Being Bookish

In this week's bonus episode, I'm joined by author Charlotte B. Plumb to talk about her debut, Reap and Sow, a gothic fantasy duology about Eda, a young girl whose father placed her and her two older brothers in an untenable position, bargaining with a demon! In order to rescue her brothers from death, she strikes a dangerous pact despite knowing such bargains always end badly. We dig into the inherited debt that shapes Ida and her siblings, the life-trading magic system at the story's heart, and what really makes someone monstrous: appearance, or the things they put into the world. Charlotte shares the origins of Kit and the enigmatic Mr Night, why Kit and Eda work so well as foils, and the side characters (including Robin) who bring heart and humour to the darkness. And because it wouldn't be an author episode without it, we also talk about the craft of writing! Why her debut became a duology, Charlotte's pantser-or-planner process, and the advice she'd give to any writer still chasing their first book deal. So, grab a drink, light a few candles, and join me for this gothic fantasy exploration. Charlotte's Links Instagram Website Buy the Book

In the second episode of this week, I am joined by author Martha Waters to talk about her brand-new novel, Spellstruck. The story is set in a magical 1920s Britain where spellcasting is outlawed and the class lines cut just as deep as the magic. We talk about the interwar history Martha wove into the world-building, the opposites-attract chemistry between Vesper and Max, and the family drama and mystery threads that keep the romance from ever feeling small. Martha also opens up on the craft: whether she drafts in order or jumps around, how she paces herself to avoid burnout, and what finally pushed her to pursue publication. It's a conversation about why romantasy is quietly reshaping publishing, what the interwar years still have to teach us, and how the best romances earn their happy endings by making the world around them feel real. Martha's Links Website Instagram Buy Spellstruck

This week, in the first of two episodes (a rarity since my early Not Before Coffee Days), I am joined by bestselling author J.R. Ward to talk about the latest instalment in her massive Black Dagger Brotherhood series, Lover Enthroned. Why she jumped the timeline, how the series became a TV adaptation, and what it's like building a fictional universe fans have lived in for two decades.We talked about everything from dark romance, vampires, and paranormal fantasy, and she makes an unflinching case for romance readers and writers in a publishing world that still seems to have a less-than-positive view of the genre. She shares what she admires about today's author business, how she approaches fandom and collectable editions, and how she keeps a long-running series accessible to new readers while planning connected arcs.Along the way: what makes a darker romantic hero believable, why representation matters in romance, the leap from lawyer to author, and how Ward defines success across books, adaptations, and sheer persistence.So grab a coffee, get your headphones ready and give this one a listen...it's an interesting and exciting ride!JR Ward's LinksWebsiteInstagramBuy the Book

Welcome to my sixth anniversary episode. I thought long and hard about what I should talk about, and when I looked at my bookcase and realised I had yet to read the latest instalment of the Agatha Raisin series, Sugar and Spite, I knew that this was the perfect opportunity.The many books in the Agatha Raisin series, including the inaugural instalment, The Quiche of Death, have played a very important role in Being Bookish over the years, so what better way to celebrate an important anniversary than to talk about book 36, Sugar and Spite?Two murders, a drug lord, an organised shoplifting ring, a life in peril, stolen sheep, and so much more make this book an interesting one. As with every Agatha Raisin novel, a lot happens and though I refuse to divert from my goal of never spoiling a book in these episodes.So while you're not going to find out whodunnit, or any other complex twists that make this book what it is, I am going to talk about my views, the intriguing way that the story develops, and the fact that the Agatha Raisin series is told using the floating timeline device!Cosy Mystery Playlist

In this week’s episode of Being Bookish, I am joined by novelist Simon Wroe to discuss his new novel, Ghost Month (released in hardback on the 27th of August). The novel is set in a London where the dead return to Earth for a single month (September) every year. During our conversation, we explore the book's interlocking cast and the events that connect them. We have Jane and the husband she rents to help hide a secret from her returning mother. Her sister, Angie, is caught between her living husband Peter and a returning ex. Eight-year-old Eddie's fractured family, suffering under the weight of mother Elizabeth's unresolved grief over David. Finally, we have Lil, whose storyline may be the book's most heartbreaking. Along the way, we get into what the ghosts really offer: closure for the dead, or closure for the living left behind. Simon also opens up about how his own experiences of grief shaped the novel, how he built its overlapping structure across multiple perspectives, and his writing process: planning versus emotion, scenes versus momentum. Plus, what’s Simon up to next? There’s also the all-important question the book leaves every reader with: would you want a lost loved one to come back, even briefly, or should they remain a beloved and precious memory? Simon's Links Instagram Buy the Book