Rnib Talking Books

Historian Lucy Worsley tells us why she thinks Jane Austen failed to find success in her own lifetime. Clipped from Read On 64

In this episode Red Szell chats to Dave Steele about his poetry collections 'Stand by Me RP'. Robert Kirkwood finds out about Liz Pichon's character Tom Gates. And we hear some notable poems from last year's RNIB Writing Competition.

As his memoir 'Over and Out' is released as an RNIB Talking Book at the same time as the print version, Red Szell talks to national treasure, Henry 'Blowers' Blofeld. Caroline Lennon tells us about being a Talking Books narrator and about her life, and death, on The Archers. And Neil Oliver talks to Robert Kirkwood from the other side of the world about conservation, history and his historical fiction.

Tony Parsons chats to Red Szell about his work and being the 'Father of Man-Lit', Phill Jupitus discusses some of his favourite books, old and new, and with the stage version of 'Alys, Always' about to open in London we talk to Harriet Lane.

We go behind the counter and learn about the sometimes funny and sometimes frustrating life of owning a bookshop as Shaun Bythell talks about his 'Diary of a Bookseller'. Clipped from the non-fiction 'best of' Read On episode 60, first played September 2017\. Updated to include clips of the audiobook.

In a non-fiction 'best of' episode we learn about spies, double agents and espionage with Ben McIntyre, we go behind the scene's of The Bookshop in Wigtown with Shaun Bythell and learn about the father of biography, James Boswell.

Author Susie Steiner discusses writing and sight loss with host Red Szell. We go back and listen to Julian Barnes on 'The Sense of an Ending' before handing it over to our radio book group, and narrator Beverly Klein gives vice to some Corner House Girls.

Actor and writer Robin Driscoll joins Red Szell to talk about his book 'Rough Music', comedian Robin Ince tells Robert Kirkwood about his book, 'The Bad Book Club' and Helen Lederer talks about 'Losing It'.  We hear a short comic tale from a blind writer, a narrator on a favourite of his by Garrison Keeler and much more on today's show. Contact the show by emailing readonair@rnib.org.uk

Red Szell chats to Patrick Gale about the upcoming RNIB Member's Writing Competition and about the differences between novel and short story writing. Author David Munro talks about The Time Jigsaw and writing with a visual impairment. And we hear again from Verity Smith on her both funny and sad memoir, The Groper's Guide.

The author of Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow tells Red Szell all about the book and her life as an author. Clipped from Read On episode 56

With author Jess Townsend Red Szell explores Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow. Robert Kirkwood looks forward to AyeWrite!, Glasgow's Book Festival with Denise Mina, Chris Brookmyre, Louise Welsh, Zoe Strachan and Alan Bissett. A listener recommends a tale of heroism and blindness in the face on 9/11 and Red reviews The Transition by Luke Kennard. Contact the show on readonair@rnib.org.uk

As this year's AyeWrite! approaches, Robert Kirkwood chats to Denise Mina, Chris Brookmyre, Alan Bisset, Louise Welsh and Zoe Strachan about some of their favourite memories of the Glasgow Book Festival.

Charles Dickens' great great great granddaughter, Lucinda Hawksley talks about her latest book, 'March, Women, March' as it enters the RNIB Talking Book Library.  David Aldwinckle talks about his position within RNIB and tells Red Szell about some of his favourite books. Robert Kirkwood goes behind the scenes at the Talking Books studios and journalist and author Peter Ross returns to the show for 'The Books of My Life.' Contact the show on readonair@rnib.org.uk

A.L. Kennedy talks to Red Szell about all the forms of her writing and her outlook on life, Mark Haddon talks about life after that 'Curious Incident ...', Giles Coren and Victoria Coren Mitchell talk about 'Chocolate and Cuckoo Clocks' to Robert Kirkwood and listener Paul Chennel recommends one of his favourites.

Author Rachel Ward tells us about her new book, 'The Cost of Living', narrator Peter Kenny demonstrates just how versatile he is, we reveal the winner of the Costa Book of the Year award and we pay a visit to a new Harry Potter exhibition an the British Library.

We talk to three winners of The Costa Book Award 2017.  Jon McGregor talks about 'Reservoir 13', winner of the Novel of the Year, Rebecca Stott talks about her Biography of the Year 'In the Days of Rain: A Daughter. A Father. A Cult', and we go exploring with Children's Book of the Year winner, Katherine Rundell ... who also gives us the books of her life.

We have a listen to all of the category winners as we wait for the announcement of the Costa Book of the Year and chat to First Novel winner Gail Honeyman. We also chat to previous winners Ali Smith and Sebastian Barry and review Frances Hardinge's The Lie Tree.

We explore Daunderlust with journalist Peter Ross, Ali Smith talks Autumn, which is then reviewed by the RNIB Connect Radio Book Group plus Philip Reeve on the books of his life.

A listen back to three interviews from last year, one fiction, one non-fiction and one from an RNIB Talking Book narrator. Mark Miodownik on Stuff Matters: Exploring the Marvellous Materials That Shape Our Man-Made World, Laurence Bouvard on bringing audio books to life.

Philip Pullman joins Red Szell in the Talking Book studios to talk about 'The Book of Dust' Book 1: La Belle Sauvage. Andy Miller tells Robert Kirkwood about 'The Year of Reading Dangerously' and narrator and author Andy Secombe tells Red about growing up with the Goons and a few of his famous voices.