Podcast appearances and mentions of Victoria Hislop

Simon and Rachel speak to the journalist and author Ben Macintyre. Ben is the bestselling author of books including "A Spy Among Friends", "Agent Sonya", "Agent Zigzag", "Colditz", "Operation Mincemeat", "SAS: Rogue Heroes" and "The Spy and the Traitor". He is a columnist and Associate Editor at The Times, and has worked as the newspaper's correspondent in New York, Paris and Washington. Several of his books have been made into films and television series, including "Operation Mincemeat", "A Spy Among Friends" and "SAS: Rogue Heroes". We spoke to Ben about his work as a journalist for The Times, his long journey to becoming a successful non-fiction author, and his latest book, "The Siege", about the Iranian embassy hostage crisis - and subsequent special-forces raid - in London in 1980. We've made another update for those ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠who support the podcast on the crowdfunding site Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We've added 40 pages of new material to the package of successful article pitches that goes to anyone who supports the show with $5 per month or more, including new pitches to the New York Times, the Washington Post and the BBC. The whole compendium now runs to a whopping 160 pages. For Patreons who contribute $10/month we're now also releasing bonus mini-episodes. Thanks to our sponsor, Scrivener, the first ten new signs-ups at $10/month will receive a lifelong license to Scrivener worth £55/$59.99 (eight are left). This specialist word-processing software helps you organise long writing projects such as novels, academic papers and even scripts. Other Patreon rewards include signed copies of the podcast book and the opportunity to take part in a monthly call with Simon and Rachel.A new edition of “Always Take Notes: Advice From Some Of The World's Greatest Writers” - a book drawing on our podcast interviews - is available now. The updated version now includes insights from over 100 past guests on the podcast, with new contributions from Harlan Coben, Victoria Hislop, Lee Child, Megan Nolan, Jhumpa Lahiri, Philippa Gregory, Jo Nesbø, Paul Theroux, Hisham Matar and Bettany Hughes. You can order it via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waterstones⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.You can find us online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alwaystakenotes.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on Twitter @takenotesalways and on Instagram @alwaystakenotes. Always Take Notes is presented by Simon Akam and Rachel Lloyd, and produced by Artemis Irvine. Our music is by Jessica Dannheisser and our logo was designed by James Edgar.

Rachel and Simon speak to the novelist and journalist Diana Evans. Born and brought up in London and Lagos, Diana started her career as a journalist. She has written for publications including the Guardian, Harper's Bazaar, the New York Review of Books, Time and Vogue. After she completed an MA in Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia, Diana published her debut novel, “26a”, in 2005; the book won the inaugural Orange Award for New Writers and was shortlisted for the Whitbread First Novel and the Commonwealth Best First Book. “The Wonder”, which drew on Diana's own experience as a dancer, followed in 2009. Diana's third novel, “Ordinary People” (2018), was widely feted: it won the South Bank Sky Arts Award for Literature and was shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction, the Rathbones Folio Prize and the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction. Her fourth book, “A House for Alice” (2023), was also shortlisted for the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction. We spoke to Diana about “I Want to Talk to You and Other Conversations”, a collection of her journalism, publishing “26a” and moving between fiction and non-fiction. We've made another update for those ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠who support the podcast on the crowdfunding site Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We've added 40 pages of new material to the package of successful article pitches that goes to anyone who supports the show with $5 per month or more, including new pitches to the New York Times, the Washington Post and the BBC. The whole compendium now runs to a whopping 160 pages. For Patreons who contribute $10/month we're now also releasing bonus mini-episodes. Thanks to our sponsor, Scrivener, the first ten new signs-ups at $10/month will receive a lifelong license to Scrivener worth £55/$59.99 (nine are left). This specialist word-processing software helps you organise long writing projects such as novels, academic papers and even scripts. Other Patreon rewards include signed copies of the podcast book and the opportunity to take part in a monthly call with Simon and Rachel.A new edition of “Always Take Notes: Advice From Some Of The World's Greatest Writers” - a book drawing on our podcast interviews - is available now. The updated version now includes insights from over 100 past guests on the podcast, with new contributions from Harlan Coben, Victoria Hislop, Lee Child, Megan Nolan, Jhumpa Lahiri, Philippa Gregory, Jo Nesbø, Paul Theroux, Hisham Matar and Bettany Hughes. You can order it via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waterstones⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.You can find us online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alwaystakenotes.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on Twitter @takenotesalways and on Instagram @alwaystakenotes. Always Take Notes is presented by Simon Akam and Rachel Lloyd, and produced by Artemis Irvine. Our music is by Jessica Dannheisser and our logo was designed by James Edgar.

Celebrated historical fiction author, Victoria Hislop, speaks to Matt Stadlen as part of Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival 2024. Her latest novel, The Figurine, weaves a tale of history, art and love. Hislop discusses her first foray into the world of archeology as well as the inspiration behind the novel, the significance of cultural heritage and her passion for Greek history. Podcast Music by Joseph McDade

Simon and Rachel speak to the novelist and non-fiction writer Andrew O'Hagan. Born in Glasgow, Andrew is the author of seven novels – including "Be Near Me", "Mayflies" and  "Caledonian Road" – and three books of non-fiction: "The Missing", "The Atlantic Ocean" and "The Secret Life". He is editor at large at the London Review of Books and has written over 150 pieces for the publication, starting with a Diary in 1993 about James Bulger's murder and the cruelty of children to other children. Other LRB pieces have covered the sinking of his grandfather's ship, the Grenfell Tower disaster and Prince Harry. Andrew has has been nominated for the Booker Prize, was voted one of Granta's Best of Young British Novelists in 2003, and won the E. M. Forster Prize from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. We spoke to him about coming to London from Scotland and making his way, combining journalism and fiction, and his latest novel, "Caledonian Road". We've also made another update for those ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠who support the podcast on the crowdfunding site Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We've added 40 new pages of material to the package of successful article pitches that goes to anyone who supports the show with $5 per month or more, including new pitches to the New York Times, the Washington Post and the BBC. This means the whole compendium now runs to a whopping 160 pages. And we're excited to announce that for people who contribute $10/month we're now releasing bonus mini-episodes. If you'd like to know what these will sound like, there's a sample episode with Lee Child that you can listen to for free on our Patreon now. Thanks to the help of our sponsors, Scrivener, the first ten new signs-ups at $10/month will additionally receive a lifelong license to Scrivener worth £55/$59.99. This specialist word-processing software helps you organise long writing projects such as novels, academic papers and even scripts. But we only have ten to give out so, if you're interested, please check it out as soon as you can. Other Patreon rewards include signed copies of our podcast book (see below) and the opportunity to take part in a monthly call with the two of us to workshop your own pitches and writing projects. A new edition of “Always Take Notes: Advice From Some Of The World's Greatest Writers” - a book drawing on our podcast interviews - is available now. The updated version now includes insights from over 100 past guests on the podcast, with new contributions from Harlan Coben, Victoria Hislop, Lee Child, Megan Nolan, Jhumpa Lahiri, Philippa Gregory, Jo Nesbø, Paul Theroux, Hisham Matar and Bettany Hughes. You can order it via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waterstones⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.You can find us online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alwaystakenotes.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on Twitter @takenotesalways and on Instagram @alwaystakenotes. Always Take Notes is presented by Simon Akam and Rachel Lloyd, and produced by Artemis Irvine. Our music is by Jessica Dannheisser and our logo was designed by James Edgar.

Rachel and Simon speak to the novelist and non-fiction writer Dani Shapiro. Dani is the author of 11 books; her memoirs include "Slow Motion", "Devotion", "Still Writing" and "Hourglass". "Inheritance", about the secret that had been hidden from Dani by her parents for more than 50 years, was a bestseller. Dani has also written novels including "Black & White", "Family History" and "Signal Fires"; the latter was named a best book of 2022 by NPR, Time magazine and the Washington Post, among others. Alongside writing, Dani hosts a podcast, "Family Secrets", and teaches writing workshops around the world. We spoke to Dani about her celebrated early memoir, "Slow Motion", about moving between fiction and writing about her own life, and about "Inheritance", an investigation into her parentage. We've also made another update for those ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠who support the podcast on the crowdfunding site Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We've added 40 new pages of material to the package of successful article pitches that goes to anyone who supports the show with $5 per month or more, including new pitches to the New York Times, the Washington Post and the BBC. This means the whole compendium now runs to a whopping 160 pages. And we're excited to announce that for people who contribute $10/month we're now releasing bonus mini-episodes. If you'd like to know what these will sound like, there's a sample episode with Lee Child that you can listen to for free on our Patreon now. Thanks to the help of our sponsors, Scrivener, the first ten new signs-ups at $10/month will additionally receive a lifelong license to Scrivener worth £55/$59.99. This specialist word-processing software helps you organise long writing projects such as novels, academic papers and even scripts. But we only have ten to give out so, if you're interested, please check it out as soon as you can. Other Patreon rewards include signed copies of our podcast book (see below) and the opportunity to take part in a monthly call with the two of us to workshop your own pitches and writing projects. A new edition of “Always Take Notes: Advice From Some Of The World's Greatest Writers” - a book drawing on our podcast interviews - is available now. The updated version now includes insights from over 100 past guests on the podcast, with new contributions from Harlan Coben, Victoria Hislop, Lee Child, Megan Nolan, Jhumpa Lahiri, Philippa Gregory, Jo Nesbø, Paul Theroux, Hisham Matar and Bettany Hughes. You can order it via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waterstones⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.You can find us online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alwaystakenotes.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on Twitter @takenotesalways and on Instagram @alwaystakenotes. Always Take Notes is presented by Simon Akam and Rachel Lloyd, and produced by Artemis Irvine. Our music is by Jessica Dannheisser and our logo was designed by James Edgar.

Simon and Rachel speak with ⁠Joshi Herrmann⁠, the founder of local journalism startup ⁠Mill Media⁠. Joshi founded The Mill, a newsletter covering Greater Manchester, as a one-man band in June 2020. The company now has staff writers and editors across six British cities: Manchester⁠, ⁠Glasgow,⁠ Birmingham, ⁠Liverpool⁠, Sheffield and ⁠London⁠. Mill Media is known for deeply reported long reads and its paid newsletter model; it is read by more than 150,000 email subscribers. The company has received investment from figures including Sir Mark Thompson, chief executive of CNN and a former BBC director-general. Joshi was formerly editor-in-chief of ⁠Tab Media⁠, and he has reported for the Times, the Telegraph, the Guardian and the London Evening Standard. We spoke to Joshi about ⁠working at the Standard⁠, his stints at the Tab, and his current venture, which is looking to reinvent local journalism.We have recently also overhauled our offer for those ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠who support the podcast on the crowdfunding site Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Our central reward is a - now greatly expanded - sheaf of successful journalistic pitches, which we've solicited from friends of Always Take Notes. In the package we now have successful pitches to, among others, the New York Times, the Guardian, the New Yorker, the Financial Times, the Economist, the London Review of Books, Vanity Fair, Outside magazine, the Spectator, the Sunday Times, Esquire, Granta, the Literary Review, Prospect, Bloomberg Businessweek and GQ. Anyone who supports the show with $5 per month or more will receive the full compendium. Other rewards include signed copies of our podcast book (see below) and the opportunity to take part in a monthly call with the two of us to workshop your own pitches and writing projects. A new edition of “Always Take Notes: Advice From Some Of The World's Greatest Writers” - a book drawing on our podcast interviews - is available now. The updated version now includes insights from over 100 past guests on the podcast, with new contributions from Harlan Coben, Victoria Hislop, Lee Child, Megan Nolan, Jhumpa Lahiri, Philippa Gregory, Jo Nesbø, Paul Theroux, Hisham Matar and Bettany Hughes. You can order it via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waterstones⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.You can find us online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alwaystakenotes.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on Twitter @takenotesalways and on Instagram @alwaystakenotes. Always Take Notes is presented by Simon Akam and Rachel Lloyd, and produced by Artemis Irvine. Our music is by Jessica Dannheisser and our logo was designed by James Edgar.

