Welcome to Author Provocateur with Josie Brown

In Samantha M. Bailey’s debut thriller WOMAN ON THE EDGE, a mother hands her infant daughter to a stranger before falling to her death in front of a subway train. That is, the woman given the child claims they've never met. But there is enough evidence to prove otherwise. If she's lying, it's because she has a lot to gain: the child she's always wanted, AND access to the fortune the child will one...

In New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni’s latest thriller, A COLD TRAIL, Seattle homicide detective Tracy Crosswhite returns home to Cedar Grove, where a brutal murder and her haunted past come to a crossroads. There her husband, lawyer Dan O’Leary, is drawn into representing a local merchant whose business is jeopardized by the town’s revitalization. At the same time, Tracy is urged by...

Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke’s latest psychological thriller—The Two Lila Bennetts—has been lauded by Authorlink as an imaginative and unpredictable story of modern life, the choices we make and their consequences.” BookTrib calls it  a “‘whose-doing-it’ masterpiece.” And Publisher’s Weekly declares: "its flawless pacing will keep readers on the edge of their seats." I had the opportunity of talkin...

In prolific suspense novelist , a USA-Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author Debra Webb's latest novel, THE SECRETS WE BURY, is the first in a new romantic suspense series whose protagonist, Dr. Rowan Dupont—formally Nashville, Tennessee Police Department’s forensic psychologist—also happens to be an undertaker’s daughter. Rowan, who comes from the small town of Winchester, Tennessee, is h...

In the 10th novel in the Deborah Coonts’ series, LUCKY CE SOIR, Coont’s heroine, a fixer at the mythical and very posh Vegas Strip hotel, the Babylon, puts her business life on hold in order to meet the parents of her fiancé, the noted French chef Jean-Charles Boucle, only to stumble into a murder mystery that might destroy the Bouclet family’s reputation in the high-stakes industry of top-flight...

James Rollins has written enough bestselling novels to fill a tall bookcase. In most of them, a historical event, or artifact, is the catalyst for a modern-day catastrophe. Sometimes Rollins will find the perfect plot concept from reading an article. Sometimes it’s sparked from his travels. For his latest novel, CRUCIBLE, it came from a place that even surprised him. (You'll have to hear the inter...

According to internationally bestselling author David Baldacci, when you’ve written as many books as he has—ten series, or a total of thirty books, and counting; and another twelve stand-alone novels—there is one way to keep his writing razor-sharp: “Start from Square One: create a new character, a new series—a new world.” With his latest novel, LONG ROAD TO MERCY, Baldacci has done just that. His...

The iconic loner anti-hero, Jack Reacher, has made thriller writer Lee Child an internationally renowned author. Child’s debut novel, Killing Floor—the first of 23 Reach books—won both the Anthony and the Barry awards for Best First Mystery. The 9th novel, THE ENEMY, won both the Barry and the Nero awards for Best Novel and became a film starring Tom Cruise. I interviewed Lee about the latest book...

New York Times best-selling author Kristan Higgins’ eighteenth novel, GOOD LUCK WITH THAT, follows three women—best pals Emerson, Marley, and Georgia—whose lifetime battles with obesity were the bonds that brought them together. The death of one provides the catalyst for self discovery, change, and acceptance for the other two.

If you’re a novelist, the best way to make lemonade from a lemon of a non-fiction book deal gone awry is to repurpose it into a thriller that garners numerous enthusiastic reviews and a slot several best-sellers’ lists. With her latest stand-alone novel, TRUST ME, Five-time Agatha award-winner Hank Phillippi Ryan has done exactly that. I talked to her about this latest thriller as well as how she...

Violet's experience in the wedding planning industry was her inspiration for a heroine who creates  Happily Ever Afters for brides and the grooms who love them. She also writes romantic suspense—with a paranormal twist. But Violet’s passion: research. Violet explains how research adds color to her novels. Interviewed by Josie Brown.

