Simon Mayo's Books of the Year

Bauer Media

Simon Mayo & Matt Williams invite the world's finest authors in for a chat

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21 episodes
Updated Today

Episodes21

Newest first

Today · 31 min
David Baldacci
International superstar author, David Baldacci, joins Simon and Matt for a chat about his novel 'Nash Falls'. They chat about the 'American Dream', the US economy, feeling jaded with the super wealthy, being angry at the status quo - and how he's put these feelings into a page-turning book. Could this book have been written 10 years ago? David's not sure...but he know's its a book for now. They also discuss the follow up novel, 'Hope Rises' - and what David put himself through in the name of research (including training with the Ranger Regiment in Georgia - where he parachuted out of a plane, ran obstacle courses and got dumped in water in a Hummer) He also talks about his fight with AI companies to protect his (and other authors) work, a lawsuit which has been ongoing for three years. David, and fellow former Lawyer turned bestselling author John Grisham, continue to battle Microsoft and Open AI to save
July 29 · 21 min
Chris Chibnall Q&A
Dr Who and Broadchurch screenwriter, Chris Chibnall, joins SImon and Matt for a Q&A episode. They discuss his writing processes, favourite books and authors, jobs he'd have liked to do (if he hadn't become a successful writer) and whether he always finishes books, or not. We also surprise Chris with a question from Russell T Davies - and - find out who he'd invite to his fantasy dinner party.
July 22 · 35 min
Chris Chibnall
Screenwriter and author Chris Chibnall joins Simon and Matt for a natter about his new novel, Broadchurch, Agatha Christie and his inspirations for stories. Chris discusses his writing routine, holiday parks, sitting on ideas for years before writing them - and - adapting his own novels for the screen. Here's a little more about his new novel, 'The Parkwood Murders': For its many repeat customers, Parkwood Holiday Village in west Dorset is a haven – an idyllic woodland, a tranquil lake, customer service around the clock. Until, just before dawn the day after midsummer, a body is found in the resort’s swimming pool . Detective Nicola Bridge, exhausted from late nights worrying about her increasingly errant teenage son, faces an endless stream of potential witnesses. But as she speaks to the guests and staff, she soon uncovers an interconnected web of secrets and lies. Was the killer the guest who lied to his wife about where he was that night? Was it the arrogant high ropes instructor who’s unable to explain his recent scars? Or might it be the new resort manager, an impeccably put-together woman with a very big secret With hundreds of restless guests and staff on site, Nicola knows the clock is ticking to find the killer before they disappear for good.
July 15 · 18 min
Elizabeth Strout Q&A
Pulitzer Prize winning author Elizabeth Strout joins Simon and Matt for a special Q&A episode. They discuss her writing routine, snacks, her favourite authors and how she organises her bookshelves. We also surprise Elizabeth with a question from a fellow author and fan - AND - find out who she'd invite to her fantasy dinner party.
July 8 · 39 min
Elizabeth Strout
Pulitzer Prize winning author, Elizabeth Strout, joins Simon and Matt for a chat about her brilliant new novel, 'The Things We Never Say'. She talks about her writing routine, inspirations, listening to conversations, making every word count - and - why returning to characters and worlds is so enjoyable. They also discuss writing about covid, and the joy of discovering what your book is about halfway through writing it! Here's the blurb for Elizabeth's novel: Artie Dam is a man with a secret. He spends his days teaching history to high schoolers, expanding their young minds, correcting their casual cruelties, and lending a kind word to those who need it most. He goes to holiday parties with his wife of three decades, makes small talk with neighbours, and, on weekends, takes his sailboat out on the beautiful Massachusetts Bay. He is, by all appearances, present and alive. But inside, Artie is plagued by feelings of isolation. He looks out at a world gone mad―at himself and the people around him―and turns a question over and over in his mind: how is it that we know so little about one another, even those closest to us? And then, one day, Artie learns that life has been keeping a secret from him, one that threatens to upend his entire world. Once he learns it, he is forced to chart a new course, to reconsider the relationships he holds most dear―and to make peace with the mysteries at the heart of our existence.
July 1 · 17 min
Dawn French Q&A
Comedian and author Dawn French joins Simon and Matt for our Q&A episode. We learn about her writing routine, favourite snacks, her love for Kae Tempest's writing, the people she always shares her book with first - and - who she'd invite to her fantasy dinner party. We also surprise Dawn with a question from the poet, Donna Ashworth! Remember you can email us anytime: booksoftheyear@yahoo.com
June 24 · 37 min
Dawn French
Comedian, actor and bestselling author Dawn French joins Simon and Matt for a natter about her new novel, 'Enough'. She talks about her personal inspirations for the story, white crows, teenage crushes (Donny Osmond VS David Cassidy) and how she sees her book a as a film. There are some deep and poignant moments too - where Dawn talks about her father's suicide, and her Mum's death - specifically the agency her mum had over the end of her life. They also chat about a shared love of Barcelona, family recipes - and - Dean Friedman. Here's a little more on Dawn's novel - 'Enough': Etta is sixty-eight years old. Happy, healthy and an active participant in her world, she’s gathered her family together for an unforgettable weekend. Tick. At 5am that Saturday morning, Etta wakes her daughter, her granddaughter, her son and her daughter-in-law up to lead everyone down to the beach. To ‘Etta’s Hollow’, where a roaring fire has already been lit. Drowsy but delighted – the sun is just starting to rise for a glorious dawn – Etta’s family bask in the beauty of the moment. A memory to be cherished forever. Tick. Until twenty minutes later, when Etta announces to her assembled beloveds something as shocking as it is alarming. ‘I have brought you all down to the beach this morning to tell you something important. You see, the thing is, today is my last day alive.’ Boom. Over the next twenty-four hours, Etta and her family are about to have the most surprising, affecting and life-affirming day of all their lives.
June 16 · 17 min
Matt Haig Q&A
In our Q&A episode - international bestselling author Matt Haig talks about some of the books he's been enjoying recently (including 'Yesteryear' by Caro Claire Burke), the Brontes, how he orders his bookshelves and his favourite film adaptation of a book. Simon and Matt also ask him about his mentor - and whether he takes risks as a writer.
June 10 · 36 min
Matt Haig
Matt Haig joins Simon and Matt to talk about his new novel, 'The Midnight Train'. They discuss the inspirations for this book, how Matt see's it as a sibling to The Midnight Library- and why he wants us to challenge the fears of getting older. Matt talks about optimism and hopefulness, wasting time (and life) on the wrong things and what we should do about regrets. They also talk about the film adaptation of The Midnight Library, which is going to star Florence Pugh as Nora Seed - and we're very excited to see it. Remember you can watch all our episode now on our YouTube channel! TOP QUOTES: 'These will always be the good old days!' 'This part of the book was an exquisite type of torture' 'Sometimes happiness has the least to teach us.' Here's a little more info on the book: When your life flashes before your eyes, what will matter most? For Wilbur it was his time with Maggie, the love of his life. Their honeymoon in Venice. Before he threw it all away. Years later, on the brink of his own death, a train arrives. It can take Wilbur back in time. To relive his most important moments. Soon he realises just how much he would have changed. An adventure through time, The Midnight Train is a story of love and second chances, from the world of The Midnight Library.
June 2 · 14 min
Anthony Horowitz Q&A
Anthony Horowitz (known for his Alex Rider series, Foyles War, Sherlock Holmes mysteries, the Magpie Murders and many more) joins Simon Mayo and Matt Williams for a natter about his writing and favourite authors! He also shares a story about working with Meryl Streep (or rather, NOT working with her) and reveals who he would invite to his fantasy dinner party. We also surprise Anthony with a question from fellow author - Lucy Foley! Remember you can now watch all our episodes on YouTube! Follow and subscribe so you never miss an episode - you can find our channel here!
May 26 · 35 min
Anthony Horowitz
Bestselling author and Screenwriter - Anthony Horowitz - joins Simon and Matt for a natter about his new 'Hawthorne' novel. They chat about his meta approach to having himself as a character in his books, his dislike when readers guess his endings and twists - and why his writing is getting funnier. Anthony also talks positively and optimistically about the future of books and reading - and whilst no dragons are going to appear in any of his novels anytime soon - he loves the fact Romantasy is getting people into reading (and into the charts) Here's a little more on Anthony's new novel, 'A Deadly Episode': How do you investigate your own murder…? The good news is that The Word is Murder, the first book in the Hawthorne series, is being turned into a major feature film. The bad news is that the director is pretentious, the two stars hate each other, and the producer has run out of money. And things are about to get much worse. In the middle of shooting, the actor playing Hawthorne is stabbed – which leaves the real Hawthorne with no choice. He has to step in and investigate his own murder. Because the killer may not have got the right man. Was it Hawthorne himself who was meant to be the target?
May 19 · 15 min
Michael Connelly Q&A
Michael Connelly joins Simon and Matt for a good ole Q&A. He gives us some great book recommendations, talks about his collection of jazz biographies and tells us which authors he'd invite to a fantasy dinner party. We also surprise him with a question from fellow author and fan, Denise Mina!
May 13 · 35 min
Michael Connelly
International bestselling author, Michael Connelly, joins Simon and Matt for a natter about his new novel 'Ironwood'. Set on the island of Catalina, they discuss settings, sense-of-place, and how certain landscapes or communities inspire Michael's stories. They also chat about his iconic characters - Bosch, Ballard and Haller - and why he can't help himself write cameos for them all in other books. As well as this, they delve a little into his writing process - and - check that Harry Bosch isn't close to retirement yet! Here's a little more info on 'Ironwood': Sworn to protect a scenic island meant to be far from the evils of the mainland, Detective Sergeant Stilwell can feel danger closing in. Detective Sergeant Stilwell knows that his posting on Catalina Island is no paradise, but to most residents, it seems blissfully separated-by twenty-two miles of ocean-from the troubles of Los Angeles County. But now a threat is coming to his safe haven. Acting on a tip from a confidential informant, Stilwell and his deputies watch a plane land in the middle of the night at the Airport in the Sky, a remote airstrip in the mountains. A duffel bag of drugs is dropped and the deputies move in, but things quickly go sideways. While Stilwell chases the fleeing pickup man into the mountainside brush, shots are fired on the runway and the plane flies off. An internal inquiry follows, putting Stilwell on the bench until he is cleared of responsibility for the disastrous operation. But he is determined to find out who brought deadly violence to his island, and begins his own secret investigation into the drug deal gone wrong. While under orders to remain in the sheriff's substation, he finds in the lost and found a valuable backpack that was never claimed. He traces it to a woman who disappeared while hiking on the island four years ago. But then why was the pack only turned in two months back? Now thoroughly intrigued, he follows the mystery all the way to the LAPD's Open-Unsolved Unit and Detective Renée Ballard. Stilwell and Ballard work the case from both sides of the channel, and soon realize they are on the trail of a criminal who revels in taunting the authorities. Meanwhile, frustrated at being shut out of an investigation on his own island, Stilwell risks his already shaky standing in the department to pursue a case whose reach is wider than he ever imagine.
May 5 · 17 min
Bryony Gordon Q&A
Journalist and author, Bryony Gordon, joins Simon Mayo and Matt Williams for a Q&A about her favourite authors, books, writing processes - and - tells us who she'd invite to her fantasy dinner party.
April 29 · 40 min
Bryony Gordon
Simon Mayo and Matt Williams welcome podcaster, journalist, marathon-runner, broadcaster and author - Bryony Gordon - to the podcast, to chat about her debut novel for adults. They discuss the London Marathon (which Bryony ran this year in her underwear with her good friend Adele Roberts), columnists who don't write what they truly believe - and - people pleasing, which is the central theme in Bryony's novel. Here's a little bit more about 'People Pleaser: Olivia Greenwood has been trying very hard to please people for a very long time. But today is going to change Olivia in a big way. A soul-crushing career disappointment, a fiery young woman with a chip on her shoulder and a cigarette in her hand, and one single blue hallucinogenic gummy all lead to a raucous night out and one hell of a hangover. And when Olivia wakes up the next morning, it seems she’s unable to please anyone but HERSELF. So who actually is Olivia Greenwood, when she’s not trying to be what everyone else wants her to be?
April 22 · 18 min
John Lanchester Q&A
Bestselling novelist and journalist, John Lanchester, joins Simon and Matt to answer some of our classic Q&A questions. We learn about his writing process, his favourite authors, some of his quirks, get some good writing advice - and find out who he'd invite to his fantasy dinner party.
April 17 · 32 min
John Lanchester
Journalist and author, John Lanchester, joins Simon and Matt to chat about his new darkly comic novel, 'Look What You Made Me Do' They dissect the characters in the novel, explore house ownership in the 90s versus owning property now and look at inter-generational tensions. John also talks about being an 'outsider' and writing from the perspective of having lots of different flags to wave. 'Look What You Made Me do' is one of Simon's favourite books of the year - and we hope you love it too!
April 7 · 17 min
Yann Martel Q&A
Booker Prize winning author, Yann Martel, joins Simon and Matt for a bit of Q&A. He reveals his quirky writing routine, who he'd invite to his fantasy dinner party - and - gives us some great book recommendations too. We also surprise him with a question from fellow author and Booker shortlistee, Tan Twan Eng.
April 1 · 38 min
Yann Martel
Booker Prize winning author, Yann Martel, chats to Simon and Matt about his new novel 'Son Of Nobody'. They talk about The Iliad - one of his inspirations behind the book - as well as how we understand ancient history in 2026, and how we should tell those stories. The novel explores how stories become facts, the price we pay to share them and how we live – then, now and always. Here's a little more info on 'Son Of Nobody' Harlow Donne has devoted his life to the Classical world. When a chance comes up to study an obscure collection of papyrus fragments at Oxford University, he seizes it. Though it means leaving his daughter and fracturing marriage back home in Canada, this is the kind of career break he desperately needs. In the depths of the Bodleian Library, Harlow discovers a lost account of the Trojan War, a glimpse into the founding of Western civilization itself. He names the epic poem The Psoad, after its protagonist, a Greek commoner identified as Psoas of Midea but known to all as ‘son of nobody’. As sole translator and interpreter of the Psoad, Harlow dedicates the poem and its modern footnotes to his daughter, Helen. Under his gaze, the text unlocks echoes of Ancient Greece into the present day, and a personal message to his beloved child appears. Despite the three-thousand-year gap between the two, a thread hasn’t frayed: the universal song of homesickness and regret, of ambition and grief.
March 11 · 19 min
Francis Spufford Q&A
Author Francis Spufford joins Simon and Matt for a natter about his processes, favourite authors, the ordering of his bookshelves and much more. We also learn who he'd invite to his fantasy dinner party!