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The Good Book Life

The Good Book Life

by Donna Scott

Season 1

Reading by the Swamp: Alternative Summer Reads

A warm, bookish chat hosted by Donna Scott, joined by three brilliant authors — Melanie Bell, Shona Kinsella, and Helen Cooper — as they dive into summer reading habits, holiday book choices, airport fiction, fantasy favourites, and the strange modern trend of “raw‑dogging” flights. This episode is cosy, funny, and full of great recommendations across fantasy, horror, crime, poetry, and literary fiction. Perfect whether you’re reading by the pool… or the swamp! This episode covers: summer reading challenges (complete with childhood pizza prizes); holiday reading rituals from Kindles to chunky fantasy tomes and irresistible airport impulse buys; the way parenting reshapes summer reading time, the surprising truth behind WH Smith’s airport charts; the clash between bold block‑colour covers and fantasy prettiness; the joys of reading on planes, trains, and ferries (plus a bit of audiobook diplomacy); the rebellious pleasure of choosing crime, horror, or cosy fantasy over “expected” summer genres, and the delight of matching books to holiday destinations. We discuss: The Woman in the Villa — Helen Cooper Daughters of Nickevin — Shona Kinsella The Heart Decided to Move — Melanie Bell Lisa Jewell novels Stephen King, Terry Pratchett, Karin Slaughter A Memory Called Empire — Arkady Martine Hot Chocolate on Thursday — Michiko Aoyama The Gods Below — Andrea Stewart Flame Tree Press anthologies including Discontinue If Death Ensues The Enchanted Greenhouse — Sarah Beth Durst Obsidian — anthology by The Slab Press Daphne Du Maurier Winston Graham's Poldark novels Links for this episode: https://britishfantasysociety.org https://theslab.press https://www.shonakinsella.com https://melaniebellwrites.com The Woman in the Villa by Helen Cooper | Hachette UK

Pieces of Hate: Book Piracy - why it's more than just stealing books

In this week’s episode of The Good Book Life, host Donna Scott sits down with three brilliant authors - Allen Stroud, Valeriya Salt, and Helen Cooper - for a frank and insightful conversation about book piracy: what it is, how it happens, and why it matters. We explore: How authors discover their books on pirate sites; the rise of spoof piracy sites; the myth of “victimless” piracy; accessibility excuses vs. real alternatives; libraries, charity shops, KU, and community book swaps as sources of books; the emotional and ethical impact of piracy, plus what can be done! Allen Stroud: SF author, researcher, creator of the Fractal Series https://www.allenstroud.com/ Valeriya Salt: Sci-fi & thriller author of Dive Beyond Eternity www.saltandnovels.wordpress.com Helen Cooper: Psychological thriller author of The Woman in the Villa https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/helen-cooper/the-woman-in-the-villa/9781399758420/ Donna Scott: Editor and publisher: https://donna-scott.co.uk/ https://theslab.press/

Protecting Pride

In this episode of The Good Book Life, host Donna Scott is joined by poet Paul Giffney, journalist Peter Ray Allison, and authors Melanie Bell and Laura Jane Round for a powerful, wide‑ranging conversation about the growing trend of removing Pride and LGBTQI+ displays from UK libraries. Sparked by recent actions from Reform-led councils in Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and Kent, the panel explores what these decisions mean for representation, public duty, and the future of free access to information. The Libraries and Museums Act 1964, equality duties, and why removing LGBTQI displays is discriminatory. Why representation in libraries matters for young people, families, and community safety. The rise of US‑style book bans in UK schools and councils. The role of writers, poets, and journalists in resisting erasure. The impact of online hate and unchecked comment sections. How library users and allies can advocate, organise, and stay visible. Recommendations for queer books, authors, and community initiatives. Featuring: Peter Ray Allison — journalist, author, co‑founder of Mythic Echoes Melanie Bell — Canadian‑British author of Chasing Harmony, Dream Signs, and The Heart Decided to Move Paul Giffney — The Purple Pen Poet and workshop facilitator, author of If Silence Is Golden Laura Jane Round — bisexual writer from the West Midlands, playwright and poet

The Big Bad DNF!