This Romantic Suspense and Sweet Contemporary Romance author truly has a split personality—and it shows in the depth and breadth of her work. I talked to her about the joy of writing in multiple genres, and coming from a large family. And with me, she also discusses her latest paranormal series, THE THORN WITCHES.

Tina DeSalvo writes about and believes in Happily Ever Afters. She writes them beautifully, too—perhaps because of her keen observations of others, honed from her many years as a journalist. We have a wonderful discussion of her past, her journey as a cancer survivor, and her latest novel and series.

Tara Taylor Quinn has penned 75 novels—and counting! She is a go-to read for any Harlequin SuperRomance reader. In her WHERE SECRETS ARE SAFE series, the plots revolve around  members or supporters of the Lemonade Stand Women’s Shelter. Their second chances are true happily ever after—for not only the heroine and the heroine, but for those women who could use a helping hand.

Best-selling author Susan Carlisle finds the inspiration for her plots in the funniest places—and it shows. Having traveled to 49 of 50 states, she has a lot of wonderful material. We talk about plots, travel, and our home state of Georgia.

Shirley Hailstock is a best-selling, award-winning novelist with over 30 books to her name. In fact, her novel, Legacy, is listed as one of the 100 Greatest Romance Novels of the 20th Century. Her series include the 6-novel Capitol Chronicles Romantic Suspense series and the four-book Blythe CoveContemporary Romance series. I talked to Shirley about how she wrote a book on a dare—and forged a best...

Today my guest is novelist Sandy Parks is renowned for her adventure thrillers which often with an aviation theme. In Sandy’s HAWKER INCORPORATION series, her heroine, military test pilot Amelia “Jet” Walkzinski, specialize in the difficult, elusive, and highly profitable repossession of high-end aircraft. We also discuss Sandy’s new science fiction action thriller, TO DIE AGAIN, involving a speci...

Award-winning New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, Sabrina York, is known for her steamy romances. She writes about a fantasy you may have, be it hot SEALs, steamy cowboys, kilted warriors and naughty dukes. And her heroes find their match in her slightly snarky heroines. Sabrina’s latest historical novel, WHAT A HIGHLANDER’S GOT TO DO, has an English viscount posing as a stable boy an...

Rose Lerner writes Regency Romances and Historical romances based in the Revolutionary War period. The steely determination of her heroes and heroines to make their way in the world is what sets her 4-novel Lively St. Lemeston series apart from other regencies. But her latest novel, which is part of an American historical anthology, Hamilton's Battalion: A Trio of Romances, is delighting readers o...

For this author, how to marry a billionaire is easy. Offer him something priceless: a heart of gold. She also discusses how growing up in West Virginia gave her the inspiration for her Horse Whispererseries.

The love of travel and family is what inspired Nan Dixon's heartfelt contemporary romance series, Fitzgerald House, whose heroines are loosely based on her sisters. Nan and I talk about how travel inspires her plots.

If you love Magical Romances, Cowboy Romances, and Cozy Mysteries, then Mary Leo is the read for you! I talked to Mary—a Chicago gal—how she ended up in cowboy country, and what sang to her about it. We'll also talk about her heroine who comes from a long line of Cupids—and the fun of writing about everyone's wing girl.

The idea for Marilyn's (thus far) four-novel Crystal Psychic series came to her when she sat on a long-distance flight. As for Marilyn's contemporary romantic suspense novels, readers are enthralled by their historical angles and faraway locales. In fact, you'll hear how saffron gave Marilyn the plot for her next book.

Maggie Marr writes smart, sexy romances. I talked to her about her contemporary romance glam lit novels, and how she made the transition from Hollywood talent agent to author in LaLa Land.

Kelly's contemporary romances are sweet and yet spicy. Case in point: her Redwood Ridge series, in which a small town's matchmakers have been successful in arranging cute meets. I talked to Kelly about several of her series, including one revolving about (gulp!) ghosts! Find out why if Kelly's towns were real, we'd all want to live there.