This month I have a chat with New York born, but Texas-based based USA Today Bestselling Romance author Chris Keniston. Chris is one thing that most of us aren’t: an extrovert. It’s a conversation that’s different than the usual, Let’s chat. I have *so* many questions. You can find Chris: Website/Blog: chriskeniston.com Facebook: ChrisKenistonAuthor X (Twitter): @CKenistonAuthor Instagram: @ckenistonauthor Show Notes: books, writers, and topics we discuss: Nancy Drew Mysteries – Carolyn Keene Hardy Boys Mysteries – Franklin W. Dixon Clifton Strengths from Gallup (bonus: Interview with Strengths coach Becca Syme) JAG – TV Series The Homecoming by Chris Keniston The Champagne Sisterhood by Chris Keniston Aloha Texas by Chris Keniston Shell Game by Chris Keniston (Golden Girls meets Miami Vice) H.M. Ward – The ArrangementsA Man in a Kilt (Castle Blackstone #1) by Sandy Blair A Rogue in a Kilt (Castle Blackstone #2) by Sandy Blair A Thief in A Kilt (Castle Blackstone #3) by Sandy Blair Emily March Susan Mallery Virgin River Series by Robyn Carr Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb J.K. Rowling/Robert Galbraith

This year Grace Wynter and I were recipients of the 2025 Barbara Neely Scholarship for Black crime writers. I wanted to meet my counterpart and here she is! Grace Wynter and I talk books, writing, and the future of publishing. Let’s chat. I have *so* many questions. You can find Grace: Website: www.gracewynter.com BlueSky: @ggwynterwrites.bsky.social Show Notes: books, writers, and topics we discuss: Judy Blume Jane Austen Toni Morrison Jamaica Kincaid Dean Koontz Stephen King Beverly Neely Karin Slaughter Yasmine Angoe Kathleen Early (Will Trent Series narrator) The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

Noel Stark is a debut author! Her romance has some basis in reality: it’s all about Hollywood. In this interview, we talk about what romance has meant to her, the puzzle of storytelling, and the future of romance fiction. Let’s chat. I have *so* many questions. You can find Noël: Website: www.noelstark.com TikTok: @noelstarkauthor Instagram: @noelstarkauthor   Show Notes: movies, books, writers, and topics we discuss: Love, Camera, Action by Noel Stark Lavyrle Spencer Kathleen E. Woodiwiss

It’s April! No fools here. This month, I have the pleasure of speaking with podcaster and mom, Kara Infante. Her podcast is Bookish Flights. On each episode, she features a guest who talks about three books centered on a theme. We talk about ways that women funnel their creativity. Books! Talking! Conversations! All my favorite things. Let’s chat. I have *so* many questions. You can find Kara: Instagram: @bookishflights Facebook: @bookishflights Website: bookishflights.com Show Notes: movies, books, writers, and topics we discuss: Bookish Flights Podcast Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn Moloka’i by Alan Brennert Cold Hearted Rake by Lisa Kleypas

This month which brings the Ides of March, I have the true joy of speaking with women’s fiction author Brenda Janowitz. I met Brenda about a billion years ago when we co-blogged at Girlfriend’s Book Club, an early author blog co-founded by Hank Phillipe Ryan. Brends’s had an interesting journey that I can’t wait to share with you. Let’s chat. I have *so* many questions. You can find Brenda: Website: brendajanowitz.com Facebook: BrendaJanowitz Instagram: @brendajanowitzwriter Show Notes: movies, books, writers, and topics we discuss: Modern Love: He’s Never Going to Put Away That Shirt Someone Else’s Wife (formerly titled The Good Enough Husband) The Secrets She Keeps Taming the Bad Boy What Was Perfect (The Story of Us Trilogy)Books by Brenda: The Lonely Hearts Club The Grace Kelly Dress Other mentions: Brenda’s CBS NY Book Club Pick – The Audrey Hepburn Estate Burnout by Emily & Amelia Nagasaki Rage Becomes Her by Soraya Chemaly Sold a Story (podcast on the corruption of reading education in the U.S.) Original Sins: The (Mis)education of Black and Native Children and the Construction of American Racism By Eve L. Ewing

Say hello to thriller author Kimberley Troutte! Kimberley started out like so many of us writing romance but had a hard time staying in a single lane. We talk about genre hopping, starts and stops in a writing career, and what she’s up to now. Let’s chat. I have *so* many questions. You can find Kimberley: Website: https://kimberleytroutte.com/ Facebook: NYTBestsellingRomanceAuthor Instagram: @kimberleytroutte Show Notes: movies, books, writers, and topics we discuss: Anne Marsh Ray Bradbury Laura Bradford Angela James Seals of Summer RITA/Vivian TH*IR*DS – post apocalyptic play. Cora Seton Lynn Raye Harris Sharon Hamilton Books by Kimberley: Soul Stealer Catch Me in Castile Lock and Load (Rita Nominee) Pilot Down (Vivian Nominee) The Package (Infiltrix Series)

This month I have the pleasure of chatting with Laura Drake. I met Laura many years ago when the Orange County romance writers was a chapter of RWA (now disaffiliated). Years ago, Laura left California and took herself and her motorcycle to Texas. It’s been a minute since I’ve seen her, but I really wanted to talk to her because she writes my favorite genre to write and read: women’s fiction. Let’s chat. I have *so* many questions. You can find Laura: Website: http://www.lauradrakebooks.com/ Facebook Group: Laura Drake’s – Peace, Love & Books X (Twitter): @LauraDrakeBooks Instagram: @auradrakebooks Goodreads: Laura Drake Author Bookbub: Laura Drake Author Newsletter sign-up: https://lauradrakebooks.com/newsletter/ Show Notes: movies, books, writers, and topics we discuss: The Sweet Spot by Laura Drake (2014 RITA Best First Book Winner) The Handmaid’s Tale (2017 Drama, Hulu) Charles Martin, author “When you are not fed love on a silver spoon, you learn to lick it off knives.” ― Lauren Eden, Lioness Awakens

I’m excited to talk to New York Times bestselling romance author Lynn Raye Harris! We met in Houston, Texas at a writer’s conference several years ago. She’s a former Harlequin Presents author turned successful indie. We talk about writing, reading, and horses. Let’s chat. I have *so* many questions. You can find Lynn Raye Harris: Facebook Author Page: AuthorLynnRayeHarris Facebook Reader Group: HOTReadersAndFans Instagram: @lynnrayeharris Newsletter: http://bit.ly/LRHNews Amazon: LynnRayeHarris Bookbub: Lynn Raye Harris  Goodreads: Lynn Raye Harris Show Notes: movies, books, writers, and topics we discuss: Theodora Taylor – feat. Episode 15 Beauty & the Beast Linda Howard Beverly Barton Linda Winstead Jones Kelley St. John Harlequin Presents Hostile Operations Team (H.O.T) Series Chuck Tingle Becca Syme – feat. Episode 24 Nancy Drew Hardy Boys Sweet Valley High V.C. Andrews Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel

Lisa and I met in a kitchen in South Pasadena. A few months ago, I signed up for Happy Women Dinners, events that feature women-focused topics. First, I met Lyz Lenz as she discussed her book about divorce. This month it was a talk from Bonnie Wan about getting clear on what we want in our lives. Great talks and as a bonus, I get to meet interesting women like Lisa Cheek. Her debut book, Sit, Cinderella, Sit will release in January 2025. Let’s chat. I have *so* many questions. You can find Lisa: Substack: lisacheek.substack.com Website lisacheek.com Instagram: @lisacheekauthor Facebook @lisacheekauthor LinkedIn @Lisa Cheek Show Notes: movies, books, writers, and topics we discuss: 20 Dates Faygo Soda (pop) The Liars Club by Mary Karr David Sedaris A Living Remedy by Nicole Chung Little Sister (Cinderella Moon) editing by Lisa Cheek Melissa Febos My Body by Emily Ratajkowski Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottleib What Comes Next and How to Like It by Abigail Thomas Jenny Lawson

After twenty-plus years in Los Angeles, I get a lot of invites to various shows—a friend of a friend sent over a link to a one-woman show. The caveat? It was… One night only. And…I was jet-lagged having just flown in from Europe. Fortunately, I live about five minute’s drive from the Hudson Theatre and frequent it often enough to know where to park. (Critical to LA plans). That night I had the pleasure of watching Teruko Nakajima dance her way through her life story Made in America. It was so amazing, interesting, and awe-inspiring that I immediately slid into her DMs and set up this interview… Let’s chat. I have *so* many questions. You can find Teruko: Instagram: @terukonakajima Website: www.terukonakajima.com Show Notes: book, writers, and topics we discuss: The Hollywood Fringe Festival (feat. Teruko Nakajima’s Made in America) Moonlight (movie) Upright Citizens Brigade Soho Playhouse Made in America, August 30, 2024, The Hudson Theatres, Los Angeles, California

I can’t wait for you to hear my conversation with Dee J Adams. She’s a modern-day renaissance woman. From acting, to voiceover work, to on-set coach, to romance author, there’s little she’s shied away from in the creative arena. Tune in while we discuss her parallel paths to creative success and fulfillment. Her nonfiction book covers life on set. It’s a fun read that’s great for party entertainment. Have a listen as we go behind the scenes. Let’s chat. I have *so* many questions. You can find Dee J: Website: http://deejadams.com/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DeeJAdamsAuthor X: https://x.com/DeeJAdams Goodreads: Dee J. Adams From L-R, Katey Sagal, Laurie Metcalf, Dee J Adams, Alicia Goranson Show Notes: book, writers, and topics we discuss: Roseanne Boys Will Be Boys Frannie’s Turn Still Standing True Jackson, VP The Connors Dee J as a guest star on The Connors (Toilet Hacks & The Management Track) Why Was Roseanne Cancelled… Books & Authors: Overheard on the Set by Dee J Adams True Story: What Reality TV Says About Us by Danielle J. Lindemann Helen Kay Dimon/Darby Kane Anne Dano 

Enjoy a conversation with Aime Austin, the author of the Nicole Long and Casey Cort series of legal thrillers. In these conversations, I interview brilliant women creators. We talk about creating while being mothers, sisters, daughters, married, divorced, dating, and mapping out our destinies in the meantime.

It’s August and in Episode 49, I have a great conversation with crime author Kellye Garrett. Out of the gate, Kellye’s first book won ALL the awards. From cozy, humorous novels, in Missing White Woman, she’s turned to a more serious book dealing with social media’s influence of a murder investigation. We talk books, and publishing, all while keeping it honest. Let’s chat. I have *so* many questions. You can find Kellye: Twitter/X: https://x.com/kellyekell Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyekell/ Show Notes: book, writers, and topics we discuss: Vibe Magazine  Pitch Wars Alexia Gordon Valerie Burns Patricia Sargeant (Olivia Matthews) Rachel Howzell Hall She Rides Shotgun by Jordan Harper (2017 Anthony Award finalist) Man vs Bear (TikTok) Books mentioned in the podcast: We Are All the Same in the Dark by Julia Heaberlin Missing White Woman by Kellye Garrett Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica