Underline That

Stephanie Mack
  • 4.9 (17)
  • Books
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to Underline That—the podcast where we go beyond the page. From powerful fiction to industry insights, creative leaders to real-life stories, we explore the things worth underlining. Each week, join author Stephanie Mack + guests for conversations about books, the business, womanhood, life, pop culture, and the quiet challenges we don't always speak out loud. If you've ever underlined a sentence and felt seen, this is for you. Get ready for real books, bold talks, and big underlines!

  1. 1h ago

    How Real is Twenty Something Else? The Stories Behind the Story

    With just days until Twenty Something Else releases, Steph is pulling back the curtain on the real-life inspirations behind her debut novel with Tyndale House, available on June 9! In this special solo episode, she shares ten fun facts about the novel—including the pieces drawn from her own life, the experiences that shaped Sutton's journey, and the elements that are indeed completely fictional (spoiler: most of them). That said, from turning forty and raising three daughters in Orange County to taking a theater improv class at USC, spending time in Nicaragua to marrying a surfer, Steph reveals how her own experiences indeed found their way onto the page—and why writing this book became such a meaningful milestone in her life. She also discusses the origins of some of the novel's most memorable moments, answers a reader question about deleted scenes, and reflects on the themes of gratitude, identity, womanhood, marriage, and the unexpected detours that shape who we become. Whether you've already read or pre-orderedTwenty Something Else or you're simply curious about the stories behind the story, this episode offers a fun, personal look inside the author's desk. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a fellow book lover! FOLLOW STEPH + THE POD: IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@stephanienmack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@underlinethatpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.stephaniemack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ PRE-ORDER TWENTY SOMETHING ELSE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Target⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Barnes & Noble⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ PRE-ORDER WHEN WE BLINKED: ⁠Amazon⁠ ⁠Barnes & Noble

    19 min

  2. May 28

    Courtney Walsh on Writing 40-Something Heroines & Why It’s Never Too Late

    Join Steph in welcoming beloved New York Times bestselling author Courtney Walsh to Underline That! What a total joy to discuss her brand-new novel, Brighter Than Before, available June 9. This swoony summer read is a joyful, tender, laugh-out-loud story about starting over, finding friendship as an adult, and asking what you really want in the wake of it all crashing down. Steph and Courtney talk about writing 40-something heroines, Chicago as the perfect rom-com backdrop, the vulnerability of making new friends as a grown woman, and why reinvention is never just for the young. Courtney also shares her best author advice on Instagram, indie vs. traditional publishing, trusting your gut when a manuscript isn’t working, and why creating with your own voice matters more than ever. Trust me—you don’t want to miss this one! Thank you so much for listening, and thank you for joining me, Courtney! FIND COURTNEY WALSH: Instagram: @courtneywalsh Website: www.courtneywalshwrites.com FOLLOW STEPH + THE POD: IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@stephanienmack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@underlinethatpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.stephaniemack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ PRE-ORDER TWENTY SOMETHING ELSE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Target⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Barnes & Noble⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ PRE-ORDER WHEN WE BLINKED: Amazon Barnes & Noble TODAY’S UNDERLINES: Brighter than Before by Courtney Walsh Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan Star-Crossed Summer by Devon Daniels Cover Story by Mhairi McFarlane Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth

    49 min

  3. May 21

    Both Can Be True | Fiction, Truth & Contradictions with Jessica Guerrieri

    Today on Underline That, Jessica Guerrieri rejoins Steph for a conversation about motherhood, sobriety, sisterhood, publishing, reviews, recovery, generational trauma—and the way women can hold two completely contradictory emotions at the same time. We dive into Jessica’s brand-new novel, Both Can Be True, the emotional reality of debut year, audiobook obsession, unlikable female characters, and the complicated beauty of womanhood in your 30s and 40s. The conversation is funny, vulnerable, honest, millennial, and packed with the kinds of truths that make you pause and think: Wow, me, too. We discuss:– Why “both can be true” resonates so deeply with women– Motherhood, resentment, gratitude, and identity shifts– Recovery, connection, and found sisterhood– The reality of publishing after the debut dream comes true– Goodreads, reviews, and protecting your mental health as a creative …and so much more! Jessica’s new novel, Both Can Be True, is available now wherever books are sold. Thank you so much for listening!  FIND JESSICA: IG: @jessicaguerrieriauthor Website: www.jessicaguerrieri.net FOLLOW STEPH + THE POD: IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@stephanienmack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@underlinethatpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.stephaniemack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ PRE-ORDER TWENTY SOMETHING ELSE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Target⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Barnes & Noble⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ PRE-ORDER WHEN WE BLINKED: Amazon Barnes & Noble TODAY’S UNDERLINES: Both Can Be True by Jessica Guerrieri Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by Jessica Guerrieri

    1h 1m

  4. May 13

    Bookmarked for Love & Vulnerability with Sarah Monzon

    This week on Underline That, Steph chats with bestselling Christian romance author Sarah Monzon about her adorable upcoming release, Bookmarked for Love—a cozy, bookish romance featuring librarians, literary references, publishing drama, and forced-proximity goodness. Don’t miss this lovable rom-com, available July 21, 2026! Sarah opens up about her journey from indie to traditional publishing, writing novels while raising young kids, navigating comparison in the publishing world, and why representation and vulnerability matter so deeply in her stories. We also discuss:• Why bookish books never go out of style• The magic of Christmas romances• Balancing motherhood and creativity• Covers, tropes, launch teams, and marketing realities• Favorite authors, reading habits, and rapid-fire book talk Plus, we bond over libraries, Kindle obsessions, Katherine Center fandom, and the emotional vulnerability of writing fiction straight from the heart. Thank you so much for listening! FIND SARAH MONZON: Instagram: @sarahmonzonwritesWebsite: www.sarahmonzonwrites.com FOLLOW STEPH + THE POD: IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@stephanienmack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@underlinethatpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.stephaniemack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ PRE-ORDER TWENTY SOMETHING ELSE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Target⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Barnes & Noble⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ PRE-ORDER WHEN WE BLINKED: Amazon Barnes & Noble TODAY’S UNDERLINES: Bookmarked for Love by Sarah Monzon Hearts in Circulation by Sarah Monzon An Overdue Match by Sarah Monzon by Sarah Monzon All’s Fair in Love and Christmas by Sarah Monzon

    41 min

  5. May 7

    Road Trips, Real Lives & Trad Wives with USA Today Bestselling Author Eliza Knight

    This week on Underline That, Steph is joined by Eliza Knight—USA Today bestselling author of the upcoming novel Lost in the Summer of ’69, releasing June 9. Set against the backdrop of music, memory, and massive cultural change, the novel follows a grandmother, mother, and daughter on an unforgettable road trip after a shocking disappearance. It’s heartfelt, nostalgic, layered, and simply perfect for summer reading! Today we dive into Eliza’s inspiration behind the book, writing women across generations, and why stories about mothers and daughters hit differently when you’re living in that “sandwich generation” season of life. We also chat about music playlists for writing, historical research rabbit holes, the emotional reality of watching daughters grow up, and the surprising truths about building a decades-long writing career. And yes—we absolutely get into her other writing life, too! From historical fiction to revenge thrillers and her buzzy upcoming Tradwife novel—written under pen name Michelle Brandon—Eliza shares what it’s been like writing nearly 100 books across genres, publishing under an alias, and creatively reinventing herself again and again. Thank you so much for listening! If you loved the episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share the show with a fellow reader, writer, or fellow woman figuring it out as she goes! FIND ELIZA KNIGHT: Instagram: @elizaknightfictionWebsite: www.elizaknight.com FOLLOW STEPH + THE POD: IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@stephanienmack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@underlinethatpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.stephaniemack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ PRE-ORDER TWENTY SOMETHING ELSE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Target⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Barnes & Noble⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ PRE-ORDER WHEN WE BLINKED: ⁠Amazon⁠ ⁠Barnes & Noble⁠ TODAY’S UNDERLINES: Lost in the Summer of ‘69 by Eliza Knight Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë Confessions of a Grammar Queen by Eliza Knight

    39 min

  6. Apr 30

    Magical Realism, Meet-Cutes & The Roman Holiday Rule

    In today’s episode, Steph is joined by rom-com author Andra Loy to talk about her delightful, magical rom-com debut, The Roman Holiday Rule from Haven Fiction—and the winding, unexpected journey that brought her here. From living overseas for over two decades to writing stories that blend romance with magical realism, Andra shares how her real-life experiences shaped a novel full of heart, humor, and sparkle. We dive into her creative process, the dream of debut season, and the deeper themes that emerged as Andra wrote and revised this story. We also talk about the rise of clean romance in publishing, finding your lane as a writer, and why some of the most meaningful stories come from simply paying attention to what’s right in front of you. Thank you so much for listening! FIND ANDRA LOY: IG: @andraloy Website: www.andraloy.com FOLLOW STEPH + THE POD: IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@stephanienmack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@underlinethatpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.stephaniemack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ PRE-ORDER TWENTY SOMETHING ELSE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Target⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Barnes & Noble⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ PRE-ORDER WHEN WE BLINKED: Amazon Barnes & Noble TODAY’S UNDERLINES: The Roman Holiday Rule by Andra Loy My Friends by Fredrik Backman

    49 min

  7. Apr 23

    Balboa Island, Buried Secrets & A Book You’ll Devour

    Today on Underline That, Steph sits down with historical fiction author Nicola Harrison to talk about her dazzling new novel, The Island Club—a layered, addictive story set on 1950s Balboa Island, where paradise looks perfect on the surface… but secrets are simmering underneath. They discuss the real-life inspiration behind Balboa Island as a setting, the fascinating history of spring break culture in Newport Beach, and why tennis became such an important thread in the novel. Nicola also shares how women’s friendship, play, and community shaped the story in unexpected ways. Plus, they dive into Nicola’s publishing journey—from fashion journalism in New York City to becoming a bestselling novelist—her writing process, the magic of early-morning drafting, and what’s next for her (including a brand-new novel set in the English countryside). In this episode, you’ll hear all about: The premise behind The Island ClubWhy Balboa Island was the perfect settingThe surprising real history behind “Bal Week”Tennis, friendship, and reclaiming joy as womenNicola’s path from journalism to fictionHer daily writing goals and 5 a.m. routineHow the gorgeous cover came to lifeWhat she’s writing nextIf you love smart escapist fiction, glamorous settings, female friendship, and books with secrets at their center, this episode is for you! FIND NICOLA HARRISON: Instagram: @nicolaharrisonauthor Website: www.nicolaharrison.com FOLLOW STEPH + THE POD: IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@stephanienmack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@underlinethatpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.stephaniemack.com⁠ PRE-ORDER TWENTY SOMETHING ELSE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Target⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Barnes & Noble⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TODAY’S UNDERLINES: Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott The Island Club by Nicola Harrison Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan

    44 min

  8. Apr 16

    Why I'm Obsessed with StoryGraph Lately

    Welcome back, listeners! This week’s episode is a quick little bookish life update and personal reflection. After years of publicly reviewing books online, I’m sharing why my relationship with Goodreads has shifted as I’ve gone deeper into author life—and why I’ve recently fallen hard for StoryGraph as my new favorite place to track my reading! We’re talking about the complicated reality of being both a reader and a published author, why public reviewing feels different from this side of the industry, how I’m protecting my peace in this pre-launch season, and all the reasons StoryGraph has become my latest bookish obsession. If you’ve been curious about StoryGraph, wondering whether Goodreads still works for you, or just want a candid peek behind the curtain of author life, this one’s for you! In this episode, we cover: Why becoming an author has changed how I think about public book reviewsThe emotional reality of seeing negative reviews of your own workWhy Goodreads no longer feels like the healthiest place for me to hang outMy favorite StoryGraph features (and why I’m obsessed)Other reading life thoughts in this seasonI'd love to know where you track your reads these days—Goodreads, StoryGraph, a reading journal, nowhere, or absolute chaos! Thank you so much for listening!  TODAY'S UNDERLINES: The StoryGraph

    17 min
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4.9
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

Welcome to Underline That—the podcast where we go beyond the page. From powerful fiction to industry insights, creative leaders to real-life stories, we explore the things worth underlining. Each week, join author Stephanie Mack + guests for conversations about books, the business, womanhood, life, pop culture, and the quiet challenges we don't always speak out loud. If you've ever underlined a sentence and felt seen, this is for you. Get ready for real books, bold talks, and big underlines!

Information

  • Creator
    Stephanie Mack
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    32
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Stephanie Mack
  • Show Website
    Underline That

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