Always Take Notes
Books & Literature
About
Always Take Notes is a fortnightly podcast from London for and about writers and writing. Hosts Simon Akam and Rachel Lloyd speak to a diverse range of people in the industry on a variety of topics, from the mysteries of slush piles and per-word rates, to how data are changing the ways newspapers do business and how to pitch a book. patreon.com/alwaystakenotes
Episodes
- Michael Morpurgo on how his novel about a horse in the First World War gained a spectacular second life on stage and screen
In an episode recorded live in Bristol, children's author Michael Morpurgo speaks with Simon and Rachel about his writing career, which includes over 150 books. He details the success of "War Horse," originally published in 1982, which lat…
- Lauren Groff on book bans, artificial intelligence and what novels set in the past reveal about the present
The novelist Lauren Groff discusses contemporary issues including book bans and artificial intelligence, alongside insights from historical novels. She shares details about her new Florida bookshop, The Lynx, which focuses on challenged bo…
- Jason Burke on his career as a foreign correspondent and unravelling 1970s terror networks in his new book
Jason Burke, international security correspondent for The Guardian, speaks with Simon and Rachel about his nearly 30-year career reporting from various global regions. The conversation covers the emotional impact of covering conflict and h…
- Katy Hessel on making museums accessible, writing "The Story of Art without Men" and the value of an art-history degree
The episode features art historian and author Katy Hessel discussing her work on celebrating female artists, including her Instagram account @thegreatwomenartists and her bestseller "The Story of Art without Men." She also talks about her…
- Doug Naylor on creating iconic 80s and 90s TV, a hit novelty song and books for children
Doug Naylor, co-creator of "Red Dwarf", shares his journey into comedy writing, including his work on "Spitting Image" and the chart-topping song "The Chicken Song". The discussion also touches upon his children's novel, "Sin Bin Island".
- Mary Beard on "The Odyssey", "Gladiator 2" and why popular culture is always in dialogue with the ancient world
Rachel and Simon speak with the author and academic Mary Beard. Mary is a professor emerita of classics at Cambridge University and the Classics editor of the Times Literary Supplement . She has written more than 20 books, including " Pomp…
- Jacques Testard on setting up Fitzcarraldo Editions, publishing fiction in translation and those blue-and-white covers
Simon and Rachel speak to Jacques Testard, the founder and publisher of Fitzcarraldo Editions , an independent house based in London that, since its establishment in 2014, has won four Nobel Prizes for literature. Jacques's Nobel winners a…
- Nicole Vanderbilt on how Bookshop.org is taking on Amazon through recommendations, not algorithms
In this episode Rachel and Simon speak to Nicole Vanderbilt, managing director of Bookshop.org in the UK. She joined Bookshop - an online bookseller set up to financially support independent bookshops - at its launch in November 2020; sinc…
- Frank Close on the nuclear age, physics' forgotten figures and writing for a general audience
In an episode recorded live at EA Festival , Simon and Rachel speak with the science writer Frank Close . Frank is emeritus professor of theoretical physics at the University of Oxford and is the only professional scientist to have won the…
- #229: Moira Buffini, playwright, screenwriter and novelist
Rachel and Simon speak to the playwright, screenwriter and novelist Moira Buffini . After training as an actor, Moira started writing for the stage; her plays include "Gabriel" (which won the Meyer-Whitworth Award in 1998), " Dinner " (nom…
- #228: Salman Rushdie, novelist
Simon and Rachel speak to the novelist Salman Rushdie , whose 17 works of fiction have been translated into over 40 languages. Salman's novels include include " Midnight’s Children " – for which he won the Booker Prize in 1981, the Booker…
- #227: Michelle Paver, novelist
In this episode, recorded live at Wimbledon BookFest , Rachel and Simon speak to the novelist Michelle Paver . Born in Nyasaland (now Malawi) to a South African father and Belgian mother, Michelle moved to Britain when she was three. After…
- #226: Anthony Horowitz, novelist
In this episode Simon and Rachel speak to the prolific novelist Anthony Horowitz. Anthony is the author of the teen spy Alex Rider series , which has sold more than 19 million copies worldwide. The books have been adapted into a film and a…
- #225: Susan Choi, novelist
In this episode Rachel and Simon speak to the American novelist Susan Choi. Born in Indiana to a Korean father and Jewish mother, Susan is the author of six novels: "The Foreign Student" (1998), "American Woman" (2003), "A Person of Intere…
- #224: Dean Koontz, novelist
