Always Authors

Join these 2 acclaimed, bestselling authors as they discuss banned books, the challenge for Black authors in the publishing world, the gatekeeping of book awards, what could change the career trajectory of an author, being a fashion maven, and how sometimes authors are ‘put in a box’ in terms of publishing expectations. And whose mom and aunts went viral on social media fighting against a book ban?

In our first-ever three-author conversation, we are thrilled to present bestselling historical fiction authors (and good friends) Elizabeth Letts, Renee Rosen, and Tasha Alexander. They discuss how their decades-long friendship began on author message board forums pre-social media, insecurities writers deal with no matter how many bestselling novels they’ve written, marketing teams choosing their book titles, and how sometimes a reader will see something in a book that the author didn’t even see. Plus, you’ll hear which one of them used her first book advance to install doors in her house so she could lock her kids out while she wrote.

Join acclaimed author Camille Perri in conversation with #1 NYT bestselling author Jennifer Niven as they discuss the stories behind their new book covers, cats who judge your writing, the sordid books found in grandma’s closet, Funko POP! Pan Am stewardess figurines, and justifying hours spent on Etsy as “research.” You’ll also find out which one admits she loves to quote ABBA.

Enjoy a conversation between bestselling Middle Grade author/illustrators as they discuss what drew them to write diary-style books for “tweens,” how adding humor helps tweens navigate big emotions and figuring out their place in the world, and how it’s impossible to impress their own kids no matter how successful they’ve become. Because we’ve all lived through those turbulent years, their books also resonate with adults! Find out which one of them made a 50-year-old man cry while reading one of her books.

Listen to these 2 award-winning and bestselling authors as they discuss the challenges of turning your book into a screenplay or a stage play, the challenges of finding time to write when you’re also a full-time professor, the fascinating subculture communities you can find on Facebook, and how getting out into nature is a great way to settle your nervous system before writing. These authors even admit that a good editor who really gets your vision is an amazing thing.

Join these two prolific authors as they discuss the moral and ethical dilemmas in our current world, finding a purpose in life that is compelling, how the first time in NYC was a wake-up call, how death threats have been part of the journey when writing books about what is ethically right contradicts far-Right evangelical views, and what it means to be in the Church in this context… You might also hear a little about sports! ​This is a timely and compelling conversation, no matter what religion you practice (or don’t).

Join author/playwright/producer Peter Parnell in a fascinating conversation with critically acclaimed author and essayist Rachel Cohen about the intersection between art and “time,” how painting is the only art form outside of time, how our current relationship to time is very bound up by tech, and the experience of being “inside/outside” of a character.  ​And what writer was only getting 5 cents a word?

Join bestselling authors Kerri Maher and Annie Hartnett as they discuss their books, failed projects that didn’t sell, dogs who need SSRIs, the magic of doing “The Artist’s Way,” and bowling nights with fellow writers.  ​You’ll also hear the story about one of them being booed at her own wedding!

Join these two bestselling authors as they discuss their their books, their essays and their shared love poetry.   They talk about how to survive in the traumas of our current time, how poetry comes from your ancestors, and what it means to be a good artist. ​ And don't be surprised, but they feel F-Bombs are appropriate when the world is on fire.

Join these two bestselling authors as they discuss their new books set in Old Hollywood. They talk about not outlining their books because “it ruins all the fun,” how locations are sentient, how no two people read the same book, being traumatized by rabid Virginia Woolf fans, and visiting the mind-blowing prop room at Warner Bros. ​You might even hear about the connection between handwriting every day and dementia.