128: Maggie Stiefvater (The Listeners)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Maggie Stiefvater (The Listeners) discuss the lesser-known history of the US hosting Axis diplomats in luxury hotels, the arrangements made to swap diplomats one for one, including disability and mental illness in such a story, Maggie's main character's dachshunds and their relationship to the man they never let pet them, the era-aligned game that Maggie created, and much more. General references: Charlie's conversation with Elaine Chiew is episode 111 Books mentioned by name or extensively: Maggie Stiefvater: Shiver Maggie Stiefvater: The Scorpio Races Maggie Stiefvater: The...
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127: Emily Slapper (Everyone I Know Is Dying)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Emily Slapper (Everyone I Know Is Dying) discuss her phenomenal book that looks at a young woman spiralling from mental illness. This involves discussing romantic relationships when one is depressed, the affect of parents, the affect of society, and not using labels. General references: I spoke to Samantha Sotto Yambao in episode 122 Books mentioned by name or extensively: Emily Slapper: Everyone I Know Is Dying Sylvia Plath: The Bell Jar Release details: recorded 16th April 2025; published 25th August 2025 Where to find Emily online: Where to find Charlie online: || || || ...
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126: Michael Stewart (Black Wood Women)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Michael Stewart (Black Wood Women) discuss the persecution of Irish people in the 17th century, the loss of and possible reintroduction of wolves in Britain, and 17th century hippies. Please note that there is discussion of drugs in this episode. General references: Books mentioned by name or extensively: Elizabeth Fremantle: Honey And The Sting Ian D Rotherham: Yorkshire's Forgotten Fenlands Michael Stewart: King Crow Michael Stewart: Walking The Invisible Michael Stewart: Black Wood Women Michael Stewart: Surrounded By My Enemy Stacey Thomas: The Revels Release details: recorded...
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125: Paul McVeigh (I Hear You)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Paul McVeigh (I Hear You) discuss Paul's time writing stories for the BBC, being an emotional writer, and a traumatic medical experience that has had a big effect on some of his work. Please note there are two incredibly mild swear words in this episode. General references: Paul's play is called Big Man Books mentioned by name or extensively: Kit de Waal: My Name Is Leon Kit de Waal (ed.): Common People Paul McVeigh: The Good Son Paul McVeigh: I Hear You Paul McVeigh (ed.) The 32 Paul McVeigh (ed.) Queer Love Sarah Butler: Ten Things I’ve Learnt About Love Sinéad Gleeson (ed.)...
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124: Sophie Jo (Red Flags)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Sophie Jo (Red Flags) discuss healthy relationships particularly in the context of young people and in terms of values and hobbies. They also delve into popular media from the '90s and 2000s as included in Sophie's book. General references: Books mentioned by name or extensively: Sally Rooney: Conversations With Friends Sally Rooney: Normal People Sophie Jo: Red Flags Release details: recorded 17th March 2025; published 14th July 2025 Where to find Sophie online: || || || Where to find Charlie online: || || || Discussions 01:35 The inspiration for Red Flags 04:10 More...
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123: Carmel Harrington (The Stolen Child)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Carmel Harrington (The Stolen Child) discuss her stunning thriller wherein the reveal is given at the start and we have to find out the how and the why, a boy stolen as a child and now he's found his way home... Please note we mention abuse, kidnapping, and prostitution. Books mentioned by name or extensively: Carmel Harrington: The Stolen Child Carmel Harrington: The Nowhere Girls J R R Tolkien: The Lord Of The Rings Release details: recorded 17th February 2025; published 23rd June 2025 Where to find Carmel online: || || Where to find Charlie online: || || || Discussions...
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122: Samantha Sotto Yambao (Water Moon)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Samantha Sotto Yambao (Water Moon) discuss her UK debut - yay! - exploring the concepts of fate and choice, the process of evolving the romance, and, we catch up on the lives of Sam's dogs. General references: Sam joined me to discuss The Beginning of Always in episode 50 Sam joined me to discuss Before Ever After, Love and Gravity, and A Dream of Trees in episode 5 Books mentioned by name or extensively: David and Leigh Eddings: The Belgariad J R R Tolkien: Return Of The King Samantha Sotto: Before Ever After Samantha Sotto: Love And Gravity Samantha Sotto: A Dream Of Trees...
