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		Leslie Phillips Hello: The autobiography The debonair Leslie Phillips held all of Orion spellbound as he talked to us at our annual sales conference, and he brings that same energy and sophistication to the audiobook of his autiobiography Hello. With so many memories to share, and anecdotes to tell, this audiobook is a fascinating insight to the man who began his theatrical career before the Second World War and has appeared in more than 110 films. Leslie Phillips' author profile and books

		Francesca Simon Moo Baa Baa Quack (CD) Miaow Miaow Bow Wow (CD) Francesca Simon, best-selling creator of Horrid Henry, attended the children’s party at Buckingham Palace. It was held to celebrate the Queen’s 80th birthday and included a specially commissioned pantomime, The Queen’s Handbag. A whodunnit based on popular literary characters and starring household names it featured our very own Horrid Henry running round the Palace with Just William! Francesca Simon now introduces a wonderful cast of animals from Buffin Street in Moo Baa Baa Quack (CD) and Miaow Miaow Bow Wow (CD).. Emily Bolam's bold, brightly coloured illustrations complement these energetic stories 'Read by Miranda Richardson (who also reads Simon's Horrid Henry books), this splendid production – great music and sound effects – will enchant any small listener (and mum and dad, too!) There are seven farmyard stories here – and ducklings, lambs, chicks, etc – all figure as heroes/anti-heroes. Enjoy!' Kati Nicholl, DAILY EXPRESS Francesca Simon's Q & A Francesca Simon's author profile and books Moo Baa Baa Quack and Miaow Miaow Bow Wow are read by Miranda Richardson Listen to an audio extract from Moo Baa Baa Quack Listen to an audio extract from Miaow Miaow Bow Wow

		Miss Read Village School For the first time, the first three in the much-loved Fairacre series are being released on abridged audio. The books are read by Carole Boyd – whose voice is familiar to millions of radio-listeners as Lynda Snell in The Archers. Carole Boyd is also a Carleton Hobbs Award winner. The CD includes a three-part exclusive author interview with Paul Blezard. Miss Read's profile and books Listen to an audio extract from Village School, read by Carole Boyd

		Rebecca Shaw Village Feud I love all the novels I have written and don’t wish to change a word of them, well. . . . maybe on reflection. . . . perhaps. . . . As far as other writers’ novels are concerned I read contemporary fiction but occasionally revert to reading books I have loved for years. For two years after I began writing novels I dare not read a book at all, in case the style of the book somehow got into my own writing. Now I can read anything I fancy. I rarely give books away because they are all special to me, and have just had to buy new bookcases to accommodate them all. Rebecca Shaw's Q & A Rebecca Shaw's profile and books Listen to an audio extract from Village Feud, read by Carole Boyd Visit Rebecca Shaw's website at www.rebeccashaw.com

		Raymond Khoury The Last Templar Raymond Khoury on what sparked his fascination with the Templar Knights: “I'd just finished writing a small, semi-autobiographical screenplay and felt like writing something very different: something bigger, more epic, mythic. I was on holiday in France when I came across a history book about the Templars in a friend's library. He and I talked about them, and he knew the subject well. I read up on them, and the story quickly took shape from there.” From an interview at www.bookreporter.com 20 January 2006. Raymond Khoury's profile and books Listen to an audio extract from The Last Templar, read by Jeff Harding

		Henry Porter Brandenberg “I am interested in the conflicts within people, and the unseen propulsions. Spies have more than most. Everything is beneath the surface. It is all secret.” Interview with Henry Porter Henry Porter's Q & A Henry Porter's profile and books Listen to an audio extract from Brandenberg, read by Andrew Sachs

		Ann Widdecombe Father Figure “I wanted to be an author long before I wanted to become a politician. When I was ten I wrote a play and by the time I was eighteen I had written a novel, with numerous short stories in between. Then politics took over and my attempts at writing first slowed and then stopped altogether. Only when I had a year away from the Front Bench did I get down to it again.” Ann Widdecombe's Q & A Ann Widdecombe's profile and books Listen to an audio extract from Father Figure, read by Rupert Penry-Jones

		Francesca Simon Horrid Henry Tricks The Tooth Fairy “I thought I would be a lawyer until I looked at a few law-school books” When she is not writing books Francesca Simon is doing theatre and restaurant reviews or chasing after her Tibetan Spaniel, Shanti. Francesca Simon's Q & A Francesca Simon's author profile and books Horrid Henry Tricks the Tooth Fairy is read by Miranda Richardson

