Best Book Synopsis Podcasts (2025)

1
Bonus Bumps 9: Season 4 Books Ranked! (and a review of The Barking Ghost TV Episode) 1:16:23

Play Pause

10h ago1:16:23

1:16:23

We look back on the season that was and rank the books from worst to best, name our favorite 3 covers from the season, and we watch the TV episode of The Barking Ghost to see if it can help the story at all! Send us a text Email [email protected] BlueSky: Trav, Dylan Music: Briz, Artwork: Brother Bodhi Join the Polymedia Subreddit, r…

1
The Page One Christmas Special 2025: Fiona Cummins, C.L. Taylor & Ed James 1:34:32

6d ago1:34:32

1:34:32

Watch as a full video episode now on YouTube We are joined by three brilliant returning guests for our bumper-length festive special to mark the end of the year! Fiona Cummins, Cally (C.L.) Taylor and Ed James return to tell us all about their year in writing, what they are looking forward to writing-wise in 2026, and what their favourite reads and…

1
121 - Truman Capote's A Christmas Memory (with Sammy Petersen and Georgia Love) 1:00:03

9d ago1:00:03

1:00:03

On this episode of Book Cheat Dave has read Truman Capote's A Christmas Memory. Hearing all about this sentimental but beautifully written Christmas short story is Sammy Petersen and Georgia Love from Not Another Crime Podcast. Merry Christmas everyone! Suggest a book for Dave to cheat: https://forms.gle/zj9DHBCFMuevS4VC6 Support Book Cheat and Do …

1
Ep. 250 - Joe Hill Shares the Secrets Behind King Sorrow and His Creative Process 1:21:06

13d ago1:21:06

1:21:06

Watch this episode as a full video interview on YouTube Joe Hill is a Sunday Times bestseller and the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Heart-Shaped Box, The Fireman, and Full Throttle. He won the Eisner Award for Best Writer for his long-running comic book series, Locke & Key, co-created with artist Gabriel Rodriguez. Much of his work has be…

1
Drafting Notes - How to Nail The Perfect Ending To Your Novel 21:09

15d ago21:09

21:09

Watch this episode as a full video episode on YouTube A good ending can stay with you long after you've finished a book or a film, but a bad one can ruin everything that came before. On this week's episode of Drafting Notes, we talk about what makes a good ending, and talk about some of the ways to think about crafting that ending to try and give a…

1
120 - Black Beauty (with Ivan Aristeguieta and Kirsty Webeck) 1:34:03

17d ago1:34:03

1:34:03

On this episode of Book Cheat Dave has read Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. Hearing all about this influential horse classic is Ivan Aristeguieta and Kirsty Webeck from The Big Animal Quiz. Suggest a book for Dave to cheat: https://forms.gle/zj9DHBCFMuevS4VC6 Support Book Cheat and Do Go On on Patreon: www.patreon.com/DoGoOnPo Instagram: @bookcheatpod…

1
Ep. 249 - Editor Kesia Lupo on YA, Queries & Big-Publisher Decisions 1:08:00

20d ago1:08:00

1:08:00

Watch this episode a full video episode Kesia Lupo is the commissioning editor at MacMillan Children's Books, as well as being a former agent and author of three YA books. We had a great chat with Kesia, learning about how she first got started in the publishing industry, and the differences between working for a smaller and larger publisher, and t…

1
Drafting Notes - How to Write a Great Opening - And Why It Matters 23:30

22d ago23:30

23:30

Watch this episode as a full video episode on YouTube You only have one chance to make a first impression, so you better make sure you offer your prospective agent/editor/reader the best you can! On this week's episode, we chat about what makes a good opening compared to bad and why it matters. Plus, we discuss some of our favourite openings — as w…

1
Serial Acquirer ROIC, Fiserv Debacle and Management Credibility, Wise and Stablecoins 1:02:21

30d ago1:02:21

1:02:21

MBI: https://www.mbi-deepdives.com/ scuttleblurb: https://www.scuttleblurb.com/By David

