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Philip Pullman is the best-selling author of the His Dark Materials trilogy. His latest book is his retelling of the Grimm Tales (Penguin). ÌýPhilip explains the pleasures of the sparse description and economy of language in the Grimm Tales, and why we have a duty to put our own stamp on the stories we tell.

Susan Sellers is a novelist and critic who teaches at the University of St. Andrews. Her latest book ‘Given The Choice’ (Cillian Press) Ìýhas not one, not two, but three different endings. Susan tells us why she choose to dispense with a definitive ending, and why her characters don’t always learn the lessons they should.

Hannah Silva is a playwright and poet whose work explores the limits of language and vocalisation. Her latest play is ‘The Disappearance of Sadie Jones’, in which the breakdown of language conveys a fragile mind. Hannah tells Ian how writing for the theatre opens up new possibilities beyond her solo work, and Stephanie Greer performs an extract from the play.

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Beverley Nambozo is a Ugandan writer and activist, who has set up the Beverley Nambozo annual award for writing. She’s edited the anthology of African poetry, 'A Thousand Voices Rising'. Beverly reads from her work and tells us how writing is growing in Uganda.

Graham is a writer and academic who teaches creative writing at Lancaster University, he is also director of the Centre for Transcultural Writing and Research there. His latest collection of poetry, 'Cusp', is published by Seren. Graham has worked with Beverly Nambozo on the Femwrite festival in Uganda. As well as discussing the importance of the relationship between African writers and western readers, Graham praises Alice Munro, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature this week.