Rachel and Simon speak with the novelist Nnedi Okorafor. Nnedi is a prolific writer of science fiction and fantasy for adults, young adults and children; her best-known titles include the "Binti" trilogy, "Lagoon", the "Nsibidi Script" series and "Who Fears Death". Nnedi has won the Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature as well as the Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, Locus and Lodestar awards. Several of her books are currently being adapted for TV. We spoke to Nnedi about the hospital stay that led her to start writing, breaking into the worlds of science fiction and fantasy, and her latest novel, "Death of the Author". We have recently also overhauled our offer for those ⁠⁠⁠⁠who support the podcast on the crowdfunding site Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠. Our central reward is a - now greatly expanded - sheaf of successful journalistic pitches, which we've solicited from friends of Always Take Notes. In the package we now have successful pitches to, among others, the New York Times, the Guardian, the New Yorker, the Financial Times, the Economist, the London Review of Books, Vanity Fair, Outside magazine, the Spectator, the Sunday Times, Esquire, Granta, the Literary Review, Prospect, Bloomberg Businessweek and GQ. Anyone who supports the show with $5 per month or more will receive the full compendium. Other rewards include signed copies of our podcast book (see below) and the opportunity to take part in a monthly call with the two of us to workshop your own pitches and writing projects. A new edition of “Always Take Notes: Advice From Some Of The World's Greatest Writers” - a book drawing on our podcast interviews - is available now. The updated version now includes insights from over 100 past guests on the podcast, with new contributions from Harlan Coben, Victoria Hislop, Lee Child, Megan Nolan, Jhumpa Lahiri, Philippa Gregory, Jo Nesbø, Paul Theroux, Hisham Matar and Bettany Hughes. You can order it via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waterstones⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.You can find us online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alwaystakenotes.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on Twitter @takenotesalways and on Instagram @alwaystakenotes. Always Take Notes is presented by Simon Akam and Rachel Lloyd, and produced by Artemis Irvine. Our music is by Jessica Dannheisser and our logo was designed by James Edgar.

Simon and Rachel speak to the novelist Ben Okri. Born in Minna, Nigeria, Ben came to England as a child. He attended school in London before returning to Africa with his parents on the eve of the Nigerian Civil War. He came once more to the UK in 1978 and studied at Essex University. Two years later he published his first novel "Flowers and Shadows". A second, "The Landscapes Within", appeared two years afterwards, before two collections of short stories in 1986 and 1988. In 1991 his novel "The Famished Road" won the Booker Prize, the first time a black writer received that award. Ben's subsequent work includes the novel "Astonishing the Gods" (chosen by the BBC in 2019 as "one of the 100 novels that has shaped our world"), the epic poem "Mental Fight" and the play "The Outsider". We spoke to Ben about his early life in Nigeria and Britain, winning the Booker Prize, and his latest novel, "Madame Sosostris & the Festival for the Broken-Hearted". We have recently also overhauled our offer for those ⁠⁠⁠who support the podcast on the crowdfunding site Patreon⁠⁠⁠. Our central reward is a - now greatly expanded - sheaf of successful journalistic pitches, which we've solicited from friends of Always Take Notes. In the package we now have successful pitches to, among others, the New York Times, the Guardian, the New Yorker, the Financial Times, the Economist, the London Review of Books, Vanity Fair, Outside magazine, the Spectator, the Sunday Times, Esquire, Granta, the Literary Review, Prospect, Bloomberg Businessweek and GQ. Anyone who supports the show with $5 per month or more will receive the full compendium. Other rewards include signed copies of our podcast book (see below) and the opportunity to take part in a monthly call with the two of us to workshop your own pitches and writing projects. A new edition of “Always Take Notes: Advice From Some Of The World's Greatest Writers” - a book drawing on our podcast interviews - is available now. The updated version now includes insights from over 100 past guests on the podcast, with new contributions from Harlan Coben, Victoria Hislop, Lee Child, Megan Nolan, Jhumpa Lahiri, Philippa Gregory, Jo Nesbø, Paul Theroux, Hisham Matar and Bettany Hughes. You can order it via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waterstones⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.You can find us online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alwaystakenotes.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on Twitter @takenotesalways and on Instagram @alwaystakenotes. Always Take Notes is presented by Simon Akam and Rachel Lloyd, and produced by Artemis Irvine. Our music is by Jessica Dannheisser and our logo was designed by James Edgar.

Rachel and Simon speak to the author and academic Clair Wills. She is the Regius Professor of English Literature at the University of Cambridge and the author of several non-fiction books. ⁠"That Neutral Island: A History of Ireland During the Second World War"⁠, published in 2007, won the PEN Hessell-Tiltman History Prize; ⁠"Lovers and Strangers: An Immigrant History of Post-War Britain" ⁠(2017) won the Irish Times International Non-Fiction Book of the Year and was shortlisted for the Orwell Prize. Her latest book, ⁠"⁠⁠Missing Persons, Or My Grandmother's Secrets"⁠ (2024), won Non-Fiction Book of the Year at the Irish Book Awards. We spoke to Clair about combining an academic career with writing for a broad audience, her insider/outsider perspective on Irish culture, and writing about her family and Ireland's Mother and Baby Homes in "Missing Persons". We have recently also overhauled our offer for those ⁠⁠who support the podcast on the crowdfunding site Patreon⁠⁠. Our central reward is a - now greatly expanded - sheaf of successful journalistic pitches, which we've solicited from friends of Always Take Notes. In the package we now have successful pitches to, among others, the New York Times, the Guardian, the New Yorker, the Financial Times, the Economist, the London Review of Books, Vanity Fair, Outside magazine, the Spectator, the Sunday Times, Esquire, Granta, the Literary Review, Prospect, Bloomberg Businessweek and GQ. Anyone who supports the show with $5 per month or more will receive the full compendium. Other rewards include signed copies of our podcast book (see below) and the opportunity to take part in a monthly call with the two of us to workshop your own pitches and writing projects. A new edition of “Always Take Notes: Advice From Some Of The World's Greatest Writers” - a book drawing on our podcast interviews - is available now. The updated version now includes insights from over 100 past guests on the podcast, with new contributions from Harlan Coben, Victoria Hislop, Lee Child, Megan Nolan, Jhumpa Lahiri, Philippa Gregory, Jo Nesbø, Paul Theroux, Hisham Matar and Bettany Hughes. You can order it via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waterstones⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.You can find us online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alwaystakenotes.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on Twitter @takenotesalways and on Instagram @alwaystakenotes. Always Take Notes is presented by Simon Akam and Rachel Lloyd, and produced by Artemis Irvine. Our music is by Jessica Dannheisser and our logo was designed by James Edgar.

Simon and Rachel speak with the novelist Tim Winton. Widely considered one of the greatest living Australian writers, Tim has written 13 novels; his work has been translated into 28 languages. Since his first novel, "An Open Swimmer", won The Australian/Vogel Literary Award in 1981, he has also won the Miles Franklin Literary Award - the most prestigious prize for Australian writing - four times, for "Shallows", "Cloudstreet", "Dirt Music" and "Breath". Tim, who lives in Western Australia, has also twice been shortlisted for the Booker Prize for "The Riders" and "Dirt Music". We spoke to Tim about writing and publishing his debut book in his early 20s, his views on Australian literary culture, and about "Juice", his latest novel, set in a post-apocalyptic future ravaged by climate change. We have recently also overhauled our offer for those who support the podcast on the crowdfunding site Patreon. Our central reward is a - now greatly expanded - sheaf of successful journalistic pitches, which we've solicited from friends of Always Take Notes. In the package we now have successful pitches to, among others, the New York Times, the Guardian, the New Yorker, the Financial Times, the Economist, the London Review of Books, Vanity Fair, Outside magazine, the Spectator, the Sunday Times, Esquire, Granta, the Literary Review, Prospect, Bloomberg Businessweek and GQ. Anyone who supports the show with $5 per month or more will receive the full compendium. Other rewards include signed copies of our podcast book (see below) and the opportunity to take part in a monthly call with the two of us to workshop your own pitches and writing projects. A new edition of “Always Take Notes: Advice From Some Of The World's Greatest Writers” - a book drawing on our podcast interviews - is available now. The updated version now includes insights from over 100 past guests on the podcast, with new contributions from Harlan Coben, Victoria Hislop, Lee Child, Megan Nolan, Jhumpa Lahiri, Philippa Gregory, Jo Nesbø, Paul Theroux, Hisham Matar and Bettany Hughes. You can order it via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waterstones⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.You can find us online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alwaystakenotes.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on Twitter @takenotesalways and on Instagram @alwaystakenotes. Always Take Notes is presented by Simon Akam and Rachel Lloyd, and produced by Artemis Irvine. Our music is by Jessica Dannheisser and our logo was designed by James Edgar.

Rachel and Simon speak with the journalist and author Hannah Barnes. Hannah worked at the BBC for 15 years, specialising in investigative journalism for both television and radio. Prior to joining the "Newsnight" team in 2016, she was a daily editor on the "Today" programme on Radio 4. In 2023 Hannah published "Time to Think: The Inside Story of the Collapse of the Tavistock's Gender Service for Children"; the book was quoted in parliament, became a Sunday Times bestseller and was shortlisted for the Orwell Prize for Political Writing and the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction. In 2024 she joined the New Statesman as an associate editor and writer. We spoke to Hannah about "Time to Think", her work at the BBC and her current role. A new edition of “Always Take Notes: Advice From Some Of The World's Greatest Writers” - a book drawing on our podcast interviews - is available now. The updated version now includes insights from over 100 past guests on the podcast, with new contributions from Harlan Coben, Victoria Hislop, Lee Child, Megan Nolan, Jhumpa Lahiri, Philippa Gregory, Jo Nesbø, Paul Theroux, Hisham Matar and Bettany Hughes. You can order it via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waterstones⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can find us online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alwaystakenotes.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on Twitter @takenotesalways and on Instagram @alwaystakenotes. Our crowdfunding page is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/alwaystakenotes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Always Take Notes is presented by Simon Akam and Rachel Lloyd, and produced by Artemis Irvine. Our music is by Jessica Dannheisser and our logo was designed by James Edgar.

