Rnib Talking Books

Lauren Wolk explores teenage resilience and alternative remedies in her Carnegie Medal shortlisted novel ‘Echo Mountain’.    Connect Radio’s Ellie Marsh learns more about an exciting online book group with author Fiona Shaw.    Sera Milano discusses her compelling new novel 'This Can  Never Not Be True', with Robert Kirkwood.   And loyal listener NB Dixon reviews a spine-tingling tale by Sarah Waters. 

Best-selling author Josie Lloyd introduces us to 'The Cancer Ladies’ Running Club'.   Narrator Paul Birchard shares his enthusiasm for an explosive   Talking Book with Robert Kirkwood.   And we continue our review of this year’s CILIP Carnegie shortlist by going deep into the Snow Forest with author Sophie Anderson and 'The Girl Who Speaks Bear'.

We continue our review of this year’s CILIP Carnegie shortlist with author Ruta Sepetys and and her novel  'The Fountains of Silence'. Hollywood actress Joely Richardson reveals what it was that profoundly moved her when she visited the RNIB Talking Books studios. Red reviews the spy story that 007 author Anthony Horowitz selected as one of the Books of His Life. And we return to Ruta Sepetys for the Books of Her Life.

We continue our review of this year’s CILIP Carnegie shortlist, with the author of ‘On Midnight Beach’, Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick.    Red reviews a classic Victorian suspense novel, 'Lady Audley’s Secret'.     Lynne Truss takes us back to the 1950s for a seaside crime caper. And we return to Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick for the Books of Your Life.

International best-seller B.A. Paris discusses her latest psychological thriller ‘The Therapist’. Penny Melville-Brown introduces us to her favourite spy writer. We continue our review of this year’s CILIP Carnegie shortlist, with middle-grade sensation Jason Reynolds. And we go back to B.A. Paris for the Books of Your Life.

Blind chef Kim Jaye tells us how lockdown inspired her to write two accessible cookbooks, and shares her passion for reading. Narrator David John discusses the joys and challenges of recording Talking Books. We begin our review of the shortlist for this year’s CILIP Carnegie Medal by interviewing former winner and 2021 contender, Elizabeth Acevedo. And we go back to Kim Jaye for the Books of Your Life.

Femi Kayode transports us to Nigeria for his tense thriller, ‘Lightseekers’. Children’s author Onjali Q Rauf introduces us to ‘The Boy at The Back of the Class’. And Blind author Bill Skipworth discusses his memoir ‘Now I  See’.

We learn how our canine companions can help us become better human beings, as Ericka Waller walks us through her novel 'Dog Days'. Robert Kirkwood discovers how a selection of 2000AD graphic novels, including Judge Dredd, have been transformed into audio. Bestselling children’s author, Frances Hardinge, gets darkly supernatural in her historical novel ‘A Skinful of Shadows’. And we return to Ericka Waller for the Books of Your Life.

Fiona Lucas talks about moving on in her new novel 'The Last Goodbye', and tells us why writing for Mills and Boon was such a great apprenticeship.   We go behind the scenes with actor Samuel West as he records new versions of the House Of Cards trilogy.    Sita Brahmachari discusses the importance of tackling the big global issues in her books for children. And we return to Fiona Lucas for the Books of Your Life

E.J. Harper introduces us to 'Lazarus Remembered', her novel on family and redemption, written specifically to be an immersive audiobook experience. Andrew Cullum talks about his life as an audiobook narrator. Jessica Townsend discusses the world of 'Nevermore' and her heroine, Morrigan Crow.  And we return to E.J. Harper for the Books of Her Life.

Richard Herring discusses 'The Problem with Men', his new book about toxic masculinity, and reveals the extra features available in the audiobook version. Deborah Frances-White talks about turning The Guilty Feminist podcast  into a bestselling audiobook. And we take a look at some of the terrific titles available to younger listeners this World Book Day.

