Heart UK

The Honest Authors' Podcast

Bestselling authors Gillian McAllister and Holly Seddon discuss the truth about being an author, plus expert insider and author interviews.

Honest Authors

Join Gillian McAllister and Holly Seddon for a special episode recorded live at Bluewater Waterstones one cosy Sunday morning. For the first time, the authors interview each other! Plus, candid answers to audience questions about getting published, finding hooks, when to give up the day job, taking risks and more.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

S8E08 - Special episode - Running our mouths LIVE at Waterstones

Gillian McAllister and Holly Seddon chat to award winning, bestselling historical fiction author, Stacey Halls about getting published, finding ideas through research and getting the words down. If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

S8E07 - With special guest Stacey Halls

Holly Seddon and Gillian McAllister discuss two upcoming things:Holly's book is out now, and you can buy it here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/59-Minutes-unmissable-heart-wrenching-thriller/dp/1398709492They are doing an event TOGETHER at Waterstones Bluewater. Tickets here: https://www.waterstones.com/events/honest-authors-podcast-live-recording/bluewaterIf you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

S8E06 - Two announcements and work/life balance

Bestselling authors Gillian McAllister and Holly Seddon talk to Sophie Hannah, not only a superstar author but the founder and coach of Dream Author Coaching. Sophie is full of practical and inspiring advice for being resilient, optimistic and successful.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

S8E05 - With special guest Sophie Hannah

Bestselling thriller writers Gillian McAllister and Holly Seddon talk to brilliant Curtis Brown foreign rights agent, Tanja Goossens, about what foreign publishers are looking for, how the whole foreign rights side of publishing works and what really happens at book fairs. If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

S8E04 - With special guest, foreign rights agent Tanja Goossens

In a festive episode that - true to tradition is going out in mid-January - bestselling thriller writers Gillian McAllister and Holly Seddon catch up about our own writing, plus we talk to the brilliant Erin Kelly about getting (and staying) published, trends and lessons learned.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

S8E03 - With special guest Erin Kelly

Novelists Liane Moriarty, Gilly McAllister and Holly Seddon talk work/life balance, coming up with fresh ideas, meeting readers, fate, parenting and a whole bunch of other extremely relatable things. If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

S8E02 - With special guest Liane Moriarty

Thriller writers Gillian McAllister and Holly Seddon grill Blake Crouch about his journey to publication, getting adapted, becoming a showrunner and coming up with new ideas. If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

S8E01 - We're BACK! And we have Blake Crouch with us.

Bestselling thriller writers Gillian McAllister and Holly Seddon answer a whole heap of quick fire listener questions on plotting, writers' block, the publishing industry, making a living as an author and more!If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

S7E05 - We answer listener questions!

Bestselling thriller writers Gillian McAllister and Holly Seddon chat Achilles heels, reviews and Mastermind specialist subjects, and - what we don't talk about - why our voices are so husky and coldy.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

S7E04 - Our Achilles Heels, plus chat about reviews

In keeping with all the preceding years, the Honest Authors Christmas and New Year episode is dropping late. Bestselling thriller writers Gillian McAllister and Holly Seddon talk hopes, fears, and book prices.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

S7E03 - Our incredibly late new year episode

Bestselling writers Gillian McAllister, Holly Seddon and Mhairi McFarlane chat about getting started, coming up with fresh ideas, bad reviews and Archilles heals.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

S7E02 - With special guest Mhairi McFarlane

Gillian and Holly are back, talking about their years, fears and Archilles heals. PLUS in-depth interview with Linwood Barclay on how he keeps writing super hooky bangers, year on year.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

S7E01 - We're back! And we have Linwood Barclay with us

Before signing off for maternity leave, Gilly and Holly talk future plans and answer your questions. *Some slightly rude chat so wait until your kids aren't listening*If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

S6E08 - Season finale PLUS we answer your probing questions

Multi-million selling author of The Silent Patient and The Maidens, Alex Michaelides, talks process, sudden bestsellerdom and finding renewed joy in writing.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

S6E07 - How Alex Michaelides writes a novel

Clare Mackintosh talks us through precisely how she writes her international bestsellers, from idea to planning to writing to rewriting until it's a 10/10 novel.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

S6E06 - How Clare Mackintosh writes a novel

The Honest Authors interview the incomparable Lisa Jewell about how she writes a novel, from idea to delivery.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

S6E05 - How Lisa Jewell writes a novel

The Honest Authors interview each other about how we write a novel - from the germ of an idea to hanging the manuscript in to our editors.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

S6E04 - How WE write our novels

Gilly and Holly talk to Sunday Times bestseller of over 30 books, Jill Mansell, about how she writes her novels...If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

S6E03 - How Jill Mansell writes a novel

The Honest Authors discuss their 2021 in review, and look forward to 2022.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

S6E02 - End of Year Review

If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

S6E01 - How Giovanna Fletcher writes a novel

The Honest Authors both have big news, plus listener questions answered on money and agent submission. Warning: a few swearwords so don't listen with your kids...If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors' Podcast S5E10 - Season finale! With big news from Gilly and Holly.

