Novelist Spotlight

In the spotlight is Josh Rutherford, whose experience growing up in a multigenerational, multiracial environment inspired him to create characters that are diverse and complex, while addressing sensitive issues of race, ethnicity, and class. His latest fantasy series is titled The Fourpointe Chronicles.  We discuss:  >> Screenwriting versus novel writing  >> The power of authenticity i...

In the spotlight is the author of “My Magnolia Summer,” Victoria Benton Frank, who has followed in the footsteps of her mother (Dorothea Benton Frank) by becoming a novelist. Victoria was born in New York City, raised in Montclair, N.J., but considers herself to have dual residency in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. She is a graduate of the College of Charleston and the French Culinary Institute...

Mike Consol, producer and host of Novelist Spotlight started this project with an objective in mind. In one sense the objective was achieved; in another sense there was a surprising failure. Then came the “one paragraph” concept, and things were set back on course. Mike Consol is the author of “Lolita Firestone: A Supernatural Novel,” “Family Recipes: A Novel About Italian Culture, Catholic Guilt...

In the spotlight is Amy Young who, after spending a decade in Los Angeles working in the entertainment industry, returned to her native Cleveland and embarked on a career as a novelist. Her debut effort, “The Water Tower,” was released in June 2023, and she is currently at work on her second novel, another thriller.   We discuss:   >> Writing first drafts dominated by dialog >> The 5,0...

In the spotlight is Meg Mitchell Moore, a summer reads novelist who worked for years as a journalist before turning to fiction. Moore — who lives in the coastal town of Newburyport, Mass., with her husband and their three daughters — has released her latest novel, “Summer Stage,” described as a spirited summer page turner that follows a family of actors grappling with fame, scandal and ambition. I...

Taylor Adams graduated from Eastern Washington University with the Excellence in Screenwriting Award and the Edmund G. Yarwood Award. He is the author of several acclaimed thrillers including HAIRPIN BRIDGE and NO EXIT, the latter of which has been published in 32 languages and was recently adapted by 20th Century Studios as a Hulu original film. His latest novel is titled THE LAST WORD.   We disc...

In the spotlight is Graham Greene, one of the most influential and celebrated British writers of his generation. Greene's career spanned 67 years, during which he authored more than 25 novels that explored the conflicting moral and political issues of the modern world. He was awarded the Shakespeare Prize in 1968, the Jerusalem Prize in 1981, and was shortlisted for the Nobel Prize several times....

Think about the great sea-based novels throughout history: “Moby Dick” by Herman Melville comes to mind, as does “The Old Man and the Sea,” by Ernest Hemingway, “The Boat” by Lothar-Günther Buchheim, or even “The Hunt for Red October” by Tom Clancy. In that same tradition comes seafaring novelist Robin Lloyd, author of “Rough Passage to London,” “Harbor of Spies” and, his latest tale, “Hidden Carg...

In the spotlight is David Rosenfelt, author of dozens of canine-influenced Andy Carpenter novels with titles including “Bark of Night,” “Citizen K-9,” “Dog Tags” and “Dog Eat Dog.” Rosenfelt spent years in the movie business and then wrote TV movie scripts before trying his hand at authoring legal and investigative novels with a comedic flair.     We discuss:    >> The movie and TV business ...

Andre Dubus III — bestselling author of nine books including “House of Sand and Fog,” “The Garden of Last Days,” “Bluesman” and the memoir “Townie” — is out with his latest novel, “Such Kindness.” Dubus was a finalist for the National Book Award (for “House of Sand and Fog”), has been awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship, The National Magazine Award for Fiction, Two Pushcart Prizes, and an American Aca...

In the spotlight is Norman Mailer. The famed author wrote more than 30 books, won two Pulitzer Prizes, directed four movies, wrote 10 screenplays and married six women, all of whom he cheated on profusely. I want to credit biographer Richard Bradford, author of “Tough Guy: The Life of Norman Mailer,” whose bio about the author I generously borrowed from during the recording of this episode. Noveli...

In the spotlight is Vibhuti Jain, who goes by Vib for short, the author of “ Our Best Intentions,” her first novel. By way of background, Vib Jain lives with her husband and daughter in Johannesburg, South Africa, where she works in international development. She began her career as a corporate lawyer in New York. She holds degrees from Yale University and Harvard Law School. She grew up in Guilfo...

Novelist and journalist Ray Ring — author of “Telluride Smile,” “Peregrine Dream” and “Arizona Kiss — has published his first novel in more than 20 years, in the form of “Montana Blues.”    We discuss:    >> His long absence from the scene  >> The various voices of Ray Ring  >> His time as an undercover prison inmate  >> A brother’s suicide  >> Moving from Arizona to...

In the spotlight is the author of ONCE WE WERE HOME and THE YELLOW BIRD SINGS, as well as the memoir IF A TREE FALLS.   We discuss:   >> The stolen children of World War II >> Giving birth to and raising deaf daughters >> The human senses >> A boyfriend’s deception >> The start of her writing career >> Touching one’s writing every day >> Philosophical stud...

In the spotlight is Ali Hazelwood, the author of romcom novels that include the titles “Love, Theoretically,” “Love on the Brain” and “Loathe to Love You.” In particular, Hazelwood’s stories revolve around women in academia working in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).   We discuss:   >> Her pseudonym >> Building a support community >> Fan fiction >> H...

In the spotlight is the author of THE REUNION and the forthcoming novel THE LODGE. During this interview, Texas-based novelist Kayla Olson discusses:    >> Changing her genre  >> National Novel Writing Month  >> Writing for speed  >> Career turning points  >> Working with a skilled editor  >> Working at Starbucks, Bank of America and Chick-Fil-A >> Etc.   ...

In the spotlight is Kate Manning, author of MY NOTORIOUS LIFE, GILDED MOUNTAIN and WHITEGIRL. The New York Times called My Notorious Life “an action-packed, thought-provoking page-turner.” O Magazine called it “daring and astonishingly current.” NPR’s Kurt Anderson, host of Studio 360, said: “It’s a fantastic yarn … absolutely Dickensian.” And novelist Marisa Silver writes, “Axie Muldoon is as fie...

In the spotlight is former magazine writer, celebrity profiler, screenwriter, would-be actress, and novelist Allison Winn Scotch, author of THE REWIND (which was pitched as “The Hangover” meets “When Harry Met Sally” and is being produced as a Netflix movie), BETWEEN ME AND YOU and THE THEORY OF OPPOSITES, among others books.   We discuss:    >> Failed early novels  >> Firing a literar...

In the spotlight is literary-horror novelist Erika T. Wurth, whose latest book has been published by Flatiron/Macmillan, and she is under contract for more to come. A native of the Denver area, Wurth is represented by Rebecca Friedman (books) and Dana Spector, CAA (film).   We discuss:   >> Use of a middle initial in the author’s byline >> Speculative writing >> Writer’s depressi...

In the spotlight is the youngest-ever guest on the program, Chloe Terranova, creator of the Terranova Universe, a new superhero realm filled with new characters. The first of what is expected to be an extensive series of superhero novels. The first installment, “The VMCA,” is available now, and later this year “The VMCA 2” will be released. Terranova will also start studying moviemaking in Los Ang...

In the spotlight is Ray Nayler, whose new and well-received “near-future” thriller, “The Mountain in the Sea,” is premised on humankind discovering intelligent life in an octopus species with its own language and culture, setting off a high-stakes global competition to dominate the future. We discuss: >> Aging and writing >> Moving from short stories to full-length novels >> Scie...

Andy Davidson is the Bram Stoker Award nominated author of “ In the Valley of the Sun,” “The Boatman's Daughter” and “The Hollow Kind .” Born and raised in Arkansas, he makes his home in Georgia with his wife Crystal and a bunch of cats. He teaches composition and creative writing at Middle Georgia State University.    We discuss:    >> What he watched growing up  >> What scares reader...

In the spotlight is USA Today romance author Eva Leigh, who writes steamy novels teeming with determined women and men. She writes in multiple romance genres under the pseudonyms Zoë Archer and Alexis Stanton. In all, she has written more than 35 novels. She and her husband, fellow romance author Nico Rosso, live in Central California.    We discuss:    >> The essentials of a good sex scene ...

In the spotlight is Ainslie Hogarth, the author of three novels, including “Motherthing," her latest, which has been named by Cosmopolitan as the best horror novel of all time, and the best book of the year by the New York Times, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. and KOBO.   The New York Times Book Review called it “a quirky, gruesome, utterly original feminist horror experience.” Publishers Weekly...

Ever since I read White Noise, the 1985 National Book Award winner written by Don DeLillo, I’ve been expecting some Hollywood movie director would recognize its brilliance and bring it to the Silver Screen in some limited fashion. Finally, it happened, aided by the COVID-19 pandemic and shutdown, thanks to movie director Noah Baumbach and his wife, actress Greta Gerwig. Here is my take on the resu...