Rnib Talking Books

On today's show we round up some favourite interviews from Book Festivals such as Aye Write, Boswell and Wigtown. Featuring Alexander McCall Smith, Anne de Courcy, Jessica A Fox, Mark Ellan and Martin Jarvis.

In a packed show, blind author N.B. Dixon talks to Red Szell about re-imagining Robin Hood.  Alan Bennett chats to Robert Kirkwood about awards, writing and Family Guy. Angie Thomas on 'The Hate U Give' and winning the CILIP Amnesty Honour. New College Worcester student Carys White on her love of books and accessible reading. And we listen to new recordings of 'House of Cards'.

CILIP Carnegie shadower Carys White tells the audience at this year's award ceremony about accessible formats and chats to Red Szell about her love of reading and literature. Clipped from Read On #77

We listen to the winning entries in the poetry and prose categories of the 2018 RNIB Writing Competition plus talk to the winners and listen to the two runner ups. Also judge Patrick Gale gives us some hints and tips.

This year, the Man Booker Prize is celebrating its 50th anniversary. To mark the special event, a one-off Golden Man Booker Prize is being given to a previous winner crowning the overall best work of fiction from the last five decades of the prize. The five books thought to have best stood the test of time are: In a Free State by V. S. Naipaul; Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively; The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje; Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel; and Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders. We listen to them all and talk to some of the authors on the shortlist in this Man Booker special.

Broadcasting legend Nicholas Parsons gives us the scoop on why he was absent from Just A Minute for the first time in 50 years. RNIB Library Collection Development Assistant Lynne Livingstone brings us some fabulous news about a new collection of Talking Books. Author and listener N B Dixon reviews a classic woodland tale. And Sarah J Harris gives us a final peek behind the scenes of ‘The Colours of Bee Larkham’s Murder.

This week we’re celebrating some outstanding books for children and young adults. We have the winner of this year’s CILIP Carnegie Medal. Previous winner Phillip Pullman reveals the books of his life. Robert Kirkwood mixes with dragons and aliens, at the Scottish Friendly book jamboree. Featuring Jacqueline Wilson, Pamela Butchart, Cressida Cowell and Chris Riddell. And Sarah J Harris gives us another peek behind the scenes of ‘The Colour of Bee Larkham’s Murder.

Hannah Kohler takes us back to 1960s America and the Vietnam War. Listener Chris Gray recommends a book about running away to join the circus. We remember Anthony Bourdain And coming right up-to-date, we’ve got the first instalment of Sarah J Harris’ series about ‘The Colours of Bee Larkham’s Murder'

This week… Author Sarah J Harris introduces us to ‘The Colours of Bee Larkham’s Murder. Poet Andrew Pettigrew waxes lyrical about Louis Braille. Candia McWilliam shares insights into blindness, addiction and literary prizes. And Robert Kirkwood interviews the voice acting legend David Graham.

The voice acting legend David Graham tells Robert Kirkwood about being Brains and Parker in Thunderbirds, creating the voice of the Daleks and more Clipped from Read On#71

On 6 June 2018, the Scottish Friendly Children's Book Tour hosted an all-star author line-up at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. 2018 is the 20th Anniversary of the Scottish Friendly Children's Book Tour. To celebrate some of the UK's best children's authors and illustrators such as Jacqueline Wilson, Chris Riddell, Pamela Butchart and Cressida Cowell took to the stage at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall... Robert Kirkwood went along and discovered what authors have books in the RNIB Talking Books Library.

In our second CILIP Carnegie show of 2018 we chat to two of the shortlisted authors and last year's winner. Geraldine McCaughrean on 'Where the World Ends' Will Hill on 'After the Fire' and last year's winner Ruta Sepetys on 'Salt to the Sea'

In today's show, Mark Billingham on 'The Killing Habit', Matthew Parris on 'Scorn', Chris Brookmyre on 'Want You Gone', Emma Swan on narrating 'That'll Be The Day' and reviewing 'Trunk Music' by Michael Connelly

Following a recommendation from a past guest, Red Szell reads and reviews Trunk Music by Michael Connelly Clipped from Read On 69

Garrick Hagon discusses audiobooks, acting and Star Wars. Fay Weldon takes the long view of feminism. Joanne Harris reveals some extreme reactions to her novel about a blind character. And the winner of last year’s CILIP Carnegie Medal for children’s fiction shares the books of her life.  

A packed show recorded live at the Boswell Book Festival featuring ... Dame Judi Dench on acting and how Macular Degeneration has robbed her of books and reading. Andrew O'Hagan on his new book and how formative an early job at Blind Veteran's UK was for his writing. Jackie Kay - Scotland's Poet Laureate on the importance of poetry in audio. Anthony Horowitz - On his new book writing Bond as Ian Fleming. Shaun Bythell - On his book and audiobook, The Diary of A Bookseller. Dr. Gordon Turnbull - From Yale University, Gordon told us about the history of James Boswell and his eponymous festival.

In our first CILIP Carnegie show of 2018 we chat to three of the shortlisted authors   Marcus Sedgwick on Saint Death,  Anthony McGowan on Rook, And Lauren Wolk on Beyond the Bright Sea.

We chat to Anthony about 'Rook' his book shortlisted for the 2018 CILIP Carnegie Medal. Clipped from Read On #66

Laura Barnett blends writing and music in her new multi-media bestseller ‘Greatest Hits'. Minette Walters reveals the parental dilemma at the heart of her latest novel. And listener Jacqueline Brown recommends an account of wartime heroism by the RAF.

Marion Rankine unfurls a history of the umbrella. (apologies for audio quality in some of this item) Historian Lucy Worsley tells us why she thinks Jane Austen failed to find success in her own lifetime. And listener John Banfield reveals how a classic tale of imprisonment and escape inspired him to write his own memoirs.