The Inside Flap

A fun chat with Carly Hillman all about her new book The Refuge, IHOPS, Harvard, and working on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Plus- Dave breaks a rib in class, Laura details another skunk attack, and Andrew finally rids himself of all his clarinets. We also recommend: Good Boy by Neil McRobert, Child of … Continue reading Ep. 340 Broken Ribs, Angry Skunks & the Last Clarinet with Carly Hillman

A fun chat with Linwood Barclay all about his new book Not a Word, bad teacher trainings, putting his characters through the wringer, and the reviewer who liked to spoil his endings. Plus – Dave pretends to be Albanian for his incoming Freshman, Laura has a funny incident at work involving her photographer, and Andrew’s … Continue reading Ep. 339 Bad Teachers, Brutal Twists & Spoiled Endings with Linwood Barclay

We’re joined by Shannon Morgan for a fun chat all about her new book A Penance for Crows, staying ahead of deadlines, creating her own mythology, the size of crow brains, and growing up in the African bush. Plus – Dave’s Principal continues to poke fun at him, Laura tries out Zumba, and Andrew sleeps … Continue reading Ep. 338 Defending Crow Brains With Shannon Morgan

We’re joined by Brianna Labuskes for a fun chat all about her new book Clean Slate, brain matter, the importance of community centers, and Airbnb Life. Plus- Dave has a bizarre encounter with an Amazon driver, Laura is all about the bread, and Andrew complains about flying first class. Because of course. We also recommend: … Continue reading Ep. 337 Brianna Labuskes Talks Brains, Books, and Airbnb

We’re joined by George Pelecanos for a fun chat all about his new book The Blue Flame, writing for The Wire, his favorite cars, and his fascinating location scouting technique for his novels. Plus – Dave and Laura finish up their recap of their trip to Albania, and Andrew and his family wait in line … Continue reading Ep. 336 Living on the Edge: Location Scouting With George Pelecanos

A fun chat with Ellery Lloyd all about their new book Time to Burn, how Katy Perry inspired them, the plethora of problems that arise when writing time travel books, and creating inside jokes for themselves. Plus – Dave & Sylvia take an Uber from Hell. ITUNES – SPOTIFY

A fun chat with Gillian McAllister all about her new book Caller Unknown, reading bad reader reviews, and how she always deletes her first draft. Plus- Dave swims with the sharks. Ish. ITUNES – SPOTIFY

(Originally broadcast 4/7/2025) We’re joined by Bryan Gruley for a fun chat all about his new book Bitterfrost, hockey fights, Zambonis, and how he turned a bad reader review into an amazing T-shirt. Plus: Dave and Laura recap their disastrous Greek cruise ship experience and Andrew takes his kids to the movies. We also recommend: … Continue reading Ep. 286 Hockey Fights and Plenty of Cursing With Bryan Gruley

We’re joined by Molly Fader for a fun chat all about her new book Lady X, taking online walking tours for research, and drunk podcasting. Plus – Andrew is touring the West Coast looking at colleges with Daschel, and Dave and Laura recap their trip to Albania. We also recommend: The Woman on the Ledge … Continue reading Ep. 335 Custom Drinks With Molly Fader

A fun chat with Christopher Golden all about his new book Carry Me to My Grave, vampire mythology, clowns, author wrangling, and the most evil character he’s ever written. Plus – we’re jetlagged! ITUNES – SPOTIFY

A fun chat with David Heska Wanbli Weiden all about his new book Wisdom Corner, the forgotten past of the Native American boarding schools, the whitewashing of history, and his obsession with Billy Jack. Plus – Dave and Teddy have a midnight encounter with a raccoon. ITUNES – SPOTIFY

A fun chat with Louise Candlish all about her new book A Neighbor’s Guide to Murder, domestic noir, Wimbledon, and why her neighbors won’t talk to her about her books. Plus – Dave has an odd request for his dentist. It goes… okay? ITUNES – SPOTIFY

A fun chat with David Ellis all about his new book Keep Them Close, sibling rivalries, the bad writing lawyers produce, and what working with James Patterson taught him about writing. Plus – Dave gets a flat tire, Laura has a frozen shoulder and Andrew unplugs the TV. We also recommend: Dissection of a Murder … Continue reading Ep. 334 Brotherly Love With David Ellis

