​​Erin E. Adams is a first-generation Haitian American writer and theater artist. She received her BA with honors in literary arts from Brown University, her MFA in acting from The Old Globe and University of San Diego Shiley Graduate Theatre Program, and her MFA in dramatic writing from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. She is an award-winning playwright and actor, and also the author of One of You and Jackal.

Among other things, Erin and Carter discuss the complications of accurately portraying a town, Erin’s training as a dramatic actor and how it translates to writing prose, and printing out and reading your whole manuscript. At the end of their conversation, they make up a gripping story using a line from Kristen Perrin’s How To Solve Your Own Murder.

J.D. Barker (Jonathan Dylan Barker) is an international bestselling American author whose work has been broadly described as suspense thrillers, often incorporating elements of horror, crime, mystery, science fiction, and the supernatural. He has collaborated several times with James Patterson. His books have been translated into two dozen languages, sold in more than 150 countries, and optioned for both film and television.

Among other things, J.D. and Carter discuss J.D.'s experience starting out as a ghost writer, having a working relationship with a major best-selling author, and J.D.’s newsletter controversy. At the end of their conversation, they make up an eerie story using a line from Clare Mackintosh's A Game of Lies.

Lauren Thoman writes speculative fiction for teens and adults. Her debut novel, I'll Stop the World, was selected for publication in 2023 by six-time Emmy nominee Mindy Kaling through her eponymous imprint, Mindy's Book Studio. Lauren's pop culture writing has also appeared in numerous online outlets including Parade and Vulture. Her second novel, You Shouldn’t Be Here, was released in July 2024.

Among other things, Lauren and Carter discuss the pros and cons of attending writing conferences, marketing a book as young adult vs. adult fiction, and how writing on a deadline can impact how you perceive your work. At the end of their conversation, they make up an odd story using a line from Clare Mackintosh’s The Last Party.

Elka Ray is a Canadian/UK author, and a former journalist and travel writer, who writes fiction for adults and children. She is the author of the romantic mysteries Divorce is Murder, Killer Coin, and Hanoi Jane, and is also the author of her newest Women’s Noir, A Friend Indeed. She has also written a collection of short crime and ghost stories set in Southeast Asia, What You Don’t Know.

Among other things, Elka and Carter discuss moving to unfamiliar places when young, balancing resolutions at the end of suspense novels, and the implications of jumping between genres. At the end of their conversation, they make up a journalistic-style story using a line from James Proud’s Unusual Ways to Die: History's Weirdest Deaths.

Award-winning novelist, writing coach, and manuscript editor John DeDakis is a former editor on CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer." DeDakis is the author of six mystery-suspense-thriller novels. John is a former White House correspondent and regularly leads writing workshops at literary centers and writers’ conferences. He is also the host of the video podcast “One-to-One with John DeDakis”.

Among other things, John and Carter discuss John’s career in politics and journalism, how former journalists struggle with letting themselves “make things up” when writing fiction, and knowing when to get feedback from others. At the end of their conversation, they make up a creepy story using a line from Harlan Coben’s No Second Chance.

Lori Roy is an award-winning novelist. Her debut novel, Bent Road, was awarded the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best First Novel by an American Author. Until She Comes Home was a New York Times Editors’ Choice and a finalist for the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Novel. Let Me Die in His Footsteps was named one of the best fifteen mystery novels of 2015 by Oline Cogdill and received the 2016 Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Novel, making Roy the first woman to receive an Edgar Award for both Best First Novel and Best Novel—and only the third person ever to have done so. Gone Too Long was named a People magazine Book of the Week, was named one of the Best Books of Summer 2019, and was excerpted by Oprah magazine.

Among other things, Lori and Carter discuss seeing writing as building a career instead of just a hobby, becoming more comfortable with the writing process over time, and how Lori studies screenwriting to improve her structure and dialogue. At the end of their conversation, they make up a suspenseful story using a line from Greg Iles’s Cemetery Road.

Mary Bly, writing under the pen name Eloisa James, is a tenured Shakespeare professor at Fordham University who also writes best-selling Regency and Georgian romance novels. Her novels are published in 30 countries and have sold approximately 7 million copies worldwide. She also wrote a bestselling memoir about the year her family spent in France, Paris in Love.

Among other things, Mary and Carter discuss how Mary’s work in academia influenced her to write under a different name, breaking into the romance genre after studying Shakespeare, and how reader expectations of romance characters have changed. At the end of their conversation, they make up a hilarious story using a line from Kristen Perrin’s How to Solve Your Own Murder.

Kendra Elliot has landed on the Wall Street Journal bestseller list multiple times and is the award-winning author of the Bone Secrets and Callahan & McLane series, the Mercy Kilpatrick novels, and the Columbia River novels. She's a three-time winner of the Daphne du Maurier Award, an International Thriller Writers Award finalist, and an RT Award finalist.

Melinda Leigh is a #1 Wall Street Journal and #1 Amazon Charts bestselling author. Her debut novel, SHE CAN RUN, was nominated for Best First Novel by the International Thriller Writers. She has garnered numerous publisher awards, including two Silver Falchions and three Golden Leaf Awards. She is a two-time RITA® Award Finalist and has earned three Daphne du Maurier Award nominations. Melinda’s books have sold over 15 million copies.

Among other things, Carter, Kendra, and Melinda discuss their process of taking turns writing novellas in the same series, how aspiring writers tend to become obsessed with having the ‘perfect’ plot, and how book-launch days feel after publishing several novels.