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Novel Experience

Novel Experience

By Kate Sawyer

Author Kate Sawyer (The Stranding - Shortlisted for Costa First Novel Award 2021, Winner of East Anglian Book Award -Fiction 2021) talks to other authors about their journey to publication & beyond. Kate & her guests chat about what they write, how they write and we get the lowdown on the experience of seeing your novel out in the world.
Currently playing episode

S2 Ep2 Susannah Wise author of This Fragile Earth & Okay Then That’s Great

Novel Experience Jul 12, 2022

00:00
52:52
S3 Ep7 Janice Hallett author of The Appeal & The Twyford Code
Nov 08, 202256:19
S3 Ep6 Helen Cooper author of The Downstairs Neighbour & The Other Guest

S3 Ep6 Helen Cooper author of The Downstairs Neighbour & The Other Guest

Guest: Helen Cooper Twitter: @HelenCooper85  Instagram: @HelenCooperWriter 

Helen’s books: The Other Guest by Helen Cooper 

Helen’s recommendations: 

A book for fans of Helen’s work: The Girls by Lisa Jewel 

A book Helen has always loved: Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier  & My Cousin Rachel by Daphne Du Maurier  

A book coming soon or recently released that Helen recommends: The Choice by Lucy Martin  

Other books that we chatted about in this episode: The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold  

Host: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer  IG: @mskatesawyer   

The Stranding by Kate Sawyer 

This Family (coming May 2023. Available to pre-order now!) 

Nov 01, 202255:29
S3 Ep5 Kiran Millwood Hargrave author of The Dance Tree and The Mercies

S3 Ep5 Kiran Millwood Hargrave author of The Dance Tree and The Mercies

Guest: Kiran Millwood Hargrave Twitter: @Kiran_MH  Instagram: @kiran_mh  

Kiran's Books: For Adults The Dance Tree by Kiran Millwood Hargrave  The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave  

For Young Adults: The Deathless Girls by Kiran Millwood Hargrave  

For Middle-Grade (8-11): The Girl of Ink and Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave,  The Island at the End of Everything by Kiran Millwood Hargrave, The Way Past Winter by Kiran Millwood Hargrave&  A Secret of Bird and Bone  

For Children: Julia and The Shark by Kiran Millwood Hargrave & Tom De Freston  & Leila and The Blue Fox by Kiran Millwood Hargrave & Tom De Freston  

Kiran’s recommendations: 

Books for fans of Kiran’s work: Unraveller by Francis Hardinge  & The Disenchantment by Celia Bell  

A book Kiran has always loved: The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver 

A book coming soon or recently released that Kiran recommends: Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart & The Giant Dark by Sarvat Hasin  

Other books that we chatted about in this episode: The Muse by Jessie Burton,  The Minaturist by Jessie Burton,  Perfume by Patrick Suskind, The Hive by Bee Wilson,  Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell,  Half of A Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie,  Small Island by Andrea Levy  

The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides  

Trust by Hernan Diaz  

Host: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer  IG: @mskatesawyer  

Kate's Books: The Stranding by Kate Sawyer  This Family by Kate Sawyer (coming May 2023. Available to pre-order now!) 

Oct 25, 202201:06:56
S3 Ep4 Jamie Russell author of Skywake Invasion

S3 Ep4 Jamie Russell author of Skywake Invasion

Guest: Jamie Russell Twitter: @jamierussel_74  Instagram: @jamie_russell74 

Book Of The Dead  

Skywake Invasion  

Skywake Battlefield  

Jamie’s recommendations: 

A book for fans of the Skywake trilogy: Orion Lost by Alastair Chisholm,  Adam 2 by Alastair Chisholm  & Consequence Girl by Alastair Chisholm 

A book Jamie has always loved: The Time Machine by HG Wells & The Island of Doctor Moreau  

A book coming soon or recently released that Jamie recommends: Ministry For The Future by Kim Stanley Robinson  

Host: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer  IG: @mskatesawyer 

The Stranding by Kate Sawyer  

This Family by Kate Sawyer (coming May 2023. Please pre-order - it makes a huge difference to authors!) 

