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Books / 17.10.2023

Beth O'Leary joins us for this episode of Love Your Library to talk about her new novel, The Wake-Up Call. Hear about what inspires her - including her love of Hampshire! With her popular debut book The Flatshare hitting TV screens in 2022, we were delighted to chat to Beth. Then, Hattie and Kate chat to library team assistant, Anne-Marie. They share their recommended reads, three very different novels all set during wartime. Plus, Anne-Marie tells us about everything coming up at Bordon Library. Make sure you check their events...

Books / 24.08.2023

In this edition of the Love Your Library podcast, we speak to much loved romance writer, Fiona Walker. With an impressive career spanning several decades and including over 20 books, we were thrilled to get a chance to catch up with her about her latest countryside romp - Country Secrets. Reserve a copy online via the Hampshire Libraries catalogue. This episode also includes a conversation with Area Manager Liz Weighell, who speaks to us about her passion for children's literacy. And in the spirit of inspiring children to read, don't...

Books / 08.08.2023

The Summer Reading Challenge has kicked off! To celebrate, this month's episode of Love Your Library is all about children's books. First, Kate talks to author and illustrator Kev Payne about how he got into writing and why libraries are magical places. Then, Kate and Anna speak to Rebecca, who works at Winchester and Alresford libraries. They talk about their favourite children's books and Rebecca tells us why libraries are so important for parents and families. If you have a child who wants to sign up to the Summer...

Books, Library / 04.07.2023

The Love Your Library podcast was joined by Faith Hogan for this episode. Faith Hogan is the bestselling author of uplifting fiction titles like The Ladies' Midnight Swimming Club, The Girl I Used to Know, and My Husband's Wives. Hattie chatted to Faith about her latest book, The Guest House by the Sea. Set in the fictional Irish coastal village of Ballycove, the book tells a story about how the places people escape to can provide the ideal setting for self-reflection and transformation. Faith also speaks about her...

Books, Library / 26.06.2023

On this Pride Month edition of Love Your Library, we’re joined by Sam Kenyon who talks to us about his debut novel, I Am Not Raymond Wallace. Hear about the stories, articles and experiences that inspired Sam, as well as about what else he’s got in the pipeline at the moment. Plus, top up your pile as we hear from Ren, one of our library team assistants, and Cordelia, an avid library user, about their top LGBTQ+ picks. Find the books mentioned in this episode: The Gay Metropolis – Charles...

Books / 26.05.2023

Annabelle Thorpe joins us on this episode of the Love Your Library podcast to chat about her latest book, The Enemy of Love. She also tells us about her time as a travel writer, and how she creates strong female characters. If you enjoyed this episode, why not give our interviews with Rachel Hore or Mandy Robotham. Plus, catch up on our previous episode with Fostering Hampshire Children....

Books, Reading / 06.04.2023

Shannon Chakraborty is our guest for this episode of the Love Your Library podcast. Chatting to us about all things fantasy, we get to learn all about her latest book and the kick-off novel to her new series, The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi. Following the journey of a scandalous pirate traversing the high seas for one last job that'll go down in history, the book is described as Ocean's Eleven meets Sinbad the Sailor, which will undoubtedly delight fans of Chakraborty's richly descriptive and imaginative work. We also catch...

Books / 14.03.2023

International bestseller Chloe Gong joins us on this episode of the Love Your Library podcast to talk about her latest release, Last Violent Call. Containing two captivating novellas that expand upon her Secret Shanghai series, Last Violent Call allows the stories from the world of These Violent Delights and Foul Lady Fortune to continue. Hattie speaks to Chloe about the emotional weight of finishing off a series, her upcoming projects (including the highly anticipated Immortal Longings, which is out in July 2023), and what it's like being a young...

Books / 21.12.2022

On this special episode of Love Your Library, we’re joined by prize winning author and illustrators Jake Alexander and Harry Woodgate to hear about their experiences writing and illustrating children’s picture books. First, we speak to Jake the winner of the Macmillan Prize for Illustration in 2019, for his work Can I Read My Books, Please. This project has now developed into the published children’s book We want our books. A defiant, moving, and joyful picture book about the power of protest and the importance of books. Rosa beings...

Books / 25.11.2022

Olivie Blake, author of The Atlas Six, joins us on this month’s episode of the Love Your Library podcast. She tells us all the newest instalment in her popular Atlas Six series, The Atlas Paradox, how she comes up with her ideas, and how she ended up on this path. We also chat with Emma from Gosport Discovery Centre about a few recommended reads. You can find those, and a few other books on our extraordinarily tall to-read piles below: Terry Pratchett: a life with footnotes – Rob Wilkins ...

