everything she writes.

Daria’s debut novel, Aftertaste - a dark comedy about food, ghosts, and the New York culinary scene - landed in May 2025 and has already made waves for its unique blend of sharp humour, sensory storytelling, and moving reflections on grief and memory.

She talks us through her 20-year journey to publication, the inspiration behind her unforgettable protagonist Konstantin, and how taste and food help her unlock creative ideas. We also discuss the challenge of balancing comedy with emotional depth, writing about loss, and her approach to the uncanny.

In this month’s Write Club book club episode, Mary and Beth dive into The Mercy Step, the debut novel from Marcia Hutchinson. Featured in the September issue of Writing Magazine, this beautifully written work of autofiction draws on Hutchinson’s own experiences, following the life of Mercy, a young girl growing up in 1960s Bradford in a household marked by violence, neglect, and silence.

Through vivid imagery, emotional depth, and moments of sharp humour, Hutchinson captures both the resilience and vulnerability of a child navigating a world where safety is never guaranteed. We discuss the book’s central themes of survival, identity, and hope, explore Hutchinson’s writing style, and reflect on the scenes that stayed with us long after reading.

In this week’s episode of The Write Club Podcast, hosts Mary and Beth sit down with bestselling author Emma Cowell - a former actress, BBC presenter, and charity fundraiser turned novelist.

Emma shares the story behind her latest book Under the Lemon Tree, a moving tale rooted in love, grief, and the evocative beauty of Greece. We talk about the power of setting, her sensory writing rituals (yes, she really does choose a signature candle scent for each book!), and how writing has helped her navigate personal loss in a way that resonates with readers.

Under the Lemon Tree is out now.

In this gripping episode of the Write Club Podcast, we’re joined by bestselling crime author and screenwriter MJ Arlidge.

Matt has spent over two decades working in television, producing major crime dramas like Silent Witness and Innocent. But he’s also a household name in the world of fiction, with his DI Helen Grace thriller series selling over 1.5 million copies in the UK alone and translated into 20+ languages.

We chat to him about his latest novel Into the Fire, what draws him to crime writing, how he balances character and plot, and the difference between writing for TV and books. He also shares advice for aspiring thriller writers and tells us what he’s working on next.

In this week’s episode of The Write Club Podcast, we’re joined by the brilliant and award-winning author Linda Newbery. With a career spanning decades, Linda has written widely for all ages - from picture books like Posy and Lob to middle-grade adventures such as Treasure House, and even adult fiction including Quarter Past Two on a Wednesday Afternoon, which was chosen for the Radio 2 Book Club.

Linda speaks to us about her early days as a “secret writer,” hiding stories in her wardrobe, and how she eventually transitioned into full-time writing after working as an English teacher. She shares the inspiration behind her latest novel The One True Thing and explains what led her to co-found Writers Review Publishing - an independent, author-led collaborative born out of frustration with the traditional publishing world.

We also discuss the importance of female friendship and solidarity in the writing world, a topic she explores in her recent article for Writing Magazine. Linda talks to us about her creative process, her love for strong writing communities, and the best piece of advice she’s ever received as an author.

In this episode of the Write Club Podcast, Beth and Mary are joined by British historical fiction author Debbie Wastling. Originally from Yorkshire and now based in Los Angeles, Debbie brings a rich background in theatre, music, and grant writing to her fiction - creating stories that are as heartfelt as they are historically rooted.

Recorded while Debbie was back in England on her East Riding Libraries Author of the Month tour, the episode explores the importance of libraries, her experiences in writing high school plays and published novels, and what inspires her to explore specific historical settings and characters.

She also told us how she balances a busy grant-writing career with her creative work, her writing process (planner or pantser?), and what’s coming next.