Oct 18, 202255:40
S3 Ep3 Sussie Anie author of To Fill A Yellow House
Oct 11, 202256:48
S3 Ep2 Abigail Bergstrom author of What A Shame

S3 Ep2 Abigail Bergstrom author of What A Shame

Guest: Abigail Bergstrom 

Twitter: @abigailbergstrm 

Instagram: @abigailbergstrom  

Book: What A Shame by Abigail Bergstrom  

Abigail’s recommendations: 

A book for fans of What A Shame: Notes to Self by Emilie Pine  

A book Abigail has always loved: All My Friends Are Superheroes by Andrew Kaufman 

A book coming soon or recently released that Abigail recommends: Rosewater by Liv Little  

Other books/things we chatted about that we chatted about in this episode:

Every Day Sexism by Laura Bates 

Abigail’s Substack: Something To Say  

Host: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer  IG: @mskatesawyer 

The Stranding by Kate Sawyer  

This Family by Kate Sawyer (coming May 2023. Please pre-orders - it makes a huge difference to authors!) 

Oct 04, 202201:02:26
S3 Ep1 Lizzie Pook author of Moonlight and the Pearler’s Daughter
Sep 26, 202201:05:59
S2 Ep12 Polly Crosby author of The Unraveling and The Illustrated Child
Sep 19, 202201:01:51
S2 Ep11 Daisy Buchanan author of Insatiable and Careering

S2 Ep11 Daisy Buchanan author of Insatiable and Careering

Guest: Daisy Buchanan Twitter: @notrollergirl Instagram: @thedaisybee

Daisy’s Books:

Burn Before Reading by Daisy Buchanan (Only available to order before 27th September 2022)

Careering by Daisy Buchanan

Insatiable by Daisy Buchanan

The Sisterhood by Daisy Buchanan

How To Be A Grown-Up by Daisy Buchanan

Meeting Your Match by Daisy Buchanan

Daisy’s Podcasts:

Daisy is Careering, Daisy is Insatiable, You’re Booked

Daisy’s recommendations:

A book for fans of Daisy’s novels: Sunny by Sukh Ojla

A book Daisy has always loved: Brother Of The More Famous Jack by Barbara Trapido

A book coming soon or recently released that Daisy recommends:

No Life For A Lady by Hannah Dolby

Seven Exes by Lucy Vine

Preloved by Lauren Bravo

Less is Lost by Andrew Sean Greer

Other books/things that came up during our chat:

London, With Love by Sarra Manning

Sweet Sorrow by David Nicholls

The Understudy by David Nicholls

The Fell by Sarah Moss

Martha Quest by Doris Lessing

The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing

Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding

Rivals by Jilly Cooper

The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober by Catherine Grey

Quit Like A Woman by Holly Glenn Whitaker

Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

The Cazalet Chronicles by Elizabeth Jane Howard

I’m Absolutely Fine by Annabel Rivkin

Odd Girl Out by Elizabeth Jane Howard

Don’t Look At Me Like That by Diana Athill

Stet by Diana Athill

Sea State by Tabitha Lasley

Through The Wall by Caroline Corcoran

Host: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer  Instagram: @mskatesawyer

The Stranding by Kate Sawyer

This Family by Kate Sawyer (coming May 2023. Please pre-orders - it makes a huge difference to authors!)

Sep 13, 202201:16:06
S2 Ep10 Joanna Quinn author of The Whalebone Theatre
Sep 06, 202201:11:14
S2 Ep9 Bobby Palmer author of Isaac and the Egg
Sep 01, 202201:01:38
S2 Ep8 Chloë Timms author of The Seawomen
Aug 23, 202201:05:11
S2 Ep7 Liz Hyder author of The Gifts & Bearmouth
Aug 16, 202255:35
S2 Ep6 Lizzy Dent author of The Summer Job & The Setup

S2 Ep6 Lizzy Dent author of The Summer Job & The Setup

Guest: Lizzy Dent 

Twitter: @dentlizzy  

Instagram: @lizzy.dent  

The Summer Job by Lizzy Dent 

The Set-Up by Lizzy Dent  

Lizzy’s recommendations: 

A book for fans of Lizzy’s work: Last Night by Mhari McFarlane  

A book Lizzy has always loved: Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier 

A book coming soon or recently released that Lizzy recommends: Nora goes off script by Annabel Monaghan  

Other books that came up during our chat: 

Book Lovers by Emily Henry  

Before I Do by Sophie Cousins  

Love and Other Human Errors by Bethany Clift  

Last One at the Party by Bethany Clift 

Love and Other Scams by PJ Ellis (Out next year- follow @Philip_Ellis for updates)

The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewel  

Host: Kate Sawyer 

Twitter: @katesawyer  

IG: @mskatesawyer 

The Stranding by Kate Sawyer  

Aug 09, 202257:26
S2 Ep5 Annie Garthwaite author of Cecily
Aug 02, 202244:22
S2 Ep4 Emma Szewczak & Natasha Calder co-authors of The Offset
Jul 26, 202256:49
S2 Ep3 Emma Hughes author of No Such Thing As Perfect
Jul 19, 202259:33
S2 Ep2 Susannah Wise author of This Fragile Earth & Okay Then That’s Great

