The Reading Cafe

APPROX AGE RATING: 12+

Welcome back to The Reading Cafe, the award-winning podcast from Holy Cross High School that aims to get people talking about reading!

This special episode is the first ever Reading Cafe LIVE Jr, which features award-winning fantasy writer, Ross MacKenzie, who speaks with Nora and Orla about his latest thrilling novel, The Uninvited.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

How (or even if...) Ross plans his stories, and how he visualises the exciting events of his books

Ross's approach to addressing real world issues through junior fiction

The influence of Scotland on his unique brand of fantasy writing

This episode was recorded in the Banqueting Hall at South Lanarkshire Council HQ before an audience of South Lanarkshire P7 pupils on the cusp of beginning in S1 at Holy Cross High School. Thank to the following schools for coming along to enjoy the show: St Bride's, St Elizabeth's, St John's (Blackwood), St John the Baptist, Our Lady and St Anne's, St Mary's (Hamilton), St Mary's (Larkhall) and St Paul's.

To learn more:

Ross MacKenzie - https://www.andersenpress.co.uk/contributors/ross-mackenzie/

Don’t miss a single episode of The Reading Cafe! Please do subscribe, leave a rating or review wherever you listen, and most importantly… keep reading!

Follow us on Instagram: @readingcafepod

APPROX AGE RATING: 14+

Welcome to a new chapter of The Reading Cafe. This is SpotLit, our brand-new strand where we speak to interesting people from arts and culture about their relationship with literature.

In this SpotLit episode, Gemma and Victoria were joined by Aoife Anson-O'Connell of the thrilling 'Britainicana' band, Westside Cowboy.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

The soundtrack Aoife would choose to accompany her favourite book

Which character would sing in her fantasy literary supergroup!

Why she loves escaping into magical realism

…AND SO MUCH MORE!

To learn more:
Westside Cowboy

https://www.westsidecowboy.com/

https://chuffmedia.com/artists/westside-cowboy

Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and join us for future SpotLit episodes and as always… keep reading.

APPROX AGE RATING: 14+

Welcome back to The Reading Cafe, the award-winning podcast from Holy Cross High School that aims to get people talking about reading!

This special Reading Cafe LIVE episode features singer, song-writer, novelist and film-maker Stuart Murdoch of the legendary Scottish band, Belle and Sebastian.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

How Stuart approaches imagining things into reality, whether in song, for the page or on the screen.

The links Stuart finds between creativity and spirituality

How punk influenced his writing, alongside his favourite book...

This episode features three exclusive solo performances of classic Belle and Sebastian songs: Fox in the Snow, Dog on Wheels and very excitingly, The Boy With The Arab Strap, which Stuart has never previously played without the band.

To learn more:

Belle and Sebastian - https://www.belleandsebastian.com/

Don’t miss a single episode of The Reading Cafe! Please do subscribe, leave a rating or review wherever you listen, and most importantly… keep reading!

Follow us on Instagram: @readingcafepod

APPROX AGE RATING: 14+

Welcome back to The Reading Cafe, the award-winning podcast from Holy Cross High School that aims to get people talking about reading!

We’re making history with this episode featuring Alice Loxton, author of recent #3 Times Book Chart bestseller, Eleanor.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

The emotional connection Alice builds with figures from the past and how she is engaging modern readers with history

How she compensates for gaps in historical records to bring stories to life with authenticity and vitality 

The inspiration for her unique blend of historical research, personal reflection and travel journalism 

To learn more:

Alice Loxton - https://aliceloxton.com/

Don’t miss a single episode of The Reading Cafe! Please do subscribe, leave a rating or review wherever you listen, and most importantly… keep reading!

Follow us on Instagram: @readingcafepod

APPROX AGE RATING: 14+

Welcome back to The Reading Cafe, the award-winning podcast from Holy Cross High School that aims to get people talking about reading!

This thrilling episode features Benjamin Dean, author of YA survival horror novel, Bury Your Friends.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

How Ben maintains tension between characters to create atmosphere 

The influences from music and the movies that found their way into Bury Your Friends

Why the “terrible people” who populate the novel are Ben’s favourites of his characters!

To learn more:

Benjamin Dean - https://www.madeleinemilburn.co.uk/mm-authors/benjamin-dean/

Don’t miss a single episode of The Reading Cafe! Please do subscribe, leave a rating or review wherever you listen, and most importantly… keep reading!

Follow us on Instagram: @readingcafepod