A lot of people talk about “chasing the dream.” Michelle Morris actually did it, and the road there runs through the White House, presidential campaigns, global corporate communications, and a moment that changes everything: a deathbed promise to finally write the books she’d carried since childhood. I loved this conversation because it’s equal parts craft talk and life talk, with the kind of honesty that makes you rethink what you’re postponing.

We get into her novel Comes Around, a gripping suspense story set in small-town Michigan where the pull of home is both comfort and threat. Michelle introduces Hallie McCarthy, a woman in her early 30s whose shiny startup life in San Francisco implodes under federal scrutiny. Hallie drives back to her hometown quietly, stops first at the cemetery, and tries to decide whether she can disappear again before anyone sees her. Then the tension tightens: something, or someone, may have followed her back. Alongside the mystery, we talk about the layered family dynamics that make the book hit hard, especially the older, wiser women who show up with backbone, love, and zero patience for self-pity.

Michelle also shares the surprising real-world spark for the opening scene, how she learned the publishing industry after years of “industry-adjacent” writing, and why treating writing like a job can unlock speed, consistency, and better stories. If you love suspense novels, family secrets, second chances, and strong female characters, you’ll want to put this on your list. Subscribe, share this conversation with a reader friend, and leave a review to help more listeners find the show.

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Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels. 

Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units .  He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more tha...