In their interview with author Susan Furber, Jess and Hannah discuss writing a literary fiction series, how your characters stay with you, and they dive into Susan's upcoming release, What Other Years Have Done.

Susan Furber is the author of The Essence of an Hour, We Were Very Merry and the upcoming What Other Years Have Done (2026), all published by Valley Press. Born in Buffalo, New York, in 1992, Susan studied English and Philosophy at Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana, and spent a year at the University of Oxford. After graduating, she moved to London, where she lives with her husband and works in publishing as a book editor. Susan writes about the themes of the American identity abroad, the complexities of female friendship, and the feminist movement throughout the 20th and 21st centuries.

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What Other Years Have Done by Susan Furber: Pre-Order

Susan's Linktree

Susan's Instagram

Hannah and Jess interview debut author Kathleen Schwab about her historical fantasy, Queenswood, and how her journey to this book was mostly about pursuing her joy. They discuss the Celtic folklore of the story and how she wove it in with her worldbuilding. Fantasy writers will enjoy this episode!

Kathleen Schwab grew up in Levittown, Pennsylvania, a quintessential postwar suburb, among hundreds of identical prefab homes, but that didn’t stop her from building faerie houses when no one was looking. She earned a BA in literature and a master of arts in teaching from Smith College in Massachusetts, married the love of her life, and went on to fill such varied roles as office manager, midwife’s assistant, and professional homeschool teacher, all while raising two rambunctious children and tending a flock of parrots.

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Kathleen's website

Kathleen's Instagram

Queenswood by Kathleen Schwab

Jess and Hannah discuss both the similarities and differences between the mystery, crime, thriller, and horror genres. They cover genre expectations, but also share what these genres all have in common. This episode helps clear up how to position your book within these specific areas of fiction.

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Core Elements of a Horror Story

How to Write a Thriller, Step by Terrifying Step

Hannah and Jess interview New York Times Bestselling author Alka Joshi about her new book Six Days in Bombay while discussing other topics such as identity and how great character work is born.

Born in India and raised in the U.S. since the age of nine. Alka Joshi has a BA from Stanford University and an MFA from California College of Arts. Joshi's debut novel, The Henna Artist, immediately became a NYT bestseller, a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick, was Longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, and has been translated into 30 languages. The Secret Keeper of Jaipur (2021) and The Perfumist of Paris (2023) completed the Jaipur Trilogy. Her fourth novel, Six Days in Bombay, was published in 2025. She is currently working on her fifth novel, which is due to be published in 2027. In 2024, Joshi was selected for the Forbes 50 over 50 List, celebrating women who are shattering age and gender norms across all sectors of the American economy and culture.

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Alka Joshi's website

Alka Joshi's Instagram

Six Days in Bombay by Alka Joshi

Hannah and Jess explain the similarities and differences between women's fiction and romance, provide practical ways to understand how to place your own novel, and three questions to ask yourself if you're looking for clarity.

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Women’s Fiction vs. Romance: What’s The Difference? | Savannah Gilbo

Genre Guide | Lidia Hilje

Hannah and Jess discuss why plot devices are one of the most important ways to move your story forward, what types of plot devices there are, and how you might already be using them without even realizing it.

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Writers on the Move | Plot Devices

Hannah, Jess, and their guest A.L. Sinclair discuss her unique journey from pursuing self-publishing to being discovered by her now agent and going traditional publishing. They also discuss the work to write a dark historical fiction novel, finding the "why" behind your work, and how to build a solid, steady readership.

A. L. Sinclair is a debut adult dark fantasy author who enjoys weaving history, mythology, and complex, flawed characters into wonderfully subversive narratives. With a background in law, sustainability, and somatic healing, she loves exploring identity, trauma and power through a feminist lens. Her nonfiction writing has appeared in Tiny Buddha and Elephant Journal, and she wrote a couple of screenplays whilst mentoring under an award-winning Australian screenwriter. When she’s not writing vengeful women who smash the patriarchy, Amanda enjoys single malt scotch whisky and working her way through her ever-growing to-be-read pile. She lives on Whadjuk Noongar country (Perth, Western Australia) with two well-traveled cats who’ve accompanied her across continents.

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A.L Sinclair's website

Read the first three chapters of The Witch Queen's Gambit

A.L. Sinclair's Instagram

Jess and Hannah introduce a new series on the key elements of writing in certain genres. In the first episode, they discuss the definitions and hallmarks of literary fiction, upmarket fiction, and commercial fiction. They explore case studies and even share ways that these genres can be markers within other genres as well (i.e., literary thrillers, upmarket romances, etc.).

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What is Upmarket Fiction? by Carly Watters for Jane Friedman

What is Literary Fiction? | Writer's Digest

Literary Fiction Explained (and How to Know if You're Writing It) | The Novelry

Hannah and Jess discuss their adaptations living life with chronic illness, discuss how mental health episodes can feel equally as limiting, and share their tips and mentalities for handling the difficult days.

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Jess and Hannah talk about bringing mythology to life with editor and author John Glynn. They explore the idea of queer erasure within myth and lore, discuss the depth of writing about first love and how it changes you, and briefly geek out over Madeline Miller.

John Glynn is the Editorial Director of Hanover Square Press, an imprint of HarperCollins. His acclaimed nonfiction debut, Out East: Memoir of a Montauk Summer was an Indie Next pick, an Oprah, The Magazine "Best LGBTQ Book of 2019," a Cosmopolitan Best Book of 2019, a Refinery29 Outstanding LGBTQ+ Book of 2019, a Newsweek Best Book of Summer among other accolades. The Lost Book of Lancelot is his debut novel. His writing has appeared in Oprah Daily, The Millions and The Daily Beast. Originally from Longmeadow, Massachusetts, he lives in New York City with his partner and dog.

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The Lost Book of Lancelot by John Glynn

John's website

John's Instagram