Simon and Rachel speak with journalist and author Michael Lewis. Michael grew up in New Orleans and in the 1980s he worked on Wall Street. His first book "Liar's Poker" (1989) relates his experience at the investment bank Salomon Brothers. His subsequent books include "Moneyball" (2003), ostensibly about baseball but also about the way markets value people, "The Blind Side" (2006) about a black teenager taken in by a white evangelical family who becomes an American football player, and "Flash Boys" (2014) about the legal - but questionable - practice of high-frequency trading. Michael's writing has also appeared in Vanity Fair, the New Republic, and Bloomberg. We spoke to Michael about moving from finance to writing, his subsequent books, and his most recent project, "Going Infinite", on the rise and fall of crypto entrepreneur Sam Bankman-Fried.  A new edition of “Always Take Notes: Advice From Some Of The World's Greatest Writers” - a book drawing on our podcast interviews - is available now. The updated version now includes insights from over 100 past guests on the podcast, with new contributions from Harlan Coben, Victoria Hislop, Lee Child, Megan Nolan, Jhumpa Lahiri, Philippa Gregory, Jo Nesbø, Paul Theroux, Hisham Matar and Bettany Hughes. You can order it via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waterstones⁠⁠⁠. You can find us online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alwaystakenotes.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on Twitter @takenotesalways and on Instagram @alwaystakenotes. Our crowdfunding page is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/alwaystakenotes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Always Take Notes is presented by Simon Akam and Rachel Lloyd, and produced by Artemis Irvine. Our music is by Jessica Dannheisser and our logo was designed by James Edgar.

Rachel and Simon speak with the literary agent Clare Alexander. For the first portion of her career she worked in publishing, starting out in 1973 in the rights department at Penguin; after stints at Hamish Hamilton and Viking she became editor-in-chief of Macmillan and Picador. Clare published first novels by Helen Dunmore, Alex Garland, Amitav Ghosh, Haruki Murakami and Donna Tartt. In 1995, while at Viking, she was the editor of the winners of the Booker Prize, the Orange Prize (now the Women's Prize) and the Whitbread Award (the erstwhile Costa Book Awards) - the first editor ever to achieve this hat-trick. In 1998 Clare became a literary agent. Her client list includes Diana Evans, Helen Fielding, Armando Iannucci, Nicholas Shakespeare, Rory Stewart and Colin Thubron. We spoke to Clare about her early career as an editor, becoming an agent in the late 1990s, and working with authors including Pat Barker, Mark Haddon and Sebastian Faulks. A new edition of “Always Take Notes: Advice From Some Of The World's Greatest Writers” - a book drawing on our podcast interviews - is available now. The updated version now includes insights from over 100 past guests on the podcast, with new contributions from Harlan Coben, Victoria Hislop, Lee Child, Megan Nolan, Jhumpa Lahiri, Philippa Gregory, Jo Nesbø, Paul Theroux, Hisham Matar and Bettany Hughes. You can order it via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waterstones⁠⁠. You can find us online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alwaystakenotes.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on Twitter @takenotesalways and on Instagram @alwaystakenotes. Our crowdfunding page is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/alwaystakenotes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Always Take Notes is presented by Simon Akam and Rachel Lloyd, and produced by Artemis Irvine. Our music is by Jessica Dannheisser and our logo was designed by James Edgar.

Simon and Rachel speak to the author and lawyer Philippe Sands. He is the author of books including "East West Street", which won the Baillie Gifford prize in 2016 and the British Book Awards Non-Fiction Book of the Year in 2017, and "The Ratline" in 2020. His latest book is "The Last Colony" (2022). Philippe's work has been translated into more than 30 languages. In parallel to his writing career, Philippe is Professor of the Public Understanding of Law at University College London and a practising barrister at 11 Kings Bench Walk. He frequently appears as counsel before the International Court of Justice and other international courts and tribunals. We spoke to Philippe about combining international law and writing, blending history and memoir in "East West Street", and about representing - and writing about - the Chagos islanders.  A new edition of “Always Take Notes: Advice From Some Of The World's Greatest Writers” - a book drawing on our podcast interviews - is available now. The updated version now includes insights from over 100 past guests on the podcast, with new contributions from Harlan Coben, Victoria Hislop, Lee Child, Megan Nolan, Jhumpa Lahiri, Philippa Gregory, Jo Nesbø, Paul Theroux, Hisham Matar and Bettany Hughes. You can order it via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waterstones⁠. You can find us online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alwaystakenotes.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on Twitter @takenotesalways and on Instagram @alwaystakenotes. Our crowdfunding page is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/alwaystakenotes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Always Take Notes is presented by Simon Akam and Rachel Lloyd, and produced by Artemis Irvine. Our music is by Jessica Dannheisser and our logo was designed by James Edgar.

Rachel and Simon speak to the journalist and author Reni Eddo-Lodge. She started blogging and writing journalism while a student; one post, published in 2014 and called “Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People about Race” eventually led to a book of the same name in 2017. The book won the Jhalak Prize as well as a British Book Award for Narrative Non-Fiction. In 2020, amid the Black Lives Matter demonstrations, “Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People about Race” topped Britain's bestseller list; Reni became the first black British author to achieve that. Elsewhere she has written for the New York Times and Vogue, among other publications. We spoke to Reni about starting out in journalism, writing “Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People about Race” and the experience of its success.A new edition of “Always Take Notes: Advice From Some Of The World's Greatest Writers” - a book drawing on our podcast interviews - is available now. The updated version now includes insights from over 100 past guests on the podcast, with new contributions from Harlan Coben, Victoria Hislop, Lee Child, Megan Nolan, Jhumpa Lahiri, Philippa Gregory, Jo Nesbø, Paul Theroux, Hisham Matar and Bettany Hughes. You can order it via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waterstones.You can find us online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alwaystakenotes.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on Twitter @takenotesalways and on Instagram @alwaystakenotes. Our crowdfunding page is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/alwaystakenotes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Always Take Notes is presented by Simon Akam and Rachel Lloyd, and produced by Artemis Irvine. Our music is by Jessica Dannheisser and our logo was designed by James Edgar.

For the 200th episode of Always Take Notes Simon and Rachel speak with the novelist Frederick Forsyth. He began his career in the Royal Air Force in 1956, before leaving to pursue journalism. Frederick worked for Reuters, the BBC, and as a freelancer; part of his early career was spent covering French affairs, including the attempted assassination of Charles de Gaulle. That provided the inspiration for "The Day of the Jackal", his first novel, which was published in 1971. Frederick's subsequent thrillers include "The Odessa File", "The Dogs of War," "The Fourth Protocol" and "The Fist of God", and he has sold over 70 million books worldwide. He also had extensive involvement with MI6 - the British overseas intelligence agency - starting in the 1960s. Many of Frederick's works have been adapted for the screen, including a new TV version of "The Day of the Jackal", which premiered in 2024. We spoke to Frederick about his career as a foreign correspondent, turning to fiction with "The Day of the Jackal", and his relationship with the intelligence services.  A new edition of “Always Take Notes: Advice From Some Of The World's Greatest Writers” - a book drawing on our podcast interviews - is available now. The updated version now includes insights from over 100 past guests on the podcast, with new contributions from Harlan Coben, Victoria Hislop, Lee Child, Megan Nolan, Jhumpa Lahiri, Philippa Gregory, Jo Nesbø, Paul Theroux, Hisham Matar and Bettany Hughes. You can order it via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waterstones⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can find us online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alwaystakenotes.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on Twitter @takenotesalways and on Instagram @alwaystakenotes. Our crowdfunding page is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/alwaystakenotes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Always Take Notes is presented by Simon Akam and Rachel Lloyd, and produced by Artemis Irvine. Our music is by Jessica Dannheisser and our logo was designed by James Edgar.

Rachel and Simon speak with the novelist Paula Hawkins. Born and brought up in Zimbabwe, Paula moved to London in 1989. She worked as a journalist for 15 years, reporting on business and personal finance. Her first book, "The Money Goddess", a financial guide for women, was released in 2006. She turned to fiction in 2009, publishing "Confessions of a Reluctant Recessionista" under a pseudonym, Amy Silver. Several Silver books followed until Paula published "The Girl on the Train", a thriller, in 2015. The book became a worldwide hit, selling more than 23 million copies, and was adapted into a film starring Emily Blunt. Paula's subsequent thrillers, "Into the Water" and "A Slow Fire Burning", were also instant bestsellers. We spoke to Paula about moving from financial journalism to writing fiction, experiencing huge global success with "The Girl on the Train", and her latest novel, "The Blue Hour". A new edition of “Always Take Notes: Advice From Some Of The World's Greatest Writers” - a book drawing on our podcast interviews - is available now. The updated version now includes insights from over 100 past guests on the podcast, with new contributions from Harlan Coben, Victoria Hislop, Lee Child, Megan Nolan, Jhumpa Lahiri, Philippa Gregory, Jo Nesbø, Paul Theroux, Hisham Matar and Bettany Hughes. You can order it via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waterstones⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can find us online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alwaystakenotes.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, on Twitter @takenotesalways and on Instagram @alwaystakenotes. Our crowdfunding page is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/alwaystakenotes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Always Take Notes is presented by Simon Akam and Rachel Lloyd, and produced by Artemis Irvine. Our music is by Jessica Dannheisser and our logo was designed by James Edgar.

Dans cet épisode, je reçois Véronique Cardi. Véronique grandi en Alsace, élevée par des parents tous deux professeurs ou la lecture est un sport familial. Après des études de philosophie et d'allemand, dans l'optique de devenir elle même professeure, Véronique fait son premier stage aux Editions Philippe Rey qui démarre à l'époque ou elle découvre le métier d'éditrice. S'ouvre alors sous ses yeux un univers idéal ou l'on peut faire de la lecture une partie majeure de son métier ! Véronique entre par la suite au Seuil, puis chez Belfond, First-Gründ avant de lancer sa propre maison d'Éditions, Les Escales. Elle y connaîtra un franc succès, notamment suite à la publication du roman "L'Île des oubliés" de Victoria Hislop qui deviendra un best-seller.  Recevant une proposition en or de la part d'Arnaud Nourry (DG d'Hachette Livre), Véronique arrête Les Escales et prend la Direction Générale de Livre de Poche, filiale d'Hachette Livre en 2014. En prenant à 38 ans les clés de la Maison JC Lattès - Le Masque, Véronique poursuit son ascension, elle qui a déjà reçu de nombreuses distinctions comme Femmes de Culture 2023,  Lauréate des 40 Femmes Forbes 2024 ou encore Young Leaders Franco-Britannique Au delà de sa trajectoire professionnelle, avec Véronique, nous avons parlé de ses maternités pour cette maman de 3 enfants, de l'importance de démocratiser la lecture, de sa définition de l'ambition et de sa manière d'aborder les choses de la vie. Belle écoute !     NOTES DE L'ÉPISODE: Le podcast vous plaît ? Prenez 30 secondes pour le noter 5 étoiles sur Apple podcast ou Itunes, et commentez si vous le souhaitez, c'est très précieux pour moi !

