Finding the Throughline with Kate Hanley

In this final installment of my interview with Kate Broad, whose debut novel “Greenwich” was named a best new book by People Magazine, we get a peek at where Kate is headed next, as well as what she's been reading, watching, drinking and fantasizing about eating lately.We cover:- The good and the bad parts of always reading (or watching) like a writer- Why she’s mapped out the structure of other writers’ books (and which ones)- The prominent authors whose paths’ have influenced her own choices- The confusion of being so proud to have written a book and also so terrified of seeing your name on the cover of an actual book that’s out in the world- The British mystery show that kept her up way too late and the recent books she couldn’t put down- Why she doesn’t make playlists for her books- The meal she craves that she will likely never be able to have againConnect with Kate at katebroad.substack.com and sign up for her Ask an Author newsletter.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to part two of my interview with Kate Broad, whose debut novel, “Greenwich,” was named a People Magazine best new book, an Amazon editor's pick, and a Publisher’s Weekly buzz book for summer 2025, and would be an excellent choice for your book club to read next.In today's interview, we're diving into the inner side of writing–dealing with resistance, doubts, the passage of time, and unhelpful beliefs. You know, the stuff we all face but don't usually talk about.We talked about:- How shifting from writing alone in her office to being out in the world talking about her book with readers was a huge learning curve, and what helped her ride it- Using therapy as a place to unpack professional jealousy, fears, and self-doubt- The video her publisher asked her to make that almost broke her- The phrase she tells herself when her “brain gremlins” start chiming in- The years-long process it took to sell her first novel- On making the choice to write what you want to read–not what you think the reader wants- How the philosopher whose work she read in her 20s is still influencing her workConnect with Kate at katebroad.substack.com and sign up for her Ask an Author newsletter.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest this week is Kate Broad, author of “Greenwich,” a coming of age story set against a backdrop of wealth and privilege that explores how mistakes can have life-altering consequences and asks who is the first to be blamed and who gets to be believed and forgiven.“Greenwich” was named a People Magazine best new book, an Amazon editor's pick and a Publishers Weekly Buzz Book for summer 2025. It would be a great choice for your book club, both because it's gripping and suspenseful and it explores a lot of gray areas around complicity and responsibility that will make for a juicy conversation.Kate is a Bronx Council of the Arts award winner for fiction and her writing has appeared in The Rumpus, No Tokens, The Brooklyn Review and elsewhere.We covered:- How she tried, but ultimately decided to stop putting energy into building a career that was writing-adjacent- How telling herself she doesn’t have to pursue writing helps motivate her to keep going- Cobbling together a liveable income from various writing pursuits- Using her advances to buy more time away from freelancing- The life choices she’s made to create more space for writing- Woo! Really insightful talk about money’s impact on creative integrity- Understanding yourself well enough to create the conditions that support your creative work- Taking care of your body and your mind as a creative- The steps she takes at the end of the day to make it easier for her to start writing the next dayConnect with Kate at katebroad.substack.com and sign up for her Ask an Author newsletter.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the final installment of my interview with Cynthia Weiner, author of “A Gorgeous Excitement,” a coming of age novel set in 1980s New York City that was named a best book of 2025 by The New Yorker, Kirkus Reviews, and Oprah Daily and is freshly out in paperback.Cynthia is also the assistant director of the writer's studio in New York City and her short fiction has been published in “Open City,” “Ploughshares,” and “The Sun,” has earned a Pushcart Prize and been anthologized in Coolest American Stories 2024.In this fun episode, we covered:- The 90s soundtrack that’s helping Cynthia get into her next project- The three writers whose examples inspire Cynthia on her own path- Her burning desire to have a house with a yard and, most importantly, a tree- The Max show she’s bingeing, her elaborate daily diet soda ritual, the best day of the week, and the fast food meal she’s cravingConnect with Cynthia on Instagram at @cynthiaweinerThere are new Finding the Throughline episodes roughly every other week–hit “subscribe” so you know when the next ones drop!For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit ⁠katehanley.substack.com⁠.