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

in 'Suffolk', November 2023
Award-winning John Boyne heads an eclectic line-up of authors you can meet as Southwold Literary Festival makes a welcome return this month.
in 'Suffolk', November 2023
'Buy local' now includes that special bottle for your next celebration. We visited some of the growers and makers putting Suffolk on the wine list.
in 'East Anglian Daily Times', October 2023
BBC Countryfile presenter Adam Henson is coming to Woodbridge in November and will open up about what does on behind the scenes of his life in farming.
in 'East Anglian Daily Times', October 2023
Laughter, music and song rang out from Woodbridge Community Hall as a packed audience was treated to a free performance of Rossini's opera The Barber of Seville.
in 'Journo Resources website', October 2023
Catherine Larner takes a deep dive into something most, if not all of us, have experienced in freelance journalism: rejection. With some stellar advice from fellow journalists on separating rejection from self-worth.
in 'East Anglian Daily Times', October 2023
Author Victoria Hislop has brought Suffolk to the pages of a book for the first time.

Making a list

Well I've had quite a week and I'm pleased to say everything has gone brilliantly! Thank you to everyone who has come along to the events and meetings. I hope you enjoyed it all as much as I did.

Nicola Upson charmed us with her passion for Josephine Tey, Alfred Hitchcock and Daphne du Maurier as she described researching and writing her latest novel 'Shot with Crimson'. And afterwards it really was very special being able to see 'Rebecca' on the big screen. The Riverside Cinema was the perfect venue to launch this fabulous novel.

Adam Henson was wonderfully warm and entertaining, as we knew he would be. And it was a good job he could speak quickly as there was so much he wanted to share with us. We could have listened to him all night but he had to get back in the car and drive four hours back to the Cotswolds after our event at The Riverside.

There were two book groups for me to lead this week - our regular monthly meeting in Woodbridge discussed 'Saltwater' by Jessica Andrews, and this raised many topics of interest and debate. And I met with children at Woodbridge Primary School to talk about the book we've been reading there this term. 'The Final Year' by Matt Goodfellow was a huge hit with them all!

Then to round off my week, I met with the megastar Lee Child. He was on a short visit to London promoting his Jack Reacher tv series and he kindly spoke to me about his support of Suffolk Libraries. He was fantastic! You'll be able to find out what he told me about writing, reading and Reacher in my article in 'Suffolk' magazine early next year.

With all this going on, I haven't had much time for reading this week so I hope you'll forgive me for not providing my usual list of recommendations. Instead please take a look at the list supplied by members of the book group at our end-of-the-year meeting here.

Normal service will resume next week I hope - I've got a lovely selection of books to choose from!

Thank you for reading.

 

More about books

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