The Honest Authors talk finding fresh ideas, giving readers what they want and writing through these weird times with fascinating and funny veteran writers, Jane Fallon and Lindsey Kelk. PLUS some quick fire listener questions.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors' Podcast S5E09 - With Jane Fallon and Lindsey Kelk

Tim Weaver is on the podcast talking standalone novels, keeping a series fresh and how success is not always linear.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors' Podcast S5E08 - With special guest Tim Weaver

Gilly and Holly talk about redrafting, how long it takes to write a book, dealing with professional jealousy and finding time (and space) to write.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors' Podcast S5E07 - Redrafts, professional jealousy and finding time to write

The Honest Authors interview their own agents. What have you always wanted to ask an agent but were too afraid to? Well, look no further.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors' Podcast S5E06 - We interview our agents!

Writing through lockdown (yawn, of course), Gilly and Holly's plans for 2021 and answering listener questions.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors' Podcast - S5E05

The Honest Authors' Podcast - S5E04 - A Christmas special! On time! It's a Christmas Miracle!

Three writers join the Honest Authors to talk mental health and creativity, coping strategies and more.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors' Podcast - S5E03 - Mental health roundtable with Charlotte Levin, Robin Morgan-Bentley and Sunita Thind

The Honest Authors talk to prolific authors who publish more than one novel per year.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors' Podcast - S5E02 - Prolific authors who publish more than one book per year

Gillian McAllister and Holly Seddon talk to debut authors published during the 2020 lockdown.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors' Podcast - S5E01 - Debuts who were published in lockdown, roundtable

The Honest Authors talk audiobooks and audio writing opportunities with star actor Tuppence Middleton and audio expert Paul Stark from Orion Publishing. PLUS sneak peek excerpts of The Hit List audiobook.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors' Podcast - S4 summer special all about audiobooks

In the season four finale, we interview Fiona Barton (author of The Widow, The Child and The Suspect) and talk about our big publication news.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors' Podcast - S4E10 - OMG it's a season finale! Featuring brilliant bestseller Fiona Barton

We take questions from listeners including how you know which idea is a 'runner' and whether having an author newsletter is worth it.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors' Podcast - S4E09 - Are newsletters worth it? How do you choose which idea to write?

The Honest Authors hear from bestseller Mark Edwards, whose real life journey to publication features more twists than any thriller.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors' Podcast - S4E08 - Featuring Mark Edwards and his wild ride to becoming a bestseller!

The Honest Authors are still locked down... and still writing. They talk about their writing processes and how they're staying on track during such strange times.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors' Podcast - S4E07 - How to write a novel during lockdown... without losing your mind

Sunday Times bestseller CL Taylor joins Gilly and Holly for a candid chat about writing life, changing genres, writing processes and more.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors' Podcast - S4E06 - With special guest CL Taylor

The honest authors discuss creative panic, anxiety and things they do that are part of being a writer but aren't writing.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors' Podcast - S4E05 - What things do you do that are part of being a writer but aren't writing?

Horrific shower scenes, changing agents, canine chaos, the best of times, the worst of times AND SO ON. Happy 2020!If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S4E04 - The end of year review

The Honest Authors answer your questions on series versus standalone, the differences between publishers, how to write a synopsis and more!If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S4E03 - We answer your questions

Everything bad you wanted to know about being an author but were too afraid to ask...If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S4E02 - The d*ck pic episode

The Honest Authors are back! Paula Daly tells Gilly and Holly all about having her books turned into TV and how she approaches writing bestsellers with loads of reassuring advice.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S4E01 - With Paula Daly

The Honest Authors interview Shari Lapena and talk self doubt, shelving books, and how to have a steady stream of new ideas.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S3E12 - Finale with Shari Lapena

Gilly and Holly's first live appearance as the Honest Authors, talking publication, hooks, setbacks and successes.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S3E11 - LIVE from the Breakthrough Festival!

We're joined by Gilly's dad, Tony McAllister, who talks about how he helps Gilly (and Holly!) with her books plus we discuss listeners' pitches.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S3E10 - Tony McAllister and YOUR pitches

Are creatives more prone to anxiety and stress? Does extensive phone use get in the way of writing and thinking? How can authors cope better with the weirdness of being in the public eye? The Honest Authors discuss this and more with Psychotherapist and author Hilda Burke.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S3E09 - Hilda Burke, Psychotherapist

Phoebe Morgan, editorial director AND author, tells the Honest Authors why manuscripts get chosen, how publishers spot trends, what she's working on right now and her own publishing journey.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S3E08 - Phoebe Morgan

The Honest Authors are back from the Easter break! Talking about Gilly's latest publication, the latest weird worries and, for some reason, floatation tanks again.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S03E07

The Honest Authors grill expert bestselling author Mark Billingham on how he's managed to write a book a year for nearly 20 years, how he keeps coming up with fresh ideas and what he'd tell his younger self.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S03E06 - Mark Billingham

