We Love Books

Come one, come all and meet the writers, students and readers who made this year's  KPMG Children's Books Ireland Awards so special. From busy heads to nefarious fish, this years’ selection had it all.

For this bonus episode, We Love Books takes you inside the An Post Book Awards. Reporter Francesca Europa speaks with children’s authors Dave Rudden, Sadhbh Devlin, Sarah Bowie, and Paddy Donnelly about creativity, storytelling, and what sparks a love of reading in young audiences.

Journey into the unknown with Tom Crean, Irish Antarctic hero! Author Michael Smith and illustrator David Butler are in the house to talk about their fantastic new graphic novel and the adventures of the great Iceman of Kerry.

Award-winning writer, broadcaster and journalist but more importantly, king of paranormal podcasting Danny Robins is in the house for a spooky special to ask the big question of the season: do you believe in ghosts?

Take a walk through the woods with award-winning writer Eilish Fisher and find out what's in store for you in her evocative and spooky new book, sure to delight and excite, especially in the run-up to Halloween!

Author, illustrator and comedian Aoife Dooley chats about the joys of discovering graphic novels, the power of her autism diagnosis and of course her latest under-the-sea adventure, Squid Squad!

Beloved author and illustrator Peter Donnelly drops by to talk books, drawings, the time he decorated a dry cleaner's wall with lipstick and his phenomenal career as an animator.

Time to celebrate the best of Irish literature! Merrion Square Park was overrun with readers and writers to award the cream of the children's books crop with these coveted awards and We Love Books got up close and personal with the winners.

A jam packed episode takes us a on a whistlestop tour through the idyllic Towers and Tales Childrens Book Festival at Lismore Castle at the May Bank Holiday. Niamh Sharkey, Máire Zepf, Sarah Bowie, Vivian French, Leona Forde and Karen Harte, Pádraig Kenny and so much more!

Journalist, TV presenter and author Zainab Boladale talks small town summers and the magic of local libraries while 11-year-old World Champion golfer Ella Kenny tells us all about becoming an author.

Seachtain na Gaeilge atá ann! Celebrate by sailing away to Inis Mara with Tristan Rosenstock who tells us all about island life, the magic of Irish place names and the very special hero at the heart of his stories.

Blind author Lucy Edwards tells us all about her incredible and accessible new book and about how technology has changed the game for those with a disability.

Colm Field aka Frank Cadaver puts the ho ho ho-rror into Christmas with a return to the age-old tradition of a scary story during the festive season. We find out all about his terrifying new series - warning - this episode is not for the faint of heart!

Welcome to a very Christmassy We Love Books packed with fantastic ideas for your Christmas Wishlist and a very special author/illustrator double bill when Leona Forde and Karen Harte are in the house to talk all things Millie McCarthy

Writer and illustrator Alan Nolan joins us for our Mysteries, Puzzles and Riddles-themed show plus catch our CBI Reading Heroes giving us their top mysterious recommendations

The spooky vibes are off the chart on this very Halloween-y We Love Books. Méabh McDonnell takes us Into the Witchwood, our CBI Reading Heroes talk scary reads and what's that going bump in the night? It's the Boot Bot with a new writing prompt!

Find out why Sarah Bowie is amazing and why you should add more graphic novels to your bookshelf. We've also got our CBI Reading Heroes in the house and a new friend with a writing assignment for you!

We’re back in Merrion Square to meet some of the writers, illustrators and children who made the world of Children’s Books shine in 2024.

Our listeners aren’t just great readers, they’re also great writers. Today we meet Mary He who was highly commended in our We Love Books creative writing competition. Mary tells the tale of hippo who just can’t get enough of the swimming pool!

Our listeners aren’t just great readers, they’re also great writers. Today we meet Ava Derham who was highly commended in our We Love Books creative writing competition. Ava tells the thrilling tale of the rebellious residents of Corny Jamwith Nursing Home.

Our listeners aren’t just great readers, they’re also great writers. Today we meet Emmet Staunton who was highly commended in our We Love Books creative writing competition. Emmet introduces us to magical realms and mystical creatures in his story, Go Wild!

Our listeners aren’t just great readers, they’re also great writers. Today we meet Kate Hosey who was highly commended in our We Love Books creative writing competition. In Kate’s story, we learn why teachers should be nice to students, or risk facing the consequences!

Our listeners aren’t just great readers, they’re also great writers. Today we meet Lola-Mae McCormack, our overall category winner in our We Love Books creative writing competition. Her winning story is a mixture of jungle fever and cabin fever as she feels like a caged animal wanting to go wild during lockdown.

Our listeners aren’t just great readers, they’re also great writers. Today we meet Zoe O’Grady who was highly commended in our We Love Books creative writing competition. In her story, Zoe goes walkies and takes some very special furry friends a late-night treat in the Phoenix Park.

Our listeners aren’t just great readers, they’re also great writers. Today we meet Aoife Brett Grout who was highly commended in our We Love Books creative writing competition. Aoife tells the touching story of a sister’s love that transcends the limits of the physical world.

