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The Nancy Stevens Lifestyle Show | Episode 34 | Carole Matthews
The Nancy Stevens Lifestyle Show
Sunday, 14 September 2025 - 53 minutes
This week, Nancy is joined by her long-time friend, the incredible Carole Matthews, a bestselling romcom author who has sold over 7 million books worldwide and received a lifetime achievement award from the Romantic Novelists' Association.
Nancy kicks off the show with her latest obsessions and reviews:
* An in-depth look at The Roses, a modern reimagining of the 1981 film "War of the Roses," starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Coleman, which Nancy found "utterly brilliant" despite its sad portrayal of a collapsing marriage.
* Her "absolutely incredible" experience at "Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief" musical, based on Rick Riordan's fantasy novels, calling it "utterly, utterly joyful".
* Nancy's lifelong, nearly 50-year obsession with ABBA, discussing tribute bands, the phenomenal ABBA Voyage show, and her many viewings of "Mamma Mia!" the musical.
* Reviews of recent celebrity books, including Rob Renda's "The Protest" which she "really, really enjoyed," and Reverend Richard Coles' "Murder at the Monastery".
* Her take on the Netflix film "The Thursday Murder Club," adapted from Richard Osman's book, praising its "powerhouse cast" and finding the film even better than the book.
Carole Matthews then shares insights into her incredible career:
* She reflects on her early success, including her first book selling 75,000 copies in a week and becoming a bestseller due to perfect timing in the "chick lit" genre.
* Advice for aspiring writers: Carole emphasizes writing what you know and love, rather than chasing trends, and highlights the increasing accessibility of self-publishing.
* She discusses her decision to step back from full-time writing during lockdown, embracing an allotment and finding joy outside the intense deadlines.
* Hear about her popular books, including the award-winning "Sunny Days and Sea Breezes," the "fun" "Happiness for Beginners" and "Christmas for Beginners" series featuring "naughty alpacas," and her biggest worldwide series, "The Chocolate Lovers' Club".
* Carole shares her concerns about the impact of AI on authors and the arts particularly regarding scraping content and potential job losses for translators and artists.
* She also shares her love for the Tudor period and historical fiction, and her appreciation for musicals like "Six" and plays like "2:22 Ghost Story".
Nancy and Carole also touch upon their 25-year friendship, the importance of local support for authors, and Nancy's own colourful relationship history which she hopes Carole might someday write about. Carole highlights that in her books, "the man is never the fix; they always sort the problems out themselves," and the man is a "bonus".
Don't miss this insightful and joyful conversation between two incredible women!
Get in Touch:
* Carole Matthews' books are available at Waterstones, Milton Keynes and on Amazon.
* Follow Nancy Stevens on Instagram: @_Nancymk_
If you enjoyed the show, please follow, like, or leave a review! ✨
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