The Conversation with Nadine Matheson – Details, episodes & analysis

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Celebrating a remarkable milestone, we bring you the 100th episode of "The Conversation with Nadine Matheson," featuring the award winning and bestselling author M.W. Craven. We talk about the serendipitous events that shaped Craven’s career, from a fateful book signing encounter that set the course for his success, to the powerful role of networking within the crime writing community. Craven's journey is filled with tales of unexpected luck, chance meetings, the importance of being in the right place at the right time ,the challenges of fighting a bear (That last part will make sense) and his latest book in the Washington Poe series, The Final Vow.

The Final Vow

The Mercy Chair
Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin . . .

Washington Poe has a story to tell.

And he needs you to listen.

You'll hear how it started with the robber birds. Crows. Dozens of them. Enough for a murder . . .

He'll tell you about a man who was tied to a tree and stoned to death, a man who had tattooed himself with a code so obscure, even the gifted analyst Tilly Bradshaw struggled to break it. He'll tell you how the man's murder was connected to a tragedy that happened fifteen years earlier when a young girl massacred her entire family.

And finally, he'll tell you about the mercy chair. And why people would rather kill themselves than talk about it . . .

Poe hopes you've been paying attention. Because in this story, nothing is as it seems . . .

Follow M.W. Craven

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Don't forget to subscribe, download and review.

You can purchase books by the authors featured in our conversations through my affiliate shop on Bookshop.org. By using this link, you’ll be supporting independent bookstores, and I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

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Ever wondered what it's really like to be an author in today’s publishing world? Join us for an enlightening conversation with the talented Jo Jakeman as she pulls back the curtain on the realities of an author's journey. From the exhilarating moment of landing an agent to the rollercoaster ride of book sales, Jo shares the highs and lows that TV glamorization often overlooks. As we approach 2025, we dive into the pressures of book tours, the unexpected twists of defamation lawsuits, and the resilience needed to thrive amid it all.

In our exploration of storytelling across different mediums, we talk about Jo's inspiration behind her new novel, "One Bad Apple".

One Bad Apple

One murder. A school full of suspects...
Welcome to Aberfal Boys High School. Independent jewel of academic and sporting excellence in the South-west -- until the headmaster is murdered in his study. And now the Year Seven School Mums' WhatsApp Group really do have something to talk about...

Clare Withoutani: OMG have you heard about Newhall?!!!
Becky Rupertsmum: Helen-Louise just texted. Can't believe it.
Asha: Not heard anything. What's happened?
Pam Geoffreysmum: What's he done this time? They're going co-ed, aren't they? I knew this would happen.
Clare Withoutani: Can't believe it, Becky. I'm in shock.
Pam Geoffreysmum: Are we going co-ed?
Becky Rupertsmum: No, Pam. Newhall died.
Pam Geoffreysmum: Oh GOD. Seriously??!! Can't believe it. So sad. He'll be such a loss to the school. The boys will be devastated. Will the school be offering grief counselling?
Rose Oliversmum: Anyone know what pages they're meant to do for chemistry? Ollie's homework diary says 'do questions 1-4' but no page numbers!

As the resulting police investigation reveals more and more of Aberfal's long-hidden secrets the list of suspects who wanted the headmaster dead grows by the day. And far from being a glittering jewel of exclusivity and excellence, it would appear Aberf

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"Enjoying 'The Conversation'? Support the podcast by buying me a cup of coffee ☕️! Every contribution helps keep the show going.
https://ko-fi.com/nadinematheson

Don't forget to subscribe, download and review.

You can purchase books by the authors featured in our conversations through my affiliate shop on Bookshop.org. By using this link, you’ll be supporting independent bookstores, and I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

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Welcome to a special bonus episode of The Conversation. This episode which is also available to watch on YouTube celebrates Black History Month and Black crime writers.

Join us as we bring together the brilliant minds of Dorothy Koomson, Amen Alonge and Leye Adenle for a conversation that's as enlightening as it is entertaining. Dorothy shares her fascinating journey from crafting romantic comedies to weaving emotional thrillers, while Amen reveals how a lifelong passion for crime fiction ignited his writing career and Leye adds an extra layer of intrigue, reflecting on how his Nigerian heritage influences his narrative choices and fuels his storytelling excitement.

