Radio Pig

This month we speak to three Brighton-based writers; Emma Jane Unsworth (SLAGS), Lauren Bravo (PROBABLY NOTHING) and Andrew Flewitt (DO YOU BELIEVE IN LIFE AFTER LOSS?). We also talk to Phil Viner about BEYOND THE BOOK festival which takes place on May 10th.

In this bonus Footnote episode, Saba Sams joins us to talk about her debut novel, GUNK, which she's launching at the Brighton Festival in conversation with Fee Mac. Get tickets here. Jules has been divorced from her ex-husband Leon for five years, but she still works alongside him at the nightclub. With the arrival of Nim, a new employee at the bar, Jules is jolted awake for the first time in years and with an unexpected pregnancy in the mix, this novel poses questions around who we choose to build our families with.  Selected for Granta's Best of Young British Novelists in 2023 and author of the dazzling collection of short stories, Send Nudes, Saba Sams is a voice not to be missed. 

Today's show includes Ditching based Annabel Thorpe talking about her historical fiction set in Italy and how her work as a travel journalist has informed her writing.  Judy Upton discusses her Sussex based mystery Series. Tom Johnstone talks about how he uses Brighton's unseen history to write short fiction. Sam at Brighton Waterstones talks about their jam-packed event programme in April and May and  Anna Jefferson from New Writing South is back to discuss their Publishing Industry Day which is a must go-to for all aspiring authors in Sussex. 

In this month's jam-packed show, we talk to Brighton-based Fran Quinn about her new book THE LOST PASSENGER; to D.E. White about her crime-writing workshop in Horsham on March 27th; to Anna and Sam from Forthwrite Festival which takes place in Brighton and Crawley in March; to Brighton-based graphic novelists Myf and Corinne from the First Graphic Novel Award and to new-to-Brighton thriller writer, Brooke Robinson.

On this jam-packed episode, we talk to Brighton-based writer Laura Wilkinson about her new book That Night in New York; to Charlie Ross AKA The Roaming Reader about Chichester's new poetry Slam; to Simon Maddrell about his forthcoming pamphlet Jonathan Blake, L1, and the launch in Brighton on February 19th at 7om at Lunch Positive, and to Hannah Dolby, about her Victorian Hastings set books No Life for a Lady and How To Solve Murders Like A Lady.

We speak to Alan Edwards and Holly Bourne about their forthcoming events in Brighton and Sussex and the books they'll be discussing. See Holly on Jan 16th at Chapter 34 https://www.chapter34.co.uk/event/book-launch-of-so-thrilled-for-you-by-holly-bourne/  See Alan on Feb 7th at The Old Market https://www.theoldmarket.com/shows/i-was-there-in-conversation-with-alan-edwards

On our Christmas special we speak to Cathy Hayward from Kemptown Books about her Holiday Recommendations, and Brighton based writer Fran Swaine reads her Christmas short story, The Lost Dog.

This month we're joined by Anna Lucia, Jacquie Bloese and Ciar Byrne to talk about their historical novels. If you have an idea for the show, email us at btnbookclub@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram!

In the fifth of our five-part series in collaboration with The Coast is Queer Festival, we revisit the event Queer Ukraine from 2023's festival with DViJKA Collective, Yelena Moskovich and Tanya G, hosted by Maria Jastrzębska GET TICKETS TO THE COAST IS QUEER 2024 Find out more about The Coast is Queer and sign up to their mailing. You can follow them on Instagram here. Use code PODCAST20 for 20% off tickets (available for individual event tickets, not for workshops or festival passes!) With thanks to Brighton-based DJ Louis Stays On for the music.

