The Premise

In this episode, Jeniffer and Chad Thompson sit down with the insightful author Dennis James Sweeney to discuss his book, How to Submit: Getting Your Writing Published with Literary Magazines and Small Presses . Dennis shares his journey through the often daunting process of getting published, emphasizing the importance of community and personal connections in the literary world. With practical ad...

Jeniffer speaks with Susan Casey, adventurer and author, via Warwick’s to talk about her experiences studying, observing and interacting with the mysterious deep ocean.  Since 2005, Susan has been writing about subjects such as giant waves and those who chase them and the creatures that live in the depths beneath them in an approachable and captivating way. In this episode she discusses not only h...

Keith Rosson is a living testament to how hard work and taking the long road can pay off. He’s the author of several novels, and the award-winning short story collection, Folk Songs For Trauma Surgeons , all published through Meerkat Press. His latest novels, Fever House and The Devil By Name , are published through Random House. And he got an endorsement from Stephen King! No big deal, right?  Th...

Patty Lin was a successful television writer for hit shows from Friends and Desperate Housewives to Freaks and Geeks and Breaking Bad. Many people dream of this. She dreamed of it. But Patty was trapped in a sunk cost fallacy. She wanted out. She finally did get out and now has a memoir, entitled, End Credits: How I Broke Up with Hollywood.  This episode was recorded live at the San Diego Writers...

Despite the darker topics of generational trauma and tragic, unnecessary death, this episode is humorous, quirky, and full of energy. This is likely because the guest, Susan Lieu, is so fun. She is also a performer, public speaker, playwright and Harvard graduate! She talks with Jeniffer and Chad about her memoir, The Manicurist's Daughter , which explores her and her family's experience as Vietna...

In another San Diego Writers Festival-related episode, Jeniffer talks with local San Diego author, Matt Coyle. He shares his process in character and story building and discusses his Rick Cahill series. He also talks about his inspiration for wanting to write Crime fiction. If you're a fan of his work or just Crime fiction in general, you won't want to miss his insights on the genre. Matt's Bio Ma...

John Jennings is the author of The Uncertainty Solution , which is a book on investing. But it’s anything but boring. It’s actually super entertaining and insightful, much like John himself. He also did everything you’re supposed to if your goal is to write a nonfiction book to build your brand. First, he wrote on a topic that sells, and has a unique point of view. But where he really excelled was...

In this episode, Jeniffer speaks with Téa Obreht at Warwick's Books. If you're a fan of her other novels, you'll love listening to Téa read a passage from her latest, The Morningside. She talks with Jeniffer about what inspired her to write it, and all the details about how it came about too. Téa also shares details about her writing process and what it all means to her. 

Jeniffer and Chad chat with Swan Huntley about her latest novel, I Want You More . The novel follows Zara Pine, a ghostwriter who becomes absorbed into the life of a celebrity chef over a summer in East Hampton. It's a tale of love, mystery, and the complexities of losing oneself in a relationship. Swan shares the inspiration behind the novel, her unique writing process, and how she transforms her...

Zibby Owens is truly a book lover. So much so that she has a book empire of sorts. She owns a bookstore in Santa Monica, started a publishing house, and founded Zibby Media. She also hosts the podcast, Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books and is an author herself.  Jeniffer and Chad talk with her about all this, her novel, Blank, and how she has time to do it all! Zibby's Website

In this episode of The Premise, Jennifer and Chad talk with Anastasia Zadeik, author of the novel The Other Side of Nothing , and Bethanne Patrick, memoirist of Life B ,  to explore their nuanced experiences of dealing with and writing about mental health issues through their respective works. Anastasia discusses how her inspiration was drawn from personal family experiences and the intricate rese...

In this episode, Jennifer sits down at Warwick's Books with Pulitzer Prize Finalist, Tommy Orange. He is the author of There There, and most recently, Wandering Stars. Tommy is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma and writes about the contemporary Native American landscape. Tommy shares insights into his writing practice, the challenges of balancing life as a father wi...

In this first episode of the fifth season Jeniffer and Chad welcome Belo Cipriani for his second interview with them. This episode was timed to air on Global Accessibility Awareness Day because Belo is not only an author and advocate but a digital inclusion strategist.  This conversation will expose you to just how much the lack of accessibility is hidden from those that don’t require it. You’ll l...

