In the Reading Corner
Episodes
Annelise Gray - Peril in Imperial Rome
15 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Annelise Gray has written a thrilling adventure set in Imperial Rome. Circus Maximus, the greatest sporting stage of the ancient Roman world, where ...
Laura Wood - standing up for rebels
08 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Laura Wood, author of Vote for Effie and Effie the Rebel chatted with me about the importance of taking a stand and making your voice heard. It's...
Maz Evans - watch out Bond, there's a new spy on the block
03 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In The Reading Corner caught up with Maz Evans shortly after the publication of the first book in a brand new series. What do you do one your Mum is a...
Hannah Gold - The Last Bear
25 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Hannah Gold's debut novel, The Last Bear is garnering a lot of attention. It's a heartwarming story about a girl and her friendship with a p...
Neal Shusterman - Game Changer
22 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Neal Shusterman's latest novel Game Changer is a thrilling Science Fiction story. 17-year-old Ashley Bowman is propelled into a sequence of alter...
Tom Percival - making a difference
20 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Nikki Gamble talked to Tom Percival about the inspiration behind his latest picturebook The Invisible. The discussion focuses on th...
James Carter Weird, Wild and Wonderful
08 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
James Carter talks to us about his latest collection, featuring some well-loved favourites and some reworked poems as well as recent additions.Support...
Garry Parsons - reflecting family life in all its diversity
06 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Garry Parsons tells us about two of his recent picturebooks Llama Glamarama, written by Simon James Green - a story which promotes se...
Sita Bramachari - a writer's secrets set sail
05 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Sita Brahmachari talks about her latest novel, When Secrets Set Sail, a wonderful story about sisterhood, stories, freedom, family an...
Adam Baron - This Wonderful Thing
30 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Dr Adam Baron talks to Nikki Gamble about the craft of writing and his latest children's novel, This Wonderful Thing.Support the showThank you fo...
Helen Rutter - The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh
27 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Actress and comedienne Helen Rutter talks to Nikki Gamble about the background to The Boy Who Made Everyone laugh. The idea grew out of Helen's f...
Liz Kessler talks about When the World Was Ours
20 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When the World Was Ours is an important story, a story inspired by family history, a story that needed to be told, but told in the right way. In thi...
Christopher Edge - Space Oddity: the influence of Close Encounters and Bowie
14 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's always a treat to welcome Christopher Edge into the Reading Corner. In this episode, we delve into Chris's latest novel, Space Oddi...
Lindsay Galvin on finding the perfect place for dragons
08 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Lindsay Galvin visited me In The Reading Corner to talk about her new novel Darwin's Dragons. Set on the Galapagos during Darwin's Voyage on...
Professor Hakim Adi - on the history of African and Caribbean Communities in Britain
02 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Why is history important? Who is missing from the history we teach and how can we redress the balance. Professor Hakim Adi shares his expertise on thi...
Armin Greder - creating books about the way the world is, not the way it should be.
30 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Armin Greder joined Nikki Gamble to talk about his latest book, Diamonds. Greder sees himself as a primarily a storyteller, not a wri...
Steve Cole - publishing Doctor Who
27 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Steve Cole talks to Nikki Gamble about his obsession with Doctor Who and some new publishing projects for us to look forward toSupport the showThank y...
Chris Wormell - on illustrating Northern Lights
22 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Chris Wormell talks to Nikki Gamble about illustrating the full-colour gift edition of Northern Lights and the aesthetic experience of traditional woo...
Lucy Strange - The Ghost of Gosswater
19 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Lucy Strange gives us a peek into the secrets that lie behind The Ghost of Gosswater. Snuggle up and discover more about this delicious ghostly myster...
Chris Van Allsburg - a journey from sculpture to illustration
16 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Chris Van Allsburg talked to Nikki Gamble about his approach to illustration.Chris Van Allsburg is an American illustrator and writer of children&apos...
A M Dassu - a Syrian story
06 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A M Dassu joined Nikki Gamble In The Reading Corner to talk about her novel Boy Everywhere and the experience of Syrian families seeking refuge.Suppor...
Matt Goodfellow - Bright Bursts of Colour
05 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Matt Goodfellow discusses the emotional range and childhood influences in his poetry collection Bright Bursts of Colour.Support the...
Ross Montgomery - The Midnight Guardians
29 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ross Montgomery talks to Nikki Gamble about his latest novel The Midnight Guardians.Support the showThank you for listening. If you enjoyed this podca...
Sally Nicholls talks about The Silent Stars Go By
28 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Sally Nicholas talks about the themes in her new novel The Silent Stars Go By.Support the showThank you for listening. If you enjoyed this podcast, pl...
Catherine Bruton - Dickens for the 21st Century
16 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Catherine Bruton explains why she's reworked Dickens for the 21st century... with some clever twists to keep us enthralled.Support the showThank ...
Catherine Fisher - Clockwork Crows and Midnight Swans
15 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Catherine Fisher talks about the final book in her Clockwork Crow series for 'middle grade' or junior readers. The Midnight SwanWith an invi...
Manjeet Mann - Run Rebel
12 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Manjeet Mann talks to Nikki Gamble about her Young Adult verse novel Run Rebel. In this story, Manjeet explores domestic violence, female empowerment ...
Karrie Fransman and Jonathan Plackett -challenging gendered fairy tales
08 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nikki Gamble talks to Karrie Fransman and Jonathan Plackett about their approach to gender-swapping in traditional fairy stories.Support the showThank...
Benjamin Zephaniah - Windrush Child
05 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nikki Gamble talks to Benjamin Zephaniah about his novel Windrush Child. Zephaniah explains the importance of authenticity in historical accounts and ...
David Long - the history of machines or human stories?
04 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nikki Gamble talks to David Long about The World's Most Magnificent Machines and some personal passions. It's all about the human stories, n...
Alex Wheatle - Cane Warriors
31 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
An interview with Alex Wheatle about his novel, Cane Warriors. In this fascinating podcast, Alex talks about Jamaican history and the creative decisio...
Christopher Lloyd - why publish a print based encyclopedia in the digital age?
29 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Christopher Lloyd talks to Nikki Gamble about why a print-based encyclopedia is not an anachronism in the digital age.Support the showThank you for li...
Robin Scott-Elliot - The Acrobats of Agra
18 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Robin Scott-Elliot talks to Nikki Gamble about the personal story that set him on the path to writing The Acrobats of Agra.Agra 1857, the Indian rebel...
Amy Wilson - frost, faeries and missing fathers
08 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Amy Wilson talks about frost, faeries and missing fathers and her novel Owl and the Lost Boy,Support the showThank you for listening. If you enjoyed t...
Finbar Hawkins - Witch
03 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Finbar Hawkins talks about a personal fascination with the Pendle witch trials, and his debut novel, Witch. Set in the 17th century Witch is a story a...
Nicola Davies and Cathy Fisher - a perfect partnership
29 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nicola Davies and Cathy Fisher talk about their creative partnership and their latest book, The New Girl, published by Graffeg.Support the showThank y...
Tom Palmer - After the War
25 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Tom Palmer talks about the real-life story of a group of Jewish boys that were given refuge in the village of Ambleside in the Lake District, followin...
Tania Unsworth - entranced by tigers
22 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Tania Unsworth talks about the magic of India, championing Kiping's Shere Khan and her fabulous new novel The Time Traveller and the Tiger. Entra...
Dom Conlon speaking of hares and the moon
20 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Dom Conlon talks to Nikki Gamble about hares, the moon, kennings, writing poetry and two of his recent books.Support the showThank you for listening. ...
Eve McDonnell - mudlarking leads to Elsetime
17 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Eve talks to Nikki Gamble about her creative life, the connections between painting and writing, mud larking and her debut novel, Elsetime.Support the...
Julia Gray- inspired by Ada Lovelace
12 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Julia Gray tells us about the fascinating life of Ada Lovelace, her fortuitous meeting with Charles Babbage and her unconventional upbringing, Ada is ...
Thomas Harding - The House by the Lake
03 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, writer and journalist Thomas Harding talks to Nikki Gamble about The House by the Lake, a children's version of his adult nonf...
Jasbinder Bilan - an alternative Secret Garden
30 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Costa Award-winning author, Jasbinder Bilan, talks about her children's novel Tamarind and the Star of Ishta, a story set in n...
Anna Fargher inspired by family history
14 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Anna Farger talks about her Umbrella Mouse stories, family history and resistance in the Second World War with Nikki GambleSupport ...
Joseph Coelho - The Girl Who Became a Tree
08 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Joseph Coelho talks to Nikki Gamble about his story told in poems, The Girl Who Became a Tree.Support the showThank you for listeni...
Lucy Cuthew - Blood Moon
25 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Lucy Cuthew talks about her debut novel, Blood Moon. Written in verse, the story deals with a first sexual experience and internet ...
Julia Green - The Children of Swallow Fell
14 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Julia Green talks about her novel The Children of Swallow Fell and the adaptation to change in the face of global adversity. A nove...
Elen Caldecott - The Short Knife
01 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Elen Caldecott talks about The Short Knife, her recent children's novel set in the period after the Romans left Britain.Suppor...
Sam Hutchinson on Critical Literacy publications
28 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Sam Hutchinson publisher at b Small publishing talks about the importance of critical literacy.Support the showThank you for listen...
Patrick Skipworth - exploring borrowed words
20 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this book, Patrick Skipworth talks about his recently published book literally, an exploration of interesting borrowed words in the English languag...
Patrick Ness - Burn
03 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Patrick Ness talks to Nikki Gamble about his Novel 'Burn'.Support the showThank you for listening. If you enjoyed this podcast, please suppo...
Beverley Birch - the Song Beneath
02 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Beverley Birch talks about her latest novel The Song Beneath.Support the showThank you for listening. If you enjoyed this podcast, please support us b...
David Wiesner - wordless wizard
15 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
David Wiesner chats to Nikki Gamble about the development of his wordless art, touching on influences from film and childhood. Listen in for insights ...
Elizabeth Laird - writing the Middle East
02 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Elizabeth Laird talks to Nikki Gamble about living in Lebanon, her interest in the Middle East and writing about Syrian refugees living in Jordan. Sch...
Cerrie Burnell - freedom on the ice
01 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Cerrie Burnell talks to Nikki Gamble about the allure of the north, the freedom of skating, an admiration of polar bears and her ex...
Vashti Hardy - expert world builder
26 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Vashti Hardy talks to Nikki Gamble about world-building, character naming and plotting. she introduces the Darkwhispers, her latest...
Anna James - book wanderer
17 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Anna James, author of the Pages and Co series, talks to Nikki Gamble about book wandering and her life in books.Support the showThank you for listenin...
Michael Rosen talks about The Missing
13 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this podcast Michael Rosen talks about his personal search to find out what happened to two of his uncles who disappeared during the Second World W...
Peter Bunzl bringing Cogheart to a close
07 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Children's author, film maker and animator, Peter Bunzl talks to Nikki Gamble about his Cogheart series.Support the showThank you for listening. ...
Jenny McLachlan - portal to The Land of Roar
03 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Jenny McLachlan talks to Nikki Gamble about her fantasy novel The Land of Roar.Support the showThank you for listening. If you enjoyed this podcast, p...
Ross Welford - the magic of writing science fiction
31 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Ross Welford talks to Nikki Gamble about his children's books, science, fiction and magic.Support the showThank you for listening. If you enjoyed...
Katharine Orton - inspired by frozen worlds
29 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Nikki Gamble talks to Katharine Orton abut her novel, Nevertell.Support the showThank you for listening. If you enjoyed this podcast, please support ...
Tim Marshall - geopolitics for children
27 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Tim Marshall talks to Nikki Gamble about his children's book, Prisoners of Geography.Support the showThank you for listening. ...
Marcus Sedgwick - Snowflake AZ
25 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Marcus Sedgwick talks to Nikki Gamble about Snowflake AZSupport the showThank you for listening. If you enjoyed this podcast, please support us by sub...
Rose Robbins - a voice for autisim
16 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Rose Robbins talks to Nikki Gamble about illustration and her books My and My Sister and Talking is Not My Thing.Support the showThank you for listeni...
Kwame Alexander - choosing who you want to be
02 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
An interview with poet Kwame Alexander, author of Booked, Rebound and Crossover.Support the showThank you for listening. If you enjoyed this podcast, ...
Piers Torday - inpsired by C S Lewis
27 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Piers Torday talks to Nikki Gamble about The Lost Magician and The Frozen Sea and the influence of C S Lewis.Support the showThank you for listening. ...
Chitra Soundar - rooted in Indian folklore
23 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Storyteller and author Chitra Soundar talks to Nikki Gamble about the Indian roots of her stories, recent books and forthcoming publishing projects.Su...
Sue Cheung - Chinglish
13 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The effervescent author Sue Cheung joined Nikki Gamble In the Reading Corner to talk about her fictionalised autobiography, Chinglish.Support the show...
Chris Vick - inspired by the sea
27 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Chris Vick talks to Nikki Gamble about his new novel: Girl, Boy, Sky.Support the showThank you for listening. If you enjoyed this podcast, please supp...
Nadine Wild-Palmer - The Tunnels Below
18 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Nadine Wild-Palmer talks to Nikki Gamble about her debut fantasy novel, The Tunnels Below and treats us to a heart wrenching rendition of One for Sorr...
Andy Stanton - a seriously funny interview
06 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A seriously funny interview, or is that funnily serious interview with Andy Stanton.Support the showThank you for listening. If you enjoyed this podca...
David McKee - a life in illustration
26 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
David McKee taks to Nikki Gamble about a life in illustration.Support the showThank you for listening. If you enjoyed this podcast, please support us ...
Dan Smith - the Vikings are coming
24 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview writer Dan Smith takes Nikki Gamble on a 1,000 year journey, back to the Viking invasion.Support the showThank you for listening. If...
Dean Atta - The Black Flamingo
06 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Dean Atta talks to Nikki Gamble about his new Young Adult novel The Black Flamingo.Support the showThank you for listening. If you enjoyed this podcas...
Zanib Mian - introducing the world of Omar
28 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Zanib Mian, author of Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet talks to Nikki Gamble about her approach to writing and the world of Omar.Support the sho...
Rebecca Stevens - Lily and the Rockets
24 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Rebecca Stevens talks to Nikki Gamble about her novel Lilly and the Rockets, a story about the Woolwich Arsenal women's football team set during ...
Abi Elphinstone - Rumblestar
21 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Abi Elphinstone plays the Name Game with Nikki Gamble and tell us all about her latest novel, Rumblestar.Support the showThank you ...
Kirsty Applebaum - The Middler
16 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Kirsty Applebaum talks to Nikki Gamble about her debut novel, The Middler.Support the showThank you for listening. If you enjoyed t...
Nathan Bryon and Dapo Adeola - Look Up!
12 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Creative Duo, Nathan Bryon and Dapo Adeola pop into The Reading Corner to talk about their debut picturebook and the importance of looking up to see t...
Christopher Edge experiment with time
07 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Christopher Edge talks to Nikki Gamble about his latest novel, The Longest Night of Charlie Noon.Support the showThank you for listening. If you enjoy...
Michael Rosen on reading classic books
05 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Michael Rosen talks about reading, education, classic literature... and his latest picturebook, A Dog's Tale.Support the showT...
Michelle Harrison - A Pinch of Magic
31 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Michelle Harrison talks about her latest novel, A Pinch of Magic with Nikki Gamble.Support the showThank you for listening. If you ...
Gill Lewis - The Closest Thing to Flying
30 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview Gill Lewis talks to nikki Gamble about her latest book, 'The Closest Thing to Flying'.Support the showThank you for listen...
Laura Carlin - the way of the artist
10 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, illustrator Laura Carlin talks to Nikki Gamble about her creative life.Support the showThank you for listening. If you enjoyed this...
Frank Cottrell-Boyce on Reading Aloud
30 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Frank Cottrell Boyce talks to Nikki Gamble about his passion for reading aloud to children. It's not an optional extra, but fu...
Jessica Love - Julian is a Mermaid
16 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview Jessica Love talks to Nikki Gamble about her debut children's book, Julian is a Mermaid.Support the showThank you for listening...
Jewell Parker Rhodes - Ghost Boys
04 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Jewell Parker Rhodes talks to Nikki Gamble about the impetus behind her novel Ghost Boys and why this novel is as relevant today as...
Janina Ramirez - unravelling Viking mysteries
27 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Janina Ramirez talks to Nikki Gamble about her interest in the Viking world and her new historical mystery series for children.Supp...
Rob Biddulph - an eye for design
09 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Join Rob Biddulph in conversation with Nikki Gamble. Rob talks about the influence of his design background and introduces us to his latest project Di...
Philip Reeve - fascination with trains.
06 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview Philip Reeve talks about his Railhead series.Support the showThank you for listening. If you enjoyed this podcast, please support us...
Dianne Hofmeyr - writing The Glassmaker's Daughter
06 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Dianne Hofmeyr talks to Nikki Gamble about her picture book The Glassmaker's Daughter.Support the showThank you for listening. If you enjoyed thi...
Benji Davies - the animator in the illustrator
04 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Benji Davies talks about his picturebooks, the influence of animation and his interest in light and colour.Support the showThank yo...
Karl Nova - from Hip Hop to Poetry
04 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Karl Nova talks about his poetry and how growing up in Nigeria and Hip Hop has influenced his writing.Support the showThank you for...
David Litchfield - making picturebooks.
04 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview David talks about his illustration with Nikki Gamble.Support the showThank you for listening. If you enjoyed this podcast, please su...
Gareth P Jones - hitting the funny bone
20 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Gareth P Jones talks to Nikki Gamble about funny writing and treats us to a bonus song.Support the showThank you for listening. I...
Yuval Zommer - illustrating the natural world
19 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Author/illustrator, Yuval Zomer talks to Nikki Gamble about his passion for the natural world and for illustrating children's books.Support the s...
Rachel Rooney - A Kid in My Class
02 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Rachel Rooney talks about her collection My Life as a Goldfish and her latest book A Kid in My Class.Support the showThank you for ...
Jason Reynolds - Long Way Down
01 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Jason Reynolds talks to Nikki Gamble about his powerful verse novel, Long Way Down and the imperative of social justice for children who are marginali...
Jane Ray - illustrating The Glassmaker's Daughter
27 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In this interview, Jane Ray talks about the inspirations behind The Glassmaker's Daughter and the challenge of painting glass.Support the showTha...