On Book Talk with Cara, Cara interviews author T.I. Lowe about her new novel South of Somewhere, a redemption story following Juniper as she starts over and takes small, realistic steps through addiction recovery and rehabilitation. Lowe discusses the responsibility of researching addiction, including reading memoirs and working through a 12-step-based study, to honor real experiences and build empathy. She explains how the Southern setting—Sullivan’s Island and a grandmother’s beach house—functions as a character while challenging stereotypes about who addiction affects. They explore the importance of recovery community and “found family,” Juniper’s search for the right group, and Henry’s role as a model of healthy, consistent connection. Lowe also shares how she keeps faith elements organic rather than preachy, and previews her upcoming grief-focused novel A Southern Goodbye (planned for fall 2027).

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Rachel Hauck guest-hosts Book Talk to interview regular host Cara Putman about her May release, The Targeted, book three in the Secrets to Keep series, available for pre-order. They read the back-cover blurb and discuss the story of Chloe Ainsworth, a gymnastics coach whose estranged sister returns after 14 years with news that Chloe’s abuser is back, prompting Chloe and law student Dare Shepherd to pursue help through a legal clinic while the stakes escalate. Putman explains the book’s blend of legal suspense and romance, its “ripped from the headlines” focus on abuse in youth sports, and the fractured sister relationship shaped by silence and trauma. She describes using Dare’s law-student limitations to balance legal tension with character-driven emotional stakes, explores truth-telling and its cost, and weaves a lighter faith thread centered on endurance, God’s presence in suffering, and forgiveness, aiming to leave readers with hope and greater empathy.

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On Book Talk with Cara, author and freelance book editor Janyre Tromp returns to discuss her upcoming novel The Scorpion Thief and her series Threads of the Lost Myth. She shares her long-standing fascination with global mythology, explains that the series works backward in time to uncover a “lost myth,” and highlights her free ebook novella Guardian of the Red Desert as a key to the series with Easter eggs. Tromp outlines The Scorpion Thief’s 1976–1977 setting around the U.S. King Tut exhibit, featuring two sisters on opposing sides: an Egyptologist curator protecting artifacts and a sister blackmailed into stealing them. She describes extensive research using museum tour documentation, ties to political and historical context, themes of peace versus fear and indifference, Egyptian myth influences, and the book’s mythic, twisty noir/gothic heist vibe.

You can learn more about Janyre and her books at her website: https://beautifuluglyme.com/about-janyre/

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Hello everyone, and welcome back to Book Talk with Cara. Today, I'm excited to have award-winning author Melanie Dobson on the show to discuss her latest novel, The Lost Story of Via Bell. Known for her compelling World War II time slip stories, Melanie shares the inspiration and challenges behind her new book, which weaves together narratives from the 1940s and 2006. We delve into Melanie's writing process, the historical accuracy required for such tales, and the characters' emotional journeys. Don't miss this fascinating conversation about storytelling, history, and the intricacies of writing dual timelines.

You can learn more about Melanie and her books at her website: https://melaniedobson.com/

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In this episode of Book Talk with Cara, host Cara Putman interviews author Chelsea Bobulski about her historical romance novel, A Deal with a Debutante. Set in the Gilded Age era, Chelsea discusses her background in history, her writing process, and the unique romantic tropes explored in the book. The story focuses on an American heiress with no interest in marriage and a British hero who must marry to save his estate. Chelsea also addresses the research involved, the book's themes, and provides insights for book clubs. The discussion concludes with a fun lightning round highlighting key aspects and favorite lines from the book.

You can connect with Chelsea on her website: https://chelseabobulski.com/

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Cara welcomes author Joanna Politano back to Book Talk to discuss her upcoming novel The Life She Forgot (out April 21), the first in a new reverse-chronology series centered on an imaginary house built into Cornwall’s cliffs, where each book reveals new hidden rooms and tunnels. Joanna shares life updates, including homeschooling her three kids and teaching her oldest to write, and explains why she chose to publish indie for flexibility, creative control, and to learn marketing. They tease the story’s amnesia-driven conflict as a woman begins remembering a past life after three years and a marriage of convenience, alongside a split timeline featuring a PTSD-haunted veteran rebuilding after war. Joanna highlights Cornwall’s scent as a key memory trigger, a mosaic motif of broken pieces forming a whole, and reflects on how memory shapes identity.

You can learn more about Joanna and her books at her website: https://jdpstories.com/

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In this episode of Book Talk, Cara Putman welcomes author Susan Tuttle to discuss her latest book, The Hidden Key of Brooke Sumner. Susan, a seasoned writer of clean contemporary romance with historical touches, shares insights into the book's character development, plot intricacies, and the challenges she faced while writing against a personal backdrop of caring for aging parents. The discussion covers the blending of romance, mystery, and adventure in the book, inspired by historical and personal research experiences, including a trip to Rome. Listeners get a deep dive into themes like perception and personal growth while also hearing about Susan's writing process and evolution from a character-driven to a more plot-focused approach. The episode also touches on elements like fostering resilience in characters and integrating real-life experiences into fiction.

You can learn more about Susan and her books at her website: https://www.susanltuttle.com/

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If you enjoyed this conversation, I would be thrilled if you left a rating and review on your favorite podcast app and leave me a note below letting me know who you would love to see on the show!

On Book Talk, Cara interviews author Heidi McCahan about her new inspirational romance, The Other Side of Goodbye, in the Welcome to Redemption Alaska series. McCahan, an Alaska native living in North Carolina and former certified athletic trainer, discusses writing five books in a year using full-draft dictation in Evernote, multiple self-edits, and working from an editor-approved synopsis. She explains how the series grew from a prior novella and was rapidly plotted with editor Susie, centering on two widowed single parents whose children clash as they navigate grief, faith, and the question of finding love again while honoring lost spouses. McCahan shares personal grief from her father’s 2020 death, craft lessons from Sunrise Publishing, pie-driven banter, a natural-disaster subplot, and favorite lines, plus where to find her online, and that the book is available now on Kindle Unlimited.

You can learn more about Heidi and her books at her website: https://heidimccahan.com/

Want to watch this interview? You can see this episode as well as multiple others on YouTube! Enjoy!

If you enjoyed this conversation, I would be thrilled if you left a rating and review on your favorite podcast app and leave me a note below letting me know who you would love to see on the show!