Books, Library, Reading / 07.10.2022

On this mini episode of Love Your Library, we’re joined by author Rachel Hore to hear about her most recent novel, One Moonlit Night. With her husband, Philip, missing in action, Maddie and her daughters are forced to flee wartime London. Seeking refuge in Philip's childhood home, Maddie soon learns that her husband has been keeping a deep secret. Hear about Rachel’s journey from Hong Kong to Norfolk and from publishing to writing, and how those journeys helped her write her twelfth novel. If you enjoyed this episode, you might like...

Books / 28.09.2022

In this edition of the Love Your Library podcast, Kate speaks to writer and neuroscientist Ali Hazelwood about her works of romantic fiction set among the backdrop of laboratories and research stations. These STEMinist rom-coms, including her latest, Love on the Brain, have earned her the firm position as a bestselling author in today's literary landscape. We also chat with Lily, who works across a range of Hampshire Libraries, about her recommended read - from September's author of the month, Margaret Atwood. The Heart Goes Last is Atwood's 2015...

Books, Library, Reading / 19.08.2022

This edition of the Love Your Library podcast sees us chat to the prolific British writer, Mike Gayle. Mike recently became the first ever male recipient of the outstanding achievement award at the 2021 Romantic Novel Awards for his contribution to the literary genre. We spoke to him about his latest book, The Museum of Ordinary People, and why his writing in this space is so powerful. The Museum of Ordinary People is a book about human lives, physical memory and the seemingly valueless objects that people just can’t...

Books, Library, Reading / 14.07.2022

Jack Jordan is the author joining us on this edition of the Love Your Library podcast, here to talk about his latest book Do No Harm. Do No Harm is a high-concept thriller that explores the chilling premise of what might happen if a skilled surgeon and mother was given the ultimatum to commit murder on the operating table in order to save her son. Lauded by critics and writers alike, including previous Love Your Library guest Louise Candlish, Do No Harm is guaranteed to get your pulse...

Books, Library, Reading / 30.05.2022

This episode of the Love Your Library podcast features an interview with debut novelist from across the pond, Soon Wiley, about his new release, When We Fell Apart. A compelling story of a tragic death and the harrowing steps that led up to it, When We Fell Apart is set to be flying off bookshelves globally this summer. We spoke to Soon about the rewards and challenges of the writing process, what inspired him to create this story and why libraries are so special. We were also joined by...

Books, Library, Reading / 18.03.2022

Claire Frost, author of Married at First Swipe and Living My Best Life, joins us in this mini episode of the Love Your Library podcast to talk about her latest novel The One. The story follows Lottie Brown who has finally found The One. But when Leo tragically dies just three months into their relationship, Lottie is left floundering. We talk to Claire about loss, love, and whether there really is just one person out there for each of us.   If you enjoyed this episode, you’ll love our interview with...

Books, Children's, Library, Reading / 17.02.2022

In this special Kids' Corner episode of the Love Your Library podcast, 15-year-old Ava joins our team of hosts to interview Hannah Gold, whose book, The Last Bear, was recently shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2022 and the Blue Peter Award. The moving story of April’s journey to save Bear shows that nobody is too young or insignificant to make a difference. We’re also joined by Liz, an Area Manager here at Hampshire Libraries and a children’s book specialist. She makes some brilliant recommendations for our younger...

Books, Library, Reading / 24.01.2022

Jennifer Saint, author of Ariadne, joins us in this episode of the Love Your Library podcast. Her debut novel breathes new life into the myth that many of us know as “Theseus and the Minotaur”, retelling the story through the eyes of Ariadne and Phaedra, the two princesses of Crete. Jennifer speaks with us about the inspiration behind her novels and why it’s so important that we revisit our classical myths with a new lens. We were also joined by Chris from the central libraries team to talk about...

Books, Library, Reading / 28.12.2021

For this mini episode of the Love Your Library podcast, we were joined by author Jacqueline Roy, who spoke to us about her latest book, The Gosling Girl. Set to be released in January 2022, The Gosling Girl follows the aftermath of Michelle Cameron's release from imprisonment, years after the horrifying crime she committed as a child has taken place. Exploring themes of memory, trauma, powerlessness and identity, Jacqueline describes the book as a 'whydunnit' as opposed to a 'whodunnit', as she unpeels the relationship (and fine line) between victim and perpetrator. Hattie...

Books, Library, Reading / 29.10.2021

In this episode of the Love Your Library podcast, we're joined by Dave Goulson - professor of biology at the University of Sussex. Specialising in insect ecology and conservation, his new book Silent Earth: Averting the Insect Apocalypse draws on the latest research to offer an accessible and motivating look into the decline in insect populations. We spoke with him about the wonderfully strange insect world and what we can do to support our insect populations. Head over to our library catalogue to borrow a copy of Silent Earth. If you enjoyed this episode,...

