Tag

Love

Non Fiction, Professional Development, Psychology, Relationships, Self-help

Dec 31: Love Without Landmines: Kelli Miller’s Proven Hacks for Happier, Healthier Relationships

December 31, 2025

More love, less stress in 2026 with Love Hacks

Love Hacks with author Kelli Miller

Whether you want to strengthen a new romance, or deepen a long-term partnership, today’s guest offers tools you can start using today to create a more connected, fulfilling love life.

Author and psychologist, Kelli Miller, takes a deep dive into the 15 most common couples’ issues in Love Hacks: Simple Solutions to Your Most Common Relationship Issues.

We discuss how to course correct some of those 15 issues, including cultural differences, our beliefs and the way we were raised, deep-rooted anger, the painful grief of infidelity, and of course, effective communication.

Kelli also shares thoughts around what she terms the four cornerstones of a solid partnership And when it’s time to quit trying and move on.

Meet Kelli Miller

Kelli Miller, LCSW, MSW, is a psychotherapist, best-selling author, and television/radio host. She is a three-time award-winning writer, with her most recent book, Love Hacks: Simple Solutions to Your Most Common Relationship Issues, offering practical tools for navigating everyday relationship challenges. Kelli’s expertise has been quoted in various publications including Oprah Magazine, Authority Magazine, Wellness Magazine, The Georgetown Current, The Northwest Current, Now It’s Your Turn Mom!, and more. Kelli is also an advisor for Cognitive Leap’s app for ADHD as well as a spokesperson for Brillia.

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Fiction, Thriller, Writers on Writing

Dec 10: TEQUILA – A Story of Success, Love, & Violence with Tim Reuben

December 10, 2025

Suspense novel introduces young lawyer Brian Youngam

Tequila A Story of Success, Love, and Violence with author Tim Reuben

What happens when ambition, love, and lethal violence collide in the high-stakes world of tequila production?

Author and legal entrepreneur Tim Reuben joins us to talk about his powerful debut novel TEQUILA: A Story of Success, Love, & Violence, an epic tale set against the real-world landscape of Mexico’s booming tequila industry. It’s a story of risk, loyalty, betrayal – and the cost of chasing greatness.

We discuss craft, character, culture, and the line between success and destruction. Who Tim’s favorite character is, and why he made his lead antagonist absolutely irredeemable.

Tim also shares why writing his first fiction book was like “climbing a mountain“, from the highs and the thrills to the lows; and how he pushed through self-doubt.

Meet Tim Reuben

Novelist, Tim Reuben, is a veteran civil litigation attorney, a mediator, and a temporary judge in the LA courts. He founded his own law firm more than 30 years ago, and still manages the practice, while publishing widely on topics of law and society. Inspired by his law and travel experiences, and an appreciation of spirits, Reuben introduces his first novel, TEQUILA: A Story of Success, Love, & Violence, and has plans for at least two more-family saga suspense novels featuring protagonist, Brian Youngman.

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Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Writers on Writing

Nov 26: Gary Lippman with A Literary Wish List

November 26, 2025

From fantastical to deeply personal, Lippman explores wishes in I Wish, Therefore I Am

I Wish, Therefore I Am with author Gary Lippman

Gary Lippman is a writer unafraid to take risks, who challenges both himself and his readers, while exploring the big (and little) questions of life.

Today, we dive into the nature of wishes with I Wish, Therefore I Am; or, This Here Is a List of Humble Appeals to Dame Fortune.

Gary reveals why he often chooses to shatter traditional narrative forms and bend genres. We discuss some of the writers and mentors who have helped shape his vision. We talk form, structure, and storytelling – sharing some of the wishes from the book, from anxieties, self-doubt, and self-help desires, to love and rewards. And we discover what Gary learned about himself while writing I Wish Therefore I Am.

Meet Gary Lippman

Gary Lippman is an author, journalist, and cultural commentator known for his inventive storytelling and keen eye for the eccentricities of human nature. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Vice, and numerous literary journals. His novel, Set the Controls for the Heart of Sharon Tate, won praise for its originality and darkly comic voice. Lippman’s latest book, I Wish, therefore I Am; or, This Here Is a List of Humble Appeals to Dame Fortune, showcases his signature blend of humor, insight, and genre-bending.

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Fiction, Thriller, Writers on Writing

Nov 19: Kiss Her Goodbye, A Novel with Lisa Gardner

November 19, 2025

Can Frankie Elkin Find a Young Afghan Refugee in Time?

Kiss Her Goodbye with author Lisa Gardner

It’s always a great conversation with Lisa Gardner. As one of America’s leading thriller writers, Lisa loves to discuss the craft of writing. She also shares unique and interesting stories gathered from the extensive research she does to make her stories authentic.

When Frankie Elkin sets out to save an entire family from its haunting past in Kiss Her Goodbye, every decision could lead to disaster, as love and loss collide.

We discuss the emotional and moral undercurrents of Lisa Gardner’s Kiss Her Goodbye and hear some of the stories behind the story. We also learn how the concept for Kiss Her Goodbye was sparked by a conversation with strangers, while she was on sabbatical. And, Lisa shares some of the research that left her astonished.

Meet Lisa Gardner

Lisa Gardner, a #1 New York Times bestselling thriller novelist, has transformed her interest in police procedure and criminal minds into a streak of internationally acclaimed novels, published across 30 countries. She’s also had four books become TV movies (At the Midnight Hour; The Perfect Husband; The Survivors Club; Hide). Lisa’s books have received awards from across the globe. Her novel, The Neighbor, won Best Hardcover Novel from the International Thriller Writers, and the Grand Prix des Lectrices de Elle in France. She was also recognized with the Daphne du Maurier Award in 2000 for The Other Daughter.

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Creativity, Essays, Memoir, Non Fiction, Writers on Writing

Oct 15: Quiet Reflections on Faith, Aliveness, & Wonder with Grammy Nominated Songwriter

October 15, 2025

Peter Himmelman Author of Suspended By No String

Suspended By No String with musician, songwriter, and author Peter Himmelman

A quiet, reflective conversation about some of Peter Himmelman’s thoughts and experiences on issues we all deal with at some point in life.

Sharing insights from his book, Suspended By No String: A Songwriter’s Reflections on Faith, Aliveness, and Wonder (2024), we discuss what Peter means by creativity and some of the significant turning points in his life, including how his mentors influenced him, and lessons learned along the way.

Written as a pathway through Peter’s own struggles, his essays focus on what we can control and influence, exploring how to find inspiration and wonder amid the daily onslaught of negative news headlines and social media.

Meet Peter Himmelman

With over 25 critically acclaimed recordings to his credit, this singer-songwriter has been inspiring fans worldwide with his spiritually tinged Americana rock and roll for more than 40 years. Peter Himmelman is the founder of Big Muse, a company that teaches creative thinking, leadership skills, and deeper levels of communication in all facets of life – from personal to professional. His clients include The Wharton School, UCLA, and The Ross School of Business, The United States Army War College, and international brands such as McDonald’s, Adobe, and Gap Inc.

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Non Fiction, Personal Development, Relationships, Women's Issues

Oct 01: Susan Shapiro Barash on When to Mend or End Female Friendships

October 1, 2025

Estranged

Estranged with author Susan Shapiro Barash

Female friendships can be complicated. Despite all the talk of women supporting women, many don’t. Along with the good aspects of friendship, there are times when jealousy, competitiveness, gossip, and pettiness get in the way.

Renowned author and gender studies expert Susan Shapiro Barash joins us to with her most recent book, Estranged.

We ask questions such as how to know when we should try to mend a friendship versus end it? Do we tolerate more from galpals than platonic male friendships? Or even non-platonic male relationships? If so, why? How to approach difficult conversations. How to set healthy boundaries. And if you’ve ever experienced the hurt and confusion of being ghosted – seems cowardly, right? – why do people ghost?

Meet Susan Shapiro Barash

Susan Shapiro Barash has written over a dozen nonfiction books, including Tripping the Prom Queen, You’re Grounded Forever, But First Let’s Go Shopping and Toxic Friends: The Antidote for Women Stuck in Complicated Friendships. For more than 20 years she taught gender studies in the Writing Department at Marymount Manhattan College and has guest taught creative nonfiction at the Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College. For her fiction, Between the Tides, A Palm Beach Wife, A Palm Beach Scandal, and Maribelle’s Shadow, she writes as Susannah Marren.

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Fiction, Relationships, Writers on Writing

Sep 17: Samsun Knight with Likeness

September 17, 2025

A different kind of love – A People Magazine “Best New Book”

Likeness with author Samsun Knight

A sweet summer evening turns sour when Anne’s husband casually tells her his lover is pregnant … this is just weeks after Anne discovers she too is expecting. Did she throw her dinner plate at him? Well, you’ll have to listen in to find out.

Told from the two women’s different perspectives, author Samsun Knight navigates the ups, downs, twists, and turns of plural love in his short novel, Likeness.

We discuss how Samsun captured the two women’s distinct voices, and how each of them deals with jealousy, anger, loneliness, joy, and self-doubt. He also shares insights into the challenges he faced in writing about unconventional love and identity, and how relationships can shape who we become.

Meet Samsun Knight

Samsun Knight is a writer and graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, where he was a Truman Capote Fellow. His second novel, Likeness, was recently published and named a People Magazine “Best New Book” of July 2025. Knight is also an assistant professor at University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management and a faculty affiliate at the University of Toronto School of Cities, where he studies quantitative marketing, optimal targeting and machine learning.

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Fiction, Suspense, Thriller, Writers on Writing

Sep 03: #1 NYT Author Lisa Gardner with Kiss Her Goodbye

September 3, 2025

Missing persons’ locator Frankie Elkin in latest domestic thriller

Kiss Her Goodbye with author Lisa Gardner

Kiss Her Goodbye: When love and loss collide, every character becomes a mystery, and every decision could be one that leads to disaster. When a young Afghan refugee goes missing, and her four-year-old daughter’s life is on the line, can Frankie Elkin save an entire family from its haunting past?

Today we venture beyond the plot and characters of Kiss Her Goodbye, and explore the emotional and moral undercurrents running through Lisa’s new story.

We also learn how the idea for this story came to Lisa while on sabbatical, and some of the research that left her astounded.

Meet Lisa Gardner

Lisa Gardner, a #1 New York Times bestselling thriller novelist, has transformed her interest in police procedure and criminal minds into a streak of internationally acclaimed novels, published across 30 countries. She’s also had four books become TV movies (At the Midnight Hour; The Perfect Husband; The Survivors Club; Hide). Lisa’s books have received awards from across the globe. Her novel, The Neighbor, won Best Hardcover Novel from the International Thriller Writers, and the Grand Prix des Lectrices de Elle in France. She was also recognized with the Daphne du Maurier Award in 2000 for The Other Daughter.

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Fiction, Writers on Writing

Aug 20: Paula Saunders – Starting From Here

August 20, 2025

Award-winning Author of The Distance Home

Starting from Here with author Paula Saunders

Often called a writer’s writer, Paula Saunders joins us today with her second novel, Starting From Here. The sequel to The Distance Home, this coming-of-age story is semi-autobiographical, sparked by Paula’s own life experiences.

Like the author, protagonist Rene left home at a young age to pursue dreams of becoming a ballet dancer. Set in the 1970s, Rene finds herself vulnerable in a predatory world, facing situations she’s ill-equipped to deal with – from cult like mentors and sexual exploitation, to industry predators and heartbreaking betrayal.

We discuss the writing of Starting From Here, including character development, challenges, favorites, and how the author defines creativity. Paula shares how writing this novel helped her view her own mother differently. And, we question, with 50+ years of assumed progress since the seventies, have times really changed for young women of today?  

Meet Paula Saunders

Paula Saunders grew up in Rapid City, South Dakota, where her new novel Starting From Here begins. She is a graduate of the Syracuse University creative writing program, and was awarded a postgraduate Albert Schweitzer Fellowship at the State University of New York at Albany, under Schweitzer chair Toni Morrison. Her first book, The Distance Home, was longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize and named one of the best books of the year by Real Simple. 

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

Aug 13: Hayley Krischer’s You Belong to Me

August 13, 2025

What if living your best life had deadly consequences?

You Belong to Me with author Hayley Krischer

Teens and adults alike are captivated by Hayley Krischer’s latest gripping YA novel. You Belong to Me is a dark, atmoshperic, emotionally charged story where the stakes are high and hit too close to home.

Hayley reveals the dark side of the wellness industry, a multi-trillion dollar economy encompassing many false claims and scams.

We look at why Hayley’s favorite characters were inspired by followers of an infamous cult (think Charles Manson). The challenges of pace in plot, and how she develops characters to meet it. And some of the themes at the heart of You Belong to Me such as the need to belong, 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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