"I loved it... Cosmo was a fabulous job in every sense of the word. It was like being on a television show everyday... but I could start to see, wow, this is all collapsing... I'd already written eight of my thrillers and mysteries while I was at Cosmo. I thought I'm going to get out while I still have the chance." — Kate White

Kate White is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of nineteen novels of suspense: 11 standalone psychological thrillers and eight Bailey Weggins mysteries. A former Glamour magazine Top Ten College Women Contest winner and cover girl, Kate had a long career in the media world, which included running five national magazines. For 14 years she was the editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan, which under her became the most successful magazine in single copy sales in the U.S. Kate’s first mystery, If Looks Could Kill, was a Kelly Ripa Book Club pick, a #1 bestseller on Amazon, and an instant New York Times bestseller.

Among other things, Kate and Carter discuss why Kate left the magazine industry, being aware of market trends, and her research on grief for her novel. At the end of their conversation, they make up a dark story using a line from Emily Littlejohn’s Lost Lake.

"I’ve really been able to lean into that Southern Gothic with a touch of horror... It’s that concept of… is it a ghost or is it the guy? There is always that element in my books. Is it real, is it not real, is it an unreliable narrator having psychosis or is it truly something supernatural?" — Emily Carpenter

Emily Carpenter, a former actor, producer, screenwriter, and behind-the-scenes soap opera assistant, was born and raised in Alabama. After graduating from Auburn University, she moved to New York City and now lives in Georgia with her family. She is the author of Amazon bestselling Burying the Honeysuckle Girls and The Weight of Lies.

Among other things, Emily and Carter discuss Emily’s research on witchcraft and psychics for her novel, writing vague endings, and how a unique voice can elevate a generic plot. At the end of their conversation, they make up an intriguing story using a line from BJ Magnani’s We’ll Always Have Poison.

“Writing is so personal. And when you're writing a character, things come out that I know most writers, including myself, are unaware of when they're writing it... they're writing about things you're trying to work out. It's so deeply personal if you're writing honestly.” — Jeffrey James Higgins

Jeffrey James Higgins is a retired supervisory special agent who writes thrillers, short stories, creative nonfiction, and essays. He has wrestled a suicide bomber, fought the Taliban in combat, and chased terrorists across five continents. He received the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Heroism and the DEA Award of Valor. He’s appeared on CNN Declassified, National Geographic’s Narco Wars, and ABC News. Jeffrey is a #1 Amazon bestselling author who’s won the Claymore Award, PenCraft’s Best Fiction Book of the Year, and a Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal.

Among other things, Jeffrey and Carter discuss their style of interviewing in their podcasts, overly descriptive writing, and balancing reader expectations with experimenting with genres. At the end of their conversation, they make up a funny story using a line from Cormac McCarthy’s The Passenger.