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Necessary hiatus: dental gone wrong
Author's Afterword
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121: Amy Jordan (The Dark Hours)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Amy Jordan (The Dark Hours) discuss the Irish police force, the Garda, in the 1990s, particularly where it involves sexism. They also discuss the effects on a relationship of being a member of the police, and the way trauma can influence extreme actions. General references: Books mentioned by name or extensively: Amy Jordan: The Dark Hours Release details: recorded 14th January 2025; published 12th May 2025 Where to find Amy online: Where to find Charlie online: || || || Discussions 01:31 The inspiration 03:19 Writing Julia and exploring the effects of what she's been...
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120: Amy Engel (I Did It For You)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Amy Engel (I Did It For You) discuss her literary thriller wherein the killer did it but it isn't that simple, wherein both the victim's and killer's families are given empathy, and wherein the sister of the victim and the brother of the killer start a romance. Please note that whilst there are no references to detailed violence, this episode looks at various issues surrounding murder cases. General references: It was indeed Elmore Leonard who said, "You take out the parts that people skip when they're reading". Books mentioned by name or extensively: Amy Engel: The Familiar Dark...
info_outlineCharlie and Natalie Jenner (Every Time We Say Goodbye) discuss the war years and 1950s Italian film industry and the Vatican's authority over it, changing working practices after being accused of discrimination, and including still-living celebrities in your book.
A transcript is available on my site
General references:
I talked to Natalie about her previous book, Bloomsbury Girls, in episode 65
Day For Night
Quo Vadis
Umanità
Nine
Summertime
Three Coins In The Fountain
Roman Holiday
A similar quote of Kurt Vonnegut's is "Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages."
I talked to Liz Fenwick about the map girls in episode 100
Natalie's Instagram post on Ray Holland
The Prince Of Foxes
Natalie's episode on chapters 7-9 of Pride And Prejudice for the Rosenbach Library
Books mentioned by name or extensively:
Charles Dickens: Our Mutual Friend
Charles Dickens: A Tale Of Two Cities
Edward Bulwer-Lytton: The Last Days Of Pompeii
Henry James: The Portrait Of A Lady
Jane Austen: Pride And Prejudice
Jane Austen: Emma
Joe Klein: Primary Colors
Natalie Jenner: The Jane Austen Society
Natalie Jenner: Bloomsbury Girls
Natalie Jenner: Every Time We Say Goodbye
Natalie Jenner: Austen At Sea
Sophia Loren: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow My Life
Zadie Smith: The Fraud
Zoe Wheddon: Jane Austen's Best Friend
Release details: recorded 11th April 2024; published 9th September 2024
Where to find Natalie online: Website || Twitter || Instagram
Where to find Charlie online: Website || Twitter || Instagram || TikTok
Discussions
00:01:52 The different inspirations for the book - old films, Natalie's character Vivian from her previous book, Bloomsbury Girls, the WW2 refugees that lived at the Cinecittà movie studies and then used as extras (this turns into a longer discussion)
00:10:58 More about Cinecittà itself
00:13:08 The Vatican's past authority over the Italian film industry
00:17:59 How Natalie researches her books, and her love of Rome
00:29:30 John Lassiter, urgh!
00:34:20 The importance of Tabitha's story and how a reader's criticism changed how Natalie wrote
00:38:25 La Scolaretta and the stafetta - the young women messengers and assassins in WW2 Italy
00:44:45 Natalie's knowing, and the life of, Ray Holland, film-maker Jack Salvatori's son
00:52:28 Writing as characters celebrities who are still with us, with a focus on Sophia Loren
00:59:16 All about Natalie's forthcoming next book, Austen At Sea, which Charlie reckons will end up being her favourite of all Natalie's books
01:08:59 Natalie tells us why she likely won't write about Jane Austen herself
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