Jeniffer is joined via Warwick’s Books by prolific writer Alice Hoffman. Hoffman is most known for her book, Practical Magic , which was made into a film of the same name. The Invisible Hour is her latest novel and she talks about how it came about. You’ll learn how her own past has informed the stories she tells, and how that shapes the women that populate her fiction. You’ll also learn a little...

The guests so nice, we had them twice! Because their last episode was one our most listened to, Dan and Sandy from Smith Publicity are back. They share inside information on the publishing world and discuss the new tools and processes that have come about in the changing digital landscape of the industry. Learn more about Smith Publicity here .

Sophie Mackintosh’s debut novel, The Water Cure , was nominated for the 2018 Man Booker Prize. Now, her latest novel, Cursed Bread , inspired by a mass poisoning that actually happened, has been nominated for the Women’s Prize for Fiction. She’s a writer who uses similar themes, and she’s realized she has a style. In this episode she talks with Jeniffer via Warwick’s Books about that, her process...

Shelby Stanger is another podcaster, author, and big adventurer. Truly. She adventures for a living pretty much. And she inspires others to find their own adventure through her journalism, podcasting, and now her book! Will to Wild was just released on June 6th and she came to talk about it with Jeniffer and Chad. Get ready to be inspired to be a little more fearless and maybe get adventurous!  Fi...

Words are KishaLynn Elliot’s superpower. She uses that superpower to tell stories, educate, and inspire. She’s an author, speaker and Vice President of Operations and Evaluation at The Monarch School . She’s also a 2023 TEDxSanDiego speaker on Education.  She talks with Jeniffer and Chad about her work and her mission to educate and empower unhoused youth and more. You can see her speak virtually(...

Jesse Leon is a San Diegan, TED X speaker, Harvard graduate, consultant and survivor. Jeniffer speaks to him about his memoir, I’m Not Broken, and the story of his past that it covers. Jesse is the embodiment of resilience and living proof that you can come out on the other side not just unbroken but thriving.  https://www.jesseleon-author.com/

Gina Simmons Schneider, PhD, is a Psychotherapist and expert in coping skills. And she used this expertise to write a book about dealing with the common anxieties and stressors we all face in the modern world. Listen to her speak with Jeniffer and Chad about Frazzlebrain and maybe learn a thing or two.  https://frazzlebrain.com/ https://www.warwicks.com/book/9781949481624

This episode comes to you via Warwick’s Books. Jeniffer speaks with the author of Wandering Souls, Cecile Pin. Her much praised debut novel was longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2023, and she’s been compared to Joan Didion by Kirkus Review. Wandering Souls tells a story, inspired by Cecile’s own family’s experiences, of the struggles of immigrating to the UK in the aftermath of the Viet...

San Diego author, social justice activist, and Pushcart nominee Madhushree Gosh is today’s guest. She talks with Jeniffer and Chad not only about her book, Khabaar: An Immigrant Journey of Food, Memory and Family , but food and the politics around it, and politics in general. You may come away believing that we need less talking and more eating if we want to solve the world’s problems.  https://ww...

For all you Gen X folks out there, this week's guest doesn't really need an introduction. Because she's Susanna Hoffs!  But did you know Susanna is also an author? Jeniffer talks to Susanna about her book, This Bird Has Flown, via Warwick's Books.  Buy Now

Walter Green is a man on a mission. He’s the author of, This Is The Moment , a mentor, lecturer and is involved in many nonprofits. He’s all about gratitude.  His philosophy is that if you have something to say, why wait? Say it NOW. Listen to Walter explain what that means and how he came about this idea and its subsequent movement. You’re in for an inspiring and illuminating story. https://www.j...

In this episode Jeniffer and Chad are joined by guest Deborah Larkin. Deborah is the author of A Lovely Girl. The novel is part true crime drama, part memoir. Because Deborah was there at the time the crime and subsequent trial took place, seeing it all through the eyes of a ten year old. Oh, and her father was the court reporter!  She tells Jeniffer about her writing process, the details of the r...