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The Waterstones Podcast

The Waterstones Podcast

Waterstones 193 Episodes Jul 1, 2026

Going beyond the book with a wide range of authors to discover the story behind the books we love.

Episodes

Alice Oseman Jul 1, 2026 00:25:49 When Alice Oseman created the first volume of Heartstopper on her own, she couldn’t have foreseen what a phenomenon it would become. As the final volume hits shelves and the Netflix adaptation concludes with the film Heartstopper Forever, we were delighted to spend some time with Alice to reflect on all those years of work, the incredible fans and maybe even what might come next.
Andrew Sean Greer Jun 23, 2026 00:17:36 Andrew Sean Greer writes the kind of novels that you want to press into others' hands when what they need is a book filled with charm, comedy and a sense of romance. After the trials of his hapless author Arthur Less in his eponymous Pulitzer Prize-winning Less, Greer’s latest novel transports us to Villa Coco in Tuscany for a summer we will never forget. We sat down to speak with him about ho
Meet the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize 2026 Shortlist Authors Jun 18, 2026 01:12:16 The Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize Shortlist is here and it's time to meet the class of 2026. With books that take us from modern America to medieval Europe, from magical realism to modern satire, from private lives to open houses - these are the writers that have most excited our experience booksellers and we can't wait for you to discover your own favourite. Join us for a freewheeling conversat
Lily King Jun 9, 2026 00:24:22 Through her writing about love, Lily King has made readers care deeply about her characters and what life does to them. A year on from Heart The Lover's publication and after a month as our fiction pick, we finally got to sit down with Lily to talk about writing love, being surprised and how she feels about making her readers sob uncontrollably.
Elizabeth Strout Jun 8, 2026 00:18:35 Having captivated readers with the eponymous Olive Kitteridge and Lucy Barton , Elizabeth Strout has moved down the coast from Maine to Massachusetts for her latest novel, and a new character for readers to meet. We sat down to speak with her about where Artie Dam came from, what he's wrestling with and why there are still things we never say.
Sathnam Sanghera Jun 3, 2026 00:25:04 George Michael managed to be both enigmatic and to share some of the most personal details about his life but superfan Sathnam Sanghera has looked a little closer to really appreciate the artistry and importance of one of pop's most enduring voices. We spoke with him about being a control freak, a defining era for music and why that voice is still so special to listen to.
Maggie O'Farrell Jun 1, 2026 00:24:33 Following the phenomenal success of Hamnet, Maggie O'Farrell returns with Land, an epic novel of upheaval and loss beginning in 19th century Ireland, with its roots in Maggie's own family. We sat down to speak with her about such personal inspiration, the mapping of her narratives and what it really feels like to be on the Oscar's red carpet.
Siri Hustvedt May 22, 2026 00:26:00 When Siri Hustvedt lost her husband, Paul Auster, to cancer, her immediate instinct was to write. This, in fact, has always been her instinct and the resulting book, Ghost Stories, is an elegant patchwork of memories, letters and more that serve as a moving tribute to their relationship. We spoke with her about their first meeting, nearly losing him immediately, their years of partnership and the
Douglas Stuart May 19, 2026 00:25:36 When Douglas Stuart won the Booker Prize with his debut, Shuggie Bain, it announced the arrival of a distinctive new voice in fiction. Now, after two novels set in his native Glasgow, his third takes us to the Isle of Harris for another close study of family dynamics, repressed emotion and the irrepressible urge towards self-expression. We sat down to speak with him about this change of location a
Jackie Morris and Robert Macfarlane May 6, 2026 00:36:16 Artist Jackie Morris and writer Robert Macfarlane have already blessed us with The Lost Words and The Lost Spells and their third project together is a field guide like no other. The Book of Birds asks us to really look and listen to a selection of birds whose future is under threat. We sat down with them both to discover more about the importance of drawing and painting from life rather than deat
Patrick Radden Keefe Apr 7, 2026 00:33:30 The investigative reporting of Patrick Radden Keefe has already given us non-fiction classics like Say Nothing and Empire of Pain. In London Falling, he turns his eye to the story of Zac Brettler, who plunged to his death from a luxury London apartment at the age of just 19. What his parents then discovered was an alternative life that had led their son through the capital’s dangerous underworld t
Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2026 Mar 17, 2026 01:00:22 For the first time ever, the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize assembles our shortlisted authors and illustrators for a special interview in which we discover more about the joy of picture books, the nature of world building, and how they incorporate important and mature themes as readers get older. Ahead of our winners announcement on 26 March, sit back and enjoy the brilliant creativity of them

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