Always Authors

Amanda Jones and Barbara Dee "Judy Blume Was Everything and More"

We are so proud to have these two amazing women and authors on this episode.  Barbara is the author of fifteen middle school books including her latest, Nothing to See Here, which will be released in October.  Amanda released her first book, That Librarian, in response to the attacks that librarians are being subjected to in the current book banning frenzy around the country.   They discuss how books and reading shaped their lives, being trained in public speaking, how they talk non-stop to their friends about books, and the importance of internet safety.  You'll have to listen to find out what happened when a very large iced tea spilled onto a surge protector three seconds before going on live tv...
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Julian Sancton and Hampton Sides "Terrible Tales of Woe and Shipwreck"

These two NYT bestselling authors write superbly researched books about extraordinary historical events. You’ll hear what they love about the writing process and what is described as “going into the pain cave,” the art of creating memorable book titles, how ice shudders and shrieks, the helpful vs. nefarious uses of AI and what human writers can do that AI can’t, and how writing in loud coffee shops is ideal (until the staff forgets about you and locks you in one of them overnight).
You might even hear about advice from historian Shelby Foote and what he meant by the comment “like green beans in a pressure cooker.

Emma Straub and Rainbow Rowell "Boy Bands are the Great Equalizer"

Join these two NYT bestselling authors as they discuss writing FanDom books, how fan fiction is currently driving publishing, what it’s like to go on a boy band cruise, waking up and realizing you’re middle-aged, and the difference between writing “open door” vs. ”closed door” sex scenes.
​You might also hear about a secret pocket of the internet...

Ellen Hopkins and Ann Brashares "It's Kind of Exciting & A Little Bit Terrifying"

Join these two incredibly prolific NYT bestselling authors who have written everything from young adult to adult novels and nonfiction and all things in between. They share stories about writing and creating, from Crank to The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants; what it's like to be banned in school systems, and have your novel turned into a film. 
You'll also hear about how they met a decade ago at Y'All Fest.....and who has venomous snakes in their yard??

Anne Lamott and Neal Allen "The Absurd Difficulty of Civilized Life"

This amazing husband and wife duo will walk us through the new book they co-authored together, what it's like to collaborate as a married couple (yes, they're still speaking to each other!), their different styles of writing and how they compliment each other.

Fiona Davis and Allison Pataki "The Met Was Forced to Return the Mummy"

These amazing queens of historical fiction will thrill you with tales of how they choose their subjects, how they research the stories and how you need to be ready to say 'I'm finished' when you think you could edit for the rest of your life.  ​
You may hear tales of Leprechauns, exorcisms and algebra as well!

Melissa Pritchard and Lauren Aliza Green "Some Words Are Just Better Than Others"

What do acting, waitressing, Goodwill item-sorting, house cleaning, teaching story-writing to women in prison, journalism, teaching poetry-writing to sex trafficking victims, and achieving a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 List in 2024 have to do with these two incredible authors?  Listen in to find out!
You'll also find out how writing "puts the imprint of your soul on the page."

Amber and Danielle Brown "You Can Write Yourself Out of Anything"

Twin sisters. Fur babies. And a love of writing. These two amazing women break it all down for you - from why they write, to what they expect.  Plus you'll hear about their newest release, Zetas Till We Die,
which comes out Sept. 10th!   Is it possible they write thrillers....on their phones?

Juliet Grames and Lynda Cohen Loigman "When the Bronze Package Pops"

Join this fun conversation with two charming ladies as they talk about writing, research and whether or not they were really separated at birth.  From finding corpses in Italy to finding love later in life, you'll go on a journey through exotic lands and families alike, and learn a bit about writing and publishing to boot.  We promise there will be lots of conversation about rum cake.

Mary McCormack and Melissa Fitzgerald "What's Next?"

These two powerhouse women discuss the process of writing their new exciting book What's Next. Based on their years of experience as long-time cast members of the hit television The West Wing, this book is a must read - informative, moving, hilarious and full of never before seen pictures from this 'family' of cast and crew. A huge takeaway is learning about the amazing organizations they support - you'll want to jump on board as well!