What was the inspiration behind Philip Pullman’s Northern lights series? How does he want readers to feel on Lyra’s final adventure in The Rose Field? And has his demon changed now that he has got to the end of this writing journey? How do you say goodbye to characters you love? And, how does storytelling help us all learn to live? 

In this special edition of Ask Penguin, host Rhianna Dhillon visits Philip Pullman at his Oxford home, surrounded by books (and barking cockapoos), to mark thirty years since the world met Lyra Belacqua in Northern Lights we ask the award-winning author reflects on a lifetime of storytelling, returning to Lyra’s world one final time in The Book of Dust series , The Rose Field. 

Discover all the books mentioned in this episode here:  https://www.penguin.co.uk/discover/articles/ask-penguin-podcast-phillip-pullman/

To put a question to future podcast guests, and for exclusive content and book giveaways, join our Broadcast channel on Instagram: @PenguinUKBooks  

Philip Pullman is one of the most highly respected children's authors writing today. Winner of many prestigious awards, including the Carnegie of Carnegies and the Whitbread Award, Pullman’s epic fantasy trilogy His Dark Materials has been acclaimed as a modern classic. It has sold 17.5 million copies worldwide and been translated into 40 languages. In 2005 he was awarded the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. He lives in Oxford.

Is never growing up the secret to great storytelling?

Penguin Books publishes blockbusting, prize-winning, celebrated, controversial, heart-warming, thought-provoking and inspiring books by a range of authors from Ali Smith to Zadie Smith, Jeremy Clarkson to Jeremy Paxman and Jamie Oliver to Oliver Goldsmith.

Is never growing up the secret to great storytelling?

Penguin Books UK