428: Kelly McCaughrain & Matt Goodfellow - Carnegie Medal for Writing
Today on Read On we're continuing our interviews with authors on the shortlist for the Carnegie Medal for Writing. This week Kelly McCaughrain on Little Bang and Matt Goodfellow on The Final Year, plus we find some new audiobooks out now and available from RNIB Library.
58m Jun 13, 2025
58m
Frederick Forsyth at the RNIB Studios
Frederick Forsyth, the author of The Day Of The Jackal, has died at the age of 86 after a brief illness. He was a great supporter of RNIB Talking Books, visiting the studios many times to record messages and raise awareness, and even to record a small non-fiction tale he wrote for us as part of a fundraising effort to re-archive our old tape recordings to a digital format. On one visit, Rober...
13m Jun 10, 2025
13m
427: Brian Conaghan & Luke Palmer - Carnegie Medal for Writing
In today's episode, we talk to two more authors on the Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlist, Luke Palmer on his book Play and Brian Conaghan on Treacle Town, plus we find some new books out now and available from the RNIB Library.
58m Jun 06, 2025
58m
426: Blessing Musariri & Clare Furniss - Carnegie Medal for Writing
In today's episode, we talk to two authors on the Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlist, Blessing Musariri on her book All That It Ever Meant and Clare Furniss on The Things We Leave Behind, plus we find some new books out now and available from the RNIB Library.
58m May 30, 2025
58m
425: Becky C Brynolf and Daniel Tammet
A mix of fiction and non-fiction in today's show as Becky C Brynolf tells us about her debut I Found A Body in which an influencer gets mixed up in a murder investigation. We also hear from writer and savant Daniel Tammet about Nine Minds: Inner Lives on the Spectrum, delving into the extraordinary lives of nine neurodivergent men and women from around the globe, including blind academic Amand...
58m May 23, 2025
58m
424: Percival Everett on James - Winner of the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for fiction
Winner of the National Book Award and now the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, James is a subversive reimagining of “Huckleberry Finn” told from the perspective of Jim, Huck's enslaved companion on the raft ride. Percival Everett tells Robert Kirkwood about the book and reveals he read Huck Finn too many times in the research! We also hear about the science behind James Bond's gadgets and Agatha Ch...
58m May 16, 2025
58m
423: Boswell Book Festival Interview Special
As I'm off recording at Dumfries House at the moment, here's selection of interviews from past Boswell Book Festival events including Lady Anne Glenconner, founder of Private Eye Richard Ingrams, biographer Ben McIntyre, Winston Churchill's granddaughter Emma Soames, Andrew Cotter with Olive and Mabel, and we're Cloistered with Catherine Coldstream.
58m May 09, 2025
58m
422: Celia Silvani - Baby Teeth
On this week's Read On, Robert Kirkwood chats to Celia Silvani about her debut novel Baby Teeth, a cautionary tale about how vulnerable, isolated people can be lured into toxic communities and the catastrophic consequences this can have. Trigger Warning: This interview contains discussions and references to pregnancy and infertility. There is also a scene of pregnancy loss in the book.
58m May 02, 2025
58m
421: Beth O'Brien - Wolf Siren
This week on Read On a captivating chat with Beth O'Brien, visually impaired author of new HarperCollins Children’s Book 'Wolf Siren', which also has a visually impaired narrator. Beth talks about her writing, watching the narration process and her passion project, 'Disabled Tales.'
58m Apr 25, 2025
58m
420: Dame Stella Rimington - The Hidden Hand
Stella Rimington was the first female director general of MI5 and brings true authenticity to her books about spying and espionage. She talks to Robert Kirkwood about her career, her Liz Carlyle books and her imagined end, plus her two new Manon Tyler books. Dame Rimington also talks about how her failing eyesight due to AMD is affecting her ability to write. And for episode 420, we also find ...
58m Apr 18, 2025
58m
419: Nydia Hetherington - Sycorax & A Girl Made of Air
This week in Read On, author Nydia Hetherington tells us how living with a chronic yet hidden illness inspired her to write the untold story of Shakespeare's witch, Sycorax and also her debut novel, A Girl Made of Air. She also tells us how many spoons it took to narrate the audio version herself.
58m Apr 11, 2025
58m
418: Chris Bridges - Sick to Death
Emma is sick. Just not in the way you thought. In today's Read On - The Audiobook Show, we're mixing a thriller with a hidden disability in Chris Bridges debut novel Sick To Death. Plus we find some brand new books the RNIB Library, one written and read by actor, Brian Cox.
58m Apr 04, 2025
58m
417: Kate Kemp - The Grapevine plus Share The Vision
In this week's Read On - The Audiobook Show we chat to debut novelist Kate Kemp about murder and intrigue on Warrah Place, a sweltering Australian suburban cul-de-sac, in her novel The Grape Vine. We also hear from Mark McCree and Simon Savidge from Share the Vision, a coalition of UK organisations that work together to improve the quality, availability and accessibility of library services fo...
58m Mar 28, 2025
58m
416: Clare Mackintosh - Other People's Houses
In today's Read On we enter the world of DC Ffion Morgan and DS Leo Brady with author Clare Mackintosh with the release of the third book in the series, Other People's Houses. We also listen back to earlier books from Clare and find some brand new books in the Talking Books library.
58m Mar 21, 2025
58m
415: Lucy Edwards - Blind Not Broken & Ella Jones vs The Sun Stealer
In today's show we chat to blind broadcaster, social media creator and author, Lucy Edwards, about her books Blind Not Broken and Ella Jones vs The Sun Stealer, and about her campaigns for equality and becoming an RNIB ambassador. We also find some brand new books entering the Talking Books library.
58m Mar 14, 2025
58m
414: Mari Hannah, Steve Hodson plus Maurice and Maralyn
In today's show we hear about the new thriller from Mari Hannah, Her Sister's Killer, the latest in the Stone and Oliver series. We also pay tribute to narrator Steve Hodson and hear from Nero book of the year Maurice and Maralyn by Sophie Elmhirst
58m Mar 07, 2025
58m
Tribute to narrator Steve Hodson
A familiar and warm voice to listeners of RNIB Talking Books, and audiobook and radio drama listeners everywhere, Steve Hodson, has passed away at 77. We listen back to him telling us how he became a narrator, hear some stories and listen to a clip of one of his favourite books. Photo of Steve. He has salt and pepper tousled hair and is staring to the side with an intense gaze. His soft white...
8m Mar 05, 2025
8m
413: World Book Day with Tom Palmer
In today's show a chat with World Book Day author Tom Palmer about his books on sport, history and his travels for research, plus we find out about the free books you can get this World Book Day from RNIB.
58m Feb 28, 2025
58m
412: Liz Hyder & Adam S Leslie - Nero Book Awards
In today's show two category winners from the Nero Book Awards, Children's Fiction winner Liz Hyder on her book The Twelve, and Adam S Leslie with his Fiction category winning folk-horror, Lost in the Garden.
58m Feb 21, 2025
58m
Lucy Edwards - Ella Jones Vs the Sun Stealer (Extract)
A short extract from my interview with Lucy Edwards about her new book Ella Jones Vs the Sun Stealer and about being an RNIB Ambassador. Full interview coming soon.
6m Feb 19, 2025
6m
411: Joanna Toye - A New Chapter at the Little Penguin Bookshop
We're loved up this Valentines Day on Read On. In Penguin Books 90th year, Robert Kirkwood chats to author Joanna Toye about the second book in the heart-warming, romantic, and uplifting world war two series about community, friendship and books, A New Chapter at the Little Penguin Bookshop. And as this show is going out on Valentine's Day we find some new romance in the RNIB Library.
58m Feb 14, 2025
58m
410: Nigel Planer, Jo Caulfield and Richard Herring
Another comedian compilation as we hear from stand-ups Jo Caulfield and Richard Herring and comedic actor, audiobook narrator and Neil from The Young Ones, Nigel Planer. Plus we find some brand new books in the RNIB Library
58m Feb 07, 2025
58m
409: Rachel Kushner - Creation Lake
This week on Read On, Robert Kirkwood chats to Rachel Kushner about her book Creation Lake, which is a taut, dazzling story of espionage and intrigue and beneath lies a tale of a woman caught in the crossfire between the past and the future. Thanks to The Booker Foundation it's available to borrow from RNIB in both audio and Braille. Plus we find some new audiobooks out now and also in the RNI...
58m Jan 31, 2025
58m
408: Charlotte Wood - Stone Yard Devotional
Today we're joined by award winning Australian novelist Charlotte Wood who chats about her book Stone Yard Devotional, in which a women 'unsubscribes' from her life in the city to live in isolation with nuns, and a lot of mice! We'll also hear some new books in the RNIB Library
58m Jan 24, 2025
58m
407: Yael van der Wouden - The Safekeep
In today's show Robert Kirkwood has a long chat with Yael van der Wouden about her debut novel, The Safekeep, an exhilarating tale of twisted desire, histories and homes, and the unexpected shape of revenge. We hear from Bart van Es about The Cutout Girl and find new books in the RNIB Library.
58m Jan 17, 2025
58m
406: A.J. West - The Betrayal of Thomas True and The Spirit Engineer
In today's Read On Robert Kirkwood chats to author and narrator A.J. West about his books The Betrayal of Thomas True and The Spirit Engineer and why he didn't narrate them, but also about the book he is narrating, Death in the Sauna. Plus we find some new books in the RNIB Library.
58m Jan 10, 2025
58m
405: Recap of the Year - Part 2
In our second look back at 2024, Momfluencers clash in Jesse Q. Sutanto's book You Will Never Be Me, Gregg Mosse tells us about The Coming Storm, we have a Hot Girl Summer with Sophie Gravia, Kirsten Miller tells us about Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books, Jo Piazza has A Sicilian Inheritance and we go Orbital with Booker winner Samantha Harvey.
58m Jan 03, 2025
58m
404: Recap of the Year - Part 1
In today's round up of the first half of 2024 we hear from Hiba Noor Khan and Sophia's War, we visit Harlem After Midnight with author Louise Hare, Michael McGee stays Close to Home, Becky Holmes tells us Keanu Reeves is Not in Love With You, Lynda Marron has a Last Chance in Paris and we talk about The Beholders with Hester Musson.
58m Dec 27, 2024
58m
403: Michael Morpurgo, D&D, and some Christmas Books
In today's festive show we have a new chat with one of Britain's best loved children's authors, Sir Michael Morpurgo OBE, about retelling the bard's work for a modern audience in his Tales from Shakespeare and we get to bring in games in the form of live D&D shows in the RNIB Library, and we find some festive and not so festive brand new audiobooks.
58m Dec 20, 2024
58m
402: Fiona Lucas - Always and Only You
What would you do if you walk down the aisle and find the wrong man waiting for you? And no-one else sees anything wrong? This week a return visit from Fiona Lucas with her deeply emotional story of love, secrets and second chances, Always and Only You. Plus we find four brand new books in the RNIB Library.
58m Dec 13, 2024
58m
401: Anita Frank - The Good Liars
This week we chat to Anita Frank about the Sunday Times bestselling WW1 historical fiction murder mystery thriller, The Good Liars. Plus we find some brand new audio out now and also available from RNIB.
58m Dec 06, 2024
58m
400: Anne Michaels - Held
In today’s 400th episode of Read On – The Audiobook Show, Robert Kirkwood chats to Anne Michaels about her book ‘Held’, which last week was the winner of the $100K Giller Prize in Canada. The audio version of the book, which was also Booker shortlisted in the UK, is narrated by the author and she tells us why she was the only person for the job. We also find some brand new books in the RNIB Li...
58m Nov 29, 2024
58m
399: Rachel Greenlaw - The Woodsmoke Women's Book of Spells plus Blind Poet Dave Steele
This week author Rachel Greenlaw tells us about a cosy new tale of witches, magic, mystery, family and romance, The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells plus we here from Blind Poet Dave Steele about The Big Test. All that plus some new books in the RNIB Library. The image is a book cover with a magical, mystical theme. The background is a deep navy blue, scattered with golden and turquoise stars,...
58m Nov 22, 2024
58m
398: Samantha Harvey - Orbital - Booker Winner 2024
Today a long chat with Booker Winner 2024 Samantha Harvey and a listen to her winning book Orbital. We hear about the quirks of living on the ISS, about sleeping in orbit, and closer to home we hear about the importance of accessible reading and that Samantha is currently training a guide dog puppy. All that plus some new books in the RNIB Library on today's Read On. Image is the cover of the ...
58m Nov 15, 2024
58m
Booker Winner 2024 - Samantha Harvey (Extract)
Full interview on Friday's show, but here's a clip from my interview with Booker winner 2024, Samantha Harvey
8m Nov 12, 2024
8m
Bonus Episode - Booker Shortlist Special 2024
We have spoken to all of the Booker Shortlisted authors here at Read On, many on the days leading up to, or in one case the day of, the award ceremony, far too soon to get them onto a regular episode of the show. So here, ahead of the ceremony tonight, is a supercut of all six interviews featuring Percival Everett, Samantha Harvey, Yael van der Wouden, Charlotte Wood, Rachel Kushner and Anne M...
39m Nov 12, 2024
39m
397: Booker Prize 2024
This week features each book on the 2024 Booker Prize shortlist and a listen to the audio versions, plus some book recommendations from last year’s winner Paul Lynch. Image shows the shortlisted books on a shelf, spines towards the camera.
58m Nov 08, 2024
58m
396: Ariane Bankes, Irvine Welsh and Elizabeth Oldfield - Wigtown Book Festival
This week on Read On we have three very different authors, Ariane Bankes discovers her mother's and aunt's correspondence in The Quality of Love: Twin Sisters at the Heart of the Century, Irvine Welsh tells us about the third Ray Lennox book, Resolution, and Elizabeth Oldfield is Tending to the Soul in Turbulent Times in her book, Fully Alive. All that plus some new books (including the new S...
58m Nov 01, 2024
58m
395: Josie Lloyd - Miss Beeton’s Murder Agency
Today we're chatting to Josie Lloyd about her brand new cosy crime adventure Miss Beeton’s Murder Agency and we get an exclusive news about a brand new book Josie is writing with Emlyn Rees. Plus we'll find some new books in the RNIB Library. The image shows the cover of the book "Miss Beeton's Murder Agency" by Josie Lloyd. The design features a red, townhouse-like building with three stories...
58m Oct 25, 2024
58m
394: Coinneach MacLeod, Pen Vogler and Julian Baggini - Wigtown Book Festival
There's a food theme in this week's episode as we head to Wigtown to chat to The Hebridean Baker Coinneach MacLeod, food historian Pen Vogler on her books Scoff and Stuffed and philosopher Julian Baggini tells us How The World Eats. Plus we get the Books of Your Life from Gareth Brown and find new books in the RNIB Library. The image used is a fun collage featuring moments from the Wigtown Boo...
58m Oct 18, 2024
58m
393: Gareth Brown - The Book of Doors - Wigtown Book Festival
In a talk sponsored by RNIB Connect Radio, Gareth Brown talks to Teddy Jameson live on stage at the Wigtown Book Festival about his best-selling time-travelling page turner, The Book of Doors. Plus we find some brand new books in the RNIB Library.
58m Oct 11, 2024
58m
392: Wigtown Hidden Gems
As I'm down in Wigtown recording next week's show, here's a collection of hidden gems we've recorded at the festival over the years.
58m Oct 04, 2024
58m
391: Lucy Ellmann, Stephanie Ellyne and Tia Fisher
Another collection of narrators in today's show as we celebrate the voices who bring RNIB Talking Books to life, including two very personal tales for becoming a narrator, how an epic stream of consciousness was recorded over months, and we get the Books of Your Life from Yoto Carnegie Shadower Award winner, Tia Fisher. Plus some new books entering the RNIB Library.
58m Sep 27, 2024
58m
390: Jesse Sutanto - You Will Never Be Me
Influencer Meredith Lee didn't teach Aspen Palmer how to blossom on social media just to be ditched as soon as Aspen became big. So can anyone really blame Mer for doing a little stalking? Nothing serious, more like Stalking Lite. Jesse Sutanto joins Robert Kirkwood to talk about her new black comedy thriller, You Will Never Be Me. Plus we'll find some brand new books in the RNIB Library.
58m Sep 20, 2024
58m
389: Read On - Live on Stage
A compilation episode today of the times Read On was recorded live on stage in front of an audience. We hear from Booker Shortlisted author Graeme Macrae Burnet, former presenter Red Szell, comedian Juliette Burton and there's an extended interview with actor and writer John Gordon Sinclair.
58m Sep 13, 2024
58m
388: Julia Donaldson and Elizabeth Proud
Two tales of recording books today. Julia Donaldson works out how to make an audio version of a very visual book, and Elizabeth Proud talks about how audiobook narration has changed over the years. Plus we'll find some new books in the RNIB Library.
58m Sep 06, 2024
58m
387: Sophie Gravia - Hot Girl Summer and the Glasgow Kiss Trilogy
This week Robert Kirkwood chats to Sophie Gravia about her Glasgow Kiss trilogy and her new book Hot Girl Summer, and why she started writing while working as a nurse during the pandemic. Plus we find some new book in the RNIB Library.
58m Aug 30, 2024
58m
386: Isabel Ashdown - One Girl, One Summer
This week, Robert Kirkwood chats to Isabel Ashdown about her new book One Girl, One Summer which sees a return to Highcap in Dorset and a reappearance of DS Ali Samson. We also find some brand new audiobooks available from RNIB.
58m Aug 23, 2024
58m
385: Narrator special with Adjoa Andoh, Martin Jarvis and Derek Jacobi
Today's Read On features three very distinctive voices, Adjoa Andoh on being the voice of the Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Derek Jacobi on bringing characters to life off the page and we get a masterclass in narration from Martin Jarvis. All that plus some new books available in audio from RNIB.
58m Aug 16, 2024
58m
384: Audio Describing Bridgerton with Liz Gutman
The Bridgerton books are available from RNIB in accessible formats, but how do you make the TV version accessible? Robert Kirkwood takes a deep dive into the world of Audio Description with Liz Gutman, head Audio Description writer at IDC and finds out if writing 'that scene' make Liz feel like a romance novelist! And, as always, we find some new books in the RNIB Library. Liz's podcast is av...
58m Aug 09, 2024
58m