Simon Mayo's Books Of The Year

Bestselling author and essayist, Elif Shafak, answers questions about her writing process, inspirations and favourite authors. She also tells us the shocking and extraordinary story of when she was arrested in Turkey, in the name of fiction. We also find out who she would invite to her fantasy dinner party. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

International bestselling author, essayist and activist - Elif Shafak - joins Simon and Matt for a chat about her novel, 'There Are Rivers In The Sky'She talks about her inspirations for this epic tale, why she writes with history in mind and who she is writing for. Here's more on the book:In Victorian London, an extraordinary child is born at the edge of the dirt-black Thames. When his brilliant memory earns him a spot as an apprentice at a printing press, the world opens up far beyond the slums and across the seas.In 2014 in Turkey, Narin, a Yazidi girl living by the River Tigris, waits to be baptized. The ceremony is cruelly interrupted, and soon she and her grandmother must journey across war-torn lands in the hope of reaching the sacred valley of their people.In 2018 in London, broken-hearted Zaleekhah, a hydrologist, moves to a houseboat on the Thames to escape the wreckage of her marriage – until an unexpected connection to her homeland changes everything.A dazzling feat of storytelling from one of the greatest writers of our time, one that spans centuries and continents, this is the story of one lost poem, two great rivers and three remarkable lives – all connected by a single drop of water. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Simon and Matt ask lawyer turned bestselling author, Scott Turow, questions about his processes and favourite authors. As well as learning about how he writes - and where - we also find out who he would invite to his fantasy dinner party. There's also a surprise question from a global superstar author! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lawyer turned bestselling author, Scott Turow, joins Simon and Matt for a chat about his new novel, 'Presumed Guilty' (the sequel to his 1987 masterpiece, 'Presumed Innocent') Scott joins us down the line from Florida and discusses writing an 'older' protagonist, the soothing components of jazz music, Keith Jarrett and how much legalise is too much legalise. This episode comes complete with a crashing of dishes in the background, courtesy of the Turow household. Here's some more info on the new book:In a sequel to Presumed Innocent, the book that redefined the legal thriller, judge and lawyer Rusty Sabich returns to the courtroom to defend his step-son against a racially-charged murder indictment as the boy’s life – and perhaps Rusty’s last chance at happiness – hang in the balance.Rusty is a retired judge attempting a third act in life with a loving soon-to-be wife, Bea, with whom he shares both a restful home on an idyllic lake in the rural Midwest and a plaintive hope that this marriage will be his best, and his last. But the peace that’s taken Rusty so long to find evaporates when Bea’s young adult son, Aaron, living under their supervision while on probation for drug possession, disappears. If Aaron doesn’t return soon, he will be sent back to jail.Aaron eventually turns up with a vague story about a camping trip with his troubled girlfriend, Mae, that ended in a fight and a long hitchhike home. Days later, when she still hasn’t returned, suspicion falls on Aaron, and when Mae is subsequently discovered dead, Aaron is arrested and set for trial on charges of first degree murder.Faced with few choices and even fewer hopes, Bea begs Rusty to return to court one last time, to defend her son and to save their last best hope for happiness. For Rusty, the question is not whether to defend Aaron, or whether the boy is in fact innocent – it’s whether the system to which he has devoted his life can ever provide true justice for those who are presumed guilty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The international bestselling author Jojo Moyes joins Simon and Matt for a Q&A. She gives us some great book recommendations, tells us a little about her reading and writing habits - and we find out who she'd invite to her fantasy dinner party. Lisa Jewell also makes a surprise appearance - to ask Jojo a question about being more sinister! You can hear more from Jojo on our previous episode, where we dive into her new novel, "We All Live Here" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

International bestselling sensation, Jojo Moyes, returns to the podcast to tell us about her new novel. Simon and Matt talk to her about writing nasty characters, whether it's harder to come up with plots seventeen books in, and how she may have accidentally based a character on David Soul, who she met 30 odd years ago! More on the book:Lila Kennedy has a lot on her plate. A recently broken marriage, two wayward daughters, a house that is falling apart, and an elderly stepfather who seems to have quietly moved in. Not to mention a once promising writing career that is now in freefall. So when her real dad - a man she has barely seen since he ran off to Hollywood thirty-five years ago - suddenly appears on her doorstep wanting to make amends, it feels like the final straw.But it turns out even the family you thought you could never forgive might have something to teach you: about love, friendship, and what it actually means to be family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we put broadcasting legend and bestselling author Simon Mayo under the Q&A spotlight. Marianna Spring joins Matt Williams as our guest host, and asks about Simon's writing process, inspirations - and who he would invite to his fantasy dinner party. There's also a surprise question from fellow author and broadcaster, Tom Bradby! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yes, it's that time again, where the the tables turn and the Host becomes the Guest on Books Of The Year. This week we welcome a superstar co-host Marianna Spring to the studio, who steps into the Mayo shoes and, along with Matt, interviews Broadcaster and Author Simon Mayo about his new novel, 'Black Tag'. They talk about about his inspirations for the book, why he has brought back a character from a previous novel and what it says about journalism, and journalists, working today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Simon and Matt put a range of questions to our special guest, the author and sports journalist Miguel Delaney. They ask about his favourite authors, which books he's jealous of and wished he'd written, his writing processes - especially when touring so much - and who he'd invite to his fantasy dinner party. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Miguel Delaney is no stranger to writing about sport, or indeed football, as he is the Chief Football Writer for The Independent. In his new book, States Of Play, he looks at the incredibly interesting (and controversial) topic of Sportswashing. Simon and Matt find out more what this means, how it is affecting sport (especially football) and what Miguel has found out from his many years of researching and investigating. If you're not a football fan, this may not seem like a book for you, but the subject is fascinating and wide ranging... More on the book here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices