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Some historical figures feel larger than life — until you finally meet the woman behind the myth.

In this episode, I’m joined by Lynn Cullen, an acclaimed historical fiction author who has spent decades uncovering the real people behind cultural legends. We dive into her latest novel about Marilyn Monroe, focusing on Marilyn’s deeply personal relationship with photographer Eve Arnold — the only woman Marilyn ever trusted to photograph her.

We talk about trauma, fame, the female gaze, and what happens when a woman known entirely through images finally gets to be seen as herself. If you love feminist historical fiction, celebrity history, or stories that reclaim women’s narratives from the male gaze, this conversation is for you.

When We Were Brilliant by Lynn Cullen — Historical Fiction | Women’s History

The Woman with the Cure by Lynn Cullen — Historical Fiction | Medical History

Writers & Lovers by Lily King — Literary Fiction | Writers & Relationships

Euphoria by Lily King — Literary Fiction | Anthropology & Love

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell — Historical Fiction | Women’s Lives

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson — Literary Fiction | Time & History

[00:00] Lynn Cullen’s journey from children’s books to historical fiction

[02:00] Why history is never boring (and always connected)

[05:00] Why Marilyn Monroe still fascinates us

[07:00] Eve Arnold and the female gaze

[10:00] Trauma, fame, and Norma Jeane vs. Marilyn

[14:00] Sleep, self-doubt, and the cost of celebrity

[18:00] Women artists, recognition, and late success

[22:00] Literary fiction recommendations & influences

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What happens when you don’t give up on writing—even after a failed debut attempt, agent rejections, and a long detour through corporate life? In this episode, I’m joined by London-based author Rosie Storey, whose debut novel Dandelion Is Dead is finally making its U.S. release.

We talk honestly about Rosie’s nonlinear publishing journey, the persistence it takes to keep writing after rejection, and why messy, mid-thirties lives deserve to be at the center of fiction. We also dive into Dandelion Is Dead—a sharp, emotionally layered novel about grief, identity, and the lies we tell when we’re trying to survive loss. Plus, Rosie shares three literary recommendations that balance humor and heartbreak beautifully.

Dandelion Is Dead by Rosie Storey — Literary Fiction | Grief, Identity

The First Bad Man by Miranda July — Literary Fiction | Unconventional Women

Self-Help by Lorrie Moore — Short Stories | Humor & Heartbreak

Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason — Literary Fiction | Mental Health, Marriage

[00:00] Meeting Rosie Storey & debut novel introduction

[01:00] Early writing life and corporate career detour

[02:00] Quitting work, failed first novel, and starting again

[03:00] Rejections, agents, and persistence

[04:00] Dandelion Is Dead — premise and themes

[05:00] Writing messy midlife stories

[06:00] Why no life is neat and tidy

[07:00] Book recommendation: The First Bad Man

[09:00] Book recommendation: Self-Help

[11:00] Book recommendation: Sorrow and Bliss

[12:30] Where to find Rosie online

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What if Indiana Jones, National Treasure, and a swoony rom-com had a bookish baby? That’s exactly what today’s episode delivers. I’m joined by Jo Segura, author of adventure rom-coms that bring danger, banter, and kissing back into the genre.

We talk about why Hollywood stopped making true adventure romances, how Jo blends real archaeology research with rom-com pacing, and why her heroines are always smart, capable, and never damsels in distress. If you love romance with puzzles, mythology, librarians, lost treasure, and external stakes that actually matter, this episode is for you.

Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura — Adventure Romance

Temple of Swoon by Jo Segura — Adventure Romance

The Lust Crusade by Jo Segura — Adventure Romance

Toe to Toe by Fallon Ballard — Contemporary Romance

Wedding Dashers by Heather McBreen — Contemporary Romance

What Is Love? by Jen Comfort — Contemporary Rom-Com

[00:00] Meet Jo Segura & the rise of adventure rom-coms

[01:30] Why Hollywood abandoned adventure romances

[03:00] Real archaeology vs movie myths

[05:00] Researching Aztec culture, the Amazon & Greek mythology

[07:00] Librarians, archaeology & problem-solving heroines

[09:00] Writing capable women (no damsels allowed)

[10:30] What Jo reads while drafting romance

[12:30] Romance & thriller recommendations

[14:30] Where to find Jo online

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What does it really look like to make a living as a romance author in today’s publishing landscape?