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to part two of my interview (a replay) with Cynthia Weiner, author of “A Gorgeous Excitement,” which, since these episodes first aired, has just come out in paperback and was named a best book of the year for 2025 by The New Yorker, Kirkus Reviews, and Oprah Daily.In today's episode, we unpack:- Learning how to tolerate the discomfort of sharing your work- And how to ignore the voice that tells you nobody cares what you have to say- How she came to imagine that inner critical voice as a “shit bird”- Why she could work on one sentence for years- Why she’d rather stay home than travel some place new- How getting older has made her a better writer (and a worse sleeper)- How she’s re-wired the idea that it’s bad to draw attention to yourselfConnect with Cynthia on Instagram at @cynthiaweinerThere are new Finding the Throughline episodes roughly every other week–hit “subscribe” so you know when the next ones drop!For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit ⁠katehanley.substack.com⁠.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week I'm replaying my interview with Cynthia Weiner, whose amazing coming of age novel set in 1980s New York City, “A Gorgeous Excitement,” is just out in paperback.“A Gorgeous Excitement” is inspired by Cynthia's own 80s upbringing on the Upper East Side of New York, as well as the infamous Preppy Killer, a former prep school student who killed a girl in Central Park in the summer of 1986 and who frequented a bar called Dorian's, where Cynthia spent many nights drinking with friends.Cynthia's work has won the Pushcart Prize and been anthologized in the Coolest American Stories. Cynthia is also the assistant director of The Writer's Studio in New York City where, fun fact, I took classes with her in the early 2000s.We covered:- The award she won in second grade that hooked her on the writing life- How she stumbled into teaching writing- Writing as a “weird compulsion”- The plus sides of working on a novel for nearly 10 years- The daily rituals that help her write- The time management technique that helps her get unstuck- Why catching up with a friend helps her write- How living a boring life leaves more space for the workConnect with Cynthia on Instagram at @cynthiaweinerThere are new Finding the Throughline episodes roughly every other week–hit “subscribe” so you know when the next ones drop!For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit ⁠katehanley.substack.com⁠.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to the final portion of my interview with Lauren Kessler an award-winning author of 15 books including her brand new and most personal by far, Everything Changes Everything, which covers how she moved forward after losing her husband and her daughter within eight months of each other by walking 500 miles across Spain on a solo pilgrimage along the famed Camino de Santiago.In addition to being a writer, Lauren is a backyard farmer, a backcountry hiker, a tent-camper, and a quadruple Aries–if you know, you know.Today we get a peek at where Lauren is headed next, as well as what she’s been reading, watching, drinking, and fantasizing about eating.We covered:- Looking for pockets of inspiration amid a sea of upsetting headlines- A suffragist whose story inspires Lauren in her own life- How her current throughline is creating work that helps people move through loss- Starting to ponder the possibility of pursuing a partnership now that she’s five years past losing her beloved husband–or really, how she’s avoiding said pondering but still, the possibility lingers- Thoughts on maintaining the stamina for maintaining a writing career as long as possible- The novella by Norman McLean she reads three times a year, and why- Why, when she drinks alcohol, she drinks tequila (such a sweet story)Connect with Lauren at laurenkessler.com or laurenjkess.substack.com.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In part two of my interview with award-winning author and (semi) fearless immersion reporter Lauren Kessler, who brand-new book "Everything Changes Everything" is getting great reviews for being an affective portrait of moving through the kinds of loss we all hope to avoid but few can avoid.In today’s interview we dive into the interior side of writing–dealing with resistance, doubts, aging, and unhelpful beliefs.We covered:- The part of the writing process she always conducts while sitting on the floor- A really great peek inside the book proposal process- The one question her inner critic asks over and over again- What her inner supporter tells her when she gets stuck in a loop of doubt- Two very insightful reasons why she doesn’t share her age- How she pushes back against the aging process- Making a living as a mid-list writer (i.e., not a mega bestseller)- The “woo woo” disciplines that appeal to herConnect with Lauren at laurenkessler.com or laurenjkess.substack.com.