Paul Golder writes for the Brentwood Gazette

Over the last few months of lockdowns and restrictions we’ve had the opportunity to take a really ahrd look at the excellent quality of authors from Essex and some of the books on local issues that they have produced.

Michelle Ward runs a regular Book Club segment on her daily morning show Eat My Brunch. Our most recent author was Karen Bowman who has written a fascinating book called “Essex Girls: The Scandalous History Of The Women Of Essex”.

The title gives you a good idea on what it’s all about, but if you delve deeper you will read about Essex women’s independence and rebellion going back through the centuries.

Karen is currently working on two new books which will be published in 2021 and 2022 so keep an eye out for those if you enjoyed Essex Girls, or indeed our interview about the book.

I want to take the opportunity to thank Sylvia Kent, who works with Michelle on Book Club. Sylvia will need no introduction to regular readers of this column, but she has tirelessly been involved in finding us great interview guests since Phoenix FM started broadcasting to Brentwood in 1996. Sylvia has, of course, appeared on the station as a guest many times in the last 25 years too.

Michelle isn’t the only presenter to feature local authors – Scott Ross regularly hosts Margaret Mills who reviews books on his Monday lunchtime show, and Rob West and Claire Gevaux are among our many presenters who also feature local authors as part of their Sunday Arts Programme.

All of our interviews can be heard again at phoenixfm.com.