Mystery lovers, rom-com readers, and travel buffs—this episode is for you!

This week, host Nick Savage sits down with the talented Ann Shepphird, author of The University Chronicles and the Destination Murder Mysteries. Ann’s career has spanned journalism, editing, advertising for animal rescue groups, and now fiction that blends wit, romance, travel, and just the right amount of sleuthing.

Her rom-coms are inspired by her time teaching college communications, while her cozy mysteries pull from her love of travel—and her brief but unforgettable stint working for a private investigator.

Get ready for a charming, insightful conversation filled with travel tales, academic antics, and behind-the-scenes insight into mystery plotting—all with a drink in hand.

Nick Savage is an award-winning and best-selling author of Modern Romance and Contemporary Fantasy. When he’s not writing, he’s sketching, gaming, or diving into stories across every genre. As the new host of Drinking With Authors, Nick brings humor, warmth, and genuine curiosity to every interview—making each episode feel like a conversation between creative friends.

📚 Author of: The Fairlane Series & The West Haven Undead Series

🌐 Website: www.theauthornicksavage.com

📱 Follow: Facebook @savagewritings | Instagram @theauthornicksavage

With over 20 years in writing and editing, Ann has covered everything from sports and food to travel and design. Today, she blends that experience into fiction with heart, humor, and an irresistible sense of adventure.

Highlights:

✏️ 20+ years as a writer and editor

🐾 Writes ad copy for California-based animal rescue groups

🔍 Lifelong fan of Nancy Drew & Sue Grafton

🎓 The University Chronicles – flirty, fun rom-coms set on a college campus

🧳 Destination Murder Mysteries – travel-inspired cozy mysteries full of charm & clever twists

🌴 Based in Santa Monica with her partner Jeff and their two furry co-stars, Melody & Winnie

🎾 When she’s not writing, you’ll find her on the tennis court, in her garden, or plotting her next fictional crime scene

🌐 Website: www.annshepphird.com

📱 Socials: @ashepphird on Facebook, X (Twitter), & Instagram

💬 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe!

Tell us your favorite fictional sleuth—or your dream travel destination for a mystery adventure!

#DrinkingWithAuthors #NickSavage #AnnShepphird #DestinationMurderMysteries #UniversityChronicles #CozyMystery #RomComReads #NancyDrewGrownUp #TravelMystery #AuthorInterview #BooksAndBooze #4HorsemenPublications

Tonight the tables turn as Chelsea Burton Dunn—multi-genre storyteller, community builder, and creator of some compelling supernatural worlds—joins Nick Savage on Drinking With Authors!

Chelsea is the author of The Dead Man’s Hand, By Moonlight, and Dolce Obsurità, weaving together paranormal horror, urban fantasy, dark romance, and emotional depth. Her stories explore the boundaries between humanity and monstrosity, love and danger, fate and choice—all brought to life through unforgettable characters and immersive worldbuilding.

About the Guest:

• Kansas City native (yes, the Missouri side—because it matters!)
• 
  
• Author of By Moonlight and Dead Man’s Hand—genre-bending stories that blend fantasy with deep emotional arcs
• Upcoming: Dolce Obscuritá – a fiery, family-fueled mafia romance set in KC’s criminal underworld
• Former opera kid turned author—don’t be surprised if there’s a soundtrack behind every scene
• A creative force at 4 Horsemen Publications, developing shows, coordinating events, curating marketing and community engagement, and still manages to craft entire fictional ecosystems fueled by grit, imagination, and just a touch of chaos.

Tonight, Nick dives into Chelsea’s writing rituals, her passion for all things supernatural and shadow-kissed, the sparks behind characters like Ace, Nero, Vee, and Six, and the creative storm that keeps her building worlds before the sun even rises. And of course… they’ll be sharing what they’re drinking.

Nick Savage is an author of modern romance and contemporary fantasy. When not writing, he’s sketching, gaming, or diving deep into the stories that shape us all. As the new host of Drinking With Authors, Nick brings warmth, humor, and genuine curiosity to every conversation.