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest today is Lauren Kessler, a multi-award-winning author of eleven works of narrative nonfiction, three biographies, an oral history, and four books on writing and reporting.A gutsy immersion journalist, Lauren has explored life inside a maximum-security prison, the grueling world of professional ballet, the anti-aging movement, and the hidden world of Alzheimer’s sufferers. Her brand new book, "Everything Changes Everything" is her most personal by far, detailing how she processed the loss of both her husband and her daughter by setting out alone to walk the Camino de Santiago across Spain.We covered:- How she landed on narrative nonfiction as her genre of choice, even though she had a degree in journalism- The woman Lauren wrote her first feature story about, who died by suicide shortly after the story came out, and the effect that had on Lauren- How writing feels in her body- The work she’s had to do to accept that writing is a business as well as an art- The part of the writing process that makes her brain sweat- How she taught full time, wrote a deeply researched book every three years, and raised three kids–and how she’s been able to move away from working that hard, that consistently- The breakthrough that helped her work smarter, not harder- Her hack for making writing a little less sedentary- A genius trick for making it easier to get your writing brain going in the morningConnect with Lauren at laurenkessler.com or laurenjkess.substack.com.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Welcome back to part two of my interview with Elizabeth Gonzalez-James, screenwriter and bestselling author of the novels, “The Bullet Swallower” and “Mona at Sea,” as well as the chapbook, “Five Conversations About Peter Sellers.” Elizabeth was featured on the MSNBC documentary, “My Generation,” representing the millennials. And she has taught fiction writing at Grub Street, Pioneer Valley Writers Workshop, Story Studio and elsewhere.In today's interview, we're diving into the mindset side of writing, dealing with resistance and doubts, the passage of time–all things that might make this episode sound like a bummer, but things we all face. So let's talk about how to work with them so that we can feel better about them.We talked about:- The many ways she avoids doing the actual writing- The type of feedback that motivates her to get writing (sneak preview: it’s not the positive kind of feedback)- Making the transition from debut author to “established writer”- Acknowledging and working through her resistance to the act of writing- Being a geriatric millennial- How giving fewer Fs has eased her judgement of other people- Unlearning the things she was taught as a kid from her immigrant dad about how you can never trust other people or ask for helpConnect with Elizabeth on Instagram @unefemmejames.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's guest is Elizabeth Gonzales James, screenwriter and bestselling author of the novels, “The Bullet Swallower” and “Mona at Sea,” as well as the chapbook, “Five Conversations About Peter Sellers.”“The Bullet Swallower” is based on mostly true events from her own family lore, a magical realism Western that was named a best book of 2024 by NPR and Esquire.“Mona at Sea,” is a darkly funny coming of age story set against the backdrop of the Great Recession that was inspired by her own experience of long-term unemployment.And “Five Conversations About Peter Sellers” is the result of Elizabeth attempting to sit down and write a reported piece on how the actor Peter Sellers derailed the production of a 1960s movie, “Casino Royale.” That’s when the book spins into its own chaos as five different narrators share their point of view about what the original essay is really about.We covered:- How she went from MBA graduate prepping for a career in finance to an unemployed stay at home mom living in her in-law’s basement- The one, unfleshed-out idea for a short story that set her on the writing path (with a nudge from the creator of The Perfect Push-up, a made for TV fitness product)- How writing books is like dating- A detailed accounting of the financials for each of her book–and how she knew “The Bullet Swallower” would be her “put-my-kids-through-college” book- Making the jump from writing books to writing screenplays- Why, sometimes, all the tips in the world can’t help you write more–and how to give yourself grace during those times- Knowing when to push and be disciplined, and when to back off- Her current productivity hack that involves handicraftsConnect with Elizabeth on Instagram @unefemmejames.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to the final installment of my interview with Crystal King, bestselling author of In the Garden of Monsters, Feast of Sorrow, The Chef's Secret, and the brand new The Happiness Collector. Crystal's writing is fueled by a love of history and a passion for the food, language, and culture of Italy. So if you're ever looking to take a mental escape to another culture, a delicious one and a fascinating one at that, definitely check out her books.Today we get a peek at what's currently inspiring Crystal and I'll ask her my fast final five questions about what she's been reading, watching, listening to, drinking and eating lately.We cover:- Her new novel, which combines Nathaniel Hawthorne and the punk scene in Rome in the early 80s- The book by an Italian author she wants everyone to read- The authors who inspire her- Why her husband doesn’t read her books until they’re published- Why she’s applying for Italian citizenship- Her very specific vision of where she’s headed that involves being in a room with 5,000 copies of her book- Two novels by other authors coming out this spring we should all be on the lookout for- The Italian singer-songwriter and rapper whose social media posts make her happyVisit Crystal at crystalking.com or on Substack @crystalking.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to part two of my interview with Crystal King, author of the bestselling food-laden novels, “In the Garden of Monsters,” “The Chef’s Secret,” and “Feast of Sorrow.” Her newest novel, “The Happiness Collector,” is a contemporary fantasy novel about an American historian who lands a dream job in Rome--and may or may not be an unwitting pawn in battle of the gods.In today’s interview we cover:- How she comforts herself when impostor syndrome kicks in- The inner critic narrative that’s unique to mystery writers (I hadn’t considered this one before)- The uncanny experience of listening to the audiobook version of your book- How a brush with breast cancer has changed her writing–and life–goals- The gender norms she’s done with- The tools she’s learned from reading the StoicsVisit Crystal at crystalking.com or on Substack @crystalking.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest this week is Crystal King, author of the novels “In the Garden of Monsters”--a retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth–“Feast of Sorrow”--about an ancient Roman gourmand–”The Chef’s Secret”--about the pope’s private chef during the Renaissance--and the brand new “The Happiness Collector,” about a modern-day history professor who lands her dream job in Rome where it slowly becomes apparent that ancient forces are still very much in play.Crystal is a Pushcart Prize–nominated poet and former co-editor of the (now defunct) online literary arts journal Plum Ruby Review. She has taught writing, creativity and social media at UMass Boston, Boston University, Mass College of Art, Harvard Extension School, and Grub Street.In today’s episode, we cover:- Why she’s obsessed with Italy- Her master’s degree in the coolest subject I never realized was an area of study: critical and creative thinking- The master’s thesis she was sure could be a book (until agents told her, no actually, it can’t)- How teaching writing led to her writing her first novel- The two ways to make it in publishing (and the path she’s chosen)- Her one regret in life- How her day job in marketing, social media, and AI helps her as a writer- A frank talk about the financial side of being an author- The cool ways she comes up with ideas- How she writes a book in six months, with a full-time day job- Her plug for writing every dayVisit Crystal at crystalking.com or on Substack @crystalking.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to the final installment of my interview with Welcome back to part two of my interview with Susannah Cahalan, author of the books “Brain on Fire,” “The Great Pretender,” and most recently “The Acid Queen.” Susannah is also a mental health advocate, speaker, and founder of the Sob Sisters, a networking group for women who write nonfiction.We covered:- A peek at her next book, which is about belief, and how and why we come to believe what we do- Shifting out of research mode and into writing mode–and when it makes the most sense to do so- The ritual she used to help her leave her last project behind and embark on something new- Her very groovy vision of the future that involves gardening, herbalism, and possibly becoming a different person altogether as she has a black thumb- The 1970s horror movie she recently re-watched that stands the test of time- The beauty of warm, frothy milk- The Radiohead album she listens to while writing- The time of day when she feels most excited- A love letter to pasta that has been prepared by menVisit Susannah on Instagram @susannahcahalan or at susannhacahalan.com.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to part two of my interview with Susannah Cahalan, bestselling author of the #1 New York Times-bestselling memoir “Brain on Fire,” and the books the “The Great Pretender,” and her most recent “The Acid Queen,” about the life and influence of Rosemary Woodruff Leary, a psychedelic pioneer who has best known in her lifetime as Timothy Leary’s wife but who has a story and legacy all her own.In addition to her award-winning work as a journalist and author, Susannah’s advocacy work in brain disorders and mental health awareness has taken her around the world, speaking to universities and medical schools. It also earned the American Brain Foundation’s Ambassador Award in 2022.This is a super juicy episode about managing your own expectations, focusing on the good, and putting your inner critic to good use.We covered:- How each of her books have been a wildly different experience in terms of reach and “success”--and how she’s processed how little of a book’s impact is under an author’s control- Balancing your dreams for your book’s impact with the knowledge that most books don’t get the readership they deserve- Trying to figure out what the heck to do about using social media to promote your work–on the one hand, it’s vital, on the other, it can suck your time and sap your sanity- The tarot card reading that helped her get out of a “publication psychosis” spiral over her most recent book (link to him in the show notes on Substack)- Working with those “who do you think you are?” thoughts–especially as a writer who tackles topics you’re not an expert in- Using the inner critic as fuel to be really really careful (and hire your own fact checkers)- Learning how to use ignorance as a strength- How her process of deciding what to write about has changed now that she’s a couple decades in- The value of figuring out what you *don’t* want to write about, even if you’re not sure what you do want to cover- What it feels like to fall in love with your topicVisit Susannah on Instagram @susannahcahalan or at susannhacahalan.com.