A Mighty Blaze Podcast

His debut novel, CENTRAL PARK WEST, was a runaway success. Now the former FBI Director and Attorney General is back with another great legal thriller, WESTPORT! James Comey visited The Thoughtful Bro to talk with fellow author Mark Cecil about how his time in the nation's most newsworthy legal corridors has influenced and inspired his fiction. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

Her debut novel, JADED, has been praised by respected publications and her fellow authors alike for its storytelling prowess and willingness to take on the biggest of big issues. We were so excited to to welcome Ela Lee to AMB during her release week, when she and Ellen Comisar talked about the real-world challenges that fueled this gripping work of fiction.

He's one of the most influential and beloved voice in the book world, and we're so thrilled to welcome him to A Mighty Blaze! In this episode, AMB cofounder and NYT bestselling author Caroline Leavitt talks with THE Jordy himself about his background, his unique lifestyle, and his *other* job in acquisitions at Universal Studios. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

Looking for a "sense of deep, debilitating dread" in your next read? Mary Kubica has you covered! The thriller queen visited the Crime Time show to talk with fellow bestselling author Hank Phillippi Ryan about crafting an edge-of-your-seat story like her latest release: SHE'S NOT SORRY. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

The author of THE HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG, TOWNIE, THE GARDEN OF LAST DAYS, GONE SO LONG, and so many more stopped by A Mighty Blaze to talk with fellow NYT bestselling author Jenna Blum about his newest beloved novel, SUCH KINDNESS. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

In this week's episode, our AMB Podcast host becomes the interview subject! Trisha "T.M." Blanchet talks with "Authors Love Bookstores" host Kimberly Hensle Lowrance about HERRICK'S KEY, the third and final book in the action-adventure series known as The Neath Trilogy. The series follows a shy guy from Boston who gets sucked into a dangerous, magical world below the city when he goes in search of a missing friend.

Readers already love his Hester Thursby mysteries and standalone books like THE SECRETS WE SHARE. Now, they have a chance to try out Edwin Hill's newest, imaginative whodunit: WHO TO BELIEVE. We believe you'll love this interview with Edwin and his fellow bestselling author and pal, Hank Phillippi Ryan, on Hank's popular AMB Crime Time show. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

She already made a splash with her YA series, DRAMA HIGH. Now L. Divine is branching out into adult novels with the first book in her new Keke McCoy mysteries: AN EPITAPH FOR JEZEBEL. In this episode, Divine discusses the joys, challenges, and heartfelt moments of the story's creation in a conversation with AMB's own Andi Rand. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

You know him, you love him. And now, you can read his book! Our very own Thoughtful Bro host Mark Cecil celebrates the release of his debut novel, BUNYAN AND HENRY; OR THE BEAUTIFUL DESTINY with fellow author and A Mighty Blaze cofounder Jenna Blum. It's a Thoughtful Bro takeover you won't want to miss! Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

Millions of fans are celebrating the release of yet another wonderful book, SOMEHOW: THOUGHTS ON LOVE, from beloved author Anne Lamott. Anne visited A Mighty Blaze to examine the tough questions about recovery, self-care, hard times, and joyful spirituality with AMB's Mary O'Malley. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

This Seattle author rocked the reading world in 2023 when she released the ultra-imaginative MEDUSA'S SISTERS: A tale that brings forgotten women back to life and makes us reconsider our modern-day quandries. In Season 10's 7th episode, Lauren J.A. Bear discusses the ins-and-outs of her story with fellow writer Kimberly Hensle Lowrance. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

Belgrade-born author Tea Obreht has won oodles of awards, hit the New York Times bestseller list, and made an enduring name for herself among lovers of genre-bending fiction. She visited The Thoughtful Bro show to talk with fellow author Mark Cecil about her latest novel, THE MORNINGSIDE. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

The New York Times calls Brendan Slocumb "the maestro of mystery," and we couldn't agree more! One year after the release of THE VIOLIN CONSPIRACY, Brendan visited Crime Time to talk with our magnificent Hank Phillippi Ryan about his latest suspenseful novel, SYMPHONY OF SECRETS. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

Mystery lovers, rejoice! This week's guest is one of the undisputed leaders of the genre, a NYT bestseller, and a recipient of the Edgar Award. The author of 20 Cork O'Connor novels and several more standalones visited Authors Love Bookstores to talk with fellow author Joe Moldover about a life steeped in Minnesota mystery. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

