My Father’s Fortune

‘It took him quite a long time to accept that I had some other qualities, abilities, to write and so forth, which in his eyes never really made up for lack of sporting ability, but eventually we found some sort of common ground.’

The Good of the Novel: Part Three

We complete our three-part discussion on The Good of the Novel with the panel discussion held at the London Review Bookshop.

The Good of the Novel: Part Two

Our The Good of the Novel discussion continues with pieces from three book bloggers: novelist and playwright Elizabeth Baines, aka FictionBitch, avid reader and blogger Paperback Reader, and bookseller and blogger Catherine Hawley, aka Juxtabook.

The Good of the Novel: Part One

What makes a novel a novel? How does the language used in a novel create a world different from that of drama or poetry? What kinds of truth can be told uniquely by the novel? And what role can the literary critic play in the egalitarian age of the internet?

When Kids Take Over

Jenny Wingfield, author of the forthcoming novel The Homecoming of Samuel Lake, on how kids ran away with her story…

Watch out for an extract and an exclusive competition to win copies of Jenny’s debut novel later this month on Bookhugger.

Adrian Tomine on Scenes from an Impending Marriage (His!)

Adrian Tomine documents his impending marriage in a uniquely funny and (mostly) sweet-natured way.

Fans at his publishers, Faber, put the author in the pre-nuptial hotseat…

Is There Such a Thing as a Male Book?

Richard T. Kelly responds to Bookdiva columnist Molly Flatt’s musings on what makes a ‘female’ book, from the XY chromosome perspective.

Listen to the eighth Vintage Books Podcast

Featuring Martin Amis, David Lodge, Evie Wyld, Jane Shilling, Rebecca Asher, William Goldsmith and Annalena McAfee…

Get to know Ed Hogan

Author of Blackmoor and The Hunger Trace, published this month, Ed Hogan, discusses how he began writing and the inspirations behind his two highly atmospheric novels.

Why write? Why not?

Why write? At the Faber Academy, two hundred creative writers ask and answer the question each week. Here, the Faber Academy’s Ian Ellard tries to get to grips with it, but it proves a little tough to pin down.

Read an extract from Beg, Borrow, Steal: A Writer’s Life

Michael Greenberg regales us with his wry and vivid take on the life of a writer of little means trying to practise his craft or simply stay alive.

Q&A with Mick Jackson

Bookhugger catches up with Mick Jackson, whose The Widow’s Tale is the long-awaited third novel from the Booker Prize shortlisted author of Five Boys and The Underground Man. Mick answers questions about his latest novel, the art of writing, and his favourite books among other topics.

Why write? What’s the point?

What’s the point of writing? As the Faber Academy launches its ‘Getting Started’ fiction-writing course in February, it is a question that deserves an answer. But it’s a little tough to pin down.

Faber Academy tutor, novelist and short story write Su Gee gives her take on the the process.

Ed Hogan on what Editors do

Edward Hogan, author of Blackmoor, and the forthcoming The Hunger Trace (due in March 2011), discusses the invaluable contribution of his Editor to the evolution his latest work.

Genre round-up: Non-fiction – part two

The second part of September’s non-fiction featues a broad range of subjects: President Clinton’s secret tapes, how to invoke angels into their lives, the war in Afghanistan, Germany’s influence on modern America and Britain, Sean Connery, and an hilarious memoir of courage, and pee…

When to Stop Writing: Notes on Finishing a Novel

Decisions, decisions.

Richard T. Kelly wrestles with the end…

Reader reactions to The Crimson Petal and the White

Michel Faber explores the reactions of readers to his famous novel set in 1870s London.

It’s a Bad Day in Blackrock

Lives are shattered when three private school-educated, rugby-playing young men attack another young man outside a Dublin nightclub.

Watch author Kevin Power introduce his novel and discuss his writing process.

Deceptions, by Rebecca Frayn

Rebecca Frayn explains the genesis of her novel Deceptions, a thriller about family deceit, in this exclusive piece for Bookhugger.

R. N. Morris on switching from thrillers to arias

R. N. Morris explains how he ended up as both a writer of historical crime novels – and the librettist for a new opera…

Robert Williams on writing a first novel

Robert Williams is the author of Luke and Jon, an arresting debut about friendship, grief and love, and winner of the National Book Tokens’ NYP Prize.

The Bookhugger Author Panel: Sympathy for the Devil

We asked three crime authors about how they handle writing one of the most important aspects of any crime novel: the baddy!