Heidi McCahan

In this episode on Book Talk, Cara interviews author Heidi McCahan about her new inspirational romance, The Other Side of Goodbye, in the Welcome to Redemption Alaska series. McCahan, an Alaska native living in North Carolina and former certified athletic trainer, discusses writing five books in a year using full-draft dictation in Evernote, multiple self-edits, and working from an editor-approved synopsis. She explains how the series grew from a prior novella and was rapidly plotted with editor Susie, centering on two widowed single parents whose children clash as they navigate grief, faith, and the question of finding love again while honoring lost spouses. McCahan shares personal grief from her father’s 2020 death, craft lessons from Sunrise Publishing, pie-driven banter, a natural-disaster subplot, and favorite lines, plus where to find her online, and that the book is available now on Kindle Unlimited.

Join two authors as we dive headfirst into AI, book trends, and the piping-hot publishing tea! This week, Steph puts award-winning romance author Heidi McCahan in the hot seat for a fun, candid conversation about some of the biggest topics in the book world right now.

From the constant discourse around AI to the rise of “books on boats” (yes, really), we talk about what’s trending, what’s actually selling, and how authors can navigate an ever-changing industry without losing their voice—or their sanity.

We also get real about indie vs. traditional publishing, the myths behind “making it,” and why writing more books—no, not just one—is often the key to success.

Don’t miss this thoughtful, honest, and perfectly spicy conversation!

A story about second chances, professional redemption, and finding the courage to trust again.