H.M. Ward (Holly) is the 22x New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author with sales of over 23 million books. Years ago, Holly took a break. Now she’s back and better than ever. Her first title, 2011’s Demon Kissed, a romantasy before the term was coined, is being rereleased soon!

Let’s chat. I have *so* many questions.

You can find H.M. Ward: Website: www.hmward.com Instagram: @authorhmward Facebook: @HMWard3

H.M. Ward titles we talked about on the podcast: The Arrangement Series by H.M. Ward Damaged by H.M. Ward Demon Kissed by H.M. Ward Scandalous by H.M. Ward

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls Sounder by James Barkley Old Yeller by Fred Gipson Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery Peter Pan by James Matthew Barrie The (Original) Cinderella by Charles Perrault

Monty Don Horticulturalist Author Carly Phillips NaNoWrimo (defunct – read the story here.

In this episode of Politics of Justice, I recap and discuss chapters 3 and 4 of Ransomed.

Ransomed is currently available on all platforms and in audiobook. This series uses the book as a springboard to talk about justice, race, family, and the systems that fail us—and the ones we fight to change.

In this episode of Politics of Justice, I discuss Chapters 9 through 12 of Ransomed, the second book in the Casey Cort legal thriller series.

By this point in the story, the tension surrounding the case begins to sharpen. Questions that once seemed procedural start to feel personal, and the risks of challenging authority become more visible. These chapters mark the moment when uncertainty begins to give way to consequence.

Like many of the novels in this series, Ransomed draws partial inspiration from real events, including the federal case United States v. David W. Lanier, which revealed how a Tennessee judge used his position to exploit women who appeared before him.

In this video, I reflect on: • How the case begins to take clearer shape in Chapters 9–12 • The pressures that emerge when institutions are forced to confront misconduct • The growing legal and personal stakes facing those involved • Why these chapters represent a turning point in the investigation

The Politics of Justice series explores how real legal failures influence fiction—and what those stories reveal about power, trust, and accountability.

Ransomed is Book 2 in the Casey Cort series.

Read the book: https://books2read.com/Ransomed Available on Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and other ebook retailers.

Start with Book 1: Judged https://books2read.com/caseycort1

Subscribe if you’re interested in legal thrillers, true crime–inspired fiction, and the real cases behind the stories.

About Politics of Justice: Politics of Justice is a long-form video series where I revisit my novels and unpack the personal history, legal realities, and systemic issues woven into the fiction. These conversations explore justice, race, family, power, and the cost of survival—on the page and in real life.

About Aime Austin: I’m Aime Austin, a legal thriller author and former trial lawyer. I write the Casey Cort and Nicole Long series, stories centered on women navigating broken systems and the moral complexity of justice. My work blends fiction, lived experience, and legal insight.

Find Me Online: Website: https://aimeaustin.com Substack: https://legalthrillerauthor.substack.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legalthrillerauthor/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@legalthrillerauthor TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@legalthrillerauthor Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/aime-austin Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/legalthrillerauthor

Listen & Subscribe: This series is also available in video on YouTube.The Politics of Justice

Music by John Bartmann https://youtube.com/johnbartmannmusic CC0

In this episode of Politics of Justice, I recap and discuss chapters 3 and 4 of Ransomed.

Ransomed is currently available on all platforms and in audiobook. This series uses the book as a springboard to talk about justice, race, family, and the systems that fail us—and the ones we fight to change.

In this episode of Politics of Justice, I walk through the opening chapters of Ransomed, the second book in the Casey Cort legal thriller series.

Like many of the stories in this series, Ransomed was influenced by real events. The novel draws inspiration from United States v. David W. Lanier, a federal case involving a Tennessee judge who used the power of his position to abuse women who appeared before him.

Chapters 3 and 4 continue to introduce the world Casey Cort is stepping into—one where the authority of the courtroom can hide misconduct, and where victims often face the impossible choice between silence and retaliation.

In this video, I discuss: • The intersection between storytelling and current events. • Women’s whisper networks about suspect men. • Men who can’t break up a relationship and waste women’s time.

The Politics of Justice series looks at how real legal cases influence fiction—and what those stories reveal about power, accountability, and the justice system.

Ransomed is Book 2 in the Casey Cort series.

Read the book: https://books2read.com/Ransomed Available on Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and other ebook retailers.

Start with Book 1: Judged https://books2read.com/caseycort1

Subscribe if you’re interested in legal thrillers, true crime–inspired fiction, and the real cases behind the stories.

About Politics of Justice: Politics of Justice is a long-form video series where I revisit my novels and unpack the personal history, legal realities, and systemic issues woven into the fiction. These conversations explore justice, race, family, power, and the cost of survival—on the page and in real life.

About Aime Austin: I’m Aime Austin, a legal thriller author and former trial lawyer. I write the Casey Cort and Nicole Long series, stories centered on women navigating broken systems and the moral complexity of justice. My work blends fiction, lived experience, and legal insight.

Find Me Online: Website: https://aimeaustin.com Substack: https://legalthrillerauthor.substack.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legalthrillerauthor/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@legalthrillerauthor TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@legalthrillerauthor Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/aime-austin Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/legalthrillerauthor

Listen & Subscribe: This series is also available in video on YouTube.The Politics of Justice

Music by John Bartmann https://youtube.com/johnbartmannmusic CC0