In this episode of Impostor Hour, hosts Liz and Greg sit down with acclaimed author Karen Dukess for a rich, honest conversation about creativity, confidence, and the winding path of a writer’s life.

Karen reflects on the success of her debut novel, The Last Book Party—a critically praised coming-of-age story steeped in literary nostalgia—and how that experience shaped both her confidence and her expectations moving forward.

They dive into her newest novel, Welcome to Murder Week, a sharp, atmospheric mystery inspired by the haunting beauty of the English countryside. Along the way, Karen opens up about grappling with imposter syndrome, the emotional aftermath of rejection, and the challenges of writing her ambitious novel set in Russia.

She discusses the process of unlearning habits from her journalism background in order to embrace the fluidity of fiction, and how she’s found joy in balancing the “highbrow” with the purely entertaining.

This candid, insightful episode explores what it means to keep growing as a writer—even after success—and how to stay grounded in your voice when self-doubt creeps in.

In this episode of Impostor Hour, hosts Liz and Greg sit down with bestselling author Kaira Rouda for a candid and compelling conversation about the intersections of ambition, storytelling, and self-discovery. Kaira shares her unique path from the business world to bestselling fiction, unpacking the recurring themes of perfection, deception, and female empowerment that define her work. Together, they explore the craft of writing, the emotional truth behind character development, and the importance of authenticity in both life and literature.

We do a deep dive into Kaira’s newest novel, Jill Is Not Happy, a sharp and timely exploration of marriage, image, and the stories we tell ourselves. Along the way, Kaira opens up about genre experimentation, navigating the shifting tides of publishing, and the sustaining power of the creative community—especially during the isolating days of the pandemic. With warmth and insight, she encourages writers to lean into their voices, embrace imperfection, and write through the dark to reach the light.

This week on Impostor Hour, hosts Liz Keenan and Greg Wands sit down with novelist Debbie Babbitt to explore her compelling journey from stage to page. A former actress and playwright, Babbitt brings a unique perspective to the world of thrillers, weaving her theatrical background into richly drawn characters and suspenseful plots.

They discuss the emotional architecture of character development and how Hitchcock’s signature storytelling style helped shape her voice as a writer. Babbitt shares how backstory can make or break a thriller, and reflects on the tightrope walk between writing and self-promotion in today’s publishing world.

Throughout the conversation, she opens up about navigating the challenges of imposter syndrome, coping with criticism, and finding strength in vulnerability. The episode also touches on the lasting impact of classic literature, the intricacies of narrative structure, and the way setting can function as a character in its own right.

Whether you're a writer, artist, or lover of story, this episode offers candid insights into the creative process—and a reminder that community and emotional honesty are essential to every great work.

In this episode of Imposter Hour, hosts Liz Keenan and Greg Wands welcome Alison Buccola to talk about her gripping new novel The Ascent. Together, they unpack themes of imposter syndrome, motherhood, and the psychological tension of characters caught between truth and memory.

Alison opens up about her writing journey, the research behind the cult at the center of her novel, and how personal experience and societal pressures shape the way she writes women. They also dig into the mental load of being creative while parenting, and how gender bias and self-doubt can sabotage the writing process before you even open the document.

She shares what it’s like to promote a book while quietly panicking, how community sustains her through it all, and what’s next — including her upcoming novel about three sisters and the complexities of memory, identity, and perception.

In this episode of Imposter Hour, Liz and Greg sit down with Raúl Palma, Cuban-American author of the haunting and brilliant debut novel A Haunting in Hialeah Gardens. Together, they explore how Palma’s background in writing and academia intersects with imposter syndrome and how debt — both financial and emotional — becomes a kind of haunting in his work.

Raúl talks about his protagonist, a spiritual healer who doesn’t believe in ghosts, and how that contradiction mirrors the emotional weight many of us carry. From the mechanics of capitalism to the invisible toll of poverty, this conversation dives deep into the intersections of identity, creativity, and survival.

They also dig into how writing can be a form of self-care, especially when confronting the emotional landscape shaped by capitalism. Raúl shares how cultural identity informs his fiction, the role of support systems in sustaining a writing life, and what it means to feel “unauthorized” to tell your own story — and to write anyway.

In this episode of Imposter Hour, hosts Liz Keenan and Greg Wands sit down with author and former academic Lauren Nossett, whose novels The Professor and The Resemblance explore mental health, power dynamics, and identity within the framework of compelling thrillers.

Lauren discusses her transition from academia to fiction, the prevalence of imposter syndrome among both creatives and academics, and how writing became a space to process and interrogate societal expectations. They talk about the responsibility of writers to reflect real-world issues, the emotional weight characters can carry, and the ways thrillers can hold literary depth while remaining accessible.

The episode also touches on Lauren’s writing process, the joy of embedding literary references in her work, and her excitement for her next novel. Whether you’re a reader, writer, or both, this is a conversation about voice, community, and the art of telling meaningful stories within genre constraints.

In this episode of Imposter Hour, hosts Liz Keenan and Greg Wands welcome self-published thriller author Dan Lawton to discuss his latest novel, The Two of Us, and the emotional realities of long-haul creativity.

Dan shares what it’s like to write through imposter syndrome, how his personal experiences influence his characters, and why writing from multiple perspectives continues to challenge and excite him. As a self-published author of eleven novels, Dan reflects on the freedom, discipline, and perseverance it takes to build a career outside the traditional system.

They also explore the difficulty of finding fresh ideas in a saturated genre, the role of empathy in storytelling, and how emotional state can shape narrative. Dan offers advice to aspiring authors, emphasizes the importance of reader feedback, and talks about the balance between writing for yourself and writing for your audience.

A generous and insightful episode about resilience, authenticity, and staying in love with the work.

In this episode of Imposter Hour, hosts Liz and Greg sit down with Nishita Parekh, a former software programmer turned debut novelist, to talk about her atmospheric locked-room mystery, The Night of the Storm.

Nishita shares her journey from coding to storytelling, opening up about the inspiration behind her novel, the layered family dynamics at its core, and how her Indian heritage informs both character and theme. The conversation explores the cultural complexities of immigration, marriage, and gender disparity in Indian society, as well as the emotional terrain of motherhood and societal expectation.

She also gets candid about navigating imposter syndrome as a new author, the vulnerability of Goodreads, and the often conflicting demands of introversion and promotion. Together, they dive into lessons from tech and fiction alike—pacing, process, and the chaos of creation—and the importance of community, cultural insight, and honoring single mothers in her work.

A rich and resonant conversation for anyone chasing creativity in a noisy world.