Guest: Writer, Nadia Al Yafai.
Nadia Al Yafai began her career with the Royal Court as part of their new writing programme.Her play ‘Cafe Cinderella’ has been showcased at the prestigious Latitude Festival by Theatre 503, and her work has developed and produced by Kali Theatre Co., Lost Theatre Company and Windsor Marriot Festival. Her short stories have been on BBC Radio Four and won awards,and she has received numerous grants, including an Arts Council award, for developing her novel ‘Father God’. She is currently working on two short films, ‘England Expects’ with Davey films who produced her previous piece ‘Going down’ shot for ‘Straight8’ and a new piece with director Peter Frank Dewolf,and is developing a new play ‘Scandal’ with Theatre 503. 
 
Outside writing,she is studying for a masters in Corporate Social Responsibility,is a museum trustee and works for a law firm.

Books

Flowers in the Attic by Virginia Andrews
The novel that launched Virginia Andrews' superselling career: the tale of four children locked in an attic by their once-loving mother! It was a game of happy families. The four children lived such perfect lives in such a happy, golden family. It was a game of hide and seek. Their father died suddenly. The children now lived alone, hidden in the airless attic. It was a case of tender, loving murder. Their mother promised that they would stay only long enough to inherit her family's fortune. But gradually she forgot how much she adored those children.Millions of readers have been enthralled by this gripping story of a family's betrayal and heartbreak, love and revenge - which then sows the
seeds for the future.

I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb
Huge American bestselling novel that tells of identical twins: a paranoid schizophrenic and his brother whose life is dominated by his resentment of and love for his damaged twin Dominick Birdsey's whole existence is coloured by the knowledge that his twin brother can never be fully responsible for his frightening behaviour, while he himself has beaten the biochemical odds to remain sane. But at what cost? This powerful, heartwrenching drama draws on the deepest human emotions: the need to know oneself, responsibility to family, the influence of hidden history.
The result is a highly acclaimed novel of survival, written with great sensitivity.

Long Way Down by Nick Hornby
'Can I explain why I wanted to jump off the top of a tower block?' For disgraced TV presenter Martin Sharp the answer's pretty simple: he has, in his own words, pissed his life away'.And on New Year's Eve, he's going to end it all. But not, as it happens, alone. Because first single-mum Maureen, then eighteen-year-old Jess and lastly American rock-god JJ turn up and crash Martin's private party. They've stolen his idea, but brought their own reasons. Yet it's hard to jump when you've got an audience queuing impatiently behind you. A few heated words and some slices of cold pizza later, and these four strangers are suddenly allies. But is their unlikely friendship a good enough reason to carry on living?

Notes on A Scandal by Zoe HellerWhen the new teacher first arrives, Barbara immediately senses that this woman will be different from the rest of her staff-room colleagues. But Barbara is not the only one to feel that Sheba is special, and before too long Sheba is involved in an illicit affair with a pupil. Barbara finds the relationship abhorrent, of course, but she is the only adult in whom Sheba can properly confide. So when the liaison is found out and Sheba's life falls apart, Barbara is there...

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen by Paul Torday
This is the story of Dr Alfred Jones, a fisheries scientist - for whom diary -notable events include the acquisition of a new electric toothbrush and getting his article on caddis fly larvae published in 'Trout and Salmon' - who finds himself reluctantly involved in a project to bring salmon fishing to the Highlands of the Yemen-a project that will change his life,and the course of British political history forever. With a wickedly wonderful cast of characters - including a visionary Sheikh, a weasely spin doctor, Fred's devilish wife and a few thousand transplanted salmon - Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is a novel about hypocrisy and bureaucracy, dreams and deniability, and the transforming
power of faith and love.

Dark Heart by Nick DaviesAn investigation into poverty, corruption, crime and related issues in Britain including drugs and prostitution amongst children. The investigation moves from the slums and ghettos of our cities, to crack houses and brothels, contacts with street gangs and drug dealers uncovering secret rites and a bizarre and cruel world.

Street Lawyer by John Grisham
Michael was in a hurry. He was scrambling up the ladder at Drake & Sweeney, a giant D. C. firm with 800 lawyers. The money was good and getting better; a partnership was three years away. He was a rising star, with no time to waste, no time to stop, no time to toss a few coins into the cups of panhandlers, no time to walk around them on the sidewalk, and no time for a conscience.But a violent encounter with a homeless man stopped him cold. Michael survived; his assailant did not.Who was this homeless man? Michael did some digging and learned that he was a mentally ill veteran who'd been in and out of shelters for twenty years. Then, Michael dug a little deeper, and found a dirty secret, and the secret involved Drake & Sweeney. The fast track derailed; and the ladder collapsed. Michael
bolted from the firm, and took a top secret file with him. He landed in the streets, a poverty lawyer, a street lawyer, an advocate for the homeless, and a thief.

IN other Phoenix FM news

'Kill & Cure' by Brentwood Chiropractor, Stephen Davison will be published by Alice & Fred Books (A&F)on March 31 priced £6.99.  Phoenix FM has advance copies to give away and, to win one,listeners should email via phoenixfm.com, selecting CONTACT and SATURDAY MORNING PITSTOP or Friday's BOOK CLUB show also promoting the book.  Mention 'Kill & Cure' in your mail,add a phone number and all entries will be put in a draw to be made on February 28th's Saturday Pitstop.