Why Authors Write

Mary J Cronin
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In candid conversations with bestselling authors, Why Authors Write goes behind the covers to get inside creative minds and find out what propels these authors to keep on writing, from inspiration to publication.   Join Mary J. Cronin and co-hosts Kristie Dickinson, Sara Standon, and Becca Cronin as we dive into the personal backstories that make a writer’s work unforgettable. Follow along on the path that authors travel, from that irresistible spark of an idea, through overcoming frustration and sometimes tear-your-hair out writer's block, to finding the confidence and flow to get a book over the finish line.    We dig deep to ask the questions you are curious about: Where do your best plot ideas come from? Is that villain based on a real-life character? How long does it take you to get from the book’s starting line to publication?  And much, much more.   If you want to find out what inspires your favorite authors to keep on writing, subscribe now so you won’t miss out on a single episode. Looking for more details on your favorite authors and interviews?  Visit Mary’s website: 4QCatalyst for Why Authors Write show notes, author clips and quotes, and previews of future episodes.   

Episodes

  1. 1D AGO

    Why Leah Cohen's "To & Fro" Meets in the Middle

    What happens when a novel refuses to follow a straight line - and the author asks her readers to meet her halfway? In this episode of Why Authors Write, host Mary J. Cronin talks with award-winning Leah Hager Cohen about the creative journey that inspired To & Fro, a riveting story of parallel worlds and two heroines who cross the time barrier to meet midstream.  Leah describes how she set out to recount a mystical heroine’s timeless journey, but hit a wall of doubt and frustration that forced her to pause writing. Months later, a contemporary heroine called her to tell a different story. Soon these contrasting characters revealed their shared quest and gradually intertwined with one another, meeting in the middle of To & Fro in a moment that feels both mysterious and inevitable. At the heart of both narratives are children on the threshold of adolescence, asking timeless questions: How did I get here? Who made me? To what extent do I make myself?For Cohen, these questions are deeply connected to the creative act itself. Writing fiction means embracing uncertainty and listening closely to what emerges from the imagination.“One of the mysteries involved in making art,” she says, “is not trying to have mastery over one’s imagination, but listening to what issues from it.”Rather than controlling every aspect of the narrative, Cohen strives to listen.“My role has to do with listening with humility,” she explains. “These characters are fictional, but when I’m writing they become very real to me.” The novel’s unusual ending reflects that philosophy. Instead of offering a tidy resolution, To & Fro leaves space for readers to participate in meaning-making—mirroring Cohen’s belief that stories are ultimately about relationships between writer and reader. In this thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation, Cohen reflects on the courage it takes to write without knowing where the story will lead. For readers and writers alike, this episode offers a rare glimpse into the inner life of a novelist—and into the beautiful, powerful, and mysterious uncertainty that fuels creative writing. It delves into the imaginative storytelling process and the power of open-ended narratives. Insights and Highlights Listening to characters with open minded humility frees Leah to createWorld-building is grounded in a deep relationship with fictional characters“Why am I here” and “Where am I going” are universal questions that drive the storyline in To & FroLeah hopes her readers will feel empowered to create their own next chapter in her bookChapters 00:00 The Genesis of Two Narratives08:06 Exploring Universal Questions14:27 Building Explicit Connections19:57 The Culmination and Conclusion25:03 The Porous Membrane Between Two Fictional WorldsChapters 00:00 The Genesis of Two Narratives08:06 Exploring Universal Questions14:27 Building Explicit Connections19:57 The Culmination and Conclusion25:03 The Porous Membrane Between Worlds

