The author reflects on the new golden age of writing, his Ethiopian heritage and love of baking cakes

The writer, whose winding tale Saraswati earned him a place on The Observer’s best new novelists list in 2025, tries to tear his chess-addled brain away from Arsenal’s triumph

Literary agent-turned-author’s first book, Inferno, was a memoir of motherhood and mental illness. Her new novel, The Devoted, delves into the criminal underworld of Hong Kong. She reflects on time, poetry – and lifeboats

The bestselling author, whose latest novel is The Midnight Train, on asparagus season, the joys of German literary culture and how petty tyranny is rattling the dogs on his beloved Brighton beach

The acclaimed author of As If reflects on writing and not writing, living and not living, and the joyful flash of London’s green parakeets

The Welsh travel writer often looks to the ocean for inspiration, but here he speaks from the Netherlands

The Booker-Prize-winning author, best known for novels about ghosts, parks the afterlife to ponder the present day

The US-born British horror novelist dwells on death and despair, seeking solace, and the prospect of riding horses in Africa

When not working, the Mogwai singer and guitarist tends to focus on vegan food and record shops

The writer’s first novel, Going Home, featured one of the best portrayals of a child in years. At home in London, he stares at his fridge, wondering what to call his next book

The art historian and presenter considers teaching about women, and learning from children

Penguins, pets, perimenopause, potluck dinners… For the American author, there’s a lot to worry about, but also plenty of distractions

At home outside Dublin, the author of Ghost Wall is preoccupied with how to describe the movement of snow, while grappling with her own chilly fingers

At home in New York, the Irish author of Acts of Desperation and Ordinary Human Failings ponders various things, such as otters, jokes and cheese

Our new series asks writers what’s taking up space in their heads. The author of Restoration – and many other novels – kicks things off, rueful and unabashed