The Honest Authors Podcast - S03E05 - Isabelle Broom

What do we mean by foreign rights? What actually happens at book fairs? How much money can authors make from translated copies of their books? The Honest Authors grill foreign rights expert Therese Coen about all this and more.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S3E04 - Therese Coen

The Honest Authors get the chance to grill phenomenal Trapeze Books publishing director Sam Eades about the acquisitions process, what happens behind the scenes and what editors really look for in a book.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S3E03 - Sam Eades

The honest authors answer Q&As on writing processes and chat to Alison Barrow about publicity including the most effective way to promote a book.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S3E02 - Alison Barrow

The Honest Authors are back! Talking full-time writing, routines, redrafts, weird messages, switching off and, er, spinning, Cardi B and Wall-E.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S3E01

In the season three finale episode, the authors talk honestly about life changes, career changes, representation changes and why it's so very hard to talk about money. Featuring an interview with the brilliant Caroline Hulse.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S2E10 - Season Finale with Caroline Hulse

Helen Cullen, author of The Lost Letters of Willam Woolf, talks to the Honest Authors about her publication journey, giving up the London rat race to decamp to rural Ireland and her writing process. Plus there's the usual bad reviews and lots of laughing.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S2E09 - Helen Cullen

We interview Claire Allan and talk social media, word counts, and writing two books a year.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S2E08 - Claire Allan

We talk to debut novelist Lia Louis during an anxiety special!If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S2E07 - Lia Louis and Anxiety

We discuss how to have an idea, when you're reviewed poorly by people you know and how to develop a hook for your book.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S2E06

We interview Joy Rhodes and discuss pre-publication nerves!If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S2E05

In our most honest episode yet we discuss crises of confidence, abandoning projects and the etiquette of book blurbs. PLUS a really interesting interview with brilliant bestseller Fiona Cummins, author of Rattle and The Collector. A little sidenote: the sound quality in the beginning was a little iffy so please bear with us!If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S2E04

We interview bestselling author Tracy Buchanan, speak about press reviews for debuts and outlining.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S2E03

We discuss publishing news, cover reveals, light bulb moments and (to a surprisingly extensive degree) Neighbours.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S2E02

Gilly and Holly are back, with a new jingle and a lot of opinions. The honest authors discuss publishing news, violence against women, "twists you won't see coming" and... erm... floatation tanks.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S2E01

The final episode of season 1. We take questions, discuss how it feels to have second books out, reviews and writing through the chaos.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S1E19

The Honest Authors talk to author Imran Mahmood about his incredible debut You Don't Know Me, meeting about a billion famous DJs, dialling down the swearing and balancing barrister life with writing.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S1E18: Imran Mahmood

The Honest Authors Podcast - S1E17: Mark Stay

We review our year in writing, answer questions, and moan.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S1E16: Christmas Special!

We talk to forest-dwelling thriller writer Will Dean about his brilliant debut, Dark Pines, and how he writes a first draft in four weeks! FOUR WEEKS!If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

Honest Authors Podcast - S1E15: Will Dean

We interview Sarah Pinborough about marketing, social media, and author longevityIf you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S1E14: Sarah Pinborough

The Honest Authors talk the power of taking breaks, recommendations for brilliant plots, exploding ketchup and the usual anxieties...If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S1E13

The Honest Authors Podcast - S1E12

James Swallow, New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author of Nomad and Exile, joins Gilly and Holly. We talk about the route to getting published, the enjoyment of writing tie-in books about existing characters, proving naysayers wrong about 'airport books' and writing tips.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S1E11

We talk finances, 'fame' and - weirdly - air disasters. We also discuss a difficult court case that Gillian visited for research, some listeners may find details upsetting.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S1E10

We talk events, being part time and being verified.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S1E09

Holly Seddon and Gillian McAllister discuss moving from first drafts to second drafts, selling foreign rights and the agent/author relationship.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S1E08

Gillian McAllister and Holly Seddon talk social media and being an author.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S1E07

We discuss launches, sales, and generally being completely anxious.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S1E06

Special guest G.J. Minett, author of The Hidden Legacy and Lie In Wait, joins the Honest Authors to discuss his route to publication, how to fit writing alongside other work, controversial themes and plans for the future.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S1E05

Gillian McAllister and Holly Seddon talk submitting to agents, writing processes and the embarrassing truth about reading their own book reviews.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S1E04

Deborah O'Connor, author of the brilliant thriller My Husband's Son, joins the Honest Authors to talk about setbacks, the bumpy road to publication and professional crushes.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S1E03

Gillian McAllister, author of Everything But The Truth, and Holly Seddon, author of Try Not To Breathe and Don't Close Your Eyes, discuss grappling with second novels, writing under contract and what happens when you say "yes" to a book deal.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!

The Honest Authors Podcast - S1E02

Gillian McAllister, author of Everything But The Truth, and Holly Seddon, author of Try Not To Breathe and Don't Close Your Eyes, discuss the honest truth about being a debut author and having a book launched into the world.If you enjoy this podcast episode, please remember to rate, review and buy our books!