Our listeners aren’t just great readers, they’re also great writers. Today we meet Noah Cooper who was highly commended in our We Love Books creative writing competition. Noah tells the terrifying tale of a lost phone, a creepy smile and a young boy who is about to face his worst nightmare.

Our listeners aren’t just great readers, they’re also great writers. Today we meet Oscar Fulham who was highly commended in our We Love Books creative writing competition. Oscar tells the story of a friend with something to tell his parents but with no idea how to put it into words.

Our listeners aren’t just great readers, they’re also great writers. Today we meet Norah Tinney, the overall category winner of our We Love Books creative writing competition. Norah’s winning story tells of a granddaughter’s love, a talking tree and a big discovery!

Author and teacher Sarah Moore Fitzgerald brings us the 8 things NOT to do when it comes to upping your fiction game and writing great stories that connect with your readers.

Lonely Planet's Tom Hall is in the house to share expert wisdom on the perfect piece of travel writing and reveals his favourite places to visit around the world

Master storyteller Niall de Búrca tells us about the ancient art of telling an intriguing tale, his life on the road bringing his stories around the country and even gives us a spontaneous performance!

Today, RTÉ sports broadcaster and journalist Paul O'Flynn tells us about his time at the Tokyo Olympics, the power of sports to improve health and happiness and, of course, the latest book in his accessible sporting series celebrating some of Ireland's greatest champions

The wickedly spooky Kat Ellis joins Niamh for a mini masterclass in how to write horror fiction - not for the fainthearted! Take notes and prepare to scare...

Author Michael Egan brings us the highs, the lows and all the drama of a GAA club with his series Declan Kirby GAA star series and shares his top tips for creativity and success, plus tons of book chat, reviews and more!

In the hot seat today, Moïra Fowley-Doyle is our featured author talking about her magical young adult fiction and her top writing tips for future authors, plus we've got bags of book chat to keep young book worms engaged and entertained

Wafa' Tarnowska is our featured author on this week's show, sharing her tales of life as a refugee in Lebanon and her work using her voice as bridge to connect cultures, plus she's got awe-inspiring stories of Amazing Women of the Middle East

Ever wondered how much of our DNA we share with bananas or how to clone a t-rex in your home? Us too! Andrew Pettie is here with his new book Listified to provide the answers to the questions you never knew you wanted to ask, plus reviews, book chat and more!

Jess Kidd sprinkles some Everyday Magic onto the show as this week's featured author, sharing her love for the spooky and the strange, as well as some top writing tips and tricks, plus we hear from you guys, what types of books do you love and what books would you like to write yourselves?

Dermot O'Leary is back in the house with a new book and a new ninja cat saga - catch up with the adventures of Toto, who is in hot water over a jaw-dropping jewel heist, plus we've got all the usual book chat to keep bookworms hooked

Today Niamh chats to TV presenter, animal enthusiast and adventurer Jess French about her creepy-crawly childhood, the incredible creatures she has met on her travels and her fabulous new book, plus we've got plenty of book chat from you guys for young bookworms everywhere

Author Maz Evans tells our listeners about spies, gods and... disgusting pineapples! Plus we've got tons of book chat for young book worms to enjoy

Niamh chats to author and wildlife filmmaker Tony Lee Moral about his latest book, The Cat that Changed America, based on the true tale of P22, the LA mountain lion who has had some hairy adventures, plus all the usual book chat from you guys!

Niamh chats to author Eve McDonnell about her thrilling time travel adventure story, Elsetime, and about the mystic who told her to become an author - intriguing! Plus our listeners get in touch with all kinds of book chat.

Niamh chats to author Lindsay Galvin about her thrilling tale of real-life dragons inspired by a true story, plus we've got reviews, stories and more!

Blue Peter legend turned author Radzi Chinyanganya joins Niamh for a chat about what inspires him, his stellar career and his new book, plus the libraries are back open - hooray - and we want to know what you love about your local library

Niamh chats to Galway author Catherine Doyle about her top writing tips, her new book and how she conquered her fear of the ocean, plus we hear from listeners about what books they like to read, what books they would like to write and more!

Warning: this episode is NOT for the faint of heart - Niamh chats to horror queen Kat Ellis about her spooky books and what inspired them, plus we've got tons of tips, review, stories and more to tickle any young bookworm's fancy!

It's a brand new season of WLB and a brand new way to enjoy book festivals - find out how the authors and organizers of the Towers and Tales festival are beaming their literary magic into your homes, plus we've got reviews, stories and more!

Niamh chats to Ray Cuddihy aka Múinteoir Ray from RTÉ's Home School Hub about his role as ambassador for Ireland Reads Squeeze in a Read campaign AND about other fun things to squeeze in during lockdown

Happy Christmas from the We Love Books HQ! Join Niamh for a truly jam-packed festive kid's book extravaganza and maybe even a chat with the man of the moment - Santa himself - if those pesky gremlins don't get in the way...