Book Talk with Cara Putman

Twenty years after his groundbreaking global bestseller The Shack redefined conversations around pain, grief, and God’s relentless love, Wm. Paul Young returns to the story of Mackenzie Phillips in his long-awaited sequel, Return to the Shack . In this episode of Book Talk , I'm delighted to sit down with Paul for a deeply vulnerable and raw conversation on what happens after an encounter with...

In this episode of Book Talk with Cara , host Cara Putman sits down with Christie Award–winning author and former journalist Patricia Raybon ! Patricia drops in to talk about her thrilling new World War II historical mystery, The Sedalia Code . Patricia shares her shift from news reporting to feature writing—moving "from writing about facts to writing about feelings"—and how her parents’...

Host Cara Putman catches up with fan-favorite guest and writing friend Katherine Reay to discuss her upcoming novel, The Undercover Bookshop ! Combining the charm of classic Golden Age detective fiction with real-life Cold War espionage, Katherine crafts a story that feels like "a delicious scone of an escape" with a little clotted cream on top. Katherine breaks down her meticulous histo...

Welcome to Book Talk! Today we're diving into the haunting, sweeping vistas of 1960s Northern Michigan with my good friend, author Janyre Tromp. Janyre is renowned for her rich, atmospheric historical fiction, and in this episode, we're discussing her captivating Gothic suspense novel, Burning in the Raven Tree . I loved this fun, relaxed chat about Janyre's writing journey, her unique...

Welcome back to Book Talk with Cara! In this episode, we're thrilled to present a captivating conversation with the ultimate thriller insider, Ryan Steck , the acclaimed author of the Matthew Redd series, founder and editor-in-chief of The Real Book Spy, and even a continuation author for Ted Bell’s iconic Alex Hawke series. In this episode, Ryan sits down with Cara for a fun, relaxed chat tha...

Welcome back to Book Talk! I’m your host, Cara Putman, and today we’re stepping into the glamorous, intoxicating world of post-WWII Paris with Australian author Christine Wells . Christine is a former corporate lawyer turned historical novelist who masterfully brings incredible, resilient women to life on the page. In this episode, Christine sits down with me for a fun, relaxed chat that feels lik...

In this episode of Book Talk with Cara, host Cara Putman welcomes back Christy Award–winning author Michelle Griep ! A self-proclaimed "Dickens aficionado," Michelle drops in to talk about her Christmas novella, Belle's Christmas Carol . Michelle shares the creative spark behind exploring Belle—the iconic woman who dumps Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol —and...

In this episode of Book Talk with Cara , host Cara Putman catches up with longtime friend and bestselling author Deborah Raney ! Deb drops in to discuss her new release, Who Names the Stars? , the third standalone novel in her God Who series exploring different attributes of God's character. Deb opens up about her life on the road traveling in a camper van with her husband, her joy in grandpar...

In this episode of Book Talk with Cara , host Cara Putman sits down with first-time guest Christina Suzann Nelson ! Known for her poignant women's fiction and her signature motto, "Hope in a world of trauma," Christina drops in to discuss her novel Orange is the Color of Goodbye . Christina shares the powerful real-life inspiration behind the book—a video from a hospice worker about...

In this episode of Book Talk with Cara , host Cara Putman sits down with New York Times and USA Today bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne ! Currently working on her 80th book, RaeAnne drops in to discuss her latest release, The Rainy Day Bookshop —a charming intergenerational story blending women's fiction, small-town warmth, dual romances, and family restoration. RaeAnne shares her transition f...

Join host Cara Putman for a delightful sit-down with New York Times bestselling author Rhys Bowen ! Known for her beloved Royal Spyness and Molly Murphy series, Rhys drops in to talk about her gripping historical standalone novel, The Castle in the Glen . In this episode, Rhys shares how a terrifying personal hiking mishap on Scotland’s Isle of Skye inspired the novel’s stark, gothic atmosphere. S...

In this episode of Book Talk with Cara, host Cara Putman welcomes back romantic suspense author Natalie Walters . They discuss Natalie's new book, Spies, Lies, and Alibis , which takes a thrilling turn blending romance and high-octane suspense. Natalie shares insights into her writing process, the inspiration behind her latest novel, and her experiences, including a daring skydiving adventure...