    31 min

  2. FEB 27

    Why and How Chris Castellani Wrote Last Seen & Leading Men

    In this episode of Why Authors Write, award-winning author Christopher Castellani talks about what happens when he gives up on controlling the story line and simply listens to his characters.  We hear about the mysterious voices that inspired Last Seen, and how Chris mixed fact and fiction to get to the heart of the relationship between Tennessee Williams and Frank Merlo in Leading Men. Last Seen, a darkly original, genre-defying work emerged from the real-life mystery of the so-called "Smiley Face Killers," whose alleged victims, young men found dead in icy rivers. "I really got caught up in the stories of these young, college-age men," Castellani recalls. "I went down the rabbit hole... reading all sorts of things about this supposed group."  He learned that the conspiracy theories were bogus – and realized he wasn’t interested in writing true crime stories.  To find another path, he gave voice to the dead. Last Seen is no conventional thriller. Told from a purgatorial beyond — four young men narrating their own stories after death, communicating with each other and reaching back toward the people they loved — the novel evolved slowly, through false starts and years of frustration, until Castellani heard a voice: "I am one of those boys they keep finding in the river." "It sounds a little woo-woo," he says, laughing, "but I kind of followed that voice." In contrast, his prior novel Leading Men was inspired by the relationship between Tennessee Williams and his working-class Italian American partner Frank Merlo — a man Castellani describes as central to Williams's greatest creative period. "While they were together for 15 years or so, that was the period in which Williams wrote the majority of his great plays. And then after Frank died, he never had another big hit." Castellani opens up about the audacious choice to write the text of a fictional "lost" Tennessee Williams play within the novel.  He created a pivotal character in Anya, whose outsider perspective finally unlocked the Williams-Merlo dynamic for him. Castellani reflects on his instinctive, non-outlining creative process, shares why he is still excited about the film option of Leading Men even after waiting for years for production, and ends with a tantalizing preview of his novel-in-progress, a comic Italian American coming-of-age story. A deeply candid conversation about craft, obsession, grief, love, and the peculiar courage it takes to follow character voices you didn't expect to hear. Chapters 00:00 How listening to his characters shapes the plots of Last Seen and Leading Men05:35 Finding love, humanity, and humor in dark story lines11:16 How a new book idea rescued Chris from doubts about Last Seen19:38 Mixing fact and fictional  characters in Leading Men25:36 Advice for celebrating a film option offer by giving up ownership

    33 min

  3. FEB 20

    Premee Mohamed Writing Fantasy, Horror, Magic & More

    In this fantasy-focused episode of Why Authors Write, host Sara Stanton sits down with scientist, “eldritch monster,” and award‑winning author Premee Mohamed to talk about how she turns visions, dreams, and chronic illness into vivid speculative fiction. From eerie fairy‑tale forests to post‑collapse Alberta, Premee unpacks how she builds worlds where magic, climate disaster, and parasitic fungi all feel unsettlingly real. Premee shares the origin of her dark fantasy novella The Butcher of the Forest, born from a haunting dream of a skull‑lined stone room and the question of whether children should pay for their parents’ sins. She traces how that vivid nightmare expanded into a full story shaped by 80s fantasy films, Shakespearean dream logic, and Latin American magical realism about colonialism—plus the urgency of writing fast enough to preserve a fragile, “dreamy” tone. Describing how her Annual Migration of Clouds work became a trilogy, she shares her motivation for writing the original stand-alone story, and setting it in a climate‑ravaged future Alberta where a mysterious parasite called CAD blurs the line between illness and identity. Premee discusses how the series began as a quiet, standalone novella about a young woman with a chronic condition, and how her editor convinced her to grow it into a trilogy that explores other communities, perspectives, and hard choices in a broken world. Along the way, she talks openly about chronic pain, climate anxiety, and the bittersweet feeling of saying goodbye to characters she loves.   All through this engaging conversation, Premee shares insights into her rapid writing process, the inspiration that drives her, and her journey as an author. From discussing her unique approach to crafting titles to exploring themes of climate fiction in her series, Mohamed provides a deep dive into her creative world. She reflects on the emotional connections formed with her characters and the challenges of writing a series, while also teasing her upcoming full length novel Wickhills, as a cross between a spy novel and Gormenghast, set in a magical urban landscape that will be published in September 2026.Highlights and InsightsPremee Mohamed's writing process varies depending on the project.Titles are often a last-minute challenge for her.Her novella 'The Butcher of the Forest' was inspired by a dream.She aims to create stories that feel like fairy tales with deeper themes.The 'First Thousand Trees' series explores the intersection of chronic illness and climate disaster.Mohamed's background in science influences her writing, especially in speculative fiction.The emotional connection to her characters is significant in her writing process.Her upcoming novel WickHills is set in a magical future urban landscape.She emphasizes the importance of exploring universal questions in her stories.Chapters00:00 Why and How Premee Mohamed Writes Fantasy02:57 From Dreams to Storylines - Writing Process and Style06:13 The Butcher of the Forest: Inspiration and Themes11:56 Exploring Climate Fiction in The First Thousand Trees18:08 The Journey of Writing a Series24:07 Preview of the spy+magic novel WICKHILLS -coming in September 2026

    26 min

  4. FEB 13

    Annie Hartnett, The Road to Tender Hearts

    Bestselling author Annie Hartnett talks about channeling her real-life anxiety during a period of  family disasters into the darkly humorous novel, 'The Road to Tender Hearts.'  She discusses her style of blending magical realism, improbable events, and tragic episodes into a compelling, character-driven story and reveals that in Tender Hearts, the book’s flawed hero is based on her own father.  Annie shares her technique for creating difficult-to-like characters that still appeal to readers.  Hartnett also reflects on the misery of writing a first draft and the motivational tricks she uses to keep on writing in the face of self-doubts and distractions.   Chapters00:00 Annie Hartnett and The Road to Tender Hearts01:03 Origin Story – Channeling Disaster and Anxiety into 'The Road to Tender Hearts'05:01 Finding Humor inside Tragic Events08:22 Crafting Flawed Yet Lovable Characters13:16 Putting Family Members into Starring Roles15:43 First Draft Misery and Tips for Writing Through Doubts21:00 The Evolution of Annie's Writing Journey25:24 Embracing Magic and Magical Realism TakeawaysAnxiety as a motive force for creative expression.Revealing flaws gradually to build empathy for difficult characters.When the flawed hero is based on your fatherEvery writer has their unique process and struggles.Magic in storytelling can serve as a metaphor for deeper emotions.The first draft is about exploration, not perfection.

    30 min

  5. FEB 6

    The Cat's Meow, Jonathan Losos

    Evolutionary biologist Jonathan Losos​​ talks about ​his lifelong love affair with cats, and discoveries about the private language ​of meows that t​hey use to communicate with humans. He reflects on the challenges and rewards ​o​f writing popular science books, and how his research for The Cat's Meow actually changed his own perspective the future of feline evolution.​  Takeaways ​Why Jonathan decided to write popular science booksThe private language of catsThe evolution of new cat breedsThe future of feline evolution Chapters 00:00 ​A​ Lifelong Love Affair with Cats06:00 The Private Language of ​M​eows13:56 ​From Wildcats to Family Members20:12 The Future of Feline Evolution​ - Why Cats Will Survive

    29 min

  6. JAN 30

    Kantika: Gripping Immigration Story and Unforgettable Novel

    Elizabeth Graver talks about why and how she transformed her family's own history of immigration, abandonment, remarriage, and survival into a gripping, unforgettable novel. She shares the challenges of transforming painful sometimes dark, family episodes into a universal story of family secrets and abiding love. In Elizabeth's own words, learn how Kantika changed her understanding of her immigrant family, her Jewish heritage, and her own identify as a writer. Takeaways How one family's history became a universal survival storyBalancing integration and identity Chapters 00:00 The Transformation of Family History into a Novel06:17 Challenges of Fictionalizing Family History17:06 Understanding Rebecca's Journey25:13 The Impact of Family Photographs31:41 Lasting Impressions of Rebecca

    34 min

  7. JAN 29

    All the Reasons WHY

    Launch co-hosts introduce 'Why Authors Write' and share the questions they want to dig into in future episodes about bestselling authors' motivations and writing process. Mary Cronin, Kristie Dickinson, and Becca Cronin delve into the diversity of book backstories, the genres they love, and author favorites. Takeaways Exploring the behind-the-scenes of authors' livesUnderstanding the process of writing and publishing a book Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Why Authors Write Podcast05:32 Exploring Different Book Genres11:06 Vulnerability and Support in the Writing Process

    13 min
  • 7 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

In candid conversations with bestselling authors, Why Authors Write goes behind the covers to get inside creative minds and find out what propels these authors to keep on writing, from inspiration to publication.   Join Mary J. Cronin and co-hosts Kristie Dickinson, Sara Standon, and Becca Cronin as we dive into the personal backstories that make a writer’s work unforgettable. Follow along on the path that authors travel, from that irresistible spark of an idea, through overcoming frustration and sometimes tear-your-hair out writer's block, to finding the confidence and flow to get a book over the finish line.    We dig deep to ask the questions you are curious about: Where do your best plot ideas come from? Is that villain based on a real-life character? How long does it take you to get from the book’s starting line to publication?  And much, much more.   If you want to find out what inspires your favorite authors to keep on writing, subscribe now so you won’t miss out on a single episode. Looking for more details on your favorite authors and interviews?  Visit Mary’s website: 4QCatalyst for Why Authors Write show notes, author clips and quotes, and previews of future episodes.   

Information

  • Creator
    Mary J Cronin
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    7
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Mary J Cronin
  • Show Website
    Why Authors Write