Meet Julee Balko, author of Square Hearts (May 2026 Black Rose Writing). Julee is an author who loves writing novels with complicated women characters. Her previous novels addressed grief, secrets, family dysfunction, and the beauty of unlikely friendships between neighbors. Square Hearts is close to her heart because it represents a new kind of women’s […]

Confession time. I’m not a Swiftie. If you’d asked me a year ago to name one Taylor Swift song, I probably couldn’t have. Well…almost. Shake It Off comes to mind. And thanks to my novel And Now There’s Zelda, Taylor gets a mention on the second page! I’d completely forgotten about that until this whole […]

In Now Is Not a Good Time for a Breakdown, a sharp, darkly funny debut by Mel West, she captures a generation raised on achievement and self-optimization, only to discover that visible success doesn’t guarantee fulfillment. Set in New York City on the eve of the COVID-19 shutdown, the novel traces one woman’s quiet unraveling—and unexpected […]

If you’ve been following Henlit Central for any length of time, you’ll know that I have a soft spot for dramedies. Give me a story that can make me laugh one minute and reach for a tissue the next, and I’m all in. Life itself is a dramedy, isn’t it? Rarely all comedy, never entirely […]

Meet Rita Lussier, an award-winning journalist and writer whose column “For the Moment” was a popular feature of The Providence Journal for 12 years. Her writing has also been featured on National Public Radio, in The Boston Globe, The New York Daily News, Writers’ Digest, Psychology Today and many other publications. Recently, she won first […]

Meet Willa Goodfellow, author of A Gritty Little Tourist Town (She Writes Press – April 17). Book Summary: When Willa and her wife travel to Costa Rica to visit family, they discover far more than they expected in the sleepy little fishing village of Playas Del Coco. At the local bar Pato Loco, they meet a […]

Mother’s Day arrives differently for everyone. For some, it’s flowers, brunches, and warm phone calls. For others, it’s grief wrapped in memory. And sometimes, it’s both at once. This year, I find myself thinking about my mother, not only who she was, but who she is now. My mother is 92 years old and living […]

Meet Connie Morgan, a retired mental health counselor who became a writer. Though Connie has stories of various genres stored away on thumb drives, More Than Luck Required is Connie’s first published novel (Black Rose Writing, June 2025). Book Synopsis: More Than Luck Required is a moving exploration of human vulnerability,resilience, and the transformative power […]

The other day, a friend called and said she had some tea for me. I paused. Then I asked her again, just to make sure I heard correctly. Tea? As in… herbal? Green? Something cozy I should put the kettle on for? So naturally, I responded, “Ooh, what kind?”, already slightly confused as to why […]

Meet Alexandra Grabbe and learn more about her memoir Seeing Joy (March 17 2026). Alexandra began her career in Paris, greeting listeners each evening with her signature line, “Good Evening, Paris!”. As one of the most popular FM hosts in the city, she connected French audiences to the latest American music while honing her lifelong […]

I don’t know about you, but lately I’ve been feeling a subtle shift, more tired some days, a little restless on others, and oddly reflective all at once. It’s that in-between feeling… and it turns out, it’s not just in our heads. We’ve entered the equinox. And there’s something quietly powerful about it. It arrives […]

Meet Shivani Malik, debut author of The Sky is Different Here (She Writes Press, Feb 2026). Shivani was born and raised in India. She immigrated to the US to pursue her PhD and completed her training at Stanford University and University of California San Francisco. She currently leads a group of researchers in an […]

I don’t know about you, but lately, turning on the news feels less like “staying informed” and more like willingly plunging into a sea of stress. One heartbreaking headline after another…and another. One more reason to feel anxious, helpless, angry, or just plain exhausted. It’s not that we don’t care, we care deeply. That’s the […]

Meet award winning romance author, Patricia Leavy, and learn more about her book, Cinematic Destinies (Book 3 of 3 – Red Carpet Romance Series) – She Writes Press September 2025. “A tour de force! Cinematic Destinies is a romantic masterpiece. This book was so captivating that I read it in one sitting and cried happy tears for […]

Things We Like Less as We Age. And Why That’s Something to Celebrate. With every passing year, our priorities begin to shift—and often, so do our preferences. A recent BuzzFeed article titled “17 Things People Start To Like Less As They Get Older” offers a funny and strikingly accurate look at the things many of […]

Susan Breen invites readers to kick off the holiday season early with Merry (Sept. 23, Alcove Press), a heartwarming, witty, and delightful novel about family, motherhood, legacy, and ghosts (literally and figuratively). Perfect for fans of Emma Straub’s This Time Tomorrow, Mr. Dickens and His Carol and It’s a Wonderful Life, this title is perfect for fall reading lists and holiday gift guides!   […]

I’ll be the first to admit it—I don’t have a hardcore workout routine. I’m not running marathons or signing up for boot camps. My main source of exercise? A slow, stop-and-go 25-minute walk with my dog Sophie about three times a week. (Let’s be honest: she sets the pace. There’s a lot of sniffing, stopping, […]

Marilyn Horowitz is an award-winning author who has taught her trademarked storytelling method at New York University for twenty-five years. Her students have been nominated for Emmy Awards, won a Peabody Award and been produced by the major Hollywood studios.  Now sharing her storytelling secrets with a broader audience, Horowitz has written several books on the art of writing. […]

Meet Sheila Roberts, USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author! She’s a beloved voice in women’s fiction known for her heartwarming, feel-good stories that celebrate friendship, love, and life’s second (and third!) chances. With her signature blend of humor and heart, Sheila’s new book, The Man Next Door (Oct 14 MIRA Books), books offers another […]

Meet Hank Phillippi Ryan, a powerhouse in the world of mystery and suspense. She’s an Emmy-winning investigative reporter turned bestselling author whose sharp storytelling and fearless female leads have captivated readers around the globe.  Her new book, All This Could Be Yours (Sept 9 Minotaur Books)is another signature blend of grit, intelligence, and heart. From […]