		Kate Mosse Labyrinth (selected for Richard and Judy's Bookclub 2006) “I didn’t want to write a straightforward historical fiction ... I was keen to write a time-slip novel, a book set in two time periods. I like this idea of being the omniscient narrator. It is just that ability to immerse yourself in the character and their world, but also to be able to stand outside.” Read the full interview with Kate Mosse Kate's advice for writers Kate Mosse profile and books Kate Mosse's internet resource www.mosselabyrinth.co.uk for writers Listen to an audio extract from Labyrinth, read by Emilia Fox and Anton Lesser

		Carlos Ruiz Zafón The Shadow of the Wind “I think novels should be an experience. I want my readers to be thrilled, to be moved, to laugh, to cry, and to be terrified. To be stimulated. I want them to have the time of their lives and at the same time to look at the world, and themselves, in a different light. Many readers have told me that The Shadow of the Wind made them fall in love again with books and reading. If my book accomplishes that, I’ll be more than happy.” Carlos Ruiz Zafón's profile and books Reading Guide for The Shadow of the Wind Listen to an audio extract from The Shadow of the Wind, read by James Wilby

		Michelle Paver Spirit Walker Chronicles of Ancient Darkness Book 2 “The first book I remember looking at was a big illustrated book about Stone Age people, although at the time I was too young to read the captions.” Spirit Walker is read by Ian McKellen Michelle Paver's Q & A Michelle Paver's website: www.michellepaver.com Torak's clan website: www.torak.info Listen to an audio extract from Book 1 of The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness: Wolf Brother

		Liza Picard Victorian London The Life of a City 1840-1870 “At one stage I thought I ought to be a medical missionary and go out to Albert Schweitzer's leprosy hospital in Africa. But somehow, as life become more interesting – and sex reared its lovely head – the idea got pushed to the back of my mind and quietly expired.” Liza Picard's Q & A Liza Picard's profile and books Victorian London is read by Anton Lesser

		Sally Gardner A Book of Princesses “The real magic of the book lies after the adults have gone and it is just the child and the book. I write for the child just like me – the child stuck on Janet and John. Getting from small to being grown-up is probably the hardest journey in life - it certainly was for me.” Read an interview with Sally Gardner Read Sally Gardner's Q & A Sally Gardner's profile and books

		Ian Rankin and Jackie Leven Jackie Leven Said A Double CD Release of Storytelling, Laughter and Music Ian Rankin is known for references to popular music in his work. “Music is a good shorthand way to delineate character. If you want to tell the reader a lot about a character in a small space, just tell them what their musical taste is. You'll get their age, their background, whether they're gregarious or a loner.” Listen to an extract Ian Rankin's Q & A Ian Rankin's author profile and books Visit Ian Rankin's website www.ianrankin.net

		Ian Rankin The Hanging Garden “My most vivid memory of school...? Maybe playing a school disco with my first punk band. Later on, I fell over and had to be taken to hospital for stitches.” Ian Rankin's Q & A Ian Rankin's author profile and books Visit Ian Rankin's website www.ianrankin.net Listen to an extract from The Hanging Garden The Hanging Garden is read by Bill Paterson

		Robert Crais The Forgotten Man Robert Crais is back with his much-anticipated new Elvis Cole novel. The Forgotten Man picks up where The Last Detective left off because, as Robert Crais explains: “When I wrote The Last Detective I was left with questions about Elvis Cole’s past that ate at me until I knew I had to find the answers. In The Forgotten Man, Elvis continues the search up-river for his own ‘heart of darkness’.” Visit Robert Crais' website Robert Crais' author profile and books The Elvis Cole novels are read by Robert Crais

		Leonie Frieda Catherine de Medici “I never underestimate what an incredible influence great writers have on my own writing. They may not be able to teach you to write well, but at least you can tell when you have written something badly.” Leonie Frieda's Q & A Leonie Frieda's author profile and books Catherine de Medici is read by Anna Massey

		Ian Rankin Let it Bleed Ian Rankin is the UK's number one best-selling crime writer. He lives in Edinburgh, and writes about the city in his award-winning 'Inspector Rebus' novels. The books have been dramatised for TV (starring John Hannah), and are translated into 22 languages. Visit Ian Rankin's website Ian Rankin's author profile and books Let it Bleed is read by Bill Paterson

		John Gielgud Gielgud's Letters “One of the many attractions of this absorbing and deliciously entertaining book is Gielgud's capacity for self-criticism... Richard Mangan, a discreet but informative editor, has unearthed scores of valuable letters not previously available... This splendid book reveals an infinitely more complicated and attractive character: self-depracating, down-to-earth and scurrilous, with an idiosyncratic gift for friendship, deep veins of loyalty and generosity... We may not look upon his like again.” The Spectator Read by Derek Jacobi and Richard Mangan

		Carol Drinkwater The Olive Harvest "Each night before I close my eyes I run through the day and remind myself of all the miracles I have encountered." Carol Drinkwater's Q & A Carol Drinkwater's author profile and books