Talking Books - NZ Book Council

How hard can it be to write a best-selling romance novel? Quite hard, it turns out. This edition of Talking Books is hosted by best-selling author Catherine Robertson, and features romance writers Frances Housden, Bronwen Evans, and Jackie Ashenden. Catherine and her guests discuss romance fiction and address the common preconceptions of the genre. Romance writing isn’t just “that Mills & Boon stuff”; there is quality literature to be found in this genre, and the readership is much broader than bored, lonely cat ladies who want a man. Romance writing is a booming industry, with US sales reaching $1.1 billion in 2013 – that accounts for one fifth of the US fiction market. The panel share their experience and advice on how to market their books and gain traction in the vast sea of romance literature. http://booknotes-unbound.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/NZBC-dec-1.mp3 The post Talking Books: Romance fiction appeared first on Booknotes Unbound.

Should Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee and The Girl in the Spider’s Web by David Lagercrantz have been published?  Distinguished writer Paula Morris is joined by acclaimed fiction writer and critic, Charlotte Grimshaw, and Mark Broatch, Books & Culture Editor of the New Zealand Listener, to discuss two high-profile and controversial books that are likely to be bestsellers in 2015. http://booknotes-unbound.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/NZBC-oct-v3.mp3 The post Talking Books: To publish, or not to publish? appeared first on Booknotes Unbound.

Chief Executive Catriona Ferguson recently interviewed internationally bestselling crime author Michael Robotham during his tour of New Zealand. They discussed why he chose to write crime novels (it was accidental!), how he comes up with his stories (they’re always seeded from real events), and why he thinks crime fiction is so phenomenally successful (flawed, but not hopeless, characters combined with a compelling story). “A great crime novel”, says Michael, can resonate with you for days afterward. It will keep you entertained, enthralled. It’s not an exercise in naval gazing or rattling around someone’s head for 350 pages of self-indulgent retrospection – there’s a story at its heart. http://booknotes-unbound.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/NZBC-sept-interview-v2.mp3 The post Talking Books: Crime writer Michael Robotham appeared first on Booknotes Unbound.

Discussing the 2015 Ngaio Marsh crime novel awards shortlist What makes a great crime novel? How do our local crime writing authors compare to those hitting the bestseller lists overseas? And why don’t crime novels ever win literary awards? Stephen Stratford, Stephanie Jones and Graham Beattie discuss these questions, and also deliberate the 2015 shortlist of the Ngaio Marsh Award For Best Crime Novel. Listen and find out which books have their vote! http://booknotes-unbound.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/NZBC-sept-v2.mp3 The post Talking Books: 2015 Ngaio Marsh shortlist appeared first on Booknotes Unbound.

Is a second novel a troublesome undertaking?  NZBC Chief Executive Catriona Ferguson discusses this question with poet, dramatist and short story writer Courtney Sina Meredith, novelist Robert Glancy, writer and 2015 Booker longlistee Anna Smaill, and NZ Listener Books & Culture Editor Mark Broach. Catriona, Courtney and Robert also review two 2015 second novels – The Antipodeans by Greg McGee and In the Neighbourhood of Fame by Bridget van der Zijpp. http://booknotes-unbound.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/nzbc-july-final-v3.mp3 The post Talking Books: The trouble with second novels appeared first on Booknotes Unbound.

Our Chief Executive Catriona Ferguson recently interviewed New Zealand Listener Books & Culture Editor Mark Broatch for our upcoming podcast on second novels. During the interview they had a great conversation about book reviewing in New Zealand, and we thought you’d love to hear what they had to say! http://booknotes-unbound.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/mark-broatch-podcast.mp3 The post Talking Books: Mark Broatch on reviewing in NZ appeared first on Booknotes Unbound.

There’s been great excitement about the news that NZ author Anna Smaill has been long listed for the Man Booker prize with her debut novel The Chimes. Our Chief Executive Catriona Ferguson talks with Anna about the pressure on writers when it comes to producing a second book, the crossover between literary and genre fiction, and whether or not there could be a sequel – or even a prequel – to The Chimes. http://booknotes-unbound.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Anna-Smaill-friendlier.mp3 The post Talking Books: 2015 Booker Longlistee Anna Smaill appeared first on Booknotes Unbound.

The second edition of Talking Books is hosted by author Paula Morris and features poet and academic Selina Tusitala Marsh and reviewer, editor and poet Iain Sharp. Paula Morris and her guests delve into the 2015 Great Kiwi Classic Owls Do Cry by Janet Frame. They talk passionately about reading this ‘multi-layered and complex’ novel and explore what makes the book distinctive, relevant and ‘classic’. http://booknotes-unbound.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/NZBC-Podcast-May-v2.mp3 The post Talking Books: Great Kiwi Classic 2015 – Owls Do Cry by Janet Frame appeared first on Booknotes Unbound.

Welcome to the New Zealand Book Council’s first Talking Books podcast. The first edition of Talking Books is hosted by novelist Catherine Robertson, and features writer Rachel O’Neill, author Pip Adam and book critic Guy Somerset. Catherine and her guests explore the unlikely links between two hot New Zealand releases, The Chimes by Anna Smaill and Five Minutes Alone by Paul Cleave. http://booknotes-unbound.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/NZBC-April-M.mp3 The post Talking Books: The Chimes vs Five Minutes Alone appeared first on Booknotes Unbound.