In this episode of In My Good Books, I’m joined by bestselling author Alexandra Potter to talk about her latest novel, So I Met This Guy , a smart, funny and deeply moving story about heartbreak, reinvention and the power of female friendship.

Alexandra shares the surprising inspiration behind the story and we also talk about Alexandra’s love of writing character-driven fiction, particularly stories that centre female friendships and intergenerational relationships.

This conversation is a thoughtful and empowering look at writing women who don’t wait to be rescued, the care that goes into naming characters, and why stories about starting over matter - especially in midlife.

In this episode of In My Good Books, I’m joined by crime writer Sean Watkin to talk about his dark, character-driven police procedural Better Off Dead, the second novel in his DCI de Silva series.

Sean chats about his writing journey, including the surprising fact that Better Off Dead originally began life as a horror novel before a tutor encouraged him to try crime fiction – a change that completely transformed his career. We discuss how that shift helped him find his voice and why crime was the perfect space for the kind of stories he wanted to tell.

We also dig into character development, particularly the complex dynamic between De Silva and Barclay, and how Sean draws on personal experiences to explore themes of trauma, grief and mental health. Representation is a huge part of the conversation too, with Sean sharing why it was important to him to write a gay character whose identity goes far beyond their sexuality, and how he approaches LGBTQ representation with care and authenticity.

Sean also talks about the realities of writing a police procedural, from the importance of research and realism to the challenges of writing a trilogy, as well as the personal significance behind character names. We finish by chatting about podcasting, his own show The Incident Room, and what’s coming next.

If you love crime fiction with emotional depth, flawed characters and a strong sense of place, this episode is for you.

Follow Sean here: https://www.instagram.com/seanwatkinauthor/

Listen to The Incident Room here: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-incident-room/id1836965354

Buy Better Off Dead here: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/better-off-dead-an-unmissable-liverpool-set-police-procedural-novel-from-a-rising-star-in-crime-thriller-fiction-sean-watkin/7015347539842697?ean=9781835981320&next=t

Books recommended in this series:

The Matilda Darke series by Michael Wood

The Sheridan Holler series by T.M. Payne

The Death Bed by Chris Bridges

In this episode of In My Good Books, Susie is joined by debut novelist Silvia Saunders to talk about her beautifully observed first novel, Homesick. Set during the uncertain years of early adulthood, the book explores friendship, love, jealousy and mental health through the eyes of Mara, a librarian trying to navigate adulthood while living with her childhood best friend.

Silvia discusses how Homesick captures that messy in-between stage of life where nothing feels settled. The novel examines what happens when long-standing friendships are tested, particularly when money, grief and unspoken resentment enter the picture. When Mara unexpectedly receives a financial windfall following her father’s death, it creates emotional ripples that force her to reassess her relationships and her sense of self.

The conversation also delves into Silvia’s writing journey, including the years she spent continuing to write despite rejections and setbacks. She shares how winning the Comedy Women in Print Unpublished Prize proved to be a turning point, not only validating the work but giving her the confidence to follow up with agents who were yet to read the manuscript — ultimately leading to representation and publication.

Throughout the episode, Silvia speaks candidly about balancing humour with serious themes, the importance of authenticity on the page, and how vital the writing community has been to her development as an author. She also shares book recommendations that have inspired her along the way, celebrating the joy of reading and the connections it creates.

You can find Silvia here: https://www.instagram.com/silvsaunders/

You can buy Homesick here: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/homesick-silvia-saunders/7730365?ean=9780008667047&next=t

Books recommended in this episode:

Black Milk by Elif Shafak

My Work by Olga Ravn

Palava by Brian Washington