Books, Library, Reading / 26.10.2021

We were delighted to be joined by British writer Charles Cumming in this edition of the Love Your Library podcast. his latest book, Judas 62, is the second book in Charles' gripping Box 88 series and tells the story of Lachlan Kite in two interlinked time periods: Russia in the 1990s and Dubai in the present day. Kite needs to navigate the dangerous territory of the FSB, Russia's modern-day security service and successor of the KGB, with the focus on a list of Russia's enemies who have been...

Books, Library, Reading / 29.09.2021

In this edition of the Love Your Library podcast, we met with Femi Fadugba - an author whose talents seem limitless. With a background in quantum physics, Femi's debut novel The Upper World is as scientifically impressive as it is gripping, telling a tale of love, violence and time travel - set against the unsuspecting backdrop of Peckham. It's also set to be made into a feature-length film by Netflix, featuring Get Out star and Academy Award winner, Daniel Kaluuya. We spoke to Femi about his background in physics,...

Books, Library, Reading / 16.09.2021

Steve Cavanagh joins us in this episode of the podcast to talk about the latest edition to his million bestselling Eddie Flynn series. The Devil’s Advocate takes con-man-turned-lawyer Eddie Flynn to Alabama where he is the only thing standing between an innocent man and the electric chair. Steve tells us about the real-life inspiration behind his latest novel, his experience as a civil rights attorney, and the supportive world of crime fiction authors. Kate and Isaac are also joined by Michelle from Alton Library to discuss her book recommendation,...

Books, Library, Reading / 20.07.2021

Chocolat author Joanne Harris joins Kate in our virtual studio to talk about her new novel A Narrow Door which comes out on 4 August 2021. It’s the latest in the St Oswald's Boys Grammar School series which started with 2005’s Gentlemen and Players. This darkly comic series is set in the north of England and features the eccentric Latin Master Roy Straitley. If you think you’re familiar with Joanne’s writing already, you may want to think again since her books don’t fit neatly into one genre: she’s...

Books, Library, Reading / 30.06.2021

This episode of the Love Your Library podcast features an interview with debut novelist Eva Verde about her latest release, Lives Like Mine. Lives Like Mine is an honest exploration of the themes of family relationships, motherhood, race and identity as it focuses on the life of Monica, who wonders whether her roles as wife, mother, daughter and woman are all there is. Hattie caught up with Eva to discuss this insightful and entertaining look into what it means for a woman to occupy all of these identities, what it’s...

Books, Library, Reading / 08.06.2021

Our guest on this episode is queen of historical fiction Philippa Gregory, who is talking about her latest novel Dark Tides, which takes the reader between London, New England and Venice in the 17th Century. This is the sequel to her bestseller Tidelands, which introduced Alinor and her family. In her conversation with Kate, Philippa talks about characters which take writers by surprise, how she goes about the research for her novels, and why no woman should want to have been born before 1960. Philippa is the author of...

Books, Reading / 25.05.2021

In this mini episode, BBC technology guru, Rory Cellan-Jones talks to Kate Price McCarthy about his new book Always On: Hope and Fear in the Social Smartphone Era, which captures his experiences and reflections on the relentless ascent of technology over the last 15 years. Rory has met and interviewed visionaries like Mark Zuckerberg, Stephen Hawking, Elon Musk, Bill Gates and Tim Berners-Lee. And he was in the room where it happened when Steve Jobs revealed the first iPhone, famously announcing ‘We’re going to make some history’. In this conversation,...

Books, Library, Reading / 07.05.2021

Thriller writer and million copy bestseller T.M. Logan was our guest for this edition of the podcast. He joined Lisa Barfoot in our virtual studio to talk about his new book Trust Me. Lisa runs Hampshire Libraries’ online book club which recently had T.M. Logan as its guest speaker. T.M. Logan says he writes the kind of books he loves to read: tense psychological thrillers where bad things happen to regular people. All his books have been bestsellers but he’s probably best known for The Catch, about a...

Books, Library, Reading / 26.04.2021

This mini episode features an interview with Emma Kennedy: comedian, TV presenter, actor, scriptwriter, author and Twitter star. Emma’s latest novel, The Never-Ending Summer is set in the summer of 1971 when best friends Agnes and Bea decide on one last adventure before their adult lives begin. And while Agnes heads off to London, her mother Florence, sets off on her own voyage of self-discovery into Europe. Emma talks to Kate about how her own teenage life provided the inspiration for the book and about the impact of...

Books, Library, Reading / 18.03.2021

If you’ve been riveted by tv shows like Mindhunter and Criminal Minds which focus on the work of FBI profilers, you’ll be gripped by Helen Fields’ new book The Shadow Man. Set in Edinburgh, the book follows the work of outsiders Dr Connie Woolwine, a profiler from the FBI, and the very English DI Brodie Baarda, a kidnapping specialist, who team up to solve the disappearance of a young mother from the city. In this interview, Helen talks about the real life FBI profiler who provided insight for this...

Books / 11.03.2021

Six times Sunday Times bestselling author CL Taylor joins Kate in our virtual studio to talk about her new thriller Her Last Holiday. She’s probably best known as the author of Sleep – one of Richard and Judy’s picks from 2019 – and Strangers which came out last year. She has also written two Young Adult thrillers, The Treatment and, more recently, The Island which came out in January this year. Her latest book which comes out next month (April 2021) delves into the world of self-help gurus and wellness...

Books, Library, Reading / 18.02.2021

This episode of the Love Your Library podcast features an interview with Mandy Robotham, author of The German Midwife and The Secret Messenger. Hattie spoke to Mandy about her latest release - another brilliant historical novel, this time set in the heart of a Berlin on the brink of war. Mandy's no stranger to an exciting and varied career - having worked as both a journalist and a midwife before settling (for now!) on a career in writing. The Berlin Girl follows Georgie, a foreign correspondent reporting on the...

Books, Library, Reading / 11.01.2021

Will Dean is our guest author for this mini episode of the Love Your Library podcast, talking about his brand new book The Last Thing to Burn. You may already know Will from his brilliant series about Swedish journalist Tuva, which began with the much acclaimed novel Dark Pines and was followed by Red Snow and Black River. Will is a romantic ideal of an author, living with his family in a cabin in the middle of a Swedish elk forest, as isolated as one of the characters...

Books, Library, Reading / 10.11.2020

Another bestseller joined us in our virtual studio this month when Elly Griffiths came in to talk to us about The Postscript Murders, the ‘sort-of sequel’ to Times Crime Book of the Year, The Stranger Diaries. Elly is best known for her two crime series, one featuring forensic archaeologist Dr Ruth Galloway, the other set in post-war Brighton. Her new book concentrates on Shoreham-based DS Harbinder Kaur and an unlikely group of friends who set out to help her – or hinder her – as she sets about...

Books / 19.10.2020

October’s edition of the Love Your Library podcast features an interview with one of the UK’s best-loved and most successful authors: Anthony Horowitz. The adaptation of his hugely successful teenage Alex Rider spy series is currently in production for a second blockbuster TV series. Anthony is also a highly acclaimed writer for adults with two Sherlock Holmes novels (The House of Silk and Moriarty) as well as Trigger Mortis, a new James Bond novel. In this Anthony Horowitz interview, he visited our virtual studio to discuss his new...

Books, Library, Reading / 14.09.2020

In the latest episode of the Love Your Library podcast, we chatted to bestselling author Heather Morris about what it takes to craft a story of hope. The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Heather Morris’ first book, has already become one of the best selling books of this century. She’s since written the follow-up title Cilka’s Journey and now Stories of Hope, which tells the ‘story behind the story’ of how Lale and Gita’s love story was, at last, shared with the world. In this interview, Heather talks about Lale’s extraordinary...

Books, Library, Reading / 14.08.2020

We were thrilled to welcome million-copy-bestseller Lisa Jewell to the Love Your Library podcast virtual studios for this episode. Who wasn’t gripped by her previous psychological thriller – The Family Upstairs – which was number one in the charts in last summer? For her brand new novel, Invisible Girl, the setting is north London, where Lisa delivers an engrossing, twisty story of how we look in the wrong places for bad people. It’s rightly been described as a masterclass in character, and on how to write with pace...

Books, Library, Reading / 22.07.2020

This month’s mini podcast features an interview with another Hampshire writer who’s had remarkable success with her debut novel The Unexpected Return of Josephine Fox.   Claire Gradidge picked up the winner’s prize for the Richard and Judy search for a bestseller in 2019 with this World War Two crime novel set in Romsey, the town in which she was born and brought up. During the interview, Claire talks about some of the important themes of her book; about her need to give its victim a voice and an identity; and...

Books / 17.06.2020

In this month’s mini podcast episode Mary interviews talented local writer Judith Heneghan about her debut novel Snegurochka. Judith grew up in Hampshire, studied at the University of York, worked as a commissioning editor and later spent time in Kiev, Moscow and Islamabad before settling in Winchester. She has a doctorate in Creative Arts, has written extensively for young people and lectures in creative writing. Snegurochka is her first book for adults. Set in Kiev in 1992, the story follows the character of Rachel, a troubled young English mother who joins her...

Books, Children's / 23.04.2020

Listen now to our fourth mini episode of the Love Your Library podcast, this time featuring an interview with Joseph Coelho. Joseph Coelho is a children's playwright and poet who was chosen to host the bedtime reading hour for this year's World Book Night (Thursday 23 April 2020). He works extensively in schools and won the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education Poetry Award in 2015 for his first poetry collection, Werewolf Club Rules! In this mini episode hosted by Mary Stone, Joseph talks to another Mary - our colleague...