Bookcited!: A Libraries NI podcast for all things library

Michelle Griffin joins Jillian and Pete to discuss the art of editing and the unseen work that strengthens every story. An illuminating conversation that highlights the essential role of editors in modern publishing.

Alan Hollinghurst joins Bookcited! to talk about April’s Book of the Month ‘Our Evenings’ and a lifetime of storytelling. A rich and generous conversation about identity, theatre and the making of a modern classic.

Patrick Gale joins Jillian and Pete to explore how the subtle interplay of inspiration and the long echo of family history have quietly shaped his forthcoming novel Love Lane. 

Jillian and Pete speak with Trish Bennett in a special World Poetry Day episode on the emotional honesty and sharp observation at the heart of her poems. A warm, revealing conversation that celebrates the art of capturing life in verse. 

Islands within an Island - Jan Carson joins Jillian and Pete to explore the stories, secrets and quiet enchantments woven through her new novel based around Lough Neagh, Few and Far Between. 

Join us to celebrate the 100th episode of Bookcited! where Jillian and Pete are joined by Conor and Sian to look back over some of the most memorable interviews and think about hypothetical future guests – dead or alive! 

Jillian and Sian join local author Sheena Wilkinson as she reflects on writing, representation and the importance of telling women’s stories for International Women’s Day which takes place on 8 March.

Jillian and Pete explore the quiet magic and bittersweet wonder of the bestselling Japanese novel Before the Coffee Gets Cold, Libraries NI’s March Book of the Month. 

One hare. One woman. In the quiet of the countryside, Chloe Dalton found a story worth telling. Listen as she shares the moments that shaped her remarkable journey. 

Stephen Daly on The Last Death Poet: a haunting Young Adult debut where Belfast’s political ghosts meet Irish mythology. Join us on the Libraries NI Bookcited podcast as we explore how identity, memory, and destiny collide in this gripping coming-of-age story.

Awards Season is here! Jillian, Pete, and Conor dive into the books behind the films dominating the 2026 nominations. Discover the stories that leapt from page to screen and why they’re making waves on the red carpet.

Sheila O’Flanagan joins Jillian and Pete for a candid, uplifting exploration of life, books and the power of women’s stories. A thoughtful exchange that explores how stories evolve, connect and leave their mark on readers. 

For our Book of the Month this month, we dive into 'Tom Lake' by Anne Patchett, a tender, beautifully written novel about love, memory, and the stories we tell ourselves. Join us as we explore why this quiet masterpiece is the perfect winter read. 

Bookcited meets Andrea Mara: from her award-winning thriller 'It Should Have Been You' to the Netflix hit 'All Her Fault', we explore crime, suspense and stories that keep you guessing.

Jillian, Pete, and Sian look back on the books that made them readers: the stories that sparked a lifelong love of reading. Join us as we share the titles that opened doors to new worlds and shaped who we are today. 

Blue Monday got you down? Jillian, Pete, and Conor share the ultimate comfort reads. The books that helped us through tough times and brought joy when we needed it most. Discover stories that soothe the soul and remind us why reading is the perfect antidote to winter blues. 

‘I write therefore I am’, Edna O’Brien, so Carlo Gebler has inherited his mother’s compulsion to write – and sits down with Jillian and Pete to talk about his own literary heritage as a writer, television director, and teacher. From the wilds of Fermanagh to the confines of prison walls Carlo tells how he has inspired and educated many.

Join Peter and Jillian with the first of the New Year selection for Book of the Month. Here they meet up to discuss James by Percival Everett – shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2025, it is an alternative telling of the classic Huckleberry Finn told from the point of view of James, the runaway slave.

Join Jillian, Pete and Conor as they wax lyrical about the books coming up in 2026. From debut authors to old favourites they reveal their very different tastes in books with their own special style of book banter covering everything from the past, the future, and the purely magical. 

Area Manager Becky joins Jillian and Pete in this episode to look back over some of the best books they have read in 2025. From thrillers and romantasy to palate cleansers and comfort reads, the trio cover a wide selection of popular choices!  

We celebrate Jane Austen’s legacy - from Regency drawing rooms to Netflix adaptations. Why does she still captivate us? Celebrate 250 years of wit, irony, and unforgettable heroines with guest Jennifer Shepherd.

Niall Williams is an Irish writer of novels, plays, and non-fiction. He is known for his novels Four Letters of Love, As It Is In Heaven, Fall of the Light, History of the Rain, and This Is Happiness.