Kathy Henderson shares the pleasure of global lullaby collecting, and highlights the enduring importance of this powerful, universal blend of words and music.

Harriet Castor is often asked how she first got published — but why is this question so popular, and is it really the right one to ask?

Mark McCrum speaks with James McConnachie about his first travel writing adventures in South Africa during the last days of apartheid, being sent rather unwillingly for a further book about Australia, and working out what you’re writing about as you go along.

Jon Mayhew speaks with John Siddique about schoolkids’ ongoing love of ghost stories, his reasons for getting into teaching, the pros and cons of plot templates, and how his writing career started with a running accident.