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The Interview Online Website

Here you will find quality audio, and occasionally video interviews with authors, playwrights and other creative artists.

In these intimate one-to-one conversations, we hear "from the horse's mouth" not just about the work in question but any other interesting projects on the horizon.

Browse the Library for other notable audio and video interviews.

Latest Interview

Penelope Lively Interview

In her 16th novel, Family Album Booker Prize winner Penelope Lively paints a delightful picture of family life somewhere (or indeed anywhere) in Britain. Nine people live in a vast house and the children have a shared if (as we discover later) somewhat unorthodox upbringing. Everything may seem quite normal, however like the house relationships are cracking at the seams. As Ms. Lively tells Nicky Barranger, the children, now grown up have a need to remember their childhood in a different way. Also, in a separate interview Penelope Lively also explains how the art of writing has for her changed over the years.

In her 16th novel, Family Album Booker Prize winner Penelope Lively paints a delightful picture of family life somewhere (or indeed anywhere) in Britain. Nine people live in a vast house and the children have a shared if (as we discover later) somewhat  unorthodox upbringing.

She tells Nicola Barranger why she wanted to write the book

In a separate interview Penelope Lively explains that the art of writing has for her changed over the years.

 


Featured Interview

Jann Parry Interview

Jann Parry discusses the legacy left by the great British ballet choreographer Kenneth MacMillan. A work 10 years in the writing, she recently published Different Drummer.

Jann Parry discusses the legacy left by the great British choreographer Kenneth MacMillan in her book Different Drummer recently published by Faber.


Featured Interview

Marina Lewycka Interview

After a lifetime of unpublished writing, Marina Lewycka’s world changed three years ago with the publication of A Short History of Tractors in Ukranian. As much thanks to word of mouth as to being on the Booker Long list in 2005, her work is now translated into more than 30 languages. Her latest book We are all made of Glue really is about adhesives but it’s also about metaphorical glue, which binds us together as human being. Listen to Marina Lewycka talking about the bonding of human relationships, and why she felt discussing the Middle East conflict shouldn’t be out of bounds for a comic writer.

After decades of unpublished writing, Marina Lewycka's dream came true 3 years ago with the publication of A Short History of Tractors in Ukranian.

Listen to Marina Lewycka talking about her latest book We are all Made of Glue and the bonding of human relationships, her wondeful creation Mrs. Shapiro and why discussing the Middle East conflict shouldn't be out of bounds for a comic writer.

What rôle a Grandmother? Margaret Forster talks to Nicola Barranger about her latest novel – Isa and May which examines the rôle of grandmothers in the family.

Margaret Forster Interview

What rôle a Grandmother?

Margaret Forster talks to Nicola Barranger about her latest novel - Isa and May which examines the rôle of grandmothers in the family.

Listen to hear Margaret Forster discuss whether or not we have a right to dig up our ancestors' past or indeed whether they have the right to keep things secret from us.


Featured Interview

In a new video interview, Ruth Rendell explains why she still enjoys reading the grandfather of detective fiction, Sherlock Holmes.

Ruth Rendell Video

In a new video interview, Ruth Rendell explains why she still enjoys reading the grandfather of detective fiction, Sherlock Holmes.

As the publisher Viking issues a new edition of sixty adventures, Baroness Rendell of Babergh takes time out of being a working peer to talk to The Interview Online about why Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, 150 years after his birth continues to please. She also talks about the differences between Holmes and Rendell's famous sleuth Chief Inspector Reginald Wexford.

Click to view the video interview

In a separate file, the famous crime writer explains in detail about the nitty-gritty of her writing routine, whether she is writing as Ruth Rendell or Barbara Vine.

 



Featured Interview

Following the huge success of her debut novel The Outcast (shortlisted for 2008 Orange Prize) Sadie Jones talks about her latest and much awaited work Small Wars. In the video interview Sadie Jones explains that she didn’t really want to return to the fifties but that she realised the significant parallels between the Cyprus conflict and those in which the British army is engaged in modern times.

Sadie Jones Interview

Following the huge success of her debut novel The Outcast (shortlisted for 2008 Orange Prize) Sadie Jones talks about her latest  and much awaited work Small Wars.

In the video interview Sadie Jones explains that she didn't really want to return to the fifties but that she realised the significant parallels between the Cyprus conflict and those in which the British army is engaged in modern times.