Finding the Throughline with Kate Hanley

If someone is constantly saying mean, disparaging, discouraging things about you, would that make it feel like they loved you? Yeah. No. But that’s what we often do to ourselves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest this week is Alma Katsu, the award-winning, critically acclaimed, New York Times bestselling author of nine novels. Alma has written two spy novels, "Red Widow" and "Red London," inspired by her 35-year career working in intelligence. She also writes novels that combine historical fiction with supernatural and horror elements."The Hunger" was a re-imagining of the story of the Donner Party and named one of NPR's 100 favorite horror stories. Her first book, "The Taker," was named one of the top 10 debut novels of 2011 by Booklist. And her latest novel, brand new, hot off the presses, is "Fiend," which examines our fascination with the ultra wealthy through a lens that combines dark fantasy and horror. Think Succession meets Angel Heart, if you're old enough to remember that movie.Alma's books have been translated into over a dozen languages and several are in various stages of film and television development. She's also a contributor to the Washington Post book world where she reviews thrillers.We covered:- How she came to work in US intelligence for 35 years, despite having early ambitions of being a writer- Why she writes so many different genres (spy thrillers, horror, speculative fiction)- An inside peek at just an absolutely fascinating government career- The illness that got her writing again- The challenges of building a readership- Why she thinks writing a novel that’s inspired by the news is more persuasive than writing an article- How her background in intelligence helps her come up with ideas for her novels- Unlearning old habits of driving herself too hard- Recommitting to exercise so she has stamina for book toursConnect with Alma on Substack: https://substack.com/@almakatsuFor full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening!And thanks to this week’s sponsor, Aqua Tru. Visit aquatru.com and use code KATE to save 20% off a great countertop reverse osmosis water filter that I have been using and loving for years now. Comes with a 1-year warranty and a 30-day money back guarantee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this final installment of my interview with Dolan Perkins Valdez, the New York Times bestselling author of “Wench,” “Bomb,” “Take My Hand,” and most recently, Happyland, we get a peek at where her personal throughline is leading her next and hear her answers to my fast final five questions about what she’s currently reading, listening to, and dreaming of eating.We covered:The visual artists who are currently inspiring her, some living, some deadHer favorite historical fiction authorsThe AMAZING sounding historical fiction writers conference that cemented her path as a historical fiction authorHow she’s re-thinking how she spends her time now that her older daughter is going off to collegeThe romance novel she stayed up too late reading and the Netflix series about high school girls she watched with her daughterThe music she listens to when her energy flagsConnect with Dolen on Instagram @dolenperkinsvaldezFor full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening!And thanks to this week’s sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dolan Perkins Valdez, multiple award-winning author of “Wench,” “Bomb,” and “Take My Hand.” Her newest book, “Happyland,” is inspired by the true story of a secret community of formerly enslaved people in Appalachia.In this episode, we get into the nitty gritty of the ideas, thought processes, and beliefs that fuel her work, including:The part of writing a novel that can make her feel like “the book is taking years off my life”The surprising number of drafts it takes to get to a publishable manuscriptHow to elicit feedback that is actually helpful from early readersIdentifying your “good readers”The research habit that can bite her in the buttThe part of the writing process where her writerly demons tend to pop up the mostBuilding your day around when your brain is at its bestWhy she writes every book as if it’s her lastWhy she views all writing as politicalWriting what’s in your heart, not what you think will sellThe question she asks herself when she’s writing things that scare herConnect with Dolen on Instagram @dolenperkinsvaldezFor full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening!And thanks to this week’s sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest this week is Dolan Perkins-Valdez, the New York Times bestselling author of the novels “Wench,” “Balm,” “Take My Hand,” and most recently, “Happy Land.” Her books are all inspired by fascinating facets of American history that are in danger of being forgotten. They have earned awards from the NAACP, the Black Caucus of the American Library Association and the American Bar Association. And they've been named best books of the year by Goodreads users and Amazon editors. Dolan is a three-time nominee for a United States Artists Fellowship and an associate professor in the literature department at American University. We covered:- Why she goes to the special archives in the library in any town she visits- Why emails from readers are the best gift- How she recovers from book tour- What teaching offers her (beyond benefits and a 401K)- Her specific writing process- The handicraft that makes her “most at peace”- Her pre-writing morning routine- How she measures her writing process (hint: it’s not word count) Connect with Dolen on Instagram @dolenperkinsvaldez For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week’s sponsor, Aqua Tru. Visit aquatru.com and use code KATE to save 20% off a great countertop reverse osmosis water filter that I have been using and loving for years now. Comes with a 1-year warranty and a 30-day money back guarantee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the final installment of my interview with Ann Tashi Slater, author of the new book, “Traveling in Bardo, the Art of Living in an Impermanent World.”- How staying attuned to the seasons inspires her (and the Japanese word for an aspect of summer I had never heard before but reminds me of my favorite place to spend a summer morning, AKA my porch)- The two books (and their authors) that have shaped her writing aspirations- An amazing metaphor for creativity that will comfort anyone who worries that at some point they’ll run out of ideas- Moving into a different relationship with change and impermanence- Thinking about how to fulfill a desire to spend more time off the grid- The songs that help her stop worrying and just be happy for a little whileConnect with Ann @AnnTashiSlater on Instagram, Facebook, Blue Sky, and LinkedIn, or at anntoshislater.com.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening!And thanks to this week’s sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to part two of my interview with Ann Tashi Slater, author of the new book, “Traveling in Bardo: The Art of Living in an Impermanent World.” Bardo is a Buddhist concept that describes a transitional state, such as between death and rebirth, but also about being alive and in between being born and dying. In Traveling in Bardo, Anne shares how we can apply Buddhist teachings on acceptance, interdependence, and impermanence to our ever-changing lives.In today's episode, I'm asking Anne about the inner stuff that goes into writing, including:- The Spanish movie she’s been obsessed with since she was a kid and that inspired a recent essay for Narrative Magazine- How writing and reading are so different from talking and listening, even though they’re both conversations between two people- How she, an extremely private person, gradually acclimated to sharing and promoting her work, and how this process reminds her of her dog- How she quiets the inner critic- Why she never meets anyone for lunch- The ways her work practices have–and mostly, have not–changed since her kids have left the nest and her schedule is her own- The things that motivated her to build the habit of writing everydayConnect with Ann @AnnTashiSlater on Instagram, Facebook, Blue Sky, and LinkedIn, or at anntoshislater.com.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening!And thanks to this week’s sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest this week is Ann Tashi Slater, who for decades has written about her Tibetan American heritage and about Buddhism in Western society for the New Yorker, the Paris Review, the New York Times, and the Washington Post, among other outlets. Her brand new book, “Traveling in Bardo:The Art of Living in an Impermanent World,” helps us find meaning, happiness, and hope in an impermanent world. Ann is also a contributing editor at Tricycle, the Buddhist review, and her work has been included in the best American essays. She is joining us today from her home in Tokyo.We covered:- Reconnecting with her Tibetan and Buddhist heritage after growing up in the States- Using the things you’re obsessed with as fodder for writing- Why there are so many empty houses in Tokyo- How having kids helped become more productive, much to her surprise- How her writing practice is like “Top Chef”- The simple practice that helps her get ready to writeConnect with Ann @AnnTashiSlater on Instagram, Facebook, Blue Sky, and LinkedIn, or at anntoshislater.com.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening!And thanks to this week’s sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to the final installment of my interview with Nancy Johnson, author of “People of Means,” which was one of People magazine's most anticipated books of 2025, and “The Kindest Lie”, which was a book of the month club and Target book club selection.In today’s episode, I felt like we were getting a tour through Nancy’s vision board–as well as the things she’s doing to help make those visions a reality.- Why she’s started planning a trip to Martha’s Vineyard next summer- The first annual Black Book Bash in Jacksonville, Florida, happening in October (mark your calendars)- Considering a pivot from fiction to nonfiction, and how she’s preparing for that shift- The writing goal that’s still on her vision board- The HBO show she recently stayed up too late watching because it was so good- Her go-to café order- The two songs that get her energized- The meal her Aunt Mary used to make that she can still taste todayConnect with Nancy on Instagram @nancyjauthor or Facebook at Nancy Johnson Author.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening!And thanks to this week’s sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to part two of my interview with Nancy Johnson, author of “People of Means,” a story of class, culture, mothers and daughters, and the fight for racial equality in the not so distant American past. Nancy's first book, The Kindest Lie, was a Book of the Month Club selection and a Target book club pick.This episode gets into some real emotional terrain, including:- Her love-hate relationship with the actual writing process- Her very least favorite part of the publishing process, and how she deals with that discomfort- The responsibility she feels as a Black author to represent Black people in a “honest, caring way”, and how that responsibility can turbo charge her inner critic- The advice author Britt Bennett gave her about how to avoid writing stereotypes- Why she stopped reading her Goodreads and Amazon reviews–and why she makes it a point to ask the readers she speaks to in person what didn’t work for them- The ninja trick she developed to help her not take negative customer reviews too much to heart- How her past struggles have shaped her faith that her journey is unfolding in the exact right way at the exact right time- Why right now is the best time to be telling your storiesConnect with Nancy on Instagram @nancyjauthor or Facebook at Nancy Johnson Author.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening!And thanks to this week’s sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest this week is Nancy Johnson, whose newest novel, “People of Means,” is a propulsive story of race, class, and resistance in 1960s Nashville and 1992 Chicago. It was also one of People Magazine's most anticipated books of 2025. Nancy's debut novel, “The Kindest Lie,” was a Target book club pick and a New York Times editor's choice.A native of Chicago's South Side, Nancy has worked for more than a decade as an award-winning television journalist at CBS and ABC affiliates nationwide. Nancy lives in downtown Chicago where she's a director of brand journalism and storytelling for a large healthcare nonprofit.We covered:- Why she always makes it clear how her characters make their money- How she manages a full-time “real” job and a full-time writing career- The writing advice acclaimed mystery writer Dennis Lehane gave her that she chose not to follow- The tools she uses to get geared up to do her creative writing- How it took her six years to write her first book, two years to find an agent, and only two weeks to get a publishing deal- The things that kept her up at night and that inspired the subject matter of her novels- How her friendships keep her goingConnect with Nancy on Instagram @nancyjauthor or Facebook at Nancy Johnson Author.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening!And thanks to this week’s sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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In the second part of my conversation with Lisa See, author of Lady Tan's Circle of Women, The Island of Sea Women, and more, we talked about the interior side of writing–things like dealing with your inner critic and dealing with the parts of writing and of life you would really rather not do, including:- The fascinating tidbit of information her research taught her about Los Angeles- How the Chinese public discourse about the smallpox epidemic that occurred 500 years ago is eerily similar to the controversy over Covid vaccines- The predictable emotional rollercoaster she rides each time during the revision process- Why writers should start celebrating good sentences the way Olympians celebrate an important point- The ninja trick of agreeing with your inner critic- A potential peril of becoming an internationally bestselling author- How the inevitable losses we experience with age can deepen your writing- The things she says no to now that she’s the age that she is- Some of the beliefs and attitudes passed down through the Chinese side of her family she really had to work to cast off (and how her mother, who is not Chinese, helped)- Why reading fiction is her go-to personal development toolThis week’s episodes are a replay. Hope you enjoy the last couple weeks of official summer and come back September 1 when I have a new guest–another author who specializes in historical fiction and telling women’s stories that have been hidden or overlooked.Connect with Lisa on Instagram @lisasee_writer.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening!And thanks to this week’s sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week my guest is Lisa See, the New York Times bestselling author of so many beloved books, including Lady Tan's Circle of Women, The Island of Sea Women, Snow Flower and the Secret Ban, Shanghai Girls, and Dreams of Joy. Lisa's books often center the experience of women across time and cultures, particularly stories that have been lost, forgotten, or deliberately covered up.This week’s episodes are a replay–I’ll be back with a new guest on Labor Day (September 1). Enjoy these last couple weeks of official “summer”!We covered:- The atrocious 1970s TV miniseries that was so poorly written, it inspired her to try writing fiction (under the pen name Monica Highland)- How she started researching the Chinese side of her family thinking that she’d include a short letter about it in that year’s holiday card, and how that grew into “On Gold Mountain,” her first book written under her own name, as well as a national bestseller and New York Times notable book- What’s been easy and what’s been hard about her work as a novelist- How telling stories that have been previously hidden or overlooked inspires her to keep working–and why sharing those stories matters- A peek into her (fascinating) research process- The morning routine that fuels her work- Why she doesn’t worry about keeping her tea hotConnect with Lisa on Instagram @lisasee_writer.For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.Thank you for listening!And thanks to this week’s sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest this week is Catherine Bush, whose critically-acclaimed fiction (her book “Blaze Island” was named a “Globe and Mail” best book of the year and “The Rules of Engagement” was a “New York Times” notable book) often addresses the climate question. For example, in her most recent collection, “Skin”, a man falls in love with the wind. In this final part of our interview, we covered:- How and why she’s devoted to giving the natural world the same level of attention and care as her characters.- The books that incorporate nature and climate into their primary narratives that have been inspiring her lately- How she’s trying to address climate through the lens of a love for the natural world instead of despair- Writing about “weird, unusual intimacies” in her stories that make people laugh instead of cringe- The book she’s hoping to spend the next five years writing- Why it’s good for writers to have things in their life that regularly take them away from their work- Trying to figure out where she wants to live in retirement- The Sri Lankan tea she’s addicted to, even though she can’t easily get it Connect with Catherine at catherinebush.com. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week’s sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In part two of my conversation with Catherine Bush, author of five novels and the story collection “Skin,” we did a deep dive into the inner work required to nurture a multi-decade writing career, including: - Making peace with your personal process–even when it’s slow, messy, and meandering- The story in her new collection that her editor wanted to nix–and how she made it work- Embracing Annie Dillard’s advice to “write into impossibility”- Being really honest about what projects you want to commit to- How ideas of ambition and success change as you get older- What she learns from her college students Connect with Catherine at catherinebush.com. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week’s sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week my guest is Catherine Bush, author of five novels, including the widely acclaimed “Blaze Island,” “Accusation,” and “The Rules of Engagement.” Catherine's brand new book is “Skin,” her first collection of stories. Catherine is a professor of creative writing at the University of Guelph and was a 2024 Landhouse Fellow at the Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society. She lives in Toronto and in an old brick schoolhouse in Eastern Ontario. We covered:- Supporting yourself as a freelance writer and editor- Embracing academia without sacrificing your own work- Creating work that makes us feel more connected to each other and the world around us- Outside-the-box ways to earn money that protect your creativity and your time- Making space for your soul work- How she gets herself through those inevitable moments where you’re ready to give up on your work- Why she writes in her nightgown- Why she starts new projects in longhand–even though she often can’t read her handwriting- Her favorite pen Connect with Catherine at catherinebush.com. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week’s sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this third and final installment of my conversation with author and Pushcart-nominated essayist and writing teacher (and new mom!) Sheree L. Greer, she said “we’re veering into therapy territory now, Kate,” when I asked her if there was anything she was in the process of shifting, which I took as a very good sign that we were getting into some very juicy thoughts! - Being the first person in your family to be pursuing a passion as a career- The genres she’s exploring next- The writers who inspire her and why- The work of not getting too attached to specific outcomes and creating a “more positive relationship with the unknown”- Why she hopes her newborn daughter will have a favorite planet- The non-caffeinated morning beverage that’s fueling her these days Connect with Sheree on Instagram @shereelgreer. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week’s sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In part two of my interview with Puschart-nominated essayist, novelist, and writing instructor Sheree L. Greer, we get into the nitty gritty of the thought processes, ideas, and attitudes that shape her work and her identity. We talked about:- Pushing your creative boundaries to try new genres and forms- How she gets through the discomfort of sharing personal work, and the payoff that comes on the other side- Committing to telling the full story, even when you’re not the ‘hero’- The really cool and skillful way Sheree collaborates with her inner critic- Getting to that “raw space of feeling” so you can tell your story from the heart, and not the head (at least at first)- Taking care of your body in a sedentary profession- Knowing when to follow standard writing advice, and when to let it go- Releasing the idea that any one thing will happen and then you will have “made it”- How she’s radically changed her idea of success as she’s gotten older Connect with Sheree on Instagram @shereelgreer. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week’s sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest this week is writer, author, teacher, and arts administrator, Sheree L. Greer. Sheree is the author of two novels, “Let the Lover Be” and “A Return to Arms,” and an award-nominated essayist, with two of her essays having been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Sheree is also the founder of Kitchen Table Literary Arts—a Tampa Bay writing community dedicated to nurturing the literary art of Black women and women of color–and the independent press Ain't No Extra Credit, which publishes unique books dedicated to personal and professional development. Sheree teaches for several literary arts centers, including The Porch in Nashville and Story Studio Chicago where she was voted instructor of the year in 2023.Sheree has also written two guides to writing including “Stop Writing Whack Essays,” which might be one of the best titles for books on writing that I've ever heard. We covered:- The book that inspired her to move writing from the “hobby” category to the “career” category- Acknowledging moments of delight when they happen, and using them as fuel to keep going- The magic that happens when you get together with other artists- Getting intentional about creating a “writer’s world”--a mental space where you feel affirmed as an artist- Why she has a telescope that she named Octavia Connect with Sheree on Instagram @shereelgreer. For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com. Thank you for listening! And thanks to this week’s sponsor, Air Doctor Pro. Visit airdoctorpro.com and use code KATE to save 30% off an amazing indoor air filter *and* receive a free three-year warranty (an $84 value). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices