Page One - The Writer's Podcast
Episodes
Ep. 125 - Tom Lucy talks about getting into comedy at the age of 16, and tells us how he generates his ideas
12 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This is one of a special series of short episodes speaking to some of the best comedians appearing at this year's Edinburgh Fringe! These episodes wil...
Ep. 124 - Amy Gledhill tells us why she tries to avoid writing when preparing her stand up shows
12 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This is one of a special series of short episodes speaking to some of the best comedians appearing at this year's Edinburgh Fringe! These episodes wil...
Ep. 123 - Sunil Patel tells us why he always felt destined for comedy and talks about how he crafts his shows
11 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This is one of a special series of short episodes speaking to some of the best comedians appearing at this year's Edinburgh Fringe! These episodes wil...
Ep. 122 - Jack Barry tells us why he became a comedian rather than a spy, and talks about the analytical process that goes into stand up
11 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This is one of a special series of short episodes speaking to some of the best comedians appearing at this year's Edinburgh Fringe! These episodes wil...
Ep. 121 - Schalk Bezuidenhout on why he doesn't write out his jokes in advance, the differences between UK and South African stand-up and more!
10 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This is one of a special series of short episodes speaking to some of the best comedians appearing at this year's Edinburgh Fringe! These episodes wil...
Ep. 120 - Tessa Coates discusses writing stand-up, creating talking TV mice with Greg Daniels and much more!
10 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This is one of a special series of short episodes speaking to some of the best comedians appearing at this year's Edinburgh Fringe! These episodes wil...
Ep. 119 - Jessica Fostekew tells us about how she writes her brilliant stand-up shows
09 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This is one of a special series of short episodes speaking to some of the best comedians appearing at this year's Edinburgh Fringe! These episodes wil...
Ep. 118 - Jacob Hawley talks about how he crafts his stand-up shows
09 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This is the first of a special series of short episodes speaking to some of the best comedians appearing at this year's Edinburgh Fringe! These episod...
Ep. 117 - Adrian Tchaikovsky talks about his brilliant books, telling us all about his planning, worldbuilding and much more!
05 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Adrian Tchaikovsky is the multi-award winning bestselling author of sci-fi and fantasy books such as the Children of Time series, Shadows of the Apt s...
Ep. 116 - Lorraine Wilson talks about the distinction between literary and commercial fiction and whether it matters, the importance of setting and more!
28 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Lorraine Wilson is the author of the BFS and Kavya-nominated speculative fantasy novel, This is Our Undoing. She has also written short fiction (also ...
Ep. 115 - Victoria Selman talks changing agents, why she is a planner rather than a pantser, and hitting the bestseller lists with her fourth novel
21 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Victoria Selman is the bestselling author of four crime novels and co-host of the crime writers’ podcast, CrimeTime.fm. Her latest book, Truly Darkl...
Ep. 114 - Janice Hallett talks about moving from screenwriting to novel writing with the smash-hit novel, The Appeal
15 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A former magazine editor and award-winning journalist, Janice Hallett has written screenplays and novels. Janice's first feature film Retreat was rele...
Ep. 113 - Chris Whitaker talks about writing We Begin At The End, how he took a very unusual route into writing and why he starts his books in the middle
08 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Chris Whitaker is a bestselling crime writer whose debut, Tall Oaks, won the CWA debut dagger award. His latest crime novel, We Begin At The End, has ...
Ep. 112 - Martha Wells talks about writing The Murderbot Diaries, how they saved her writing career, and more!
01 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Martha Wells has been an SF/F writer since her first fantasy novel was published in 1993, and her work includes The Books of the Raksura ser...
Ep. 111 - Ed McDonald talks writing dark fantasy, why writers need to deal with rejection and more!
24 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ed McDonald’s debut novel BLACKWING began the The Raven’s Mark trilogy, which continues with RAVENCRY and concl...
Ep. 110 - Jane Shemilt chats about swapping medicine for writing, whether writing courses help and more!
17 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jane Shemilt is an internationally-acclaimed, best-selling author of psychological suspense novels. Her debut novel Daughter was a Richard and Ju...
