The Fresh Fiction Podcast

Lucy Connelly on Cozy Crimes, Pen Names, and Christmas in Scotland

Lucy Connelly—also known as bestselling author Candace Havens—joins Samantha Tennant for a festive conversation about writing Death at a Scottish Christmas, creating holiday mysteries full of Scottish traditions, juggling multiple cozy series, and seeing her Ainsley McGregor books adapted for TV. She also shares her writing rituals, how she comes up with clever murders, and a surprise appearance from her real-life dog, Mr. Poe.

Second Chances, Christmas Magic & Global Romance: A Conversation with Author Kandy Shepherd

Author Kandy Shepherd joins Samantha Tennant for a warm, funny, deeply charming conversation about Christmas romances, second-chance love, magazine days at Cosmo and Family Circle, writing older heroines, collaborative duets, and why setting matters so much in a great story.

Inside the Rock-and-Roll Romance World of Xio Axelrod

A lively, heartfelt chat with USA Today bestselling author Xio Axelrod, covering her music-industry roots, how fanfiction launched her career, and the inspiration behind her girl-rock-band series The Lilies. Xio opens up about writing by instinct, crafting found-family stories, the music fueling her characters, and even the strangest movie she can’t stop watching. Warm, funny, and creative—this one’s a joy.

Terri Reed: Murder, Mayhem & Mistletoe in “TEXAS CHRISTMAS COVER-UP”

Author Terri Reed joins Sara Reyes to talk about TEXAS CHRISTMAS COVER-UP, a holiday romantic suspense filled with mystery, second chances, and a dash of Christmas magic.

From Chaos to Magic: Darynda Jones on Life, Laughter & Writing Through It All

Best-selling author Darynda Jones joins Fresh Fiction for a heartwarming and hilarious chat about resilience, creativity, and rediscovering her writing mojo after a life-changing year. From her fan-favorite Charley Davidson and Sunshine Vicram series to her latest Betwixt & Between release, Midnight in Magic, Darynda shares what keeps her inspired—and why laughter really is the best spell.

Magic, Motorcycles & Mail-Order Brides: Kati Wilde on Writing Fantasy Romance with Heart

Bestselling author Kati Wilde joins Samantha Tennant to chat about her epic fantasy series The Dead Lands, her steamy Hellfire Riders motorcycle romances, and her Christmas love stories. She shares how fanfiction shaped her writing career, the story behind her ONLY ONE BED title, and why she made a comic recap of her series using stick figures.

From Science to Suspense: Toni Anderson on Crafting Love and Danger in COLD TRUTH

In this episode of the Fresh Fiction Podcast, we sit down with New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Toni Anderson, the mind behind more than 30 romantic thrillers, including her latest release, COLD TRUTH.

Toni shares how her background as a marine biologist inspired her to write FBI thrillers filled with authentic detail and emotional depth. Discover how she blends crime, chemistry, and character, why research is key to realism, and what it’s really like to balance love stories with life-or-death stakes.

COLD TRUTH follows FBI agent Kurt Montana and librarian Roe as they navigate danger, deception, and undeniable attraction.

From BookTok Skits to Bestseller: Hannah Nicole Maehrer on Villains, Frogs & Found Family

Author Hannah Nicole Maehrer, creator of Assistant to the Villain, joins Fresh Fiction’s Samantha Tennant to talk about her whirlwind journey from nannying and filming BookTok skits to becoming a New York Times bestselling author. They dive into the found family theme that runs through her books, her ADHD writing process, the chaos that fuels her creativity, and the joy of seeing her world come to life in plushies and fan merch. Expect laughter, behind-the-scenes confessions, and a few fangirl moments.

Behind the Spy Novels: David McCloskey on THE PERSIAN

Former CIA analyst and bestselling author David McCloskey joins Samantha Tennant from FreshFiction.com to discuss his newest spy thriller, THE PERSIAN. They dive deep into the book’s origins, the shadow war between Israel and Iran, the creative chaos of first drafts, and how real-world geopolitics keep catching up to his fiction. Plus, hear how a Swedish dentist and a Mossad officer inspired one of his most complex stories yet.

Laughing with a Killer – Samantha Downing on TOO OLD FOR THIS

Bestselling author Samantha Downing joins us to talk about her latest thriller TOO OLD FOR THIS—a sharp, darkly funny story of a retired serial killer you can’t help but root for.