S2 Ep2 Susannah Wise author of This Fragile Earth & Okay Then That’s Great

Guest: Susannah Wise 

Twitter: @susannahwise  

Instagram: @calamitysusannah 

Okay Then That's Great by Susannah Wise

This Fragile Earth by Susannah Wise

Susannah’s recommendations: 

A book for fans of This Fragile Earth: The Death of Grass by John Christopher  

A book for fans of Okay Then That’s Great: The First Bad Man by Miranda July 

A book Susannah has always loved: The Catcher in The Rye by JD Salinger 

A book coming soon or recently released that Susannah would recommend: The Seawomen by Chloe Timms 

Other books that came up during our chat: 

Last One At The Party by Bethany Clift  

Where’d You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple  

Tunes for a Small Harmonica by Barbara Wersba  

Host: Kate Sawyer 

Twitter: @katesawyer  

IG: @mskatesawyer  

The Stranding by Kate Sawyer  

Jul 12, 202252:52
S2 Ep1 Aliya Ali-Afzal author of Would I Lie To You

S2 Ep1 Aliya Ali-Afzal author of Would I Lie To You

Guest: Aliya Ali-Afzal 

Twitter: @AAAiswriting  

Instagram: @aliyaaliafzalauthor 

Would I Lie To You by Aliya Ali-Afzal

Aliya’s recommendations: 

A book for fans of Another Life: Big Little Lies by Liane Moriaty  

A book Aliya has always loved: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë  

A book coming soon or recently released that Aliyah would recommend: One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid  

Other books that came up during our chat: 

Tyrannosaurus Drip by Julia Donaldson & David Roberts  

Stick Man by Julia Donaldson  

Host: Kate Sawyer 

Twitter: @katesawyer  

IG: @mskatesawyer  

The Stranding by Kate Sawyer  

Jul 04, 202259:20
S1 Ep12 Frances Quinn author of The Smallest Man & That Bonesetter Woman

S1 Ep12 Frances Quinn author of The Smallest Man & That Bonesetter Woman

Guest: Frances Quinn 

Twitter: @fraquinn  

Instagram: @franquinn21  

The Smallest Man by Frances Quinn  

That Bonesetter Woman by Frances Quinn  

Frances’ recommendations: 

A book for fans of The Smallest Man: The Vizard Mask by Diana Norman  

Diana Norman's historical mysteries under another name: Ariana Franklin  

A book Frances has always loved: Crooked Heart by Lissa Evans  

A book coming soon or recently released that Frances would recommend: The Man in The Street by Trevor Wood  

Other books that came up during our chat: 

Maybe The Moon by Armisted Maupin  

The Dance Tree by Kiran Millwood Hargrave  

The Dictionary of National Biography  

Host: Kate Sawyer 

Twitter: @katesawyer 

IG: @mskatesawyer  

The Stranding by Kate Sawyer 

Jun 28, 202243:21
S1 Ep11 Jodie Chapman author of Another Life

S1 Ep11 Jodie Chapman author of Another Life

Guest: Jodie Chapman 

Twitter: @jodiechapman  

Instagram: @jodiechapman  

Another Life by Jodie Chapman  

Jodie’s recommendations: 

A book for fans of Another Life: The End of the Affair by Graham Greene  

A book Jodie has always loved: The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath  

A book coming soon or recently released that Jodie would recommend: The Last Days by Ali Millar  

Other books that came up during our chat: 

Still Life by Sarah Winman  

Any Human Heart by William Boyd  

Host: Kate Sawyer 

Twitter: @katesawyer   

IG: @mskatesawyer  

The Stranding by Kate Sawyer  

Jun 14, 202259:44
S1 Ep10 Buki Papillon author of An Ordinary Wonder

S1 Ep10 Buki Papillon author of An Ordinary Wonder

Guest: Buki Papillon 

Twitter: @bukipapillon  

Instagram: @bukipapillon   

An Ordinary Wonder by Buki Papillon  

Buki’s recommendations: 

A book for fans of An Ordinary Wonder: 

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennet

 A book Buki has always loved: 

The Icarus Girl by Helen Oyeyemi  

A book coming soon or recently released that Buki would recommend: 

To Fill A Yellow House by Sussie Anie  

Other books that came up during our chat: 

The Passport of Mallam Ilia by Cyprian Ekwensi (currently out of print in UK) 

Peaces by Helen Oyeyemi 

Host: Kate Sawyer 

Twitter: @katesawyer  

IG: @mskatesawyer  

The Stranding by Kate Sawyer NOW OUT IN PAPERBACK 

Jun 07, 202237:58
S1 Ep9 Bethany Clift author of Last One At The Party & Love and Other Human Errors
May 31, 202246:56
S1 E8 Emma Stonex author of The Lamplighters

S1 E8 Emma Stonex author of The Lamplighters

Guest: Emma Stonex 

Twitter: @stonexemma  Instagram: @stonexemma  

The Lamplighters by Emma Stonex  

Emma’s recommendations: 

A book for fans of The Lamplighters: Metronome by Tom Watson  

A book Emma has always loved: The Road Home by Rose Tremain  

A book coming soon or recently released that Emma would recommend: Summer Fever by Kate Riordan  

Other books that came up during our chat: 

Writers & Artists Yearbook  

Instruction For A Heatwave by Maggie O’Farrell  

Music and Silence by Rose Tremain  

Sacred Country by Rose Tremain  

Host: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer  Instagram: @mskatesawyer  

The Stranding by Kate Sawyer NOW OUT IN PAPERBACK 

May 23, 202249:40
S1 Ep7 Greg Buchanan author of Sixteen Horses

S1 Ep7 Greg Buchanan author of Sixteen Horses

Guest author: Greg Buchanan 

Twitter: @gregbuchanan  Instagram: @gregbuchananwriter  

Sixteen Horses by Greg Buchanan

Greg’s recommendations

A book for fans of Sixteen Horses: The Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay 

 A book Greg has always loved: Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov 

A book coming soon or recently released that Greg would recommend: Nothing Can Hurt You by Nicola Maye Goldberg 

Other books that came up during our chat: On Writing by Stephen King  

Host: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer  IG: @mskatesawyer  

The Stranding by Kate Sawyer NOW OUT IN PAPERBACK 

May 18, 202247:33
S1 Ep6 Jennifer Saint author of Ariadne and Elektra

S1 Ep6 Jennifer Saint author of Ariadne and Elektra

Jennifer Saint Twitter: @jennysaint Instagram: @jennifer.saint.author
Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
Elektra by Jennifer Saint
Jennifer’s recommendations:
A book for fans of Jennifer’s work: Greek Myths by Charlotte Higgins
A book Jennifer has always loved: Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
A book coming soon or recently released that Jennifer would recommend: The House with the Golden Door by Elodie Harper
Other books that came up during our chat:
Thebes by Gareth Jandrell (play)
Sistersong by Lucy Holland
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper
Plus a shout out for The Faction Theatre Company!
Host: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer Instagram: @mskatesawyer Web: www.katesawyer.co.uk
The Stranding by Kate Sawyer Out in Paperback Now!
If you enjoyed this or any of the episodes of #NovelExperience please take a moment to rate and review and please do tell your friends!
May 03, 202242:35
S1 Ep5 Fíona Scarlett author of Boys Don’t Cry

S1 Ep5 Fíona Scarlett author of Boys Don’t Cry

Fíona Scarlett Twitter: @Scarlett_for_ya 

Boys Don't Cry by Fiona Scarlett

Fiona’s recommendations

A book for fans of Boys don’t Cry: 

Grief is the Thing with Feathers by Max Porter  

or

The Commitments by Roddy Doyle 

The Barry Town Trilogy by Roddy Doyle 

A book Fíona has always loved:

The Spinning Heart by Donal Ryan 

A book coming soon or recently released that Fíona would recommend: 

The Colony by Audrey Magee

Other books that came up during our chat: 

Lanny by Max Porter

Riders by Jilly Cooper 

IT by Stephen King 

Jodie Picoult 

Judy Blume 

Flowers in the Attic by Virginia Andrews 

Host: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer Instagram: @mskatesawyer www.katesawyer.co.uk 

The Stranding by Kate Sawyer 

Thank you for listening to Novel Experience. If you enjoyed listening please do subscribe, rate, review and share with your friends!

Apr 26, 202249:55
S1 Ep4 Neema Shah author of Kololo Hill

S1 Ep4 Neema Shah author of Kololo Hill

Neema Shah  Twitter: @NeemaMShah  Instagram: @NeemaShahAuthor

Neema's recommendations

A book for fans of Kololo Hill: 

Fragile Monsters by Catherine Menon 

A book Neema has always loved:

Fingersmith by Sarah Waters 

A book coming soon or recently released that Neema would recommend: 

The Return by Anita Frank

Other books we chatted about in this episode:

Into the Woods by John Yorke

The Science of Storytelling by Will Storr 

Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason 

The Lost Ones by Anita Frank 

Host: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer Instagram: @mskatesawyer Website: www.katesawyer.co.uk

The Stranding by Kate Sawyer

If you enjoyed this episode please rate, review, subscribe and share with your friends!

