Host Edith interviews author Lennox Caige about his 2025 political thriller An American Spectacle, which he calls “fiction with friction” because it draws on contemporary U.S. headlines after Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022. Caige explains his goal to spark discussion about reproductive rights—especially rape, incest, and unclear medical exceptions—by portraying flawed characters on all sides and centering themes of hypocrisy, double standards, power, and media spectacle, including live-streaming and social media. They discuss key characters such as Clay Whale and the lieutenant governor’s daughter, the book’s provocative opening, twists, and thriller elements like a detective plot, car chase, murder, love, and Stockholm syndrome. Caige shares his outline-driven writing process, his current focus on marketing via social platforms and author groups, hopes for a film adaptation, and advice to write boldly from current events.

Find out more about Lennox:

https://lennoxcaige.com

⏰ Timestamp

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

00:35 Fiction With Friction

02:53 Plot Setup and Main Characters

03:57 Live Streamed Spectacle

04:42 Why Write This Thriller

08:37 Hard Opening and Character Backstories

10:58 Everyone Is a Hypocrite

12:53 Abortion Laws and Medical Risk

15:21 How Roe Was Overturned

24:25 Politics, Power, and Greed

30:00 Preaching and Double Standards

32:12 Calling Out Hypocrisy

33:02 Money Behind Politics

34:26 Midterms and Economy

36:28 Reproductive Rights Vote

38:20 Writing Process Breakdown

41:11 Author Community and Marketing

45:45 Advice for Aspiring Writers

47:55 Irina Character Deep Dive

51:12 Edgy Scenes and Message

52:53 Final Thoughts and Farewell

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Music: English Country Garden by Aaron Kenny

Video Link: https://youtu.be/mDcADD4oS5E

Host Edith welcomes returning guest Francine Ehrenberg to Book Lover’s Companion to discuss Ehrenberg’s second novel, A Dangerous Screw Loose, published in August and written as a direct continuation of America’s Candidate, picking up minutes after book one ends. Ehrenberg explains reader demand to resolve cliffhangers and how book two expands the political thriller into a courtroom murder trial, drawing on her decades as a prosecutor while using limited artistic license to keep the story moving. She highlights shifting perspectives by elevating Calypso (and expanding Roberta), exploring Amir’s moral ambiguity, and examining media influence, voyeurism, ratings-driven conflict, and distrust in politics and investigations. Ehrenberg also discusses avoiding partisan messaging, cover redesign choices, sequel-writing challenges and continuity notes, plans for an audiobook, possible screen adaptation interest, and ideas for future non-political suspense or horror informed by her Army background.

Find out more about Francine:

https://ehrenberg1.allauthor.com

⏰ Timestamp

00:00 Welcome Back Francine

00:44 Why Another Panel

01:54 Introducing Book Two

04:31 Picking Up After Book One

07:07 Amir and Moral Gray

10:14 Politics as Spectacle

18:31 Media Circus and Trust

20:20 Keeping Politics Neutral

25:16 Courtroom Focus in Book Two

28:57 Calypso Takes Center

32:38 Adapting to Screen

34:59 Future Books and Genres

35:35 Next Genre Ideas

36:55 Military Life Not Politics

38:49 Sequel Writing Challenges

39:55 Tracking Details Notebook

42:19 Cover Art Revisions

46:19 Flawed Characters Matter

52:09 Staying Human In War

57:49 Greed Values And Art

01:03:51 Future Projects Farewell

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Music: English Country Garden by Aaron Kenny

Video Link: https://youtu.be/mDcADD4oS5E

Host Edith welcomes author and coach Lee Baucom to Book Lover’s Companion to discuss what it means to treat writing—especially fiction—as a business. They distinguish hobby writing from pursuing income, emphasizing that authors must wear multiple hats, particularly marketing as simply making readers aware and connecting the right audience to the right book. They cover cutting through today’s “noise,” pitching podcasts with a clear hook and audience fit, planning publicity months in advance, and choosing platforms based on where readers are and what the author can sustain. Lee outlines strategies like consistency, building an email list (e.g., Substack/Beehive), engaging communities, and using constraints to stay productive, while noting time vs. money tradeoffs, the value of human editing, and AI’s limited role for fiction but usefulness for marketing tasks.

Find out more about Lee:

https://leebaucom.com

⏰ Timestamp

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

00:44 Writing as a Business

03:49 Marketing Hat Mindset

06:03 Publishing Noise and Consistency

06:57 Pitching Podcasts Right

11:17 Conversation Style Interviews

13:06 Choosing Promotion Channels

17:11 Audience First Platform Choice

18:48 Time vs Money Marketing

22:08 Constraints and Daily Writing

24:34 Start Marketing Early

27:45 Building Suspense and Community

31:02 Behind the Art Stories Sell

32:54 Introverts Going Pro

33:57 Marketing Is On You

35:54 Success Takes Many Books

37:36 Strategy And Growth

39:44 Swag Versus Substance

41:38 Stop Doing Readings

45:33 Step By Step Marketing

51:54 Invest In Editing

55:46 AI For Marketing

57:57 Reviews And Not Finishing

01:01:18 Final Takeaways

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Music: English Country Garden by Aaron Kenny

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