Novel Experience

Sunday Times Bestselling, Jennie Godfrey author of the runaway hit debut The List of Suspicious ThingsJennie chats about:How she used her diaries and life experience in the writing of her best selling debutHow the entire plot for The List of Suspicious Things fell into her head during a dog walk Her discovery that it is multiple drafts that build voice and texture in a novelWhat she learned temping as a bookseller in her local WaterstonesJennie’s reading recommendations:Elizabeth Is Missing by Emma HealeyThe Trouble With Goats and Sheep by Joanna CannonThe Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark HaddonThe Secret Diary of Adrian Mole by Sue TownsendSorrow and Bliss by Meg MasonPersuasion by Jane AustenNight Watching by Tracey SierraGuest Author: Jennie Godfrey Twitter: @jennieg_author  Instagram: @jennie.godfrey Book: The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie GodfreyHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family Novel Experience with Kate Sawyer is recorded and produced by Kate Sawyer - GET IN TOUCH or visit https://www.mskatesawyer.com/novelexperiencepodcast for more information.

Booker Prize Longlisted 2024 author, Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow author of All The Little Bird HeartsViktoria chats about:How returning to education as an adult led to the writing of her debut novelWriting an autistic main character using her own experiences of being autistic and how that can differ from neurodiverse characters written by neurotypical authorsHow being Booker Prize longlisted doesn’t mean that you consider yourself a writerViktoria’s reading recommendations:The Line of Beauty by Alan HollinghurstThe Secret History by Donna TarttHello Beautiful by Ann NeopolitanoGuest Author: Viktoria Lloyd Barlow  Book: All The Little Bird Hearts by Viktoria Lloyd-BarlowHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family Novel Experience with Kate Sawyer is recorded and produced by Kate Sawyer - GET IN TOUCH or visit https://www.mskatesawyer.com/novelexperiencepodcast for more information.

Women’s Prize 2024 Longlisted author, Aube Rey Lescure author of River East, River WestAube chats about:How being selective about perspective was one of the most important parts of the process in crafting her novelHow her debut contains and was inspired by autobiographical eventsWriting and developing sex scenes that depict more of what sex can be about than the ‘sexy’How cinema is a huge influence on her writingAube’s reading recommendations:Behold The Dreamers by Imbolo MbueTo Live by Yu Hua2666 by Roberto BolañoTremors by Teju ColeThe Leftover Woman by Jean KwokGuest Author: Aube Rey Lescure  Twitter: @AubeReyLescure IG: @aubenoisetteBooks: River East, River West by Aube Rey LescureHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family Novel Experience with Kate Sawyer is recorded and produced by Kate Sawyer - GET IN TOUCH or visit https://www.mskatesawyer.com/novelexperiencepodcast for more information.

Shubnum Khan, author of The Djinn Waits A Hundred YearsShubnum chats about:How the South African publishing scene differs from other marketsHow long it took for the ideas for her second novel to coalesceWriting about the place where she grew up and lives (Durban)How she undertook writing residencies in both China and the USA to complete this novelShubnum’s reading recommendations:The God of Small Things - Arundhati RoyFlowers in the Attic - Virginia AndrewsRebecca - Daphne Du MaurierMexican Gothic - Silvia Moreno GarciaHouse of Spirits - Isabelle AllendeThe Storm We Made by Vanessa ChanGuest Author: Shubnum Khan Twitter: @ShubnumKhan IG: @ShubnumKhan Books: The Djinn Waits A Hundred Years by Shubnum KhanHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family Novel Experience with Kate Sawyer is recorded and produced by Kate Sawyer - GET IN TOUCH or visit https://www.mskatesawyer.com/novelexperiencepodcast for more information.

