This week Jack is joined by Kevin Jared Hossein. His latest book, Hungry Ghosts is set in rural 1940s Trinidad and follows two households, the wealthy Changoors and the impoverished Sharups. It is a novel about family, caste, religion and violence. Purchase Hungry Ghosts (1:06) Publishing the novel (4:07) Childhood reads (12:47) Kevin's approach to writing (18:41) Modern reading habits (32:43) A book which changed his life (39:49) Hungry Ghosts Welcome to Mostly Books Meets, a weekly podcast by the independent award-winning bookshop, Mostly Books. Nestled in the Oxfordshire town of Abingdon-on ..read more

This week Jack is joined by debut author Santanu Bhattacharya. Santanu was included in the Guardians list of the 10 best new novelists of 2023 and in 2021 he won the Mo Siewcharran prize. His novel One Small Voice is a beautiful novel brimming with humanity and populated by a cast of characters that feel so real you could reach out and touch them. Purchase One Small Voice (0:58) The release of One Small Voice (5:00) Santanu's childhood reading (13:48) Writing habits (18:13) Santanu's recent recommendations (27:29) The books that changed Santanu's life (44:43) One Small Voice Welcome to Mostly ..read more

This week Jack is joined by poet and debut novelist Victoria Mackenzie. Victoria's novel For Thy Great Pain Have Mercy On My Little Pain, which follows two medieval mystics, Marjery Kempe and Julian of Norwich. It is an exquisite historical fiction debut which explores themes of faith, trauma, and women's writing. Purchase For Thy Great Pain Have Mercy On My Little Pain (1:03) Being a debut author (10:02) A children's book recommendation (19:56) Victoria's recent reads (23:30) Writing historical fiction (40:36) For Thy Great Pain Have Mercy On My Little Pain Welcome to Mostly Books Meets, a we ..read more

This week, Jack is joined by debut author Eleanor Shearer. Eleanor’s novel River Sing Me Home was published on the 19th of January. The story follows Rachel, who after escaping slavery goes on the search for her missing children. Jeanette Winterson called it "a strong and beautiful novel that stares into the face of brutality and the heart of love". Purchase River Sing Me Home (1:16) Becoming a debut author (3:57) Eleanor's children's book of choice (9:44) Writing while working (13:34) Eleanor's recent read (20:15) The influences behind River Sing Me Home (35:05) River Sing Me Home Welcome to ..read more

This week, Jack is joined by Georgina Moore. Georgina has worked in the publishing industry for 20 years and is an award-winning book publicist. It is no wonder that having spent her life immersed in the world of books that she has decided to put pen to paper and write one herself. That book, the wonderful and absorbing The Garnett Girls follows three sisters Rachel, Imogen and Sasha and their relationship with their charismatic mother Margot. All families have their secrets and the Garnett girls are no exception. Purchase The Garnett Girls here (03:13) Georgina's childhood reading (14:53) Boo ..read more

Welcome to Mostly Books Meets, a podcast by the independent bookshop, Mostly Books. Booksellers from an award-winning indie bookshop chatting books and how they have shaped people's lives, with a whole bunch of people from the world of publishing - authors, poets, journalists and many more. Join us for the journey. Meet the host: Jack Wrighton is a bookseller and social media manager at Mostly Books. His hobbies include photography and buying books at a quicker rate than he can read them. Connect with Jack on Instagram The podcast is produced and presented by Jack Wrighton and the team at Most ..read more

This week, Jenny Bayliss and Karen Swan join Jack for this holly, jolly Christmas Mostly Books Meets special. Jenny Bayliss is the author of the 12 Dates of Christmas and The Winter of Second Chances and her latest book is the wonderful Meet Me Under the Mistletoe. Karen Swan is the author of this year's The Last Summer, which is the first in the five-book Wild Owl series, and has now treated us to a second book this year, the brilliant The Christmas Postcards. Purchase Meet Me Under the Mistletoe here Purchase The Christmas Postcards here (01:43) - Jenny Bayliss and Karen Swan's Childhood Re ..read more

This week, we welcome author Chloe Timms onto the podcast. Chloe Timms' debut novel The Seawomen was published in June of this year. The book follows Esther, a young woman raised on an island within a deeply religious society, that cut itself off from the mainland. Fellow author Kirsty Logan described it as The Handmaid's Tale meets The Shape of Water. When she's not writing Chloe is a passionate disability rights campaigner and also hosts the podcast Confessions of a Debut Novelist. Purchase The Seawomen here (1:42) Chloe Timms' Earliest Reading Memory (7:46) Chloe's Teenage Reading Slump (14 ..read more

This week, Jack is joined by author Maggie Shipstead to discuss her novel Great Circle. Great Circle was shortlisted for both the Booker Prize and the Women's Prize for Fiction and Maggie has also penned two previous novels, 2012s Seating Arrangements, and 2014s Astonish Me. More recently, she's released a collection of short stories called You Have a Friend in 10A. Purchase Great Circle here (1:56) Growing up in Orange County and Reading Books (11:46) Writing and an MFA (15:55) Maggie's Recent Reads (26:48) Maggie's Travels and the Inspirations for Great Circle (48:09) A Book That Changed Mag ..read more

This week, Jack is joined by children's book dream team Greg James and Chris Smith. In 2017, they launched onto shelves with the hilarious Kid Normal, which quickly went on to become a best seller. Since then they have penned three more Kid Normal books, The Great Dream Robbery and their latest book, Super Ghost released in September of this year. When they're not writing, they both like to relax by dabbling in a bit of radio. Purchase Super Ghost here (1:38) Chris Smith's Childhood Writing Fame (3:24) Greg James' Childhood Reading Habits (5:07) The Children's Books that Affected Greg James an ..read more