The Open Mic: Writers in Their Own Words

My guest today, Jason Powell, is one of the up and coming authors out there in the mystery genre. His debut novel No Man’s Ghost introduces us to Charles Davids, a probationary NYC firefighter whose first week on the job coincides with that of a mentally disturbed man going through a divorce who moves from calling in fake fires to acting on the real thing. It is a gripping and fast moving story th...

My guest today came to me via a recommendation from another writer and friend of the show, A.J. Devlin. We were talking at Left Coast Crime in March and he said he had a friend with a new book coming out that I really should know about. He even had a signed copy for me! I know A.J. is a great writer, so I of course said I would check it out. I am so glad I did. That book, CALL OF THE VOID by J.T....

My guest today, Mary Keliioka, has authored two notable mystery series: the PI Kelly Pruett mysteries, which features the title protagonist, and the Misty Pines series, featuring Sheriff Jax Turner. She also has a brand new book out, her first domestic thriller, DON’T ASK, DON’T FOLLOW, featuring a new lead character, paralegal Beth Ralston. The book has been called “a pulse-pounding read about tr...

Sagit Schwartz’s debut novel SINCE SHE’S BEEN GONE is a dual-timeline thriller that has been called a nuanced roller-coaster ride, gripping, pulse-pounding, emotional and a non-stop ride of twists and turns. Sagit is a licensed psychotherapist, so perhaps it’s not surprising that her character is also a mental health professional and that the story deals with several mental health themes to add to...

My guest today has had an illustrious career writing so many things, from screenplays and game designs to novels and poetry. She has authored numerous novels and short stories and won multiple Bram Stoker awards, which for the uninitiated are the major award for those writing in the horror genre. You might ask why I, a crime fiction devotee, has a horror author on my show. Well, the answer is we r...

I was going to introduce my guest today as a debut author, but that’s not quite true. She has in fact ghost- or co-written fourteen books, including five NYT bestsellers. She is the author of the father-daughter memoir GOOD GIRL and a longstanding music journalist and critic whose work has appeared in major publications all over the country. I had the pleasure of making her acquaintance at Left Co...

My guest today, Dale Phillips, has a very eclectic creative resume that includes novels, short stories, plays, poetry, craft books and even acting. Away from the keyboard he has supported his writing habit as a technical writer and his food and shelter habit as a farm laborer, bartender and holiday Santa among many, many other things. As you might imagine from that history, he has learned a thing...

My guest today can legitimately be called one of the true legends of the Los Angeles writing scene. Gary Phillips has written almost 20 crime fiction novels, a baker’s dozen of graphic novels, numerous short stories and edited or co-edited scores of other anthologies. His latest novel, ASH DARK AS NIGHT, came out in April, the second in the Harry Ingram series. I’m reading it right now and it is o...

On today’s show the focus is on one of my favorite things – a debut writer. Jennifer Moorhead’s first mystery – BROKEN BAYOU – comes out on July 1st, and she is here with me today to talk about how she got here, from the querying process to the anticipation of seeing her book burst out into the wild. 

Killer Nashville has become one of the go-to writers conferences for crime fiction and thriller authors, a place where writers at every level can find camaraderie and insight to help them boost their careers. I recently sat down with Killer Nashville founder Clay Stafford to learn what inspired him to start the conference and what he has learned over his long and eclectic career that has helped ma...

Regular visitors to this who know my my personal tastes and this show both skew heavily toward crime fiction, mystery and thrillers. Notice I did not say anything about women's fiction, which I confess up front I know almost nothing about. My guests today, however, have a new book out they say is a women’s fiction/thriller hybrid. My guests today, Nicole Moleti and Krista Wells, who write und...

My guest today is a prolific novelist, short story writer and all-around creative guy with fingers in any number of artistic pursuits, including podcasting. He has produced scores of short stories and over two dozen crime novels, including his brand new one, THE LAST FEW MILES OF ROAD. He is making his second appearance on the show, so please welcome Eric Beetner back to the Open Mic. 

My guest today, Vice Wetzel, is making his second appearance on the show, which coincides with the pending release of his second novel, Lose Yourself. Lose Yourself is the intertwining story of six people all struggling with vastly different complications in their lives, all of which come to a head at the final game of the major league baseball season as one of them seeks to make baseball history....

My guest today, Wanda Morris, had the kind of breakout every writer dreams of. Her debut novel, All Her Little Secrets , won the 2022 Lefty Award for Best Debut Mystery Novel and was nominated for several more. Her follow up, Anywhere You Run , picked up right where she left off, winning the 2023 Anthony Award for Best Historical Novel, the 2023 Georgia Author of the Year for Best Mystery, and the...

My guest today, Gigi Pandian, is the award-winning, USA Today-bestselling author of several different cozy mystery series, including the Accidental Alchemist Mysteries, the Secret Staircase Mysteries, the Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt Mysteries as well a handful of locked-room mystery short stories.  She is very active in the broader crime-writing community, including being a co-founder – along with Ke...

My guest today is a man of many talents: he is a fabulous short story author, book reviewer, podcaster and interviewer and – for our purposes today – the author of four highly acclaimed crime thrillers, including his newest, When She Left, which just came out a few weeks ago. I’m very excited to talk with him about all of this today. Please welcome the fantastic E.A. Aymar to the Open Mic.

I believe most of the authors who come on this show have pretty interesting backstories, but my guest today has that in spades. She has been an actor, a yoga instructor and a martial arts teacher, has fought in the Chicago Golden Gloves competition, ran in the Chicago Marathon and competed in the Savate World Championships in Paris. In addition to her martial arts and boxing skills, she’s pretty g...

One of the best parts of doing this show is getting to discover a whole lot of writers whose work I have not yet come across. Because no matter how much you read – and I read A LOT – there are just so many more writers out there doing great, great stuff that you probably haven’t read yet.  My guest today, Chris Holm, is just such an author for me. I’d been aware of his work, seen the name a lot an...

My guest today is Colin Conway, an author with more than 30 books to his credit, including five different series ranging from political thrillers to police procedurals to traditional crime fiction to cozies. He’s here today to talk a bit about all that and more. 

Regular visitors to this show know that my focal point is to talk to authors, predominantly crime fiction and thriller writers. But I have a different show for you today, focused instead on music. Justin Case has been one of the most well-known and beloved classic rock radio folks in Northern California and beyond for many decades. He recently returned to the morning drive slot at KSEG The Eagle f...

My guest today is an old friend of the show, who is making I believe this third appearance here. There’s a definite reason for this, mainly that Jim L’Etoile just keeps writing really good crime thrillers! And the fact he’s a really good guy who is always willing to share insights with a fellow writer is a big part of it too. He’s here today to talk about his newest book, Face of Greed, which is t...

My guest today, Matt Coyle, is a true star in modern crime fiction. He is the author of the bestselling Rick Cahill series, which features the exploits of the title character, a former cop-turned-PI who often finds himself sparring with the law as with criminals. His work has been called gritty, emotionally wrenching and hard-boiled, and I concur with all that. His latest Cahill book – Odyssey’s E...

My guest today, Lou Berney, is considered by many to be one of the really truly great crime thriller authors in the world today. His books have earned him all the major awards this industry has for thriller writers, including the Edgar, Hammett, Steel Dagger, Barry, Macavity, Lefty, and Anthony awards. He’s also been a finalist twice for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize.  I recently finished readi...

My guest today, Eryk Pruitt, is considered by many to be one of the best crime fiction authors in the world today. I read his book What We Reckon a few years ago and it knocked my socks off, so I was thrilled recently to meet him at Boucheron in San Diego, and even more excited when he agreed to come on the Open Mic to talk about his latest book, Something Bad Wrong. I’m fully ensconced in that on...

My guest today has been called a “present day Edgar Allen Poe” and one of the finest short story writers to come to prominence in the 21st Century. He has won virtually every award a writer can win – Edgar, Anthony, Agatha, McCavity and Derringer – if it’s got a name, he’s probably won it. Please welcome Art Taylor to The Open Mic!