Will Self gets personal about his mother

The Book Show

British writer Will Self reveals the extent of his "mother-worship" in his writing which has culminated in his latest novel, Elaine. The book was inspired by his mother's own diaries. Actor and comedian Steph Tisdell has added "novelist" to her resume with her young adult novel, The Skin I'm In, and Kylie Mirmohamadi's novel Diving, Falling is about a grieving woman of a 'certain age' whose life is about to get messy.

What would you do if you found your mother's diaries under her bed? British writer, Will Self is the author of many novels including Great Apes, How the Dead Live and Umbrella. His new book Elaine is a no-holds barred novel about his mother. It's based on her actual diaries from the 1950s which divulge details about her mental illness and sex life. Will reflects on the ethics of writing about her diaries (he says go for it) and how his mother fundamentally influenced him as a writer. He also tells Claire Nichols that he regrets his mother never had the opportunity to read any of his novels.

Steph Tisdell is an actor (Bump, Total Control) and comedian and now she's also a novelist. The Skin I'm In for young adult readers is about Layla, an Aboriginal girl in her last year of school with a lot to figure out.

Kylie Mirmohamadi is a Melbourne based academic whose recent research has explored Jane Austen and Brontë-sister fandom. Her debut novel Diving, Falling is contemporary fiction about a middle aged woman who must reckon with her past after the death of her larger than life painter husband and learn how to forge a new life in his absence.