World Book Night took place on 23 April 2024. National Prison Radio’s daily breakfast show host Ali, had the pleasure of interviewing inspirational author Kit De Waal about her book that features on the Quick Reads series for the World Book Night booklist.
World Book Night is run by The Reading Agency, a national charity that aims to change lives through reading.
World Book Night aims to create a nation of readers, with libraries across the UK applying to receive copies of life-changing Quick Reads titles to give away in partnership with local organisations.
Quick Reads are short books and great stories by the bestselling authors that are accessible, affordable and easy to read.
The Quick Reads programme has collaborated with over 30 publishers to produce a total of 135 titles since 2006 with over 5 million copies distributed and over 6 million library loans.
The launch of Quick Reads was held at the impressive Carmelite House, home of the publishers Hachette.
Award-winning Ali, who produces and presents National Prison Radio’s daily breakfast show, Porridge, interviewed author Kit De Waal about her Quick Reads book Without Warning and Only Sometimes – a memoir from her early life.
Kit started writing in her mid-40s. She previously worked for fifteen years in criminal and family law, was a magistrate for several years and sits on adoption panels. She used to advise Social Services on the care of foster children, and has written training manuals on adoption, foster care and judgecraft for members of the judiciary.
Ali talked to her about her experience as an author; how she came to become one and when she first got into reading.
They also talked about why reading is very beneficial for people in prison.
The Ministry of Justice found 57 percent of adult prisoners have literacy levels below those expected of an 11-year-old and this has been linked to a higher rate of reoffending. Reading is often regarded as a central importance to prisoners lives for this reason.
The interview will be broadcast on National Prison Radio’s NPR Talk in the near future.
National Prison Radio is the world’s first national radio station for people in prison. It’s available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on in-cell TV.
NPR Talk is our talk show helping listeners find their future. The show focuses on issues in prison and features news, interviews and banter. NPR Talk broadcasts every Wednesday at 12:00 and 18:00 on National Prison Radio and reaches over 80,000 people behind bars across England and Wales.
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