Confessions of a Book Collector
Confessions of a Book Collector is the podcast for readers, collectors and anyone fascinated by the world of books. Hosted by Goldsboro Books Co-Founder and literary agent, David Headley, the series takes listeners behind the scenes of publishing through candid conversations with bestselling authors, exciting new voices and the industry's most influential figures. Alongside exclusive insights into book collecting and book investing, David shares the stories behind some of the most sought-after editions, the books he believes deserve a place on every shelf, and the industry secrets he's gathered from decades spent championing exceptional writers.
Episodes
97 episodes
Anthony Kavanagh: What It Really Takes to Write a Memoir
In this deeply personal conversation, 90's pop idol Anthony Kavanagh (known as Kavana) joins David Headley to go beyond the headlines of Pop Scars and explore the writing journey itself. Learning how vulnerability became his greatest s...
How Intelligence Secrets and Trauma Psychology Inspired Britain's Explosive New Spy Series | Chris Merritt
In this episode, David Headley sits down with bestselling thriller writer, former British diplomat and clinical psychologist Chris Merritt to explore the remarkable experiences behind his new spy thriller, Octagon.From living th...
Lucy Vine: From Rom-Com Queen to Cosy Crime Killer
Lucy Vine has spent years making readers laugh with bestselling rom-coms. But under the pen name Elly Vine, she's now embracing murder and a very different kind of female rage.In this episode of Confessions of a Book Collector, ...
Why Readers Return: Characters, Crime & The Feeling They Leave Behind | Chris McDonald
Crime writer Chris McDonald joins Confessions of a Book Collector to discuss his new private investigator novel, The Wrong Man, and why readers remember how a book made them feel long after they've forgotten the plot.Chris share...
The Grey Areas of Truth: Sarah Vaughan On Power & Scandal
Bestselling author Sarah Vaughan joins David Headley on Confessions of a Book Collector to discuss power, privilege, politics, morally difficult characters and the emotional truths hidden beneath public lives.From her years as a politic...
Discovering Books Before Everyone Else (And 17 Books You Need on Your Shelves)
In this episode, David reflects on one of the greatest pleasures of reading: discovering a remarkable book before the rest of the world catches up.David also shares some of the upcoming and recently published novels he’s most excited abo...
The Secrets Behind Capital Crime Festival
Go behind the scenes of this year’s Capital Crime Festival as David sits down with Festival Director Lizzie Curle to uncover what it really takes to create London’s biggest celebration of crime and thriller fiction.From programming stand...
Hallie Rubenhold: The Truth Behind the Stories We Thought We Knew
We’re joined by Hallie Rubenhold, bestselling author behind The Five and Story of a Murder, and a writer who has reshaped how we think about some of history’s most infamous crimes. Known for shifting the focus away from sensat...
Tom Rob Smith: What Happens After the Love Story?
Tom Rob Smith joins Confessions of a Book Collector to talk about writing a love story that doesn’t start at the beginning.Best known for Child 44, Tom has spent much of his career writing high-stakes, high-tension stories. But ...
David Goodman: An Overnight Success 20 Years In The Making
David Headley sits down with multi-award-winning crime author David Goodman to talk about A Reluctant Spy, the breakout thriller that launched the
Back To Where It Begins: Jennie Godfrey Returns To Champion Debuts
Jennie Godfrey returns as a champion of new voices, discussing Goldsboro’s Fresh Ink subscription and this month’s stan...
Lottie Moggach: The Era That Sparked Our True Crime Obsession
David sits down with bestselling author Lottie Moggach to discuss her fourth novel, Mrs Pearcey, a story rooted in a real Victorian murder that took place in her own grandmother’s kitchen in Camden.Lottie shares how the case captured her...
Francis Spufford On Why Fantasy Makes History Feel More Real
This week on Confessions of a Book Collector, we’re joined by the brilliant Francis Spufford to talk about his genre-bending new novel set in Blitz-era London.Blending history with fantasy, Francis explores a city under pressure...
Harriet Tyce: Playing with Truth and Lies
Bestselling author and The Traitors icon Harriet Tyce joins us to talk about her latest instant Sunday Times bestseller, Witch Trial, a chilling courtroom thriller ...
George Clarke: The Bookshop That Changed Everything
In our first episode of series 6, we welcome architect, TV presenter and soon-to-be bookshop owner, George Clarke.George is best known for George Clark's Amazing Spaces and The Restoration Man, but long before the television cameras and...
Welcome To Series 6 Of Confessions of A Book Collector
In our sixth series of Confessions of a Book Collector, David sits down with more remarkable writers and storytellers whose lives have been shaped by books in very different ways.In this short teaser, discover who’ll be joining him for c...
An Exciting Year For Reading (And A Reminder To Go All In)
This episode is a pause.A look back at the books and conversations that shaped 2025.A look ahead to a bold, uncomfortable, exciting year in reading.And a reminder that five minutes a day is enough.Without books, the wor...
Georgia Summers: Deadly Ink & The Bookshop Everyone Wants
What if the magic of books was literally lethal? In this episode of Confessions of a Book Collector, David Headley sits down with Sunday Times bestselling author Georgia Summers to talk deadly ink magic and magical bookshops. We explor...
Philippa Gregory on Rewriting History’s Most Famous Villains
David Headley sits down with Philippa Gregory, the undisputed queen of historical fiction, to discuss The Berlin Traitor and the woman history loves to hate: Jane Boleyn. Drawing on new scholarship and decades of obsession, she refr...
Bernard Cornwell On The Hardest Book He’s Ever Written
David Headley is joined by historical fiction titan, Bernard Cornwell OBE. From the enduring presence of Richard Sharpe to the creation of The Last Kingdom, Bernard reflects on how history and curiosity have shaped his writing life.
Joe Hill: When The Most Dangerous Thing In The Room Is A Book
After nearly a decade away from writing novels, Joe Hill returned this year with King Sorrow, a bold, fero...
Blood Blossoms & Book Collecting: Pierce Brown on Craft, Failure & Fandom
David Headley sits down with bestselling author Pierce Brown for a conversation that spans rejection, resilience, world-building, and rare books.Pierce reflects on the years before Red Rising (when more than 130 agents turned hi...
Lyse Doucet: Making a Hotel The Main Character
BBC Presenter and Chief International Correspondent, Lyse Doucet, shares the remarkable inspiration and writing process for her new book The Finest Hotel in Kabul, a vivid, human history of Afghanistan told through the peo...
Chaos & the King of Hay: James Hanning on Britain’s Unruliest Bookseller
Former deputy editor of the Independent on Sunday, James Hanning, takes us behind the scenes of
Sebastian Faulks on the Creative Compulsion to Write
In this episode of Confessions of a Book Collector, David sits down with acclaimed novelist, journalist and broadcaster Sebastian Faulks to explore the restless creative energy that drives his work.Sebastian discusses his...