Bookwild

Kate Hergott, Bookwild Collective
  • 4.8 (26)
  • Drama
  • Updated Weekly

On Tuesdays, Kate Hergott talks with authors about their books and writing processes. On Fridays, Kate talks with multiple co-host Bookstagrammers and BookTubers about a variety of bookish topics.

  1. Pop Culture, Gossip and Revenge: Ashley Winstead's Hot Girl Murder Club

    3d ago

    Pop Culture, Gossip and Revenge: Ashley Winstead's Hot Girl Murder Club

    Ashley Winstead IS BACK!  Gare and I ask all our burning questions about Hot Girl Murder Club. Listen to hear about: How Ashley Winstead wrote Hot Girl Murder Club as an act of creative defiance. Ashley shares the publishing and Hollywood conversations that told her feminist revenge stories were "over"—and why that made her determined to write one anyway.  The surprising inspiration behind the novel's unique structure. Ashley discusses how Dune, historical dissertations, Patty Hearst, and mythic storytelling shaped the book, including an early version that was set decades in the future. A deep dive into celebrity culture, parasocial relationships, and internet outrage. The conversation explores why public opinion swings so dramatically, the complexity of figures like Lena Dunham, and how social media has changed the way we judge people. Why stories about women's anger, friendship, and justice are resonating right now. We discuss sisterhood, feminist thrillers, revenge narratives, and why readers still crave these conversations despite industry assumptions. How gossip, pop culture, and "frothy" entertainment can be surprisingly political. From celebrity scandals to folklore and urban legends, Ashley explains why seemingly light stories often become powerful vehicles for social commentary. Check Out Author Social Media Packages Check out the Bookwild Community on Patreon Check Out My Stories Are My Religion Substack Get Bookwild Merch Follow @imbookwild on Instagram Other Co-hosts On Instagram: Gare Billings @gareindeedreads Steph Lauer @books.in.badgerland Halley Sutton @halleysutton25 Brian Watson @readingwithbrian MacKenzie Green @missusa2mba

    1h 1m
  2. Double Agents, Journalism and Espionage: Connor Martin's The Silver Fish

    6d ago

    Double Agents, Journalism and Espionage: Connor Martin's The Silver Fish

    **If you're listening when this airs, note that this episode was recorded at the beginning of May and should've come out in May.  Due to an injury (and painkillers) it's been sitting in my drafts, and I forgot to publish it.** In this episode, I chat with Connor Martin about his new espionage thriller The Silver Fish. Listen to hear about:How a 20-year journey and a career in national security led Connor Martin to write his debut espionage thriller—including why switching from literary fiction to spy fiction finally unlocked the story he was meant to tell. The fascinating real-world technology behind The Silver Fish, from undersea internet cables to corporate control of critical infrastructure, and how Connor turned a little-known global vulnerability into a gripping thriller. A behind-the-scenes look at crafting morally gray characters, intricate twists, and cinematic action, including why Connor rewrote each character's storyline separately to create distinct voices and perfectly timed reveals.   Check Out Author Social Media Packages Check out the Bookwild Community on Patreon Check Out My Stories Are My Religion Substack Get Bookwild Merch Follow @imbookwild on Instagram Other Co-hosts On Instagram: Gare Billings @gareindeedreads Steph Lauer @books.in.badgerland Halley Sutton @halleysutton25 Brian Watson @readingwithbrian MacKenzie Green @missusa2mba

    40 min
  3. Power, Greed, and the Dark Side of Utopia: Zac Canon's Stillwater Trace

    6d ago

    Power, Greed, and the Dark Side of Utopia: Zac Canon's Stillwater Trace

    In this episode, I chat with Zac Cannon about his new speculative thriller Stillwater Trace! Listen to hear about: How a "dad action movie" premise transformed into a layered thriller exploring faith, power, surveillance, and belonging—and why Zac let the story evolve far beyond his original concept. The real-world inspirations behind Stillwater Trace, from corporate master-planned communities and culture wars to religious deconstruction, and how current events shaped the novel without making it feel tied to one moment in time. The craft of writing cinematic suspense, including how Zac's screenwriting background influences his novels, why he physically acts out action scenes, and how character—not spectacle—ultimately drives the story. Check Out Author Social Media Packages Check out the Bookwild Community on Patreon Check Out My Stories Are My Religion Substack Get Bookwild Merch Follow @imbookwild on Instagram Other Co-hosts On Instagram: Gare Billings @gareindeedreads Steph Lauer @books.in.badgerland Halley Sutton @halleysutton25 Brian Watson @readingwithbrian MacKenzie Green @missusa2mba

    46 min

  4. Jul 3

    Trauma, Twins and Twists: The Girls in the Dark by Avery Bishop

    In this episode, Gare and I chat with Avery Bishop about his new thriller The Girls in the Dark! Listen to hear about: An unfiltered look at editorial disagreements, publishing contracts, audiobook production, and why getting a book into readers' hands is often far more complicated than fans realize. The inspiration behind The Girls in the Dark, balancing suspense with emotional realism, portraying trauma responsibly, and why some stories need to embrace their darkness. Crafting page-turning cliffhangers and deciding how much of a killer's motivation readers really need Check Out Author Social Media Packages Check out the Bookwild Community on Patreon Check Out My Stories Are My Religion Substack Get Bookwild Merch Follow @imbookwild on Instagram Other Co-hosts On Instagram: Gare Billings @gareindeedreads Steph Lauer @books.in.badgerland Halley Sutton @halleysutton25 Brian Watson @readingwithbrian MacKenzie Green @missusa2mba

    1h 21m
  5. Chronic Illness, Spy Thrills & Fake Dating: Kate Williams' Fake Out Make Out

    Jul 1

    Chronic Illness, Spy Thrills & Fake Dating: Kate Williams' Fake Out Make Out

    This week, I talk with Kate Williams about her new romance spy thriller Fake Out Make Out! Kate's journey from self-publishing and writing across genres to landing a traditional publishing deal with Fake Out, Make Out.  How Kate built a spy romance, balanced action with emotional beats, and embraced genre mashups. How she drew from her own autoimmune journey and the importance of seeing disabled and chronically ill characters on the page. How she approaches outlining action scenes, creating compelling character dynamics, and finding the perfect title for the book. Lessons from years of writing, and encouragement for aspiring authors navigating publishing. Check Out Author Social Media Packages Check out the Bookwild Community on Patreon Check Out My Stories Are My Religion Substack Get Bookwild Merch Follow @imbookwild on Instagram Other Co-hosts On Instagram: Gare Billings @gareindeedreads Steph Lauer @books.in.badgerland Halley Sutton @halleysutton25 Brian Watson @readingwithbrian MacKenzie Green @missusa2mba

    52 min

  6. Jun 26

    A Trip to Greece, Widow's Bay, Summer House and More with Halley Sutton

    Halley Sutton is back from a trip through Greece and Turkey, and she shares some of the highlights of her trip!  We also discuss books, tv shows and movies we've been watching and reading recently, and dive into THAT Summer House Reunion a la Scamanda. Check Out Author Social Media Packages Check out the Bookwild Community on Patreon Check Out My Stories Are My Religion Substack Get Bookwild Merch Follow @imbookwild on Instagram Other Co-hosts On Instagram: Gare Billings @gareindeedreads Steph Lauer @books.in.badgerland Halley Sutton @halleysutton25 Brian Watson @readingwithbrian MacKenzie Green @missusa2mba

    1h 34m
  7. Improv, Love and Grief: Emma Brodie's Into the Blue

    Jun 23

    Improv, Love and Grief: Emma Brodie's Into the Blue

    This week, Emma West, Kara Confer and I talk with Emma Brodie about her love story Into the Blue! Listen to hear about: How a single character—Noah—kept appearing across multiple abandoned projects until he became the foundation of Into the Blue   A behind-the-scenes look at how Emma's theater classes, improv training, and fascination with performance shaped the book's unique portrayal of acting and creative connection.   The emotional reality of publishing while working in the publishing industry, including the vulnerability of releasing work when you're surrounded by people who understand exactly how the business works.   Emma's approach to writing about chronic illness, grief, fame, and the idea that we can never fully know what's happening inside another person—even someone we deeply love   The incredible journey from writing Into the Blue as a deeply personal "heart song" to becoming a Reese's Book Club pick and a Read with Jenna selection   Check Out Author Social Media Packages Check out the Bookwild Community on Patreon Check Out My Stories Are My Religion Substack Get Bookwild Merch Follow @imbookwild on Instagram Other Co-hosts On Instagram: Gare Billings @gareindeedreads Steph Lauer @books.in.badgerland Halley Sutton @halleysutton25 Brian Watson @readingwithbrian MacKenzie Green @missusa2mba

    1h 4m
  8. When Rom-Coms Become Nightmares: Olivia Worley's Man of My Dreams

    Jun 23

    When Rom-Coms Become Nightmares: Olivia Worley's Man of My Dreams

    This week, Gare and I talk with Olivia Worley about her new horror-thriller Man of My Dreams! Listen to hear about: How Olivia's real-life dating experiences—and meeting a man eerily similar to a character she had already written—inspired the premise of Man of My Dreams   A deep dive into blending rom-coms with psychological thrillers, why modern dating is the perfect backdrop for suspense, and how Olivia carefully balances romance with increasingly dark twists   Writing morally complicated women, the thrill of surprising readers, and why some of the most compelling stories happen when romance and danger collide Check Out Author Social Media Packages Check out the Bookwild Community on Patreon Check Out My Stories Are My Religion Substack Get Bookwild Merch Follow @imbookwild on Instagram Other Co-hosts On Instagram: Gare Billings @gareindeedreads Steph Lauer @books.in.badgerland Halley Sutton @halleysutton25 Brian Watson @readingwithbrian MacKenzie Green @missusa2mba

    49 min
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4.8
out of 5
26 Ratings

About

On Tuesdays, Kate Hergott talks with authors about their books and writing processes. On Fridays, Kate talks with multiple co-host Bookstagrammers and BookTubers about a variety of bookish topics.

Information

  • Creator
    Kate Hergott, Bookwild Collective
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    405
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2024 Bookwild Collective
  • Show Website
    Bookwild

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