Author of: The Fairlane Series & The West Haven Undead Series

Website: www.theauthornicksavage.com

Follow: @theauthornicksavage

Chelsea Burton Dunn writes paranormal, urban fantasy, horror, and romance that blend dark atmosphere, sharp emotion, and unforgettable characters. Her worlds explore supernatural danger, forbidden desire, and the thin line between salvation and ruin.

Author of: The Dead Man’s Hand • By Moonlight • Dolce Obsurità

Website: www.chelseaburtondunn.com

Follow: @chelseaburtondunnauthor

🎧 Raise a glass and join us for an episode filled with monsters, magic, mafia families, moonlit tension, and the creative fire that fuels Chelsea’s storytelling.

🌐 www.4horsemenpublications.com

💬 Hit that like, drop a comment, and don’t forget to subscribe! Let us know your favorite supernatural trope or dark romance disaster—we’re all monsters here.

#DrinkingWithAuthors #ChelseaBurtonDunn #DolceObsurita #MafiaRomance #DarkRomance #ParanormalFiction #FantasyWithFeelings #WeirdIsGood #BooksAndBooze #AuthorInterview #ByMoonlight #DeadMansHand #KansasCityWriters

Drinking With Authors | Featuring Amy L. Bernstein

Guest: Amy L. Bernstein has a fear of spiders that's genuinely a full-blown phobia, used to be a singer (classical music) until my vocal chords stopped cooperating, doesn’t have a proper home town because I grew up in several of the original 13 colonies.

Author of Tent City: a contemporary dystopian family saga that places ordinary citizens in extraordinary circumstances, precipitated by dire economic disruption. As the American town of Willing crumbles under a collapsing economy, hundreds seek refuge in the dense "city" of tents that spring up in the Kings' big backyard, setting the once-thriving King family on a collision course with disillusionment, disaster, and for some, a new and hopeful beginning. This family saga revolves around trust and betrayal, love and loyalty, and the will to survive the breakdown of the American Dream.

Drink of Choice: I drink so much white wine, somebody should name a grape after me. Chardonnay and sauvignon blanc may sound boring to you, but they are my nightly salvation. If we talk on a warm night, rosé will be on the menu

Amy L. Bernstein writes award-winning fiction and nonfiction that lets readers feel while making them to think. As the author of six novels and a book of inspiration for creatives called Wrangling the Doubt Monster, Amy brings a compassionate and insightful voice to writers' conferences around the country. A former journalist, Amy also works as a book coach, helping nonfiction authors craft compelling book proposals. Her new novel, Tent City, explores the decline of the American Dream and its impact on one family in particular.

Join Nick Savage, award-winning author and host of Drinking With Authors, for a fireside-style conversation with Amy L. Bernstein.

To keep up with all her doings check her out:

📚 https://amywrites.live

💌 amy@amywrites.live

📱 https://www.facebook.com/ AmyLBernsteinAuthor

📷 https://www.instagram.com/ amylbernstein

🌐BlueSky @amylbernstein.bsky.social

Subscribe and join us live for a brilliant blend of drinks, banter, and darker discussions!

www.4horsemenpublications.com

FB: @drinkingwithauthors

Instagram: drinkingwithauthors

Threads: @drinkingwithauthors

BlueSky: @drinkingwauthors.bsky.social

TikTok: @drinkingwithauthors

YouTube: Drinking With Authors The Podcast

#DrinkingWithAuthors #NickSavage #AmyLBernstein #TentCity #Journalism #TheAmericanDream #Dystopia #LivePodcast #AuthorInterview

About Your Host – Nick Savage

Nick Savage is an award-winning and best-selling author of Modern Romance and Contemporary Fantasy. As the newest host of Drinking With Authors, he brings humor, curiosity, and a love of storytelling to each episode.

Author of: The Fairlane Series & The West Haven Undead Series

Website: www.theauthornicksavage.com

Follow: @theauthornicksavage