Rnib Talking Books

Red Szell chats to Patrick Gale about the upcoming RNIB Member's Writing Competition and about the differences between novel and short story writing. Author David Munro talks about The Time Jigsaw and writing with a visual impairment. And we hear again from Verity Smith on her both funny and sad memoir, The Groper's Guide.

The author of Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow tells Red Szell all about the book and her life as an author. Clipped from Read On episode 56

With author Jess Townsend Red Szell explores Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow. Robert Kirkwood looks forward to AyeWrite!, Glasgow's Book Festival with Denise Mina, Chris Brookmyre, Louise Welsh, Zoe Strachan and Alan Bissett. A listener recommends a tale of heroism and blindness in the face on 9/11 and Red reviews The Transition by Luke Kennard. Contact the show on readonair@rnib.org.uk

As this year's AyeWrite! approaches, Robert Kirkwood chats to Denise Mina, Chris Brookmyre, Alan Bisset, Louise Welsh and Zoe Strachan about some of their favourite memories of the Glasgow Book Festival.

Charles Dickens' great great great granddaughter, Lucinda Hawksley talks about her latest book, 'March, Women, March' as it enters the RNIB Talking Book Library.  David Aldwinckle talks about his position within RNIB and tells Red Szell about some of his favourite books. Robert Kirkwood goes behind the scenes at the Talking Books studios and journalist and author Peter Ross returns to the show for 'The Books of My Life.' Contact the show on readonair@rnib.org.uk

A.L. Kennedy talks to Red Szell about all the forms of her writing and her outlook on life, Mark Haddon talks about life after that 'Curious Incident ...', Giles Coren and Victoria Coren Mitchell talk about 'Chocolate and Cuckoo Clocks' to Robert Kirkwood and listener Paul Chennel recommends one of his favourites.

Author Rachel Ward tells us about her new book, 'The Cost of Living', narrator Peter Kenny demonstrates just how versatile he is, we reveal the winner of the Costa Book of the Year award and we pay a visit to a new Harry Potter exhibition an the British Library.

We talk to three winners of The Costa Book Award 2017.  Jon McGregor talks about 'Reservoir 13', winner of the Novel of the Year, Rebecca Stott talks about her Biography of the Year 'In the Days of Rain: A Daughter. A Father. A Cult', and we go exploring with Children's Book of the Year winner, Katherine Rundell ... who also gives us the books of her life.

We have a listen to all of the category winners as we wait for the announcement of the Costa Book of the Year and chat to First Novel winner Gail Honeyman. We also chat to previous winners Ali Smith and Sebastian Barry and review Frances Hardinge's The Lie Tree.

We explore Daunderlust with journalist Peter Ross, Ali Smith talks Autumn, which is then reviewed by the RNIB Connect Radio Book Group plus Philip Reeve on the books of his life.

A listen back to three interviews from last year, one fiction, one non-fiction and one from an RNIB Talking Book narrator. Mark Miodownik on Stuff Matters: Exploring the Marvellous Materials That Shape Our Man-Made World, Laurence Bouvard on bringing audio books to life.

Philip Pullman joins Red Szell in the Talking Book studios to talk about 'The Book of Dust' Book 1: La Belle Sauvage. Andy Miller tells Robert Kirkwood about 'The Year of Reading Dangerously' and narrator and author Andy Secombe tells Red about growing up with the Goons and a few of his famous voices.

The author of 'His Dark Materials' joins Red Szell in the Talking Book studios to talk about his new trilogy, 'The Book of Dust' and the first book which is out now, 'La Belle Sauvage.' Clipped from Read On Episode 48

Stephen Moss tells us the history behind the Robin's connection to Christmas, Steven Scott and Red discuss some reading technology, Robert Kirkwood delves into RNIB Library for some festive books and chats to Eddie Izzard about narrating 'Lost Christmas'.

John Bew talks to host Red Szell about the Orwell Prize winning Citizen Clem: A Biography of Attlee ... at the Wigtown Book Festival we chat to Marian Veevers, author of 'Jane and Dorothy: A True Tale of Sense and Sensibility' and Robert Kirkwood hears Jonathan Dimbleby's Churchill impression.

With the Scottish Book Trust we hear tales from this year's free book, 'Nourish'. Stories from Dave Myres, Mary Contini and much more on Nourishment for body and soul. We also talk to the Scottish Book Trust and hear what they do to encourage reading and writing. Get the whole free audio book 'Nourish' at www.scottishbooktrust.com/nourish

Red Szell visits the Petworth Literary Festival and meets his hero, Chris Bonington and finds out about the festival from artistic director Stewart Collins. We hear about 'Another Day in the Death of America' from journalist and author Gary Younge and at the Wigtown Book Festival we hear the remarkable history of horses from Susanna Forrest.

The actress talks about being the voice of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, narrating Sci-Fi and discusses some favourites. Clipped from Read On Episode 43

Lauren St. John tells us how books can actually change minds, Andrew Beasley makes us S.C.R.E.A.M. We re-visit His Dark Materials and Adjoa Andoh talks about her work, including the Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency.

A special documentary about the origins of the Talking Books service, recorded at the original locations around London, and featuring many voices from the past. Historian Matthew Rubery and Robert Kirkwood explore everything from the first Talking Book machines, some failed technology, how books were chosen and much more.