Debut author Jasmine Smith joins us to talk Death Card, her witchy YA set in New Orleans, and the wild road that got it here. We get into how she sold the book on just ten chapters, why it reads like her tenth novel instead of her first, and how tarot, gentrification, and a grandmother's love all got woven into one story. Plus gold foil, sprayed edges, and why this one might just land on a banned books list.

Debut author Lavanya Lakshmi joins us to talk Leave and Come Back, her Bollywood-loving rom-com about an Indian wedding, family you've been avoiding, and a boyfriend who crashes the party. Plus her wild path from Twilight fanfiction to Penguin Random House.

Dumplin author Julie Murphy joins us to talk Vera Stein Is Fine, her first adult romance about a Palm Springs retirement home full of scandal and second chances. We cover the decade-long road to publishing it, the real story behind the Dumplin movie, and stories about Jennifer Aniston and Dolly Parton.

Romance author Grace Reilly joins Margs & Manuscripts on release day for Yes Chef to talk about the 80,000-word manuscript she scrapped, the Kitchen Confidential and The Bear research behind Fable's kitchen, and separating art from content as an author online.

What started as a conversation about publishing quickly turned into a deep dive into the increasingly sophisticated scams targeting authors today. From fake HarperCollins editors and fraudulent book clubs to AI-generated audiobook narrators and manuscript theft attempts, Bitty Balducci shares real experiences that reveal just how convincing modern scams have become—and why more authors need to start talking about them.

Lauren Okie joins us to discuss discovery writing, outlining, second drafts, and learning to trust your characters. From Tropesick to protecting the creative spark, this conversation is packed with wisdom for writers at every stage.

Author Alissa DeRogatis shares how a situationship inspired a viral novel, led to a book deal, and shaped her approach to writing and marketing.

Romance author Sara Ney joins us to talk about writing 50+ books, BookTok trends, spicy scenes, hockey romance, indie vs. traditional publishing, favorite tropes, and the completely chaotic realities of being a full-time author.

Claire Swinarski joins us to talk about The Supper Club Saints, a novel exploring mom influencer culture, Midwest family dynamics, postpartum anxiety, and the impossible pressure of modern motherhood — all set against the backdrop of a Wisconsin supper club. We also dive into publishing pressure, launch week expectations, and writing deeply human characters readers can’t stop thinking about.