Author and lecturer: Toby Litt

Toby Litt is a writer of impressive breadth and daring. Over two decades as a published author Litt has spanned crime, romance and the down right weird in his novels and short stories. Famed for naming his novels in order, from A to Z, his writing is anything but predictable. As well as his acclaimed handiwork, Litt is a university lecturer in creative writing at Birbeck in London, has written comics, songs and even worked on an opera. 

I first interviewed him ten years back in Sheffield, and it's a pleasure to renew our acquaintance with an intimate meeting among the books in his Birbeck office. As well as detailing the tracks he couldn't live without (it's a great mix!), Litt reveals how he narrowly escaped a baseball-bat beating as a teen, the influence of living above an antique shop and the secret to creative writing*. Stream it here, listen through the Acast app for an enhanced version or download the podcast through iTunes by typing 'Desert Isolation Discs'. 

Toby Litt and Alex Lawson

*Not guaranteed to get you published!