1
Ep. 248 - Jenny Brown on Query Letters, Trends & the Future of Publishing 1:01:30

28d ago1:01:30

1:01:30

Jenny Brown established Jenny Brown Associates in 2002. She was previously Head of Literature at the Scottish Arts Council, presenter of book programmes for Scottish Television, and founder Director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival. She was shortlisted in 2014 and2020 for Agent of the Year Award. She is former Chair of the Bloody Scotla…

1
Episode 40: Night of the Living Dummy III 1:51:24

28d ago1:51:24

1:51:24

Trina O'Dell's dad used to have a ventriloquist act. That's why he has all those dummies in the attic. He calls it his Dummy Museum. There's a dummy with freckles. And one with a sneer just like Rocky. Trina and her brother, Dan, think the dummies are pretty cool. But now there are voices in the attic. And dummies keep showing up in the strangest p…

1
119 - Around The World In 80 Days (with Jess Perkins and Matt Stewart) 1:11:44

1M ago1:11:44

1:11:44

On this episode of Book Cheat Dave has read the Jules Verne novel, Around The World In 80 Days. Hearing all about this adventure classic are Dave's Do Go On buddies Jess Perkins and Matt Stewart. Recorded live at The Cheerful Earful Podcast Festival at Humdinger Studios in Melbourne. Suggest a book for Dave to cheat: https://forms.gle/zj9DHBCFMuevS…

1
Page One Extra: Catching Up with Richard Swan: The Scour, The Infinite State & More 1:06:12

1M ago1:06:12

1:06:12

Watch as a full video episode on YouTube Richard Swan is a critically acclaimed British genre writer. He is the author of the Sunday Times bestselling Empire of the Wolf and Great Silence trilogies, the Decurion Saga (2026), and various short fiction for Black Library and Grimdark Magazine. His work has been translated into nine languages. We enjoy…

1
Drafting Notes - How to write a great synopsis (without hating it!) 22:05

1M ago22:05

22:05

Watch this as a full video episode on YouTube On this week's episode of Drafting Notes we are discussing that thing every writer hates: The Synopsis! Nobody enjoys them, but how do you write them? What should you include? What should you leave out? We discuss all this and even talk about why synopses can help you find the heart of your story. Draft…

1
Ep. 247 - Phoebe Morgan on The Honest Truth About Publishing 1:06:12

1M ago1:06:12

1:06:12

Watch this episode as a full video interview on YouTube Phoebe Morgan is the Executive Fiction Publisher at Simon & Schuster, with a career spanning major publishing houses including HarperCollins, Orion, Octopus Books, and Hodder & Stoughton. Specialising in crime fiction while also working across general and book club fiction as well as romantasy…

1
Episode 39: How I Got My Shrunken Head 2:08:36

1M ago2:08:36

2:08:36

What has two eyes, a mouth, and wrinkly green skin? Mark's shrunken head. It's a present from his Aunt Benna. A gift from the jungle island of Baladora. Mark can't wait to show the kids at school his shrunken head. It's so ugly. So gross. So awesome. But late one night the head starts to glow. Because it's no ordinary head. It gives Mark a strange …

1
118 - Rosemary's Baby (with Mish Wittrup and Matt Stewart) 1:43:06

1M ago1:43:06

1:43:06

On this episode of Book Cheat Dave has read the Ira Levin novel, Rosemary's Baby. Hearing all about this 60s horror classic is Mish Wittrup and Matt Stewart. Content warning: Please be aware that the book contains references to rape and birth trauma. Suggest a book for Dave to cheat: https://forms.gle/zj9DHBCFMuevS4VC6 Support Book Cheat and Do Go …

1
Ep. 246 - Small Press, Big Impact: How Francesca Barbini Built and Award-Winning Indie Publisher 59:22

2M ago59:22

59:22

Watch as a full video interview on YouTube now! Francesca T. Barbini is an award-winning editor, translator, and founder of Luna Press Publishing, the acclaimed independent press specialising in speculative fiction and academia. Born in Rome and now based in Edinburgh, her work has earned multiple British Fantasy and British Science Fiction Awards.…

