Talking Heads on Writing Books: The art of literary chat on TV

Richard T. Kelly takes a trip down memory lane, celebrating the days when literary chat was not something to be ashamed of, with the help of the BBC’s In Their Own Words: British Novelists series.

Genre roundup: Historical fiction and non-fiction

Bookhugger’s publishers present a broad-range of fiction and non-fiction, from a lesser-known Conan Doyle hero, a study of Russia’s ravaged history, visiting the ladies and gentlemen of the court of Kensington Palace during the reign of George II, to the ultimate question in English literature: who did write Shakespeare’s plays?

All in the best possible taste!

Author Tom Brady introduces his witty and charmingly nostalgic memoir of growing up during the decade in which television changed forever: the 1980s.

An interview with Peter Carey

To celebrate the inclusion of Peter Carey’s Parrot and Olivier in America on the 2010 Booker Prize long-list, Bookhugger is proud to present an interview with the author.

The August Competition [closed]

Enter the August competition for your chance to win a fascinating selection of titles from Bookhugger publishers.

Genre round-up: crime fiction

A selection of the best in new crime fiction, contemporary and historical, from the Bookhuger publishers for the month of August…

Read an extract from the fifth Victor Legris Mystery, The Predator of Batignolles

In the turbulent Parisian summer of 1893, Victor Legris has vowed to give up the dangerous hobby of amateur sleuthing to concentrate on selling books. But a murderer is at large in Paris, intent on revenge for events that took place many years before during the Commune.

Philippa Gregory on The Red Queen

To celebrate today’s publication of The Red Queen, Philippa Gregory talks about the book’s central character, Margaret Beaufort, the Mother of the Tudors.

We Die Alone: an introduction

The following is Andy McNab’s introduction to David Howarth’s We Die Alone. During World War Two, Howarth ran a spy ring from which this volume and his previous best-seller, The Shetland Bus, both derive. Mr Howarth, who died in 1991, was the author of two dozen major books of history.

Read an extract from Eleven, by Mark Watson

Mark Watson is an acclaimed novelist and comedian, best-known for his appearances on Mock the Week, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Have I Got News for You and Live at the Apollo as well as the Edinburgh Fringe. In 2010 his 60-date solo stand-up tour will play to over 90,000 people.

David Olusoga on The Kaiser’s Holocaust

In The Kaiser’s Holocaust, David Olusoga and Casper W. Erichsen give us the unknown story of the genocide of the Herero and Nama peoples in Germany’s forgotten African empire – an atrocity that foreshadowed the Nazi genocides. It’s an important book and a fascinating – and often grim – read. Here is David Olusoga introducing it, putting the events into a wider context.

Read an extract from The Baker Street Phantom

Read on for an enticing extract from Fabrice Bourland’s first fantasy crime novel…

Meet the author of City of Sin, Catharine Arnold

The BBC’s Meet the Author talks to Catharine Arnold about her latest book, City of Sin.

Filmed in four different locations around the capital, including the Boneyward in Southwark, by the Globe theatre, in Covent garden, and on the Embankment by Waterloo Bridge – all locations covered in the book and connected to the history of prostitution in London.

Summer Reading Choices: Lucy Worsley

George Miller has been asking a few authors about their choice of holiday reading for 2010.

First up is Lucy Worsley, author of Courtiers: The Secret History of Kensington Palace.

The Gathering Night: author’s afterword

The following is a section from the afterword to Margaret Elphinstone’s The Gathering Night: Between Grandmother Mountain and the cold sea, Alaia and her family live off the land. But when her brother goes hunting and never returns, the fragile balance of life is upset. Half-starved and maddened with grief, Alaia’s mother follows her visions and goes in search of her lost son.

Read an extract from When a Billion Chinese Jump

When a Billion Chinese Jump tells the story of China’s – and the world’s – greatest crisis. With filthy water, choking emissions and an unsustainable appetite for resources, China’s development has taken our planet to the environmental edge. Now it faces a stark choice that will affect us all: accept catastrophe or make radical change.

Win a week’s stay in Mr. Rosenblum’s village! [closed]

Sceptre and their partners, Classic Cottages, offer readers an amazing prize to celebrate the paperback release of the internationally bestselling Mr Rosenblum’s List, by Natasha Solomons.

Bookhugger needs Real Readers!

We’re looking for contemporary fiction and non-fiction fans for our exciting new Real Readers programme.

Read an extract from Beautiful Malice

So. Were you glad, deep down? Were you glad to be rid of her? Your perfect sister? Were you secretly glad when she was killed?