Shownotes:Not many people in the western world have heard of Hansen's disease or Leprosy – for most who are familiar with it arouses fear and aversion. It is a tropical disease that occurs in more than 120 countries, has been referenced in the bible and Victoria Hislop wrote The Island inspired by a visit to Spinalonga, the abandoned Greek leprosy colony, which sold over a million copies.My earliest interaction with the disease was on the Main Street of the city I grew up in. Along the street, one aften came across a small group of people begging for alms, those badly affected being pulled on makeshift carts by the more able bodied. The easiest thing to do was to ignore them or pretend one could not see them or their plight. That was my first experience of shame. Shame at the lack of knowledge, confidence or ability to engage with respect with people disfigured and ostracised by disease. However, this is not about me but about people who are disenfranchised, excluded from accessing healthcare, education, economic opportunities and social support because of fear and misinformation.A couples of months back, I happened to be seated on the same take table at India Week as Sian Arulanantham, head of programmes and research of Leprosy Mission UK. We got chatting about the incredible work they are doing across the world and in India and I invited them to be a guest on my podcast to speak about the important work being done to eradicate an ancient disease that stigmatises and makes outcasts of over two hundred thousand people every year.In this episode of The Elephant in the Room podcast, Daisy Mansfield Policy and Advocacy Adviser at Leprosy Mission talks about the work being done in India and across the world. We spoke about a) how they deliver on their goals in this highly complex geography b) behaviour change campaigns for education and removing social stigma c) Strategies to empower individuals and families d) Roles models with lived experience of disability and stigma e) WHO 2035 goal for eradication of the disease and challenges to getting to the targetThe most important thing to remember is that if detected early, the disease is curable with multi drug therapy (MDT) and the good news is that the WHO has made MDT available free to all leprosy patients around the world (with the help of big pharma).Head to the podcast to listen and see how you can support the cause

Interview with M W Craven about The Mercy ChairAnd Philippa reviews:Double Indemnity by James M CainI Will Ruin You by Linwood BarclayThe Return by Victoria Hislop& The Puzzle Wood by Rosie AndrewsPlus: M W Craven recommends:Nightwatch by Terry PratchettWatership Down by Richard AdamsAll the Colours of the Dark by Chris Whitaker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zon, zee en strand. Dat is de eerste associatie met Cyprus bij de meeste bezoekers. Een enkeling weet het rijke archeologische en historische erfgoed van het eiland te benoemen - het gevolg van de strategische ligging in het oostelijke Middellandse Zeegebied, op het kruispunt tussen Europa, Azië en Afrika. Maar dat Cyprus al 50 jaar een fysiek verdeeld eiland is, met een bufferzone die dwars over dit zonovergoten, maar allesbehalve zorgeloze eiland loopt, dat is veel minder bekend. Sinds de zomer van 1974 is het opgedeeld in een Grieks-Cypriotisch deel in het Zuiden, en een Turks-Cypriotisch deel in het Noorden, met een VN-vredesmacht er tussenin. Dit alles als gevolg van decennialange nationalistische aanspraken en aspiraties van de beide 'moederlanden', Griekenland en Turkije, die uitmondden in etnisch geweld en militaire interventie. In aflevering 70 spreken we met historicus Patrick Gouw over de ontstaansgeschiedenis, de achtergronden en de toekomst van de zogenaamde 'Cyprus-kwestie'. Patrick was in aflevering 23 en 42 te gast om te spreken over de 19e-eeuwse Griekse Onafhankelijkheidsstrijd en de Grieks-Turkse oorlog van de jaren 1919-1922. Veel luisterplezier! Correctie: de staatsgreep en afzetting van Makarios III door EOKA-II vond plaats op 15 juli 1974, op 20 juli viel Turkije Cyprus binnen. De boeken die Patrick aanraadt: De zonsopgang, door Victoria Hislop en Het eiland van de verdwenen bomen, door Elif Shafak. Time stamps 00:00-01:37 – Introductie 01:37-04:48 – Patricks interesse in Cyprus, en sporen van het conflict op het eiland vandaag de dag 04:48-07:27 – Context bij het conflict: de vroegste geschiedenis van Cyprus 07:25-11:31 – De opkomst van het nationalisme in de 19e eeuw 11:31-18:35 – Cyprus als Brits protectoraat: drie grote aanleidingen voor onvrede 18:35-23:30 – De invloed van allianties en beloftes in de Eerste Wereldoorlog 23:30-26:41 – De eerste opstand van de Griekse Cyprioten 26:41-30:36 – De rol van de Griekse burgeroorlog (1946-49) 30:36-35:52 – De jaren vijftig: aartsbisschop Makarios III, en de opstand tegen de Britten ontwaart in een conflict tussen de Griekse en Turkse Cyprioten 35:52-42:29 – De jaren zestig: het uitroepen en opbreken van de Republiek Cyprus, het ontstaan van de groene lijn en de nog altijd lopende VN-missie 42:29-46:45 – Etnische segregatie, de coup op Cyprus door de Griekse Junta 46:45-52:39 – De Turkse militaire interventie in 1974 52:39-56:18 – De totstandkoming van de huidige status quo: verdere etnische segregatie en de uitroep van de TRNC 56:18-01:03:30 – Toetreding tot de EU, het Plan-Annan in 2004 en nieuwe olie op het versteende vuur 01:03:30-01:07:16 – Hoe kijken Griekse en Turkse Cyprioten nu tegen elkaar en het verleden aan? 01:07:16-01:16:00 – Hoe wordt er in 2024 aan beide zijden omgegaan met de nasleep en toekomst van het conflict?

To support the show, for ad free episodes and exclusive content sign up here.On this episode, George and Maria talk about the uninhabited island of Spinalonga. Tune in to hear all about this island, its history and how it became famous.Greek phrase shared on the episode: Spinalonga: An island full of stories: Spinalónka: Éna nisí gemáto istoríes (In Greek: Σπιναλόγκα: Ένα νησί γεμάτο ιστορίες)Mentions:Spinalonga fortress an UNESCO World Heritage: https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5866/Victoria Hislop: https://www.victoriahislop.com/books/the-island/Related blog posts:Exploring Spinalonga: A Journey Through HistoryHow to choose which Greek Island to visit on your next tripThe Best Islands in Greece for Solo Travellers: Unleashing the Perfect Greek EscapeTrekking in Greece; 10 of the best hiking trails in GreeceOther:Do you need more information. Check out the below:7 day detailed itinerary for the region of Chania in Crete. Click here to purchase.Click here to book a Travel Consultation meeting with Maria.Further Podcast Listening:Greek Islands for solo travellersTop hiking trails in GreeceChania Q&AChaniaAnd of course our bitesize Greek episodes! Also, don't forget to check out the My Greek Island website www.mygreekis.land where you can find blog posts to inspire your next trip, travel tips to download on your phone and more. Also give us a follow on instagram and TikTok to keep up to date with the My Greek Island adventures, and for those of you visiting Greece remember to tag us for a future feature.If you liked the episode, feel free to leave a rating and review, and to make sure you are notified as soon as future episodes are released, press the subscribe or follow button on the podcast platform of your choice.There are 227 inhabited Greek Islands, which one will YOU visit next?#MGIPODCAST Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Politicians in The Gambia are debating whether to overturn the ban on female genital mutilation. Activist Fatou Baldeh MBE tells Anita Rani about the impact this discussion is having on the ground and in other countries around the world.Dr. Janine Bradbury is an award-winning poet and critic and a Senior Lecturer in Contemporary Writing and Culture at the University of York. She is also one of the 2024 cohort of ten New Generation Thinkers announced by the BBC and the Arts and Humanities Research Council last week. She joins Anita Rani to discuss her current work which explores the relationship between love, feeling, and reading and her debut poetry pamphlet, Sometimes Real Love Comes Quick & Easy.Singer Abi Sampa has become the first British woman to perform qawwali – a form of Sufi devotional music typically performed by men – at the Royal Albert Hall. Abi, who is also a trained dentist, talks to Anita about her genre-defying Orchestral Qawwali Project which mixes South Asian traditions with western choral music and balancing her careers in music and dentistry. Amanda Ross is best known as TV's Queen of Books – she's also co-founder and CEO of Cactus TV and Executive Producer of Between The Covers on BBC Two. She's created and produced many major book-based campaigns on TV over the last 20 years, including Richard & Judy's Book Club. She personally selects the books featured and has been responsible for launching the careers of many bestselling authors, including Kate Mosse, David Nicholls and Victoria Hislop. Amanda is hosting the Between the Covers Live! UK Tour 2024 and joins Anita Rani to discuss.

Η Victoria Hislop και η επίσης συγγραφέας Ηρώ Σκάρου συναντήθηκαν στο studio της Athens Voice για podcast με αφορμή το νέο της βιβλίο, «Το ειδώλιο», που κυκλοφορεί από τις εκδόσεις Ψυχογιός. Η κορυφαία σε πωλήσεις συγγραφέας στις λίστες των Sunday Time εμπνεύστηκε τη συναρπαστική ιστορία του βιβλίου αυτού από την κλοπή των μαρμάρων του Παρθενώνα από τον Λόρδο Έλγιν. «Το ειδώλιο» θέτει υπό εξέταση το ζήτημα της παράνομης απόκτησης έργων πολιτιστικής κληρονομιάς και το τίμημα της προσκόλλησης σε αυτά. Ακούστε τι είπε όχι μόνο για το θέμα αυτό αλλά και για τους ήρωες των βιβλίων της, την αγάπη της για τη χώρα μας, τα μέσα κοινωνικής δικτύωσης, τη λογοτεχνία και τα βιβλία και πολλά ακόμα.

Bestselling historical fiction novelist Victoria Hislop (The Island, The Figurines) on how she started writing, how she weaves her love of travel and history into her books, the realities of research, and her process for writing books that engineer conversation. We talk about how she evokes a sense of place, how she absorbs a new environment to write about and why she begins with a synopsis before writing a book.*ABOUT VICTORIA HISLOPVictoria Hislop is the international bestselling author of The Island and The Return. In the United Kingdom, she writes travel features for The Sunday Telegraph, The Mail on Sunday, House & Garden, and Woman & Home. The Island sold over a million copies in the UK and has been translated into 24 languages. Victoria's second novel, The Return, has been published in more than a dozen languages.*RESOURCES & LINKSThe Island by Victoria HislopThe Figurine by Victoria HislopWebsite Twitter: @VicHislopFor show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.comFor free writing sessions, join free Writers' Hours: writershour.com

A short special, looking at 2 authors recently interviewed.2 authors. 5 questions. 5 minutesWith:I interview Victoria Hislop about her latest book “The Figurine” and also interview Victoria Selman “All The Little Liars”. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rachel and Simon speak with the novelist Victoria Hislop. After studying English at university, Victoria worked in book publishing, PR and journalism. She turned to fiction in 2005 with “The Island”, a love story set on Spinalonga, Greece's former leprosy colony. The novel was translated into 40 languages and sold more than six million copies worldwide; it was adapted into a 26-part Greek television series, which achieved record ratings in the country. Subsequent books, including “The Return” and “One August Night”, have also been bestsellers. We spoke to Victoria about the origins and development of her interest in Greece, moving from publishing to journalism to fiction-writing, and her latest novel, “The Figurine”. “Always Take Notes: Advice From Some Of The World's Greatest Writers” - a book drawing on our podcast interviews - is published by Ithaka Press. You can order it via Amazon, Bookshop.org, Hatchards or Waterstones. You can find us online at ⁠⁠alwaystakenotes.com⁠⁠, on Twitter @takenotesalways and on Instagram @alwaystakenotes. Our crowdfunding page is ⁠⁠patreon.com/alwaystakenotes⁠⁠. Always Take Notes is presented by Simon Akam and Rachel Lloyd, and produced by Artemis Irvine. Our music is by Jessica Dannheisser and our logo was designed by James Edgar.

Victoria Hislop is a bestselling author and a lover of all things Mediterranean. Victoria's first book 'The Island', came out in 2005 and became an immediate international best-seller. Victoria's subsequent novels have explored the Spanish Civil War, Cyprus and the Greek islands, and she's celebrated for cleverly combining history, culture, family, time and place into fascinating stories. Her latest book ‘The Figurine', is out now and it deals with the contentious subject of acquiring cultural treasures. Now an honorary Greek citizen, Victoria divides her time between Kent and Athens. Presented by Lara Prendergast. Produced by Linden Kemkaran.

Victoria Hislop is a bestselling author and a lover of all things Mediterranean. Victoria's first book 'The Island', came out in 2005 and became an immediate international best-seller. Victoria's subsequent novels have explored the Spanish Civil War, Cyprus and the Greek islands, and she's celebrated for cleverly combining history, culture, family, time and place into fascinating stories. Her latest book ‘The Figurine', is out now and it deals with the contentious subject of acquiring cultural treasures. Now an honorary Greek citizen, Victoria divides her time between Kent and Athens. Presented by Lara Prendergast. Produced by Linden Kemkaran.

My guest this month is the author Victoria Hislop. Victoria has entranced us all with her wonderful stories about Greece. Her debut book 'The Island' became an international bestseller, and her latest is called 'The figurine'. You can hear more episodes of Lady Carnarvon's Official Podcasts at https://www.ladycarnarvon.com/podcast/New episodes are published on the first day of every month.

Bestselling author Victoria Hislop answers some questions about her processes, reading habits, favourite authors and...dancing! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Writing advice from best-selling writer, Victoria Hislop, author of 10 novels, including The Island about a leprosy colony in Greece. The novel became an international best-seller, translated into 40 languages and turned into a 26 part Greek TV series. Her most recent book, The Figurine, is also set in Greece and is a page-turner full of history, romance and family secrets. Join the Two Lit Chicks Book Club on FacebookSupport Julia by buying her booksOrder Shooters here.Order Chasing the Light, Julia's sequel to Shooters, here.Pre-Order Camera Shy here.Keep in touchWe love our listeners, and we want to hear from you. Please leave a review on one of our podcast platforms and chat with us on social media:Twitter: @twolitchicksInstagram: @two_lit_chicksTikTok: @two_lit_chicksEmail: hello@twolitchicks.orgThank you so much for listening.Listeners, we love you.Two Lit Chicks Podcast is recorded and produced by Your Voice HereFor a free 30-minute consultation with Jeremy about podcasting get in touch with the code TLCLOVE.Support the show

Today's other lit chick is Victoria Hislop, author of 10 novels, including The Island about a leprosy colony in Greece. The novel became an international best-seller, translated into 40 languages and turned into a 26 part Greek TV series. Her most recent book, The Figurine, is also set in Greece and is a page-turner full of history, romance and family secrets. In this episode we talk about what she gets up to when she's not writing, her greatest accomplishments, and why she'll never write a sex scene. Join the Two Lit Chicks Book Club on FacebookEmail the government about the PLR changes here. Support Julia by buying her booksOrder Shooters here.Order Chasing the Light, Julia's sequel to Shooters, here.Pre-Order Camera Shy here.Keep in touchWe love our listeners, and we want to hear from you. Please leave a review on one of our podcast platforms and chat with us on social media:Twitter: @twolitchicksInstagram: @two_lit_chicksTikTok: @two_lit_chicksEmail: hello@twolitchicks.orgThank you so much for listening.Listeners, we love you.Two Lit Chicks Podcast is recorded and produced by Your Voice HereFor a free 30-minute consultation with Jeremy about podcasting get in touch with the code TLCLOVE.Support the show

Rencontre exceptionnelle à Athènes avec Victoria Hislop. Diplômée de l'Université d'Oxford, l'écrivaine vit entre l'Angleterre et la Crète. Elle est, depuis 2020, citoyenne d'honneur de la Grèce. Elle fait, par ailleurs, partie du Comité britannique pour la réunification des marbres du Parthénon. Vendu à plusieurs millions d'exemplaires dans le monde, son premier roman, L'Île des oubliés, a été couronné par le prix des Lecteurs du Livre de Poche. Traduit par Alice Delarbre."Quand Helena hérite de l'appartement de ses grands-parents à Athènes, elle est submergée par ses souvenirs d'enfance. Chaque été, alors que la Grèce subissait la dictature des colonels, elle séjournait auprès de sa "giagia" adorée et de son tyrannique "pappou" qu'elle craignait tant.Devenue adulte, Helena retrouve le chemin de la Grèce grâce au séduisant Nick, qui la convainc de l'accompagner sur un site de fouilles archéologiques. Elle redécouvre les beautés de ce pays, mais aussi un versant bien plus sombre, celui du trafic d'objets d'art. Et alors qu'elle pensait avoir définitivement tourné une page sinistre de son histoire familiale avec la mort de son grand-père, elle est conduite à mener une enquête qui lui fera croiser son terrible fantôme et les crimes qu'il a commis.En renouant étroitement avec ses origines grecques, Helena va peu à peu se révéler à elle-même et trouver sa place dans le monde." (Présentation des éditions Les Escales)

Victoria Hislop joins Simon Mayo and Matt Williams for a natter about her latest novel. They discuss the draw of Greek islands, the history of Figurines and what inspired her for this latest book. The history of Greece is vast - and Figurines are a small, but important and fascinating part of it. They're mysterious and beautiful - and they're very sought after too. Here comes the science bit: In her irresistible new novel, Sunday Times No 1 bestselling author Victoria Hislop shines a light on the questionable acquisition of cultural treasures and the price people - and countries - will pay to cling on to them. Of all the ancient art that captures the imagination, none is more appealing than the Cycladic figurine. An air of mystery swirls around these statuettes from the Bronze Age and they are highly sought after by collectors - and looters - alike. When Helena inherits her grandparents' apartment in Athens, she is overwhelmed with memories of the summers she spent there as a child, when Greece was under a brutal military dictatorship. Her remote, cruel grandfather was one of the regime's generals and as she sifts through the dusty rooms, Helena discovers an array of valuable objects and antiquities. How did her grandfather amass such a trove? What human price was paid for them? Her desire to find answers about her heritage dovetails with a growing curiosity for archaeology, ignited by a summer spent with volunteers on a dig on an Aegean island. Their finds fuel her determination to protect the precious fragments recovered from the baked earth - and to understand the origins of her grandfather's collection. Helena's attempt to make amends for some of her grandfather's actions sees her wrestle with the meaning of 'home', both in relation to looted objects of antiquity ... and herself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

And a very Happy Saturday to you! Today on The Graham Norton Radio Show with Waitrose,Kerry Washington has a brand new memoir, Thicker than Water and joins us to tell us all about it.Victoria Hislop is back with a brand new book, The Figurine.And Show Chef Martha is back with Udon noodles.Maria and Graham solve a couple dilemmas in Graham's Guide.There's more on our socials and YouTube, just look up @VirginRadioUK! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sunday Times Number One Bestselling Author, Victoria Hislop author of THE FIGURINE, THE ISLAND, THE THREAD, ONE CRETAN EVNING, THE LAST DANCE, CARTES POSTALES, THE SUNRISE, THOSE WHO ARE LOVED & ONE AUGUST NIGHT.Victoria chats about:Why she thinks keeping diaries throughout your life is very important, not just to writersThe benefits of having no ambition!How her travel journalism and a family holiday led to her first smash-hit novelSeeing her debut adapted to the most successful Greek TV series of all timeBeing a contestant on the Greek version of StrictlyHow bad reviews can be helpful, even if they are woundingGuest Author: Victoria Hislop Twitter: @vichislop IG: @VicHislop Website: https://www.victoriahislop.com/ Books: The Figurine by Victoria HislopHost: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer IG: @mskatesawyer Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer & This FamilyVictoria's recommendations:A book for fans of Victoria's work: Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de BernieresA book Victoria has always loved: The Parthenon Marbles: The Case For Reunification by Christopher HitchensA book that's been published recently or is coming soon: Lessons by Ian McEwanNovel Experience with Kate Sawyer is recorded and produced by Kate Sawyer - GET IN TOUCHor visit https://www.mskatesawyer.com/novelexperiencepodcast for more information.

I interview Victoria Hislop about her latest book “The Figurine” and also interview Victoria Selman about “All The Little Liars”.I also review” The Last Devil to Die” by Richard Osman (as an audiobook) “Invasive Species” by Rachelle Atalla (available on BBC Sounds as a 5 part drama) and “The List” by Yomi Adegoke. Plus a reader's question kindly answered by Quercus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome Bookends to our October Bonus episode where Hannah was joined by the international best-selling author Victoria Hislop to chat all about her latest novel 'The Figurine' Unfortunately Lydia was ill for this episode but Hannah had a wonderful conversation with Victoria about her passion for Greek culture, her immersive research process, the ways in which Emily Brontë influences her writing and so much more. As always if you enjoyed this episode, please do rate, review & subscribe so we can reach more of you! To buy Victoria's book: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-figurine-the-brand-new-novel-from-the-no-1-sunday-times-bestselling-author-of-the-island-victoria-hislop/7498481?ean=9781472263933To follow Victoria and her work: https://www.victoriahislop.com/https://www.instagram.com/vichislop/?hl=en-gbTo follow/contact us: https://linktr.ee/apairofbookendspodBooks & other recs discussed:Fifteen Wild Decembers by Karen PowellWuthering Heights by Emily BrontëOppenheimerBoiling Point - BBC Iplayer Thanks so much for listening, until next time- happy reading! Han & Lyd x

Jane's faffing so Fi kicks things off without her. Once she arrives, they chat high tech pepper grinders, the new book club pick and Miriam Margolyes' rider. Plus, Victoria Hislop joins them to discuss her new novel 'The Figurine'. If you want to contact the show to ask a question and get involved in the conversation then please email us: janeandfi@times.radio Follow us on Instagram! @janeandfi Assistant Producer: Eve Salusbury Times Radio Producer: Rosie Cutler Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“The light on women's sport has never been stronger and it will continue to grow'”. This week on ‘Show Me The Way', I am joined by the amazing Ishveen Jolly, founder and CEO of ‘OpenSponsorship'. Frustrated by the ‘difficult' dealmaking involved while she was a sports agent, Ishveen was inspired to create a solution. OpenSponsorship provides an efficient platform for athletes to connect with brands and become the face of their marketing campaigns. From Christ Bryant to Sydney Leroux, Walmart to Footlocker, the platform has taken the sports world by storm, landing investment from Serena Williams and Ishveen a well-deserved spot on the Forbes 30-Under-30 list in 2015. In this episode, Ishveen gives her unique perspective as a leading woman in the sports industry, discussing the challenges she's faced, her hopes for the industry's future, and the move to ‘focus on female'. Tune in for a fresh perspective on women's opportunities in sport, manipulating misogyny to work for you and the life of a female founder. For Emmeline's Bookshelf: Ishveen recommends ‘The Island' by Victoria Hislop. Recommended by her father, this book fulfils Ishveen's ambition to read more stories. Following the hunt for family history and self-discovery, illuminated by the Cretan backdrop.

Number One bestselling author Victoria Hislop on success, Ian Hislop, celebrity dancing, her love of Greece, the British Museum, her new novel, 'The Figurine', the criminal trade in figurines, cooking, dinner parties, skipping, boxing and tennis.

Celebrated novelist Victoria Hislop joins Janet this week to talk about 'I Am David' by Anne Holm. Victoria describes wonderfully how she remembers the book being to her class by their teacher and also how it inspired her in her own writing.Victoria's latest book Maria's Island is a brilliant children's adaptation of her bestseller The Island. Twice Upon A Time with Janet Ellis is a Hat Trick ProductionProducers are Caroline Raphael and Diggory WaiteExecutive Producer for Hat Trick is Claire Broughton Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anna Ansted has been working with international charity, Lepra, for 9 years. Lepra works in India, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe helping people affected by leprosy. Every day 600 people are diagnosed with leprosy; 50 of those are children. Anna works with schools across the UK to raise awareness about leprosy – that it still exists, that it is curable and with more support, Lepra can help more people. Working with schools for over 50 years, Lepra have develop a schools' programme that offers students key learning benefits with strong curriculum links which embed British Values and citizenship. The programme highlights the importance of charities and the work they do and helps students to understand the role they play as global citizens. As part of Lepra's schools' programme, they have teamed up with Maria's Island author, Victoria Hislop, illustrator, Gill Smith, and Walker Books to develop an educational project, available for schools to download and use for free. The story of Maria's Island, as seen through the eyes of 10-year-old Maria and her family, helps young people understand the challenges people with leprosy face and, most importantly, how they can be overcome. https://www.lepra.org.uk/marias-island (Download the free Educational Project Resource) including a video assembly with a reading by Victoria Hislop, a free Maria's Island PDF extract, and helpful teacher notes that prompt exploration into the book's complex themes. Anna is married with two primary-aged children and is passionate about inspiring children to use their creative talents to fundraise and help make a difference for people whose lives are affected by leprosy.   Website http://www.lepra.org.uk/ (www.lepra.org.uk) Social Media Information www.facebook.com/LepraUK twitter.com/LepraUK www.instagram.com/LepraUK www.youtube.com/channel/UC8Blr8kQMeNtP--vsw7pJfQ?view_as=subscriber Resources Mentioned https://www.lepra.org.uk/marias-island (Download the free Educational Project Resource) from Lepra Show Sponsor The National Association for Primary Education speaks for young children and all who live and work with them. Get a FREE e-copy of their professional journal at https://nape.org.uk/journal (nape.org.uk/journal) 

Czy rodzeństwo zawsze jest sobie bliskie? Czy stygmat przywiera na zawsze? Ile prawdy jest w słowach: nie ma tego złego? Zapraszam na opowieść. :D

Dans le 118e épisode du podcast Le bulleur, on vous présente Kosmos, album que l'on doit au scénario de Pat Perna, au dessin de Fabien Bedouel, édité chez Delcourt. Cette semaine aussi, on revient sur l'actualité de la bande dessinée et des sorties avec : – La sortie de l'album L'île des oubliés, titre que l'on doit au scénario de Roger Seiter à partir du roman de Victoria Hislop, au dessin de Fred Vervisch et c'est édité chez Phileas – La sortie de l'album Les cœurs insolents que l'on doit au scénario d'Ovidie, au dessin d'Audrey Lainé et c'est édité chez Marabulles – La sortie de l'album Total que l'on doit à Ugo Bienvenu et c'est édité chez Denoël graphic – La sortie de l'album La commode aux tiroirs de couleurs que l'on doit à Véronique Grisseaux qui adapte le roman d'Olivia Ruiz, au dessin de Winoc et Amélie Causse et c'est édité chez Grand angle – La sortie de l'album Le monde sans fin que l'on doit au scénario de Jean-Marc Jankovic, au dessin de Christophe Blain et c'est édité chez Dargaud – La sortie de la première partie de Ténébreuse, premier tome que l'on doit au scénario d'Hubert, au dessin de Vincent Mallié et c'est édité chez Dupuis dans la collection Aire libre

The Reader Podcast is back after an extended break with an episode about being bold, taking risks and keeping an eye out for the unexpected.  Gill Smith worked at The Reader's Storybarn, our interactive play space for children and young people, when it opened in 2016. Since then, Gill's gone on to enjoy success as an illustrator – her first collaboration, a picture book of Victoria Hislop's Maria's Island, was released in June. Gill chatted with Annie from The Reader about reading, where she finds inspiration, and she shared some valuable advice for budding creatives out there.     Maria's Island by Victoria Hislop, illustrated by Gill Smith, is available now from Walker Books.     We've been busy over the summer producing The Reader magazine and a new anthology for National Poetry Day, The Road Not Taken.    ‘What If This Road' by Sheenagh Pugh With thanks to Seren Books for permission to use the poem here and in the anthology The Road Not Taken.    Read the rest of the short story ‘The Lumber Room' by Saki here.    

Victoria Hislop read English at Oxford and worked in publishing, PR and as a journalist before becoming a novelist. Her first novel, The Island, held the number one slot in the Sunday Times paperback charts for eight consecutive weeks and has sold over two million copies worldwide. Victoria acted as script consultant on the 26-part adaptation of The Island in Greece, which achieved record ratings for Greek television.Her second novel, The Return, set against the tempestuous backdrop of the Spanish Civil war was also a Number One bestseller. She returned to Greece for her third novel, The Thread, taking as her backdrop the troubled history of the city of Thessaloniki in a story that spans almost a century, beginning with the Great Thessaloniki Fire of 1917. Victoria returns to The Island for her first children's book, Maria's Island, which is illustrated by Gill Smith. In this episode, she talks to Nikki Gamble about this book.About Maria's IslandThe absorbing story of the Cretan village of Plaka and the tiny, deserted island of Spinalonga – Greece's former leper colony – is told to us by Maria Petrakis, one of the children in the original version of The Island. She tells us of the ancient and misunderstood disease of leprosy, exploring the themes of stigma, shame and the treatment of those who are different, which are as relevant for children as adults. Gill Smith's rich, full-colour illustrations will transport the reader to the timeless and beautiful Greek landscape and Mediterranean seascape.

Find out which book got Bex tearing up this week, Victoria Hislop joins us all the way from Greece, and Nat Luurtsema and Sally Gardner read chapters of Opie Jones and The TINDIMS in this weeks Book Worms episode! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome back to week twenty-two of The Graham Norton Radio Show with Waitrose!Graham and trusty accomplice Maria McErlane help with your dilemmas in Graham's Guide.This week:As the West End reopens, Emerald Fennell & Carrie Hope Fletcher join us live in the studio to chat all about the brand new Andrew Lloyd Webber production of Cinderella.International Bestseller Victoria Hislop celebrates her brand new hardback, "Maria's Island".Writer and author Matt Cain talks to us about his new love story, "The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle". Also Matt gives us more information on his brand new show on the brand new pop up station, Virgin Radio Pride. And, brand new to us we have our own Show Chef, Martha Collison. She chats to us about this weekend's recipes provided by Waitrose.Graham will be back on your radio in The Graham Norton Radio Show with Waitrose on Saturday and Sunday from 09:30am on Virgin Radio UK.Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to hear all the highlights every week! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Take Five by Dave Brubeck and Pio Poli by Michalis Hatzigiannis

Big Zuu joins Nikki Bedi and Richard Coles. The rapper started teaching himself to cook when he was 9 and is now combining a career in music with his passion for food. Listener Shobha Edgell is a former barrister who, after retirement, took up walking football, as well as being an extra in television and film. Hamish de Bretton Gordon is a chemical weapons expert who also has a heart condition called Sudden Death Syndrome. Victoria Hislop shares her Inheritance Tracks: Take Five by Dave Brubeck and Pio Poli by Michalis Hatzigiannis. Rick Stanton is a cave diver who, in the summer of 2018, was one of the lead divers involved in the rescue of a trapped football team from a flooded cave in Thailand. The second series of Big Zuu’s Big Eats starts on Monday 7th June at 10pm on Dave, and all episodes available as a boxset on UKTV Play from then. Chemical Warrior by Hamish de Bretton-Gordon is out now. Maria’s Island by Victoria Hislop is out now. Aquanaut: A Life Beneath the Surface by Rick Stanton is out on the 10th June. Producer: Claire Bartleet Editor: Richard Hooper

Ever read a book and thought, "I'd love it if (child I know) could read it, but it's still a bit old for them?" Well, Victoria Hislop has solved that problem with at least one of those books, rewriting her novel The Island, as Maria's Island, a book for kids. Jen caught up with her to find out more, and also learned a lot about why leprosy is still a real problem in some parts of the world. Hannah's been chatting about the Celebrating City Women initiative with Wendy Hyde, from The City of London Corporation, and historian Virginia Rounding. Plus, Jen chats Naomi Osaka, mental health and the media, in Jenny Off The Blocks, and it's double Hayley Mills and piss-poor parenting ahoy as we watch 1961's The Parent Trap in Rated or Dated. Tuck in! Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/standardissuespodcast. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Neste episódio exploro o último texto da minha autoria publicado no meu blog, umolharpessoal.blogspot.com . "Os Velhotes Passeiam à Noite" pode ser lido aqui: http://umolharpessoal.blogspot.com/2021/01/os-velhotes-passeiam-noite.html Além disso, volto a trazer dois livros: - Tenho na Estante e já Li: "Dom João" de Molière - Tenho na Estante e Ainda Não Li: "Quem é Amado Nunca Morre" de Victoria Hislop.

  India Hicks’ very British Xmas in the sunny Bahamas, Charles Spencer’s crazily English Christmas in the stately home, novelist Victoria Hislop’s culture-free disaster in Cuba, baker Cynthia Stroud’s noise and laughter in Nigeria, blogger and content creator Eulanda Shead Osagiede getting drunk with her Granddad in Colorado, archaeologist and presenter Ella Al Shamahi’s jellied fish in Poland, comedian and Strictly Come Dancing star Bill Bailey acting out Christmas TV in remote Indonesia, Paul Burge from the When in Spain Podcast on Spanish Christmas going on forever, Danielle Desir, host of the Thought Card Podcast on Christmas in Connecticut, Dr Hassan Shehata miscarriage specialist and former political prisoner partying with the Khartoum Beatles, A Place in the Sun’s Laura Hamilton skiing in Andalucia, Tweeting Goddess Samantha Kelly on a lovely Irish Christmas, poet and author Lemn Sissay creating magical Christmases for care leavers and Rachel Gotto coach and hypnotherapist on how to turn the negative into something memorable and positive.

This week on The Magic Book Club Podcast Tom Price catches up with amazing writer, editor and fashion director Kenya Hunt about her debut book Girl. An American ex-pat, Kenya chats about Trump's America, virtue signaling, and what it's like when your kids have the wrong accent! In the Magic Book Clubs first ever video chat, Tom calls James Blunt to find out just what it takes to be a Twitter legend... and of course, to have a nosy at his Ibiza pad!

Author Victoria Hislop discusses her new novel ‘One August Night’, the long-anticipated sequel to her award-winning work, ‘The Island’. Why has she waited so long to revisit the hugely popular Cretan world and characters she created? It's the Women's FA Cup this weekend between Everton and Manchester City. Everton's Captain Danielle Turner and Jude Morris-King , volunteer Treasurer at the Man City Women Official Supporters Club talk to Paulette about what's it been like for the game under lock down and about the possible long-term impact of Covid-19 on the women’s game. Plus a study at the University of Cambridge, as part of the CanTest collaborative, has revealed that a blood test already available to GPs in the UK is more predictive of ovarian cancer than previously thought. We hear from Cancer Research UK’s head of early diagnosis Dr Jodie Moffat and science teacher Fiona who was diagnosed three years ago. And singer Charlotte Awbery tells us about her journey from waitressing to being a guest on the Ellen Show, and now creating her own music after an impromptu appearance in a YouTube video went viraL Presenter Paulette Edwards Producer Beverley Purcell

Bestselling historical fiction writers Victoria Hislop and Lissa Evans join Joe Haddow for a war of the words. They talk about getting published in their forties, the joys of travel writing, reading each others work and the books they have enjoyed reading recently. For the Book Off, they put "The Shipping News" by Annie Proulx agains Tolstoy's "War and Peace" - but which one will win?? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

'Victoria Hislop's view of history in her novels is, like the writer herself, a compassionate and generous one' Scotsman Beloved author Victoria Hislop returns to Crete in this long-anticipated sequel to her multi-million-copy Number One bestseller, The Island. 25th August 1957. The island of Spinalonga closes its leper colony. And a moment of violence has devastating consequences. When time stops dead for Maria Petrakis and her sister, Anna, two families splinter apart and, for the people of Plaka, the closure of Spinalonga is forever coloured with tragedy. In the aftermath, the question of how to resume life looms large. Stigma and scandal need to be confronted and somehow, for those impacted, a future built from the ruins of the past. Number one bestselling author Victoria Hislop returns to the world and characters she created in The Island - the award-winning novel that remains one of the biggest selling reading group novels of the century. It is finally time to be reunited with Anna, Maria, Manolis and Andreas in the weeks leading up to the evacuation of the island... and beyond.