In this episode we laugh, discuss and answer audience questions such as 'What draws a writer to crime fiction?', and 'how does one's background shape the way these thrilling stories unfold?'

With humor and camaraderie, we offer a glimpse into the minds behind your favorite crime stories and the vibrant, diverse voices shaping the future of the genre.

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"Enjoying 'The Conversation'? Support the podcast by buying me a cup of coffee ☕️! Every contribution helps keep the show going.
https://ko-fi.com/nadinematheson

Don't forget to subscribe, download and review.

You can purchase books by the authors featured in our conversations through my affiliate shop on Bookshop.org. By using this link, you’ll be supporting independent bookstores, and I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Follow Me:
www.nadinematheson.com

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The Conversation podcast will be launching in seven days.  

Don't forget to subscribe and follow so that you don't miss out on 'The Conversation.'

Episode One: Tuesday 31 January 2023

Email or send a WhatsApp message if you'd like to be a guest or have any questions.

[email protected]

WhatsApp: +44 7831 128 739

Support the show

"Enjoying 'The Conversation'? Support the podcast by buying me a cup of coffee ☕️! Every contribution helps keep the show going.
https://ko-fi.com/nadinematheson

Don't forget to subscribe, download and review.

You can purchase books by the authors featured in our conversations through my affiliate shop on Bookshop.org. By using this link, you’ll be supporting independent bookstores, and I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Follow Me:
www.nadinematheson.com

BlueSky: @nadinematheson.com Substack: @nadinematheson Instagram: @queennads
Threads: @nadinematheson Facebook: nadinemathesonbooks
TikTok: @writer_nadinematheson

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Introducing The Conversation with bestselling author Nadine Matheson.

Nadine lives in London and is a lawyer and author.  Her bestselling crime  novel, The Jigsaw Man, was published by HQ in 2021, has been sold in 15 territories to date and will be translated into 14 languages.  Her second novel in the Detective Inspector Anjelica Henley series, The Binding Room, is out now.

Nadine will be in conversation every Tuesday with a new guest.  Episode One will be available on Tuesday 31 January 2023.

Email: [email protected] if you would like to be a future guest on the podcast.


www.nadinematheson.com

Support the show

"Enjoying 'The Conversation'? Support the podcast by buying me a cup of coffee ☕️! Every contribution helps keep the show going.
https://ko-fi.com/nadinematheson

Don't forget to subscribe, download and review.

You can purchase books by the authors featured in our conversations through my affiliate shop on Bookshop.org. By using this link, you’ll be supporting independent bookstores, and I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Follow Me:
www.nadinematheson.com

BlueSky: @nadinematheson.com Substack: @nadinematheson Instagram: @queennads
Threads: @nadinematheson Facebook: nadinemathesonbooks
TikTok: @writer_nadinematheson

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This week I'm in conversation with bestselling author Russ Thomas , offering a glimpse into his juggling act of writing and balancing "proper" jobs to cover bills.  Russ sheds light on the realities of publishing and the notorious "second book syndrome"—a struggle known to many authors. Listen in for tips on setting daily writing goals, the challenges of weaving complex themes, and why every book feels like a challenging yet rewarding child.

It's a candid look at the hurdles and triumphs faced by writers at all stages. chat uncovers the inherent drive to write, despite the struggle, the unexpected joy found in bookselling and Russ's latest book, in the DS Adam Tyler series, Sleeping Dogs.

Sleeping Dogs

THE LIES OF THE PAST . . .
 
When an anonymous tip lands on his desk, DS Adam Tyler is intrigued in spite of himself. The disappearance of a young mother twenty-four years ago was big news, but the case was never solved – this tantalizing new lead is something he simply can’t ignore. But the letter has set in motion a dangerous chain of events, and Tyler’s search for the truth soon leaves him fighting for his life.
 
. . . LIVE IN THE PRESENT

With Tyler out of action, DC Mina Rabbani must step up to lead the Cold Case Review Unit in his absence, retracing Tyler’s steps and uncovering his secrets to figure out what he was working on. But as she begins to put the pieces together, the case starts to hit frighteningly close to home. Without DS Tyler to protect her, Mina realizes that now she’s the one with hard choices to make.

And this time she’s on her own.

Follow Russ Thomas

Support the show

"Enjoying 'The Conversation'? Support the podcast by buying me a cup of coffee ☕️! Every contribution helps keep the show going.
https://ko-fi.com/nadinematheson

Don't forget to subscribe, download and review.

You can purchase books by the authors featured in our conversations through my affiliate shop on Bookshop.org. By using this link, you’ll be supporting independent bookstores, and I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Follow Me:
www.nadinematheson.com

BlueSky: @nadinematheson.com Substack: @nadinematheson Instagram: @queennads
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What happens to the children who are left behind when their parents seek a new life in a distant land? This haunting question forms the heart of a conversation with author Anne Hawk, who joins us to share insights from her novel "Pages of The Sea".  Together, we unravel the stories of the Windrush generation, focusing on the emotional complexities of family separation and reunion, with a personal lens drawn from our own Caribbean roots. As we reflect on these narratives, we emphasize the necessity of amplifying Black authors' voices, ensuring their stories resonate beyond the confines of Black History Month.

Anne's personal journey, marked by perseverance and unexpected twists, serves as a beacon of hope for aspiring writers. From navigating the redrafting process to the surprising turn of events leading to publication, her experience underscores the importance of self-belief and community support.

Pages of the Sea
After her mother sails from the Caribbean to England to find work, Wheeler is left with her two older sisters, three cousins and two aunts.

She couldn’t feel more alone. She longs for her mother to send for her as promised. Everyone tells her to just wait. But for how long?

In the meantime, she has to learn to get along as best she can, exploring the island with Donelle, making kites with Bounce, following the carnival through the town. But most of all she must avoid the threat of her cousin Floyd.

Set during the mid-1960s on a Caribbean Island, issues of family, migration and abandonment hang over Wheeler and her unknowable future.

A story of sisterhood, family secrets, and the sacrifices of love. No novel comes as close to this heart-breaking evocation of what it’s like to be a child left behind.

Support the show

"Enjoying 'The Conversation'? Support the podcast by buying me a cup of coffee ☕️! Every contribution helps keep the show going.
https://ko-fi.com/nadinematheson

Don't forget to subscribe, download and review.

You can purchase books by the authors featured in our conversations through my affiliate shop on Bookshop.org. By using this link, you’ll be supporting independent bookstores, and I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Follow Me:
www.nadinematheson.com

BlueSky: @nadinematheson.com Substack: @nadinematheson Instagram: @queennads
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My conversation with author Louise Swanson takes a deep dive into the realm of storytelling and the realities of the writing industry. This episode is a candid testament to the financial realities faced by writers, the comfort that comes from having an agent, and the evolving definitions of success in an ever-changing industry.

Louise shares her insights and experiences, offering a mirror to anyone who wonders about perseverance in the absence of a book deal and the art of connecting authentically with readers. And of course we talk about Louise's new book, Lights Out. 

Whether you're an emerging writer or a seasoned author, join us for an engaging discussion that promises to leave you inspired and equipped with insights to navigate the creative path ahead.

Lights Out
When darkness is everywhere, nowhere is safe...

A state of emergency has been declared in the UK. From now on, at 8pm every night, all electricity cuts out.
The Government promises it's a temporary measure. They promise they are always thinking of your safety.

But for Grace, the darkness is anything but safe.

Someone is coming into her house under its cover every night while she lies in bed upstairs, too terrified to sleep. Someone who knows her past, who knows why she has more reason to fear the dark than most...

And every morning she wakes to a new message from the intruder:

I have you in my sights. Love, The Night

But how can Grace escape, when there's nowhere safe left to hide?

Follow Louise Swanson

Support the show

"Enjoying 'The Conversation'? Support the podcast by buying me a cup of coffee ☕️! Every contribution helps keep the show going.
https://ko-fi.com/nadinematheson

Don't forget to subscribe, download and review.

You can purchase books by the authors featured in our conversations through my affiliate shop on Bookshop.org. By using this link, you’ll be supporting independent bookstores, and I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Follow Me:
www.nadinematheson.com

BlueSky: @nadinematheson.com Substack: @nadinematheson Instagram: @queennads
Threads: @nadinematheson Facebook: nadinemathesonbooks
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We welcome Elvin James Mensah, author of "Small Joys," into our conversation, where we unravel the complexities of pursuing a writing career without the traditional backing of family support. Elvin's insights into turning personal narratives into fiction reveal the delicate balance between family expectations and creative aspirations. Together, we share the universal struggle of finding one's voice in the face of cultural and familial pressures, and the comedic irony that comes when family members, once skeptical, become your biggest cheerleaders after you find success.

Our episode goes further to address the unpredictable nature of the publishing industry and the inevitable rejections writers face. Join us for a heartfelt discussion that promises both inspiration and camaraderie for writers and readers alike.

Small Joys
‘Could I one day inspire happiness in others, the same way he seemed to do in me?’

Harley is a young queer Black man struggling to find his way in mid-noughties Britain. Returning home to Dartford, having just dropped out of an undergraduate course in music journalism, he is wracked by feelings of failure and inadequacy. Standing in the local woods one day, on the verge of doing something drastic and irreversible, his hand is stayed by a stranger: a tall husky guy who emerges from the bushes holding a pair of binoculars.

Muddy is an ebullient Mancunian whose lust for his own life makes others feel better by association. A keen birdwatcher, rugby fanatic and Oasis obsessive, he quickly becomes a devoted and loyal friend to Harley who finds his enthusiasm infectious and his dimples irresistible. In no time at all, they become inseparable. Harley starts to think that life may be worth living after all, while Muddy discovers things about himself that the lads down the rugby club may struggle to understand.
 
But when figures from the past threaten to plunge Harley back into the depths of depression, his only hope of survival is Muddy and the small joys they create together.

Follow Elvin James Mensah

Support the show

"Enjoying 'The Conversation'? Support the podcast by buying me a cup of coffee ☕️! Every contribution helps keep the show going.
https://ko-fi.com/nadinematheson

Don't forget to subscribe, download and review.

You can purchase books by the authors featured in our conversations through my affiliate shop on Bookshop.org. By using this link, you’ll be supporting independent bookstores, and I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Follow Me:
www.nadinematheson.com

BlueSky: @nadinematheson.com Substack: @nadinematheson Instagram: @queennads
Threads: @nadinematheson Facebook: nadinemathesonbooks
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Ever wondered how authors navigate their identities, genres and maintaining a writing career? Join me in conversation with Harriet Evans, the Sunday Times best-selling author, renowned for her heartwarming family dramas like 'A Place for Us' who is stepping into new territory with her latest work. Under the pen name Harriet F. Townsend, she unveils a thrilling twist in her career with 'D is for Death', a captivating cozy crime murder mystery.

From the complexities of the murder mystery genre to the challenges of ghostwriting for celebrities, we cover it all.

D is for Death
1935. Dora's on the first train to London, having smuggled herself out of the house in the middle of the night to escape her impending marriage. But unluckily for her, Dora's fiance is more persistent than most and follows.

As Dora alights at Paddington station, she is immediately forced to run from the loathsome Charles Silk-Butters. She ducks into the London Library to hide and it is there, surrounded by books, where she should feel most safe, that Dora Wildwood stumbles across her first dead body.

Having been thrown into the middle of a murder scene, it's now impossible to walk away. Indeed, Dora's certain she will prove an invaluable help to the gruff Detective Inspector Fox who swiftly arrives on the scene. For as everyone knows, it's the woman in the room who always sees more than anyone else: and no one more so than Dora herself...

Follow Harriet Evans

Books are meant to be read, not banned!  10,000 books were banned in the last US academic year. Read the Guardian article and remember to buy a banned book and share it with a friend. 

Support the show

"Enjoying 'The Conversation'? Support the podcast by buying me a cup of coffee ☕️! Every contribution helps keep the show going.
https://ko-fi.com/nadinematheson

Don't forget to subscribe, download and review.

You can purchase books by the authors featured in our conversations through my affiliate shop on Bookshop.org. By using this link, you’ll be supporting independent bookstores, and I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Follow Me:
www.nadinematheson.com

BlueSky: @nadinematheson.com Substack: @nadinematheson Instagram: @queennads
Threads: @nadinematheson Facebook: nadinemathesonbooks
TikTok: @writer_nadinematheson