Beyond the Next Chapter with Whitney Clark

Lovingly known as the "reigning romance queens" (PopSugar), the writing duo known as Christina Lauren are as lovable as a pair of friends as they are successful as a writing team. Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings join the podcast to talk with Olivia about their new book, SOMETHING WILDER, a wildly exciting romantic adventure set in Utah involving a treasure hunt and a second chance romance. Chr...

"Sometimes friendship can be deadly." In ONE OF US IS DEAD, Jeneva Rose delivers a deliciously dramatic thriller written from the perspectives of four women in the posh Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta, where Southern civility and hospitality is for show only. Jeneva Rose joins the podcast to talk about her approach to writing the novel, and how she uses her previous career in social media marketi...

Don Winslow turns to the Greek tragedies for inspiration in what the author says is not only his last trilogy, but will be his last published books. CITY ON FIRE is the first of the three novels, and the first book Don has set in his hometown of Providence. The internationally bestselling author talks with Olivia on the cusp of his retirement from writing about crafting characters like Danny Ryan,...

Abby Jimenez just may be the most interesting woman in the world! She's competed on the Food Network, is the owner of Nadia Cakes, a bakery that ships all across the country, and is a bestselling author (not to mention mom to pets who are very popular on social media.) She joins the podcast to talk about her new novel "Part of Your World," which she describes as an "age gap, social gap romance" ab...

Bestselling author of THE NANNY, Gilly Macmillan, joins the podcast to discuss her newest thriller, THE LONG WEEKEND. Set in the isolated Dark Fell Barn, where three women are on edge as they receive a threatening note that one of their husbands will be murdered. Gilly talks with Olivia about the characters, the importance of the isolation of the environment for building the tension, and an old mo...

Erika Krouse is a writer of both fiction and nonfiction, who joins the podcast to discuss her book, TELL ME EVERYTHING: THE STORY OF A PRIVATE INVESTIGATION. This is a memoir focused on a tale of true crime which parallels the narrator's personal history. This is a moving, painful story of power, powerlessness, and the way lives are left shattered when the system doesn't protect those who need it....

A wedding ceremony is pierced by a scream, that sets the scene for Sally Hepworth's latest suspenseful thriller, THE YOUNGER WIFE, told by alternating narrators. Full of the twists and unreliable family memories and histories Hepworth is famous for, her new novel focuses on two sisters, Tully and Rachel, and how their lives change when they meet their seemingly perfect father's new fiancée, Heathe...

"The process of writing felt very much like a scavenger hunt. I would have one clue, then I as the writer also didn't know, like the reader, where it led," says Peng Shepherd of her new novel, THE CARTOGRAPHERS, when in-studio for the podcast. Peng shares her interest in cartography, her lifelong passion for stories, and how she approached the follow up to her highly successful 2019 debut, THE BOO...

Ellice Littlejohn has succeeded as corporate attorney in Atlanta -in spite of her many secrets. A secret affair, a secret hidden crime, a childhood full of chaos and poverty she'd like to keep secret from colleagues and even friends. Secrets come to the service when her boss is killed, and Ellice responds in the only way she knows how: with more secrets. Wanda M. Morris joins the podcast to talk a...

Maggie Smith's debut novel, TRUTH AND OTHER LIES, is the fascinating story of three women and the secrets and lies that connect them, shape them, and threaten them. A journalist, psychologist, podcast host and business owner, Maggie joins the podcast to talk about what inspired the book. Maggie talks about using her own life experience writing the relationship Megan and her mother, the political c...

"The Golden Couple" is the latest thriller from bestselling writing duo Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen. Their latest page-turner focuses on therapist  Avery Chambers' unorthodox 10 session treatment program, and her clients, Marissa and Matthew Bishop. Gorgeous and glamorous, the Bishops' marriage is plagued by secrets and lies that are about to be brought to the surface by Avery. Greer & Sara...

Rebecca Serle is taking readers to Positano, Italy in her latest novel, "One Italian Summer." The story follows Katy, who, in the depths of grief after her mother's death, goes alone on a planned mother-daughter trip to the Amalfi Coast.  Rebecca joins the podcast this week to talk about writing the emotional novel about a daughter's love for her mother, the inevitable future of defining yourself...

When Eve Rodsky applied her expertise in organizational management to making her own household and partnership become more manageable and equitable, she sparked a movement among readers of her first book "Fair Play." Now, Eve is back to chat with Olivia about her new book, "Find Your Unicorn Space: Reclaim Your Creative Life in a Too-Busy World." Here, Eve uses this podcast as an example of what a...

