In this interview, I chat with Patti Callahan Henry about The Story She Left Behind, the real life inspiration for this book, exploring how humans deal with the unknowing, digging up literary themes, including Beatrix Potter, how she determined who would tell the story, her title and cover, and much more. Patti's recommended reads are: Playworld by Adam Ross Go As a River by Shelley Read The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page 2025 Winter Reading Guide with 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment th ..read more

In this interview, I chat with Chloe Dalton about Raising Hare, why she decided to write this memoir, her relationship with Hare, how her habits and lifestyle changed as a result of this relationship, our interactions with wild animals, what she learned from these experiences, her working relationship with Angeline Jolie, and much more. Chloe's recommended reads are: The Women by Kristin Hannah The Future by Naomi Alderman The Glass Maker by Tracy Chevalier The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page 2025 Winter Reading Guide wi ..read more

In this interview, I chat with Gillian McAllister about Famous Last Words, subverting the standard thriller tropes, her writing process and how she deletes her entire first draft after she writes it, setting a book in the publishing world, taking a hostage negotiation course, and much more. Gillian's recommended read is Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra. Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page 2025 Winter Reading Guide with 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this winter. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases ..read more

Kelly Hooker joins me for the February's Real Time Reading episode where we highlight our current, past and upcoming reads. Kelly’s Selections: Last:  Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild Nesting by Roisin O’Donnell Now: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by Jessica Guerrieri The Names by Florence Knapp Next: What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown The Compound by Aisling Rawle DNFs or Didn't Like: None Book Mail Highlights: Home of the American Circus by Allison Larkin The Girls Who Grew Big by Leila Mottley Cindy's Selections: Last: The Safari by Jaclyn Goldis The Griffin Sisters’ Gr ..read more

In this interview, I chat with Penny Haw about Follow Me to Africa, how and why she decided to write about Mary Leakey, writing about a real person, drafting a dual timeline story, creating a fictional character to help tell Mary's story, a strong sense of place, and much more. Penny's recommended reads are: The Trial of Mrs. Rhinelander by Denny S. Bryce The Kennedy Girl by Julia Bryan Thomas Happy Is the One by Katie Allen Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page 2025 Winter Reading Guide with 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainme ..read more

In this interview, I chat with Marianne Cronin about Eddie Winston Is Looking for Love, her interesting inspiration for the book, intergenerational friendships, writing her sophomore novel, what surprised her the most about writing this one, why she selected a charity shop for Eddie's job, Eddie's new wardrobe, and much more. Marianne's recommended reads are: Sandwich by Catherine Newman The Divorcees by Rowan Beaird Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page 2025 Winter Reading Guide with 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this ..read more

In this interview, I chat with Callan Wink about Beartooth, his inspiration for this story, Hazen's name and how he chose it, Hazen's character, his process for writing this book, creating a strong sense of place, his thoughts on the title and cover, and much more. Callan's recommended reads are: The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien Prayer for the Dying by Stewart O'Nan Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page 2025 Winter Reading Guide with 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this winter. I ..read more

In this interview, I chat with Jakob Kerr about Dead Money, his inspiration for this story, how his work in the tech industry informed this book, how thriller stories follow the money, his writing process, focusing on character development, and much more. Jakob's recommended reads are: Longmire by Craig Johnson What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page 2025 Winter Reading Guide with 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this winter. I also inc ..read more

In this interview, I chat with Renee Rosen about Let's Call Her Barbie, the story of how Barbie came to be, why Barbie looks like she does, what Renee couldn't include, the editing process, her title and cover, and much more. Renee's recommended reads are: The Lost Passenger by Frances Quinn The Many Lives and Loves of Hazel Lavery by Lois Cahall Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page 2025 Winter Reading Guide with 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this winter. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a ..read more

Kelly Hooker joins me for the January's Real Time Reading episode where we highlight our current, past and upcoming reads. Kelly’s Selections: Last:  Any Trope But You by Victoria Lavine Penitence by Kristen Koval Now: The House of My Mother: A Daughter’s Quest for Freedom by Shari Franke Dream State by Eric Puchner Next: Our Last Resort by Clemence Michallon The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett DNFs or Didn't Like: The Antidote by Karen Russell Book Mail Highlights: Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild Julie Chan is Dead by Liann Zhang Cindy's Selections: Last: Penit ..read more