APPROX AGE RATING: 14+

Welcome to Episode 4 of Season 6 of The Reading Cafe, winner of Emerging Talent at the 2026 Scottish Podcast Awards, and current Best Books FINALIST at the 2026 Independent Podcast Awards!

Our guest on this episode is Heather Kassner. author of the brilliant and beautifully cosy witchy romantasy novel, Spellwright - a reflective and romantic novel featuring the magical and complex relationship between grieving Spellwright, Fia Ives and Penbrook, a complicated and sensitive aristocrat with hidden trials of his own...

Isla and Stela enjoyed an incredibly generous, warm and thoughtful conversation with Heather about the novel, and we are sure you will love listening to it!

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

• Why Heather chose to explore male vulnerability in this story
• Her approach to planning, as well as her feelings about happy endings in romantic stories
• The reason why she delves into darker and more challenging topics in her fantasy writing

To learn more:

Heather Kassner - https://www.heatherkassner.com

Don’t miss a single episode of The Reading Cafe! 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 Episode 3 of Season 6 of The Reading Cafe, winner of Emerging Talent at the 2026 Scottish Podcast Awards, and current Best Books FINALIST at the 2026 Independent Podcast Awards!

Our guest on this episode is Ann Sei Lin. author of the fantastic fantasy novel, Between Ghosts and Gods - a unique, deep and hilarious novel in which we meet Kasu, who works in a gambling [parlour in the underworld, and runaway prince, Arun, whose initial differences give way to love, despite the odds...

Emily and Saanvi spoke to Ann about reincarnation, sacrifice and the need for humour when delving into the darkness...

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

• Why the context of gambling allowed her to explore hope, regret and the desire for change
• Which writer inspired her dark sense of humour
• How fantasy allows her to explore ideas about the preciousness of life

To learn more:

Ann Sei Lin - https://annseilin.co.uk/

Don’t miss a single episode of The Reading Cafe! 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 Episode 1 of Season 6 of The Reading Cafe, winner of Emerging Talent at the 2026 Scottish Podcast Awards, 2026 Interview and Specialist British Podcast Awards FINALIST, and current Books FINALIST at the 2026 Independent Podcast Awards!

This is SpotLit, our arts and culture strand where we speak to creative people about their relationship with literature and its influence on their own work. In this episode, Amy and Lola were joined by Clari Freeman-Taylor of the spellbindingly unique London art-rock band, Mary in the Junkyard.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL DISCOVER:

• Clari’s favourite conflicts in literature,
• The Murakami character who made her way into a Mary in the Junkyard song
• How a Jacqueline Wilson character inspired her to do her own thing!

To learn more:

Mary in the Junkyard

https://linktr.ee/maryinthejunkyard

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.