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What happens when you drop a retired serial killer into a luxury retirement home full of former investigators? You get chaos, secrets… and one very suspicious death.

In this episode, I chat with British comedian-turned-mystery author Fergus Craig about his latest cozy crime novel, I’m Not the Only Murderer in My Retirement Home. We talk about writing a likable serial killer, the art of “cracked cozy” mysteries, and how parody crime novels unexpectedly launched his fiction career. If you love cozy mysteries with a dark twist — and characters who blur the line between wrong and relatable — this one’s for you.

We also dive into his favorite reads (including a book he calls the best he’s ever read), and why sometimes escape fiction is exactly what readers need right now.

I’m Not the Only Murderer in My Retirement Home by Fergus Craig — Buy on Amazon | Cozy Mystery | Dark Comedy | Serial Killer Protagonist

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray — Buy on Amazon | Literary Fiction | Family Drama

East of Eden by John Steinbeck — Buy on Amazon | Classic Literary Fiction

[00:00] Introduction to Fergus Craig

[01:00] The premise behind I’m Not the Only Murderer in My Retirement Home

[02:00] What is a “cracked cozy” mystery?

[03:00] Writing a likable serial killer

[05:00] Balancing flashbacks and present-day mystery

[06:00] From comedian and actor to novelist

[07:00] Parody crime novels and landing a book deal

[08:00] Why readers want escape fiction right now

[09:00] Fergus’s reading life and audiobook habits

[10:00] The Bee Sting by Paul Murray recommendation

[12:00] Literary fiction and reading widely

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What happens when a swoony rom-com set in Venezuela meets fake dating, music, and telenovela-level drama? I’m joined by debut author Maria José Morillo to talk about romance, bilingual reading, and writing against the odds.

In this episode, I’m chatting with Maria José Morillo, a Venezuelan author making her Big Five debut with The Ex-Perimento. We talk about growing up bilingual, discovering romance through Harry Potter and Twilight, and what it means to write English-language romance from Venezuela.

We also dive into celebrity rom-com tropes, Latin American pop culture (yes, Miss Universe matters), and how Maria José went from fanfiction to landing a traditional publishing deal. If you love high-concept rom-coms, global romance, or behind-the-scenes publishing journeys, this episode is for you.

The Ex-Perimento by Maria José Morillo — Contemporary Romance | Celebrity Romance

You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle — Rom-Com | Enemies-to-Lovers

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry — Friends-to-Lovers | Travel Romance

Happy Place by Emily Henry — Second-Chance Romance | Emotional Romance

The Sun and the Void by Gabriela Romero-Lacruz — Fantasy | Venezuelan Folklore

Bochica by Carolina Florez-Cerchiaro — Gothic Horror | Latin American Folklore

[00:00] Welcome & why Venezuela pop culture feels familiar

[02:00] Becoming a reader through Harry Potter

[05:00] Switching from Spanish to English reading

[07:00] E-reading vs physical books outside the U.S.

[09:00] From fanfiction to writing original romance

[12:00] Why writing in English opened publishing doors

[15:00] The book that didn’t sell — and why that matters

[17:00] The origin story of The Ex-Perimento

[20:00] Miss Universe, telenovelas & Latin American fame

[24:00] Romance recommendations & reading for joy

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What happens when a pandemic side project turns into a full-time creative career?

In this episode, I’m joined by fantasy romance author Kate Golden to talk about writing through uncertainty, leaving a stable career, and why urban fantasy is having a moment.

We get into Kate’s journey from working as a studio executive in Hollywood to indie publishing A Dawn of Onyx, landing a traditional book deal with Berkley, and finally quitting her day job to write full-time. We also dive deep into Half City, her dark academia–meets–urban fantasy trilogy set in a reimagined New York City — complete with demon hunters, secret colleges, forbidden romance, and Buffy-level vibes.

This conversation is for readers who love grounded fantasy, creative career pivots, and honest talk about monetizing passion projects without losing your mind.