She's back! Lionel Shriver first appeared in an AMB Podcast episode back in Season 2. Now the author of WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN, DOUBLE FAULT, ORDINARY DECENT CRIMINALS, and many more has a brand new book, MANIA, to share with the world and a lot to discuss with AMB's own Ellen Comisar. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

The Thoughtful Bro Mark Cecil talks with Native American author Tommy Orange about his latest prizewinning book, WANDERING STARS, a modern epic that explores the legacy of the Civil War-era Sand Creek Massacre. Tommy's first novel, THERE THERE, received the American Book Award for 2019. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

For the premiere episode of Season 10, we're thrilled to welcome the amazing Anna Quindlen back to A Mighty Blaze! Anna was featured on the second episode EVER of the AMB Podcast, way back in Season 1. This time around, she's settled in to talk about her latest book, AFTER ANNIE, with AMB cofounder Caroline Leavitt. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

What's harder: Being a federal prosecutor and FBI Director, or being an author? James Comey is one of the few people in the world who can answer that question. And he does, right here at A Mighty Blaze! James sat down with fellow author Mark Cecil on The Thoughtful Bro show to talk about the hazards, surprises, and recollections of his many and varied careers, and about his debut fiction release, CENTRAL PARK WEST. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

Her latest novel, OUR MISSING HEARTS, follows in the footsteps of LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE and EVERYTHING I NEVER TOLD YOU as a big-time, captivating bestseller. Celeste visited AMB to chat with fellow NYT bestselling author Caroline Leavitt about what keeps her fascinated and motivated in the world of story creation. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

Ann is a Pulitzer finalist, a National Humanities Medal nominee, and the author of some of America's favorite stories, including her latest, TOM LAKE. Lindsay's debut novel, DO TELL, hit the USA Today bestseller list and was featured on the Today Show. The pair joined fellow author Jenna Blum to talk about the writing life and their work together at Ann's Parnassus Books in Nashville. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

Her latest book, MADDALENA AND THE DARK, is creepy, magical, atmospheric, and historical--perhaps the perfect blend for a winter's day. Or any day, for that matter! Julia visited AMB to talk with Kimberly Hensle Lowrance about this page-turner set in a competitive music school run by Vivaldi (yes, THAT Vivaldi) in 18th-century Venice. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

Her latest novel, DEAR EDWARD, was recently made into a TV series on Apple+. Now Ann Napolitano is back with another blockbuster! In this episode, our own cofounder and NYT bestselling author Caroline Leavitt chatted with Ann about her publishing journey and of course about her newest Oprah-picked novel, HELLO BEAUTIFUL.

The NYT bestselling auhor of THE LOST GIRLS OF PARIS, THE ORPHAN'S TALE, and THE WOMAN WITH THE BLUE STAR is back with another page-turner! Pam visited A Mighty Blaze to chat with fellow bestselling author Jenna Blum about her newest historical fiction tale: CODE NAME SAPPHIRE. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

If ever any episode had a Boston accent, this one is it. Dennis Lehane is the author of MYSTIC RIVER, SHUTTER ISLAND, MOONLIGHT MILE, GONE BABY GONE, and so many more... And if that wasn't enough, he's also a staff writer for several hit TV series. He talked about his life and work with fellow author Mark Cecil on The Thoughtful Bro. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

Take your imagination for a ride with this episode featuring Sarina Dahlan, author of the fantastical and touching Four Cities trilogy, including the already-released books RESET and PRESET. She joined fellow author Joe Moldover and Nick Eskey from San Diego's Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore for a lively discussion about publishing genres, memory research, and all things books! Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

There aren't too many humorists out there who can also say they've earned a Ph.D., and that's just one of the things that makes this episode's guest stand out from the literary crowd. Ann Garvin visited A Mighty Blaze to talk with Bo Ellis about why she likes to include lots of humor, humanity, and the realest of real people in her novels, including her latest: THERE'S NO COMING BACK FROM THIS. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

We've got an honest-to-goodness "literary badass" on the podcast this week! Luis Alberto Urrea has been nominated for a Pulitzer and racked up dozens of awards for his nonfiction books, his poetry collections, and of course his many acclaimed novels. He stopped by A Mighty Blaze to talk with fellow NYT bestselling author Jenna Blum about his latest: GOOD NIGHT, IRENE. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

Buckle up: The bros are bro-ing hard in this episode. :-) Multi award-winning, NYT bestselling author Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah talks with Thoughtful Bro host and fellow novelist about the pitfalls and pleasures of making art, why writers should look beyond just books for story inspiration, and why America's incarceration system needs some work. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

She's a guitarist,a singer-songwriter, a dancer, an actress, and of course a founding member of 80s band sensation, The Bangles. And if all that wasn't enough, now she's a novelist, too! Susanna Hoffs came to Friday Frontliner on A Mighty Blaze to talk with Mary O'Malley about how she jumped from music to publishing, why she never feels along when she's writing, and how she chose the settings for her new book, THIS BIRD HAS FLOWN. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

Great Scot, could it be true? We're starting off Season 9 with the world-renowned Diana Gabaldon! The author of the time-traveling OUTLANDER series joined fellow writer Kimberly Hensle Lowrance for a fascinating conversation about her writing process, her forays into screenwriting, and of course her latest blockbusters, GO TELL THE BEES THAT I AM GONE. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

Welcome to the Feel-Good Fiction Queen! Emily Giffin's candy-colored, bestselling books, including SOMETHING BORROWED, HEART OF THE MATTER, and THE LIES THAT BIND, take up an entire shelf at our favorite bookstore. She visited A Mighty Blaze to chat with host Jenna Paone about her latest lighthearted romp, MEANT TO BE. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

Authors Love Bookstores headed to Mississippi for a great Joe Moldover interview with Snowden Wright, author of AMERICAN POP and PLAY PRETTY BLUES, and the owner of Snowden's favorite independent bookstore, Square Books. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

AMB's own Jane Roper hits the scene with the release of her debut novel, THE SOCIETY OF SHAME! She spoke with The Thoughtful Bro, Mark Cecil, about the many complicated implications of writing satire and exploring so-called "cancel culture" with this witty and funny tale of celebrity gone wrong. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

Debut author Zoe Sivak visited A Mighty Blaze to talk with fellow historical fiction author Julie Gerstenblatt about her novel MADEMOISELLE REVOLUTION, which explores the Haitian and French revolutions through the lens of a biracial woman struggling to survive the tumultuous events. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

The wildly popular author of ANIMAL HUSBANDRY and SEPARATION ANXIETY came to A Mighty Blaze to talk books with fellow bestselling author (and AMB cofounder) Caroline Leavitt, and to delve into the backstory of her latest successful release, SMALL WORLD. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

This is a special one. A Mighty Blaze honored Holocaust Remembrance Day with a visit from musician and debut author Janet Horvath, who compiled her fascinating family history into a book called THE CELLO STILL SINGS: A GENERATIONAL STORY OF THE HOLOCAUST AND THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF MUSIC. Janet spoke with NYT bestselling author Jenna Blum, who has interviewed Holocaust survivors for the Spielberg Survivors of the Shoah Foundation and wrote about the Holocaust in her books THOSE WHO SAVE US and THE LOST FAMILY. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

When it comes to crafting a great story, few know more than professor, lecturer, and Fulbright Scholar Robert McKee. Actors, screenwriters, authors, and directors around the world flock to his "STORY" Seminars, and thousands more have devoured his bestselling book, STORY: SUBSTANCE, STRUCTURE, STYLE, AND THE PRINCIPLES OF SCREENWRITING. We were thrilled when Robert came to A Mighty Blaze to share some of his secrets with "The Thoughtful Bro" Mark Cecil. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

Amy Impellizzeri has been churning out gripping novels for years, including WHY WE LIE and I KNOW HOW THIS ENDS. This "reformed lawyer turned author" visited Hank Phillippi Ryan's "Crime Time" show to talk about the unusual real-life relationship that spawned Book 1 in her Riversedge Law Club series: IN HER DEFENSE. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

Boyah J. Farah's book, AMERICA MADE ME A BLACK MAN, was an NPR Best Book of 2022 and an NAACP Image Award nominee. The author, poet, and entrepreneur visited A Mighty Blaze to talk with fellow author Jane Roper on "The Zeitgeist" about the challenges he faced after immigrating to the United States from war-torn Somalia. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

Who wants to hear Maggie O'Farrell read from her latest blockbuster? (Hands up...) Us, too! The bestselling author of HAMNET, MY LOVER'S LOVER, AFTER YOU'D GONE, and so many others visited A Mighty Blaze to share insights with fellow writer Kimberly Hensle Lowrance and to read a bit from her newest work, THE MARRIAGE PORTRAIT. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

If you're looking for books to get your heart beating and your feet dancing, look no further: Author Priscilla Oliveras specializes in romance novels with a Latin flair, and her latest, the Mariachi-inspired WEST SIDE LOVE STORY, keeps the fun and festive streak alive. Priscilla visited A mighty Blaze's "Blaze Boudoir" to talk with fellow romance fan Kate LeBeau about her process and inspirations. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

Imagine, if you will, a tiny Atlantic island in the 1800s, mostly populated by the wives of absent ship captains. A northern island, where freed slaves are trying to make a new life, and where the women's suffrage and abolitionist movements are stoking tensions. Now, add in a devastating fire, and what are you left with? A great story, that's what! DAUGHTERS OF NANTUCKET author Julie Gerstenblatt lays it all out in conversation with NYT bestselling novelist and AMB cofounder Jenna Blum. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

Maybe you know him from his MAGPIE MURDERS fame. Or maybe you've read his ALEX RIDER series, or some of his Sherlock Holmes or James Bond books. Perhaps even watched some of the popular TV series he's written over the years. No matter how you know Anthony Horowitz, you'll get it when we say that we were extremely lucky and excited to feature him in conversation with fellow bestselling author Hank Phillippi Ryan on Crime Time! Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

It's a baker's dozen this season with a bonus thirteenth episode! This is a podcast-exclusive interview that you won't hear anywhere else, featuring the one, the only, the magnificent Elizabeth Strout! The Pulitzer Prize-winner talked with fellow NYT bestselling author Caroline Leavitt about her latest book, the pandemic-set LUCY BY THE SEA. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

Authors Love Bookstores!And in this case, Margaret Wilkerson Sexton loves A Great Good Place for Books in Oakland, California. The multi award-winning author of A KIND OF FREEDOM and THE REVISIONERS joins host Kimberly Hensle Lowrance for a chat with the bookstore's owner, Kathleen Caldwell. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

People Magazine called Natalie Jenner's latest novel, BLOOMSBURY GIRLS, "just delightful," and we agree! In this episode, the internationally bestselling author talked with A Mighty Blaze's own Julie Gerstenblatt about the joys and struggles of creating this charming, new world for her characters, some of whom were also included in her last bestseller, THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

Peng Shepherd was a success right out the gate with her debut novel, THE BOOK OF M. On the heels of her second, equally fantastic release, THE CARTOGRAPHERS, she talked with The Thoughtful Bro host Mark Cecil about her journey of creating art, navigating the difficulties of the spotlight, and why writing the second book was even more challenging than writing the first. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

She's the bestselling author of thrillers that feature high-octane situations in dramatic settings, from IN THE JUNGLE to THE RIVER AT NIGHT and her latest, GIRL IN ICE. Erica Ferencik stopped by Crime Time to talk to Hank Phillippi Ryan about all the research and passion that goes into making these environments come to life for the reader. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

We have an anniversary to celebrate! Authors Love Bookstores aired its 100th episode (!!!) with an interview with author Eli Cranor, whose debut DON'T KNOW TOUGH was called "one of the best debuts of 2022" by The New York Times. Eli visited AMB to talk with host Joe Moldover and the owner of Dog Ear Books in Russellville, Arkansas. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

Author and artist Lydia Conklin's celebrated short story collection, RAINBOW RAINBOW, was called "a gorgeous ode to queer life" and "a triumph" when it was released in May, 2022. We were lucky enough to have Lydia on A Mighty Blaze in conversation with host Jane Roper on a great episode of The Zeitgeist. Hosted by Trisha Blanchet

We're turning the tables in Episode 6, when AMB Podcast host Trisha Blanchet becomes the guest! She visited The Thoughtful Bro show on release day for her debut novel, HERRICK'S END, to talk with host and fellow writer Mark Cecil about her winding path to publication and the inspirations behind her fast-paced, fantasy adventure.