1
The Big Tech Capex Debate, Amazon Retail, Align’s Pricing Challenge 1:03:15

2M ago1:03:15

1:03:15

MBI: https://www.mbi-deepdives.com/ scuttleblurb: https://www.scuttleblurb.com/By David

1
Ep. 245 - Agent David Headley on Why It’s Harder Than Ever to Be an Author 57:27

2M ago57:27

57:27

David Headley is the Managing Director and co-founder of Goldsboro Books, one of the UK’s leading independent booksellers, and founder of the D H H Literary Agency. Originally from York, David studied theology before building a 25-year career at the heart of the publishing industry. Through Goldsboro, he created the UK’s largest collectors’ book cl…

1
Episode 38: The Abominable Snowman of Pasadena 2:16:55

2M ago2:16:55

2:16:55

Jordan Blake and his sister, Nicole, are sick of the hot weather in Pasadena. Just once they'd like to have a real winter. A real winter with real snow. And then it happens. The Blakes are off to Alaska! Seems that Mr. Blake has been asked to photograph a mysterious snow creature there. Poor Jordan and Nicole. They just wanted to see snow. But now …

1
Drafting Notes - Should You Self-Publish? The Pros and Cons Explained 22:21

2M ago22:21

22:21

Watch as a full video episode on YouTube! Self-publishing has become a serious and viable route for many authors who can't or don't want to find a traditional publisher. But can it work for everyone? We discuss why some genres are more suited than others, and also talk about all the extra work that is needed to make a real success of self-publishin…

1
Ep. 244 - Ed Wilson on what Makes an Agent Say Yes — or No! 57:25

2M ago57:25

57:25

Watch this episode as a full video episode on YouTube Ed Wilson is an agent and director of Johnson & Alcock, representing a vibrant list of fiction and non-fiction, from new voices to established, bestselling and award-winning authors, including RJ Barker, Shauna Lawless and Sam Holland. We had great fun chatting with Ed about all things agent-rel…

1
Adventures in Publishing-Land: Ireland’s UBI Experiment, Garlic Mayo Marketing & Indie Press Panic 55:00

2M ago55:00

55:00

Watch as a full video on YouTube On this week's episode, we discuss Ireland's UBI experiment for artists and writers, and why we would love to see other countries follow suit (but aren't holding our breath). Plus, we look at why indie presses are pressing the panic button, and discuss the latest BookTok marketing scheme - theme-scented books (a top…

1
Ep. 243 - Agent Liza DeBlock on publishing trends and finding the next bestseller 58:45

2M ago58:45

58:45

Watch this episode as a full video interview on our YouTube channel. Liza DeBlock began her publishing career as an assistant at Eccles Fisher Associates in 2018, where she gained a deep understanding of the international book market. After moving into literary agenting and working with Robert Caskie and Silé Edwards, she honed her skills selling r…

1
Episode 37: The Headless Ghost 2:05:43

2M ago2:05:43

2:05:43

Everyone knows about Hill House. It's the biggest tourist attraction in town. That's because it's haunted. Haunted by the ghost of a thirteen-year-old boy. A boy with no head! Duane and Stephanie love Hill House. It's dark. And creepy. And totally scary. Still, they've never actually seen the ghost. Until the night they decide to go on a search. A …

1
Drafting Notes - Alternative Ways to Find an Agent 19:33

2M ago19:33

19:33

Watch this as a full video episode on our YouTube channel We all know that querying is the main method for finding an agent, but are there other ways? Many of the guests on Page One have spoken about different experiences in how they finally found an agent, and we ourselves have also tried things like competitions and so on. On this episode, we dis…

