Episodes

In this interview, I chat with Jesse Q. Sutanto about The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties, creating and now ending this series, the screen adaptation and its status, the highlight of writing this book, her writing process and how she shares it on Instagram, incorporating the Chinese new Year, infusing humor into her stories, and much more. Jesse's recommended read is Till Death Do Us Part by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn. Want to know which new titles are publishing in January - May of 2024? Check out...

In this interview, I chat with Allison Pataki about Finding Margaret Fuller, how she learned about Margaret Fuller and decided to write about her, why her goal is to educate and entertain, visiting Concord, her in-depth Author's Note, Fuller's rivalry with Edgar Allen Poe, and much more. Allison's recommended reads are: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt Husbands and Lovers by Beatriz Williams Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray Want to know which new titles are publishin...

In this interview, I chat with Cara Hunter about All the Rage, how the DI Fawley series came about, creating a police procedural series, basing All the Rage on a real-life case, the title and its mutliple meanings, when book 7 will be out, and much more. Cara's recommended reads are: What Have You Done? by Shari Lapena Anna O by Matthew Blake The Woman on the Ledge by Ruth Mancini Want to know which new titles are publishing in January - May of 2024? Check out the new Literary Lookbook whic...

In this interview, I chat with Cara Hunter about All the Rage, how the DI Fawley series came about, creating a police procedural series, basing All the Rage on a real-life case, the title and its mutliple meanings, when book 7 will be out, and much more. Cara's recommended reads are: What Have You Done? by Shari Lapena Anna O by Matthew Blake The Woman on the Ledge by Ruth Mancini Want to know which new titles are publishing in January - May of 2024? Check out the new Literary Lookbook whic...

In this interview, I chat with Rebecca Serle about Expiration Dates, incorporating magic into her books, how magic opens up the world she is creating, how she chooses her characters' names, how her title and cover came about, what surprised her the most when writing this one, and much more.

In this interview, I chat with Rebecca Serle about Expiration Dates, incorporating magic into her books, how magic opens up the world she is creating, how she chooses her characters' names, how her title and cover came about, what surprised her the most when writing this one, and much more. Rebecca's recommended reads are: Good Material by Dolly Alderton Sylvia's Second Act by Hillary Yablon Want to know which new titles are publishing in January - May of 2024? Check out the new Literary Loo...

In this interview, I chat with Jennifer Ryan about The Underground Library, writing a book about books and libraries, how her role as book editor informed her writing, what surprised her the most when writing this one, her stunning cover, and much more.

In this interview, I chat with Stephanie Dray about Becoming Madam Secretary, why she decided to write about Frances Perkins, her research and how she chose what to include and what to leave out, drafting a comprehensive Author's Note, what she is working on next, and much more.

In this interview, I chat with Jennifer Ryan about The Underground Library, writing a book about books and libraries, how her role as book editor informed her writing, what surprised her the most when writing this one, her stunning cover, and much more. Jennifer's recommended reads are: The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles The Midnight Library by Matt Haig Want to know which new titles are...

In this interview, I chat with Stephanie Dray about Becoming Madam Secretary, why she decided to write about Frances Perkins, her research and how she chose what to include and what to leave out, drafting a comprehensive Author's Note, what she is working on next, and much more. Stephanie's recommended read is The Phoenix Crown by Kate Quinn and Janie Chang. Want to know which new titles are publishing in January - May of 2024? Check out the new Literary Lookbook which contains a comprehensive...

In this interview, I chat with Eliza Knight and Denny S. Bryce about Can't We Be Friends, how they learned about the friendship between Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe, writing a book together and how they approached it, using song titles for chapter headings, how the title and cover came about, and much more. Eliza's recommended read is The Phoenix Crown by Kate Quinn and Janie Chang. Denny's recommended reads are: Lone Wolf by Gregg Hurwitz Endless Vessel by Charles Soule All the Sinne...

In this interview, I chat with Eliza Knight and Denny S. Bryce about Can't We Be Friends, how they learned about the friendship between Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe, writing a book together and how they approached it, using song titles for chapter headings, how the title and cover came about, and much more. Eliza's recommended read is The Phoenix Crown by Kate Quinn and Janie Chang. Denny's recommended reads are: Lone Wolf by Gregg Hurwitz Endless Vessel by Charles Soule All the Sinne...

In this Behind the Scenes interview, Heather Duncan and I chat about her role as Executive Director at Mountains and Plains Booksellers Association, what her job entails, FallCon and SpringCon, the states that make up the MPIBA region, Reading the West book awards, and much more. Heather's recommended reads are: Gideon the 9th by Tamsyn Muir Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie Middlegame by Seanan Maguire Want to know which new titles are publishing in January - May of 2024? Check out the new L...

In this Behind the Scenes interview, Heather Duncan and I chat about her role as Executive Director at Mountains and Plains Booksellers Association, what her job entails, FallCon and SpringCon, the states that make up the MPIBA region, Reading the West book awards, and much more. Heather's recommended reads are: Gideon the 9th by Tamsyn Muir Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie Middlegame by Seanan Maguire Want to know which new titles are publishing in January - May of 2024? Check out the new L...

In this interview, I chat with Clare Mackintosh about I Promise It Won't Always Hurt Like This, how grief changes your identity, structuring this memoir, how her titles and cover came about, the differences and similarities in writing crime fiction and a memoir, and much more. Clare's recommended reads are: A Manual for Heartache by Cathy Rentzenbrink The Madness of Grief by Richard Coles The Phone Booth at the Edge of the World by Laura Mai Messina Want to know which new titles are publish...

In this interview, I chat with Clare Mackintosh about I Promise It Won't Always Hurt Like This, how grief changes your identity, structuring this memoir, how her titles and cover came about, the differences and similarities in writing crime fiction and a memoir, and much more. Clare's recommended reads are: A Manual for Heartache by Cathy Rentzenbrink The Madness of Grief by Richard Coles The Phone Booth at the Edge of the World by Laura Mai Messina Want to know which new titles are publish...

In this interview, I chat with Katherine Reay about The Berlin Letters, setting a story during the Cold War and the fall of the Berlin Wall, what surprised her the most when writing this one, why the Cold War is a popular time period to write about now, how her title and cover came about, deciding on the format she used, and much more. Katherine's recommended reads are: The Matchmaker's Gift by Lynda Cohen Loigman Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell Want to know which new titles are publishing in Jan...

In this interview, I chat with Katherine Reay about The Berlin Letters, setting a story during the Cold War and the fall of the Berlin Wall, what surprised her the most when writing this one, why the Cold War is a popular time period to write about now, how her title and cover came about, deciding on the format she used, and much more. Katherine's recommended reads are: The Matchmaker's Gift by Lynda Cohen Loigman Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell Want to know which new titles are publishing in Jan...

In this interview, I chat with Deborah Jackson Taffa about Whiskey Tender, telling an intersectional story, portraying blended backgrounds versus oversimplifying the Native experience, weaving history into her own story, what surprised her the most when she was writing her memoir. her title and cover, and much more. Deborah's recommended reads are: Shutter by Ramona Emerson The Missing Morningstar by Stacie Shannon Denetsosie The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters The Strange Beautiful by Carla...

In this interview, I chat with Deborah Jackson Taffa about Whiskey Tender, telling an intersectional story, portraying blended backgrounds versus oversimplifying the Native experience, weaving history into her own story, what surprised her the most when she was writing her memoir. her title and cover, and much more. Deborah's recommended reads are: Shutter by Ramona Emerson The Missing Morningstar by Stacie Shannon Denetsosie The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters The Strange Beautiful by Carla...

In this interview, I chat with Amanda Churchill about The Turtle House, how this story is inspired by her grandmother's life, incorporating a Minogame into the book, deciding on Lia's career path, telling an intergenerational story, Japan before and during World War 2, and much more. Amanda's recommended reads are: Chenneville by Paulette Jiles Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig A History of Burning by Janika Oza The Majority by Elizabeth Silver B.F.F. by Christie Tate Wa...

In this interview, I chat with Amanda Churchill about The Turtle House, how this story is inspired by her grandmother's life, incorporating a Minogame into the book, deciding on Lia's career path, telling an intergenerational story, Japan before and during World War 2, and much more. Amanda's recommended reads are: Chenneville by Paulette Jiles Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig A History of Burning by Janika Oza The Majority by Elizabeth Silver B.F.F. by Christie Tate Wa...

In this interview, I chat with Robin Oliveira about A Wild and Heavenly Place, how she set out to write an epic love story, creating a strong sense of place, her title and cover, understanding her characters' motivations, shipbuilding and coal mining, and much more. Robin's recommended reads are: The General and Julia by Jon Clinch The Voyage of the Narwal by Andrea Barrett On the Way to the End of the World by Adrianne Harun The Poldark series by Winston Graham Want to know which new titl...

In this interview, I chat with Robin Oliveira about A Wild and Heavenly Place, how she set out to write an epic love story, creating a strong sense of place, her title and cover, understanding her characters' motivations, shipbuilding and coal mining, and much more. Robin's recommended reads are: The General and Julia by Jon Clinch The Voyage of the Narwal by Andrea Barrett On the Way to the End of the World by Adrianne Harun The Poldark series by Winston Graham Want to know which new titl...