In this episode of The Good Book Life, Donna Scott chats with writers James Kinsley and Andrew Knighton about one of the most honest shelves on Goodreads — the DNF (Did Not Finish) shelf. They dig into why readers stop reading, how authors feel when their books land on that shelf, and whether DNF is a useful tool or an unfair label. Expect humour, honesty, and a refreshing take on reading without guilt. Join the conversation and share your own DNF habits! Links for this episode: https://andrewknighton.com/ https://societyofauthors.org/soa-memb... https://unclekins.wordpress.com/about/ https://donna-scott.co.uk/ https://theslab.press/

Tsundoku! When buying books and reading are different hobbies.

Donna Scott, a confirmed owner of many teetering piles of books talks to fellow bibliophiles about their shared hobby/problem - actually it's not a problem! Guests this week include writer and performer CJ Hooper, fantasy author and Chair of the British Fantasy Society, Shona Kinsella, and writer and BFS Deputy, Sian O' Hara. Links form the show: https://britishfantasysociety.org/ https://www.shonakinsella.com/ CJ Hooper's show in Edinburgh - What If History? https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/impro-poet-presents-what-if-history

AI - How Do You Unplug This Thing?

In this episode of The Good Book Life, host Donna Scott sits down with authors David Cartwright and Andrew Knighton, along with journalist and RPG writer Peter Ray Allison, to dig into one of the biggest creative dilemmas of our time: how AI is reshaping the craft, business, and ethics of storytelling. Together, they explore AI tools in publishing and beyond, the threats they pose to originality and livelihoods, and what is happening to creativity and creative satisfaction. Expect sharp insights, lively debate, and a grounded look at what the future might hold for authorship, worldbuilding, and beyond. Links from this episode: http://peterallison.net/ https://andrewknighton.com/ https://davidcartwriter.art.blog/ https://theslab.press/ As Night Falls: the Crimson Ball https://www.tickettailor.com/events/mythicechoes/2105041

The National Year of Reading

For the first of our Friday Bookish Chats, I am joined by authors Lisa Fransson and Maggy Whitehouse to discuss the National Year of Reading Campaign. The 2026 theme, 'Go All In', encourages people to explore reading through their passions, and emphasizes that reading is not limited to books. The goal is to make reading relevant, fun, and accessible to everyone. We discuss the decline in reading enjoyment in both children and adults and why campaigns like this are important. But is enough happening from the top down, or is this just a branding exercise for community initiatives that already exist? Some links from the episode: https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/162117/html/ https://literacytrust.org.uk/blog/evaluating-a-national-movement-help-shape-the-legacy-of-the-national-year-of-reading/ And the participants: Maggy Whitehouse: https://maggywhitehouse.com/ Lisa Fransson: https://www.lisafransson.com/eng/ Donna Scott: https://theslab.press/

We Eat Controversy for Breakfast: the Pros and Cons of Award Shortlists

In this lively round‑table episode, Donna Scott sits down with four writers deeply embedded in the UK SFF and horror communities to unpack the messy, brilliant, contentious world of literary award shortlists: who they help, who they overlook, and why they spark so much debate. Featuring: Allen Stroud: university researcher, SF author, former BSFA Chair https://www.allenstroud.com/ E.M. (Beth) Faulds: SFF short story writer, author of These Broken Little Worlds https://emfaulds.com/ Laura Jane Round: horror writer, poet, former freelance competition judge https://linktr.ee/laurajaneroundwriter Rick Danforth: BSFA Award–winning audio fiction writer and editor of Fission Six https://rickdanforth.wordpress.com/ This episode dives into: Writers’ personal relationships with awards, from “the unwanted record of most BSFA losses in one year” to the thrill of early longlist recognition. Why the word “best” makes some writers cringe: “As soon as it's labelled as best, I sit and go, come on then, show me, impress me.” The value of longlists vs. shortlists: discovery, visibility, and the “zeitgeist” effect. How online discourse shapes (and sometimes distorts) public perception of awards. The fallout from the 2023 Hugo Awards controversy, and why transparency matters. The creeping challenge of AI‑assisted submissions in publishing and awards. What ethical, inclusive awards should look like, from diverse juries to fairer systems. If you enjoy thoughtful conversations about books, writing, and the literary world, please like, subscribe, and share the episode. You can also join the BSFA to access publications like Fission Six. https://bsfa.co.uk/ Obsidian - out now from The Slab Press: https://theslab.press/