In this episode, I’m joined by romance author Lauren Connolly for a candid conversation about hybrid publishing, creative sustainability, and her latest rom-com Love in Plane Sight.

We talk about Lauren’s journey from libraries to publishing nearly 30 books, why diversifying income streams matters, and how she balances self-publishing with Big Five contracts without burning out. We also dive into pilot romances, found family, money trauma, and why a Gantt chart might just save your creative life.

Love in Plane Sight by Lauren Connolly — Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna — Cozy Fantasy | Audio ✅

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna — Cozy Fantasy | Audio ✅

Drawn Together by Juliana Smith — Contemporary Romance | Closed Door | Audio ✅

Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce — YA Fantasy | Classic | Audio ✅

[00:00] Welcome & Lauren’s publishing journey

[01:30] From libraries to romance writing

[03:00] Why hybrid publishing works

[05:00] The reality of advances & author income

[07:30] Diversifying revenue streams

[08:45] Gantt charts & managing multiple deadlines

[11:30] Negotiating realistic publishing timelines

[13:30] Introducing Love in Plane Sight

[16:00] Money trauma, people-pleasing & romance heroes

[19:30] Audiobooks & narration talk

[20:30] Cozy book recommendations

[24:00] Little Free Libraries & nostalgia reads

[25:30] Where to find Lauren + upcoming events

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What My Reading Taste Actually Looks Like (and Why I Let Go of Goals)

What happens when you stop chasing trends, ditch reading streaks, and finally admit what you don’t like to read? In this off-the-cuff solo episode, I’m talking honestly about my reading taste reset — what 2025 taught me, what I’m leaving behind, and how I’m shaping my reading life heading into 2026.

I’m sharing how cozy mysteries pulled me out of burnout, why I stopped forcing genres that don’t work for me (hello, fantasy), and how setting gentle boundaries helped me read more — and actually enjoy it again. If you’ve been stuck in decision paralysis, overwhelmed by recommendations, or quietly falling out of love with reading, this episode is for you.

1. Why 2025 became a “taste discovery” year instead of a goal-driven one
2. Letting go of fantasy, high-stress thrillers, and reading guilt
3. Falling hard for cozy mysteries, millennial mysteries, and mystery rom-coms
4. Why pop-culture nonfiction works when fiction doesn’t
5. How I use boundaries (not rules) to choose what to read next
6. Why I broke up with Goodreads, streaks, and daily reading pressure
7. Reading like meditation: consistency over perfection
8. What you’ll see more (and less) of from me going forward

[00:00] Why I needed a reading reset

[02:00] From romance burnout to cozy mysteries

[04:00] Decision paralysis & setting reading boundaries

[06:00] What romance still works for me (and what doesn’t)

[08:00] Mysteries, millennial sleuths & cozy trends

[10:00] Genres I’m stepping away from

[12:00] Pop-culture nonfiction & reading curiosity

[14:00] Letting go of Goodreads & reading streaks

[16:00] Reading for joy, not numbers

[18:00] How I plan my reading without overwhelm

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What happens when a former newspaper crime reporter turns her real-life investigative instincts into pulse-pounding fiction? In this episode, I sit down with Laura Griffin to talk about crime fiction, small-town mysteries, and the real-world research that makes her thrillers feel terrifyingly real.

We dig into Laura’s journey from journalism to romantic suspense and thrillers, how she researches police work and cold cases, and why setting Innocence Road in a remote West Texas town inspired by Marfa added an entirely new layer of tension. If you love smart thrillers, layered investigations, and books that reward close readers, this episode is for you.

Innocence Road by Laura Griffin — Crime Thriller | Cold Case | Small-Town Mystery

We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter — Psychological Thriller

While It Was Snowing by Julia London — Holiday Rom-Com

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid — Literary Suspense / Emotional Drama

[00:00] Laura Griffin’s journalism background

[01:30] Researching police work & crime scenes

[03:00] Why West Texas inspired Innocence Road

[06:30] Pacing suspense & planting clues

[09:00] Romantic suspense vs. thrillers

[12:00] What Laura Griffin loves to read

[14:00] Book recommendations for thriller fans

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🎧 Try Audible Today I love Audible for their original novellas, binge-worthy Plus Catalog (like Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell series), and their amazing audiobook sales. Currently, Audible is offering a special promotion for new members and returning listeners.

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