Book Club

Lord Richard Dannatt was a soldier for forty years concluding his military career as Chief of the General Staff – the professional head of the British Army. Since retiring from active duty in 2009, he was Constable of the Tower of London until July 2016. In 2011 he became an independent member of the House of Lords.

His military career began in 1971 with a first tour of duty in Belfast as a platoon commander. During his second tour of duty, also in Northern Ireland, he was awarded the Military Cross. In 1977, however he suffered a major stroke, taking two years to recover. His commanding officer encouraged him to stay, and Lord Dannatt went onto hold the Army’s highest military rank.

Lord Dannatt is the author of two high-praised books, his autobiography, Leading from the Front and his latest he co-authored Victory to Defeat: The British Army 1918-1940. Join Lord Dannatt in the special Goldster Author-to-Author with Humphrey Hawksley at the evening time of 6pm, Wednesday December 6th 2023.

Goldster Conversations expands to an exciting, new live venue featuring two of the biggest stars of the art, literary and world of ideas.  Artist Lanre Olagoke founder of the Arts Alive Trust is lending his central London studio as the stage for a Goldster Inside Story interview by Goldster guest presenter Bonnie Greer.  Lanre’s charity helps young people use art to discover find ways to overcome life’s challenges. Many come from underprivileged inner-city communities. As a young man, Lanre’s own creative spirit tore him away from his secure family home and he ended up sleeping rough surrounded by despair and drug addiction. How did he recover, and why?

Bonnie Greer, novelist, critic and broadcaster, will talk Lanre through his life’s story and add some her own. From being raised in the rougher, poorer parts of Chicago she moved to Britain in 1986 and through her plays, novels, films and forensic conversation became a face a voice familiar to millions. Live on Goldster, December 7th 2023 at 12:00pm. 

https://www.artalive.org.uk/ 

Twitter   @artalivetrust 

https://www.lanre.co.uk/about-artist 

Instagram  @lolagoke 

X/Twitter @LANRECOLAGOKE 

Gothic media moguls Meg Hafdahl and Kelly Florence have written a guide to the science behind Agatha Christie’s stories and her characters Mrs Marple and Hercule Poirot whom we have come to know and love. Through interviews, literary and film analysis, and bone-chilling discoveries, The Science of Agatha Christie uncovers the science behind novels that have become an integral part of the modern murder mystery, answering such questions as:

• What is the science behind the poisons used to commit murders in Agatha Christie’s stories?

• When did crime investigation become more common as seen in Murder on the Orient Express?

• Has science made it possible to uncover the truth behind the investigative powers of Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple?

• How did Agatha Christie use isolated settings to best explore the psychology of her characters?

Meg and Kelly are no novices when it comes to crime fiction and science. Their earlier books include The Science of Stephen King, The Science of Women in Horror; The Science of Serial Killers; The Science of Witchcraft and The Science of Monsters. They also co-host a podcast called Horror Rewind. Hear about the real-life angles that capture Hollywood’s fascination and about the psychology and science that make crime and horror tick. Join Meg and Kelly in conversation with Humphrey Hawksley at 12.00 London time on Inside Story Friday December 8th 2023

Join us in person or online for a very special Riverstone Live event, when Lucinda Hawksley will be chatting to Goldster’s much-loved Tai Chi teacher, Andy Yau.

Andy was born and raised in Hong Kong, where he trained in Musical Theatre Dance at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. It was in Hong Kong that his passion began for Martial Arts and Kung Fu, at a young age. He then developed a love of Tai Chi in his 20s. Andy moved to the UK (and is now a UK citizen) to pursue an MA in acting at The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. His acting career has taken him around the world with tours including Peter Pan, Anything Goes and Thoroughly Modern Millie.

After working as an actor in both Hong Kong and in the UK for 15 years, Andy decided to focus his career on teaching movement and Tai Chi at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Besides working as a Tai Chi instructor and a movement coach, Andy also works as a Cantonese interpreter for the NHS. Andy is proud to teach Tai Chi for Goldster.

Put the date in your diary: 12pm on 14 December. You can join Andy and Lucinda – as always – on Zoom, or Goldster members can apply to be in the live audience in London, by emailing concierge@goldster.co.uk

Phillipa Ashley was one of the first authors to come onto the Goldster Book Club, and she is making a welcome return to talk about the art of seasonal writing. Phillipa is a Sunday Times, Amazon and Audible best-selling author of uplifting romantic fiction, and on 15 December, she’ll be talking to Lucinda about her Christmas-themed novels.

After studying English at Oxford University, Phillipa worked as a copywriter and journalist before turning her hand to writing. Her debut novel, Decent Exposure, won the Romantic Novelists’ Association New Writers Award and was filmed as a Lifetime TV movie, 12 Men of Christmas, starring Kristin Chenoweth and Josh Hopkins.

Since then, her novels have sold well over a million copies and been translated into numerous languages. Phillipa lives in an English village with her husband, has a grown-up daughter and loves nothing better than walking the Lake District hills and swimming in Cornish coves. Join her and Lucinda at 12pm on 15 December for a festive Goldster Conversation. 

Social media

Twitter @PhillipaAshley

Instagram @phillipa.ashleyauthor

Twitter, Threads & Instagram: @lucindahawksley 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LucindaHawksleyauthor

Hank Phillippi Ryan is a bestselling author of fourteen psychological thrillers, winning the most prestigious awards in the genre: five Agathas, five Anthonys, and the coveted Mary Higgins Clark Award. She is also on-air investigative reporter for Boston’s WHDH-TV, with thirty-seven Emmy award s and dozens more journalism prizes. National book critics call her “a superb and gifted storyteller”. She is the only author to win the Agatha in four categories: Best First, Best Novel, Best Short Story and Best Non-Fiction.

Her newest is the page-turning standalone thriller The House Guest–a story of psychological manipulation that explores the dark heart of marriage and friendship—it’s Gaslight meets Thelma & Louise. The Publishers Weekly rave review says, “Ryan is a master of suspense!” and the Library Journal starred review calls it “Binge-worthy.” Hank began her TV career in 1975, anchoring and reporting the news for TV stations in Indianapolis and then Atlanta. She’s battled her way through hurricanes, floods and blizzards, wired herself with hidden cameras, chased criminals and confronted corrupt politicians. She has interviewed world famous figures from King Charles to President Carter to Muhammad Ali. Join Hank in a special evening Goldster Conversation with Humphrey Hawksley. Hear her adventures, the ups and downs of writing and how to craft a best-selling psychological thriller. Author-to-Author Thursday December 21st at 4pm London time.

Many people feel like they’re in the dark when it comes to their finances. Insecurity about money often stems from past experiences and how you grew up. Unfortunately, this can also lead us into some bad habits and feeling like the ability to save money is out of our reach. Sometimes the idea of investing can be overwhelming and in our busy lives, who has the time to learn and really understand what your money can do for you? Kalee Boisvert profiles herself as a Money Guru. Her passion is creating new possibilities in women’s lives by showing them the ropes when it comes to money, to create understandings about wealth, investment and finance.

With inspiration from her own life, Kalee has developed an easy-to-use system for women, young and old, to take control of their finances. In her book Make Money Your Thing she lays out an approachable guide to take women on a journey to feeling comfortable and in control of their finances. There are simple action steps to learn the basics of money management, understand the importance of balancing the books, and embrace the uniqueness of your own personal situation. “When money is your thing”, says Kalee, “you can feel completely at ease about making it work for you–and feel confident that your financial goals and dreams are all very possible.” Ask Kalee for tips in this Goldster Conversation with Humphrey Hawksley on Inside Story 12.00 London time, Thursday January 4th 2024.