I'm a great fan of Anne Lamott. I think her book Bird by Bird: Instructions on Life and Writing  is one of the best books on writing I've ever read. I was really pleased to interview her about her latest title. You can read the piece here.  

I really enjoyed my conversation with Carys Bray, whose novels are always interesting. She writes acutely and well about family life - and in her first was particularly interesting on what it's like to be part of a highly religious family with very specific rules and regulations. This one is about the very real effects of climate change, and how that plays out on a domestic as well as a global scale.

Right at the beginning of lockdown I spent a fascinating 45 minutes in the (online) company of Australian author Christos Tsiolkas who is probably best known this side of the world for his book The Slap.  He was delightful, sensitive and interesting... and told me all about his lifelong battle with St Paul.

It was fascinating talking to Lemn Sissay. He is someone who had the toughest start in life and yet who has triumped. I spoke to him about his powerful autobiography. Highly to be recommended.  

I've long admired Tracey Chevalier, perhaps best known for Girl with A Pearl Earring. It was a pleasure to talk to her about her new book. Article here.

It isn't often that you meet someone who is 107. This summer I met Dr Bill Frankland, who shared his fascinating life story with me.  You can read the article here.

I wrote a number of pieces and spoke on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 4 around the 75th anniversary of D-Day about the role of chaplains in the Battle for Normandy. This is closely related to my book, The Restless Wave. In this piece, I wrote about my good fortune being given the unpublished memoir of the Revd Harry Treble, one of those chaplains who served on the front line.
​Read the article in full here. 

A fascinating project here...
​Read the piece in full.

Sometimes the stories people share with you are almost unbelievable. Before Easter, I was privileged to interview Denise Uwimama who is a survivor of the Rwandan genocide, which took place  25 years ago. The details of what happened are almost unspeakable.

Denise experienced the full horror of the attacks. She went into labour as the militia were butchering her family all around her. The fact that she survived is remarkable enough. The fact that she has made it her mission to forgive the killers, and help other survivors to do the same,  is  quite extraordinary. 

I always enjoy interviewing other writers. I spoke to Francesca Kay and Joanna Rossiter for this piece. They were both speakers at the 2018 Bloxham Festival of Faith and Literature.