Margaret Wilkerson Sexton, award-winning author of Reece’s Book Club pick ON THE ROOFTOPMargaret chats about:Her background as a lawyer, but how she was actually an author before she trained to do that…Being inspired by Fiddler on The RoofThe different techniques she has employed to research her historical fictionWhat it was like for her novel to be selected as a Reece’s Book Club PickMargaret’s reading recommendations:Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm by Laura WarrellSmall Things Like These by Claire KeeganCompany by Shannon SandersGuest Author: Margaret Sexton Wilkerson Twitter: @MWilkers13 IG: @MWilkers13 Books: On The Rooftop by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton, A Kind of Freedom by Margaret Wilkerson SextonHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family Novel Experience with Kate Sawyer is recorded and produced by Kate Sawyer - GET IN TOUCH or visit https://www.mskatesawyer.com/novelexperiencepodcast for more information.

Matt Coyne, the man behind @ManVsBaby and author of Frank & Red.Matt chats about:How it was the first weeks of fatherhood that led him back to the writing he had loved at schoolThe difference in writing his non-fiction books to crafting a novelHow he studied other novels to understand what he was trying to achieveHow he has planted a ‘Marvel’ style Easter Egg at the end of his novel that highlights the connections throughout it.How he has recently taken up stand-up comedy and is currently on tour with his stand-up showMatt's reading recommendations:How To Train Your Dragon by Cressida CowellA Man Called Ove by Fredrik BackmanAbout A Boy by Nick HornbyMillions by Frank Cottrell BoyceFrankenstein by Mary ShelleyThe List of Suspicious Things by Jennie GodfreyGuest Author: Matt Coyne Twitter: @mattcoyney IG: @manversusbaby Books: Frank & Red by Matt CoyneHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family Novel Experience with Kate Sawyer is recorded and produced by Kate Sawyer - GET IN TOUCH or visit https://www.mskatesawyer.com/novelexperiencepodcast for more information.

Author and Journalist, Madeleine Gray, author of GREEN DOT.Madeleine chats about:Writing to celebrate the mistressHer background working as an arts critic and booksellerHer PHD and how it might relate to her debut novelWhat she thinks about the label ‘Sad Girl Novel’Madeleine’s reading recommendations:Luster by Raven LeilaniAsymmetry by Lisa HallidayConversations With Friends by Sally RooneyExciting Times by Naoise DolanThis Happy by Niamh CampbellHow to be Both by Ali SmithDress Rehearsals by Madison GodfreyGuest Author: Madeleine Gray Twitter: @gray_madeleine_ IG: @madeleine_gray_ Books: Green Dot by Madeleine GrayHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family Novel Experience with Kate Sawyer is recorded and produced by Kate Sawyer - GET IN TOUCH or visit https://www.mskatesawyer.com/novelexperiencepodcast for more information.

Lavie Tidhar, author of too many books to mention, but most recently MAROR and ADAMA, which will soon be joined by the third instalment of this thematic trilogy, SIX LIVES. Lavie chats about:Writing in different genres and the difference of publishing in eachDiscovering writing through his travellingWriting about families and sagasWhat makes something a trilogy, even though the stories might not be directly connectedThe balance of writing what you want to write, vs what your publisher would like you to write.How science fiction can give you more freedom to be ‘truthful’ than writing something set in our worldLavie’s reading recommendations:The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCulloughAnything by James ClavellSilver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-GarciaGuest Author: Lavie Tidhar Twitter: @lavietidhar IG:@lavietidhar Books: Adama by Lavie Tidhar, Maror by Lavie Tidhar, The Circumference of the World by Lavie Tidhar, Neom by Lavie Tidhar, The Escapement by Lavie Tidhar, The Hood by Lavie Tidhar, By Force Alone by Lavie Tidhar, Candy by Lavie Tidhar, Central Station by Lavie Tidhar, Unholy Land by Lavie Tidhar, A Man Lies Dreaming by Lavie Tidhar, A Man Lies Dreaming by Lavie Tidhar, The Violent Century by Lavie Tidhar, Osama by Lavie, Art and War by Lavie TidharHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family Novel Experience with Kate Sawyer is recorded and produced by Kate Sawyer - GET IN TOUCH or visit https://www.mskatesawyer.com/novelexperiencepodcast for more information.

