Summer of Love, Season of Sobriety: A Raw Conversation with Author Kerri Maher

In this Chapter Chat episode, author Kerri Maher joins us to discuss her latest novel, Summer of Love, a deeply layered story that doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff. We talk candidly about the book’s themes of addiction and recovery, and Maher shares a raw, honest reflection on her own journey with sobriety, including the joy and the challenges that come with doing the work. Maher also opens up about her writing path, and how she wrote five unpublished novels before selling her first book, and how experimenting across genres strengthened her understanding of plot, voice, and character development. Plus, she shares insight into her work as a parent coach, a role that continues to shape how she thinks about growth, resilience, and connection. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction or mental health challenges, you’re encouraged to reach out for help—support is available, and you don’t have to do it alone.