This week we are honoured to be talking to the astounding author Nikita Lalwani! Nikita's first book, Gifted, was long-listed for the Booker Prize and shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award and won the Desmond Elliott Prize. Her next novel The Village won the Jerwood Fiction Uncovered award. Her latest novel is the breathtaking, You People, which has been widely critically acclaimed. We talked to her about fictional secrets, the power of the single line, literary families and pretending to be Stig of the Dump.BOOKSDaisy Buchanan - InsatiableNikita Lalwani - GiftedNikita Lalwani - You PeopleMary Norton - BorrowersClive King - Stig of the DumpSalman Rushdie - Midnight’s ChildrenBharati Mukherjee - WifeJames Salter - Light YearsJames Salter - Sport and a PasttimeJames Salter - Life is MealsJames Salter - HuntersJames Salter - Last NightDoris Lessing - StoriesMaeve Brennan - Rose GardenMavis Gallant - StoriesGrace Paley - StoriesDoris Lessing - Winter in JulyDoris Lessing - Martha QuestTessa Hadley - Bad DreamsTessa Hadley - Late in the DaySue Miller - MonogamyCarol Shields - Larry’s PartySonia Faleiro - Good GirlsJanet Malcolm - Journalist & the MurdererToni Cade Bambara - Gorilla My LoveZadie Smith - IntimationsSinead Gleeson - ConstellationsPatrick Freyne - Ok Let’s Do Your Stupid IdeaJohn Irving - World According To GarpDon DeLillo - White NoiseTillie Olsen - Tell Me a RiddleDarcy O’Brien - A Way of Life Like Any OtherCS Lewis - Chronicles of NarniaArthur Ransome - Swallows & AmazonsEnid Blyton - Malory TowersEnid Blyton - Enchanted WoodVivek Shanbhag - Ghachar GhocharZaina Arafat - You Exist Too MuchMuriel Spark - Far Cry From KensingtonMary Wesley - Imaginative ExperiencePamela Frankau - Wreath For the EnemyF Scott Fitzgerald - Great GatsbyZadie Smith - NWAnita Brookner - Look At MeAnita Brookner - Friend From EnglandAndrew O’Hagan - Mayflies See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.