February 6, 2019 - 10:06am by Anonymous

As a freelance journalist, writer, editor and presenter, I have enjoyed many years meeting and interviewing fascinating people, and visiting wonderful locations worldwide.

I regularly conduct on-stage interviews with authors and personalities at festivals and events, and for more than 10 years co-hosted a monthly on air book club with Lesley Dolphin at BBC Radio Suffolk.

Details of my events, book reviews and recommendations can be found on my website moreaboutbooks.com and all the latest information is available in my weekly e-newsletter which you can receive by signing up here or read recent issues here.

Or follow me on Twitter @catherinelarner

In the press

Magazine cover pagesAs a journalist I contribute lifestyle features and profiles for regional and national newspapers and magazines. As the former editor of the leading business journal for the fitness industry in Europe, I regularly contributed articles about the market for a US publication.

published articles

On the radio

For more than 10 years I've co-hosted an on-air book club on BBC Radio Suffolk with Lesley Dolphin. Listen to past book club discussions here.

In addition, my print articles and author interviews often feature as podcasts. You can listen to a recent interview with former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams for Premier Radio here.

view archive on moreaboutbooks.com

At events

Hosting book launches and talks for festivals and events throughout Suffolk, I regularly interview authors on stage with audiences from 30 to 300. In the past year I have been in conversation with Esther Freud, Salley Vickers, Simon Garfield, Susie Dent, Melissa Harrison and Elly Griffiths.

view event listings on moreaboutbooks.com

Recent articles

'We didn't get a miracle'
in 'Woman Alive', March 2023
Esther Scholes speaks candidly about how she navigated the deaths of her son and then husband.
When all else fails...laugh
in 'Suffolk', March 2023
Novelist and columnist India Knight will share her belief in the healing power of humour at this year's Aldeburgh Literary Festival.
Saving our sea life...before it's too late
in 'Suffolk', March 2023
Hanna Rudd, marine scientist and friend to sharks, is on a mission to get us to care more about what lies under our seas and oceans.
Hidden gardens of England
in 'This England', February 2023
Catherine Larner speaks to garden writer Barbara Segall about her new book on the secret gardens of Kent, Sussex and Surrey.
Racing to victory
in 'Suffolk', February 2023
A group of young sailors from Suffolk are starting 2023 as world champions, winning a thrilling competition in Australia.
Suffolk Book League: join the 'movement'
in 'Suffolk', January 2023
Festivals, signings, launch parties, television and radio discussions, book clubs, blogs, even BookTok - there are so many ways we can engage with authors and their work these days.

Forthcoming events

I am always planning new events but at the moment I have nothing quite ready to announce.

Top of the list

It's lovely to see the spring flowers, hear the birds singing and hope for some warmer weather and sunshine very soon. Next weekend we'll be changing the clocks to enjoy lighter evenings, but it does feel as though time is rushing by!

Of course, with the end of the month in sight, this is the first call for the book group meeting. We'll be gathering to discuss 'The Sentence' by Louise Erdrich (scroll down for details) and if you'd like to come along, please do let me know by replying to this email. It's really helpful for me to know the numbers to expect so that I can have the chairs and catering in place. 

If you haven't been to the meeting before, do consider coming along. Whether you've finished the book, or not, enjoyed it or not, it's always so interesting to hear other people's comments and views on characters, themes or storytelling. 

It's great to try new writers or genres, but with so many books published each month the choice can sometimes feel rather overwhelming. This week I've found the shortlists for two book prizes rather interesting and may explore some of the titles that are unfamiliar.

The Yoto Carnegie prize for children's literature revealed an all-women shortlist, dominated by titles for young adults but which included The Blue Book of Nebo. This is one of my favourites and which we discussed in book group last summer. 

Meanwhile the New Angle Prize, which recognises literature associated with East Anglia, listed three novels, a book of poetry and two non-fiction titles in its shortlist. There were some familiar names here. Jill Dawson was recognised for her latest novel, and KA Hayton was nominated for her time-travelling children's story. The judges included children's writer Sophie Green and novelist Liz Trenow, both of whom have spoken to us here in Woodbridge. How good it is to bring some new writing to the fore.  

Thank you for reading.

 

More about books

Catherine LarnerFor my book reviews, event information and blog, please visit moreaboutbooks.com