RCL authors at the Edinburgh Festival

We're coming up to halfway through the Edinburgh International Book Festival (9 to 24 August) and it's a good moment to catch up with what's been going on for RCL authors and what's to come.

Jonathan Watts kicked off the festival talking about the indispensable part he had to play in helping finish the murdered journalist Dom Phillips's How To Save the Amazon, which was published earlier this year in the UK, US and Brazil. The reception of the book since publication in March has been moving and astonishing, revealing that books really can help change the world. A recent highlight was Dom's widow Alessandra Sampaio handing a copy of book to Brazil's Environment Minister, Marina Silva, at the Paraty literary festival in Brazil.

Leor Zmigrod had a fascinating conversation with Deborah Baker and Gabriel Gatehouse about what drives belief in conspiracy theories and extremist views, and how our brains are shaped by dogmatic thinking. It is one of a selection of events that is available online and you can sign up to watch it here. 

On Thursday, Nell Stevens spoke about The Original with author Heather Parry. And there was also announcement in the Bookseller of the forthcoming publication of Nell's short story collection The Good Time in July next year, by the new imprint Scribner Editions.

Anyone in Oxford next Wednesday (20 August) can see Nell talking to Daisy Johnson at Daunt Books in Summertown at 7pm. Book here. 

Still to come in Edinburgh, Elly Griffiths first appearance at the book festival (why has it taken them so long to invite her?!) This promises to be a great conversation with Mary Paulson-Ellis.

And then Xiaolu Guo has two events on Friday 22 August where she'll be talking about Call Me Ishmaelle, her retelling of Moby Dick.