World Book Day on 4 March 2021 is all about celebrating the magic of books and reading. RNIB is proud to continue to support World Book Day's mission to give every child and young person a book of their own, by making 13 titles available in audio (DAISY CD) and braille. Titles can be pre-ordered from 1 February 2021 for despatch on 1 March 2021. Orders will be taken until 31 March 2021. Titles are also available in large print (English) or giant print (Welsh). To order the English-language titles in large print, contact Guide Dogs by calling 0118 9838275. The Welsh-language title can be ordered in giant print by contacting the RNIB Helpline. Only one title per person can be ordered, in one format.

Sarah Leipciger breathes new life into two historical figures and lets her imagination flow in her novel 'Coming Up for Air'.   We celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month by revisiting 'How To Be Both' with author Ali Smith.   And winner of last year’s CILIP Carnegie Medal for children’s literature, Anthony McGowan, discusses the series of books he has created for reluctant readers.

Journalist Saba Salman introduces us to 'Made Possible', a collection of stories that she hopes will change the public perception of people with learning disabilities. Sarah Waters talks to Robert Kirkwood about 'The Little Stranger', a novel in which she changed era and also for the first time, the gender of the protagonist. And children’s author Caroline Lawrence, famous for her 'Roman Mysteries', takes us to Ancient Greece with her 'Time Travel Diaries'.

CJ Skuse reveals why girl-next-door serial killer Rhiannon Lewis is feeling all at sea in her latest novel, 'Dead Head'.   Costa winner Monique Roffey reveals which books have resonated most with her as a writer.    Robert Kirkwood looks back on the day that creator of 'The Gruffalo', Julia Donaldson, visited the RNIB Talking Books Studios.    We celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month by reviewing the short-story that became the Oscar-winning film 'Brokeback Mountain'. And we return to CJ Skuse for the Books of Her Life.

Amy Raphael takes us back to The English Civil War in her new children’s adventure ‘The Forest of Moon and Sword ‘. Story-teller and Talking Book narrator Giles Abbott reveals how sight loss has influenced the way he brings stories to life. And Jane Harris transports us to Victorian Glasgow in her novel Gillespie and I.

Helen Fisher introduces us to Space Hopper, her must-read debut novel, featuring a blind character drawn from her years working at RNIB. We bring you news of the winner of this year's Costa Book of the Year Award. Narrator David Graham reminisces on his many years of working for RNIB, and the iconic roles he helped create in Thunderbirds and Dr Who. And Laura Barnett brings words and music together in her soulful novel Greatest Hits.

This week Read On is focusing on The Costa Book Awards, which recognise the most enjoyable books published in the UK over the past year in five categories: Novel, Debut Novel, Biography, Poetry and Children’s Books. The five category winners were selected earlier this month. And next week, one overall winner will be crowned Costa Book of the Year, winning the author £30,000. And Red Szell brings you interviews with four of the five authors in contention:  Ingrid Persaud, Monique Roffey, Lee Lawrence and Natasha Farrant, and talks to the friend and publisher of Eavan Boland, who died shortly before she won the Costa Poetry Award.

In Read On this week, we are focusing on resilience: Mick Dawson and blind veteran Steve Sparky Sparks discuss their gruelling journey to row across the Pacific Ocean. Sarah Jane Douglas and Richard Frazer reveal the reconciliation each of them found through walking and contemplation. Ed Caesar introduces us to 'The Moth and The Mountain': the extraordinary story of a World War One veteran who sought to climb Mount Everest. And we return to Mick Dawson, to hear the books of his life.

Vicky Goldie reveals how working for RNIB and her own personal circumstances informed the character of her blind detective.   Paul Mylrea reviews Ngaio Marsh's 'Scales of Justice'.   Tim Finch discusses his novel Peace Talks, which has been short listed for the Costa Award.   And Anna Bell shares a cautionary tale in her new rom com We Just Clicked.