The Author Archive Podcast

Ashley Mullinger - My Fishing Life

Ashley Mullinger is a commercial fisherman.

She used to work in an office but found it dull and stressful. She  decided to go on a half day fishing trip with a couple of her friends just to make a change.

The friends sort of liked it but Ashley REALLY liked it and now does it as a full time job. She is so good at it she was awarded the title of 'Fisherman of the Year'.

In this conversation she explains her passion for the life and her fears for the future of the whole commercial fishing industry.

 

Rebecca Frayn - Lost in Ibiza

There is an article in the Culture section of The Sunday Times about father and daughter Michael and Rebecca Frayn.

Rebecca is a farmer and environmental activist and writer who lives in the north of Ibiza.

Her new novel 'Lost in Ibiza' is coincidentally, about  a young environmental activist who travels to Ibiza to meet her biological father for the very first time.

It's a story of family drama, but it is also the story of a paradise island under threat.

A great holiday read!

Eric Bibb talks about his life in music

Eric Bibb remembers his introduction into music via his dad Leon and the musical luminaries who visited the family home.

Paul Robeson was his Godather, and a very young Bob Dylan gave him some sound advice.

Now 72 Eric is still touring, playing, and writing songs. He is one of lifes gentlemen!

Gareth E. Rees - Sunken Lands

Sunken Lands is about a journey through flooded kingdoms and lost worlds.

Gareth tells of places he has visited to see history and extrapolates forward to imagine the world we are leaving for future generations.

There is anger, poetry, myth .... and David Bowie.

Robin Eggar - biography of Tom Jones

This conversation was recorded in 2000 when Robin Eggar's biography of Tom Jones was first published.

At this time Tom's wife, Linda, was still alive and Tom himself was a mere 60 years old.

It emerges from this interview that the man born Thomas Woodward was driven by two passions. What they are is revealed in this Author Archive episode.

Lisa St Aubin De Teran - Memory Maps

Lisa has written a new memoir 'Better Broken Than New'

She has ploughed this furrow before  and I interviewed her when 'Memory Maps' was published.

Lisa has lived life to the full.

She is a very beguiling woman and many men have fallen for her charms and married her.

On the day I interviewed her she was in the mood for remembering her life and loves in wonderful detail.

Maeve Binchy - Scarlet Feather

This conversation was recorded when the very last Maeve Binchy novel was published in paperback.

Maeve was always an entertaining interviewee - getting her to talk was never a problem!

Unsurprisingly her books continue to sell.  

Chris Grey : Brexit Unfolded - How no one got what they wanted (and why they were never going to)

As more Brexit checks and red tape come into action it is illuminating to remember how we get to be in this sorry situation. 

Many of the leading players are only where they are because they are Brexiteers.

Professor Grey has made it a personal mission to chronicle the drama and effects of Brexit.

He writes a blog and now the latest edition of his book "Brexit Unfolded" is published bringing the story up to date.

Does this mean that the Brexit story has reached a conclusion?

Maybe not!!!

 

 

 

Magnus Magnusson - Scotland: The Story of a Nation

Magnus Magnusson died in 2007. He was  77.

I spoke to Magnus when his history of Scotland was first published in 2000.

Our conversation covered thoughts on Scottish independence, the film Braveheart, Shakespeare and whatever happened to the Picts.

There was so much more to Magnus than being the chair .....I've started so I'll finish ..... of Mastermind!

 

 

 

Justine Picardie - If The Spirit Moves You

Her sister died of breast cancer and Justine just couldn't accept that her much loved sister had gone.

This is conversation about grief and loss but it also about the lengths the bereaved will go to to re establish a link with the departed loved one.

Despite being a journalist Justine tried everything and everybody. Mediums, spiritualists and people who really thought that there could be communication with the dead via a computer spell check.

So what belief is Justine left with?