Bob Johnson is an award-winning short story writer and graduate of the lowa Writers’ Workshop. His work has been published by The Common, Philadelphia Stories, Vol. 1 Brooklyn, The Barcelona Review, and elsewhere. His story "The Continental Divide" was named Short Story of the Year in The Hudson Review.

Among other things, Bob and Carter discuss growing up with undiagnosed ADD, writing without thinking of the odds of getting published, and getting reviewed by the New York Times. At the end of their conversation, they make up a fast-paced story using a line from Sean Eads’ Seventeen Stitches.

G.T. Karber is a mystery writer, computer programmer, and the creator of Murdle, the USA Today and #1 Sunday Times bestselling murder-mystery puzzle book series. The first two paperback volumes of Murdle were published in 2023, with the third volume published in March 2024. In 2023, Murdle was the UK Christmas #1 bestseller, making Karber the third non-British author to achieve a Christmas number one, after Dan Brown and Michelle Obama. He earned his MFA from the USC School of Cinematic Arts.

Among other things, G.T. and Carter discuss what the goal of writing is and how to determine success in writing, the art of creating puzzles for the general public, and keeping commercial writing simple. At the end of their conversation, they make up a suspenseful story using a line from Stuart Turton’s The Last Murder at the End of the World.

Emily Carpenter is the critically acclaimed, bestselling author of suspense novels, Burying the Honeysuckle Girls, The Weight of Lies, and Every Single Secret. After graduating from Auburn with a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication, she moved to New York City. She’s worked as an actor, producer, screenwriter, and behind-the-scenes soap opera assistant for the CBS shows, As the World Turns and Guiding Light.

Among other things, Emily and Carter discuss Emily’s move from the South to New York City, thinking of writing in terms of cinema, and religious representation in books and TV. At the end of their conversation, they make up a tense story using a line from Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl.