The Author Archive Podcast

Henry Sanderson - Volt Rush : electric cars and the race to go green

Once again transport is in the news. Is high speed rail the way forward? Should petrol and diesel cars be removed from sale by 2030?

I moved over to an EV 8 years ago and have never been tempted to go back. In my experience the cars keep improving and much more slowly the charging infrastructure is getting marginally better.

In Volt Rush Henry Sanderson tells the story of the electric car from the early 19th century to the current challenges facing the global industry.

Although an electric vehicle doesn't emit carbon dioxide and is thus 'clean' the raw materials in the battery have to be mined somewhere. There is big money to be made.

Who is winning the Volt Rush?

Jackie Collins , Joan Collins

It's good to see that Joan Collins is embarking on a tour talking about her life under the title 'Behind the Shoulder Pads'.

I remember a televised conversation I had with Joan. Her assistant decreed that the lighting must be subtle but Joan herself insisted on full on straight in the face spots. I had theories why this might be her preference.

Over the years I interviewed Joan and her sister Jackie a few times. It was always 'an event'.

The Collins sisters spoke to me in London at the end of the last century. Jackie was promoting her novel 'Thrill' about the glamorous world of Hollywood, and Joan was encouraging interest in her autobiography 'Second Act'. Both sisters were happy to talk about themselves.

Sadly Jackie died in 2015 .... but Joan marches on!

Anita Shreve : The Last Time They Met

Anita Shreve was a very successful writer mainly focussing on love and romance. She died in 2018 but her books still sell very well.

She wrote the stories and lived the life marrying four times.

She talked to me about her novel which is about a love that lasted through life even though the couple hadn't spent their lives together.

I remember her as a very attractive and sparkly interviewee.

Sir Rannulph Fiennes, Eric Newby, Lucy Irvine.

It's autumn again which means it's time for the splendid Cheltenham Festival of Literature again.

A few years ago as part of the festival I interviewed Sir Rannulph Fiennes on stage at the Everyman Theatre about his family history book 'Mad Dogs and Englishmen'.

I remember shaking hands  - a non standard formality for him. He told me how he had to adopt a DIY approach to dealing with frost bite in his fingers.

In this episode there's a conversation I had with Sir Rannulph later in a London studio, a chat with the legendary travel writer Eric Newby, and the life of the unforgettable Lucy Irvine.

Lucy had replied to an advertisement in 1980 seeking a woman to spend a year on a desert island with a man she didn't know.  This  adventure became a film starring Oliver Reid. She tells me how she went on to write the story of another island dwelling family in her book Faraway.

Memorable stories.

 

Geraldine McCaughrean : The Kite Rider

Gerald McCaughrean is a hugely successful author of books for children.

The Kite Rider is recognised as a classic and in this conversation she tells me about the background to her story and man lifting kites!

Philippa Gregory - The Other Boleyn Girl

These  revelations about life at the Tudor Court are now well known , but when I talked to Philippa Gregory about 'The Other Boleyn Girl' it was all quite new.

When the book was first published it won romantic novel of the year.

For a book that starts and ends with an execution that seemed a bit odd.

Linda Grant - Still Here

Linda Grant grew up in Liverpool when it was a thriving port. 

Her parents were friends of Brian Epstein's parents. Brian went on to manage The Beatles, and teenage Linda was entranced by the band who went on to conquer the world.

Talking about the mechanics of writing her book Linda reveals how she felt composing her very first sex scene.

Barrie ’Baz’ Rice - We Were Blackwater

This is the story of one man's war in Iraq told in his own words.

Barrie was not in the army, he was a private security contractor. What did that mean? Was he in an outfit like the Wagner group?

Towards the end of our conversation Barrie shared his thoughts on the long term outlook for humanity. He is not an optimist.

Ann Patchett - talking about her novel Bel Canto

Ann Patchett has a new novel - Tom Lake -  just published with enthusiastic revues.

Bel Canto, describes as Ann's hostage novel won the Orange Prize.

The plot mixes the sublime power of music with political trouble and possible violence.

This novel was a finalist for the National Book Critics Award and it won the PEN/Faulkner Award

Ann lives in Nashville a place known for country music rather then opera, so does she like opera?

 

 

 

Sally Vickers - Miss Garnet’s Angel

Salley Vickers is a charismatic author.  Not all authors are good at  talking .... Salley definitely is.

Miss Garnet's Angel was her very first published novel. It was an instant success and is still available in print formats and as an audiobook read by the late Anna Massey.

The story happens in Venice.

Superb holiday read.