240: Shirley Mann, Libby Clegg and some cat-and-mouse thrillers

In today's show we talk to Leeanne O'Donnell about spirit and matter, love and lust, and reality and magic, all in her book Sparks of Bright Matter. We also look forward to the Boswell Book Festival with Gordon Turnbull and find new books in the RNIB Library.

Read On this week features Chioma Okereke with her coming of age audio book Water Baby set in the floating slum of Makoko in Lagos. We hear about The Trees: A Novel by Percival Everett and find new books entering the RNIB Library.

In today's show we're re-joined by Louise Hare as she tells us about the sequel to Miss Aldridge Regrets, Harlem After Midnight. Plus we delve into the archive to talk to Sara Collins about The Confessions of Frannie Langton, and find some brand new audiobooks that are also available from RNIB Talking Books.

This week Robert Kirkwood talks to former military policeman and former Met Detective, Neil Lancaster about the latest DS Max Craigie Book, The Devil You Know and how his career influenced his writing. Plus we find some brand new books out now and entering the Talking Books library.

In today’s show we listen to some books about music and musicians. We chat to Beth and Ben of The Bookshop Band, talk to the author of Outlaw Blues, a 500 page biography of Bob Dylan and then get some book recommendations from former Never Mind the Buzzcocks team captain, Phill Jupitus. Plus we find some brand new gems in the Talking Books library.  

In today's show we feature all four category winners in the first ever Nero Book Awards, First up we listen to a clip from the Non-Fiction winning book Strong Female Character by Fern Brady  We have a long chat with Michael Magee about his Debut Fiction winning book, Close to Home   We listen to a clip from The Swifts by Beth Lincoln, the Children’s Fiction winner Then, from the Booker Prize shows, we chat to the Fiction winner Paul Murray about The Bee Sting Then (after a swift last minute edit) we reveal the overall winner.

In today's show we celebrate World Book Day with Michael Morpurgo, Julia Donaldson, Betsy Griffin and find out about the free £1 from RNIB.

In today's show we dive into the murky world of romance fraud with Becky Holmes and her book Keanu Reeves is Not In Love With You which she narrated herself. Plus we find some brand new books in the Talking Books library.

The First Man to Time Travel is the debut sci-fi comedy novel from Alex Leam. He tells Robert Kirkwood about the book, his inspirations and reading the audio version. Plus, staying in the sci-fi theme, we listen back to how Jeff Wayne turned War of the Worlds into a best selling album. All that plus some brand new books in the RNIB Library.

In today's show Alistair Lee, Australia’s only blind Voice Over Artist, talks to Amelia Hilton about his career so far. We also listen back to Keith Brymer Jones from The Great Pottery Throw Down talk about his book, Boy in A China Shop and find some new books in the RNIB Library. The picture is of King, Alistair Lee's guide dog.