Go and see AFLO. at Status Flo! Books discussed with Elizabeth: Hazadorous Spirits, Anbara Salam  After She Wrote Him, Sulari Gentill Margo's Got Money Troubles, Rufi Thorpe  My Good Bright Wolf: A Memoir, Sarah Moss The Hypocrite, Jo Hamya  Rodham Curtis Sittenfeld  You Can't Catch Death: A Daughter's Memoir, Ianthe Brautigan Total Recall: A V. I. Warshawski Novel, Sara Paretsky  Neverland: The Pleasures and Perils of Fandom, Vanessa Kisuule 

In the fourth of our five-part series in collaboration with The Coast is Queer Festival, we revisit the event Genre Bending and Queering Words from 2023's festival with three Brighton based authors and poets Janet Sutherland, Maria Jastrzębska and Robert Hamberger. GET TICKETS TO THE COAST IS QUEER 2024 GET TICKETS FOR MARIA'S MEMOIR WRITING WORKSHOP Find out more about The Coast is Queer and sign up to their mailing list to hear first about the full lineup for this year's festival and get early access to workshops. You can follow them on Instagram here. Use code PODCAST20 for 20% off tickets (available for individual event tickets, not for workshops or festival passes!) With thanks to Brighton-based DJ Louis Stays On for the music.

In the third of the five-part series in collaboration with The Coast is Queer Festival, we revisit Juno Dawson's Lovely Trans Literary Salon with Harry Nicholas from 2023's festival. GET TICKETS TO JUNO'S LOVELY TRANS LITERARY SALON AT 2024'S FESTIVAL Find out more about The Coast is Queer and sign up to their mailing list to hear first about the full lineup for this year's festival and get early access to workshops. You can follow them on Instagram here. Use code PODCAST20 for 20% off tickets (available for individual event tickets, not for workshops or festival passes!) With thanks to Brighton-based DJ Louis Stays On for the music.

We speak to local writers Jane Crittenden and Jill Johnson and to AFLO. the Poet about this year's The Coast is Queer Festival

In the second of the five-part series in collaboration with The Coast is Queer Festival, we revisit an enlightening conversation from 2023's festival exploring the undercurrent of class on queer literature featuring Joelle Taylor and Abi Fellows SUPER EARLY BIRD TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW! Find out more about The Coast is Queer and sign up to their mailing list to hear first about the full lineup for this year's festival and get early access to workshops. You can follow them on Instagram here. Use code PODCAST20 for 20% off tickets (available for individual event tickets, not for workshops or festival passes!) With thanks to Brighton-based DJ Louis Stays On for the music.

In the first of the five-part series in collaboration with The Coast is Queer Festival, we revisit an enlightening conversation from 2023's festival exploring queer representation in commercial fiction featuring Tanya Byrne, Tasha Suri and Laura Kay. SUPER EARLY BIRD TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW! Find out more about The Coast is Queer and sign up to their mailing list to hear first about the full lineup for this year's festival and get early access to workshops. You can follow them on Instagram here. Use code PODCAST20 for 20% off tickets (available for individual event tickets, not for workshops or festival passes!) With thanks to Brighton-based DJ Louis Isaacs for the music.

On this episode of The Brighton Book Club, we talk to two Brighton-based writers – Kristin Burniston and Duncan Illing – who have teamed up to transform Kristin's wonderful short story, Anne, into a radio drama. We discuss everything from the publishing industry, to special effects, writing Brighton and Brighton's writing community.

On this month's show, we speak to two Brighton based writers Jo Furniss and Cassie Bruce about their new novels DEAD MILE and SIRENS BAY. We also speak to the excellent Sophie Flynn about her new novel WHAT STAYS UNSAID, a thriller set over a hen weekend Dartmoor.  Follow the show over on Instagram

On the show today, we speak to co-director of Brighton Book Festival Althea Woolf, Sheika Helawy, Taha Kehar, Helen Lederer and Roy McFarlane. You can buy tickets from brightonbookfestival.co.uk and follow us on Instagram to find out more about the events spoken about in today's show over at @btnbookclub.

