“I don’t know what it’s about until it’s done—and sometimes it’s on a shelf before I realize what certain things mean.” – Lori Roy

Lori Roy’s debut novel, Bent Road, was awarded the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best First Novel by an American Author. Her work has been twice named a New York Times Notable Crime Book. Until She Comes Home was a New York Times Editors’ Choice. Let Me Die in His Footsteps received the 2016 Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Novel, making Roy the first woman to receive an Edgar Award for both Best First Novel and Best Novel—and the third person to have done so. Gone Too Long was named a People magazine Book of the Week, and Lori was featured as an Inspired Woman by J Jill and Oprah Magazine.

Among other things, Carter and Lori discuss doing research to capture the accuracy of your setting, the benefits of maintaining social media presence, and interacting with readers in person. At the end of their conversation, they make up a great story using a line from Jess Lourey’s The Reaping.

Robert Bailey is the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of THE BOOMERANG, the Jason Rich series, the McMurtrie and Drake legal thrillers, the Bocephus Haynes series, and the inspirational novel, THE GOLFER’S CAROL. Robert’s novels draw inspiration from his decades as a civil defense trial lawyer in his hometown of Huntsville, Alabama. Robert obtained a Bachelor of Arts in History from Davidson College in North Carolina, and went to law school at the University of Alabama.

Among other things, Robert and Carter discuss learning to trust your editor, working as a lawyer while writing full time, and publishing struggles even after having published several novels, . At the end of their conversation, they make up a creative story using a line from Karen Slaughter’s This Is Why We Lied.

“There are no shortcuts, right? It doesn't matter what you're writing—you just have to do it.” — Mailan Doquang

Mailan Doquang is an architectural historian turned thriller writer. Mailan received her Ph.D. from the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University. She has published extensively on the art and architecture of medieval France, in addition to teaching at some of the top universities in North America. Her debut novel is BLOOD RUBIES.

Among other things, Mailan and Carter discuss Mailan’s transition from academia to writing fiction, learning to cut unnecessary words, and the imposter syndrome that emerges at writing conferences. At the end of their conversation, they make up a descriptive story using a line from Stephen King’s Desperation.

"The only way your journey in publishing ends is if you stop trying." – Kaira Rouda

Kaira Rouda is a USA TODAY, Amazon #1 and international bestselling author. She has worked in marketing, real estate, and other career fields, including being the society columnist for the Columbus Dispatch for ten years. Kaira’s work has been translated into more than a dozen languages. Three of her novels have been named Amazon Editor’s Picks, and her novels have won several awards, including Suspense Magazine’s Best Book of 2021 Award.

Among other things, Kaira and Carter discuss setting your novels in the suburbs, writing accurate portrayals of teenagers, and learning how to be proud of yourself and celebrating your victories. At the end of their conversation, they make up a twisted story using a line from Martin Edwards’ The House on Graveyard Lane.

"I just don’t buy into the whole failure thing—you either succeed or you learn." – Laura Resau

Laura Resau is the author of The Alchemy of Flowers, her debut novel for adults, and eleven acclaimed books for young people. Her books have won five Colorado Book Awards and spots on “best-of” booklists from Oprah, the American Library Association, and more. Trilingual, she’s lived in Provence and Oaxaca, and studied cultural anthropology and languages. She teaches graduate creative writing at Western Colorado University.

Among other things, Laura and Carter discuss how cultural curiosity sparks imagination, naiveté when finding an agent and editor, and navigating the realms of children’s/teen fiction and adult fiction. At the end of their conversation, they make up a tense story using a line from Ali Land’s Good Me Bad Me.

“I got 26 rejections, and I’d kind of given up. Then Simon & Schuster gave me a three-book deal. And I thought, oh, this is awesome—then, oh shit, I have to write the other two.” – Bryan Gruley

Bryan Gruley is the award-winning, critically acclaimed author of the forthcoming thriller BITTERFROST. Gruley is also the author of the Starvation Lake trilogy, the first book of which was nominated for an Edgar Award and won Anthony, Barry, and Strand awards. A journalist for over forty years, Gruley shared in The Wall Street Journal’s Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and has won numerous awards for his nonfiction.

Among other things, Bryan and Carter discuss designing merchandise for your novels, having “something to say” in your writing, and building suspense by creating questions and leaving them unanswered. At the end of their conversation, they make up an intense story using a line from Karin Slaughter’s This Is Why We Lied.

“Writing it was like chipping away at a mountain with a pair of nail scissors.” —Ellen Birkett Morris

Ellen Birkett Morris is the author of Beware the Tall Grass, winner of the Donald L. Jordan Award for Literary Excellence. She is also the author of Lost Girls: Short Stories, winner of the Pencraft Award and finalist for the Clara Johnson, IAN and Best Book awards. Her fiction has appeared in Shenandoah, Antioch Review, Saturday Evening Post, among other journals. She is a winner of the Bevel Summers Prize for short fiction, and a recipient of an Al Smith Fellowship from the Kentucky Arts Council.

Among other things, Ellen and Carter discuss the transition from writing poetry to novels, supporting other writers within the writing community, and maximizing dramatic potential in individual scenes. At the end of their conversation, they make up a descriptive story using a line from Ayn Rand’s We the Living.

“Not that my work is superior to Rear Window, but I thought—what’s more interesting than a broken leg? A broken mind.” —A.J. Finn

A. J. Finn is the author of The Woman in the Window, the #1 internationally-bestselling phenomenon published in more than forty languages and adapted for the screen as a film starring Amy Adams, Gary Oldman, and Julianne Moore. His second novel, End of Story, was released in February 2024.

Among other things, A. J. and Carter discuss how previously working in publishing influenced A. J.’s writing journey, reasons behind adopting a pseudonym, and A. J.’s experience being at the top of the New York Times Best Seller list. At the end of their conversation, they make up a mysterious story using a line from Jeffrey Konvitz’s The Circus of Satan.