1
Adventures in Publishing-Land: Is Publishing Playing It Too Safe? The Booker, Fanfic & the Future of Fiction 54:30

3M ago54:30

54:30

Watch as a full video on YouTube On this week's episode, we are talking about a scarcity of books for the Booker Prize and wondering if that is due to poor books or too narrow a category for prizes. Plus, we join the Alchemised train and wonder if fanfic turned to publishing gold shows publishers are unwilling to gamble on new stories, and more gen…

1
Episode 36: The Haunted Mask II 1:55:17

3M ago1:55:17

1:55:17

Steve Boswell will never forget Carly Beth's Halloween mask. It was so gross. So terrifying. But this year Steve wants to have the scariest costume on the block. So he gets a mask from the same store where Carly Beth got hers. It looks like a creepy old man. With stringy hair. A wrinkled face. And spiders crawling out of the ears! Steve's definitel…

1
Lululemon, Align, LLMs and Newsletters, Portfolio Holdings, Right for the Right Reasons 58:38

3M ago58:38

58:38

MBI: https://www.mbi-deepdives.com/ scuttleblurb: https://www.scuttleblurb.com/By David

1
Adventures in Publishing-Land: AI Settlement in Trouble, Cosy Crime Debate & Publishing Gimmicks 52:03

3M ago52:03

52:03

Watch as a full video on YouTube On this week's episode we share some exciting awards news involving Tariq and Marco (both winners at the recent Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival!), Nadine reveals a new cover (check her instagram to see it!), plus we discuss the latest in the Anthropic settlement, wonder about whether cosy crime is a reductive…

1
Page One Presents... The Conversation with Nadine Matheson feat. M.W. Craven 1:22:16

3M ago1:22:16

1:22:16

We are taking a short break, but don't despair, we will be back with some exciting new episodes soon! In the meantime, enjoy this chat that our STET Podcasts colleague Nadine Matheson had with MW Craven! Adventures in Publishing-land on Apple Podcasts Adventures in Publishing-land in Spotify Adventures in Publishing-land on YouTube Support us on Pa…

1
Episode 35: A Shocker on Shock Street 1:58:48

3M ago1:58:48

1:58:48

September 28, 11E, We Got Goosebumps LIVE www.twitch.tv/polymedianetwork Erin Wright and her best friend, Marty, love horror movies. Especially Shocker on Shock Street movies. All kinds of scary creatures live on Shock Street. The Toadinator. Ape Face. The Mad Mangler. But when Erin and Marty visit the new Shocker Studio Theme Park, they get the sc…

1
Page One Presents... The Conversation with Nadine Matheson feat. Elvin James Mensah 1:15:30

4M ago1:15:30

1:15:30

We are taking a short break, but don't despair, we will be back with some exciting new episodes soon! In the meantime, enjoy this chat that our STET Podcasts colleague Nadine Matheson had with Elvin James Mensah! Adventures in Publishing-land on Apple Podcasts Adventures in Publishing-land in Spotify Adventures in Publishing-land on YouTube Support…

1
Page One Presents... The Conversation with Nadine Matheson featuring Louise Minchin 1:14:38

4M ago1:14:38

1:14:38

We are taking a short break, but don't despair, we will be back with some exciting new episodes soon! In the meantime, enjoy this chat that our STET Podcasts colleague Nadine Matheson had with Louise Minchin! Adventures in Publishing-land on Apple Podcasts Adventures in Publishing-land in Spotify Adventures in Publishing-land on YouTube Support us …

1
Episode 34: Revenge of the Lawn Gnomes 2:03:40

4M ago2:03:40

2:03:40

Two pink flamingos. A whole family of plaster skunks. Joe Burton's dad loves those tacky lawn ornaments. But then he brings home two ugly lawn gnomes. And that's when the trouble starts. Late at night. When everyone's asleep. Someone's creeping in the garden. Whispering nasty things. Smashing melons. Squashing tomatoes. No way two dumb old lawn orn…