It's the Reverbathon and we're back with a special show recorded in the Radio Reverb studio with a host of fab live guests and sponsors. Please consider making a donation to keep us ad-free and creating the show. You can do so here. More about Jenni and her work at Brighton Fringe Book tickets to Mrisi's show More about Hove Creative Writing Group More about The Real Writers Circle Book tickets to the Real Writers Circle Festival Event

We're joined by three fantastic Brighton authors: Graham Bartlett, Katy Massey and Tanya Byrne

This month we speak to Brighton based debut novelists, Ania Card and Sarah Butler, both of whom have books out with indie presses. Ania talks about writing not in her native tongue, about exploring queer identity and how the writing community has helped her reach success. Sarah talks about the move from short fiction to a novel and how the Sussex landscape inspires her writing. We also speak to Rhiannon Lingwood from Brighton Fringe who is giving us a preview of book, literature and spoken word events on at this year's iconic Fringe.

Our Brighton Bestseller episode features the wonderful Elly Griffiths, Dorothy Koomson and Jack Jordan.  If you enjoy the show, please do rate review and subscribe!

This month's show is hosted Victoria Robson and Cindy Etherton, co-founders of Real Writers Circle, a Brighton-based a community of writers who meet monthly to share work, support, and friendship. Victoria and Cindy talk to Circle members Ciar Byrne, Jackie Mendoza and Kate Marsh about their favourite books and their influence on their writing. And they catch up with RWC member Samuel Burr and his editor Charlotte Mursell at Orion Publishing on Sam's debut novel The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers. Favourite Books Mentioned in the Show: Commonwealth by Ann Patchett Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie In Memoriam by Alice Winn La Terre by Emil Zola Life After Life by Kate Atkinson My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell Persuasion by Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen The Fellowship of the Puzzlemakers by Samuel Burr (available in May) The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton The Magician's Assistant by Ann Patchett The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman X/Twitter Real Writers Circle: @Real_Writers_ Cindy Etherton: @CindyEtherton4 Victoria Robson: @victoriarobson Ciar Byrne: @ciarbyrne Jackie Mendoza: @writerandhounds Kate Marsh: @k8marsh Samuel Burr: @samuelburr Charlotte Mursell: @Charlo_Murs Instagram @realwriterscircle @cindy.etherton @samuelburr @writerandhounds @ciarbyrnewriter @aunticles

Join Jericho Writers More about TAKE WHAT YOU NEED The books spoken about on the show: Fiction 1a: Penance by Eliza Clark 1b: Pretty as a Picture by Elizabeth Little 2a: In Memoriam by Alice Winn 2b: Ghost Girl, Banana by Wiz Wharton 3a: Mrs S by K Patrick 3b: Dryland by Sara Jaffe 4a: Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Sutanto 4b: Murder & Mamon by Mia P Manansala 5a: The List by Yomi Adegoke 5b: More Than You'll Ever Know by Katie Gutierrez Non-fiction 1a: The Woman in Me by Britney Spears 1b: Pageboy by Elliot Page 2a: Went to London, Took the Dog by Nina Stibbe  2b: Small Fires by Rebecca May Johnson 3a: Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann 3b: Furious Hours by Casey Cep  4a: The Golden Mole by Katherine Rundell 4b: Uprooting by Marchelle Farrell 5a: Stay True by Hua Hsu  5b: This Ragged Grace by Octavia Bright Book of the year: Open Throat by Henry Hoke

On this month's show, we hear from Lisa Fransson about her new novel THE SHAPE OF GUILT, to Deborah Jenkins about her debut collection of short stories, WINTER LIGHTS and to Emma Jackson's new book WITCH YOU WEREN'T HERE.  Our next show is our bumper Christmas recommendation special with bookseller, Elizabeth Perry. We'll go through the top 5 bestsellers in fiction and nonfiction and she'll offer her best alternative recommendations. We'll also be joined by Idra Novey, author of next month's book club book, TAKE WHAT YOU NEED which is out now with Daunt Books.  Click here for events with Kemptown Books. Music in today's show from Mrisi Music. If you have a suggestion for the show or want to get in contact, you can follow us on instagram at @btnbookclub and email us at btnbookclub@gmail.com

