Category

Fiction

Fiction, Thriller, Writers on Writing

May 07: Joanne Leedom-Ackerman on The Far Side of the Desert

May 7, 2025

A terrorist attack. A kidnapping. The ultimate vacation gone wrong.

The Far Side of the Desert with author Joanne Leedom-
Ackerman
Conversations Live On Air guest photo - headshot of Joanne Leedome-Ackerman holding her book and handwriting on a notepad.

Visit the The Far Side of the Desert today with storyteller Joanne Leedom-Ackerman as we discuss her latest novel — an international political thriller that takes us from Spain to Washington to Morocco to Gibraltar to the Sahara Desert.

What would you do if a loved one was kidnapped before your eyes in a foreign country? How far would you go to rescue them? What if you were the one kidnapped? Would you hold on to the faith that your family would find you?

We also discuss writing: What to consider when creating an international thriller, challenges of pacing and plot, character development, and more.

Meet Joanne Leedom-Ackerman

Award-winning author, journalist, and human rights advocate Joanne Leedom Ackerman — known for her powerful storytelling and deep insight into global issues — illuminates the human condition through her fiction and nonfiction works. Her fiction includes Burning Distance, The Dark Path to the River, and No Marble Angels. Joanne’s recent nonfiction book, PEN Journeys: Memoir of Literature on the Line, drew inspiration from her job as a vice president of the worldwide writers and human rights organization PEN International. She is also on the boards of the American Writers Museum, the International Center for Journalists, Words Without Borders, and Refugees International. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Texas Institute of Letters. The Far Side of the Desert is her latest novel.

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Fiction, Thriller, Writers on Writing

Apr 30: The Boomerang with Robert Bailey

April 30, 2025

One Man’s Fight for Family Uncovers a Shattering Government Secret

The Boomerang with author Robert Bailey

The Boomerang is a gripping political thriller inspired by a conspiracy theory and the author’s personal challenges.

Robert Bailey‘s story follows Eli James, Chief of Staff and best friend to the President of the United States. When the President’s terminal cancer mysteriously improves, Eli uncovers a devastating cover-up involving the government and Big Pharma, taking him from the White House to New Mexico..

We discuss all of this, as well as Robert’s own journey with his family’s issues; writing The Boomerang; character development, and more.

Meet Robert Bailey

Robert Bailey is the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of THE BOOMERANG, the Jason Rich series, the McMurtrie and Drake legal thrillers, the Bocephus Haynes series, and the inspirational novel, THE GOLFER’S CAROL. Robert’s books are imbued with a keen sense of justice and a profound understanding of what drives people to commit the worst crimes and fight hardest for those they love, gained from his decades as a civil defense trial lawyer in his hometown of Huntsville, Alabama.

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Fiction, Suspense, Thriller, Writers on Writing, Young Adult Fiction

Apr 23: Hayley Krischer with You Belong to Me

April 23, 2025

What if living your most authentic life leaves you dead?

You Belong to Me with author Hayley Krischer

Hayley Krischer joins us to dive into You Belong to Me — a dark, atmospheric, emotionally charged YA novel that’s captivated teens and adults alike.

We discuss the underbelly of the wellness industry, a multi-trillion dollar economy encompassing many false claims and scams.

We look at character development and motivation. And why Hayley’s favorite characters were inspired by followers of an infamous cult (think Charles Manson). The challenges of pace in plot. And some of the themes at the heart of You Belong to Me such as the need for belonging, and what it means to trust yourself.

Meet Hayley Krischer

Hayley Krischer is an award-winning journalist who has written for the The New York Times, The Atlantic, Elle and more. She has an MFA from Lesley University. Her books include fiction and nonficiton. Find out more at her website.

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Fiction, Historical, Writers on Writing

Jan 22: Hold Strong with Robert Dugoni & Jeff Langholz

January 22, 2025

A Novel Inspired by the Deadliest Accident in US Military History. A Story of Courage. Perseverance. Faith. Resilience.

Hold Strong with coauthors Robert Dugoni and Jeff Langholz

When Chris Crabtree discovered a little known historical story from WW2, he found a personal connection with someone from the true event. That began a 12 year odyssey. Chris mentioned the story to Jeff Langholz who went down a research rabbit hole for the next decade, as they tried to recreate the event in novel form.

So how, when, and why did bestselling author Robert Dugoni get involved? We discuss that today with two of the three coauthors – Robert Dugoni and Jeff Langholz.

They share the significance of the title, Hold Strong. How they collaborated as authors, and who played what role in the development and writing of the book. Where the authors took creative license and why. Which characters were a composite of multiple characters and why. And much more.

Meet Coauthors Robert Dugoni, Jeff Langholz, & Chris Crabtree

ROBERT DUGONI is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and Amazon Charts bestselling author of the Tracy Crosswhite series, the Charles Jenkins series, the David Sloane series, and several standalone novels. He’s a multi-time winner of the Friends of Mystery Spotted Owl Award for best novel set in the Pacific Northwest. And a recipient of the Nancy Pearl Book Award for fiction.

JEFF LANGHOLZ is an award-winning teacher, researcher, entrepreneur, and writer. His work has appeared in more than 250 media outlets including the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and National Geographic. He’s a professor at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, CA.

CHRIS CRABTREE (not joining us today) teaches middle and high school English language arts in Costa Rica. Chris’s discovery of Father Tom Scecina’s heroism and sacrifice during the deadliest accident in US military history (the sinking of the Arisan Maru) sparked the journey of HOLD STRONG.

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Fiction, Thriller, Writers on Writing

Jan 01: Happy New Year! NYT Bestselling Author Grant Blackwood on Successful Author Collaboration

January 1, 2025

Red Star Falling coauthored by NYT Bestselling Author Steve Berry & Grant Blackwood

Grant Blackwood coauthor of Red Star Falling

Grant Blackwood joins us to discuss Red Star Falling, his latest thriller collaboration with Steve Berry,

In the waning days of the Cold War, Steve Berry’s returning protagonist Luke Daniels, sets out to find the legendary lost library of Ivan the Terrible. Will that unlikely key end a looming threat orbiting two hundred miles above the Earth?

Since more authors are collaborating these days, curious minds want to know how they work together and why. What are the benefits? The challenges? Who drives the plot? The story? The action scenes? Do they each adopt a specific role or do they dig in together and hash things out? And what about research and travel? Did Steve and Grant both visit Russia and Ukraine for Red Star Falling? Listen in to find out.

Meet Grant Blackwood – NYT Bestselling Author

Grant Blackwood is the New York Times bestselling author of the Briggs Tanner series. He’s also the coauthor of The Fargo Adventure Series with Clive Cussler. The New York Times bestselling Dead Or Alive with Tom Clancy. And Kill Switch with James Rollins. A US Navy veteran, Grant Blackwood spent three years aboard a guided missile frigate as an operations specialist and a pilot rescue swimmer. Red Star Falling is the second book he has coauthored in Steve Berry’s Luke Daniels Thriller Series.

Steve Berry originated the Luke Daniels character and thriller series. Steve is the NYT and #1 Internationally bestselling author of 18 Cotton Malone novels, five stand alone thrillers, and several works of short fiction. He has more than 26 million books in print, translated into 41 languages. Steve Berry is the founder of History Matters; serves as an emeritus member of the Smithsonian Libraries Advisory Board; and was a founding member and former co-president of the International Thriller Writers. Steve Berry has been our guest on many occasions – to find conversations with Steve, type Steve Berry into Conversations Live search box.

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Fiction, Suspense, Writers on Writing

Dec 11: Rachel Kushner Introduces Creation Lake

December 11, 2024

“Brain-spinning tale of lies, greed, surveillance, crimes against nature, and ecowarriors…” Booklist Starred Review

Creation Lake with author Rachel Kushner

Rachel Kushner’s protagonist, Sadie Smith a former U.S. spy and ruthless observer of human behavior, has total faith in her ability to manipulate that behavior. She’s hired to infiltrate an anarchist commune in rural France and stir up trouble. Meanwhile, a radical from an earlier generation is living in a network of caves — a life that Sadie finds increasingly appealing.

Rachel Kushner joins us to talk about Creation Lake and its storyline. She shares insight into the character development of her protagonist, and why Sadie is the opposite of the author. How the story’s structure was inspired by noir fiction, yet Rachel says her book doesn’t exactly follow noir storytelling. And more.

Meet Novelist Rachel Kushner

Rachel Kushner is the author of the novels CREATION LAKE, THE MARS ROOM, THE FLAMETHROWERS, and TELEX FROM CUBA, a book of short stories, THE STRANGE CASE OF RACHEL K, and THE HARD CROWD: ESSAYS 2000-2020. She has won the Prix Médicis and been a finalist for the Booker Prize, the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Folio Prize, the James Tait Black Prize, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, and was twice a finalist for the National Book Award in Fiction. She is a Guggenheim Foundation Fellow and the recipient of the Harold D. Vursell Memorial Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Rachel’s books have been translated into 27 languages. Her fiction has been published in the New Yorker and the Paris Review, and her nonfiction in Harpers and the New York Times Magazine. 

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Fiction, Thriller, Writers on Writing

Nov 28: Preston & Child – The OGs of Collaborative Thriller Writing

November 27, 2024

Angel of Vengeance: A desperate bargain is broken. A clever trap set. And a vengeful angel will not be deterred.

Angel of Vengeance with authors Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Preston & Child continue their #1 bestselling thriller series with Angel of Vengeance as protagonists, FBI Special Agent Pendergast and Constance Greene, take a final stand against New York’s deadliest serial killer.

As well as discussing the storyline of Angel of Vengeance, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child share how they met and why they’ve written together for the past 40 years.

We explore character development throughout a series, story research, what’s next. They share what they’ve learned from each other – including an amusing tale about who owns bragging rights for writing the best (and dreaded) sex scenes. And how the authors break up their roles as they write collaboratively.

Meet Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child (Preston & Child)

Preston and Child’s Relic and The Cabinet of Curiosities were chosen by readers in a National Public Radio poll as being among the 100 greatest thrillers ever written, and Relic was made into a number‑one box office hit movie. They’ve collaborated together for 40 years and in addition to coauthoring the famed Pendergast series, their recent novels include The Cabinet of Dr. Leng, Diablo Mesa, Bloodless, The Scorpion’s Tail, and Crooked River. Douglas Preston is also the author of the award-winning nonfiction book The Lost City of the Monkey God.  And Lincoln Child has published eight novels of his own, including bestsellers, Chrysalis and Deep Storm.

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Fiction, Writers on Writing

Oct 30: Familiaris with International Bestseller David Wroblewski

October 30, 2024

15 years in the making sequel to instant classic The Story of Edgar Sawtelle

Familiaris with author David Wroblewski

Over a decade after David Wroblewski‘s modern classic and debut novel The Story of Edgar Sawtelle comes Familiaris, the follow-up to the #1 New York Times bestseller. The new novel explores the origins of the Sawtelle family, and David discusses why, after 15 years, he felt compelled to return to their farm in Wisconsin to give John and his new bride Mary (and their three dogs) their own book.

David dives into how his creative process helped shape this new excursion into the trials and events of the Sawtelle’s lives. How his childhood influences, the evolution of his characters as he develops them, and sense of environment determines the direction of his storytelling.

Meet Award-winning, Bestselling Author David Wroblewski

David Wroblewski is the author of the internationally bestselling novel The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, an Oprah Book Club pick Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers selection, winner of the Colorado Book Award, and numerous other awards. David Wroblewski received an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the Warren Wilson M.F.A. Program for Writers, and a Bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of Wisconsin. He lives in Colorado with the writer Kimberly McClintock and their dogs, Pie and Luci.

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Fiction, Writers on Writing

Oct 23: Lost in Thought with Deborah Serra

October 23, 2024

A Novel About the Illusion of Free Will & Unconscious Decision-making.

Lost in Thought with author Deborah Serra

Deborah Serra shares her journey from successful screenwriter and playwright, to novelist.

We discuss why, at the start of her 20-year career, Deborah Serra wrote as D.A. Serra. How she felt restricted writing for the big screen, TV, and even as a playwright – and why she transitioned into books.

Deborah shares the challenges of switching genres; her fears and anxieties around releasing her creative work into the world – even as a well established writer.

We also discuss Lost in Thought, from story concept and character development, to the research she delved into around neuroscience. And we learn why Deborah enjoys traveling alone … and recommends others try it too!

Meet Deborah Serra: Award Winning Screenwriter, Playwright, Novelist

Deborah Serra is a double Hawthorn den Literary Fellow who’s worked in all genres and mediums for more than 20 years. Her career includes: Screenwriting – as a produced original screenwriter and also as an assignment writer on TV movies, TV series, and NBC staff writer. She’s written three books – two fiction, one nonfiction – and three award winning plays. She’s worked with Showtime, CBS, Sony, Fox, and Lifetime. Her essays and short stories have appeared in several literary magazines, and she was nominated for the O. Henry Award. Deborah Serra is currently an editor at After Dinner Conversation- Philosophy/Ethics Short Story Magazine.

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Fiction, Mystery, Writers on Writing

Oct 02: #1 NYT Bestselling Author J.A. Jance with Den of Iniquity

October 2, 2024

J.P. Beaumont’s investigation of a seemingly accidental death reveals a complex web of evil

Den of Iniquity with author J.A. Jance

J.A. Jance has been writing about J.P. Beaumont – former Seattle homicide cop turned private investigator – for 41 years. “It’s like coming home to spend time with family and friends” says Jance. Den of Iniquity is the 26th story in the J.P. Beaumont series, and it does not disappoint.

Today we touch on some of the themes in Den of Iniquity, from family dynamics and generational gaps, to pursuing a cold case, a fentanyl overdose, and the devastation that drug use creates.

We discuss the evolution of Beaumont’s character, and why J.A. Jance placed him in a real location, Ashland, Washington, versus a fictional town. And how this busy author manages the whirlwind challenges of promoting Den of Iniquity, while simultaneously completing another Joanna Brady book, and editing a third novel. It might have something to do with walking 10,000 steps a day in nature. Just saying.

Meet #1 NYT Bestseller J. A. Jance

With a writing career spanning more than 40 years, J.A. Jance is the New York Times bestselling mystery author of more than 60 novels in four separate series:  J.P. Beaumont, Joanna Brady, Ali Reynolds, and the Walker Family.  She resides in the Seattle area with her husband, Bill, and two dachshunds, Mary and JoJo. More at J.A. Jance.

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