Thanks for listening to Novel Experience!


Apr 19, 202242:03
S1 Ep3 - Laura Kay author of The Split & Tell Me Everything

S1 Ep3 - Laura Kay author of The Split & Tell Me Everything

Guest: Laura Kay Twitter: @lauraelizakay Instagram: @lauraekay

Tell Me Everything by Laura Kay

The Split by Laura Kay

Laura's recommendations

Books for fans of Laura Kay:

In At The Deep End by Kate Davies

No Such Thing As Perfect by Emma Hughes

A book Laura has always and will always love:

Calypso by David Sedaris

A book Laura has enjoyed recently:

Double Booked by Lily Lindon

Other books we talked about:

Dark Pines by Will Dean

Red Snow by Will Dean

Black River by Will Dean

Bad Apples by Will Dean

The Locked Room by Elly Griffiths (and others!)

Isaac and the Egg by Bobby Palmer

Host: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer Instagram: @mskatesawyer Website: katesawyer.co.uk

The Stranding by Kate Sawyer

If you enjoyed this episode please rate, review, subscribe and share with your friends! 

Thank you for listening to Novel Experience


Apr 12, 202230:48
S1 Ep2 - A.J. West author of The Spirit Engineer

S1 Ep2 - A.J. West author of The Spirit Engineer

AJ West Twitter: @AJWestAuthor  Instagram: @ajwestauthor 

The Spirit Engineer by AJ West   

AJ's recommendations 

A book for fans of The Spirit Engineer:   

A Magician Among the Spirits by Harry Houdini 

A book AJ has always loved:     

Jude The Obscure by Thomas Hardy 

Something AJ has enjoyed recently:  

The Other Guest by Helen Cooper 

The Book You Need to Read to Write the Book you Want to Write by Sarah Burton and Jem Poster 

Other books mentioned in the episode: 

The Animals of Farthing Wood by Colin Dann 

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley 

The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde 

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson 

The Artist's & Writer's Yearbook  

Martin Chuzzlewit by Charles Dickens 

Host: Kate Sawyer Twitter: @katesawyer Instagram: @mskatesawyer Website: www.katesawyer.co.uk  

The Stranding by Kate Sawyer  

If you enjoyed this episode please rate, review, subscribe and share with your friends! Thanks for listening to Novel Experience. 

Apr 05, 202246:15
S1 Ep1 - Emily Itami author of Fault Lines

S1 Ep1 - Emily Itami author of Fault Lines

Emily Itami
Twitter: @EmilyItami
Instagram: @EmilyItami
Fault Lines by Emily Itami
www.waterstones.com/book/fault-lines/emily-itami/9781474620246
Emily's recommendations
A book(s!) for fans of Fault Lines:
Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami
www.waterstones.com/book/strange-weather-in-tokyo/hiromi-kawakami/allison-markin-powell/9781783785797
My Life On Plane by India Knight
www.waterstones.com/book/my-life-on-a-plate/india-knight/9780241951798
A book Emily has always loved:
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
www.waterstones.com/book/i-capture-the-castle/dodie-smith/valerie-grove/9780099460879
Something Emily has enjoyed recently:
Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason
www.waterstones.com/book/sorrow-and-bliss/meg-mason/9781474622974
Other books that were mentioned during our chat:
The Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes (apologies for calling it 'The Power of Yes', in the recording!)
www.waterstones.com/book/year-of-yes/shonda-rhimes/9781471157325
The Whalebone Theatre by Joanna Quinn
www.waterstones.com/book/the-whalebone-theatre/joanna-quinn/9780241542835
Host: Kate Sawyer
Twitter @katesawyer
Instagram @mskatesawyer
www.katesawyer.co.uk
The Stranding by Kate Sawyer
www.waterstones.com/book/the-stranding/kate-sawyer/9781529340686
If you enjoyed this episode please rate, review, subscribe and share with your friends! Thanks for listening to Novel Experience.
Mar 30, 202235:51
Novel Experience Trailer

Novel Experience Trailer

An introduction to Novel Experience; a new podcast hosted by Kate Sawyer (The Stranding)
Mar 28, 202201:00