On the show, we hear from Lesley Wood, CEO of New Writing South and director of the festival; from David Sheppeard from festival partner, Marlborough Productions; from Alexa Rusakoff, one of the student curators behind Friday's event; from Okechukwu Nzelu who joins us to talk about his in-conversation event with Max Lobe and the workshop on character he's running. We also speak to author of this month's book Nadezhda in the Dark, Yelena Moskovich, who is coming all the way from Paris to appear on the QUEER UKRAINE panel.  It's a jam-packed lineup and a jam-packed show full of great book recommendations and inspiring conversations about queer literature. You can see the full lineup and get your hands on tickets at coastisqueer.com.

This month, we speak to Elizabeth Delo, author of BECOMING LIZ TAYLOR, about why she decided to set part of her debut novel in Brighton and how overhearing a conversation in a queue sparked the idea for the book. We also talk to Brighton based Deborah Price about her memoir THE PEANUT FACTORY about living in London squats in the 80s. We talk to Brighton-based Joseph Zigmond about his novel CONSTANCE – a book that came from two very different ideas; one about teenage relationships and the mistakes we make, and another about when climate breakdown starts coming home. We take a deep dive into this month's book club book, Eliza Clark's wonderful PENANCE. Discussing all things from falling asleep to true crime podcasts, to seeing your work adapted to the stage and to the horrors of teenage female relationships. If you enjoy the Brighton Book Club, and want to help keep us on air, please make a donation at https://www.radioreverb.com/donate/. Just one click and a couple of quid makes all the difference. Make sure you pop Brighton Book Club in the reference! Our next show is dedicated to the UK's biggest and brightest LGBTQ+ festival of Literature THE COAST IS QUEER which runs from 12-15 October. Our book club book is Yelena Moskovich's Nadezhda in the Dark. Yelena will be appearing on a panel on Sunday 15th titled Queer Ukraine which is going to be excellent. 

We're back from our short summer hiatus with a jam-packed episode for you. We speak to Brighton based Chloe Michelle Howard about her debut novel SUNBURN – a beautiful sapphic comic of age story set in rural Ireland in the 1990s, to former Brighton resident Emma Claire Wilson about her debut novel THIS CHILD OF MINE and what it was like to grow up in Brighton's Old Shop Hotel. We talk to Corinne Pearlman about this year's First Graphic Novel Competition which is now open to entries, and we catch up with award-winning author and writer of this month's book club book, Claire Fuller about her latest book THE MEMORY OF ANIMALS.  Our next book club book is Eliza Clark's PENANCE. Music on the Reverb show from Nigel Stweart.

This month we talk to Lily Lindon about her new queer rom com MY OWN WORST ENEMY, to Talia Hibbert about her new YA rom com HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS AND UNFAIRLY CUTE as well as her appearance at Brighton Book Festival on June 24. We also speak to two Brighton writers, Amy Lavelle and Joe Bedford about their new books, HOME SWEET HOME and A BAD DECADE FOR GOOD PEOPLE. We also speak to the author of this month's book club book – Amita Murray – about her new novel UNLADYLIKE LESSONS IN LOVE. Our next book club book is Claire Fuller's THE MEMORY OF ANIMALS. We're taking a short break and will be back with a new show on July 22nd.

On this month's show, we talk to poet Amy Key about her new book ARRANGEMENTS IN BLUE and her appearance as part of Brighton Festival's books and debate programme on April 20th; to local writer Kate Bradley about her new novel THE SISTERHOOD – a feminist retelling of Orwell's 1984; to Cathy Haywood and Mark Slater about the Creative Writing Programme, and author of this month's book club book, WORLDS APART, Jane Crittenden.