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Making adult friends is hard — but it doesn’t have to be lonely.

In this Galentine’s Day special, I’m joined by my friend Jules from Friday Night Readers to talk about how we met as adults, how to build meaningful female friendships, and the six books that celebrate the complicated, beautiful, soul-shaping power of friendship.

We share how sliding into DMs, podcast interviews, book communities, and even fitness classes can turn into real-life connection. If you’re craving community, feeling isolated, or just want book recommendations centered on female friendships (from literary fiction to cozy mysteries), this episode is for you.

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante — Buy on Amazon | Literary Fiction | | Audio ✅

Truth and Beauty by Ann Patchett — Buy on Amazon | Memoir | Audio ✅

Love & Saffron by Kim Fay — Buy on Amazon | Historical Fiction | Audio ✅

Too Blessed to Stress by Alli Hoff Kosik — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Fiction | Audio ✅

Rachel West and the Fallen Starlet by Emma Mills — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Mystery | Audio ✅

Murder by Cheesecake by Rachel Ekstrom Courage — Buy on Amazon | Cozy Mystery | Audio Audible Exclusive

[00:00] Why Galentine’s Day matters

[02:00] How Laura and Jules became friends as adults

[06:00] Loneliness vs. being alone

[08:30] My Brilliant Friend & complex literary friendships

[15:30] Truth and Beauty & unconditional friendship

[19:00] Millennial mystery nostalgia (2008 tabloid era!)

[23:00] Love & Saffron & long-distance friendships

[26:00] Golden Girls cozy mystery vibes

[30:00] Real-life ideas to build adult friendships

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What happens when love, music, and unfinished business collide—20 years later?

In this episode, I’m joined by novelist Lisa Peers to talk about Motor City Love Song, a sapphic second-chance romance set against Detroit’s indie music scene—then and now.

We dive into the late ’90s Detroit garage-rock era, the rise and fall of live music venues, and what it means to revisit the love and choices that shape who we become. If you love music-driven novels, queer romance with emotional depth, and stories about creative communities surviving change, this one’s for you.

Motor City Love Song by Lisa Peers — Queer Romance | Music Fiction

Life by Keith Richards — Memoir | Music History

Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby — Literary Fiction | Music Obsession

A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan — Literary Fiction | Music Industry

Girl in a Band by Kim Gordon — Memoir | Rock Music

[00:00] Meet Lisa Peers & the inspiration behind Motor City Love Song

[02:00] Detroit’s ’90s indie music scene explained

[06:30] Music, community, and surviving industry shifts

[09:00] Second-chance love & dual timelines

[14:00] Writing younger vs. older characters

[16:00] Music memoirs Lisa loves

[22:00] Final book recommendations for music lovers

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If you’ve ever wanted to get into cozy mysteries but didn’t know where to start — or bounced off one that just didn’t work — this episode is for you. Amy from Novel Gossip joins me to break down what actually makes a cozy mystery work (and why some beloved classics… don’t anymore).

We talk about cozy mystery conventions, foodie cozies, long-running series vs. short arcs, seasonal reads, and the difference between nostalgic comfort and outdated, problematic storytelling. Plus, we compare three major cozy series we read together — including one we’re obsessed with and one we’re officially done with.

This episode is perfect for readers who love low-stress mysteries, strong sense of place, found family vibes, and a little romance on the side.

1. Lucy Stone Mysteries by Leslie Meier
2. Hannah Swensen Mysteries by Joanne Fluke
3. Bakeshop Mysteries by Ellie Alexander
4. Beacon Bakeshop Mysteries by Darci Hannah

Lucy Stone Mysteries by Leslie Meier — Cozy Mystery | Small Town | Married Sleuth | Seasonal Reads

Hannah Swensen Mysteries by Joanne Fluke — Cozy Mystery | Bakery Setting | Long-Running Series | Food-Forward

Bakeshop Mysteries by Ellie Alexander — Cozy Mystery | Bakery | Found Family | Pacific Northwest

Beacon Bakeshop Mysteries by Darci Hannah — Cozy Mystery | Lakeside Setting | Animal Companion | Foodie Cozy

[00:00] Why we fell into cozy mysteries

[02:00] Cozy mystery conventions & formulas

[05:00] Foodie cozies and niche hobbies

[08:00] Seasonal and holiday cozy reads

[11:00] Lucy Stone series overview

[14:00] Hannah Swensen: nostalgia vs. modern reads

[18:00] Why Bakeshop Mysteries became our favorite

[23:00] Long-running series, side characters & growth

[29:00] Cozy mysteries vs. TV adaptations

[34:00] Final thoughts & where to find Amy

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What happens when a true-crime podcaster is forced to host a romance podcast… and a real murder hits close to home?

In this episode, I’m joined by author Letizia Lorini to talk about her rom-com-meets-mystery debut A Killer Kind of Romance — a smart, funny love story with serial-killer vibes and a guaranteed happily ever after.

We talk about Letizia’s journey from criminology to romance writing, how her background in white-collar and environmental crime shaped this story, and why mixing romance, comedy, and murder works better than you’d think. If you love rom-coms with a dark edge, true-crime energy, and an external mystery driving the romance, this one’s for you.

A Killer Kind of Romance by Letizia Lorini — Romantic Mystery | Rom-Com with Murder | Small-Town Romance | True-Crime Vibes

Brave and Reckless by Dilan Dyer — Contemporary Romance | Cowboy Romance | Theme Park Setting

Hoax and Kisses by Elodie Colliard — Small-Town Romance | Fake Dating | Contemporary Rom-Com | Florist Hero

Poisoned Ivy by Ava Rani — Romantic Mystery | Dark Academia Romance | External Mystery Plot

Whiskey Business by Elliot Fletcher — Contemporary Romance | Scottish Romance | Small-Town Vibes

Scotch on the Rocks by Elliot Fletcher — Contemporary Romance | Scottish Romance | Series Romance

[00:00] Meet Letizia Lorini & her criminology background

[01:00] White-collar crime, environmental crime, and “victimless” myths

[02:00] Falling back in love with romance (and starting to write)

[03:00] Indie → traditional publishing & why hybrid works

[03:30] A Killer Kind of Romance — rom-com + murder pitch

[05:00] Balancing romance and mystery without overpowering either

[06:00] Why dark themes pair perfectly with rom-com energy

[07:00] Pantsing vs plotting & writing twists

[08:00] Book recommendations & favorite rom-com reads

[11:00] Where to find Letizia online

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Coming out doesn’t always look the way we expect — especially when bisexuality, straight-presenting relationships, and queer community intersect in complicated ways. In this episode, I’m joined by novelist and journalist Jordyn Taylor to talk about her adult debut See You at the Summit and why bisexual representation in romance still matters.

We dig into bi-erasure, “double discrimination,” and what it means to claim your identity even when the world reads you incorrectly. Jordyn also shares how her background as a sex and relationships editor shaped her fiction, why she chose Canada as the setting for her adult debut, and how fitness (yes, Hyrox!) fuels her creative life. Plus, we swap book recommendations that explore queer relationships, polyamory, and emotionally devastating love stories you’ll never forget.

See You at the Summit by Jordyn Taylor — Queer Romance | Contemporary Rom-Com | Coming Out Story

Triple Sec by TJ Alexander— Polyamorous Romance | LGBTQ+ | Contemporary

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid — Historical Fiction | Queer Love Story | Audiobook Favorite

[00:00] Jordyn Taylor’s writing journey and adult debut

[02:30] Why bisexual representation needs nuance

[05:30] Bi-erasure and “double discrimination”

[08:00] Setting queer romance in Canada

[10:30] Hyrox, fitness culture, and creative discipline

[15:00] Polyamory in romance fiction (Triple Sec)

[17:00] Emotional audiobooks and Atmosphere

[18:45] Where to find Jordyn and what’s next

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