Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast

Resilience, Faith, and Soul Care: AndreYah Maria Hernandez Black’s Devotional Journey

In this inspiring episode of the Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast, Jed Doherty welcomes AndreYah Maria Hernandez Black, author of the 30-day devotional Revelations for Resilience: Whispers from the Divine for Soul Care. Andrea shares the deeply personal story behind the book—her journey through a devastating season of spousal abandonment in 2015–2016, which led to post-traumatic stress disorder, and how faith, wellness practices, and writing became her lifeline. AndreYah explains that the devotional is autobiographical and prophetic, born from hundreds of journal entries in which she poured out her heart to God and then listened for divine guidance. Those “whispers from heaven” became poetic messages paired with scripture and full-color nature photographs, inviting readers into quiet reflection, healing, and hope. She emphasizes that the book is flexible: some read it day by day, others dip in and out as needed—what matters most is meeting God in the pages. Jed and AndreYah talk about hearing God’s voice—what that feels like, how stillness and time in nature help, and how her mother first nurtured her faith. AndreYah also reflects on the courage it took to publish such vulnerable work, how the process matured and grounded her, and the powerful moment when her father recognized her voice in her writing. AndreYah hints at future projects, including books inspired by her parents—one about her mother’s lessons and another about her father’s time in the Negro Leagues—all driven by a desire to pass on wisdom and change lives.

Led by His Past: Inside Katelyn Marie Peterson’s Romantic Suspense World

In this episode of the Connecticut Book Festivals podcast, host Jed Doherty welcomes romantic suspense author Katelyn Marie Peterson to talk about her gripping trilogy, focusing on the second book, Led by His Past. The story follows Lynn Callahan and her private investigator boyfriend, Jake Connolly, as they’re pulled into a tense new case when Jake’s ex-girlfriend shows up asking him to investigate her sister’s murder in Burlington, Vermont. Katelyn opens up about how real her characters feel to her, especially now that she’s living with them over the course of three books. She describes how she carefully planned the trilogy from the start, including cliffhangers and emotional arcs that carry from one book to the next. She also shares how much research went into portraying Jake’s work as a private investigator and how using real Burlington landmarks—where she got engaged—helps bring the story to life. Listeners get to hear some of the personal inspirations behind her characters, including elements drawn from her son and a beloved childhood dog. Jed and Katelyn chat about the delicate balance between mystery and romance, the joy of a good “whodunit,” and the surprises that happen when characters grow beyond the original outline. Katelyn also teases what’s ahead in the third book, which will blend both Lynn’s and Jake’s perspectives, and talks about her dream of one day writing a rom-com. It’s a warm, engaging conversation for anyone who loves twisty, heartfelt stories.

Balancing Spice and Story: Crafting Dark Romance with CS Kelleher

On this episode of the Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast, Jed welcomes CS Kelleher, author of the dark contemporary romance novel Scorched Boundaries—the first in a planned four-book series. CS shares how the book began in an entirely different direction: a romantic suspense involving mistaken identity and South Korean gangs. After hitting a massive bout of writer’s block, inspiration struck one night while she was watching TV and typing on her phone. That spontaneous moment became the prologue to Scorched Boundaries and launched a brand‑new cast of characters and storyline. Listeners meet Maeve Donovan, an Irish American CEO of a boutique luxury real estate marketing firm in Portland, Oregon, and Lee Hae Jin, a South Korean billionaire mogul whose darkness shapes much of the story. CS explains the difference between romantic suspense and dark contemporary romance, emphasizing the heavier emotional themes, psychological thriller elements, and the importance of clear trigger warnings. CS talks about her deep love of Asian dramas and K‑pop, and how binge‑watching Korean and Chinese dramas during COVID helped inspire the emotional tone and character dynamics of her series. She and Jed also have fun discussing “brain characters”—those fictional voices that take over and insist on changing the plot—and how one such character turned her planned trilogy into a four‑book series. Along the way, CS shares stories about writing spicy scenes, her retired‑teacher mom’s grammatical “eye twitches,” honoring her Nana through her pen name, and her hopes to someday return to an earlier South Korea–set project.

Cat Carmichael on the Case: JP Ferris and the Cat Carmichael Detective Series

JP Ferris joins the Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast to talk about his long-running Cat Carmichael Detective Series and the latest installment, Catnap, book 13 in the saga. JP introduces Cat Carmichael, a tough, emotionally rich NYPD homicide detective shaped by the loss of her father, who was killed in the line of duty right in front of her. That trauma fuels Cat’s vow to become the best homicide detective New York has ever seen. JP shares that Cat is a blend of Olivia Benson, Kate Beckett, a touch of Jane Rizzoli, and quite a bit of JP himself—right down to having a law enforcement dad and a deep affection for New York City. Even Cat’s name honors both JP’s late cat and a favorite Law & Order character. In Catnap, listeners get two gripping storylines: a tense hostage situation tied to Cat’s past, and the heartbreaking case of two young boys found dead in an apartment where neither of them lives. With Cat and her partner Forrest Goldwin on administrative leave after an officer-involved shooting, the rest of the team steps into the spotlight, giving fans a deeper look at Marcus, Sam, Avery, and trainee Mac. JP talks candidly about writing 19 books (with plans for 30), fighting through creative slumps, and using TV favorites like Castle, Rizzoli & Isles, and SVU as both inspiration and background noise while he writes. He also explains how New York City itself functions as another character in the series, grounded in the real streets he knows so well.

Raising Confident Girls: Diana Sussman on The Neighbor’s Secret

In this engaging episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed welcomes Diana Sussman, author of the middle grade mystery The Neighbor’s Secret. Diana introduces us to Maddie, a curious and imaginative 12-year-old who becomes convinced her new neighbors are Russian spies after witnessing something very strange. Maddie’s big imagination sometimes gets her into trouble—like the time she thought a neighbor was being eaten by a Yeti—but she’s also sharp, determined, and usually onto something real. Diana shares how her own love of puzzles, mysteries, and strong female characters helped shape Maddie. She and Jed dive into the challenges kids face today, especially around social media, over-scheduling, and constant adult supervision, and they talk about why it’s so important for kids to solve their own problems and build independence. Listeners also get a sneak peek at the second book in the series, The Texter Secret, where Maddie begins receiving mysterious—and possibly creepy—texts. Diana explains how real-life pranks, historical spy stories like Agent 355 and the Culper Spy Ring, and the cryptograms of Mary Queen of Scots all inspire her writing and bring history into her mysteries in a fun, accessible way. Along the way, Diana talks about her other creative projects, her past work as a lawyer dealing with FBI interrogations, and her joy in connecting with young readers. Parents and educators will come away with fresh ideas about nurturing kids’ confidence, curiosity, and resilience through story.