A list of the books spoken about on this month's show! Windmill Hill - Lucy Atkins - 25th May Transitional - Munroe Bergdorf - out now All the Beauty in the World - Patrick Bringley - out now  Fire Rush - Jacqueline Crooks - out now  Scorched Grace - Margot Douaihy - 6th April  Books & Islands in Ojibwe Country - Louise Erdrich - 20th April Voyager - Nona Fernandez  - out now The Housekeepers - Alex Hay - 6th July  Yellowface - RF Kuang - 25th May Small Worlds - Caleb Azumah Nelson - 11th May Mrs S - K Patrick - 8th June  Ordinary Notes - Christina Sharpe - 4th April Death of a Bookseller - Alice Slater - 27th April Ghost, Girl Banana - Wiz Wharton - 18th May In Memoriam - Alice Winn - out now Brighton Book Festival Buy Dazzling Follow us on Instagram

This month, we go sea swimming with Brighton based writers Josie Lloyd and Mark Radcliffe, and we speak to the author of this month's book club book IF THEY KNEW, Sophie Flynn.  We also give you a curated preview of literary events in this year's Brighton Fringe Festival which runs through May. Our next book club book is DAZZLING by Sussex-based Chikodili Emelum.  Please rate, review and subscribe! You can contact us via email at btnbookclub@gmail.com and on Instagram at @btnbookclub.

This month we're talking all things romance in books. Anna speaks to Joseph Murray about his new novel, FLING, a laugh out loud Irish romantic comedy which follows a couple who both turn to a dating app when they face problems in their relationship. She talks to Julia Boggio about SHOOTERS, her romantic comedy set in the world of wedding photography, to Charlotte Rixon about the lost love that consumes her new novel THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY, and to Sara Jafari about getting a second chance at love in her new novel PEOPLE CHANGE. Our book club book this month is Jessica George's MAAME. Jess will join Anna to shine a light on her highly-anticipated book. Click here to donate to Afrori books. You can follow us on Instagram at @btnbookclub and If you have an idea for the show, email it to us at btnbookclub@gmail.com.

Christmas is over for another year, and on this episode, we're bringing you three exciting interviews with Brighton writers to help inspire your reading for 2023. I talk to PD Viner about his crime thrillers and his community-based writing routine. I speak to author of Ridley Road, Jo Bloom, about her new book permission which explores non-monogamy in a marriage, and I speak to writer, podcaster and all around Brighton man-about-down, David Bramwell about his exciting projects. Our book club book this month is Women's Prize long listed THE FINAL REVIVAL OF OPAL AND NEV by Dawnie Walton.

We've got a jam-packed Christmas special for you this month. We speak to five writers of Christmas books: Hayley Webster, Alexandra Benedict, Andy Leach, Lotte James and Lizzie Huxley-Jones. I'm joined by Elizabeth Perry who runs through the top 5 fiction and non fiction bestsellers this year and suggest her alternative recommendations that you may not have heard of but need to know about. Subscribe to her newsletter here. I also speak to Yasmin Floyer about our Book Club Book, Claire Keegan's short but powerful SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE.  Please do subscribe, rate and review!

On this episode of the Brighton Book Club, we speak to Brighton icon and crime writer extraordinaire Peter James about everything from bringing the internet to Sussex, to shadowing the police, to the real life Roy Grace. We discuss the kindle Storyteller Award with Ann Girdharry, and we discuss this month's book club book TOMORROW AND TOMORROW AND TOMORROW by Gabrielle Zevin with two readers and book lovers, Laura Price and Lucy Hooft.  Stay in touch with us on Instagram and email us at btnbookclub@gmail.com

We love books and we love Brighton and we love books set in Brighton! Anna is joined by Jamie West, Daren Kay, Sue Teddern and Alison Belsham who talk all about their books set in our fine city. Anna is also joined by Rachelle Atalla to discuss this month's book club book, THE PHARMACIST. Our next book club book is Gabrielle Zevin's Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. 

