Writers, Ink: Your backstage pass to the world's most prolific authors

Join hosts J.D. Barker, Christine Daigle, Jena Brown, and Kevin Tumlinson as they discuss the week's entertainment news, including stories about BookTok, book output topping four million, and Tracy Wolff. Then, stick around for a chat with Karen Robards! Karen Robards is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of more than fifty books and one novella. Karen published her first novel at age 24 and has won multiple awards throughout her career, including six Silver Pens for favorite author. Karen was described by The Daily Mail as one of the most reliable thriller....writers in the world."  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Join hosts J.D. Barker, Christine Daigle, Jena Brown, JP Rindfleisch, and Kevin Tumlinson as they discuss the week's entertainment news, including stories about Amazon categories, Spotify, and Simon & Schuster's new CEO. Then, stick around for a chat with J.R. Thornton! J.R. Thornton is a writer and the author of two novels, Beautiful Country, and Lucien. Born in London, UK, J. R. graduated from Harvard College in 2014, where he studied history, English, and Chinese. An internationally ranked junior tennis player, he later competed for Harvard and on the men’s professional circuit. Shortly after graduating from Harvard, J. R. published his first novel, Beautiful Country, loosely inspired by experiences he had living in Beijing as a teenager. The novel became a best-seller in China, and the film rights were subsequently purchased by WME/IMG. J. R. returned to China in 2016 as a member of the inaugural class of Schwarzman Scholars, earning an M.A. from Tsinghua University. He speaks Chinese and Italian, and lives in Milan, where he works for AC Milan. Lucien is his second novel. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Join hosts J.D. Barker, Christine Daigle, Jena Brown, and Kevin Tumlinson as they discuss the week's entertainment news, including stories about all-male book clubs, literature discovered through pop music, and scams. Then, stick around for a chat with Kat Rosenfield! Kat Rosenfield is a freelance pop culture and political writer, and the author of five books, including the Edgar-nominated No One Will Miss Her. A former reporter for MTV News, her work has appeared in outlets including Vulture, Entertainment Weekly, Playboy, Reason, The New York Times, and Unherd, where she is a regular columnist. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Lyla Lane (pen name of Sonia Hartl), a prolific rom-com, YA, and cozy mystery author. She recounts her long querying journey and hybrid indie/traditional publishing path. She explains how Dolly Parton inspired a cozy-mystery set in Texas. She discusses pen-name rebranding, balancing writing with a day job, slow-burn series plans, and creative struggles during hard times.

Join hosts J.D. Barker, Christine Daigle, Jena Brown, and JP Rindfleisch as they discuss the week's entertainment news, including stories about bookfluencers, Audible, and DNF shelves. Then, stick around for a chat with Ian McGuire! Ian McGuire co-founded the Centre for New Writing with John McAuliffe in 2007 and co-directed the Centre with John until 2017. He is the author of Incredible Bodies (2006), The North Water (2016) The Abstainer (2020) and White River Crossing (2026) and one critical monograph, Richard Ford and the Ends of Realism (2015). The North Water won the Royal Society of Literature’s Encore Award, was long-listed for the Man Booker prize and has been made into a BBC television mini-series starring Colin Farrell and Jack O’Connell. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Benjamin Hale, novelist and Bard/Columbia teacher known for The Evolution of Bruno Littlemore and Cave Mountain, joins to recount a startling true story. He explores a child's disappearance, serendipitous reporting moments, and why some truths feel too strange for fiction. Conversation touches on investigative craft, linking past crimes to present reckonings, and the ethics of memorializing real lives.

A lively round-up of publishing news from contests to bookstore partnerships. They debate the rise of bookstreaming and its potential for reader engagement. Industry shifts get attention, including audiobook trends, marketing, and AI ethics. Practical author advice pops up throughout, from contest strategy to branding and revision policies.

Join hosts J.D. Barker, Christine Daigle, Jena Brown, and Kevin Tumlinson as they discuss the week's entertainment news, including stories about Anthropic, IPG, and what's happening in the book market. Then, stick around for a chat with Oliver Evensen!Oliver Evensen: For nearly four years, Oliver has been helping writers thrive. He tests tools, strategies, and systems to save you time and share what actually works. Whether you’re starting out or leveling up, his goal is to give you the confidence and resources to focus on what matters—your writing.Join us live on Feb 5 @ 1pm ET! https://bit.ly/WIPLive226Meeting ID: 867 0031 3844 | Passcode: 851563 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Join hosts J.D. Barker, Christine Daigle, JP Rindfleisch, and Kevin Tumlinson as they discuss the week's entertainment news, including stories about Substack TV, Spotify, and a £50,000 ‘reader-led’ writing prize. Then, stick around for a chat with Samantha Sotto Yambao!Samantha Sotto Yambao is a professional daydreamer, aspiring time traveler, and speculative fiction writer based in Manila. She is the Sunday Times, USA Today, and Indie List Bestselling author of Water Moon, Before Ever After, Love and Gravity, A Dream of Trees, and The Beginning of Always. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Join hosts J.D. Barker, Christine Daigle, Jena Brown, and Kevin Tumlinson as they discuss the week's entertainment news, including stories about a new bestseller list, Matthew McConaughey, and how artists can reclaim foreign rights. Then, stick around for a chat with Bekah Brinkmeier!Bekah Brinkmeier is a USA Today Bestselling author and ghostwriter of more than 90 novels. She works with AutoCrit as an instructor and author coach, leading Team Plantser in the Novel 90 Writing Challenge. She loves helping writers untangle their ideas, build confidence, and turn rough drafts into finished books. When she’s not coaching or writing, she speaks at conferences and on podcasts about writing with ADHD, strategy, full-time author life, and book marketing. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.