Author Express

Shawna Rodrigues, Kathleen Basi, Kristi Leonard

English Arts Books Documentary Personal Journals Society & Culture

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Episodes 140

Avg. Duration 14m

Activity Dormant

Since Nov 2022

Latest Episode Nov 2025

Outreach Signals

Features Guests

Publishing Details

Schedule

Weekly

Format

Episodic

Consistency

76%

Hosting

feeds.captivate.fm

About This Podcast

This is your place to hear the voice behind the pages of your favorite books. Here you’ll get a feel for the person who spent hours, weeks, months, and even years to fill the pages and build a world where you can not only use yourself but possibly find yourself as well. Our gift is a glance at the human side of writing; perhaps a morsel from the author’s childhood, insight on the character to which they are most attached, or a little on the passion that fueled the topics in the book. It’s your chance to get to know some of your favorite writers in a new light. We’ll give you a quick glimpse into their latest work and pique your interest in your next read, but we’ll also let you get to know a little about the authors themselves. As you’ll see in our episodes, we end up in some great conversations, whether they are about the historical significance of a topic, a laugh around chasing cows in the mud, or a few moments musing on travel and the best parts about visiting France. It is our goal to connect you with authors from varying genres and styles of writing and to keep in concert with our title by keeping them “Express” so you can easily work them into your weekly routine. This show is co-hosted by Kathleen Basi, Kristi Leonard, and Shawna Rodrigues. Kathleen Basi is a musical composer and songwriter, feature writer, essayist, nonfiction author, and of course, storyteller. Kristi Leonard is the owner and host of Writers in the Wild Retreats, nonfiction voice over artist, and president of the Women's Fiction Writers Association (WFWA). Shawna Rodrigues is a Podcast Strategist, Founder of Authentic Connections Podcast Network, Host of The Grit Show www.thegritshow.com, and Internationally Best-Selling Author.

Podcasting 2.0 Features

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English Podcasts Report Arts Report Books Report Documentary Report Personal Journals Report Society & Culture Report English Arts Report

Recent Episodes

S5E137 The Inspiration of Barbara Pronin in Crafting Courageous Women's Stories -137

Nov 26, 2025 13m

Step into the world of Author Express with an episode that bridges Brooklyn nostalgia and WWII history! Barbara Pronin, a triple award-winning author, joins Kathleen Basi to share the inspirations…

S5E136 How Risk and Spontaneity Shape Geeta Schrayter’s Heartfelt Holiday Romances -136

Nov 19, 2025 18m Transcript

Join Author Express for a heartwarming chat with Geeta Schrayter, author of uplifting New England stories and queen of Christmas spirit! This episode is packed with fun tidbits for holiday romance…

S5E135 Where Life Inspires Fiction: Rebecca Hodge on Creativity and Career Pivots -135

Nov 12, 2025 14m Transcript

Curious what happens when a retired veterinarian and clinical research scientist turns to heart-pounding suspense fiction? In this episode of Author Express, Kathleen Basi gets to the heart of…

S5E134 The Last Page; A Farewell & Celebrating Three Years of Author Express -134

Nov 05, 2025 18m Transcript

In this special episode of Author Express, hosts Shawna Rodrigues, Kristi Leonard, and Kathleen Basi come together for a heartfelt reflection as the podcast wraps up its recording season. They share…

S5E133 Crafting Stories of Healing: Virginia McCullough’s Brand of Hope and Second Chances -133

Oct 29, 2025 15m Transcript

Curious about the real stories behind the writers you love? In this inspiring Author Express episode, host Kathleen Basi welcomes Virginia McCullough, a powerhouse in both fiction and nonfiction…

S5E132 How Nashville Shaped an Author's Life and Her Novel, The False Flat -132

Oct 15, 2025 15m Transcript

On this engaging episode of Author Express, host Kathleen Basi welcomes Melissa R. Collings, an award-winning author and self-described “unicorn” of Nashville. Discover the creatively charged vibe of…

S5E131 Strong Women, Faithful Hounds, and Finding Courage: Catherine Matthews -131

Oct 01, 2025 15m Transcript

Ready for a heartfelt author interview with a twist of sisterhood and adventure? In this episode of Author Express, Catherine Matthews—award-winning indie author—talks about her new novel that brings…

S5E130 Author Suzanne Woods Fisher Reveals the Only Question a Writer Ever Needs -130

Sep 17, 2025 15m Transcript

Meet Suzanne Woods Fisher, best-selling author of more than 40 books, as she chats with Kathleen Basi on this exciting episode of Author Express! Tune in to hear about Suzanne’s surprising journey…

S5E129 Jennifer Jabaley Reveals Her Secrets and Inspiration in Writing Domestic Suspense Novels -129

Sep 03, 2025 17m Transcript

Looking for your next read or some creative inspiration? This episode of Author Express features Jennifer Jabaley, whose new domestic suspense book is already causing a stir. Kristi Leonard invites…

S5E128 How Farm Life and Family Shape Sara Brunsvold’s Literary Worlds -128

Aug 20, 2025 14m Transcript

Explore the creative heartbeat of the Midwest in this Author Express episode featuring Sara Brunsvold, author of The Atlas of Untold Stories. Uncover how her roots on a multigenerational dairy farm…

S5E127 Explore One Writer’s Fascinating Journey From Legal Eagle to Literary Fiction -127

Aug 06, 2025 16m Transcript

In this episode of Author Express, host Kristi Leonard sits down with Croatian novelist and certified book coach Lidija Hilje for a rich conversation filled with unique insights. Discover what makes…

S5E126 Family, Mental Health, and Inspiration: Cathelina Duvert on "The Box" -126

Jul 23, 2025 12m Transcript

Curious about what inspires a debut author? In this episode of Author Express, meet Cathelina Duvert, whose novel The Box recently received an honorable mention in the Black Writers Workspace…

S5E125 From Family Secrets to Historical Fiction: Real-Life Inspiration -125

Jul 09, 2025 14m Transcript

Journey with us on this episode of Author Express as Kristi Leonard interviews Lindsay Marie Morris, an LA-based journalist-turned-novelist whose Sicilian roots and love of historical fiction have…

S5E124 It Took Me Twenty Years to Become an Overnight Success -124

Jun 25, 2025 13m Transcript

Step into sunny Los Angeles with author Janie Emaus as she brings humor and heart to this episode of Author Express. Host Kathleen Basi chats with Janie about her unique upbringing, the quirky…

S5E123 Astonishing Stories: Rosa Kwon Easton on the Power of Generational Memory -123

Jun 11, 2025 16m Transcript

Curious about how family history transforms into page-turning fiction? Listen in as Rosa Kwon Easton reveals what it was like to turn stories hidden in her ancestry into her moving novel, "White…

S5E122 How Barbara Johsselsohn Weaves History and Heart into Her Novels -122

May 28, 2025 15m Transcript

Explore powerful storytelling and rich history in the latest Author Express episode with guest Barbara Josselsohn. Host Kathleen Basi chats with Barbara about the allure of New York’s theater scene,…

S5E121 Defining Success, Embracing the Messy Middle, and Writing What Moves You -121

May 14, 2025 16m Transcript

Meet bestselling author Rochelle Weinstein in this episode of Author Express as she shares her heart-stirring journey from the world of music in Los Angeles to becoming a full-time novelist in Miami.…

S5E120 Trading Trials for Tales: Elisabeth Dini’s Path from International Law to Uplifting Fiction -120

Apr 30, 2025 14m Transcript

Ready to meet an author who’s lived a story as gripping as the ones she writes? On this episode, Kathleen Basi interviews Elisabeth Dini, a former Hague prosecutor whose first novel blends…

S5E119 Girl Meets Boy Again Plus Floral Fun: A Look at Orly Konig’s Love Story - 119

Apr 16, 2025 14m Transcript

Ever wondered how an author weaves real-life inspirations into their fictional worlds? In this episode of Author Express, join Kristi Leonard as she welcomes Orly Konig, who reveals how writing…

S5E118 Why Being an Author Is Like Running a Tech Startup, with Jennifer Klepper -118

Apr 02, 2025 14m Transcript

Step into the world of Jennifer Klepper, the USA Today bestselling author, as she joins Kathleen Basi on Author Express to unravel her multifaceted journey from a lawyer and tech-startup founder to a…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Author Express have?

Author Express has published 140 episodes since November 2022, covering topics in Arts, Books.

Is Author Express still active?

Author Express is currently dormant with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 14m.