This episode is packed full of great upcoming book events in Brighton and Sussex as well as some great local authors and publishers. We also discuss this summer's hottest rom com, HONEY & SPICE by Bolu Babalola. We speak to William Shaw about Fatal Shore as part of Shoreham Festval next month; Lesley Wood about The Coast is Queer Festival, Susannah Stevenson about Charleston's Small Wonder Festival. Mark Thompson joins Caitlin to talk about his new book ETERNAL CITY out with Sussex based RedDoor press; and I talk to Brighton writer Helen Trevorrow about her book NEW BRIGHTON followed by a discussion about this month's book HONEY AND SPICE with the book's editor, Katie Packer. 

We are back from our summer break with a jam-packed show. We speak to the new owner of Kemptown Bookshop, Cathy Haywood, about her plans for the shop as well as YA specialist, Remony Hart about her plans for the new YA and kids' section. Caitlin Gleeson speaks to Lily Lindon about her new book DOUBLE BOOKED, and I interviewed Cate Quinn about one of this summer's hottest thriller, BLOOD SISTERS. We are  also joined by the author of this month's book club Chloe Timms' to talk about her wonderful novel, THE SEAWOMEN. The Book Club is also available as a podcast which you can download from wherever you get yours.  Our next book club book is HONEY AND SPICE by Bolu Babalola. The Book Club is also available as a podcast, where you can download from wherever you get your podcasts. You can get in touch with us on Instagram at @btnbookclub and email us at btnbookclub@gmail.com. If you're interested in sponsoring an episode, get in touch! 

It's our Summer Reads Special and we have a jam-packed episode for you this month, full of fabulous book recommendations from Caitlin Gleeson at City Books, a great interview with Laura Kay about her Brighton-based new book TELL ME EVERYTHING, a chat with Carolynn Bain about Brighton's very own Book Festival at the end of June. We also have the pleasure of speaking to the author of this month's book club book, Dolen Perkins Valdez about her spellbinding novel TAKE MY HAND. And to top it off, we speak to J.E. Seuk about her role in creating Brighton and Beyond, an exciting new anthology! We'll be taking a short break over the summer but will be back at the end of July with a new show. If you're missing great book and author content, you'll be able to find Anna over at global writing club, Jericho Writers, where she heads up their online and offline events programme. Their Summer Festival of Writing is free to members at just under £11 a month. For this, you can catch over 30 events with some wonderful writers such as Louise O'Neill, Paula Hawkins, Manjeet Mann, Cathy Rentzenbrink, and the author of our next book club book, Chloe Timms, who's debut novel THE SEAWOMEN is out very soon! 

On this episode, we take a deep dive into one of this year's most highly anticipated thrillers DO NO HARM with Brighton-based writer Jack Jordan, who also sticks around to talk about our book club book FINGERSMITH by Sarah Waters. We talk to our wonderful sponsor Brighton Fringe and Hammer and Tongue tell us about their poetry slams and we also talk poetry with bookseller and writer Erica Gillingham, who's new collection THE HUMAN BODY IS A HIVE is out now. Our next episode is a Summer Reads special and we'll be talking to Laura Kay amongst some other fab writers with books out this summer as well as hearing about the very exciting Brighton and Beyond anthology which I'm honoured to have worked on. Our next book club book is Dolen Perkins-Valdez's TAKE MY HAND.

On this episode, we talk to three Brighton-based writers of Historical fiction: Fran Quinn, author of THE SMALLEST MAN, Jacquie Bloese, author of THE FRENCH HOUSE and Caraline Brown, author of THE CANDLELIT MENAGERIE. Caitlin Gleeson speaks to art historian and curator Alexandra Loske, curator at Royal Pavilion and Brighton Museums, and Anna discusses this month's book club book – Toni Morrison's only short story – RECITATIF with fellow book podcaster, Sarah Ozo-Irabor from Books & Rhymes. Our next episode is a Brighton Fringe special We'll be joined by some amazing guests who are performing at the landmark festival. Their programme is out now, so get booking your tickets! We'll also be joined by Brighton-based thriller writer, Jack Jordan, introducing his forthcoming book, DO NO HARM. Our next book club book – inspired by Jack – is Sarah Walters' Fingersmith.