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest this week is journalist and author Susannah Cahalan. Susannah’s first book, "Brain on Fire," about her experiences with a very rare autoimmune disease that was misdiagnosed as mental illness, was a #1 NY Times bestseller, sold over a million copies, and was made into a Netflix original movie. Her second book, "The Great Pretender," was named a best book of 2020 by Time, The Guardian and The Sunday Times. And her newest book is "The Acid Queen," which tells the fascinating story of Rosemary Woodruff Leary, who is best known as the wife of LSD pioneer Timothy Leary, but who played a major role in bringing psychedelics into the mainstream.NPR called Susannah "one of America's most courageous young journalists." She’s been profiled in the New York Times, featured as an answer on Jeopardy!, and appeared as a guest on The Today Show and Fresh Air, among many others.What I loved most in this episode was hearing about how Susannah’s process has evolved from something that was very structured, even rigid, into something that’s way on the other end of the spectrum, that involves candles made by witches and doing what it takes to open up a “magical circle” where you can engage with the work on a deeper level.We covered:- The side effects of growing up in a house where the grown-ups read newspapers- The gossip column she started for her high school paper- Interning at The New York Post as a 17-year-old- The rare autoimmune disease she experienced in her 20s that was initially misdiagnosed as mental illness, and the fascination with consciousness it fostered- Adapting to the large amounts of time you spend alone as a writer- Resisting the lure of spending too much time alone and in your head- The mix of speaking, ghostwriting, and side projects that supplement the income she makes writing books- Her biggest speaking fail- Her transition from structured–even rigid–writing routines to something way more woo woo- The steps she takes to open up a “magical circle” when it’s time to write- The shop in New York City that she gets to create special candles for each project (I’m so in–check the show notes on Substack for a link)- Why writing in the mornings and interviewing and editing in the afternoons works for herVisit Susannah on Instagram @susannahcahalan or at susannhacahalan.com.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to the final installment of my interview with Debbie Urbanski, author of the novel “Afterworld,” in which an AI witnesses the last days of the last person on earth, and the story collection “Portalmania,” which combines sci-fi, horror, fantasy, and realism to explore a long list of juicy topics, including betrayal, revenge, parenthood, open marriages, asexuality, neurodiversity, and second chances.We covered:- Why she’s learning everything she can about caves, the deep ocean, and whales- Exploring the things that scare her in her writing- Looking to writers who let themselves experiment and change over time as role models- The book she’s read multiple times that gives her the courage to keep experimenting- Sensing that the themes she wants to explore are changing as she enters a new life stage- The series she’s re-watching and the graphic novel that was so beautiful, she had to force herself to slow down while reading- The YouTube video that captures the creative process in real time and gets her fired up to write- Why Fridays are the best dayFollow Debbie on Instagram and/or Substack @debbieurbanskiFor full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest this week is Debbie Urbanski, whose writing focuses on the intersections of horror, fantasy, science fiction, memoir, and often the planet. Her debut novel, “Afterworld,” narrates the last days of the last human on Earth's life, as told by an AI. It was named a best book of the year by the San Francisco Chronicle and the Los Angeles Times. Her newest book is “Portal Mania”, a collection of short stories that use a combination of sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and realism to ask, If you could go anywhere, where would you go? And what happens to the people you leave behind?We covered:- The literary journal acceptance that made Debbie feel like, “I think I could do this [whole writing thing]”- Figuring out what to do after you meet your writing goals- How Instagram has been a useful tool for building a community of writers- Figuring out which social media platforms are helpful for you- How studying poetry makes writing novels harder–and marketing easier- The business she and her husband run that provides steady income- What she’s learning about writing from Alfred Hitchcock- The daily schedule she tries to stick to- The genres she’s reading for inspiration- The standing desk, stacks of print outs, and nap strategy she uses to get her writing doneFollow Debbie on Instagram and/or Substack @debbieurbanskiFor full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices