Author in the Headlights

🎃 What makes a nightmare unforgettable? Just in time for Halloween, Author in the Headlights welcomes horror author Daniel Barnett, creator of the NIGHTMARELAND series. Join host Strider S.R. Klusman for a journey into the world of horror fiction, where ordinary characters encounter extraordinary terrors and the imagination becomes a writer's most frightening tool. We explore Daniel's inf...

What does it take to write 50 books across multiple genres? In this episode of Author in the Headlights , host Strider S.R. Klusman welcomes USA Today bestselling author David Poyer for a conversation about his extraordinary writing career. From modern military thrillers and the Hemlock County novels to science fiction, historical fiction, and underwater adventures, David has spent decades creatin...

Jeffrey Archer's final book, Adam & Eve, along with his tribute. A special Author in the Headlights dedicated to Jeffrey Archer. What began as preparation for an interview about his novel Adam & Eve became an opportunity to reflect on a remarkable and often controversial life. From political ambition to international literary success, public disgrace, and reinvention, Jeffrey Archer&#3...

What happens when losing your publisher opens the door to an entirely new chapter? New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni joins Strider on Author in the Headlights to discuss his remarkable publishing career, the creation of detective Tracy Crosswhite, and his latest novel, One Split Second . Robert shares how a professional setback helped lead to My Sister's Grave , the novel that la...

What is climate fiction, and how does it turn today's environmental challenges into compelling stories? Author S.W. Lawrence, MD, joins Strider on Author in the Headlights to discuss his Dragon trilogy and the growing genre of climate fiction, also known as Cli-Fi. Sandy explains why Fossil Dragon , the first book in the trilogy's reading order, was actually the last one he wrote. We also...

Am I good enough? It's one of the questions creative people ask themselves over and over—and Ted Leonhardt believes understanding where that question comes from can change how we see ourselves and our work. Ted joins Strider on Author in the Headlights to discuss his book The Work Beneath the Work , part memoir and part reflection on a lifetime spent working with creative people. Ted shares ho...

Love, betrayal, and royal intrigue in medieval Portugal. Historical fiction author Catherine Mathis joins Strider on Author in the Headlights to introduce her Queens of Portugal Trilogy . Her first novel, Inês , explores the legendary love story of Pedro and Inês, often called Portugal's Romeo and Juliet. Her second novel, Leonor , continues the trilogy with another fascinating woman from Port...

Gail returns to Author in the Headlights to talk about Neither Life Nor Death , the third installment in her award-winning Drew Davies Railway Mystery Series . Set in post-war Mumbles, Wales, the series combines Gail’s love of history with something much more personal: she grew up in a railroad family. Her father was a railroad engineer, her uncles were brakemen and conductors, and her mother and...

Route 66 turns 100, and children's author Beth Bacon is celebrating by introducing America's most famous highway to a new generation. Beth returns to Author in the Headlights to talk with Strider S.R. Klusman about her new book, Route 66: Faces and Places Along America’s Most Famous Road . How do you take a century of history spread across eight states and decide which people, places, attr...

What makes a great thriller? For Ralph R. “Rick” Steinke, it starts with a credible threat . Rick brings an unusual perspective to fiction. His career in the U.S. Army and Department of Defense took him from West Point to work involving Afghanistan, Kosovo, Ukraine, and high-stakes intelligence. Today, he draws on that experience as the author of the Major Jake Fortina global thriller series. Rick...

Mystery and historical-fiction author Marian Exall returns to Author in the Headlights to talk about Loners , her journey from attorney to novelist, the craft behind her mysteries and historical fiction, and her newest book, Loners. Marian shares what years of reading taught her about writing, why historical fiction demands such careful research, and the practical technique she uses when a manuscr...

#1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Gardner joins Author in the Headlights to talk suspense, storytelling, and her newest novel, You’ll Be Sorry . Lisa takes us inside her writing process—how she develops her thrillers, builds suspense, handles the demands of publishing, and continues finding new stories after a remarkable career. We also talk about her bestselling series, the evolution of h...

What can human writers do that AI can't? Steven Puri returns to Author in the Headlights to explore AI, large language models (LLMs), creativity, and the flow state. Steven and Strider discuss how AI learns from patterns in what humans have already created—and why the writer's ability to break those patterns may be where genuinely new ideas begin. They also explore Strider's own experi...

Creative consultant. Entertainment producer., now Science-fiction novelist. Strider sits down with Elliot Blake to discuss his transition from the entertainment industry into fiction, with the creation of his new space fiction, Into the Great . From creative consulting and entertainment production to publishing his debut novel, Elliot shares insights into building believable science-fiction worlds...

Can creativity become effortless? Steven Puri joins Strider S.R. Klusman to explore Flow State, creativity, focus, and the science behind doing your best work. A conversation for writers, entrepreneurs, artists, and anyone who wants to unlock their creative potential.

Award-winning author and entertainment executive Debbie Bishop joins Strider Klusman to discuss Pillywiggin Awakening: The Complete Story Arc , a fantasy adventure twenty-five years in the making. The conversation explores world-building, comics, Hollywood storytelling, writing for fantasy readers, and the creative lessons Debbie learned while working with major studios before becoming a full-time...

David Beaumier joins Author in the Headlights to discuss The Mourning Fields ,: https://books2read.com/u/3JQBGJ, a contemporary fantasy inspired by Greek mythology. We also discuss upcoming writers conferences and how they help authors grow their careers.

Author D.A. Murray joins Strider Klusman to discuss her debut speculative fiction novel, Dominion Ascension . Set thirty years after a biochemical war transforms America into a new nation known as Dominion, the story follows investigative reporter Dani Matthews as she uncovers truths hidden beneath the surface of society. The conversation explores worldbuilding, plotting, writing discipline, balan...

Award-winning author Brock Meier joins Author in the Headlights to discuss The Stone Cutter , the Nabataeans, Petra, and the historical research behind bringing an ancient civilization to life through fiction. From archaeology to storytelling, this conversation explores how historical fiction preserves the people and cultures often forgotten by history. The Stone Cutter: https://books2read.com/u/b...

Award-winning fantasy author Peter Gribble joins Author in the Headlights to discuss his acclaimed City of Magicians trilogy. Winner of the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Peter created a fantasy world unlike most in the genre: a city without armies, weapons, or violence. As invasion approaches, strategy, telepathic communication, political intrigue, and unlikely heroes become the key to surv...

Bestselling author Avanti Centrae joins Author in the Headlights to discuss her award-winning thriller The Picasso Job. We also discuss her writing of suspenseful mysteries, and the lessons she's learned, from crafting compelling plots to winning major literary awards,. This conversation offers valuable insights for readers and writers alike. Featured Books: The Phoenix series:          The Pi...

What happens when a box of forgotten family letters uncovers one of the most dramatic true stories of World War II? In this episode of Author in the Headlights, Strider Klusman sits down with debut author and USA Today bestselling author Jan Cress Dondi to discuss The Navigator's Letter , the remarkable true story of her parents, her uncle, and one of the most dangerous military missions of Wo...

“Building community one book at a time.” In this episode of Author in the Headlights , Chloe Hovind discusses the Chuckanut Writers Conference, Village Books, and the importance of literary communities that connect readers, writers, and indie authors. If you love discovering new books, supporting authors, and exploring the world behind publishing and writing conferences, this conversation is for y...

What happens when love, loyalty, and espionage collide during the Manhattan Project? In this episode of Author in the Headlights , Strider Klusman sits down with author Leslie Shover to discuss Fission: A Novel of Atomic Heartbreak: https://books2read.com/u/m0yDgy — a historical fiction story inspired by her parents’ real experiences working on the Manhattan Project during World War II. The conver...

In this episode of Author in the Headlights , Strider S.R. Klusman interviews Derrick M. Jackson, a retired Air Force Special Investigator turned author of the Shadow One series. Drawing from 21 years of investigative experience, Jackson shares how real-world cases involving human trafficking and international crime shaped his writing—blending truth with fiction to create authentic military thrill...