Author Francesca Frost discusses her debut novel, The Crypto King's Muse. This suspenseful enemies-to-lovers workplace romance spans Manhattan, the Cayman Islands, and Davos, following Charlotte, a once-successful fashion entrepreneur who finds herself navigating the high-stakes world of cryptocurrency while becoming dangerously entangled with an enigmatic fintech CEO. After a lifetime of reading other people's stories, Francesca decided it was finally time to write her own. Along the way, she learned the conventions of romance writing and challenged her own natural pessimism to embrace the genre's promise of a happily-ever-after. In this episode, Francesca shares her journey to publication, explains how the 2022 FTX crypto exchange collapse reshaped early drafts of The Crypto King's Muse, and discusses why she believes romantic fiction is a form of emotional technology that can help all of us.

Author Benny B. Peterson discusses their latest novel, The Maidenheads, a fractured, coming-of-age love story centered on two queer indie musicians in Washington, D.C. When Jamie, a journalist trapped in a dead-end newspaper job, discovers she's pregnant, her life begins to shift beneath her feet. Then Mari, her ex-girlfriend, former bandmate, and unabashed agent of chaos, reappears, turning Jamie's world turns upside down and forcing her to confront what she truly wants and what she's willing to do to get it. In this episode, Benny shares their writing journey, discusses how Jamie's story came to mirror aspects of their own transition, and describes the unique challenge of translating a musician's relationship with music into words on the page.

Author Ravena Guron discusses her latest YA thriller, Sincerely, Your Murderer. Seventeen-year-old Kay returns to her hometown after a year away, hoping for a quiet week. Instead, she discovers an anonymous letter waiting on her bed. The note lays out a chilling countdown: a thrill on Tuesday, wreckage on Wednesday, treachery on Thursday, a fire on Friday, sabotage on Saturday, a stabbing on Sunday, and a murder on Monday. Her murder. While the premise is dark, Sincerely, Your Murderer balances fast-paced suspense with plenty of humor, creating a story that's both thrilling and entertaining. In this episode, Ravena shares her writing journey, explains why she loves writing for young adult readers, and discusses how her education and professional background influence her work, from her strong sense of justice to the mathematical thinking that shapes her storytelling.

Author Zara Marielle discusses her debut novel, The Café of Infinite Doors. This empowering portal fantasy follows Marceline, a woman trapped in a toxic marriage who makes a life-changing decision after a fight with her husband. Defying his wishes, she takes a job at a mysterious café filled with birds, a place where she feels safe, welcomed, and truly seen. But Marceline soon discovers that the café exits outside the boundaries of time and space. Before long, she's swept into a thousand-year-old rivalry between two Scottish goddesses, a conflict that threatens not only the sanctuary she's come to love, but the fate of the entire world. In this episode, Zara shares the journey to publication, discusses how writing this novel allowed her to explore themes of women's empowerment and self-discovery, and reveals how her love of traveling and experience with improv theater found their way into the story.

Author Marc S. Perlman discusses his debut novel, The Riddle of the Trees. This contemporary spy thriller was inspired by a bicycle ride through the Belovezhskaya Forest (Belovezhskaya Pushcha / Białowieża Forest) along the border of Poland and Belarus during Marc's solo travels through Eastern Europe. The forest's remote beauty, shadowy atmosphere, and location between two nations sparked the idea for a story steeped in secrets, intrigue, and geopolitical tension. But Marc's protagonist, Jack Miller, isn't a highly trained operative or world-class spy. He's an ordinary guy who suddenly finds himself in extraordinary circumstances and far deeper waters than he ever expected. While many of the locations and encounters in the novel draw from Marc's real-life travels, the danger and espionage are entirely fictional. In this episode, Marc shares his writing journey, explains why he wasn't always drawn to the spy genre, and reveals how an ordinary calendar became the most valuable tool in his writing process.

Best-selling author Tess Gerritsen discusses her latest novel, The Shadow Friends. Tess is the author of more than 30 books, including her famous Rizzoli & Isles series. Her novels have been published in 40 countries and have sold more than 40 million copies worldwide. The Shadow Friends is the third installment in Tess's Martini Club series, which she says feels especially personal because it explores some of her own thoughts and feelings about growing older. The novel begins with the suspicious death of a renowned disease expert and Russian defector at a conference in Purity, Maine—pulling five friends, all retired spies, into yet another dangerous mystery. Retirement, it seems, is not as quiet as they thought it would be. In this episode, Tess reflects on her writing journey, explains how her own small town in Maine inspired the setting and characters for the Martini Club series, and shares why emotional connection—not plot—is ultimately what keeps readers turning pages.

Author Pam Webber discusses her new novel, Massawa. This historical romance is the first book in a new series. Set in North African during World War II, it is inspired by the real American women who were recruited to serve as spies. The novel follows Kit, a newly minted spy with no field experience but plenty of courage, as she's sent to the coastal city of Massawa in Eritrea, to investigate a conspiracy that threatens the only Allied naval base on the Red Sea—a strategic outpost crucial to halting the Nazi advance in North Africa. Blending real historical events with espionage, danger, adventure, and romance, Massawa shines a light on a fascinating and little-known chapter of WWII history. In this episode, Pam and I chat about her writing journey, the extensive research behind the novel, and the remarkable event known as the "Miracle of Massawa," which played an important role in the Allied war effort.

Author Meera Subramanian and illustrator Danica Novgorodoff discuss their powerful new book, A Better World is Possible: Global Youth Confront the Climate Crisis. Set against the backdrop of the 2019 Youth Climate Strike in New York City, the book follows four young activists whose lives have been shaped by extreme weather events and the realities of a changing climate. Through their stories, readers gain a deeper understanding of the connections between environmental, economic, and social justice issues—and the many ways young people are working to create change. Meera, an environmental journalist, and Danica, a graphic novelist and illustrator, combined their talents to create a work that explores both the urgency of the climate crisis and the reasons for hope. At its heart, the book reminds us that there is a place for everyone in this movement. In this episode, I'll chat with Meera and Danica about the origins of the project, the unique challenges and rewards of their collaboration, and why the voices of the young activists featured in their book deserve our attention.