Books Episodes

What if writing about your past didn’t mean reliving it? In this episode of the Holly Hughes Podcast, Holly sits down with author Monica Macansantos, writer of Returning to My Father’s Kitchen and Love and Other Rituals, to explore how we tell the truth about family, identity, and the stories that shape us, without getting stuck inside them. Monica shares how her father’s openness transformed pain into connection, and how writing became a way to process generational trauma without passing ...

Crafting words from a vision that only you as the author can see is one the oldest and most tried forms of creativity. The best authors throughout history have all shown a gift for sparking the imagination through the written word. That vision and those words need to come from somewhere, however. And one’s own lived experiences often shape both. Today’s guest on The Holly Hughes Podcast is author and creative writing professor at the University of California Riverside, Tod Goldberg. Tod has ap...

Art is often inspired by the experiences we cultivate through our lives. Whether it’s through our interactions with others or our experiences in the world, our art is a reflection of the lives we’ve lived. Today’s guest on The Holly Hughes Podcast is fantasy author and editor Ellen McGinty. Ellen has just published her latest fantasy adventure novel, Saints and Monsters, while also serving other talented writers through her editing, all while living as an American in Japan. Ellen McGinty joins...

Today’s guest on The Holly Hughes Podcast is author Judy Goldman, an author of eight books — four memoirs, two novels, and two collections of poetry. Judy has recently released a book called The Rest of Our Lives, a reflection on the aging process no matter what stage of life you’re in. Judy joins Holly for a discussion around different perspectives on aging, evolving feelings about self-image and confidence, and the beauty of writing memoirs.

Canadian-Korean author Jinwoo Park joins host Holly Hughes on today’s episode of The Holly Hughes Podcast for a conversation about his journey of cultural identity, the immigrant experience, and the creative process behind his debut novel, The Oxford Soju Club. Jinwoo and Holly explore themes of belonging, the challenges of fitting in, and the expectations placed on immigrant children. Jinwoo talks about his academic pursuits, the influence of family expectations on his career choices, and the importance of humor in storytelling.

Lorin Oberweger joins Holly Hughes to talk about a wide range of topics in the writing industry. They talk about the intricacies of editing, the importance of workshops, and the evolving landscape of publishing. Lorin shares her insight on the impact of AI on creativity, the dynamics of self-publishing versus traditional publishing, and the significance of character agency in storytelling.

Coming from a background in writing rooted in journalism, Samantha Dunn always writes with the idea that someone, somewhere will read what she’s writing. From that foundation, Samantha has authored numerous books, short stories, essays and memoirs, including Faith in Carlos Gomez: A Memoir of Salsa, Sex and Salvation. She is now the editor of Coast Magazine, based in Southern California, and also teaches at Chapman University. Samantha and Holly talk about their creative processes, the influence of journalism on her writing, her love of horses, and living with Parkinsons.