In this special episode of our Fall/Winter season, we're showcasing six exciting women's fiction debuts. Each of our six authors shares insights about their novel, the inspiration behind it, and their best writing advice.

Vanessa Riley is an award-winning author of Island Queen, A Good Morning America Buzz Pick and was also named the 2023 Georgia Author of the Year Awards Literary Fiction Winner for Sister Mother Warrior.

Queen of Exiles is based on the life of an extraordinary Black woman from history: Haiti’s Queen Marie-Louise Coidavid, who escaped a coup in Haiti to establish her own royal court in Italy during the Regency era. There, she became a popular figure in European royal society.

Micki Berthelot Morency shares the inspiration behind her debut novel, The Island Sisters.

A story about four women from Haiti, St. Thomas, and Guam whose fates are bound together by culture, history, and most importantly, by a deep and irrevocable friendship.

Diane Marie Brown talks about her historical novel, Black Candle Women, recently named as “A Read with Jenna Book Club Pick as Seen on the Today Show.” Jenna Bush Hager says, “If you like Practical Magic… you will love Black Candle Women.” But we dive into what inspired Diane Marie Brown to write this particular story and how her own family history inspired the book.

Debut novelist Shaunna J. Edwards & USA Today bestselling Alyson Richman talk about their historical novel, The Thread Collectors, loosely inspired by their own family histories. We discuss their enduring friendship, how they came to be co-writers, and what it was like to transition from friends to colleagues.

A special episode featuring six exciting women’s fiction debuts from the first half of 2023!

Featuring Tracey D Buchanan author of Toward the Corner of Mercy and Peace / Annie Cathryn author of The Friendship Breakup / D. Liebhart author of House on Fire / Donna Norman-Carbone author of All That is Sacred / Neely Tubati-Alexander author of Love Buzz

USA Today bestselling author, Sonali Dev, introduces us to her new women’s fiction novel, THE VIBRANT YEARS, which chosen as the first novel to be released by Mindy Kaling’s new imprint, Mindy’s Book Studio.

The story of three generations of women, Mindy describes the book as “a joyful and fun read”, “a tale about a group of underestimated women demanding respect and embracing their most authentic selves.”

Lisa Williamson Rosenberg talks with us about her debut novel, Embers on the Wind.

Telling a tale centered around Whittaker House, a haunted stop on the Underground Railroad, past and present converge in this novel about women connected by motherhood, slavery’s legacy, and histories that span centuries.

Noué Kirwan introduces us to the inspiration behind her debut novel, LONG PAST SUMMER. Long Past Summer looks at the delicate and powerful thread that binds and breaks friends and flames.

USA Today bestselling author bestselling author, Jamie Beck describes Kirwan as “a welcome, smart new voice in romantic women’s fiction.”

Catherine Adel West, author of The Two Lives of Sara, tells Ashley Hasty about what her research looked like, how she ended up writing this story, and her favorite books. Catherine also shares the best advice she has for aspiring authors.

Veena Rao shares the inspiration behind her novel, Purple Lotus, the winner in the multi-cultural category of the 2021 American Fiction Awards.

A tale of an immigrant who comes to Atlanta through marriage, Purple Lotus has been described as a "dazzling tale of an Indian-American woman finding her way through the labyrinth of tradition to self-awareness in the modern world"

Denny S. Bryce shares what inspired the plot as well as the title of her latest novel, In the Face of the Sun, about “a road trip, changing the path of life, how racism, prejudice, and other factors impact African American lives in similar ways in 1928 as they did in 1968.”

Nikki May joins from the UK to chat about her debut novel, Wahala, which was named a most anticipated book of 2022 by Vogue, Marie Claire, Glamour, Essence, and more. Wahala, which means trouble, follows three Anglo-Nigerian best friends living in London, and the lethally glamorous fourth woman who infiltrates their group.

Mansi Shah talks about The Taste of Ginger, which Booklist calls “a poignant debut novel, that touches on the immigrant experience in America”. We chat about how Mansi weaved important themes into a novel which many readers have called “thought-provoking” and makes for great book club conversation.

Colleen van Niekerk, author of A Conspiracy of Mothers, talks about the inspiration for a novel set in South Africa, which tells the story of three mothers whose lives intersect during a generation-defining period in history.

Pushcart Prize nominee, Sheryl J. Bize-Boutte chats about her novel, Betrayal on the Bayou. Sheryl is a multidisciplinary writer whose work, while great storytelling, also gets across deeper meaning about the politics and economics of race

Anisha Bhatia shares the inspiration behind her debut novel,THE RULES OF ARRANGEMENT in the US, and WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT ZOYA in the UK , Australia and around the world. This is a perfect book for you if you’re a fan of Bridget Jones, or books that take you inside a characters head or to a potentially new culture and location – as it’s a laugh out loud comedy of manners set in Mumbai, India.

Lyn Liao Butler shares the inspiration behind her debut novel THE TIGER MOM’s TALE, a book that takes you to Taiwan as Lexa, the main character, looks to reclaim her heritage.

Carol shares her inspiration and more behind for Goodbye Orchid, her award-winning debut novel which was inspired by combat wounded veterans.

Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai, chats about The Mountains Sing; a New York Times Editors’ choice, winner of several awards including the 2020 Lannan Literary Award Fellowship. Plus it’s been named a best book in 2020 by the Washington Post, *O, The Oprah Magazine, and more.