My guest this week is author J.T. Ellison. J.T. is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than thirty novels of psychological suspense, including the Taylor Jackson series, the Samantha Owens series, and numerous acclaimed standalones. She is the Emmy Award–winning cohost of A Word on Words, the literary television series on PBS.

Over a twenty-year career, her work has earned widespread critical recognition, with titles optioned for television and published in thirty countries, and millions of copies in print worldwide.

A dedicated voice in the writing community, she also publishes The Creative Edge, a newsletter and blog for writers navigating the craft and business of fiction.

My guest this week is author Holly B. Gutwillinger. Holly is an author and podcaster from a small northern Ontario town. Her debut novel, North of Broken & Furever Home, launches February 14, 2026, exploring a woman's complex relationship with her rescue dogs.

Holly's writing is shaped by her deep love of family—she is the proud mother of two adult sons—and her commitment to the animals who enrich our lives.

She holds a certificate in creative writing from the University of Toronto's School of Continuing Studies and is currently completing her MFA in fiction at the University of King's College. Holly serves on the board of her local writers' guild and volunteers with the Women's Fiction Writers Association.

My guest this week is author Chris Underwood. Chris started seriously writing back in 2012 when his concerns of a power grid failure began to creep into his mind. His concerns festered into a storyline that continued to bug him until he got it on paper. It took five years of honing his craft to get the first book out, but it has been fun sharing the secret.

My guest this week is author Maria Gallucci. Maria is a multi-award-winning real estate agent and proud CODA (Child of Deaf Adults). Growing up as one of six hearing children raised by Deaf parents, she learned ASL before English and helped her parents buy a home at just 12 years old. This experience shaped her passion for inclusive communication and helping those who are often overlooked. For over 30 years, Maria has supported homebuyers from all walks of life, with special focus on the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and LGBTQ+ communities. She's the founder of Uptown Realty Group, Gallucci Homes, ASL @ Compass Affinity Group, and ASL Realty- a national platform connecting Deaf & Hard of Hearing clients with signing agents - and ranks in the top 1% of agents in Colorado and top 1.5% nationwide. Maria serves on boards for Rocky Mountain Deaf School, DOVE, and Colorado Association of the Deaf. Her motto "just try" reflects her belief that meaningful connection starts with one small step. Her debut book Raised in Silence is both a love letter to the Deaf & Hard of Hearing community and a guide for bridging communication gaps.

My guest this week is author Terrance Niedziela Jr. Terrance grew up in Wisconsin, immersed in shows, movies, and books containing the theme of good defeating evil. He started writing books in the 4th grade, and that passion continued into his adult years. He received his BS in Ancient Middle East History with a minor in Creative Fiction at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and a MA in English and Creative Fiction Writing at Southern New Hampshire University.

My guest this week is author Mandy Eve-Barnett. Mandy is an Edmonton Best Seller, multi-genre author, writing children’s, YA and adult books. With eleven books published since 2011, and one more launching in September 2026, and another nine in various stages of completion, her writing life is full. This does not include her writing in numerous anthologies and magazines, and a variety of non-fiction projects through her freelance business as well as presentations and panelist positions at various writing conferences.

My guest this week is author Mark Edward Jones. Mark is an award-winning author of mystery, thriller, paranormal, and speculative fiction. A retired higher-education finance professional, he began his full-time writing career after retiring in 2017.

Born and raised in Duncan, Oklahoma, Mark developed an early love of storytelling. He attended the University of Oklahoma, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science and public administration.

My next guests will be Mark McWaters and Mike Strickland with Galaxy Press. Join me as we discuss their books and writing process.