Author Cynthia Moore discusses her new book, Dancing on Coals: A Memoir of an Overperformer, which tells the story of her life thus far in two parts. The first is a twenty-year journey in experimental theater. She spent those 20 years traveling, performing, creating her own theatrical pieces, and literally throwing herself against walls. The second part of her story is her pivot to obtain her master’s degree in clinical psychology and spend the next twenty years working as a mental health counselor. Cynthia went from living a performative and physically expressive life to one of calm, introspective reflection. She discusses her writing journey, what lead her to pivot from performing to counseling, and the meaning behind her title, Dancing on Coals.

Author Zaq Baker discusses his debut novel, Unspectacular. This family dramedy is about young people trying to balance a music career with family struggles and everyday life. The story is told in two primary narratives: Mae, a twenty-year-old music student who doesn’t really want a career in music but who is expected to be next big thing; and Ajay, a software engineer and skilled drummer who struggles to balance the job at which he is expected to excel with the music career he desperately wants. Zaq Baker has written what he knows. He’s been singing and writing songs since he was fifteen. A professional musician and songwriter, Zaq plays in about ten different bands, so writing Unspectacular began as a private, creative project just for himself.

Author Mima Tipper discusses her debut young adult contemporary romance novel, Kat’s Greek Summer. Rising high school freshman, Kat, is dragged off to Greece for a vacation to meet her extended family, ruining Kat’s own summer plans of training for the cross-country team and preparing for a successful transition into high school. Mima describes Kat’s Greek Summer as high-stakes odyssey for her main character—one of pursing dreams, discovering love, owning her heritage, and finding her own voice. For this story, Mima drew upon her own memories of the summer following her eighth-grade year, as well as summers she spent in Greece with her extended family.

Author Richie Billing discusses his new fantasy novella, Together We Rise, a story about revolution against a corrupt government in a world were life has become a fight for survival. Richie took inspiration from real-world events and the plight of many around the globe. This story is told from multiple points of view—workers, healers, children, police officers, criminals, and so on. Each chapter follows a different character, and the story unfolds like a baton relay race, with each character handing off to the next, chapter by chapter, until we see the entire story unfold. Richie also used AI to create a soundtrack to accompany this novella.

Author Liz Alterman discusses her new book, Claire Casey’s Had Enough. Claire Casey is a forty-something year old mom of three who is recently separated from her husband and is facing the decision of whether to reconcile or file for divorce. The book follows Claire through one thirteen-hour day in which her life feels like its spinning out of control. When an old flame gets in touch and asks Claire out on a date, she is forced to revisit her hopes and dreams and things that took a back seat to marriage and family, all while trying to deal with the everyday chaos of being a suburban mom. As it all gets to be too much, Claire has to be honest with herself, take a hard look at her life, and decide what she really wants.

Author Sara Winokur discusses her two new novels—Double Blind: The Icelandic Manuscript Murders, and Ivory Bones: The Lewis Chessmen Murders—both set in Iceland and featuring a forensic geneticist who uses her knowledge and skills to solve mysteries. In both novels, Sara blends Nordic noir mysteries with history and real-world intrigue. Sara was a genetics researcher for twenty-five years, and she manages to include genetics into her stories in a light-handed way. She also likes to weave in historical events and mysteries. As a result, Double Blind features mysterious medieval manuscripts of Icelandic sagas, while Ivory Bones includes a famous set of ivory chess pieces known as the Lewis Chessmen.

Author Brandi Bradley discusses her new novel, Pretty Girls Get Away with Murder. Brandi knew she wanted to write a murder mystery set in a small Southern town like the one she grew up in. Pretty Girls Get Away with Murder is a Southern noir novel set in a small Kentucky town in which a young entrepreneur is murdered, and everyone suspects his “crazy ex-girlfriend” of killing him. The story revolves around three women: the victim’s ex-girlfriend, his best friend, and the detective tasked with investigating his suspicious death. In this small town, secrets and gossip run rampant, but the truth is buried in there somewhere.

Author Lola Reid Allin discusses her new memoir, Highway to the Sky: An Aviator’s Journey. Lola wanted to write a book that was not just about aviation but also about her experience as a female pilot at a time when it was extremely rare for women to be commercial pilots. While the industry has changed since Lola started out as a pilot, women still make up a very small percentage of the world’s commercial pilots, and many of the problems she faced in her career are still ongoing. Her book details Lola’s career in aviation, but it also addresses issues of motherhood, divorce, single parenthood, and non-traditional careers. Lola’s purpose in writing this memoir was to say to other women, “You are not alone.”