Bookcited!: A Libraries NI podcast for all things library

Mark Aldridge – a renowned Agatha Christie Historian – joins Jillian and Pete in this episode to talk about Agatha, her life, her writing and the lasting appeal of her novels – as well as divulging some little known facts about the Queen of Crime!
[Music by Shane M.]

Join Emma as she chats to Jillian and Peter, sharing all about her writing journey as well as giving a health update following her recent diagnosis. Listen as she shares how she continues to write the captivating romances which she is well known for, whilst inspiring readers, juggling family and managing health challenges.[Music by Shane M.]

Stuck at home this year? At least the weather has been kind this summer and you can join Jillian and Peter as they travel the world in books from the UK to Italy, and the US to Cyprus. Get the Factor 50 on and retire to the garden for some dedicated reading time.[Music by Shane M.]

Everyone loves a puzzle! Join Jillian and Peter as author Janice Hallett talks about her unusual novels which challenge readers with the opportunity to piece together mysteries for themselves. Check Out The Examiner – her most recent novel.[Music by Shane M.]

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt is a heart-warming and whimsical debut novel that blends mystery, grief, and unexpected friendship, told partly through the perspective of a giant Pacific octopus!https://www.librariesni.org.uk/browse-read/online-book-club/discussion/august-2025/[Music by Shane M.]

With penguins and the Antarctic being in the news recently Hazel Prior takes time out to let Jillian and Peter into the secrets behind her trilogy of ‘penguin’ novels featuring the formidable Veronica McCreedy. [Music by Shane M.]

Exclusive interview with Shelby Van Pelt, author of our Book of the Month Remarkably Bright Creatures. Shelby talks to Pete about escaping octopus’s, writing and the healing effect that reading can have.

Jillian and Peter have the pleasure of chatting to the bestselling author Joseph O’Connor! They talk about the writing of his acclaimed new trilogy featuring the Vatican, the Resistance and the Rome Escape Line during WW2, as well as the need for comprehensive research for the books with extended stays in Rome – well, someone has to do it!! [Photograph - (c) Urszula Soltys. Music by Shane M.]

Niamh Ni Mhaoileoin is the author of the debut sensation that is her novel Ordinary Saints. Based in both Dublin and London the novel explores what can happen as the Church, grief, and queerness collide within a family. Niamh talks to Jillian and Peter about her writing process, bringing her characters to life on the page and how long-distance running helps.[Music by Shane M.]

Journalist Eimear McGovern reviews some Irish Fiction that has caught her eye recently. From Nesting by Roisin O’Donnell to The City Changes its Face by Eimear McBride via Long Island (Colm Toibin) and Wild Houses (Colin Barrett) she shares her thoughts on each with Jillian and Peter.[Music by Shane M.]

The Life Impossible by Matt Haig is a poignant and imaginative novel that blends magical realism with themes of grief, aging, and personal transformation. The story follows Grace Winters, a 72-year-old retired mathematics teacher living a quiet, grief-stricken life in Lincolnshire, England. Since the death of her husband Karl, Grace has been emotionally adrift, spending her days in solitude. Her life takes an unexpected turn.[Music by Shane M.]

Carrickfergus author Adrian McKinty has lived abroad for a long time but enjoys revisiting his youth vicariously through the series he created featuring his alter ego Sean Duffy, an RUC Detective Inspector based in Carrick CID during the 1980’s.He joins Peter and Jillian for an entertaining chat around the ups and down of his writing life, writer's block, music (specifically Tom Waits and Dolly Parton), along with many other interesting tangents, rants and some bad jokes! Hang On St Christopher is the latest instalment of the Sean Duffy series and the added bonus of the prequel to the whole series - God’s Away on Business.[Music by Shane M.]

Tim Hodkinson talks to Jillian and Peter about how his childhood passion for the Vikings and the Normans lead him into studying  Medieval History and ultimately into fictionalising stories based around that era. Old Norse, Medieval English and Celtic civilization all feature in his novels with ‘Sword of the War God’ and ‘Eye of the Raven’ being the latest in a string of his recent publications.[Music by Shane M.]

Some of our favourite books are translations and Jillian and Peter take the opportunity to share some of their best reading recommendations of translated fiction. [Music by Shane M.]

Clara Ministral from Madrid is a literary translator and takes time out to share with Jillian and Peter the intricacies of her job and the skills it takes to translate novels by some of most well known local authors including Jan Carson, Louise Kennedy and Colin Bateman.[Music by Shane M.]

Bestselling author Anthony Horowitz gets personal with Peter and Jillian—talking about how a tough childhood shaped his storytelling, writing for kids and grownups, and what it’s like adapting his books for TV with his wife, producer Jill Green.[Music by Shane M.]

The Glassmaker is a sweeping historical novel infused with magical realism. It follows Orsola Rosso, a young woman born into a family of glassmakers on the island of Murano, near Venice, in 1486. Despite societal restrictions on women in the craft, Orsola secretly learns to make glass beads, finding both creative fulfilment and financial independence.[Music by Shane M.]

Ever wondered how a poet goes viral? Brian Bilston—aka the "Banksy of Poetry"—shares how posting witty verse during lockdown turned into sold-out shows, published books, and even a musical album! Tune in as he chats with Peter and Jillian about humour, humanity, and how poems can help us make sense of the madness.Music by Shane M.

Hot on the heels of the Nibbies British Book Awards 2025, Jillian and Peter discuss some of the winners and short-listed titles in this latest edition of the Bookcited! podcast. How many have you read so far?Music Shane M.

Tony Macaulay shares his memories of growing up at the top of the Shankill Road in the 70’s in his bestselling book Paperboy. He talks to Jillian and Peter about how the success of this and the subsequent Breadboy and All Grow’d Up – not to mention their adaptation into very successful Musicals – has taken him by surprise and have now led him on to writing fiction; his latest is ‘Kill the Devil’ a collaboration with a young author from Rwanda. [Music by Shane M.]*** Have your say on the Bookcited! Podcast ***Take the short survey at the link below by typing it into your web browser:https://tinyurl.com/lnipodsurvey

Omagh born author Martina Devlin joins Jillian and Peter from her home in Dublin to chat about her latest novel Charlotte. Based around the life of Charlotte Bronte and the Irish family connection with Banagher in Co. Offaly, Martina talks about the challenges of fictionalising a story around known facts and the need to embellish, add local colour, characters and events in order to craft a successful novel.[Music by Shane M.]*** Have your say on the Bookcited! Podcast ***Take the short survey at the link below by typing it into your web browser:https://tinyurl.com/lnipodsurvey

Butter by Asko Yuzuki is the Book of the Month for May and in this episode Jillian, Peter and Conor chat about this and some other popular Japanese fiction that they have been inspired to read recently with the surge in interest in Japanese novels.Music by Shane M.