The Hobcast Book Show

We've done it! 200 episodes of The Hobcast Book Show! To celebrate this landmark, we're joined by bestselling crime author Michael Wood, creator of the DCI Matilda Darke series. His twelfth novel in the series, Last One Left Alive, was published by Harper Collins imprint One More Chapter last month. In this fascinating interview, Michael explains how he moved from being an avowed crime fiction fan to successful author, and his secrets for keeping the novels fresh and inventive, as well as taking his principal character into unexplored challenges and difficulties. He also shares with us the challenges he's faced creating a new psychological thriller series, starring Dr Olivia Winter.

Also this week. we discuss the implications of a major takeover in the UK crime fiction publishing scene, and we're delighted to hear that 50 year old book tokens can still be used to buy books!

Amazon.co.uk: Michael Wood: books, biography, latest update

DCI Matilda Darke (13 book series) Kindle edition

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0CV4YPDST

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You might imagine we've lost our minds here at The Hobcast Book Show with an episode title like this, but, believe it or not, it's a common Icelandic phrase, such is the power and popularity of literature there. Our guest this week is one of the most influential figures in Icelandic fiction, Jónína Leósdóttir. Jónína is a playwright, journalist, and author of twenty-one books. Her most recent book, Deceit, is her sixth crime novel. She was also the founder of the Women's Prize for Fiction in Iceland. As we discuss in this wide-ranging interview, Jónína is no stranger to having to withhold the truth; it was 15 years before her relationship with her now wife, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir became public. Johanna was Iceland's Prime Minister between 2009 and 2013, and the world's first openly LGBT+ in modern history. This is an inspiring interview.

Also this week, Adrian and Rebecca absorb the impact of changes at Amazon, and discuss if a book's formatting and type-setting should really be a factor in a reviewer's rating?

Download a full transcript of our interview with Jónína at https//www.hobeckbooks.net/hobcast

Find more details of Jónína Leósdóttir here

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In a departure for The Hobcast Book Show we're bringing you a special episode celebrating the launch of one of our latest Hobeck titles, The Bad Neighbour by Jennie Ensor which has raced to number one in two Amazon categories already. Set in an English village at the height of the COVID-19 crisis, it's a sparkling pschological suspense mystery laced with dark humour. Adrian and Rebecca are joined by Jennie to discuss the challenges of writing a novel set during such an unusual and challenging period in recent history, and we have two exclusive readings from The Bad Neighbour by Diana Berriman as Tara, and Miranda Hampton as Elspeth.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bad-Neighbour-deliciously-entertaining-psychological-ebook/dp/B0C4FRSP1

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We all know how a crime is investigated don't we? After all, we've read enough books, watched enough TV cop shows and read the papers. Interviewing a suspect? We'd all give it a fair go wouldn't we? But would we? How quickly would we commit an elementary mistake of procedure or due process? How soon would a soon would a savvy lawyer unpick our case or cast enough suspicion on our evidence to have their defendant freed? Former Detective Inspector Kim Booth is here to help authors get the key details right. An author himself, he knows how hard it can be to balance authenticity and dramatic licence in fiction. This is a fascinating interview, drawing on Kim's 35-year policing career during which he investigated every type of major crime and worked on cases that took him around the world.

Also this week, Adrian and Rebecca welcome a familiar face as the new chair of the Crime Writer's Association, announce a new Hobeck author, and they reveal how close AI came to recreating the magic of Sir Ian Rankin's Rebus novels...

For the episode show notes visit: https://www.hobeck.net/hobcast

A Cruel Deception eBook : Booth, Kim: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

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It's only in the past few years that neurodiversity has entered the wider consciousness. For instance here at The Hobcast Book Show, we are both touched by Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), but we've only become aware of it recently. It helps explain our lifelong experience of feeling on the outside of society - never quite fitting in or being comfortable behaving as others would expect. It's simply not how our brains are wired or function. For authors, neurodiversity can present a range of challenges, not least trying to implement structure to their work or applying strategies for productivity drawn up for neurotypical writers. Our guest this week, author Amanda Marples, knows these challenges well: she is neurodiverse herself, and as a mental health professional she works as a mentor for students with a range of backgrounds and conditions. Drawing on her expertise and personal experience, Amanda has created a mentoring service for neurodivergent writers called Reconcile Creative, helping authors to overcome the hurdles they face and explore unconventional strategies to reach their goals. This is a fascinating, valuable and insightful interview.

Also this week, we discuss the shortlists for the UK crime writing 'Oscars' - the CWA Daggers, and look ahead to the release of our latest Hobeck Books title, Her Charming Man by Rachel Sargeant.

innercritic | Reconcile Creative M

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Her-Charming-Gloucestershire-Crime-Book-ebook/dp/B0CY5ZFRR4

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