M.L. Rio and Kate Weinberg arrive as friends, but will they still be so chummy with each other after the Book Off?

They chat to Joe Haddow about their latest books, Trump, the importance of publishing at a time when books are being banned and why Scooby Doo is a great influence.

They also give us some briiiilliant book recommendations too - so apologies to your TBR pile in advance.

Here's more on our authors and their books...and what they picked for the Book Off! (we hope you enjoy the episode)

M.L Rio's new novella is called Graveyard Shift. Every night, in the college's ancient cemetery, five people cross paths as they work the late shift: a bartender, a rideshare driver, a hotel receptionist, the steward of the derelict church that looms over them, and the editor-in-chief of the college paper, always in search of a story. One dark October evening in the defunct churchyard, they find a hole that wasn't there before. A fresh, open grave where no grave should be. But who dug it, and for whom?

Kate Weinberg's latest novel is called There's Nothing Wrong With Her. Vita Woods is on the brink. She has a good job and a successful doctor boyfriend, Max, with whom the sex is great and the chat sufficient; a vivacious and charming sister Gracie, and she’s even got a goldfish called Whitney Houston, who brightens her days by showing her she's not the only one going round in circles. Because it’s the days that are Vita’s problem. Vita is not leaving the house. In fact, Vita rarely exits the basement apartment where she lives, since Vita is in “The Pit” – a place of deep exhaustion and semi-consciousness. One day an unexpected courier delivery forces Vita upstairs, into the light – and into a chance encounter with her neighbours. Suddenly, Vita finds herself faced with an even trickier dilemma. She likes her new friends; she’ll even sneak upstairs to see them while Max is out, against all medical advice but something about her “condition” is nagging at the borders of her mind. After all, what is a house-bound girl to do when she can’t keep the light, her new friendships, or – worst of all – her memories out? The problem might be Vita herself but as far as anyone can prove... there’s nothing wrong with her.

THE BOOK OFF

'Moon Tiger' by Penelope Lively

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''Where Late The Sweet Birds Sang' by Kate Wilhelm

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Authors Rachel Abbott and Hannah Lynn go head to head in a war of the words.

They talk to Joe Haddow about their self-publishing journeys, the pros and cons and how things have changed on that side of the industry over the last 10 years.

They also discuss their new novels, how the weather can influence a chapter and why sometimes you just have to go away in the name of research!

THE BOOK OFF

'Good Girl, Bad Girl' by Michael Robathan

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'The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind' by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer

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Bestselling crime author, Attica Locke, goes head to head with John Le Carre's son - Nick Harkaway - in a war of the words.

Nick has written a new George Smiley novel, continuing his father's legacy, called Karla's Choice. He chats to Joe Haddow about the pressure he felt to get the character right and how he got himself in the right frame of mind to write the novel.

Attica discusses 'Guide Me Home' - the third novel in her trilogy of books dubbed The Highway 59 series, featuring the Texas Ranger Darren Matthews.

As well chatting about their writing and new books, they also give us some brilliant book recommendations!

THE BOOK OFF

"In My Time Of Dying" by Sebastian Junger

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"Tokyo Express" by Seicho Matsumoto

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