Alone At Lunch

This week we are joined by Natalie Moss! Natalie is the author of the adult psychological thriller, The Night Hunter. She is a Filipina-South African, born and raised in Manila, Philippines, and has gone on safaris since she was three years old. An Oxford graduate, Natalie has lived in seven countries, including the Philippines, Australia, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, and Spain, and has now settled in London. She's an avid reader of thrillers and crime fiction, and is obsessed with solving the puzzle of a good mystery.

In this episode, Natalie Moss shares the inspiration behind her debut psychological thriller, The Night Hunter. We discuss how her upbringing across various continents and her lifelong relationship with the Southern African wilderness informed the novel's setting and its exploration of identity and belonging. Natalie also reflects on her academic years at Oxford, her creative routine, and the balance of maintaining a career in economics while pursuing the craft of storytelling for the sheer love of the mystery.

Recommendations From This Episode: 

My Oxford Year

https://www.natalie-moss.com/

Follow Natalie: @natmossauthor

Follow Carly: @carlyjmontag

Follow Emily: @thefunnywalsh

Follow the podcast: @aloneatlunchpod

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Email us: aloneatlunch@gmail.com

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This week we are joined by Isabelle Spotts! Isabelle Spotts is the writer and narrator of two award-winning audio dramas, Night Faces and Middle West. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with her husband, two children, and two black cats.​ Saint Delilah is her debut novel.

In this episode, Isabelle shares how her childhood terror of horror films evolved into a creative passion, leading her to transform those early anxieties into compelling narratives. We also explore how her upbringing in rural Wisconsin influenced her work and why her dedication to the macabre serves as a means of addressing and overcoming personal fears.

Recommendations From This Episode: 

Hocus Pocus

Are You Afraid Of The Dark?

The Butcher Legacy

Follow Isabelle: @isabellespotts

Follow Carly: @carlyjmontag

Follow Emily: @thefunnywalsh

Follow the podcast: @aloneatlunchpod

Please rate and review the podcast! Spread the word! Tell your friends! 

Email us: aloneatlunch@gmail.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week we are joined by Abbi Waxman. Abbi is a chocolate-loving, dog-loving woman, who lives in Los Angeles and lies down as much as possible. She worked in advertising for many years, which is how she learned to write fiction. She has three daughters, a dog, four cats, a snake and a pigeon.

Deadly Does It is Abbi's eight novel, and her second mystery.

In this episode, Abbi Waxman discusses her background, from growing up in Bath and moving between the UK, New York, and California to finding her way from advertising into novel writing. It also explores how her creative path was shaped by family, sobriety, and the changing publishing landscape, especially her shift into writing mysteries and the appeal of stories where order can be restored. Overall, it’s a candid, reflective episode about reinvention, creative persistence, and finding humor and meaning in a messy life.

Recommendations From This Episode:

SANDEMANs Tours

The Bodyguard

Follow Abbi: @abbiwaxman

Follow Carly: @carlyjmontag

Follow Emily: @thefunnywalsh

Follow the podcast: @aloneatlunchpod

Please rate and review the podcast! Spread the word! Tell your friends! 

Email us: aloneatlunch@gmail.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week we are joined by Jillian Laine. Jillian Laine is an author and journalist. She has written multiple children’s books and has worked as an acquisitions editor, book festival director, and literary award judge. She and her husband live with their pride of cats in the Great Lakes State.

In this episode, Jillian shares how her fascination with Tudor history and powerful women inspired her writing, including her novel *Henry Tudor Must Die*. The conversation also explores her research process, representation in historical storytelling, and the way personal experiences shape creative work. Jillian also reflects on perseverance as a writer and the importance of staying curious, even when the path to publication is long.

Recommendations From This Episode 

Six - The Musical

The Great

Follow Jillian: @jillianlaineauthor

Follow Carly: @carlyjmontag

Follow Emily: @thefunnywalsh

Follow the podcast: @aloneatlunchpod

Please rate and review the podcast! Spread the word! Tell your friends! 

Email us: aloneatlunch@gmail.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week we are joined by Kerri Maher. Kerri is the USA Today bestselling author of The Paris Bookseller, All You Have To Do Is Call, The Kennedy Debutante, and The Girl in White Gloves. She lives outside of Boston, Massachusetts with her daughter and dog, but was born and raised in California where Summer of Love, her latest novel, is set.

In this episode, Kerri shares how personal adversity—including hip dysplasia, sobriety, and cross-country moves—shaped her into a storyteller who explores identity, resilience, and change. She discusses her latest novel, Summer of Love, set against 1967 California's counterculture. Perfect for aspiring authors and anyone navigating the intersection of adversity and ambition, this episode proves your challenges can become your greatest source of inspiration.

Recommendations From This Episode: 

Malibu Rising

Daisy Jones & The Six

Follow Kerri: @kerrimaherwriter

Follow Carly: @carlyjmontag

Follow Emily: @thefunnywalsh

Follow the podcast: @aloneatlunchpod

Please rate and review the podcast! Spread the word! Tell your friends! 

Email us: aloneatlunch@gmail.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.