Join Harriet Armstrong on Wednesday 16 July for Fiction First, The Booking Club podcast's first live show dedicated to the experience and status of the modern novel and novelist, to hear from a panel of 2025's most exciting debut writers about their works of fiction.

The panelists will discuss their journeys to publication, their literary influences, what drew them to writing fiction, and how they got their first break. 

Also up for discussion is the subject of how class, race, sexuality and gender made an impact on their fiction or individual writer's journey, and what the future holds for the novel.

Chaired by Jack Aldane, The Booking Club's host and producer, the event will be recorded for a special edition of show later in the summer.

Booking is open for tickets (£11) here.