Chapter 25 Book Club

Welcome back to Chapter 25! Today, we are joined by the incredible Irish crime fiction author Liz Nugent for a deep dive into her dark, brilliant, and character-driven thrillers. Liz opens up about how a severe childhood injury shaped her outsider perspective, the unique magic of Irish storytelling culture, and how her large blended family influences her work. We also chat about her iconic opening lines, the inspiration behind Strange Sally Diamond, and what readers can expect from her newest release, The Truth About Ruby Cooper.KEY TAKEAWAYS- How a childhood brain haemorrhage at age seven left Liz typing her novels using only her left hand and shaped her viewpoint as an observer.- Why Ireland offers such a uniquely supportive environment for writers and artists through tax breaks, library investments, and creative retreats.- The hilarious everyday conversation with her husband that inspired the dark opening premise of Strange Sally Diamond.- Liz's core philosophy on plotting: driving the story forward by forcing characters to make the worst possible decisions instead of the logical ones.- An exclusive preview of the opening lines she weighed up while writing her novel, The Truth About Ruby Cooper.✨ JOIN THE BONUS CHAPTER ✨Love our podcast? Join our digital community, The Bonus Chapter, for just £5 a month! https://www.chapter25bookclub.com/thebonuschapter

Welcome back to the podcast, bookish besties! Today, we are joined by the lovely Imani Erriu, author of our January book club pick, Heavenly Bodies, and the newly released Fallen Stars. Fresh off her tour, Imani settles in with us to chat about her journey as an author, connecting face-to-face with readers, and how community shapes her work. We explore her pantser writing style, how long walks in the Lake District fuel her imagination, and how astrology inspires her twelve zodiac-based kingdoms. Grab your favourite hot beverage and cosy up with us for an uplifting, deep-dive chat!KEY TAKEAWAYS- Reader Connection: Meeting readers on tour in person provides a vital, heart-warming boost after the isolating process of writing a novel.- The Pantser Approach: Imani shares how she writes without a rigid outline, knowing only the endings and key beats so she can stay surprised by her own story.- Rest & Daydreaming: High productivity for Imani relies on long periods of rest and daydreaming before sitting down for intense writing sessions once or twice a week.- Nature as Fuel: Living in the Lake District and taking long forest walks with music helps unlock plot twists and creative ideas.- Zodiac World Building: The twelve kingdoms in her universe are explicitly inspired by the twelve signs of the zodiac, with each kingdom ruled by its patron star god.✨ JOIN THE BONUS CHAPTER ✨Love our podcast? Join our digital community, The Bonus Chapter, for just £5 a month! https://www.chapter25bookclub.com/thebonuschapter

In this episode, Charlotte sits down with bestselling author Chris Whitaker for a wonderful, wide-ranging chat about his remarkable novel, All the Colours of the Dark. Chris shares the book's initial spark, explaining how the idea of two abducted teenagers forming an unbreakable bond in pitch darkness grew into a sweeping, multi-decade story about love, friendship, and family. We explore the realities of managing a 100-city book tour, the pressure after breakout success, and why readers are truly his favourite people. ✨ JOIN THE BONUS CHAPTER ✨Love our podcast? Join our digital community, The Bonus Chapter, for just £5 a month! https://www.chapter25bookclub.com/thebonuschapter

Join our host Neha for a cosy and insightful chat with author Alice Winn as they discuss her acclaimed First World War novel, In Memoriam. Alice reflects on her journey as a writer, opening up about facing hundreds of agent rejections before finding the inspiration for her masterpiece. She shares how old school newspapers, literary rivalries between trench poets, and visits to military cemeteries shaped her understanding of the era. It is a deeply moving and honest conversation about history, class, memory, and the power of storytelling. ✨ JOIN THE BONUS CHAPTER ✨Love our podcast? Join our digital community, The Bonus Chapter, for just £5 a month! https://www.chapter25bookclub.com/thebonuschapter

Welcome to a very special Summerween episode of Chapter 25! Host Paige Pickering Middleton is joined by authors Joss Wood and Heather Spellman to celebrate all things spooky, sunny, and romantic. We dive deep into Joss's Halloween-obsessed town in Summerween and Heather's gently magical beachside setting in Cruel Summer. From discussing fast writing schedules to navigating pen names and favourite tropes, this conversation is packed with warmth, laughter, and brilliant bookish insights.✨ JOIN THE BONUS CHAPTER ✨Love our podcast? Join our digital community, The Bonus Chapter, for just £5 a month! https://www.chapter25bookclub.com/thebonuschapter