Ep 148: Real Life, Real Places: Bringing Croatian History to Life in Fiction with Eva Glyn
Today’s guest, author Eva Glyn (Jane Cable), joins us to talk about her novels set in Croatia, including "The Dubrovnik Book Club."
Discover how Eva Glyn fell in love with Croatia, the stories that brought her characters to life, and the fascinating history woven through her novels. From behind-the-scenes anecdotes about researching authentic details and working with local sources, to reflections on war, resilience, and the healing power of both travel and storytelling, this episode offers a heartfelt look at writing across cultures. Plus, get a peek at upcoming books, favorite destinations, and the joys of celebrating books within books.
Authentic Storytelling Requires Local Insight: Eva’s novels set in Croatia come alive thanks to her ongoing collaborations with locals. These relationships help her infuse genuine cultural detail and nuance into her stories—reminding writers that authenticity often comes from boots-on-the-ground research and real conversations.
Friendships Can Be Just as Compelling as Romance: Eva highlighted her fascination with writing about deep, platonic friendships. Her characters’ bonds—often non-romantic—show that healing, growth, and rich storytelling come from all kinds of relationships, not only love stories.
Curiosity Drives Creativity: Much of Eva’s writing starts with a simple “what if?”—researching a local legend, responding to a snippet of history, or chasing a story told by a tour guide. Staying curious and open to these rabbit holes can lead to unexpected and powerful narratives.
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Episode links:
https://literaryescapes.fun/ep-148-author-eva-glyn-brings-croatia-to-life-in-fiction/
We’d love to have you join us in the Literary Escapes Book Club – get more info and sign up here: https://literaryescapes.fun/literary-escape-book-club/
4 Sept 2025
Ep 147: Books, Food, and Family: How Jennifer Probst Crafts Immersive Escapes
If you love being whisked away to far-off destinations (especially when there’s family and fabulous food involved!), you won’t want to miss this chat with author Jennifer Probst.
Jennifer discusses her writing career, passion for travel (especially Italy), her recent book "To Sicily With Love," and the inspiration behind her Meet Me in Italy series.
Italy isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a character. Jennifer traveled on a three-generational trip with her mom & niece to research “Our Italian Summer,” and swears you need to feel a place for it to become real on the page. Her advice: Go where your soul feels pulled.
But Jennifer’s books are more than just romantic escapism—she doesn’t shy from deep themes like grief, family secrets, and personal transformation. “To Sicily With Love” weaves in DNA ancestry, internet fame, and the fallout from life’s unexpected explosions.
Writers, listen up: Jennifer’s got wisdom for you too! She teaches, speaks, and just launched a “Write Naked” course via Kickstarter—packed with craft, inspiration, and her vendor list (editors, artists, you name it). Trust the process: “You have to live a full life so you always have stories to tell.”
Live fully, honor your story, and never stop learning from the world around you.
CLICK HERE to sign up for the BOOK CLUB!
CLICK HERE to check out the SHOW NOTES for this episode!
Are you an author who would like to join me for a conversation on the podcast?
CLICK HERE to get more information and fill out the form.
Episode links:
https://literaryescapes.fun/ep-147-jennifer-probst/
We’d love to have you join us in the Literary Escapes Book Club – get more info and sign up here: https://literaryescapes.fun/literary-escape-book-club/
14 Aug 2025
Ep 146: Reclaiming Women’s History with Page-Turning Mysteries with Author Kelly Oliver
Ever wondered how a philosophy professor becomes a mystery writer?
Meet Dr. Kelly Oliver, a recently retired philosophy professor turned mystery author. Kelly shares her unique journey from academia to fiction, explaining how her background in philosophy—especially her work on women's issues and justice—informs her novels.
She discusses her two main series: the Jessica James mysteries, inspired by her own grad school experiences and tackling serious social issues with humor, and the Fiona Figg historical mystery series, which spotlights real women from history who have been overlooked or marginalized.
Kelly also shares some behind-the-scenes tidbits from her latest series, The Detection Club, and stories about Agatha Christie’s real-life adventures.
CLICK HERE to sign up for the BOOK CLUB!
CLICK HERE to check out the SHOW NOTES for this episode!
Are you an author who would like to join me for a conversation on the podcast?
CLICK HERE to get more information and fill out the form.
Episode links:
https://literaryescapes.fun/ep-146-reclaiming-womens-history-with-author-kelly-oliver/
We’d love to have you join us in the Literary Escapes Book Club – get more info and sign up here: https://literaryescapes.fun/literary-escape-book-club/
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 17 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
22
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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