This event brought together three successful women - one a journalist and RTÉ radio presenter, one a scriptwriter and television producer, one an award-winning theatre, television and film actor - who all published first novels long after they had established themselves in their primary careers. Rachel English, Anne Marie Casey and Michele Forbes talk about the writing of their debut novels Going Back, An Englishwoman in New York and Ghost Moth with journalist and reviewer Sue Leonard. This podcast was recorded in County Hall, Dún Laoghaire on Thursday 10th October 2013.

o Nesbo is a musician, songwriter, economist and internationally acclaimed author. He is also the undisputed king of Nordic crime fiction. Police is the tenth novel in the Harry Hole series which has been described by one critic as “exuberantly, ingeniously gruesome”. Join fellow crime writer Declan Burke as he pursued various lines of investigation during his conversation with the creator of one of the most intriguing and popular criminologists ever. The podcast was recorded in the Pavilion Theatre on Monday 16th September.

Jeffery Deaver is the creator of the critically-acclaimed Lincoln Rhyme series and the award-winning author of 29 internationally bestselling thrillers, including the recent James Bond novel, Carte Blanche. In The Kill Room, brilliant criminologist and quadriplegic Lincoln Rhyme returns to investigate the state-sanctioned killing of a US citizen who is suspected of planning a terrorist attack on a US oil company. This is a rare chance to hear one of the world’s most successful thriller-writers talking about his work with Ireland’s leading crime writer, John Connolly. The podcast was recorded in the Pavilion Theatre on Tuesday 25th June.

Ruby Wax – comedian, writer and mental health campaigner – shows us how our minds can jeopardize our sanity. With her own periods of depression and now a Masters from Oxford in Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy to draw from, she explains how our busy, chattering self-critical thoughts drive us to anxiety and stress. Helping you become the master, not the slave, of your mind, Ruby provides a manual on how to break the cycle in her new book Sane New World. Ruby is in conversation with Tom Dunne of Newstalk and the podcast was recorded in the Pavilion Theatre on Friday 7th June. Note: We apologise for the fact that due to some technical difficulties, the first few minutes of the recording are missing.

The Time Traveler’s Wife , Audrey Niffenegger’s talismanic first novel sold more than two million copies and became the quintessential book club choice. This was followed by Her Fearful Symmetry which went on to become another bestseller. In this podcast, Audrey is interviewed by Mia Gallagher and she discusses her latest novel Raven Girl, a dark fairytale full of wonderment and longing, illustrated with her own bewitching etchings. The podcast was recorded in the Pavilion Theatre on Friday 31st May.

Douglas Kennedy ranks among that rare breed, the bestselling author whose novels attract critical praise. His previous novels include The Big Picture, The Pursuit of Happiness, A Special Relationship and The Moment. His new novel Five Days is a compelling novel about how life can change with one brief encounter. Kennedy is interviewed by Nadine O’Regan and the podcast was recorded in the Pavilion Theatre on Tuesday 9th April 2013.

Kate Atkinson’s early novels include Behind the Scenes at the Museum, Human Croquet and Emotionally Weird and her Jackson Brodie series of crime novels have been televised to much acclaim. Her latest novel, Life After Life, poses the intriguing question “What if you had the chance to live your life again and again, until you finally got it right? Join Kate Atkinson in conversation with Sinéad Gleeson at the Pavilion Theatre where the podcast was recorded on Sunday 24th March 2013.

Humour, reflection and musings on life from two of Ireland’s most honest voices. Michael Harding has recently published his memoir Staring at Lakes which is a beautiful rumination on his sometimes difficult journey through life and ultimately finding a sense of peace. Tommy Tiernan is one of Ireland’s most passionate and successful comedians. This podcast was recorded in the Pavilion Theatre on Sunday September 8th 2013.

John Balaban is a poet, novelist, translator and expert in Vietnamese Literature. He was a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War and went on to develop a close affinity with the country. His memoir Remembering Heaven’s Face – a Story of Rescue in Wartime Vietnam is a key text of this period. His published poetry volumes include After Our War and Locusts on the Edge of Summer. He is currently poet in residence at North Carolina State University. Chaired by Paul Perry. This podcast was recorded in the Maritime Museum on Saturday September 7th.

Acclaimed Irish author, Colum McCann, published his eighth novel TransAtlantic earlier this year. It is a soaring novel that spans continents, leaps centuries and unites a cast of deftly rendered characters, both real and imagined. A profound meditation on history and identity, it was long listed for the Man Booker Prize 2013. Colum’s father Sean is a distinguished author and former journalist. Father and son discuss their craft with engaging humour and palpable emotion. Chaired by Sinéad Gleeson. The podcast was recorded in the Pavilion Theatre on Saturday 7th September 2013.