1
Drafting Notes - Should You Save Your Best Ideas - Or Use Them All Now? 20:24

4M ago20:24

20:24

Watch as a video episode on YouTube! Ideas are like gold dust, they say. But are they? Should you hold some back to put in future books, or should you put everything you have into the one you are writing now? We discuss the common pitfalls that some new writers can make. Drafting Notes is a new series of podcast episodes in which one award-winning …

1
Ep. 242 - Elodie Harper on how changing genres helped her get her big break 50:13

4M ago50:13

50:13

Watch as a full video interview instead! Elodie Harper is a bestselling author whose Wolf Den trilogy has won wide acclaim. The first book The Wolf Den, was a book of the month for both Waterstones and Barnes & Noble, won the Glass Bell Award and was shortlisted for Page turner of the year at the British Book Awards. The second in the series, The H…

1
Drafting Notes - Writing Your Query Letter 21:47

4M ago21:47

21:47

Watch as a video episode on YouTube! You've finished your book and you're ready to send it off - but what should you include in the query letter? And perhaps more importantly, what shouldn't you include? We discuss it all on today's Drafting Notes! Drafting Notes is a new series of podcast episodes in which one award-winning writer (Tariq) and one …

1
Never Sell: Episode 9 - Global Payments, AI and Software, OpenAI and Anthropic Bubble? 57:35

4M ago57:35

57:35

MBI: https://www.mbi-deepdives.com/ scuttleblurb: https://www.scuttleblurb.com/By David

1
Ep. 241 - Natalie Jayne Clark on how she got a book deal in a week 1:03:27

4M ago1:03:27

1:03:27

Natalie Jayne Clark is a neurodivergent writer and poet based in Perth, Scotland. The view as she writes is the ever-changing vista of trees and clouds lining the top of Kinnoull Hill. Her debut novel, a darkly funny sapphic crime tale called 'The Malt Whisky Murders', is out now and is nominated for best debut at Bloody Scotland 2025. It was great…

1
Episode 33: The Horror at Camp Jellyjam 2:19:02

4M ago2:19:02

2:19:02

Swimming, basketball, archery. King Jellyjam's sports camp has it all. Too bad Wendy isn't a total sports freak like her brother, Elliot. But how excited can you get over a game of softball. It's just a game, right? WRONG! Because Camp Jellyjam is no ordinary sports camp. And Wendy's about to find out why. Why the counselors seem a little too happy…

1
Drafting Notes - Do Judge a Book by its Cover - Why your cover matters 21:58

4M ago21:58

21:58

Watch as a video episode on YouTube We all know the old saying "Don't judge a book by its cover" - but the trouble is, many people do! That's why trad publishers spend lots of money on designers for book covers! We discuss the difference a good and a bad cover can make, how self-published authors can make covers like the pros, and how to push back …

1
Ep. 240 - Catriona Silvey on time travel, rom coms and exploring different kinds of stories 45:42

5M ago45:42

45:42

Watch this episode as a full video interview on YouTube Catriona Silvey was born in Glasgow and grew up in Scotland and England. After collecting an unreasonable number of degrees from various universities in the UK and the US, she moved to Edinburgh where she lives with her husband and children. She is the author of Meet Me in Another Life (2021) …

1
Drafting Notes - Getting Feedback as a Writer 22:24

5M ago22:24

22:24

Watch as a full video episode on our YouTube channel Whether you are just starting our or are established, feedback can be invaluable for a writer. When should you seek feedback, and how can you find reliable people to provide feedback? And if you are giving feedback, what is useful and what isn't? We discuss it all on this week's Drafting Notes! D…

1
Ep. 239 - David Mamet on how boredom and solitude can make you a better writer 51:57

5M ago51:57

51:57

David Mamet is a Pulitzer Prize–winning American playwright, screenwriter, director, novelist, and essayist, born November 30, 1947, in Chicago, Illinois. He is renowned for his breakthrough in theater during the 1970s with works like American Buffalo and Sexual Perversity in Chicago, later earning the 1984 Pulitzer Prize for Glengarry Glen Ross. H…