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.

Bestselling authors Laura Kamoie and Stephanie Dray join us to discuss A Founding Mother and the untold stories of women like Abigail Adams during the American Revolution. A conversation on historical fiction, research, and why these stories still matter today.

A group chat turned into a full fantasy series. We talk with E.B. Asher about collaboration, writing sequels, and why starting with the pitch might change how you write.

In this episode, we sit down with Meg Rosenthal to talk about the reality of book launch anxiety, imposter syndrome, and what it actually feels like to publish a book for the first time. From late-night spirals to the vulnerability of sharing your work, this conversation dives into the emotional side of writing that most authors aren’t prepared for. We also explore indie vs. traditional publishing, how to balance creativity with commercial expectations, and why building a strong writing community can make all the difference.