February 6, 2019 - 10:06am by Steve

As a freelance journalist, writer, editor and presenter, I have enjoyed many years meeting and interviewing fascinating people, and visiting wonderful locations worldwide.

I regularly conduct on-stage interviews with authors and personalities at festivals and events, and for more than 10 years co-hosted a monthly on air book club with Lesley Dolphin at BBC Radio Suffolk.

Details of my events, book reviews and recommendations can be found on my website moreaboutbooks.com and all the latest information is available in my weekly e-newsletter which you can receive by signing up here or read recent issues here.

Or follow me on Twitter @catherinelarner

In the press

Magazine cover pagesAs a journalist I contribute lifestyle features and profiles for regional and national newspapers and magazines. Earlier in my career, I was the launch editor of what became the leading business journal for the fitness industry in Europe, and I regularly contributed articles about the market for a US publication.

published articles

On the radio

For more than 10 years I co-hosted an on-air book club on BBC Radio Suffolk with Lesley Dolphin. Listen to past discussions here.

In addition, my print articles and author interviews often feature as podcasts. You can listen to an interview with former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams for Premier Radio here.

view archive on moreaboutbooks.com

At events

Hosting book launches and talks for festivals and events throughout Suffolk, I regularly interview authors on stage with audiences from 30 to 300. I have been in conversation with Esther Freud, Salley Vickers, Victoria Hislop, Rev Richard Coles, Elly Griffiths and Patrick Gale (pictured).

view event listings on moreaboutbooks.com

Recent articles

For the love of the game
in 'Suffolk', August 2026
From him home in Woodbridge, former Ipswich Town chairman David Sheepshanks discusses the club's glory years, his love of Suffolk and how he's navigating an unexpected health battle.
Folk for today
in 'Suffolk', August 2026
After two decades together, FolkEast patrons The Young'uns return to the Suffolk festival with powerful stories, rich harmonies and a shared love of folk tradition.
Worth saving
in 'Woman's Weekly', June 2026
Three readers talk about coming together to rescue vital community assets.
The project of a lifetime
in 'Woman's Weekly', June 2026
Christine Adams devoted her life to a special building.
Miniature magic
in 'Woman's Weekly', June 2026
Three women share their passion for doll's houses.
Sarah Perry: a life, a death, a story
in 'Suffolk', June 2026
The award-winning author of 'The Essex Serpent', Sarah Perry reveals the deeply personal story behind her new book and reminisces about childhood holidays in Suffolk ahead of her appearance at Felixstowe Book Festival this month.

More about books

Catherine LarnerFor my book reviews, event information and blog, please visit moreaboutbooks.com

 

 

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At home in Sussex

There's a corner of East Sussex which I love to visit for the joy and inspiration it gives me through its artistic and literary connections, and this week I spent a few days there in the sunshine with friends.

Staying in the beautiful town of Lewes, I went back to Charleston to revisit the house where the Bloomsbury group of artists and writers lived until the 1970s. There was a trip to Berwick Church nearby where Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell had been invited to paint the most incredible frescoes on the walls and pulpit in the 1940s. And there was Farleys House and Gallery, to enjoy the home of the photographer Lee Miller. 

There's always something new to discover and ponder, even among the familiarity of these locations. On this visit I was reminded, once again, of the implications of the unconventional lives led by these creative communities. And I was drawn to the glorious textiles at Charleston, and the inventive recipes and kitchen gadgets at Farleys! 

No opportunity this time to visit Virginia Woolf's home at Monk's House, but we did see a wonderful exhibition of the books produced by Virginia and Leonard Woolf in the Hogarth Press. We sampled a lunch created from one of Lee Miller's recipes at Farley's, learnt about the recently rediscovered artist Gladys Hynes in a talk at the gallery at Charleston Lewes, and discovered another beautiful bookshop, Much Ado Books at Alfriston.

I've come home full of ideas, inspired and stimulated by all I've seen and experienced, and, of course, I have brought back more books to devour and add to my groaning bookshelves! 

Thank you for reading.