Contemporary Fiction Episodes

In this interview, I chat with Laura Hankin about One-Star Romance , setting the book over a longer period of time than most rom-coms, the publishing world as a backdrop, writing a rom-com versus women's fiction, and much mor...

In this interview, I chat with Clare Pooley about How to Age Disgracefully , including a memorable dog in this book, how readers do not like dogs to die in books, Iona Iverson's various covers and titles, the easiest and …

In this interview, I chat with Susie Orman Schnall about Anna Bright Is Hiding Something , how her marketing background helps her as an author, the research she conducted for this one, the Elizabeth Holmes effect, how she dec...

In this interview, I chat with Annabel Monaghan about Summer Romance , the term "hard pants", exploring grief as well as what it means to be a mother, multi-tasking, skateboarding, her book title, and much more. Annabel's rec...

In this interview, I chat with Jesse Q. Sutanto about The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties, creating and now ending this series, the screen adaptation and its status, the highlight of writing this book, her writing process and how …

In this interview, I chat with Rebecca Serle about Expiration Dates, incorporating magic into her books, how magic opens up the world she is creating, how she chooses her characters' names, how her title and cover came about, what surprised …

In this interview, I chat with Karen Outen about Dixon, Descending, how she came upon with the idea for this story, the mental component of climbing Mt. Everest, her research and the way she depicts the mountain, having to decide …

In this interview, I chat with Laurie Frankel about Family Family, exploring adoption in a positive manner, her research, unpacking the idea of chosen family, infusing humor into her stories, cancel culture, how much the book transformed over time, and …

In this interview, I chat with Katie Cotugno about Meet the Benedettos , her love of Pride and Prejudice, taking on the challenge of a reimagining of a classic, choosing character names, reality TV and its cultural impact tod...

In this interview, Denene Millner and I discuss One Blood, her own adoption story and why she wanted to write about adoption, her children's book imprint and why she created it, the character she identifies with the most, her stunning …

In this interview, Tracey Lange and I discuss The Connellys of County Down, her interest in reading and writing about family dynamics, the hardest character to write in this book, reader reactions, the title and cover, the fairy tale woven …

In this interview, Irene and I discuss Lucky Girl, religion in the novel, mother-daughter relationships, what is resonating with readers the most, how much of her own experience she incorporated into Soila's story, the hardest part about writing this one, …

In this interview, Kristy and I discuss The Summer of Songbirds, how she came up with the idea for this book, Friends and Fiction, deciding which characters would tell the story, including an independent bookseller, and much more.

In this interview, Ashley and I discuss The Seven Year Slip, her love of time travel stories, creating a strong sense of place, switching from YA to adult romance, inserting Easter Eggs into this book, being selected by the GMA …

In this interview, Michelle and I discuss The Second Ending, the event that spurred her to write this novel, how she has played the piano since age 5 and still plays every day, including the dueling pianos, the highlight of …