Ep. 109 - Nicholas Meyer talks about writing for Star Trek, the influence of Sherlock Holmes on his work, and how to deal with notes from producers and editors
10 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nicholas Meyer is an American writer and director, known for his best-selling Sherlock Holmes novel The Seven-Per-Cent Solution, and for directin...
Ep. 108 - Rob Hart talks about using spec fiction to write about real world issues, editing in reverse and more!
03 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Rob Hart is the author of six novels, including The Paradox Hotel and The Warehouse, as well as the short story collection Ta...
Ep. 107 - Sam Holland talks about writing serial killers, tells us how she plans her novels, and chats about her debut novel, The Echo Man
27 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A self-confessed serial killer nerd, Sam Holland studied psychology at university then spent the next few years working in HR, before quitting for a f...
Ep. 106 - Mary Kenney tells us about writing video games and playing the sandbox worlds of The Walking Dead and Spider-Man
20 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Mary Kenney is a brilliant writer of video games and comic books from The Walking Dead to the recent smash hit PS5 game, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles ...
Ep. 105 - Leroy Kincaide talks about storytelling and writing and directing his first feature film, The Last Rite
15 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Leroy Kincaide is a former professional wrestler who moved from the world of the squared circle to creating stories from behind the camera as a writer...
Ep. 104 - Ben Aaronovitch tells us about swapping screenwriting for prose, where the idea for Rivers of London came from and more!
08 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Aaronovitch is the bestselling author of the Rivers of London series, the latest of which, Amongst Our Weapons, is just out! Before becoming a suc...
Ep. 103 - Fonda Lee on waiting for that breakthrough novel as an author, the importance of authenticity in any story, what inspired Jade City and the rest of the Green Bone Saga and much more!
01 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Fonda Lee is the author of the epic fantasy Green Bone Saga, beginning with Jade City, continuing in Jade War, and concluding in&n...
Ep. 102 - James Oswald talks about how self-publishing helped him sell 350k copies of his books and why he moved into trad publishing
25 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
James Oswald is the author of the bestselling Inspector Maclean series of novels, as well as the fantasy series, The Ballad of Sir Benfro, and more. H...
Ep. 101 - Georgia Pritchett talks about writing for The Thick of It, Veep, Succession and more!
18 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Georgia Pritchett is an award-winning screenwriter who has worked on some of the best shows on television including Spitting Image, Smack The Pony, Th...
Ep. 100 - Ian Rankin talks about his career, why Scottish crime fiction is so big and talks about taking on the task of co-writing a posthumous William McIlvanney book
11 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ian Rankin is an international superstar of crime writing, with bestsellers across the globe and is the creator of one of the best-known fictional pol...
Ep. 99 - Anna Mazzola talks historical fiction, the difficulties of writing across genres, prologues and more!
04 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Anna Mazzola is the a writer of historical thrillers and Gothic fiction. Her novels explore the impact of crime and injustice. Her debut novel, T...
Ep. 98 - Will Carver talks about writing dark crime fiction, injecting humour and dealing with rejection as a writer
25 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Will Carver is the acclaimed author of unique, dark crime novels such as Good Samaritans, The Beresford and, most recently, Psychopaths Anonymous.We h...
Ep. 97 - Lilja Sigurðardóttir talks us about writing scandi noir, translations, Eurovision, and becoming the next Dan Brown
18 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Lilja Sigurðardóttir is an Icelandic crime-writer born in 1972. She is the author of novels, stage plays and screenplays. Her latest latest boo...
Ep. 96 - Tasmina Perry talks writing, pseudonyms and launching her own publishing imprint
11 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Tasmina Perry is the internationally bestselling author of fourteen novels including Kiss Heaven Goodbye, Private Lives and Guilty Plea...
Ep. 95 - Chris Hammer
31 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Chris Hammer is a leading Australian crime fiction novelist, author of international bestsellers Scrublands, Silver and Trust. Scr...
Ep. 94 - Hugh Howey
17 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Hugh Howey is the author of the bestselling sci fi series, Wool, which is now being turned into a show for Apple TV. In addition, he wrote the Molly F...
Ep. 93 - Jon Ingold
10 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Jon Ingold is the founder and narrative director of Inkle Studios who have made hugely popular narrative games such as 80 Days, Overboard! and Heaven'...
Ep. 92 - Simon Beckett
03 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Simon Beckett taught English as a foreign language in Spain, installed cavity wall installation and played in various unsuccessful bands before becomi...
Ep. 91 - Joanne Harris
26 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Joanne Harris MBE is the international bestselling author of books such as Chocolat and The Gospel of Loki. A prolific author, she has written nearly ...
Ep. 90 - Catriona Ward
19 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Catriona Ward won the August Derleth Award for Best Horror Novel for her debut, Rawblood, and again for Little Eve, making her the first woman to win ...
Ep. 89 - Dominic Nolan
12 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Dominic Nolan is the author of the Abigail Boone novels, Past Life and After Dark. His most recent novel, Vine Street, is a historical thriller based ...
Ep. 88 - Blake Crouch
05 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Blake Crouch is a bestselling novelist and screenwriter. He is the author of the novel, Dark Matter, for which he is writing the screenplay for Sony P...
Ep. 87 - Stuart Turton
29 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Stuart Turton is a former journalist and the author of the award-winning, genre-mashing The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. His second book, The De...
Ep. 86 - Alan Johnson
22 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Alan Johnson was an MP for 20 years and served as Home Secretary and Secretary of State for Health for the Labour Governments of Blair and Brown. Afte...
Ep. 85 - Tariq Ashkanani
10 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Yes, the tables are turned this week as our very own Tariq Ashkanani joins us as a guest rather than interviewer to tell us about the path to publishi...
Ep. 84 - Cate Quinn
03 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Catherine Quinn is a bestselling fiction author whose books are published in over fifteen countries. She writes contemporary thrillers as Cate Qu...
Ep. 83 - Duncan Hamilton
27 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Duncan Hamilton is an award-winning non-fiction author and sports journalist. His first book, Provided You Don't Kiss Me:20 Years with Brian Clough, w...
Ep. 82 - Abir Mukherjee and Vaseem Khan (The Red Hot Chilli Writers)
20 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week we have not one but two great guests! Abir Mukherjee is the bestselling author of the Sam Wyndham series of crime novels set in Raj era Indi...
Ep. 81 - C Robert Cargill
13 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
C. Robert Cargill started out as a film reviewer for one of the internet's first film sites, aintitcool.com, before moving into the world of movies hi...
Ep. 80 - Imran Mahmood
06 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As well as being a successful novelist, Imran Mahmood is a practising barrister with over 30 years' court experience. His first book, You Don't Know M...
Ep. 79 - Philip Gwynne Jones
30 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Philip Gwynne Jones spent twenty years in the IT industry before realising he was congenitally unsuited to it, and now works as a writer, teacher ...
Ep. 78 - MJ Arlidge
23 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
MJ Arlidge is a man of many talents, being a novelist, screenwriter and producer. Having started out as a storyliner for Eastenders on the BBC, he wen...
Ep. 77 - Caroline Hulse
16 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Caroline Hulse is the author of Like a House on Fire and The Adults. All The Fun of the Fair is her latest novel which has just been released. Her boo...
Ep. 76 - The Desmond Elliott Prize Shortlist Nominees: AK Blakemore, Rebecca Watson, Eley Williams
01 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode, we talk with all three of the nominees for the 2021 Desmond Elliott Prize, the showcase award for debut authors from the Nati...
Ep. 75 - Nina Allan
04 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Nina Allan has won the British Science Fiction Award, the Novella Award, the Kitschies Red Tentacle and France’s Grand Prix de L’Imaginaire. Her f...
Ep. 74 - Holly Seddon
28 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Holly Seddon is the bestselling author of books such as Try Not to Breathe, Don't Close Your Eyes, and her latest, The Hit List. In between writing th...
Ep. 73 - Nikki Smith
21 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Nikki Smith studied English Literature at the University of Birmingham and went on to forge a career in finance; working for companies including a cit...
Ep. 72 - David Nicholls
14 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
David Nicholls is the award-winning author of books such as Starter for Ten, Us, One Day and, most recently, Sweet Sorrow. He has also won awards for ...
Ep. 71 - Helen O'Hara
07 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Helen O'Hara is best known for her work at Empire magazine, where she is currently editor-at-large and features regularly on their renowned podcast. S...
Ep. 70 - Miranda Malins
30 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Miranda Malins is a writer and historian specialising in the history of Oliver Cromwell, his family and the politics of the Interregnum period followi...
Ep. 69 - DV Bishop
23 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
D. V. Bishop is the author of the Cesare Aldo mysteries set in Renaissance Florence, and published by Pan Macmillan. Before his debut as an author, Da...
Ep.68 - Jeff VanderMeer
16 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Jeff VanderMeer’s NYT-bestselling Southern Reach trilogy has been translated into over 35 languages. The first novel, Annihilation, won th...
Ep. 67 - Charlie Jane Anders
09 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Charlie Jane Anders is an award-winning author and journalist who was a founding member of the popular site io9 and whose latest novel, Victories Grea...
Ep. 66 - Annalee Newitz
02 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Annalee Newitz writes science fiction and nonfiction. They are the author of the book Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age, and the no...
Ep. 65 - Margaux DeRoux
26 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Margaux DeRoux comes from a family of painters, and writes historical fiction that centers on art and artists. Before turning to fiction, she was a te...
Ep. 64 - Peter Moffat
05 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Peter Moffat is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter who has written shows such as Silk, Criminal Justice (which was adapted into The Night Of...
Ep. 63 - Robert Dinsdale
26 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Robert Dinsdale is the author of novels including The Harrowing, Little Exiles, The Toymakers and most recently, Paris By Starlight. The magic-infused...
Ep. 62 - Helen Whitaker
19 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Helen Whitaker is author of the acclaimed comedy, The School Run, and most recently, I Give It A Year. She is also an accomplished journalist, writing...
Ep. 61 - Nick Hornby
12 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Hornby is the bestselling author of eight novels, including High Fidelity and About a Boy, and his latest, Just Like You, along with several...
Ep. 60 - Mari Hannah
05 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Multi-award winning Mari Hannah is the author of the Kate Daniels series of police procedurals, the Ryan and O'Neil crime series and the Stone and Oli...
Ep. 59 - Cherie Jones
29 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Cherie Jones' debut novel ‘How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House‘ has been receiving rave reviews from the likes of Bernardine Evaristo, who c...
Ep. 58 - Allie Reynolds
22 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Allie Reynolds is a former professional snowboarder turned author whose debut thriller, Shiver, is out now.We chat to Allie about her long route to pu...
Ep. 57 - Helen Lederer
15 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Helen Lederer began her career in stand-up comedy at London’s famous Comedy Store, as part of the early 80s comedians including French & Saunder...
Ep. 56 - Sharon Bolton
08 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Sharon Bolton is the bestselling author of mystery crime novels such as Sacrifice, Blood Harvest and the highly successful Lacey Flint series. Her mos...
Page One Sessions - Laura Lam and Adrian J Walker
01 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Back in the summer of 2020, we recorded this episode of the Page One Sessions with Laura Lam and Adrian J Walker. We discussed all manner of things, i...
Page One Sessions - Sarah Pinborough and Tim Lebbon
25 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Earlier this year, we chatted with friends of the podcast Sarah Pinborough and Tim Lebbon about how they have been writing during the COVID-19 lockdow...
Ep. 55 - Jennie Fields
18 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Jennie Fields received an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and is the author of the novels Lily Beach, Crossing Brooklyn Ferry,&nb...
Ep. 54 - Matt Ruff
11 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Ruff is the author of books such as Fool on The Hill, The Mirage, and Lovecraft Country, which has just been turned into a succes...
Ep. 53 - Alex Garland
04 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Garland is the critically acclaimed writer and director of movies such as Ex Machina, Annihilation and, most recently, the TV series Devs. His ca...
Ep. 52 - Daniel Abraham
06 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel Abraham is a bestselling science fiction and fantasy author who has written books including the bestselling The Expanse series of books (along ...
Ep. 51 - Joe Abercrombie
30 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Joe Abercrombie's debut fantasy novel, The Blade Itself, was a huge hit when it was published in 2006, and was swiftly followed by the other books in ...
Ep. 50 - Peng Shepherd
23 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Peng Shepherd was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, where she rode horses and trained in classical ballet, and has lived in Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, ...
Ep. 49 - Benjamin Dreyer
15 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Benjamin Dreyer is vice president, executive managing editor and copy chief of Random House US. He has overseen books by writers including Michael Cha...
Ep. 48 - Cathy Bramley
09 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Cathy Bramley is the Sunday Times Top Ten best-selling author of THE LEMON TREE CAFE. Her other romantic comedies include Ivy Lane, Appleby Farm, Wick...
Ep. 47 - Owen Nicholls
02 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Owen Nicholls is a screenwriter with a Masters in Scriptwriting from the University of East Anglia. His first screenplay -- a biopic of the filmmakers...
Ep. 46 - Dirk Maggs
25 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Dirk Maggs is the genius behind the audio adaptations of stories such as The Hitchhiker’s Guide to The Galaxy, The X Files, the William Gibson Alien...
Ep. 45 - Ian Dunt
18 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ian Dunt is a political commentator and journalist. He is editor of politics.co.uk, an energetic presence on Twitter, and appears as a pundit on BBC T...
Ep. 44 - Lauren Beukes
11 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Lauren Beukes is the award-winning author of novels such as Zoo City, Broken Monsters, and, of course, the international bestseller, The Shining Girls...
Ep. 43 - Alastair Campbell
04 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Alastair Campbell is best known for his role as Tony Blair’s chief spokesman and strategist. He has written several bestselling non-fiction and fict...
Ep. 42 - Stephen Graham Jones
07 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Stephen Graham Jones is the author of twenty-five or so novels and collections, and there’s some novellas and comic books in there as well. Stephen’...
Ep. 41 - Paul Tremblay
31 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Paul Tremblay has won the Bram Stoker, British Fantasy, and Massachusetts Book awards and is the author of The Cabin at the End of the World, Disappea...
Ep. 40 - David Quantick
24 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
David Quantick is the Emmy-award winning writer of Veep, The Thick of It, TV Burp and much more. He has worked with comedy legends such as Harry Hill ...
Ep. 39 - Joe Cornish
17 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Joe Cornish is the writer and director of films such as Attack the Block and The Kid Who Would be King. He began his career working with his comedy pa...
Ep. 38 - Adam Christopher
10 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Adam Christopher’s debut novel Empire State was SciFiNow’s Book of the Year and a Financial Times Book of the Y...
Ep. 37 - Tendai Huchu
03 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Tendai Huchu is a Zimbabwean author who now lives in Edinburgh, and whose first novel, The Hairdresser of Harare, was a huge hit, being nominated for ...
Ep. 36 - Sheila O'Flanagan
26 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Sheila O'Flanagan is an international bestselling author of books such as The Hideaway, What Happened That Night and Suddenly Single. All of her books...
Ep. 35 - Chris Brookmyre
19 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Chris Brookmyre was a journalist before becoming a full-time novelist with the publication of his award-winning debut Quite Ugly One Morning, whi...
Ep. 34 - Thomas Welsh
12 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Thomas Welsh is an award winning urban fantasy and short story author based in Scotland. He was the winner of the Elbow Room fiction prize for And The...
Ep. 33 - Alexandra Sokoloff
05 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Alexandra Sokoloff is the bestselling, Thriller Award-winning and Bram Stoker and Anthony Award-nominated author of thirteen supernatural, paranormal ...
Ep. 32 - Alex De Campi
29 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Alex De Campi is a comics writer and author, who has been nominated for numerous Eisner awards and has recently collaborated with film director Duncan...
Ep. 31 - Laura Lam
17 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Laura Lam is a sci fi and fantasy author whose latest book is Goldilocks, a bold, thought-provoking and high concept feminist dystopian thriller, best...
Ep. 30 - Struan Murray
10 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Struan Murray is a young Scottish author, whose recently released debut novel Orphans of the Tide has received rave reviews, even earning him comparis...
Ep. 29 - Harriet Tyce
03 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Harriet Tyce is a Sunday Times Bestselling Author whose debut novel, Blood Orange, was a huge hit and featured on Richard & Judy’s Book Club lis...
Ep. 28 - Neil Forsyth
27 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Neil Forsyth is a Scottish author and screenwriter who has written critically acclaimed TV shows such as Eric, Ernie and Me, as well as the infamous B...