In this episode 397, we welcome author and journalist Katherine Snow Smith to the show! We discuss Katherine’s latest memoir, Stepping on the Blender & Other Times Life Gets Messy, which takes a closer look at the process of beginning again after a divorce. Katherine laces her transparent account of more difficult experiences with positivity and hu…

In this episode 396, we feature acclaimed writer Melissa Broder discussing Death Valley, a comedic odyssey through the desert of grief. The novel was named a best book of 2023 by Oprah Daily, Vanity Fair, and The New York Times, who called it “a triumph, a ribald prayer for sensuality and grace in the face of profound loss, a hilarious revolt again…

In this episode 395, we feature critically acclaimed mystery writer, Sara Johnson, and the fifth book in her Alexa Glock Forensics Mystery series, The Hungry Bones. Publisher’s Weekly says that "Johnson expertly balances her lead’s personal and professional lives and maintains nerve-shredding suspense throughout. This gives every indication that Al…

In this episode 394, we focus on the pros and cons of traditional and indie publishing. Our featured guest is internationally bestselling author Ellen Butler who has extensive experience publishing traditionally and as an indie author. We learn that no path is the wrong path and there are many things to consider when deciding on the best publishing…

In this episode 393, we feature award-winning Charlotte writer Tommy Tomlinson and his latest release, Dogland, which explores not only the passion, glory, and slobber of the Westminster Dog Show, but focuses on existential questions about the relationships between dogs and humans and whether the dogs who compete in dog shows are happy. Tomlinson s…

In this episode 392, we focus on writing non-fiction and memoir. Our featured guest with extensive experience in this field is Frye Gaillard, an award-winning author who has written more than thirty books, ranging across the genres of history, memoir, journalism, and historical stories for young readers. In addition to discussing the mechanics of t…

In this episode 391, we feature writer, filmmaker, and activist, Curtis Chin, to talk about his new memoir, “Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant.” It garnered a great deal of positive attention from popular media outlets nationwide, including being named as a 2023 top memoir by Time Magazine, the Washington Post, W. Magazine, Go…

In this episode 390, we focus on how to develop a writing practice and tips for making it stick. Our featured guest with extensive experience on this topic is award-winning author Kim Wright, who has worked as a novelist, journalist, teacher, and speaker. She also is known as The Story Doctor, who deeply believes that everyone has an artist within …

In this episode 389, we welcome critically acclaimed Southern fiction writer, Gerry Wilson, and talk with her about her new historical fiction novel, That Pinson Girl. While it’s a story that takes place in Mississippi during World War I, there are plenty of aspects of the plot that are relevant to today’s world. Clifford Garstang, author of Oliver…

In this episode 388, we feature Brooke Shaffner and her debut novel Country of Under, which won the 1729 Book Prize, was a runner-up for the PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction, and was shortlisted for Dzanc Books’ Prize for Fiction and Black Lawrence Press’s Big Moose Prize. Author Helen Benedict says this is "a novel about the pain …

In this episode 387, we feature Dana Trent and her memoir, Between Two Trailers, a powerful story about a girl who escapes her childhood as a preschool drug dealer in rural Indiana, to become a graduate of Duke Divinity School. Publishers Weekly calls the memoir a “blend of grit and hope.” Other reviews invoke the phrases: “luscious prose,” “ludicr…

In this episode 386, we feature Katherine Faulkner, an award-winning journalist, studied history at Cambridge. She has worked as an investigative reporter and an editor and was formerly the joint Head of News at The Times (London). She lives in London, where she grew up, with her husband and two daughters. She is the author of The Other Mothers and…

In this episode 385, we feature M. Scott Douglass, acclaimed writer and publisher/managing editor at Main Street Rag Publishing Company, and his memoir, “8000 Mile Roll,” a story about a motorcycle adventure across America. Joseph Bathanti, former North Carolina Poet Laureate, says it is impossible to read the memoir “and not conjure Steppenwolf’s …

In this episode 384, Hannah, Sarah, and Landis share a wealth of writing advice from writers interviewed in the first four years of the podcast, with favorite quotes and takeaways from all eight books in The Write Quotes series. We cover a variety of topics from finding inspiration and writing techniques to publishing and marketing your finished bo…

In this episode 383, on the cusp of Major League Baseball’s opening day, we feature award-winning author Mark Stevens and his novel, The Fireballer, a poignant story about hopes, dreams, and how far one man’s talents takes him before he realizes it’s about what you do — and how you do it. Named one of the Best Baseball Books of the Year in 2023 by …

In this episode 382, we welcome award-winning author Joe Clifford, and discuss his new psychological thriller, All Who Wander. Clifford’s work has been praised as “taut, pacey and with a powerful sense of pace...” by celebrated mystery writer, Paula Hawkins, and Anthony- nominated author E.A. Ayman calls his latest “gritty, compelling, and fearless…

In this episode 381, we have a special feature for writers (or curious readers): a double interview with two literary agents about the business and process of being an agent for authors. Jamie Chambliss of Folio Literary Management and Kristina Sutton Lennon of Focused Artists share a behind-the-scenes glimpse at what it is like to work with a lite…

In this episode 380, we feature Philadelphia author Sarahlyn Bruck, and her latest novel, Light of the Fire, which is both a mystery and exploration of the landscape of friendship between two people over time. A. J. Banner, #1 Kindle, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today bestselling author, calls Light of Fire “[a] deftly crafted, moving novel of frien…

In this episode 379, we feature Adam in the Garden, the second collection from acclaimed local poet AE Hines. These poems touch on everything from current events and climate change to sexuality and relationships to the beauty of small moments in one’s own home or backyard. Pulitzer finalist Dorianne Laux calls Hines “a poet willing to risk sentimen…

In this episode 378, we feature Hugh Willard, a psychotherapist, singer-songwriter, and author with a career spanning more than thirty years, and his book “Finding Beauty in the Gray: Stories and Verse From the Third Age,” which Kirkus Reviews calls “a thoughtful, upbeat, and accessible…primer on understanding and enjoying middle age.” The book is …

In this episode 377, we feature two Charlotte area memoirists, Gilda Morina Syverson and Bruce McIntyre, whose memoirs have garnered wide praise from the writing community. We focus on Gilda’s recent book, “A Healing Journey, From 9/11 Beyond the Pandemic,” and Bruce’s book, “There Are No Answers Here, Only Questions.” In addition to diving into th…

In this episode 376, we welcome back Charlotte novelist Mark de Castrique, author of 23 novels. Today, we focus on his novel, Dangerous Women, the latest in his series featuring Ethel Fiona Crestwater, a seventy-five-year-old retired FBI agent who now rents rooms to active agents and is the smartest and most fearless of anyone in her household. Pub…

In today’s episode 375, we feature David Madden, author of eighteen works of fiction, including Cassandra Singing, Bijou, and two collections called The Last Bizarre Tale, and Marble Goddesses and Mortal Flesh. Most recently, he released a memoir about his mother’s life, written through his interpretation of her memories, called Momma’s Lost Piano.…

In this episode 374, we feature New York Times bestselling author David Baldacci, who is back on the podcast with the second book in his praiseworthy 6:20 Man Series featuring ex-Army Ranger Travis Devine who, in this book, is dropped into a small town in Maine to solve an unexplained mystery. Kirkus calls the story: "A complex, high-powered thrill…

In this episode 373, multi-talented Charlotte author Molly Grantham returns to the podcast to share Practice Makes… Progress, the third and final book in her series of essay collections. This book records her experiences with everything from giving birth at the height of the pandemic and reporting tragedies on television, to savoring beach time wit…

In this episode 372, we welcome Lauren Harr, co-founder of Gold Leaf Literary Services to the podcast. Lauren has worked in the book world for twenty years as a bookseller in Asheville and Albuquerque, an assistant at literary nonprofits in Santa Fe, an intern at Graywolf Press, and a marketing assistant and publicist at Coffee House Press. She spe…

In this episode 371, we’re wrapping up a big year for the podcast in a big way. Special guest Mark West returns to share his highlights of the literary year in Charlotte. We’ll talk about takeaways from publishing nine–yes, nine–books on the podcast this year. And we also have our top reads for 2023. Today’s Featured Topics Act 1: Writer, professor…

In this episode 370, just in time for Christmas, we feature thriller author Ryan Steck, founder of The Real Book Spy website, and his recent holiday-themed action novella Redd Christmas. Ryan’s work has been endorsed by #1 New York Times bestselling authors Jack Carr, C.J. Box, Mark Greaney, Kyle Mills, James Rollins, Nelson DeMille, and others, He…

In this episode 369, we feature Sara Johnson Allen’s award-winning literary fiction debut Down Here We Come Up, a novel about three women who have lost connection with their children, through alienation, adoption, and across a militarized border. Ana Reyes, author of The House in the Pines, says “In exquisite prose, Sara Johnson Allen explores moth…

In this episode 368, we feature Kerry Fryar Freeman and her debut novel Sedona, which follows a spunky editor’s journey behind the veil of a quirky and beautiful town that’s hiding some deep secrets. Author Tom McCaffrey says “Ms. Freeman proves that Sedona really is a state of mind that can be experienced in the pages of her excellent book.” We al…

In this episode 367, we feature Ben Crane, and his novel, A Man of Lies. Publisher’s Weekly says “Crane’s ambitious, fast-moving debut follows a gay mobster desperate to leave the underworld behind. There’s a lot of bloodshed and a lot of plot twists here. Bold and exciting.” The book received a Library Journal starred review. Show discussion highl…

In this episode 366, we’re happy to welcome acclaimed Charlotte-area author Amber Smith back to the show to discuss The Way I Am Now, the sequel to her New York Times bestselling debut The Way I Used to Be. These books follow teenage Eden through high school and into college as she lives with the aftermath of sexual assault and learns to move forwa…

In this episode 365, we feature New York Times bestselling author Jerome Preisler, and his non-fiction book, Civil War Commando, a fine piece of writing about a little known naval war hero in the Civil War named William Barker Cushing, a man who defied all odds to pull off a stunning defeat for the Confederacy. The book is fast paced history about …

In this episode 364, we feature a new comedic murder mystery… ours! Hannah interviews Landis and Sarah about Death by Podcasting. We also discuss Cara Kagan’s blog post on her experiences with the writer’s roller coaster ride of rejection. And we share a new batch of elevator pitches. Today’s Featured Topics Act 1: We celebrate the release of Death…

In today’s Halloween episode 363, we feature author and clinical psychologist, Carissa Orlando, and her new horror novel, The September House. Library Journal says, “With grim humor, emotional resonance, and brilliant subversion of a familiar trope, this compelling debut is perfect for fans of Clay MacLeod Chapman, Simone St. James, and Grady Hendr…

In this episode 362, we feature Michael Thomas Ford, author of Every Star That Falls, the long-awaited sequel to Michael’s acclaimed YA novel Suicide Notes. Every Star That Falls tackles its teen protagonist’s journey to come to terms with his sexual identity and become his true self with both poignancy and humor. Two-time National Book Award final…

In this episode 361, we feature In this episode, we feature Stephen Eoannou, author of Yesteryear. Ashley Warlick, author of The Arrangement says, “Yesteryear is a magical, magnificent novel strung on the threads of a real man’s quest to fight evil, save the day, and lift the world from the clutches of The Great Depression. There’s no way to read t…

In today’s episode 360, we feature critically acclaimed Southern storyteller, Scott Gould, and his latest novel, The Hammerhead Chronicles. The novel is a 2023 winner of the Eric Hoffer Award, with the team saying that The Hammerhead Chronicles “draws us ever closer to grief, loss, and the ways we get each other wrong, transmitting instead into the…

In this episode 359, we’re featuring the last release in our Write Quotes series, Publishing and Book Marketing, with some of our favorite quotes from the book and a discussion of your three hosts’ perspectives on traditional publishing, indie publishing, and marketing. Plus we’ve got new book recommendations and elevator pitches and some upcoming …

In this episode 358, we feature Brian Biswas and his first novel, The Astronomer, an exploration of a man’s struggle with a neurological disease, the nature of reality, and the workings of his own mind. This book is both a love story and the tale of a man’s journey to find his place in the universe. Kirkus calls it “a fantastically strange novel th…

In this episode 357, we feature Martin Clark and his latest legal thriller, “The Plinko Bounce.” Entertainment Weekly says “Martin Clark is, hands down, our finest legal-thriller writer.” His recent novel is a perfect example of that praise with engaging characters and interesting action inside and outside the courtroom. Show discussion highlights:…

In this episode 356, we feature award-winning novelist Susan Zurenda and her latest novel, “The Girl from the Red Rose Motel,” that bestselling author Ron Rash calls “deeply moving without veering into sentimentality,” and that award-winning novelist Donna Everhart calls a “skillfully crafted story of hope, compassion, and resilience.” Show discuss…

In this episode 355, we’re changing up the format with our fall season! We’ll preview some of the amazing authors we have coming up, but today we’re sharing insights into the emotional writing journey from The Write Quotes series. We’ll also take lessons from Meagan Church’s own journey from writing ad copy in a cubicle to publishing novels. Today’…

In this episode 354, we feature Jarrett Krosoczka, the New York Times bestselling author/illustrator behind more than forty books for young readers, and his book Sunshine: How Camp Taught Me About Life, Death, and Hope, the follow-up to his National Book Award finalist Hey, Kiddo. Marjorie Klein talks about the relationship between inspiration, ima…

In this episode 353, we dive into David Fleming’s witty and page-turning account of a true historical mystery, Who’s Your Founding Father: One Man’s Epic Quest to Uncover the First, True Declaration of Independence. Plus Paul Luikart instructs writers on finding the balance between specificity and generality, and we have thoughts from Charlotte Lit…

In this episode 352, we feature David Wright Faladé and his Civil War novel Black Cloud Rising, which Charles Frazier describes as “richly detailed, [a] grippingly told story [that] breathes life into a revolutionary moment when the US moved a vital step forward toward achieving the ideals we’ve always proclaimed.” Plus Pernille Hughes offers tips …

In this episode 351, Tracey Buchanan discusses her debut novel Toward the Corner of Mercy and Peace, which author Susan Reinhardt describes as “Southern fiction at its finest.” Plus Matt Scott shares how he overcame self-doubt to write his first book, and Charlotte Lit gives tips for refreshing your reading. Today’s Featured Authors: Tracey Buchana…

In this episode 350, we celebrate Big Tree, the newest creation of New York Times bestselling author and illustrator Brian Selznick, a moving and entertaining meditation on the Earth and humanity, developed with Steven Spielberg. We also feature book 6 in The Write Quotes series, Writing Community, Revision, & Editors, with a preview of the forewor…

In this episode 349, we feature award-winning author and founder of Starr Creek Press, Julie Mathison, and her novel The Starlet Letter, which reviewers call a “quirky, light-hearted historical mystery” with “wonderfully developed characters.” Plus Robert Babirad talks about writing that next chapter, and Charlotte Lit teaches us to embrace beach r…

In this episode 348, we have a special double feature with two author interviews. First we talk to author and true crime podcaster Andrea Dunlop about Women Are the Fiercest Creatures, which New York Times bestselling author Tara Conklin called “a stylish, timely, buzz-worthy literary thriller that I tore through with glee.” Then we feature acclaim…