Beyond the Next Chapter with Whitney Clark

Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings, the besties and writing duo who make readers’ smiles and hearts grow with every book published under the pen name Christina Lauren, return to the podcast to talk with Olivia about this summer’s release. THE TRUE LOVE EXPERIMENT is a stand alone novel focused on “Fizzy” aka Felicity Chen, who readers first met in their instant bestseller THE SOULMATE EQUATION. “...

A Mardi Gras bachelorette party leads to a chance encounter for bridesmaid Serena Khan that leads her considering blowing up the life she’s carefully built just weeks before her thirtieth birthday. As if that’s not challenging enough, she’ll need to get it back together (or at least look together) before she’s featured in a  Life at 30 profile she’s been anticipating since graduation, Neely Tubati...

“He’s driving across America, running from the mob, the feds, the cops, a whole bunch of people just to try to find a place to be and exist,” says Don Winslow of where readers find the character of Danny Ryan in his new book, CITY OF DREAMS. Don returns to the podcast to talk with Olivia about the second novel in the crime trilogy that began with CITY ON FIRE.   Winslow shares his advice for aspir...

Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award finalist Rebecca Makkai joins the podcast to discuss her novel, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU. The book follows film professor and podcaster Bodie Kane’s return to her alma mater to teach a two-week course. The environment and her students’ interest in producing a true crime podcast about the murder of her former roommate resurrect strong feelings, questions...

Larry Loftis writers non-fiction thrillers. Not a genre Olivia was familiar with before reading his 2023 book THE WATCHMAKER’S DAUGHTER, Larry joined the podcast to talk about his approach to telling true stories that read like fiction. “I like thrillers, that’s what’s fun for me to read, turning the page, getting your heart rate going, so I just merged the two genres.” Larry spends at least a yea...

Vanessa Blair is most definitely not living her dream life. She’s working as a telemarketer for a judgmental tyrant who wants her out because of her RBF. Her facial expression aside, she’s done everything expected of the employees and then some (hello, office Olympics?) For fans of movies like Office Space and the classic 9-5, Anastasia Ryan’s debut novel YOU SHOULD SMILE MORE is laugh out loud fu...

For attorney turned novelist William Landay, the justice system is a complex beast, and the stories worth telling don’t often resolve simply. The intense emotion of uncertainty of what to believe is what propelled the narrative of William Landay’s 2012 bestselling novel DEFENDING JACOB, recently adapted as a limited series for Apple TV+.   More than ten years later, Landay is back with a new famil...

Sarah joins the podcast to discuss her second novel, THE LONDON SEANCE SOCIETY. Book number two comes just two years after her instant New York Times #1 bestseller, THE LOST APOTHECARY. That literary tsunami-style splash was made on the heels of leaving a long, successful career working in finance. Yes, finance! Sarah talks with Olivia about her past career and the perk of traveling regularly to L...

“When I tell you I’m living the dream Olivia, I’m living the dream!” Wanda Morris returns to the podcast to talk about her second novel, ANYWHERE YOU RUN, published by William Morrow in October, a follow up to her acclaimed debut, ALL HER LITTLE SECRETS. Wanda’s novel is what she calls a “coming of age story, with a few dead bodies thrown in,” is set in Jackson, Mississippi in 1964, focusing on si...

Screenwriter Rachel Koller Croft’s debut novel STONE COLD FOX is a deliciously wicked thriller about a gorgeous woman who has no intention of letting anyone or anything (even her own truth) get in the way of the way of a ring on her finger and millions in the bank. Rachel joins the podcast to talk to Olivia about the story, the journey to get a publisher to say yes, and which character in the book...

There aren’t many people around who read more than Barbara VanDenburgh, the former Arizona Republic writer turned USA Today Books Editor. When she’s not reading or writing about books, she’s talking about them, as host of the First Draft Book Club at Changing Hands Bookstore in Phoenix. Barbara joined the podcast to share some of the early 2023 books she’s most excited about, including the current...

When a misunderstanding at a Panera results in an offer that’s impossible to refuse, Elle Cosimano’s title character springs to life for readers who can’t help but root for her heroine to find love, money, and kick a lot of butt along the way. Elle returns to the podcast to talk to Olivia about the third book in her series, FINLAY DONOVAN JUMPS THE GUN. This time we see Finlay and her bestie/nanny...

Dani Shapiro is the author of eleven books, and the host and creator of the hit podcast Family Secrets. She joined the podcast to talk with Olivia about her most recent novel, SIGNAL FIRES, her first work of fiction in thirteen years. SIGNAL FIRES was named a best book of 2022 by numerous publications, including Time Magazine , and The Washington Post . Dani tells Olivia about how the idea for SIG...

2023 is going to be a good year according to astrologer Valerie Tejeda. Tejeda is a bestselling author, an astrologer with a degree in psychology and certificates in astrology and music therapy, and the creator of the digital brand Big Cosmic Energy. She is the writer and narrator of SELF CARE BY THE SIGNS, a #1 Audible bestseller, a #1 Amazon bestseller, an AP bestseller, as well as SELF CARE BY...

Queen of suspense Mary Kubica opens the year with her latest suspenseful mystery, JUST THE NICEST COUPLE, to be released January 10th. The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author joins the podcast to talk about her twisty tale of two seemingly perfect couples, and the secrets that are exposed between them when one of the husbands disappears.  Mary joins the podcast to talk with Olivia abou...

“You are cordially invited to visit the new Black Hills Manor Writing Retreat,” says the invitation received by five mystery/thriller writers, what could go wrong? That’s the lure that leads protagonist Blakely to a remote southern manor with a dark history in Kiersten Modglin’s novel, A QUIET RETREAT. Kiersten joins the podcast to talk to Olivia about writing strong women who save themselves, how...

The countdown to Christmas is ON! Whether you’re looking for the festive audiobook to listen to while shopping or gift wrapping, or a gift idea for the bookworm on your nice list, this episode is here for you. Olivia shares recommendations and future holiday favorites straight from her own TBR. This is followed by a revisiting of a festive 2021 conversation with New York Times bestselling novelist...

Ben Lytle is a potentialist and invites all readers of his book to become one as well. He joins the podcast this week to discuss with Olivia the philosophy of potentialism, including his annual ritual of self-assessment, asking himself “am I doing what's making me happy? Am I contributing to life in the way I want to? Doing that, for me has always kept me vibrant.” When Lytle began outlining what...

“We are actually heading into the direction of Mexico, while Mexico is trying to be more like us, a country of free press that supports the free press,” says Katherine Corcoran about the emergence of independent journalism in Mexico that has simultaneously sparked a rise in violence against journalists. Corcoran joined the podcast to talk with Olivia about her non-fiction book, IN THE MOUTH OF THE...

Whoa, the holidays are upon us (and the cost of dinner is up 20% on average!) So, let’s talk about what we’re thankful for: BOOKS! In particular the really special ones that stay with us well past the last page. News anchor Whitney Clark is an avid reader (44 books and counting this year) and shares her top five for 2022 on this week’s podcast. Olivia couldn’t stick to such a tight list, but share...

When Nora and her husband Aaron collaborated on his obituary her grief was introduced to the world, alongside the creative spirit and humor she and her son’s dad shared. Since then, Nora has become a beloved voice for others trying to see their way out of the darkness- or want to know how to support someone else who is in the thick of the worst. Nora is the host of the podcast “Terrible, Thanks fo...

Luxury cabin out in the middle of nowhere, what could go wrong? Readers of the November thriller SECLUDED CABIN SLEEPS SIX. “I’ve been writing since I was a kid. I never wanted to do anything else but write- ever. The fact that I get to do it… to live in this world of stories and characters and I get to share them with people, not just my mom, not just my grandma,” Lisa Unger says with a laugh abo...

“Things like structural edits, what the characters do, that’s really the choice of the writer,” quips Sulari Gentill, while discussing communications with the devoted fan base of her Rowland Sinclair series, and her new stand-alone literary mystery, THE WOMAN IN THE LIBRARY. All the way from Australia, the author chats with Olivia in the Arizona podcast studio before meeting her readers and leadin...

It has been too long since the podcast caught up on what Margaret is reading. Olivia’s favorite reader to turn to for book recommendations, the once weekly A Moment With Margaret conversation is the sole focus of this week’s podcast! Devoted audiobook listener and reality TV watcher, Margaret shares the books she consumed over the last few months and the emoji that best captures her feelings about...

When writing the conversations between teenagers targeted in a 1999 New Year’s Eve massacre at a Blockbuster video in THE NIGHT SHIFT, Alex Finlay says he tapped into the years of eavesdropping while shuttling kids to activities, “you become invisible to your kids and their friends.”   Finlay, who writes under a pen name, is an appellate lawyer who is following up his hit thriller EVERY LAST FEAR...