Honest Authors' Show

Gilly and Holly's first live appearance as the Honest Authors, talking publication, hooks, setbacks and successes.

We're joined by Gilly's dad, Tony McAllister, who talks about how he helps Gilly (and Holly!) with her books plus we discuss listeners' pitches.

Are creatives more prone to anxiety and stress? Does extensive phone use get in the way of writing and thinking? How can authors cope better with the weirdness of being in the public eye? The Honest Authors discuss this and more with Psychotherapist and author Hilda Burke.

Phoebe Morgan, editorial director AND author, tells the Honest Authors why manuscripts get chosen, how publishers spot trends, what she's working on right now and her own publishing journey.

The Honest Authors are back from the Easter break! Talking about Gilly's latest publication, the latest weird worries and, for some reason, floatation tanks again.

The Honest Authors grill expert bestselling author Mark Billingham on how he's managed to write a book a year for nearly 20 years, how he keeps coming up with fresh ideas and what he'd tell his younger self.

What do we mean by foreign rights? What actually happens at book fairs? How much money can authors make from translated copies of their books? The Honest Authors grill foreign rights expert Therese Coen about all this and more.

The Honest Authors get the chance to grill phenomenal Trapeze Books publishing director Sam Eades about the acquisitions process, what happens behind the scenes and what editors really look for in a book.

The honest authors answer Q&As on writing processes and chat to Alison Barrow about publicity including the most effective way to promote a book.

The Honest Authors are back! Talking full-time writing, routines, redrafts, weird messages, switching off and, er, spinning, Cardi B and Wall-E.

In the season three finale episode, the authors talk honestly about life changes, career changes, representation changes and why it's so very hard to talk about money. Featuring an interview with the brilliant Caroline Hulse.

Helen Cullen, author of The Lost Letters of Willam Woolf, talks to the Honest Authors about her publication journey, giving up the London rat race to decamp to rural Ireland and her writing process. Plus there's the usual bad reviews and lots of laughing.

We interview Claire Allan and talk social media, word counts, and writing two books a year.

We talk to debut novelist Lia Louis during an anxiety special!

We discuss how to have an idea, when you're reviewed poorly by people you know and how to develop a hook for your book.

We interview Joy Rhodes and discuss pre-publication nerves!

In our most honest episode yet we discuss crises of confidence, abandoning projects and the etiquette of book blurbs. PLUS a really interesting interview with brilliant bestseller Fiona Cummins, author of Rattle and The Collector. A little sidenote: the sound quality in the beginning was a little iffy so please bear with us!

We interview bestselling author Tracy Buchanan, speak about press reviews for debuts and outlining.

We discuss publishing news, cover reveals, light bulb moments and (to a surprisingly extensive degree) Neighbours.