A someone who loves inverted tropes, I was excited to hear about Ophelia Wolf’s Gods & Angels series. As I chatted with her, I got to hear not only about how her theatrical background influences her writing, but how writing about grief and trauma can bring both catharsis and emotional honesty to a story. Author Ophelia Wolf What is the premise of Gods & Angels? In one sentence: In a world in which creatures beyond human imagination pull all the strings in the shadows, an orph

What do crystals, televangelist, Los Angeles, and cults have in common? You’ll have to read Sarah Flocken’s upcoming debut, Be Well. As an elder millennial, this book really hits home. I got to chat with Sarah about what inspired her book, what it means to write a book that is funny ha-ha and a funny oh no, her path to publication, and more. Author Sarah Flocken What is Be Well about? There are a couple of ways to answer that question, and I’ve had plenty of practice over t

Most war stories take place during the conflict, but what happens in the aftermath of a war? Not Our Problem is the true story of Abdulhaq Sodais and Spencer Sullivan. An Afghan refugee and an American Army officer, they have survived the war, but when the United States withdraws from Afghanistan and the Taliban reassert their rule, Abdulhaq must flee for his life. Abdulhaq Sodais and Spencer Sullivan recently spoke with me about what it took to write this war memoir. What is

Queenswood is new fantasy set in medieval Ireland and features a young woman dedicated to creating illuminated manuscripts and the crown prince of Faerie who must find a human girl to become his queen. I got to speak with author Kathleen Schwab about how she created this world, what research she did, and her path to publication. Author Kathleen Schwab What is Queenswood about? Queenswood takes place in 12th century Ireland, with settings including the human world and severa

June is nearly upon us, and that means the start of the Hollywood Fringe Festival. I’ve been involved with the festival for years as a playwright, producer, actor, audience member and award judge, so I’m always excited to see what new shows are premiering, This year, I’m especially excited about Kristen Renee Gorlitz’s Mixed Reality play, ROOT. Kristen is an incredible storyteller, so I was delighted to hear about her immersive theatre show about life and not dying. BONUS, my

You might recognize the name Meredith R. Lyons from her other books, Ghost Tamer and A Dagger of Lightning . I’m delighted to have Meredith back to discuss A Horn of Onyx , the sequel to A Dagger of Lightning . Meredith and I chat about writing book two of a trilogy, the key to crafting adult fantasy, and blood-thirsty unicorns. Author Meredith R. Lyons What is the premise of A Horn of Onyx, the sequel to A Dagger of Lightning ? We jump in right after A Dagger of Lightning

Take the dynamics of a band, the creepiness of fungus, add in dash of mystery, and you have the premise of Jo Kaplan’s newest horror novel, The Midnight Muse . I got to talk with Jo about tips for writing compelling horror, her fascination with fungus, her own experience in a band, and more. Author Jo Kaplan What is the premise of The Midnight Muse ? A year after the lead singer of metal band Queen Carrion vanishes in the Oregon woods, the rest of the band gathers at a cabin

Author Tamika Burgess Tamika Burgess is the author of Sincerely Sicily and the recently released, Danilo Was Here. I got to chat with Tamika about her new book, what makes for great Middle Grade writing, and how she explores Black Latina identity in her books. What is the premise of Danilo Was Here ? Danilo Osorio Jr.’s baseball skills were once the pride of his father and entire hometown of El Chorrillo, Panamá. But that was then, and this is now… Following 1989's Opera

Mia Dalia is a prolific writer of dark speculative fiction. Her latest novel, Haven , is part deconstructed haunted house, part family tragedy, and part revenge. I recently got to chat with Mia about Haven, writing advice for dark fiction, and more. Author Mia Dalia What is the premise of Haven ? Haven is a deconstructed haunted house novel wrapped in a domestic tragedy. Or vice versa. Here's the official description to explain it better: You can’t choose your family or you

You may recall my interview with A.E. Chandler and how she masterfully blends true history and new stories. (You can see that interview here .) Now she's back with a fresh twist on Arthurian legend with her newest book, Knights of the Roundish Table . Tell us a bit about Knights of the Roundish Table ? Knights of the Roundish Table contains eight tales spoofing the King Arthur stories, written by a historian specializing in medieval England, its literature and legends. Humou

I met Emily B. Rose at a book event last year and was impressed by her multihyphenate bookish work. She is an author, bookseller, runs a...

Something that was so important to me when writing Magic At The Grand Dragonfly Theatre was to have a strong sister bond between Iris...

Does anything sound more fun than a book with a sexy Totoro drag queen? I think not! Add to that figuring one’s queer identity in their...

I love a good historical fantasy, which Maria Alexander’s newest novel, Brimstone & Blades delivers, along with a heroine who not only...

While I love a young ingenue, I was delighted to find out that the heroine of A Dagger of Lightning was a normal, forty-five-year-old...

LitFest in the Dena is a fun and free literary event running May 2nd & 3rd in Pasadena, CA. The event includes panel, readings,...

Magic at the Grand Dragonfly Theatre comes out October 7th, 2025 and is perfect for readers who love young adult fantasies and hidden...

Time travel is usually within the sci-fi domain, so I was delighted to find Aspen Andersen’s fantasy debut, The After Hours . With an...

Cheyenne Browning is a prolific author with a specialty for Sapphic Paranormal Romance. She is passionate about spicy, smutty stories...

Fun fact about me, I love the movie Anastasia . I love the songs, the characters and the magical reimaging of 'what if she survived'. You...