Boyd Morrison is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twelve thrillers, including six collaborations with Clive Cussler in the Oregon Files series. His first novel, The Ark, was an Indie Next Notable pick. He has a PhD in industrial engineering from Virginia Tech. His latest thriller The Last True Templar is the second book in the Tales of the Lawless Land series co-written with his sister, expert medievalist Beth Morrison. Beth is Senior Curator of Manuscripts at the J. Paul Getty Museum. She has curated major exhibitions including ‘Imagining the Past in France, 1250-1500’. She has a PhD in the History of Art from Cornell University. 

Among other things, Boyd, Beth, and Carter discuss how careers in engineering and art history have tied into their writing journeys, the process of writing novels together as siblings, and how they travel to gather research and inspiration for their novels. At the end of their conversation, they make up a creepy and gripping story using a sentence from Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl. 

Hailey Piper is the Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Cruel Angels Past Sundown, Queen of Teeth, A Light Most Hateful, The Worm and His Kings series, and other books of dark fiction. She is also the author of over 100 short stories, and her non-fiction appears in Writer’s Digest, Library Journal, CrimeReads, and others. 

Among other things, Hailey and Carter discuss how to navigate conversations and relationships with editors, outlining during the writing process, and Hailey’s experiences writing short stories. At the end of their conversation, they make up an eerie and mysterious story using a sentence from an anthology of Victorian ghost stories.

Abbott Kahler (formerly Karen Abbott) is the author of four New York Times bestselling works of narrative nonfiction, including The Ghosts of Eden Park and Then Came the Devil. Her debut novel, Where You End, is inspired by a true story of identical twins and amnesia. USA Today once named her “a pioneer of sizzle history.” 

Among other things, Abbott and Carter discuss Abbott’s early commitment to getting published, the thriller genre and its changes over time, and her experience moving from writing non-fiction to fiction. At the end of the conversation, they make up a quirky story using a sentence from her very own, brand-new novel, Where You End by Abbott Kahler. 

Novelist Kathleen Willett has a B.A. in English from Holy Cross and a M.A. in English Education from Columbia University. An English teacher who grew up in New Jersey and London, Kathleen lives in Manhattan with her husband, two daughters, and a cat named Mr. Sparkles. Willett’s debut novel, Mother of All Secrets, was shared by Hoda Kotb on The Today Show as one of her favorite new books.  

Among other things, Kathleen and Carter discuss the benefits of reading as a kid, the emotions generated by editor’s notes, and getting used to promoting and speaking about yourself. At the end of their conversation, they make up a story that goes from zero to chilling, starting with a sentence from The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh. 

Elise Hart Kipness is a former television sports reporter turned thriller writer. LIGHTS OUT is based on her experience in the high-pressure, adrenaline-pumping world of live TV. In addition to reporting for Fox Sports Network, Elise was a reporter at New York’s WNBC-TV, News 12 Long Island, and the Associated Press. She is currently copresident of Sisters in Crime Connecticut, as well as a member of Mystery Writers of America, and International Thriller Writers.  

Among other things, Elise and Carter discuss character dynamics, Elise’s experiences as a debut author, and how titles are determined. At the end of their conversation, they make up a mysterious tale starting with a sentence from Six Years by Harlan Coban. 

Erin Hoover is the author of two poetry collections, Barnburner and No Spare People. Her poems have appeared in The Best American Poetry and Best New Poets, and in journals such as Cincinnati Review, Florida Review, Poetry Northwest, and Shenandoah. She lives in rural Tennessee and teaches creative writing at Tennessee Tech. 

Among other things, Erin and Carter discuss how Erin found herself writing and relating to poetry, the differences between prose and poetry, and the process of putting a collection of poetry together that combines emotional intensity variation but remains coherent. At the end of their conversation, they make up a mysterious little tale starting with a sentence from The Princess Bride by William Goldman. 

Edward Cahill is Professor of English at Fordham University, specializing in the literature of British America and the early US republic; more recently, he has been teaching modern and contemporary fiction and writing novels. His debut novel, Disorderly Men, was published by Empire State Editions for Fordham University Press in September 2023 as the press’s first original literary fiction release. 

Among other things, Edward and Carter discuss how screenwriting teaches editing skills, the challenge of trusting your instincts, and learning how to be a public storyteller. At the end of the conversation, they tell a story of cruel intentions starting with a sentence from The Bastard by John Jakes. 

Carol Dunbar is a former actor, playwright, and coloratura soprano who left her life in the city to move off the grid. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The South Carolina Review, Midwestern Gothic, and on Wisconsin Public Radio. Her most recent release is A Winter’s Rime, a harrowing and emotional novel set-in rural Wisconsin. 

Among other things, Carol and Carter discuss the psychology of writing and curiosity about other lives, the relationships writers have with their characters, and all the things Carol learned writing her first novel. At the end of the conversation, they make up a story about scary decisions, starting with a sentence from The Day After Tomorrow by Allen Folsom.  

Amy Weinland Daughters is a humorist, a freelance sportswriter, and an author. Her second book, Dear Dana: That Time I Went Crazy and Wrote All 580 of My Facebook Friends a Handwritten Letter (She Writes Press), was released May 17, 2022. Currently a resident of Tomball, Texas, Amy, and her family have also lived in Blackwell, England, and Dayton, Ohio. 

Among other things, Carter and Amy discuss how living in other places (beyond where you grew up) helps foster empathy, the development of understanding humor and how to write humor, and the challenge of hoping your book is received well at the same time you’re promoting it. At the end of the conversation, they devise an alluring story from a sentence out of The Fireballer by Mark Stevens. 

Michael Katz Krefeld started his career directing a series of short films, before he moved on to writing scripts for several TV drama-series including the Emmy awarded Nikolaj & Juliet. He debuted as a novelist with Before the Storm (Før Stormen) which won the Danish Crime Academy’s first novel-award in 2007. Since 2013, Michael’s work has won numerous awards including Crime Book of the Year and Mofibo, and has been published in 20 countries with more than one million copies sold alone in Denmark. His latest work, including Darkness Calls, has taken the critics and readers by storm. 

Among other things, Michael and Carter discuss similarities between car racing and creative writing, how experience writing screen plays helps with novel writing, and his experience getting published in Denmark. At the end of their conversation, they come up with a creepy and thrilling opening scene using a sentence out of The Nameless Ones by John Connolly. 

Chris Riley lives near Sacramento, California, vowing one day to move back to the Pacific Northwest. In the meantime, he teaches special education, writes stories, and hides from the blasting heat for six months of the year. He has had over 100 short stories and essays published in various magazines and anthologies, and across multiple genres. He is the author of the literary suspense novels The Sinking of the Angie Piper and The Broken Pines. 

Among other things, Carter and Chris discuss the different approaches to the marketing side of writing, how Chris got into writing through short stories, and how important tenacity and patience are in the industry. At the end of their conversation, they make up creepy crime scene story starting with a sentence from The Mirror Man by Lars Kepler.