Writers, Ink: Your backstage pass to the world's most prolific authors

Hosted by J.D. Barker, Christine Daigle

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Episodes

372

Latest episode

Nov 2026

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EN-US

About the show

What does it take to succeed as a writer? Join host J.D. Barker and a panel of industry experts as they pull back the curtain and offer rare insights from the household names found on bookshelves worldwide.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

November 10, 202646 min

Embrace your weird with Virginia Trench.

Join hosts J.D. Barker, Christine Daigle, Jena Brown, and Kevin Tumlinson as they discuss the week's entertainment news, including stories about Readwise, Simon Winchester, Strand Bookstore, and Caroline Davidson Lit Agency. Then, stick around for a chat with Virginia Trench! Virginia Trench studied English at Vanderbilt University before earning an MA in secondary education at CU Boulder. When she's not writing, she can be found exploring the Rocky Mountains, struggling on a yoga mat while her cat judges her, or devouring the latest crime novels. She lives in Colorado with her family. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

November 3, 202653 min

NYT bestseller, Brigid Kemmerer explains why titles matter.

Join hosts J.D. Barker, Christine Daigle, Jena Brown, and Kevin Tumlinson as they discuss the week’s entertainment news, including stories about Apatreon, James Patterson, and why not to trust a writer’s origin story. Then, stick around for a chat with Brigid Kemmerer! Brigid Kemmerer is the New York Times bestselling author of dark and alluring romantic fantasy novels like Warrior Princess Assassin, A Curse So Dark and Lonely, and Defy the Night , as well as compelling contemporary YA romance like Letters to the Lost . Her books have sold over one million copies and been translated into more than 20 languages, finding readers all over the world. A full time writer, Brigid lives in the Baltimore area with her family. When she’s not busy writing or being a mom, you can usually find her with her hands wrapped around a barbell. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

October 27, 202657 min

How a solid elevator pitch can sell books with YA author Hannah Mathewson.

Join hosts J.D. Barker, Christine Daigle, Jena Brown, and Kevin Tumlinson as they discuss the week's entertainment news, including stories about Audible, E.L. James, Kindle+, and the people who love to hate-read. Then, stick around for a chat with Hannah Mathewson! Hannah Mathewson is the author of two YA fantasy novels, Witherward and Wayward . She was born in Cambridge and graduated from the University of East Anglia with a BA in Film and Television. She lives in Oxfordshire. The Age of Blood and Magic is her adult debut. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

October 20, 202653 min

How to keep a series fresh when you’re 30 books in, with Reacher author Andrew Child.

Join hosts J.D. Barker, Christine Daigle, Jena Brown, and Kevin Tumlinson as they discuss the week's entertainment news, including stories about magazines, library vendors, and publishers using AI for marketing copy. Then, stick around for a chat with Andrew Child! Andrew Grant was born in Birmingham, England in May 1968. He went to school in St Albans, Hertfordshire and later attended the University of Sheffield where he studied English Literature and Drama. After graduation Andrew set up and ran a small independent theatre company which showcased a range of original material to local, regional and national audiences. Following a critically successful but financially challenging appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival Andrew moved into the telecommunications industry as a ‘temporary’ solution to a short-term cash crisis. Fifteen years later, after carrying out a variety of roles – including a number which were covered by the UK Official Secrets Act – Andrew escaped from corporate life, and established himself as the author of the critically-acclaimed novels Even, Die Twice, More Harm Than Good, RUN, False Positive, False Friend, False Witness, Invisible, and Too Close To Home. Andrew is married to novelist Tasha Alexander, and lives on a wildlife preserve in Wyoming, USA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

October 13, 202657 min

What your readers think they know with debut author Anna Maloney.

Join hosts J.D. Barker, Christine Daigle, Jena Brown, and Kevin Tumlinson as they discuss the week's entertainment news, including stories about Audible, S&S, and Spotify. Then, stick around for a chat with Anna Maloney! Anna Maloney grew up in London, part of a large Irish family. She has written for television (one BAFTA win), film, and radio; taught screenwriting; and works as a script consultant. She has worked in reality television, journalism, and public relations and is a qualified children's playleader, and sometime usherette. She lives in southeast London and can often be found swimming at her local outdoor pool while working on a plot problem. A synopsis and sample of The 10:12 won the UK Crime Writers’ Association Debut Dagger Award. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

October 6, 202659 min

Why Strange might be the new Normal with debut author, Gillian Daniels.

Join hosts J.D. Barker, Christine Daigle, Jena Brown, and Kevin Tumlinson as they discuss the week's entertainment news, including stories about AALA, choosing your own adventure, and a publishing scam. Then, stick around for a chat with Gillian Daniels! Gillian Daniels : Since attending the 2011 Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Workshop, Gillian Daniels' poetry and short fiction have appeared in Nightmare Magazine, Strange Horizons, and Beneath Ceaseless Skies, among more than thirty other publications. She was born in Des Moines, Iowa, grew up in Greater Cleveland, Ohio, and she now writes, works, and haunts the streets in the Boston area of Massachusetts. She also makes comics and zines, searches out little-known horror and indie movies, and definitely wants to see pictures of your cat. Represented by Storm Literary Agency . Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

September 29, 202641 min

Bringing back the mall with Nicolina Torres.

Join hosts J.D. Barker, Christine Daigle, Kevin Tumlinson, and JP Rindfleisch as they discuss the week's entertainment news, including stories about OpenAI, Microsoft, KDP, and a publishing scam. Then, stick around for a chat with Nicolina Torres! Prior to her work as a writer, Nicolina Torres was a manager for Barnes & Noble for 15 years, in seven stores, and represented B&N on Channel 2’s Living Dayton Show for two years. She was a D.J. for 88.3FM WAIF for two seasons. Nikki’s thriller This Red Fire was a 2017 Launch Pad Manuscript Competition Top 10 pick, and her dystopian novel, Young Nation , received an honorable mention in the same contest. Her short story “Aunt Dorothy in the Canoe” was published in the Deception Anthology . In 2025, Night of the Mallrats was sold at auction to HarperCollins imprint Harper Perennial. She has had multiple books and short stories optioned for film by companies such as Vuelta Group, Stampede Ventures, Exile Content Studio, Sony, and EMJAG Productions. Nikki was a mentor for the 2021 Tracking Board Launch Pad Prose Competition. She is represented by Kiana Nguyen at Donald Maass Literary Agency and book-to-film agent Katrina Escudero. She is first generation American on her father’s side—her paternal family lives in Santiago, Chile. When not reading or writing, she’s watching bad vintage horror movies and cooking comfort food. She lives out in farm country and is “Aunt Nini” to her young niblings. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

September 22, 202650 min

How to Write a Murder with Jessica Brody.

Join hosts J.D. Barker, Christine Daigle, Jena Brown, and JP Rindfleisch as they discuss the week's entertainment news, including stories about the 2026 Emmys, AI fears, and a dating app for book lovers. Then, stick around for a chat with Jessica Brody! Jessica Brody is the author of more than 20 novels for teens, tweens, and adults including How to Write a Murder , The Geography of Lost Things , The Chaos of Standing Still , Amelia Gray is Almost Okay , and the System Divine trilogy . She’s also the author of the #1 bestselling Save the Cat! Writes a Novel plotting guides and her latest guide for writers, Page One to Done as well as the founder of the Writing Mastery Academy , dedicated to helping fiction writers get unstuck and finish their novels. Her books have been translated and published in over 20 languages and several have been optioned for film and television. She lives with her husband and dogs near Portland, OR. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

September 15, 202655 min

From bookseller to author with Nicholas Russell.

Join hosts J.D. Barker, Christine Daigle, Jena Brown, and Kevin Tumlinson as they discuss the week's entertainment news, including stories about Authors Guild, Anthropic, literary video games, and Simon & Schuster. Then, stick around for a chat with Nicholas Russell! Nicholas Russell : I’m a writer and editor from Las Vegas. My work has been featured in The Believer, McSweeney’s, The Yale Review, Reverse Shot,The Point , The Baffler , The Nation , and Dirt, among other publications. I’ve attended Short Fiction workshops at VQR and Tin House, as well as the Critics Academy for the New York Film Festival and the Press Inclusion Initiative at the Sundance Film Festival. I’ve also received support from MacDowell and the Nes Artist Residency. I’m a contributing writer at Defector (formerly at Gawker 2.0), managing editor at Still Alive Magazine , and a bookseller at The Writer’s Block . My debut novel Observer is out on September 15, 2026. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

September 8, 202648 min

Finding character voice with author Danielle McKechnie.

Join hosts J.D. Barker, Christine Daigle, Jena Brown, and Kevin Tumlinson as they discuss the week's entertainment news, including stories about murder, library eBook lending, and Bookshop.org. Then, stick around for a chat with Danielle McKechnie! Danielle McKechnie : After studying at Circle in the Square Theatre School, Danielle McKechnie moved to Los Angeles and transitioned to a behind-the-scenes role in production, development, and writing across film, television, traditional radio, and live entertainment. As an author and creative producer, she now lives in her hometown of Vancouver with her husband and two daughters. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.