Valentine's Day vibes on this week's podcast, with Tim Xayasomloth, bookseller at Changing Hands Bookstore.  Tim has become known as "The Romance Guy" at the store ever since he challenged himself to read genres outside his fantasy and science fiction favorites, and found he loved the contemporary romance! Comparing a romance novel to a tasty margarita that "goes down easy," Tim explains to Olivia...

Irish writer Lisa Harding makes her American literary debut with the highly acclaimed novel, "Bright Burning Things." Harding writes an emotionally powerful story of Sonya, an actress and single mother who is spiraling out of control, battling alcoholism and trauma. Her four-year-old son, Tommy, is simultaneously Sonya's lifeline and her prison as the pressures of motherhood push her to her limits...

Grab your favorite soup or sandwich from Panera and settle in for a chat with Elle Cosimano – don't worry, no spoilers! The beloved Finlay is back and smack dab in the middle of yet another wonderful mess in Elle Cosimano's  February 1st release, "Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead," the follow up to her hit, "Finlay Donovan Is Killing It." In this story Finlay and Vero must sort out who is after her...

Katherine Faulkner has an impressive new title to add to an already impressive (or posh ) resume.  The Cambridge grad is the Head of News Projects for The Sunday Times, and now a debut novelist, with the release of "Greenwich Park" from Gallery Books. The story centers around Helen, a complicated and often socially awkward woman who- after many miscarriages is pregnant again and carrying her baby...

Colleen Hoover is a publishing phenomenon, dominating bestseller lists with her catalog of novels week after week. She is a writer who breaks the rules, gliding between traditional publishing houses to self-publishing with ease, and who refuses to limit herself to genre or expectations. Her ability to create complex, emotionally relatable characters make her readers a devoted fanbase who would nev...

Rachel Hawkins' 2020 release of "The Wife Upstairs" was a huge hit. The contemporary thriller inspired by "Jane Eyre" was the first release outside of the YA genre and showed she can craft a page-turner for a variety of audiences. Rachel talks with Olivia about "Reckless Girls" (published January 2022) that tracks Lux and her boyfriend Nico as they sail off from Hawaii in search of Meroe Island, a...

For the first podcast of 2022, we are joined by an author whose 'buzzed about' 2021 debut novel is now available in paperback. Gabriela Garcia's "Of Women and Salt" was named a Best Book of the Year (2020) by Marie Claire, Harper's Bazaar, and The Boston Globe. The novel is a multi-generational story of women, taking readers from nineteenth-century Cuba, to present-day Mexico, Miami, and the immig...

"It's not happiness that makes us grateful, it's gratefulness that makes us happy" – Kristi Nelson Kristi Nelson brings her powerful message of the transformative practice of grateful living to the last podcast episode of the year.  The author of "Wake Up Grateful" guides readers through the ways you can change your life and perspective for the better, and the ways this shift is proven to improve...

Brace yourself for some serious Christmas magic! New York Times bestselling author of 29 novels (and counting), Mary Kay Andrews joins the podcast to talk about "The Santa Suit" the book she calls "a delicious, sweet, peppermint scented goodie." The novella celebrates the magic of Christmas and second chances with a tale of a new beginning for Ivy Perkins, who is starting over personally and profe...

Grab a cup of cocoa and get cozy by the Christmas tree for this visit with Karen Schaler, author of new holiday romance, "A Royal Christmas Fairy Tale." Entertainment Weekly calls her a "holiday publishing darling" who is equally successful as a novelist and screenwriter, with holiday films like Christmas Camp and A Christmas Prince among her credits. Before she was known as "Christmas Karen" – sh...

Jeff Kinney is the creative mind behind one of the most successful book series for kids of all time. He joins the podcast to talk about his latest projects: "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Big Shot," the sixteenth in the series, and the animated film, "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" currently on Disney+. He talks with Olivia about why his characters should never grow up, the perks of running a bookstore, and reacts...

"L.A. Weather" tells the story of one very tumultuous year in the life of the Alvarado family. Successful Mexican-Americans living and working in Los Angeles, the three adult daughters maintain a commitment of meeting their parents for weekly family dinners to share their passion for food, and commitment to family.   Author Maria Amparo Escandon joins the podcast to talk about the narrative techni...