A former bookseller turned flight attendant, T. J. Newman flew for Virgin America and Alaska Airlines from 2011 until this year. While her passengers were asleep on cross-country red-eye flights, she began to write a novel on whatever she could find during her shifts, including cocktail napkins. After being rejected by 41 agents, she sold Falling and the publishing rights for her second novel for a seven figure deal. Referred to by Don Winslow as ''Jaws at 35,000 feet,'' this ''stunning and relentless'' debut tells the story of a crowded L.A. to New York flight that the captain has to crash in order to save his kidnapped family. 

(recorded 7/13/2021)