“The muse days and the slog days look the same on the page, but they feel completely different when you’re writing them.” —Aime Austin

Aime Austin is the author of the Casey Cort and Nicole Long legal thriller series, weaving sharp social commentary into gripping crime fiction. Born in Brooklyn, Aime graduated from Smith College and Cornell Law School before practicing family and criminal law in Cleveland, Ohio. She now splits her time between Los Angeles and Budapest, writing thrillers, hosting the podcast A Time to Thrill, and interviewing brilliant women creators. Aime is a 2025 Mystery Writers of America Barbara Neely Scholarship recipient.

Among other things, Aime and Carter discuss Aime’s experiences doing “stringer” work for newspapers, fearing losing momentum in your writing, and attracting new readers as your fanbase ages. At the end of their conversation, they make up a dark story using a line from Tess Gerritson’s The Summer Guests.

“Don’t be afraid of the fact that pretty much every first draft is a failure. Just get the thing out.” —Scott Graham

Scott Graham is the author of the National Park Mystery Series, which includes nine books and counting. In addition to his mysteries, Scott is the author of five nonfiction books, including Extreme Kids, winner of the National Outdoor Book Award. Scott is an avid outdoorsman and advocate for public lands. He has worked as a newspaper reporter, magazine editor, radio disk jockey, city councilor, and coal-shoveling fireman on the steam-powered Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.

Among other things, Scott and Carter discuss staying relevant between book releases, improving your writing by reading others’, and balancing the reality of murder with hopeful storylines. At the end of their conversation, they make up an unpredictable story using a line from Matt Goldman’s The Murder Show.

“Nothing guarantees anything. A breakout book doesn’t mean your next one won’t flop—and that’s just the reality.”—Andrea Bartz

Andrea Bartz is a reporter, consultant, and New York Times bestselling author. Her third novel, WE WERE NEVER HERE, was a Reese’s Book Club pick and an instant New York Times bestseller; it was optioned by Berlanti Productions and Netflix. Her most recent thriller, THE LAST FERRY OUT, was praised by NPR’s Fresh Air, Marie Claire, Publishers Weekly, and more. She is also a journalist whose work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, The New York Times, and many other outlets, and she’s held editorial positions at Glamour, Psychology Today, and Self.

Among other things, Andrea and Carter discuss thinking like a businessperson to make it as a writer, separating your emotions from feedback on your writing, and engaging with readers to show gratitude. At the end of their conversation, they make up a brilliant story using a line from Victoria Houson’s At the Edge of the Woods.