In this episode Simon and Rachel speak to the novelist Dean Koontz . The author of over 120 books, Dean is published in 38 countries and has sold 500m copies to date. His suspense thrillers blend science fiction, horror, crime and comedy.…
- #223: Sarah Perry, novelist
Rachel and Simon speak to the novelist Sarah Perry. Sarah is the internationally bestselling author of four novels - "After Me Comes the Flood" (2014), "The Essex Serpent" (2016), "Melmoth" (2018) and "Enlightenment" (2024) - as well as tw…
- #222: James Alistair Henry, screenwriter and novelist
Rachel and Simon speak with the screenwriter and novelist James Alistair Henry . James first started writing while working as a bookseller. He joined the writing team for Channel 4’s " Smack the Pony " and went on to write the BAFTA-award…
- #221: Eimear McBride, novelist
Rachel and Simon speak with the novelist Eimear McBride . Born in Liverpool to Irish parents, Eimear studied acting before pursuing writing. Her debut novel, "A Girl is a Half-formed Thing" , was published in 2013 after almost a decade of…
- #220: Anthony Cheetham, publisher
Simon and Rachel speak with the veteran British publisher Anthony Cheetham . Anthony began his career in 1966 at the New English Library, where his first acquisition was the paperback rights to " Dune ", Frank Herbert’s science fiction epi…
- #219: Jacqueline Wilson, novelist
In this episode, recorded in conjunction with Hay Festival , Rachel and Simon speak with the novelist Jacqueline Wilson. Born in 1945, Jacqueline wrote her first (unpublished) novel, "Meet the Maggots", when she was nine and has since gone…
- #218: Jesse Armstrong, screenwriter
In this episode, recorded live at the London Library , Simon and Rachel speak with the screenwriter Jesse Armstrong . Born in Shropshire and educated at Manchester University, Jesse co-created the Channel 4 comedy series " Peep Show " (200…
- #217: Hallie Rubenhold, historian
Rachel and Simon speak to the historian Hallie Rubenhold . Born in Los Angeles, Hallie moved to Britain as a graduate student; after completing an MA and an MPhil, she worked for a time as a curator for the National Portrait Gallery and as…
- #216: Viet Thanh Nguyen, novelist and academic
Simon and Rachel speak with the novelist and academic Viet Thanh Nguyen . Born in Vietnam, Viet came to the United States as a refugee in 1975. He completed a PhD in English at Berkeley, moved to Los Angeles for a teaching position at the…
- #215: Jojo Moyes, novelist
Rachel and Simon speak with the novelist Jojo Moyes , live at Hay Festival . Jojo started her career as a journalist before publishing her debut novel, "Sheltering Rain" , in 2002. Jojo's subsequent books - which include "Me Before You" ,…
- #214: Ben Macintyre, journalist and author
Simon and Rachel speak to the journalist and author Ben Macintyre . Ben is the bestselling author of books including "A Spy Among Friends" , "Agent Sonya", "Agent Zigzag" , "Colditz", "Operation Mincemeat", "SAS: Rogue Heroes" and "The Spy…
- #213: Diana Evans, novelist and journalist
Rachel and Simon speak to the novelist and journalist Diana Evans . Born and brought up in London and Lagos, Diana started her career as a journalist. She has written for publications including the Guardian, Harper’s Bazaar, the New York R…
- #212: Andrew O'Hagan, novelist and non-fiction writer
Simon and Rachel speak to the novelist and non-fiction writer Andrew O'Hagan. Born in Glasgow, Andrew is the author of seven novels – including " Be Near Me ", "Mayflies" and " Caledonian Road " – and three books of non-fiction: "The Missi…
- #211: Dani Shapiro, novelist and non-fiction writer
Rachel and Simon speak to the novelist and non-fiction writer Dani Shapiro . Dani is the author of 11 books; her memoirs include "Slow Motion" , "Devotion" , "Still Writing" and "Hourglass" . "Inheritance" , about the secret that had been…
- #210: Joshi Herrmann, founder, Mill Media
Simon and Rachel speak with Joshi Herrmann , the founder of local journalism startup Mill Media . Joshi founded The Mill, a newsletter covering Greater Manchester, as a one-man band in June 2020. The company now has staff writers and…
- #209: Nnedi Okorafor, novelist
Rachel and Simon speak with the novelist Nnedi Okorafor . Nnedi is a prolific writer of science fiction and fantasy for adults, young adults and children; her best-known titles include the "Binti" trilogy , "Lagoon" , the "Nsibidi Script"…
- #208: Ben Okri, novelist
Simon and Rachel speak to the novelist Ben Okri . Born in Minna, Nigeria, Ben came to England as a child. He attended school in London before returning to Africa with his parents on the eve of the Nigerian Civil War. He came once more to t…
- #207: Clair Wills, author and academic
Rachel and Simon speak to the author and academic Clair Wills. She is the Regius Professor of English Literature at the University of Cambridge and the author of several non-fiction books. "That Neutral Island: A History of Ireland During…
- #206: Tim Winton, novelist