On today’s show we recap a couple of weekend getaways and recommend Whistler by Ann Patchett, Rings of the Matriarch by S.D. McKittrick, and Small Ceremonies by Kyle Edwards. Audiobook of the Week is L.A. Confidential by James Ellroy. ITUNES – SPOTIFY

A fun chat with Rob Hart all about his new book Three Hitmen and a Baby, how to find a snake expert, living in the age of surveillance, and crying at movies. Plus – Dave is roasted at school, Laura recaps the Mumford & Sons concert, and Andrew accidentally opens up his Father’s Day present … Continue reading Ep. 332 Crying At The Movies With Rob Hart

A fun chat with Sarah Vaughn all about her new book Based on a True Story, courtroom theatrics, and her secret shorthand skill. Plus – Dave and Andrew take a trip to Portland, and Laura deals with pets. We also recommend: Legendborn by Tracy Deonn, The Lesser Devil by Christopher Ruocchio, and The Night Watcher … Continue reading Ep. 331 The Lost Art of Shorthand With Sarah Vaughn

We’re joined by Melinda Leigh for a chat all about her book You Can Tell Me, Mixed Martial Arts training, being a math nerd, and how she didn’t start writing until her thirties. Plus – Laura’s work boundaries are tested and Andrew is sentimental over graduations. We also recommend: Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth, Seascraper … Continue reading Ep. 330 Higher Math and MMA With Melinda Leigh

A fun chat with Eloisa James all about her new book The Last Lady B, Taylor Swift, Shakespeare, and her editor’s overzealous red pen. Plus- Dave misses out on a grand entrance, Laura endures a hot job site, and Andrew gets a smoker. We also recommend: The Radiant Dark by Alexandra Oliva, Short Cuts by … Continue reading Ep. 329 Swifties and Shakespeare With Eloisa James

A fun chat with Christina Baker Kline all about her new book The Foursome, conjoined twins Chang and Eng Bunker, North Carolina, Civil War historians, and fact checkers. Plus- Dave’s students throw him under the bus, Laura can’t have cinnamon rolls in the house, and Andrew’s old dog is learning some new tricks. We also … Continue reading Ep. 328 Twinning With Christina Baker Kline

A fun chat with Alexandra Andrews all about her new book The Fine Art of Lying, celebrity sightings, bunnies, and the insidious Candy Land board game. Plus- Dave is officially Unc to his students, Laura goes tub hopping in Georgia, and Andrew’s new neighbor is a Denver Broncos player. We also recommend: This Story Might … Continue reading Ep. 327 Bunnies & Board Games With Alexandra Andrews

We’re joined today by John Twelve Hawks for a fun chat all about his new book Certainty, stuffed animals, talking dogs, and resurrection bots. Plus – Dave accidentally sets off a stink bomb at his school, Laura goes to a concert and is amazed at how many people know all the lyrics, and Andrew is … Continue reading Ep. 326 Next Level Stuffies With John Twelve Hawks

We’re joined by Anthony Horowitz for a fun chat all about his new book A Deadly Episode, his time spent on film sets, adapting his own work, and his use of fountain pens. Plus – Dave and Laura recap the cardboard box boat races and Andrew calls in from Boston. ITUNES – SPOTIFY

We’re joined by Willy Vlautin for a fun chat all about his new book The Left and the Lucky, true grit, how his experiences as a house painter helped informed the book, and the importance of eating a good lunch. Plus – Dave recaps a harrowing highway experience, Laura gets infected by a tick, and … Continue reading Ep. 325 Eating A Good Lunch With Willy Vlautin

We’re joined by Evelyn Clarke (Cat Clarke and V.E. Schwab) for a fun chat all about their book The Ending Writes Itself, the publishing industry, working with editors, and their dream of being a traitor. Plus – Dave and Laura go on vacation and can’t stop eating sweets, and Andrew hopes the new family pet … Continue reading Ep. 324 How To Be A Traitor With Evelyn Clarke

A fun chat with Benjamin Stevenson all about his new book Everyone in this Bank is a Thief, fair play mysteries, writing a portion of the book in public on a big screen, and the word he cannot spell. Plus – Dave recaps his trip to L.A., Laura waits in the longest line of her … Continue reading Ep. 323 Writing In Public With Benjamin Stevenson

With our hosts scattered across the country this week and Project Hail Mary in theaters now, enjoy a best of episode from 2021 – It’s Andy Weir and a delightfully fun chat about the book, defending Shemp, his hatred for flashbacks, and why he would never go into space. ITUNES – SPOTIFY

A fun chat with Daniel Kraus all about his new book Partially Devoured: How Night of the Living Dead Saved My Life and Changed the World, his obsession with the movie, independent video rental stores, and the best thing about black and white movies. Plus – Dave is heavily invested in Senior Assassin. ITUNES – … Continue reading Braaaains With Daniel Kraus

A fun chat with Shelley Noble all about her new book The Sisters of Book Row, the Comstock Laws, rare books, and her unique approach to visualizing her settings. Plus – Dave is gearing up for opening night for Mamma Mia! ITUNES – SPOTIFY

A fun chat with Elizabeth Day all about her new book One of Us, her favorite reality TV shows (all of them), her interesting journaling technique, and the greatness that is The Cheesecake Factory. Plus – Dave witnesses shocking behavior in the men’s bathroom at the gym, Laura questions her chosen profession, and Andrew strays … Continue reading Ep. 322 How To Tend Bar For Andy Cohen With Elizabeth Day

A fun chat with Kate Quinn all about her new book The Astral Library, living inside of books, dream libraries, and dragons. Plus – Dave & Laura have an interesting lunch with friends, and Andrew almost passes out while teaching. We also recommend: All Involved by Ryan Gattis, It’s Not Her by Mary Kubica, and … Continue reading Ep. 321 How To Live Inside A Book With Kate Quinn

A fun chat with Will Dean all about his new book Adrift, the importance of first lines, chopping wood for exercise, and his unique writing process. Plus- Dave finally has someone comment on his work email icon after 10 years, Laura has to quit listening to self help podcasts because they were NOT HELPING, and … Continue reading Ep. 320 Chopping Wood With Will Dean

We’re joined by James Rollins for a fun chat about his new book Trust No One, the importance of routines, witches, talking to strangers, and writing off vacations. Plus- Dave’s co-worker infiltrates a rehearsal, Laura complains about Dave’s hiking, and Andrew’s student demands a grade of 100%. We also recommend: Box Full of Darkness by … Continue reading Ep. 319 How To Write Off A Vacation With James Rollins

A fun chat with Saundra Mitchell all about her new book This Side of Gone, culture shock, and scary highways. Plus – Dave’s not showering and his classroom smells, Laura is looking at points north, and Andrew takes a trip to the ER. We also recommend: The Cut by Chris Brookmyre, The Unselected Journals of … Continue reading Ep. 318 Culture Shock and Freaky Freeways With Saundra Mitchell

We’re joined by Lynn Cullen for a fun chat all about her book When We Were Brilliant, the allure of Marilyn Monroe, her photographer Eve Arnold, and her intriguing relationship with Joe DiMaggio. Plus – Dave has a panini adventure, Laura hits the gym with a friend, and Andrew’s students find out about his snoring … Continue reading Ep. 317 Marilyn Monroe’s Favorite Photographer With Lynn Cullen

A fun chat with Jenna Blum all about her new book Murder Your Darlings, Tuesdays, stalkers, and what it’s really like being a writer. Plus – Dave records Andrew’s snoring, Laura is puzzled by a machine at the gym, and Andrew’s students go crazy with paper airplanes. We also recommend: Angel Down by Daniel Kraus, … Continue reading Ep. 316 Tuesdays With Jenna Blum

A fun chat with Wendy Walker all about her new book Blade, her experience as a competitive figure skater, fear training, and pushy skate parents. Plus – Dave is a big loser, Laura talks Dave’s mother into getting a self driving car, and Andrew’s dog breaks out of their hotel room. We also share our … Continue reading Ep. 315 Wendy Walker Is On Thin Ice & We Share Our Favorite Books of 2025

We’re joined by Ruth Mancini for a fun chat all about her new book The Day I Lost You, her career in the law, Ally McBeal, and her obsession with Frasier. Plus- Dave doesn’t know when to keep his mouth shut, Laura gets an unexpected house tour, and Andrew and his son dress like elves … Continue reading Ep. 314 Ruth Mancini Can’t Stop Watching Frasier

We’re joined by Connie Berry for a fun chat all about her new book A Grave Deception, writing 14th century poetry, and her inability to remember people’s names. Plus – Dave hurts his back at school, Laura visits family back East, and Andrew is disappointed at the Denver Nature and Science Museum Christmas event. We … Continue reading Ep. 313 How To Write Fourteenth Century Poetry With Connie Berry

A fun chat with Rachel Van Dyken all about her new book Fallen Gods, her Norse heritage, the mafia, and sweater wearing cats. Plus – Dave once again embarrasses himself in class (several times), Laura is at Brassfest to support Dave and Sylvia, and Andrew’s students are complaining to the dean. We also recommend: What … Continue reading Ep. 312 Mythology & The Mafia With Rachel Van Dyken

We’re joined by Tod Goldberg for a fun chat all about his book Only Way Out, baseball memorabilia, the importance of book titles, and the time he got pulled over for singing. Plus – Dave has a freshman fiasco story and Laura has a parade critique.  We also recommend: Everything Matters! by Ron Currie Jr., … Continue reading Ep. 311 Tod Goldberg Chooses His Titles Wisely

A fun chat with Matthew Pearl all about his new book The Award, hot chocolate, astronauts, and the trouble with being surrounded by writers. Plus – Dave pays tribute to his Dad, Laura gets pulled over, and Andrew is spending more time working on his garage. We also recommend: Alchemy of Secrets by Stephanie Garber, … Continue reading Ep. 310 Matthew Pearl Drinks Hot Chocolate

A fun chat with Elle Marr all about her new book The Lie She Wears, how she uses her theater background for writing, defending psychopaths, and her favorite musicals. Plus – Dave and Laura go to the theater. ITUNES – SPOTIFY

A fun chat with Ann Packer all about her new book Some Bright Nowhere, why she has no problem doing awful things to her characters, avoiding small talk, and the secret to her butterscotch pudding. Plus – Dave don’t get dressed up for no one. ITUNES – SPOTIFY

We’re joined by Karen White for a fun chat about her new book The Lady on Esplanade, creepy dolls, ghost encounters, and New Orleans potholes. Plus – Laura has a celebrity sighting at a Nuggets game, Dave gets feedback from his Principal, and Andrew has a massive Halloween. We also recommend: Saltcrop by Yume Kitasei, … Continue reading Ep. 309 – Dodging Potholes With Karen White

A fun chat with Mia Sheridan all about her new book The Fix, man-eating bears, and how DIYing helps her writing. Plus – Dave’s school has too many fire drills, Laura is on the lonely girl diet, and Andrew’s got his hands full with middle schoolers. We also recommend: Play Nice by Rachel Harrison, Unbound … Continue reading Ep. 308 Mia Sheridan: Sometimes A Bear’s Gotta Eat

A fun chat with Kelley Armstrong all about her new book The Haunting of Paynes Hollow, folklore, audiobook narrators, and bears.  Plus – Dave has some wacky stories from his play. ITUNES – SPOTIFY

A fun chat with Trilina Pucci all about her new book One Killer Night, the San Francisco 49ers, Capri Suns, and gummy worms. Plus – Dave’s students struggle with 80s music. ITUNES – SPOTIFY

We’re joined by Christa Carmen for a fun chat all about her new novel How to Fake a Haunting, ghost tours, horror movies, and how her husband falling asleep while watching TV gave her the idea for the book. Plus – Dave gets an unexpected gift, Laura learns the hard way she’s not a sourdough … Continue reading Ep. 307 How To Write A Book By Pranking Your Husband With Christa Carmen

We’re joined by Sarah Hawley for a fun chat all about her new book Princess of Blood, her intricately detailed world building process, and her experience in stage combat. Plus – Dave avoids small talk at all costs, Laura shares embarrassing stories about her family, and Andrew gets a new truck. Again. We also recommend: … Continue reading Ep. 306 Crossing Swords With Sarah Hawley

A fun chat with Jane Hamilton about her new book The Phoebe Variations, big families, housing Sigourney Weaver, and possums. Plus – Dave and Andrew have an eventful weekend in Baltimore, and Laura spends quality time with Sylvia at school. We also recommend: One Dark Night by Hannah Richell, The Wrong Hands by Mark Billingham, … Continue reading Ep. 305 Playing Possum With Jane Hamilton