132: Clémence Michallon (Our Last Resort)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Clémence Michallon (Our Last Resort) discuss Clémence's epic multi-thousand-a-day writing streak and how she cuts sentences that don't work, often not replacing them, also Charlie's discomfort with the idea of the morally grey aspect of the novel and Clémence's thoughts that we think of morality in the context of the book/show, and fictional pets staying alive beyond the pages. Please note that the book under discussion is about a murder. Books mentioned by name or extensively: Clémence Michallon: The Quiet Tenant Clémence Michallon: Our last Resort Tyler Keevil: Your Still...
info_outline
131: Nikki May (This Motherless Land)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Nikki May (This Motherless Land) discuss her childhood in Lagos and moving to England, various ways Nikki's story changed over time (quite a lot!), the Nigerian women's relay team of 1992, and the upcoming TV adaptations of both This Motherless Land and Wahala. Please note that there is some swearing in this episode. General references: Nikki made the shortlist of the Nigerian Prize for Literature Books mentioned by name or extensively: Enid Blyton: The Famous Five (series) Jane Austen: Pride And Prejudice Jane Austen: Emma Jane Austen: Mansfield Park Nikki May: Wahala Nikki May:...
info_outline
130: Jim C Hines (Kitemaster)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Jim C Hines (Kitemaster) discuss how his story developed over a number of years, including wonder and physics reasoning in the book, his excellent study of grief (and humour in that context), and his unique and choices in regards to the book world's belief system of an afterlife. Please note there is some very mild swearing in this episode, as well as discussions of cancer and death. Please also note, on a very different subject, that there are spoilers for The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe as well as Serenity (Firefly) and, sort of, for Star Wars: A New Hope. I doubt anyone but...
info_outline
129: Julie Kagawa (Fateless)
Author's Afterword
Charlie and Julie Kagawa (Fateless) discuss video games, working with fate and destiny, Julie's brilliant world building and magic system, and the decisions she made about where to end the book. General references: My episode with Samantha Sotto Yambao is 122 Books mentioned by name or extensively: Julie Kagawa: The Iron Fey Julie Kagawa: The Blood Of Eden Julie Kagawa: Talon Games mentioned: Assassin's Creed D&D Final Fantasy X Final Fantasy X-2 Guild Wars 2 Hitman Prince Of Persia Splinter Cell Tomb Raider Release details: recorded 19th May 2025; published 22nd September 2025 Where to...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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: || || || ...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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.)...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outlineCharlie and Gill Paul (Scandalous Women) discuss Jackie Collins, Jacqueline Susann, and the way the 1960s publishing industry treated women.
A transcript is available on my site
General references:
My other episodes with Gill are 42 and 86
The Love Machine (movie)
Some of Richard Osman's words on the subject can be found here
Once Upon A Time In America
Lady Boss trailer
Mad Men
Feud: Capote Vs His Swans
Cold Blooded: The Clutter Family Murders
I spoke to Èric Chacour in episode 115
The three books with a Mira in them were Eliza Chan's Fathomfolk, Èric Chacour's What I Know About You, and Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing
Books mentioned by name or extensively:
Dale Carnegie: How To Win Friends And Influence People
Gill Paul: Another Woman's Husband
Gill Paul: The Second Marriage (Jackie And Maria)
Gill Paul: A Beautiful Rival
Gill Paul: Scandalous Women
Helen Gurley Brown: Sex And The Single Girl
Ian McEwan: On Chesil Beach
Jackie Collins: The World Is Full Of Married Men
Jacqueline Susann: Valley Of The Dolls
Jacqueline Susann: The Love Machine
Letty Cottin Pogrebin: How To Make It In A Man's World
Truman Capote: In Cold Blood
Release details: recorded 11th October 2024; published 24th March 2025
Where to find Gill online: Website || Twitter || Facebook || Instagram || TikTok
Where to find Charlie online: Website || Twitter || Instagram || TikTok
Discussions
01:23 Why these women and why now?
03:02 More about Jacqueline Susann and Jackie Collins
04:15 Jacqueline Susann's screen work
05:58 On Gill's having Jacqueline Susann and Jackie Collins meet and support each other
09:06 The murder of Sharon Tate
10:29 Jacqueline's illness and bargaining with God
14:22 About Jackie Collins' marriages
17:28 Creating the fictional character, Nancy
20:55 More on Nancy in regards to the historical misogyny
26:19 Gill's fictional Truman Capote interview and the real stories including the facts behind Capote's In Cold Blood
31:06 Jacqueline Susann's keeping up to date with booksellers' lives
33:31 Nancy's relationships with Stephen and George
35:52 The Cousin, Louise, the drugs and trafficking
37:18 Gill's writing style and how it aligns with Scandalous Women
39:28 Including a small nod to A Beautiful Rival and how Gill includes these in her books in general
41:45 What Gill is writing now
Disclosure: If you buy books linked to my site, I may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops