A Time to Thrill - Conversations with AIME AUSTIN Crime Fiction Author

In this episode of Politics of Justice , we dive into Chapters 19–22 of Ransomed, where family expectations, personal loyalties, and questions about power begin to intersect in increasingly complicated ways. Casey finds herself drawn further into the Brody family’s world when she attends a family dinner with Tom. What should be a straightforward social gathering becomes an illuminating look at the...

The number of times I’ve directly or obliquely talked about USA Today Bestselling author Lynne Marshall in this podcast may equal 1 billion. Okay…that may be a bit of hyperbole, but the number is far from zero. Lynne had a huge impact on my early career with two pieces of advice, which I took to heart. I’ve always wanted to talk with her on the mic. So, here we go. Let’s ch...

In this episode of Politics of Justice, I recap and discuss chapters 13 and 14 of Ransomed. Ransomed is currently available on all platforms and as an audiobook. This series uses the book as a springboard to talk about justice, race, family, and the systems that fail us—and the ones we fight to change. This episode is sponsored by Audible. Get Casey Cort on Audible . In this episode of Politics of...

Today, you’ll have the pleasure of a great conversation with author Jennifer Chance (who also writes as Jenn Stark) . If you listen to the podcast, you know how this story starts…with an author beach retreat. It’s the first time I got to know Jennifer. The best part, she did Tarot readings for us all. Because she was spot on, I still think of it often. Oh, and after the interview...

In this episode of Politics of Justice, I recap and discuss chapters 13 and 14 of Ransomed. Ransomed is currently available on all platforms and as an audiobook. This series uses the book as a springboard to talk about justice, race, family, and the systems that fail us—and the ones we fight to change. This episode is sponsored by Audible. Get Casey Cort on Audible . The book I talk about in this...

H.M. Ward (Holly) is the 22x New York Times, USA Today , and Wall Street Journal bestselling author with sales of over 23 million books. Years ago, Holly took a break. Now she’s back and better than ever. Her first title, 2011’s Demon Kissed, a romantasy before the term was coined, is being rereleased soon! Let’s chat. I have *so* many questions.     You can find H.M. W...

In this episode of Politics of Justice, I recap and discuss chapters 3 and 4 of Ransomed. Ransomed is currently available on all platforms and in audiobook. This series uses the book as a springboard to talk about justice, race, family, and the systems that fail us—and the ones we fight to change. In this episode of Politics of Justice, I discuss Chapters 9 through 12 of Ransomed, the second book...

In this episode of Politics of Justice, I recap and discuss chapters 3 and 4 of Ransomed. Ransomed is currently available on all platforms and in audiobook. This series uses the book as a springboard to talk about justice, race, family, and the systems that fail us—and the ones we fight to change. In this episode of Politics of Justice, I discuss Chapters 5 through 8 of Ransomed, the second book i...

In this episode of Politics of Justice, I recap and discuss chapters 3 and 4 of Ransomed. Ransomed is currently available on all platforms and in audiobook. This series uses the book as a springboard to talk about justice, race, family, and the systems that fail us—and the ones we fight to change. In this episode of Politics of Justice, I walk through the opening chapters of Ransomed, the second b...

In this episode of Politics of Justice, I recap and discuss the first two chapters Ransomed. Ransomed is currently available on all platforms and in audiobook. This series uses the book as a springboard to talk about justice, race, family, and the systems that fail us—and the ones we fight to change. About Politics of Justice: Politics of Justice is a long-form video series where I revisit my nove...

Joanna Joy Seetoo is a jewelry designer extraordinaire! I’ve known her for more than thirty years. She’s had more than nine artistic lives: from pastry, to music, to makeup, and hair…to now. Listen as we talk all about the early days of taking a jewelry design class, to world-class travel, Saworski crystals, entering the crazy world of weddings, and pieces for celebrities. Now, J...

In this episode of Politics of Justice, I talk about the inspiration behind Ransomed and how the justice system can’t answer every question or right every wrong. How a judge went to prison…but was his imprisonment a technicality? Ransomed is currently available on all platforms and in audiobook. This series uses the book as a springboard to talk about justice, race, family, and the sys...

Kendra Erika is my first musical artist! I appreciate the amazing confidence it takes to choose a life focused on performance. Let’s chat. I have *so* many questions. You can find Kendra Erika: Website/Blog: kendraerika.com Instagram: @kendraerika YouTube: @kendraerika Today’s Sponsor: Audible Check out my titles or the thousands available with Audible.com. Show Notes: I’m Nice T...

In this episode of Politics of Justice, I dig into Chapters 30–38 of Judged, where the case stops being about facts and becomes about leverage. As pressure mounts, institutional self-protection begins to override truth, and the cost of dissent becomes clear. We see how credibility is managed, consequences are unevenly distributed, and silence is rewarded more than integrity. This episode explores...

In this episode of Politics of Justice, I dig into Chapters 30–38 of Judged, where the case stops being about facts and becomes about leverage. As pressure mounts, institutional self-protection begins to override truth, and the cost of dissent becomes clear. We see how credibility is managed, consequences are unevenly distributed, and silence is rewarded more than integrity. This episode explores...

OMG It’s Ines Johnson. When I saw her speak at a Romance Author Mastermind, I was inspired. She spoke on going from four to five figures a month by choosing a lane…and staying in it. This episode is sponsored by Audible . ( Click my link for many great offers from Audible.) My recent audiobooks: At Midnight Comes the Cry  and Greenwich Park . Let’s chat. I have *so* many question...

In chapters 25–29 of Judged, the child welfare system reveals its true mechanics. Foster children are subjected to relentless testing and layered diagnoses, while parents are handed case plans that require full compliance—and full-time availability. The result is a system that demands parents give up their jobs to prove fitness, quietly transforming “reunification” into an unattainable ideal rathe...

In this episode of Politics of Justice, I revisit Chapters 17–24 of Judged, where the focus shifts away from courtroom drama and into the quieter mechanics of power. These chapters trace Sheila Harrison Grant’s internal calculations as she manages appearances, alliances, and expectations within a tightly knit political ecosystem—one where nothing looks overtly corrupt, but very little is accidenta...

In this episode of Politics of Justice, I revisit Chapters 11–16 of Judged , where Olivia is abruptly removed from her home and left waiting in a police station, shuffled between multiple social workers with no clear advocate or explanation. The scene captures how quickly children can disappear into systems that are overstretched, fragmented, and indifferent to continuity. In counterpoint, we meet...

In this second episode of The Politics of Justice, I walk through Chapters 4–10 of my legal thriller Judged and uncover the personal history woven into Olivia and Casey’s early stories. These chapters explore themes that come directly from my own life—growing up Black in predominantly white spaces, navigating complicated family dynamics, and watching how children get pulled into systems that were...

It’s Caitlyn O’Leary! I think she’ll be my fourth SEAL author! Today, we finally find out what makes SEALs so arresting! This episode is sponsored by Audible . ( Click my link for many great offers from Audible.) My recent audiobooks: Julie Chan is Dead , and Beautiful Ugly . Let’s chat. I have *so* many questions. You can find Caitlyn: Website/Blog: caitlynoleary.com Insta...

In this first episode of The Politics of Justice, I revisit the opening chapters of Judged—the story that launched the Casey Cort series and, in many ways, the story that shaped me. These chapters are rooted in my real life: • growing up as a Black girl trying to fit into an overwhelmingly white school • navigating my mother’s alcoholism • seeing up close how foster care and institutional politics...

OMG I’m *mortified* My November episode is in iris.fm processing limbo. As soon as I can get it out of the cloud and edited, I’ll have it up on the feed. In the meantime, I have 60 other episodes that you should listen to, if you haven’t already. Some fan favorite episodes include: Episode 34: A Time to Thrill – Conversation with Aime Austin – featuring Sharon Hamilton Episode 15...

Meet Sarah Vance-Tompkins. Though she was born in Michigan, she’s a local to Southern California. I can’t wait for you to hear our chat about weather that’s not weather and the path from fiction to mystery. [Please support my sponsor, Audible. Check out mine and 1000s of books @Audible ] Let’s chat. I have *so* many questions. You can find Sarah: Website/Blog: sarahvancetom...

Years ago, I tried to create a guide to the Casey Cort series—explaining what I was thinking as I wrote each scene, each chapter, each decision. The project collapsed under its own weight. I wasn’t ready to tell the deeper story yet. Now I am. The Politics of Justice goes beyond plot and into power: how justice actually works, who controls it, and why the outcomes so often feel uneven. Drawing fro...