Cara welcomes author Nancy Naigle to Book Talk to discuss her upcoming novel Home No Matter Where , the third of the Shell Collector books that can be read as standalones. Nancy shares how her career as a Bank of America senior vice president and a difficult season inspired her to write uplifting small-town love stories designed to help readers through hard days. She explains how The Shell Collect...

On Book Talk with Cara, Cara interviews author T.I. Lowe about her new novel South of Somewhere , a redemption story following Juniper as she starts over and takes small, realistic steps through addiction recovery and rehabilitation. Lowe discusses the responsibility of researching addiction, including reading memoirs and working through a 12-step-based study, to honor real experiences and build e...

Rachel Hauck guest-hosts Book Talk to interview regular host Cara Putman about her May release, The Targeted , book three in the Secrets to Keep series, available for pre-order. They read the back-cover blurb and discuss the story of Chloe Ainsworth, a gymnastics coach whose estranged sister returns after 14 years with news that Chloe’s abuser is back, prompting Chloe and law student Dare Shepherd...

On Book Talk with Cara, author and freelance book editor Janyre Tromp returns to discuss her upcoming novel The Scorpion Thief and her series Threads of the Lost Myth. She shares her long-standing fascination with global mythology, explains that the series works backward in time to uncover a “lost myth,” and highlights her free ebook novella Guardian of the Red Desert as a key to the series with E...

Hello everyone, and welcome back to Book Talk with Cara. Today, I'm excited to have award-winning author Melanie Dobson on the show to discuss her latest novel, The Lost Story of Via Bell . Known for her compelling World War II time slip stories, Melanie shares the inspiration and challenges behind her new book, which weaves together narratives from the 1940s and 2006. We delve into Melanie&#3...

In this episode of Book Talk with Cara, host Cara Putman interviews author Chelsea Bobulski about her historical romance novel, A Deal with a Debutante . Set in the Gilded Age era, Chelsea discusses her background in history, her writing process, and the unique romantic tropes explored in the book. The story focuses on an American heiress with no interest in marriage and a British hero who must ma...

Cara welcomes author Joanna Politano back to Book Talk to discuss her upcoming novel The Life She Forgot (out April 21), the first in a new reverse-chronology series centered on an imaginary house built into Cornwall’s cliffs, where each book reveals new hidden rooms and tunnels. Joanna shares life updates, including homeschooling her three kids and teaching her oldest to write, and explains why s...

In this episode of Book Talk, Cara Putman welcomes author Susan Tuttle to discuss her latest book, The Hidden Key of Brooke Sumner . Susan, a seasoned writer of clean contemporary romance with historical touches, shares insights into the book's character development, plot intricacies, and the challenges she faced while writing against a personal backdrop of caring for aging parents. The discus...

On Book Talk, Cara interviews author Heidi McCahan about her new inspirational romance, The Other Side of Goodbye , in the Welcome to Redemption Alaska series. McCahan, an Alaska native living in North Carolina and former certified athletic trainer, discusses writing five books in a year using full-draft dictation in Evernote, multiple self-edits, and working from an editor-approved synopsis. She...

Join Cara as she welcomes back author Robin Lee Hatcher to discuss her latest indie novel, To Find Where She Belongs . Robin shares her journey of transitioning to indie publishing, the evolution of her beloved series, and the inspiration behind her new release. Discover more about the key characters, the setting in Idaho, and the compelling themes of belonging, redemption, and hope. Perfect for f...

In this episode of Book Talk with Cara Putman, Cara invites author Rachel Hauck to discuss her latest book, To Win a Crown , part of the True Blue Royals series. Rachel provides an in-depth look into the fictional world of Lauchtenland, the beloved characters, and the compelling plotlines that have fans eagerly awaiting the book. The conversation covers the inspiration behind the series, the chall...

In this episode of Book Talk with Cara, I welcome author Jayna Breigh to discuss her new book, The Appearance of Impropriety . The discussion covers Jayna's writing journey, her experience collaborating on a Christmas novella, and the intricacies of her latest novel. Jayna elaborates on the story's themes of character judgment and the appearance of impropriety in the legal world. The conve...

In this episode, the host reconnects with author Katherine Reay after three years. Katherine updates listeners on her move from Chicago to Montana, her new rural life, and her children who are now spread across the country. The conversation centers on her latest novel, The English Masterpiece , an art forgery caper set in 1973. Catherine discusses her inspiration from the Cold War era and famous a...