This week on the Magic Book Club Podcast Tom Price catches up with debut novelist Bolu Babalola. The pair chat about short stories, romance novels and eating paper... Lisa Jewell gives us her writing requirements and Tom hears from Victoria Hislop all the way from a stunning Greek island to talk all about her love of Greece, becoming a citizen and brushing shoulders with Tom Hanks!

This novel is out NOW as a paperback, it was delayed due to Covid.  The gripping new novel by Sunday Times number one best seller Victoria Hislop is set against the backdrop of the German occupation of Greece, the subsequent civil war and a military dictatorship, all of which left deep scars.    Themis is part of a family bitterly divided by politics and, as a young woman, her fury with those who have collaborated with the Nazis drives her to fight for the Communists.   She is eventually imprisoned on the notorious islands of exile, Makronisos and Trikeri, and has to make a life or death decision. She is proud of having fought, but for the rest of her life is haunted by some of her actions. Forty years after the end of the civil war, she finally achieves catharsis.   Josephine talks to Victoria Hislop who sheds light on the complexity of Greece's traumatic past and weaves it into the dynamic tale of a woman who is both hero and villain, and her lifelong fight for justice.  #VictoriaHislop #RadioGorgeous #Greece  Published by Headline @headlinepg

In this episode Philippa chats through the books her Facebook Group are reading at the moment. She reviews “Killing Rock” by Robert Daws and interviews him about the book and the reasons behind its creation. She also reviews “The Goldfinch” by Donna Tartt, “Dark Skies” by L J Ross, “Those Who Were Loved”  (audiobook) by Victoria Hislop and “Rivers of London - Water Weed”  (Graphic Novel) by Ben Aaronovitch. Happy Days!

British author Victoria Hislop first visited Athens as a teenager, during the summer of 1977, and was captivated by the heat, the people … and feta. Since then she’s been back nearly every year and credits Athens as a major source of inspiration for her work, which includes her bestselling historical novel, The Island. In this episode, she takes us on a journey back to 20th-century Athens through her latest book, Those Who Are Loved, and talks about how the city continues to inspire her as an author to this day.

We’re still riding high in Apple Podcasts places and travel charts all around the world, including several days at number 1 in the UK and as high as number 16 in the US so I want to thank you once again for all our loyal listeners and welcome all new listeners.  My guest today is someone I’ve ALWAYS wanted to get on the podcast. This interview was my last trip into the centre of London before lockdown and I went to the stunning The London Library in the beautiful St James Square in Westminster to meet her.  With her best-selling and impeccably researched historical novels, Victoria Hislop has the power to transport you through both place and time. Her books have sold millions around the world and been translated into over 35 languages. A former travel writer she divides her time between Athens, Crete and England and the inspiration for her stories come from anything from a leprosy colony in the Greek Islands to Garcia Lorca’s family home in Granada. I’ve been a fan of her work for a long time so I’m delighted to have Victoria Hislop on The Big Travel Podcast. On this episode we cover: Her latest book Those Who Are Loved about the Greek Civil War (out now in hardback and paperback by August 2020) Her first book The Island selling over 2 million copies around the world and Travelling and writing books (a charmed life!) Starting as a travel journalist The Greek leprosy colony Spinalonga that inspired The Island How the story incredibly ‘emerged’ in the first hour of visiting the island People leaving something of their story behind in a way Feeling like she was almost ‘channelling’ the energy left behind Her second book The Return based in Spain during the Spanish Civil War Being just outside Granada when the idea come to her Garcia Lorca’s Granada family home being spine-tingling The lack of acknowledgment of the Civil War since Franco The mausoleum to General Franco in the Valley of the Fallen The definite sense that people were visiting to pay homage to a fascist Spain’s quietly divided society under Franco People now being brave enough to track family members Lisa’s dissertation (yes really!) on Spanish design reflecting culture The shadow Franco cast over Spain A population in mourning but shops selling out of champagne Being very moved by watching Franco’s recent exhumation to unmarked grave Kitsch souvenirs in homage to Franco Lisa previously meeting Victoria and her husband Ian Hislop on a flight with Martin Lewis the Money Saving Expert Victoria loving Malaga city and its regeneration Malaga previously having a heroin problem Flamenco and gypsy culture encapsulating Andalucían spirit Being almost nostalgic about the Brexit argument now Coronavirus has replaced it! How suppressed cultures can thrive underground in times of adversity The Greek Civil War being a very vicious period in Greece Hundreds of thousand of Greek’s dying from starvation after the Nazis Nazis destroying roads, railways and bridges on their way out The big resistance movement in Greece The communist resistance fighters expecting roles in Government British sending troops to fight the communists in Greece The differences between post-civil war in Greece and Spain Lisa meeting the tourism minister in Athens Loving travel but being slightly conflicted about travel Her children being cross with her for taking unnecessary flights Off-setting flights when possible Feeling if she lived in Greece she would be too tied down in daily life Sunshine being incredibly good for us How the sunshine can make you feel happy The excitement of London But the lure of a laid back lifestyle in the sunshine Travelling frequently to Colombia Long-haul trips at Christmas Working on the TV set when The Island was turned into a TV drama Her poem being turned into a hit song by Greek popstar Eleonora Zouganeli Winning a Sony Gold award for the song

The gripping new novel by Sunday Times Number One bestseller Victoria Hislop is set against the backdrop of the German occupation of Greece, the subsequent civil war and a military dictatorship, all of which left deep scars. Themis is part of a family bitterly divided by politics and, as a young woman, her fury with those who have collaborated with the Nazis, drives her to fight for the Communists. She is eventually imprisoned on the notorious islands of exile, Makronisos and Trikeri, and has to make a life or death decision. She is proud of having fought, but for the rest of her life is haunted by some of her actions. Forty years after the end of the civil war, she finally achieves catharsis. Victoria Hislop sheds light on the complexity of Greece's traumatic past and weaves it into the dynamic tale of a woman who is both hero and villain, and her lifelong fight for justice.

The gripping new novel by Sunday Times Number One bestseller Victoria Hislop is set against the backdrop of the German occupation of Greece, the subsequent civil war and a military dictatorship, all of which left deep scars.

In this episode It’s the power of 3 with three amazing books, audiobooks & graphic novels to choose from! There are 3 Graphic Novels = “Ethel & Ernest” by Raymond Briggs, “The Adventures of John Blake” by Philip Pullman & “Cassandra Darke” by Posy Simmonds. 3 Audiobooks = “Nevermoor” by Jessica Townsend, “Breakers” by Doug Johnstone & “The Vicar of Dibley” by Richard Curtis. Three books = “You Can Change the World” by Margaret Rooke, “The House at Sea’s End” by Elly Griffiths & “The Island” by Victoria Hislop. Plus a listener’s question asking for Philippa’s 3 favourite things about Christmas!Quick

Victoria Hislop presented her book, Those who are loved, at the Oldie's Christmas lunch.The plot centres on Thenis, a woman born in Greece in the 1920s. It tells the story of Greece's twentieth century through the eyes of someone who lived it.

Join Georgina Godwin as she talks to ‘Sunday Times’ bestselling author Victoria Hislop. Her first novel, ‘The Island’, was inspired by a visit to Spinalonga, the abandoned Greek leprosy colony. The book became an international bestseller and a 26-part television adaptation was screened in Greece. Now firmly established as one of our best-loved authors, she returns to Greece for her gripping new novel, ‘Those Who Are Loved’, set against the backdrop of German occupation, the subsequent civil war and a military dictatorship.

Victoria Hislop discusses her latest novel ‘Those Who Are Loved’ and Mark Frith chats about some of the upcoming TV highlights in 2019.

Lily Graham's dual timeline fiction always finds hope in heartbreak - a result she says of being inspired by people who overcome adversity to pursue their dreams. It's something Lily had to learn to do very early in her own life. Hi there, I'm your host Jenny Wheeler and today Lily talks about how she got started in writing, and gives listeners a great opportunity to enter a draw for a signed paperback copy of her book The Island Villa. It's a dramatic tale of two sisters living in a time of fear and betrayal in a beautiful old Spanish villa where the walls whisper secrets. Guaranteed, they say, to appeal to fans of Kristin Hannah and Victoria Hislop. You can enter the draw at Jenny's Facebook author page @JennyWheeler.biz or you can get details in the show notes for this episode on the website thejoysofbingereading.com. That's where you'll find also links to Lily's books and her website. Get your entries in by the end of this month, February 28, (2019) to be in with a chance of winning this fascinating paperback! Six things you'll learn from this Joys of Binge Reading episode: Best advice: start now - you'll only get better!Finding the silver lining - a life long questAppreciating the dark side of sweet romanceLily's "worst kept secret"Enter the draw for a signed paperbackA new series and a new name Where to find Lily Graham:  Website: https://lilygraham.net/ Facebook: @LilyRoseGrahamAuthor  Twitter: @lilygrahambooks What follows is a "near as" transcript of our conversation, not word for word but pretty close to it, with links to important mentions. Jenny: But now, here's Lily.  Hello there Lily and welcome to the show.  It's great to have you with us… Lily: Thank you so much Jenny. It's so lovely to be here. Jenny:   I always like as a good story teller to start at the beginning with the “Once Upon a Time” moment and I wondered if for you there was such a moment when it was like an epiphany. You thought you would like to write fiction and your life would not be fulfilled unless you actually managed to do that, and if so was there a catalyst for it? Lily Graham - Mystery author Lily:  Not quite. I think it's quite a strange thing. From a very young age I just fell in love with books and I have this line in The Paris Secret where my main character Valerie falls into the arms of books the way some people do with men, and that was the story for me. I was always this reader. I don't know when it was but I made this secret pact with myself one day that some day I would do this. I remember it quite vividly. I think I was about nine years old and it was the first time I really tried to write something and it was so appalling and I was really, really devastated. You know, you just can't get something right and everything I tried for many, many years after just fell so short of what I wanted it to look like - the books that I'd been reading and the stories that I loved. But there was quite a thing in me that said 'one day you will write' and then I grew up and I studied journalism which was writing of a kind. I think it was in my 20's that I started writing a novel but it was always this quiet thing you do by yourself. And then my best friend used to read all my material, quite kindly, one day she told me about the Amazon KDP program and she'd been reading so much of my work and she said, 'look I think you should just do this. Just finish one of these books that you've got going and do it.' That was my catalyst moment because it was this project that I could do and I called it "The Lily Graham Project". I was probably about 32 at the time and I took an entire year and I wrote The Summer Escape. At the time it was called An Invincible Summer, and I'd sort of written it about eight years before but it was so horrendous, it really needed a lot of work and I just did it. A Cornish Christmas - Lily Graham I took that year and it was such a great moment and whe...

The New York Times called it a 'powerfully expansive novel' and it was shortlisted for the Booker, but what did Laura's book club make of 'Do Not Say We Have Nothing' by Madeleine Thien? For our regular book club interview we get radical with London's Radical Reading Group and we finish as always with some fresh recommendations for your next book club read. •
 Get in touch with us at thebookclubreview@gmail.com, follow us on Instagram @thebookclubreviewpod, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod, or leave us a comment on iTunes. Drop us a line – we'd love to hear from you. Subscribe and never miss an episode. • Books mentioned on this episode were 'The Concubine's Children' by Denise Cheong, 'The Noise of Time' by Julian Barnes, 'The Rest is Noise' by Alex Ross, 'Ru' by Kim Thuy and 'Brother' by David Chariandy. Terri Jane of the Radical Reading Group talked about 'Close to the Knives' by David Wojnarowicz, 'Your Silence Will Not Protect You' by Audre Lorde and 'Too Much and Not in the Mood' by Durga Chew-Bose. To find out more about the Radical Reading group find them on facebook under Radical Reading London. And if you keep listening to our extra bit at the end we discuss 'Children of Blood and Bone' by Tomi Adeyemi, 'Bleaker House' by Nell Stevens and 'Cartes Postales' by Victoria Hislop. • 
Next up on The Book Club Review is A Far Cry from Kensington by Muriel Spark

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki debate the Sean Hannity phenomenon, battles over the “gayborhood,” and the popularity of running tutus. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: Conservative media personality Sean Hannity has attained new fame thanks to his proximity to President Trump. Niki referred to her Washington Post piece arguing Hannity is more a promoter rather than a kingmaker and to Neil’s Huffington Post article arguing that Hannity is not a journalist. Natalia recommended a 2015 Chapo Trap House episode about Hannity’s persona. As “gayborhoods” have become bellwethers of gentrification, they have also resulted in turf wars. Niki cited George Chauncey’s classic work Gay New York as well as Margot Canaday’s The Straight State. We all commented on the findings of Adriana Brozyn and Amin Ghaziani’s study on “performative progressiveness” in Chicago gayborhoods. Tutus have become a surprisingly common running accessory at amateur road races. Niki referred to Natalia’s Well+Good article on the gendered history of jogging, and Natalia cited “turkey trots” as early examples of casual, and often costumed, road races. In our regular closing feature, What’s Making History: Neil shared Mark Rudd’s New York Times article “The Missing History of the Columbia ’68 Protests.” Natalia discussed her recent visit to the Greek island and former leper colony of Spinalonga and recommended Victoria Hislop’s novel The Island set there. Niki commented on Sarah Seo’s Washington Post piece “Why Our Response to the Starbucks Arrests Must Go Beyond Race.”

The bestselling author of The Island, Victoria Hislop tells Ruth Jackson how she became a born again Christian aged 15 to annoy her atheist parents. Victoria also explains how her faith has changed over time and become more questioning. In part two, Dave Rose meets Terry Storch - the founder of the YouVersion Bible App, which has been downloaded over 280 million times. Terry also opens up about his own failures as well as successes and shares his remarkable testimony.  The Profile is brought to you in association with Premier Christianity magazine. For a free sample copy visit premierchristianity.com/freesample Follow Victoria on Twitter @VicHislop. Follow Terry on Twitter @TerryStorch For more interviews with leading Christians visit premierchristianradio.com/theprofile

Cartes Postales from Greece is an extraordinary new book from Victoria Hislop, the Sunday Times Number One bestselling author of The Island, The Return, The Thread, and The Sunrise. It is fiction in full colour - magical and unique. 'Victoria Hislop writes so vividly about the Med, you can almost feel the scorching heat' Good Housekeeping Week after week, the postcards arrive, addressed to a name Ellie does not know, with no return address, each signed with an initial: A. With their bright skies, blue seas and alluring images of Greece, these cartes postales brighten her life. After six months, to her disappointment, they cease. But the montage she has created on the wall of her flat has cast a spell. She must see this country for herself. On the morning Ellie leaves for Athens, a notebook arrives. Its pages tell the story of a man's odyssey through Greece. Moving, surprising and sometimes dark, A's tale unfolds with the discovery not only of a culture but also of a desire to live life to the full once more. (P)2016 Headline Publishing Group Ltd

Cartes Postales from Greece is an extraordinary new book from Victoria Hislop, the Sunday Times Number One bestselling author of The Island, The Return, The Thread, and The Sunrise. It is fiction in full colour - magical and unique. 'Victoria Hislop writes so vividly about the Med, you can almost feel the scorching heat' Good Housekeeping Week after week, the postcards arrive, addressed to a name Ellie does not know, with no return address, each signed with an initial: A. With their bright skies, blue seas and alluring images of Greece, these cartes postales brighten her life. After six months, to her disappointment, they cease. But the montage she has created on the wall of her flat has cast a spell. She must see this country for herself. On the morning Ellie leaves for Athens, a notebook arrives. Its pages tell the story of a man's odyssey through Greece. Moving, surprising and sometimes dark, A's tale unfolds with the discovery not only of a culture but also of a desire to live life to the full once more. (P)2016 Headline Publishing Group Ltd

Cartes Postales from Greece is an extraordinary new book from Victoria Hislop, the Sunday Times Number One bestselling author of The Island, The Return, The Thread, and The Sunrise. It is fiction in full colour - magical and unique. 'Victoria Hislop writes so vividly about the Med, you can almost feel the scorching heat' Good Housekeeping Week after week, the postcards arrive, addressed to a name Ellie does not know, with no return address, each signed with an initial: A. With their bright skies, blue seas and alluring images of Greece, these cartes postales brighten her life. After six months, to her disappointment, they cease. But the montage she has created on the wall of her flat has cast a spell. She must see this country for herself. On the morning Ellie leaves for Athens, a notebook arrives. Its pages tell the story of a man's odyssey through Greece. Moving, surprising and sometimes dark, A's tale unfolds with the discovery not only of a culture but also of a desire to live life to the full once more. (P)2016 Headline Publishing Group Ltd

Best selling Author Victoria Hislop talks Greece, the evil eye, revenge, tattoos and acrobats. radiogorgeous.com #Greece #Author #AmReading #BookReview #Podcast

Alex Jones and Victoria Hislop talk about their favourite books with Harriett Gilbert.

‘To celebrate Headline’s momentous 30th birthday, we’ve picked ten of our audio titles that we think rather nicely sum up the sound of Headline. With titles from our bestselling authors Jill Mansell, Victoria Hislop, Simon Scarrow and crime queen Martina Cole, as well as the explosive autobiography from reality-TV royalty, Charlotte Crosby, we’ve got something to please every ear. Plug in to find out a little more of what’s to come and keep an *ahem* ear out throughout June, as we’ll be promoting the ten 30-minute tasters across our social media channels: @headlinepg, @TeamBookends, @CrimeFilesBooks and @H_forHistory. Head to Audible UK to download yourselves the full versions of our ten picks and watch out for some absolute steals!’

Writer Victoria Hislop talks about the deserted Greek island of Spinalonga - a former leper colony. Victoria Hislop is a journalist and author. She writes travel features for The Sunday Telegraph, The Mail on Sunday, House & Garden and Woman & Home. Her first novel The Island about the deserted Greek island of Spinalonga - a former leper colony - was published in 2005 held the number 1 slot in the paperback charts for over 8 weeks, selling over 2 millions copies in the UK. The book has also been published in over twenty languages and has also been a number 1 bestseller in Greece. The Island was filmed as a TV series by the Greek TV channel MEGA and has had record-breaking audiences. In 2008, she published her second novel, The Return. 5x15 brings together five outstanding individuals to tell of their lives, passions and inspirations. There are only two rules - no scripts and only 15 minutes each. Learn more about 5x15 events: 5x15stories.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/5x15stories Facebook: www.facebook.com/5x15stories Instagram: www.instagram.com/5x15stories

Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks of Genesis discuss a new documentary about the band and Sarah Churchwell reviews David Mamet's Speed the Plow starring Lindsay Lohan. Also on the programme Jude Kelly and Stella Duffy explain how this weekend they're hoping to fulfil Joan Littlewood's vision of making art and science available to all through the Fun Palaces initiative and Victoria Hislop reveals the real history behind her new novel. Presenter: John Wilson Producer: Ellie Bury.

Carlos Acosta shares his Five of the Best Books and Victoria Hislop on where she writes.

Victoria Hislop has edited a new anthology of women's short stories called The Story. From Helen Simpson to Angela Carter, she explains how she chose her 100 favourites.

Victoria Hislop talks to James Naughtie and readers about her debut novel The Island, a fictional account of a real life leper colony, the island of Spinalonga, just off the coast of Crete. First published in 2005, The Island has now sold over a million copies. Victoria says that when she first went to Spinalonga, as a curious tourist, she had no idea that leprosy still even existed in the 20th century. She thought it had been wiped out hundreds of years ago. Even today, around 500 new cases are diagnosed every year in India and South America. Before writing novels Victoria was a successful travel journalist. On that first visit, her initial idea had been to write a piece for one of the Sunday newspapers, but after fifteen minutes wandering around the abandoned village on the island, she decided to tell the story in fiction instead. The resulting novel tells the story of a family beset by two cases of leprosy in the 1930s and 50s, before the cure was found. In the 1930s, Eleni, a school teacher in the village opposite the leper colony, catches the disease, probably from a pupil. As the pair are exiled to Spinalonga, we see how her husband and two daughters cope in her absence, one of whom will also succumb to the disease some fifteen years later. Victoria explores the shame and stigma of the disease through these characters and their lives and love affairs in a family saga stretching to present day London. October's Bookclub choice : Gilead by Marilynne Robinson Producer : Dymphna Flynn.

Mariella Frostrup talks to Victoria Hislop about her latest novel, The Thread, a romantic saga set against the backdrop of turbulent Greek history. Kavita Bhanot and Pakistani novelist H.M Naqvi discuss issues currently surrounding young Asian writers. And Swedish crime-writing duo Anders Roslund and Borge Hellstrom talk about how they tackle contemporary issues… but not how they work together.

To celebrate Headline's 30th birthday we're giving you the chance to download THE THREAD by Victoria Hislop on special offer throughout June. Don't miss the chance to download THE THREAD by Victoria Hislop on special celebratory offer throughout June. Thessaloniki, 1917. As Dimitri Komninos is born, a fire sweeps through the thriving multicultural city, where Christians, Jews and Moslems live side by side. It is the first of many catastrophic events that will change for ever this city, as war, fear and persecution begin to divide its people. Five years later, young Katerina escapes to Greece when her home in Asia Minor is destroyed by the Turkish army. Losing her mother in the chaos, she finds herself on a boat to an unknown destination. From that day the lives of Dimitri and Katerina become entwined, with each other and with the story of the city itself. Thessaloniki, 2007. A young Anglo-Greek hears the life story of his grandparents for the first time and realises he has a decision to make. For many decades, they have looked after the memories and treasures of people who have been forcibly driven from their beloved city. Should he become their new custodian? Should he stay or should he go? (P)2011 Headline Digital