Simon and Rachel speak with the novelist Tim Winton . Widely considered one of the greatest living Australian writers, Tim has written 13 novels; his work has been translated into 28 languages. Since his first novel, " An Open Swimmer ", w…
- #205: Hannah Barnes, journalist and author
Rachel and Simon speak with the journalist and author Hannah Barnes . Hannah worked at the BBC for 15 years, specialising in investigative journalism for both television and radio. Prior to joining the "Newsnight" team in 2016, she was a d…
- #204: Michael Lewis, journalist and author
Simon and Rachel speak with journalist and author Michael Lewis . Michael grew up in New Orleans and in the 1980s he worked on Wall Street. His first book " Liar's Poker " (1989) relates his experience at the investment bank Salomon Brothe…
- #203: Clare Alexander, literary agent, Aitken Alexander Associates
Rachel and Simon speak with the literary agent Clare Alexander . For the first portion of her career she worked in publishing, starting out in 1973 in the rights department at Penguin; after stints at Hamish Hamilton and Viking she became…
- #202: Philippe Sands, author and lawyer
Simon and Rachel speak to the author and lawyer Philippe Sands . He is the author of books including " East West Street ", which won the Baillie Gifford prize in 2016 and the British Book Awards Non-Fiction Book of the Year in 2017, and "T…
- #201: Reni Eddo-Lodge, journalist and author
Rachel and Simon speak to the journalist and author Reni Eddo-Lodge . She started blogging and writing journalism while a student; one post, published in 2014 and called “Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People about Race” eventually led…
- #200: Frederick Forsyth, novelist
For the 200th episode of Always Take Notes Simon and Rachel speak with the novelist Frederick Forsyth . He began his career in the Royal Air Force in 1956, before leaving to pursue journalism. Frederick worked for Reuters, the BBC, and as…
- #199: Paula Hawkins, novelist
Rachel and Simon speak with the novelist Paula Hawkins . Born and brought up in Zimbabwe, Paula moved to London in 1989. She worked as a journalist for 15 years, reporting on business and personal finance. Her first book, "The Money Goddes…
- #198: Richard Dawkins, non-fiction author
Simon and Rachel speak to Richard Dawkin s , an evolutionary biologist and bestselling science writer. His first book, " The Selfish Gene ", published in 1976, has sold over a million copies and been translated into more than 25 languages.…
- #197: Eleanor Moran/Kate Ruby, TV producer and novelist
Rachel and Simon speak to Eleanor Moran, a television producer and novelist. Eleanor started her career at the BBC as a script editor before becoming an executive producer; she has worked on shows including "Watership Down" , "The Girl Bef…
- #196: Robert Harris, novelist
Simon and Rachel speak to Robert Harris , the bestselling historical novelist. Robert worked as a journalist, and wrote several non-fiction books, before his first novel, " Fatherland ", which imagines a world in which Germany won the Seco…
- #195: Carissa Broadbent, novelist
Rachel and Simon speak to Carissa Broadbent , author of the "Crowns of Nyaxia" and "War of Lost Hearts" series. Before turning to writing, Carissa worked in marketing. Her early books were self-published and became a sensation on social me…
- #194: Kevin Barry, novelist and short-story writer
Simon and Rachel speak to Kevin Barry , a novelist and short-story writer. Kevin is the author of four novels and three story collections. His awards include the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, the Goldsmiths Prize , the Sunday Times EFG Shor…
- #193: Abi Morgan, screenwriter and playwright
Rachel and Simon speak to Abi Morgan, a screenwriter and playwright. Abi earned her first professional stage credit in 1998 with "Skinned"; since then she has written plays including "Tender", "Fugee", "27" and "The Mistress Contract", whi…
- #192: Harlan Coben, novelist
Simon and Rachel speak to the novelist Harlan Coben . Harlan's suspense novels are published in 46 languages and have been number-one bestsellers in more than a dozen countries, with 80 million books in print worldwide. His Myron Bolitar s…
- #191: Anna Funder, non-fiction author and novelist
Rachel and Simon speak to the non-fiction author and novelist Anna Funder. After training as an international human-rights lawyer in Australia, Anna moved to Germany and published "Stasiland: Stories from Behind the Berlin Wall" in 2003; t…
- #190: Toby Mundy, literary agent and executive director of the Baillie Gifford Prize
In this episode Simon and Rachel speak with Toby Mundy , the CEO of the UK office of the international literary agency Aevitas Creative Management , and executive director of the Baillie Gifford Prize for non-fiction . Toby has worked in t…
- #189: Naomi Klein, non-fiction author
Rachel and Simon speak with the non-fiction author Naomi Klein . Her debut book, "No Logo: Taking Aim at the Brand Bullies" , sold more than 1m copies after its publication in 1999; her follow-up, "The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster…