The Hobcast Book Show

Episode 22: It's an actor's (and writer's) life for me - with Judi Daykin

Don't we all want to pursue our dreams? Jack in the day job, and follow our heart? Judi Daykin has done just that, leaving a safe job in computing to study acting in her late 30's. Twenty-plus years later, she's not only a successful actor, she runs her own theatre company, and now a best-selling author of crime novels based in her home county, Norfolk. Judi has now added audiobook narration to her portfolio career, working with Hobeck Books to bring Wendy Turbin's Sleeping Dogs to audio. Also this week, Adrian and Rebecca discuss plans to allow authors to take royalties from second-hand book sales, a Waterstones profit plunge, and our plans to make a splash at the Harrogate Crime Festival.

Episode 21: It's a cover up! The design process with Jayne Mapp

This week The Hobcast Book Show hits the road again to visit the studio of regular Hobeck Books cover designer, Jayne Mapp. Starting with our first release - Killing Rock by Robert Daws, Jayne has designed over a dozen covers for us. She takes us through what she's learned in her move into cover design and how her background in photography and graphic design has helped her to make the transition. Plus, we look ahead to the Harrogate Crime Festival, discuss how Amazon tripped up a fellow indie publisher this week, and then there's the small matter of a birthday within the Hobcast presenting team.

Episode 20 - From Scotland to Singapore. Historical crime fiction with Mark Wightman

This week the Hobcast Book Show speaks to debut Hobeck author Mark Wightman on the eve of the publication of Waking The Tiger, his historical crime novel set in Singapore as the Second World War erupts. Mark explains the lengths he went to to research the smallest historical and cultural details as he created the world of Inspector Max Betancourt, and how publication is the fulfilment of a life-long dream. Adrian and Rebecca also discuss how established authors are being dropped by publishers to make way for celebrity signings, and they reveal some of the plans Hobeck Books has to mark the start of Crime Reading Month here in the UK.
 

Episode 19: The Craft of Character - with Mark Boutros

How do you create compelling and memorable characters? Our guest this week on The Hobcast Book Show is Mark Boutros, an award-winning screenwriter and novellist, and the author of The Craft of Character. Why is 'why' the question you need to keep asking yourself when you write? We have ten copies of the ebook, and ten of the audiobook (narrated by Adrian himself), to give away. Just email us at hobeckbooks@gmail.com with the answer to this question: what is Mark's favourite bird? Also, in the week we are named one of the Best 20 UK Thriller Podcasts, we welcome new Hobeck authors Olly Jarvis and Lin Le Versha to the company, and we discuss the scandal engulfing the BBC following the revelations about how their Princess Diana in 1995 was secured.

Episode 18: Learning from James Patterson with special guest, Brendan DuBois

Brendan DuBois is a multi-award winning author, with dozens of novels and 190 short stories published to date over a career spanning more than 30 years. Speaking to The Hobcast Book Show from his New Hampshire home, Brendan reveals the lessons he's learned from his most recent collaboration, with the world's most successful thriller author, James Patterson. Also this week, Adrian and Rebecca discuss the winners of the National Book Awards, and the recent phenomena of young editors refusing to work with authors whose values don't align with their own. Don't forget to use the exclusive code HOBCAST20 for 20% off any Hobeck paperbacks ordered from our website: www.hobeck.net

Episode 17: To edit is divine - with Jenny Parrott

This week's Hobcast Book Show from Hobeck Books is packed with wisdom from one of the UK's most experienced editors and authors, Jenny Parrott. Apart from working with Hobeck on books novels by Wendy Turbin and Robert Daws, Jenny runs the Point Blank crime imprint for Oneworld, and is currently the author of three fiction series published by some of the biggest names in the industry. Presenters Adrian Hobart and Rebecca Collins also discuss a dispute between Waterstones and Penguin Random House, the pressure grammar rules are under as society changes, and how Line of Duty is a lesson in how not to satisfy your fans.

Episode 16: Crime - the right way - with Graham Bartlett

In episode 16 of the newly renamed Hobcast Book Show, we speak to Graham Bartlett, former senior officer with Sussex Police and now the go-to expert for authors to ensure they write credible crime fiction. Graham rose through the ranks to become Divisional Commander in Brighton and Hove, one of the most demanding and interesting cities in the UK. It's a fascinating interview. Plus, Adrian and Rebecca discuss WH Smith's plans for expansion into the U.S, how Kindle Vella might not be all it seems, and celebrate the lifting of Facebook's ban on their Hobeck Books advertising account.

Episode 15: From Clinical Psychologist to Crime Author - with Dr. Chris Merritt

In this episode of The Hobcast Book Show, we speak to the amazing Dr. Chris Merritt. Beginning his career as a British diplomat in the Middle East, he retrained as a clinical psychologist treating the victims and sometimes the perpetrators of crime. Now he's a published crime author, with two series to his name. Hobeck Books co-directors Rebecca Collins and Adrian Hobart find out how these different career threads are connected. They also discuss the latest service from Amazon, Vella, reveal which Hobeck title hit number one in both Canada and Australia, and they witness an attempted mass murder from the banks of their local canal.
 

Episode 14: Murder on Merseyside - with Malcolm Hollingdrake

This week, Hobeck Books directors Rebecca Collins and Adrian Hobart take advantage of the lifting of lockdown restrictions to take The Hobcast Book Show on the road to Liverpool. They speak to Hobeck author Malcolm Hollingdrake about his Merseyside Crime Series, launched this week with the first novel Catch as Catch Can. Malcolm takes us on a tour of key locations, and how the city and the neighbouring coastline has inspired him to follow up his successful Harrogate Crime Series with this new venture. There's also news of a new Hobeck signing, Sue Shepherd, and a look at the CWA Dagger awards long list.

Episode 13: Meet the Bloggers with Surjit Parekh, Sue Hampson and Philippa Hall

They're the backbone of the indie publishing industry - the bloggers! Hobeck Books founders, Adrian Hobart and Rebecca Collins speak to three of the UK's most prolific book bloggers about how and why they commit so much of their time to reading and reviewing books. Also in this episode of the Hobcast, they discuss latest Hobeck signing Brian Price, memories of HRH Prince Philip, and Rebecca remembers her first books as a published author.