Author, journalist and writing course creator, Huma Qureshi author of PLAYING GAMESHuma chats about:The difference between her memoir, her short stories and her debut novel being published.Her background as a journalistHow she manages her writing around her familyWriting about sisters, although she isn’t one herselfHow her popular newsletter for writers Dear Huma was inspiredHuma’s reading recommendations:Writers & Lovers by Lily KingLook How Happy I’m Making You by Polly Rosenwaike The Namesake by Jhumpa LahiriGuest Author: Huma Qureshi Twitter: @huma_qureshi_uk IG: @humaqureshiwriter web:https://www.humaqureshi.co.uk/ Books:Playing Games by Huma Qureshi, Things We Do Not Tell The People We Love by Huma Qureshi, How We Met by Huma Qureshi, In Spite Of Oceans by Huma QureshiHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family Novel Experience with Kate Sawyer is recorded and produced by Kate Sawyer - GET IN TOUCH or visit https://www.mskatesawyer.com/novelexperiencepodcast for more information.

Women’s Prize, RSL Ondaatje Prize, Authors’ Club Best First Novel Award, Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize and Nota Bene Prize shortlisted author Priscilla Morris, author of BLACK BUTTERFLIES.Priscilla chats about:How living in Brazil finally gave her the confidence to writeBeing inspired by her own family historyHow her research involved as much talking and listening as it did readingHer experience of teaching creative writing before and after being a published authorPriscilla’s reading recommendations:The English Patient by Michael OndaatjeThe Siege by Helen DunmoreLove and Obstacles by Aleksandar HemonThe Summer Book by Tove JanssonMy Friends by Hisham MatarGuest Author: Priscilla Morris IG: @priscillamorriswriter Books: Black Butterflies by Priscilla MorrisHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family Novel Experience with Kate Sawyer is recorded and produced by Kate Sawyer - GET IN TOUCH or visit https://www.mskatesawyer.com/novelexperiencepodcast for more information.

Rosie Andrews, bestselling author of THE LEVIATHAN and the forthcoming THE PUZZLE WOODRosie chats about:How her years of teaching experience before she started writing feeds into her novelsHow she keeps genre at the front of her mind when crafting her workWhy she starts writing in the middle of her story and goes back to write the beginning once she has discovered the endingHow she deals with the research and details of writing the history her novels requiresRosie’s reading recommendations:The Essex Serpent by Sarah PerryDark Matter by Michelle PaverWakenhurst by Michelle PaverThin Air by Michelle PaverThe Blind Assassin by Margaret AttwoodLillith by Nikki MarmeryGuest Author: Rosie Andrews Twitter: @RosieAndrews Books: The Leviathan by Rosie Andrews, The Puzzle Wood by Rosie AndrewsHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family Novel Experience with Kate Sawyer is recorded and produced by Kate Sawyer - GET IN TOUCH or visit https://www.mskatesawyer.com/novelexperiencepodcast for more information.

Booker, Wellcome Book and Women’s Prize shortlisted; Future Awards Africa, Prix Les Afriques & 9mobile Prize winning, Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀, author of A SPELL OF GOOD THINGS and STAY WITH ME.Ayọ̀bámi chats about:How she visualises the structure of her novels as she writes them.Why she chose to study a creative writing MA at the University of East Anglia after gaining her BA & MA from Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria.How she used Nigerian novels that she loves in the writing of her Booker Prize shortlisted novelHow her interest in theatre and experience as a playwright informs the prose in her novels.Guest Author: Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ Twitter: @AyobamiAdebayo IG: @ayobamiadebayo Books: A Spell Of Good Things by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ & Stay With Me by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀Ayọ̀bámi’s reading recommendations:Homegoing by Yaa GyasiBel Canto by Ann PatchettRootless by Krystle Zara AppiahBeloved by Toni MorrisonInterpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa LahiriHome Fires by Kamilla ShamsieHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family by Kate Sawyer Novel Experience with Kate Sawyer is recorded and produced by Kate Sawyer - GET IN TOUCH or visit https://www.mskatesawyer.com/novelexperiencepodcast for more information.

Women's Prize and Costa Shortlisted author Jessie Greengrass, author of THE HIGH HOUSE, SIGHT and AN ACCOUNT OF THE DECLINE OF THE GREAT AUK ACCORDING TO THOSE WHO SAW HIMJessie chats about:losing confidence at universityfinding your voice on the page when speaking feels impossiblethe trouble with long titlescharacters remaining namelesswriting out of sequencetackling the climate crisis in her workGuest: Jessie Grrengrass Twitter: @jessiegreengrass Books: The High House by Jessie Greengrass, Sight by Jessie Greengrass & An Account of the Decline of the Great Auk According to One Who Saw It by Jessie GreengrassHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family by Kate Sawyer Jessie’s recommendations:A book for fans of Jessie’s work: All Souls by Javier Marías & The Weather in The Streets by Rosamond LahmannA book Jessie has always loved: Autumn Journal by Louis MacneiceA book coming soon or recently released that Jessie recommends: Limberlost by Robbie Arnott & The Book of The Most Precious Substance by Sara GranOther books that we chatted about in this episode: Assembly by Natasha Brown, The Signature Of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert & The Whalebone Theatre by Joanna QuinnNovel Experience with Kate Sawyer is recorded and produced by Kate Sawyer - GET IN TOUCHTo receive transcripts and news from Kate to your inbox please SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER or visit https://www.mskatesawyer.com/novelexperiencepodcast for more information.

Marianne Levy, arts journalist, children’s author and author of DON’T FORGET TO SCREAM: UNSPOKEN TRUTHS ABOUT MOTHERHOOD.Marianne chats about:The unusual route to her memoir being publishedHow writing non-fiction is like unknotting a necklaceThe reason she thinks her degree in theology informs her workHow to write about the things we don’t talk about and why it’s so important to do soGuest Author: Marianne Levy Twitter: @MarianneLevy Instagram: @MarianneLevy8 Books: Don’t Forget To Scream by Marianne LevyHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family Marianne’s recommendations:

Julia Boggio, author of SHOOTERS & CHASING THE LIGHT.Julia chats about:How she made the decision to self-publish with her agent & what she has learned through that processHow branding is her superpowerHow dancing to Dirty Dancing at her wedding catapulted her photography business to new heightsWhat marketing techniques work to sell her books and what really doesn’tHow a Curtis Brown course and workshops with Jenny Colgan and Julie Cohen played their parts in Julia’s journey to publicationHow having a podcast about books can involve rather a lot of readingWriting about female reproductive healthGuest Author: Julia Boggio Twitter: @juliaboggio IG: @juliaboggio Books: Shooters by Julia Boggio, Chasing the Light by Julia BoggioHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family Julia’s recommendations:A book for fans of Julia’s work: Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins-ReidA book Julia has always loved: The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer BradleyA book that’s been published recently or is coming soon: Heartstopper Vol.5 by Alice OsmanNovel Experience with Kate Sawyer is recorded and produced by Kate Sawyer - GET IN TOUCH

Margaret Meyer, author of THE WITCHING TIDE.Guest chats about:How a trip to the seaside sparked the idea for her debut novelWhy she decided to centre a non-speaking character, in order to give victims a voiceCentering working class and older characters in her writingHow the imagined village in her novel was created using many real life events in different placesGuest Author: Margaret Meyer Twitter: @margaretmeyer_author Books: The Witching Tide by Margaret MeyerHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family Margaret’s recommendations:The Colony - Audrey McGeeWashington Black -by Esi EdugyanA Sign of Her Own - Sarah MarshNovel Experience with Kate Sawyer is recorded and produced by Kate Sawyer - GET IN TOUCH or visit https://www.mskatesawyer.com/novelexperiencepodcast for more information.

Eva Verde, author of IN BLOOM & LIVES LIKE MINE.Eva chats about:How it was taking an Open University course when her children started school that led her to writingHow entering a competition through the National Writer’s Centre changed everything for herHow Book 2 Syndrome is very realWriting working class charactersThrowing the rules out of the windowGuest Author: Eva Verde Twitter: @EvaKinder IG: @EvaKinderWrites Books: In Bloom by Eva Verde, Lives Like Mine by Eva VerdeHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family Eva’s recommendations:A book for fans of Eva’s work: My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth RussellA book Eva has always loved: Fear of Flying by Erica JongA book that’s been published recently or is coming soon: The Beginning of Everything by Jackie FraserNovel Experience with Kate Sawyer is recorded and produced by Kate Sawyer - GET IN TOUCH or visit https://www.mskatesawyer.com/novelexperiencepodcast for more information.

Author & Journalist Sarra Manning author of an awful lot of books but most recently THE MAN OF HER DREAMS & LONDON, WITH LOVESarra chats about:Being the first in her family to go to universityThe value of being boredHow she writes 3 drafts before she shows her manuscripts to anyoneSetting out to write a different book each timeBeing able to pitch your book in a single lineThe pros and cons to having a strong authorial voiceWriting filthy sex scenes!Guest Author: Sarra Manning Twitter: @SarraManning IG: @SarraManning Books: The Man of Her Dreams by Sarra Manning, London, With Love by Sarra ManningHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This FamilySarra’s recommendations:A book for fans of Sarra’s work: Harriet by Jilly CooperA book guest has always loved: The Morning Gift by Eva IbbotsonA book that’s been published recently or is coming soon: You Again by Kate WelbeckOther books discussed in this episode: Girl by Blake NelsonNovel Experience with Kate Sawyer is recorded and produced by Kate Sawyer - GET IN TOUCH or visit https://www.mskatesawyer.com/novelexperiencepodcast for more information.

Debut author Rajasree Variyar, author of THE DAUGHTERS OF MADURAI.Guest chats about:Why she studied many subjects, including finance and Indonesian, even though she’d always wanted to writeHow an event with Natasha Pulley & Samantha Shannnon led her to take her own writing seriouslyHow a passing comment made by her mother sparked the idea for her debut novelWriting about the disparity of wealth in IndiaBalancing motherhood, work & writingGuest Author: Rajasree Variyar Twitter: @Raji_Warrior IG: @Raji_Warrior Books: The Daughters of Madurai by Rajasree VariyarHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This FamilyRaj’s recommendations:A book for fans of Raj’s work: The Bee Keeper of Aleppo by Christie Lefteri, A Thousand Splendid Suns by Kahled HosseiniA book Raj has always loved: Cloud Atlas by David MitchellA book that’s been published recently or is coming soon: Babel by RF Kuang, Yellow Face by RF Kuang Novel Experience with Kate Sawyer is recorded and produced by Kate Sawyer - GET IN TOUCH or visit https://www.mskatesawyer.com/novelexperiencepodcast for more information.

Editor, publisher and bestselling author Phoebe Morgan, author of THE WILD GIRLS.Phoebe chats about:How she started out in journalism, but found it didn’t quite fitHow daring to share her writing sparked the first belief that she might be able to write books herselfHow knowing the industry from the inside as an editor makes her feel when she is being published as an authorThe many tricks of the thriller trade that keep people readingNot taking failure personally but using it as fuel for future successGuest Author: Phoebe Morgan Twitter: @Phoebe_A_Morgan IG: @phoebeannmorgan Books: THE WILD GIRLS by Phoebe Morgan, THE BABYSITTER by Phoebe Morgan, THE GIRL NEXT DOOR by Phoebe Morgan, THE DOLL HOUSE by Phoebe Morgan Host: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This Family Phoebe’s recommendations:A book for fans of Phoebe’s work: None Of This Is True by Lisa JewellA book Phoebe has always loved: Girls in White Dresses by Jennifer CloseA book that’s been published recently or is coming soon: Maybe You Should Talk To Someone - Lori GottliebOther books discussed in this episode: Girl A by Abigail DeanNovel Experience with Kate Sawyer is recorded and produced by Kate Sawyer - GET IN TOUCHTo receive transcripts and news from Kate to your inbox please SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER or visit https://www.mskatesawyer.com/novelexperiencepodcast for more information.Thanks for listening!Kate x