Episodes

In this episode of Miles Beyond the Page, host Michelle Miles welcomes romance author Mary Karlik back to the show to celebrate her latest Tule Publishing release, Lasso My Heart. Set in the fictional Texas town of Spring Creek, the novel blends heartfelt romance with familiar connections to her updated indie YA series through subtle Easter eggs that longtime readers will enjoy discovering. Mary shares the real-life breakup that inspired the novel’s opening, her first experience writing a dual-...

In this episode of Miles Beyond the Page, host Michelle Miles welcomes author A.M. Geever to discuss her post-apocalyptic fiction, her latest novel Darkest Light, and the unique experience of writing in a shared-world series. A.M. shares the inspiration behind Darkest Light, her contribution to the 13-author Fire in the Sky/Ravaged Skies shared universe, where a Carrington Event–style solar flare devastates the world's power grid. She explains how the authors collaborated within a common framew...

In this episode of Miles Beyond the Page, host Michelle Miles sits down with audiobook narrator Liza Jacob to explore the art, craft, and business of bringing stories to life through audio. Liza shares her journey from graphic design and illustration into audiobook narration, landing her first six-book series before she even had a home studio, and the acting and narration training that helped shape her career. Michelle and Liza discuss how audiobook performance has evolved, the importance of mi...

In this episode of Miles Beyond the Page, host Michelle Miles sits down with author and former Doubleday editor Laura Van Wormer to discuss her remarkable journey through publishing, fiction writing, and creative reinvention. Laura shares how an unexpected opportunity led her to write a biography-style book about the fictional Carrington family from Dynasty, which opened the door to official tie-in novels for Dallas and Knots Landing. Those experiences helped shape her unique storytelling appro...

In this episode of Miles Beyond the Page, host Michelle Miles breaks down how to write morally gray anti-heroes who feel dangerous, compelling, and emotionally safe for readers. Using what she calls a “relationship engine,” Michelle explores why morally gray characters aren’t defined by attitude or aesthetics—but by their personal code, the lines they refuse to cross, and the repeated choices that build reader trust over time. She discusses how to create anti-heroes whose devotion feels earned,...

In this episode of Miles Beyond the Page, host Michelle Miles interviews retired Air Force officer and author Christopher Choate about his satirical military sci-fi space opera, Apollo Wept. Christopher shares how his writing began with entertaining Christmas newsletters and how events in 2020 inspired him to imagine a dystopian America in 2104, where the Constitution has been ruled unconstitutional, the country is broke, history has been erased, and identity politics dominate public life. Mic...

In this episode of Miles Beyond the Page, host Michelle Miles sits down with author and real estate attorney Brad Elder to discuss his debut thriller, Recoil of Justice. The novel follows Houston lawyer Ryan Wolf as a seemingly straightforward case involving stolen software code spirals into a dangerous world of corporate espionage, cartels, human trafficking, and corruption. Blending legal thriller elements with high-stakes action, the story asks a compelling question: can Ryan pursue justice ...

In this episode of Miles Beyond the Page, host Michelle Miles sits down with Pennsylvania author and creative director Christian Hurst to discuss his YA sci-fi/fantasy series, Lily Starling. Beginning with Lily Starling and the Voyage of the Salamander, the series follows a memory-loss protagonist who discovers her place in the universe alongside a found family of starship crew members in a coming-of-age space opera filled with adventure, mystery, and heart. Christian shares the inspiration beh...

In this episode of Miles Beyond the Page, host Michelle Miles welcomes London-based speculative fiction author Stephen Oram, whose work sits at the fascinating intersection of storytelling, science, and emerging technology. Stephen discusses his latest work, Brain Fruit, a futuristic fable exploring trust, symbiosis, and finding common ground through the unlikely combination of a bee, a bug, a brain fruit, and a group of droids. He shares why he enjoys writing shorter, fable-like stories that l...