Author Express

In this engaging episode of Author Express, host Shawna Rodrigues chats with the talented historical fiction author, Kerry Chaput. Listen as Kerry recounts her childhood in the unique Danish settlement of Solvang, California, and how it influenced her storytelling. With her new book, Wild as the Stars , set to release in June 2025, Chaput teases fans with a tale of magic, adventure, and prohibitio...

Author Express brings you an intriguing conversation with Kay Smith-Blum, an Austin-born, Seattle-based writer who transitioned from high-end retail to become an acclaimed author. Join Kristi Leonard as they explore the compelling backstory of Kay’s novel Tangles , which sheds light on the Hanford nuclear site controversy. Be enthralled by Kay’s unique journey from a successful career in fashion t...

In this engaging episode of Author Express, Kathleen Basi hosts Sharon M. Peterson, whose romcom The Fast Lane has been lauded for its wit and heartfelt moments. Sharon reveals the most interesting fact about her small town, discusses her unique writing process, and shares an amusing anecdote about her inexplicable fear of poodles. Listen as Sharon talks about her inspiration for characters, touch...

Join Shawna Rodrigues on Author Express as she welcomes Julee Balko, a talented writer who can turn everyday moments into literary gold. This episode reveals fascinating snippets about Julee's life, from navigating power outages to creating viral kitten clips. Learn about the profound impact of her latest book, The Me List , and why it's an ideal choice for your New Year's resolutions. Julee also...

Join host Kristi Leonard as we revisit her interview from earlier this year with the talented Sheila Athens. Sheila, the author of Neena Lee Is Seeing Things captivates us with the unique premise of her latest novel where John F. Kennedy Jr. asks for help—25 years after his death. Sheila unravels the fascinating inspirations behind her characters and settings, takes us to Jacksonville, Florida, an...

Celebrate the magic of storytelling in this holiday episode of Author Express as host Kathleen Basi chats with Kimberly Nixon about her compelling novel, Rock Island Rising . Kimberly's remarkable ability to weave her family's tumultuous past into gripping fiction takes center stage. With tales of a grandmother who once robbed a train and the supportive community of Austin, Texas, where she lives,...

In this episode of Author Express, Shawna Rodrigues chats with Lyn Liao Butler, a Taiwanese American author whose portfolio spans thrillers, upmarket fiction, and rom coms. Are you curious about how someone expertly juggles writing multiple genres? Lyn charmingly shares her inspirations, the commonalities her novels share, and the unique workings of her creative process. You'll even learn about Ly...

Author Express presents Lisa Montanaro, an Italian American writer with a compelling journey. This episode uncovers the layers of Lisa’s debut novel, " Everything We Thought Was True ," involving family secrets and multidimensional characters. Lisa articulates how her personal history, including her role as an employment discrimination lawyer, intertwines with her storytelling. Additionally, she o...

Meet the voices behind the Author Express Podcast as they mark a milestone—two years of sharing riveting stories and interviews! Hosts Shawna Rodrigues, Kristi Leonard, and Kathleen Basi share their most impactful reads of the year, from a gripping secret life narrative to tales of foster parenting and family bonds. Kristi reminisces about the author that ushered her into podcasting, while Shawna...

In this uplifting episode of "Author Express," Kristi Leonard interviews Jen Sinclair, the author of the enthralling novel There's Always a Price . Jen shares the unique aspects of her storytelling, including complex relationships and morally gray characters. Hear about her upbringing in Toms River, New Jersey, a town with its own quirky claims to fame. Jen delves into the emotional depths of her...

On today’s episode we get to chat with Erin Quinn-Kong, a longtime magazine editor who started writing fiction after having her second child, while she was a freelance writer. She started writing Hate Follow in December 2020 after unsuccessfully querying a women’s fiction novel. She knew this idea was different as it had such a solid, newsworthy hook: an influencer who gets sued by her teen daught...

In this heartwarming episode of Author Express, join host Shawna Rodrigues as she sits down with Becky Ellis, a celebrated Northwest author from Portland. Discover Becky's journey growing up across various cities in California and how her complex family dynamics shaped her memoir, "Little Avalanches." Gain insights into the intriguing conversation she had with her father, a decorated WWII combat s...

Tiffany Yates Martin started in the publishing industry in her twenties as a copy editor for many of the Big Six (back then), when the business still used red pencils and to fact-check she had to spend a day at the New York Public Library in the stacks. For the last fifteen-plus years as a developmental editor she’s worked directly with authors as well as through major publishing houses, on titles...

Curious about the life experiences that fuel a writer's imagination? In today's episode of Author Express, host Kathleen Basi chats with prolific author Cherie Dawn Haas. Cherie wrote her first book in 2016, titled Girl on Fire . It was inspired by her days as a fire eater and tribal belly dancer, and came at a time when she wanted to spend more time at home. While still a fire dancer at heart, Ch...

On today’s episode, we will be chatting with Catherine Matthews, a Women’s Fiction author whose recently launched her debut novel, Releasing the Reins . This dual timeline novel follows Bunny O’Kelly’s as she storms off to Alaska to prove her worth, not just as a ranch hand, but as a woman in a world that doesn’t want her. As the title implies, Bunny has something to learn about trust—not just in...

Get ready to be inspired on this episode of Author Express as we introduce you to the acclaimed historical fiction and romance author, Madeline Martin. Host Kristi Leonard pulls back the curtain on Madeline’s fascinating journey from being an Army brat in Germany to becoming a New York Times and USA Today bestseller. Discover how Madeline transitioned from writing over thirty romance novels to the...

On today’s episode, we’re chatting with Amy Watson, a Women’s Fiction and romance author. One day, at the prompting of her therapist, she went home and told her husband she was going to write a novel. Mind you, she wasn’t a writer at the time. Hadn’t done more than dabble in poetry in college. She took a couple of creative writing courses online, and that November wrote the first 50,000 words to h...

Join Shawna Rodrigues as she chats with Yvonne Battle-Felton on this episode of Author Express, where an exciting narrative journey awaits. Yvonne, a seasoned writer and creative force, reveals snippets of her rich life experiences and their impact on her writing. Discover the inspirations behind her debut, Remembered , and get a preview of her upcoming release, Curdle Creek , an American Gothic n...

Aimie K. Runyan writes to celebrate the spirit of strong women. She has been honored as a Historical Novel Society Editors’ Choice selection, as a five-time finalist for the Colorado Book Awards, and as a nominee for the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writer of the Year. Aimie is active as an educator and speaker in the writing community and beyond. Her next books Mademoiselle Eiffel, which was released S...

On today's episode we get to chat with Hadley Leggett, award-winning author of the debut novel, All They Ask Is Everything . A love letter to the messiness of motherhood, the book tells the story of three very different women who each want custody of the same two little girls — and discover they have more in common than the children they’re fighting for. Hadley fell in love with storytelling as a...

Dr. Bella Ellwood-Clayton is an award-winning author and editor. She has a BA from Concordia University in Montréal and a Ph. D. from the University of Melbourne in sexual anthropology—and, yes, that makes for interesting dinner party conversations. Bella’s novel, Weekend Friends , was published in 2023 by Post Hill Press. Her nonfiction book, Sex Drive: In Pursuit of Female Desire , was published...

In this riveting episode of Author Express, Kathleen Basi chats with Edgar award-winning novelist Mindy McGinnis. If you’re fascinated by the balance between a cheerful personality and dark, compelling writing, Mindy’s story will captivate you. Get a glimpse into her life in a small Ohio town, marked by historical tragedies and quirky facts. Mindy’s new book, Under This Red Rock , a dark-themed mu...

On today’s episode we get to chat with Deirdre Swinden, a dark fiction author with a penchant for ghost stories. After twenty+ years as a leader in corporate communications, Dee took a leap of faith and set out to build her creative writing skills. She dove into the realms of sci-fi, horror and speculative fiction during her MFA. Her thesis novel, Somnium , offers readers a blend of psychological...

On today’s episode, we get to chat with southern novelist Mindy Friddle, whose third book (and first domestic thriller) Her Best Self is out now from Regal House Publishing. Her Best Self includes the perspectives of a constellation of characters, including first-person point-of-view from the protagonist, a small-town matriarch, as well as third-person from a range of characters including her husb...

Once every few years, a great love story sweeps readers off their feet and becomes a runaway sensation. Amy Neff’s stunning debut The Days I Loved You Most is perfectly poised to become that next great love story for the ages. The book asks the question: Could you live without the love of your life? And centers on a couple in a coastal Connecticut town who decide to redefine the ending to their lo...