Michelle Brasier on turning cancer into comedy – and kicking her life into overdrive

After losing her father and brother, the Aunty Donna comedian was told she had a 97% chance of cancer herself. With a new album, musical and memoir to promote, she’s not slowing down

Philosophy professor Jeffrey J Kripal: ‘Thinking about a UFO as some kind of extraterrestrial spaceship is naive’

The academic and author draws on quantum mechanics, English romantic philosophy and mysticism to explore a new theory of mind that embraces the paranormal

Ferdia Lennon: ‘I was tired of Merchant Ivory accents’

The recent winner of the Waterstones debut fiction prize on literary friendships, the lucidity of Georges Simenon and Irish writing’s debt to the financial crash

‘Writing this book was like a drug high’: Rachel Kushner on her Booker-listed novel

The author on her party years in San Francisco, why she loves getting older and her most ambitious novel yet

Traffic’s Dave Mason: ‘On one level, I could hate every one of them’

Singer-songwriter explores tussles with the band in a frank new memoir looking back at a storied, starry career

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is about an autistic boy. But it hasn’t always been autism-friendly

Mark Haddon’s bestselling novel gets an Australian adaptation ‘that Christopher himself would enjoy’ – with a warning system, ‘timetables’ and an autistic star

‘I feel like when I’m 50 people will take me seriously’: novelists Eliza Clark and Julia Armfield in conversation

The two authors, who became friends during lockdown, discuss their experiences in the UK publishing industry, the day job, and books they love

Roddy Doyle: ‘People used to say I was undermining family life … ludicrous stuff’

The Dublin author once caused outrage for writing about domestic abuse. As he publishes his third Paula Spencer novel, he talks about optimism, new Irish fiction – and the genius of Roy Keane

Sunday with Susannah Constantine: ‘I wake up every morning with anxiety. I always have’

The writer and former TV presenter talks about cold water swimming, resisting chocolate and loving the quiet life

‘We’re not as open about sex as we imagine’: Gillian Anderson on pleasure, powerful women, and collecting secret fantasies

When the actor asked women to share their erotic secrets for a new book, she found herself rethinking her own relationship with desire - and deciding to have more fun

‘I just wanted to help people!’ How Tanya Smith stole $40m, evaded the FBI and broke out of prison

She started defrauding banks as a teenager to support needy neighbours. Soon, she was making millions – and living the high life. Now, after spending nearly a quarter of her life in jail, she has turned her wild story into a memoir

‘Steam will come out of readers’ ears!’: Joe Boyd on his epic, enraging history of global music

At over 900 pages, the countercultural icon’s new book covers everything from fifth-century Roma music to Miriam Makeba. But, he argues, the drum machine marked the end of history

Author Mark Haddon: ‘Bodies are such a good source of drama’

The writer on revisiting his boarding school days, watching 24 Hours in A&E, and reading everything from cannibalism novels to science encyclopedias

‘The hardest thing is to forgive yourself’: actor Samantha Morton and writer Jenni Fagan on the trauma of growing up in care

Both women have used their work to process childhoods ravaged by neglect and abuse. Meeting for the first time, they discuss survival and anger, Fagan’s new memoir, and the state of the UK’s care system today

‘I wanted my photos to reflect my disorientation’: rising star Anastasia Samoylova on how Florida’s hyperreal streets inspired her work

It’s a big moment for the Russian-born photographer known for her dreamlike images of Miami after the 2017 hurricane. Here she talks about upcoming shows in London and New York, plus a new book surveying her career to date