Our podcast guest this week is Erica Colahan (The Oystercatcher of Southwark, Chrism Press, July 2024). A dual timeline historical novel set in turn-of-the-century Philadelphia and based on Erica's great-great-grandmother's dramatic story, this novel was born out of Erica's desire to explore her family's history and resulted in various serendipitous discoveries including another whole branch of her family. We discuss scenes she avoided writing, how she had to kill several darlings during editing, how to build a social media platform from scratch, and what Stephen King taught her about writing.

Erica Colahan is the award-winning author of The Oystercatcher of Southwark, a third-place winner in the 2025 Association of Catholic Publishers Excellence in Publishing Awards, and the Historical Fiction Company's 2024 Wells Time Travel-Dual Timeline Category bronze medal winner. Based on the true story of her great-great-grandmother, the novel explores the profound love of a mother for her children and the redemptive hope that transcends time.

Living in the Philadelphia region with her large family, Erica relies on copious amounts of coffee to keep up with her busy offspring while working full-time and pursuing her hobbies. A numbers gal working in the accounting department, Erica finds time for reading and creative writing every day. For relaxation, Erica loves to knit, kayak on the lake, and listen to her children say "Mom, Mom!" all day long.

To learn more about Erica, go to https://ericacolahan.com/

Cathelina Duvert's debut novel, The Box, was born from her own experiences with depression. Recognized for her work, Duvert received an Honorable Mention in the 2024 Chapter One Writing Competition by Black Writers Workspace. Just one year later, Cathelina earned First Place in the same competition in 2025 for her forthcoming sophomore novel. She continues to share her journey through her writing, shedding light on the complexities of mental health with authenticity, focusing on how five specific strategies can help with the healing process. She lives in New York City with her twin sister and her rescue kitten Maxie.

For more information on Cathelina and her works, visit www.cathelinaduvert.com

Amily D'Nas was born and raised in Southern New England and now calls South Florida home. She earned her MBA from the University of Massachusetts and is a member of the Authors Guild, the Chicago Writers Association, and the Women's Fiction Writer's Association. Her award-winning, debut, historical fiction novel, Beneath the Swaying Willow, raises awareness of the mistreatment of our Vietnam veterans who returned home to a divided nation and aims to educate readers and reduce stigma associated with PTSD and veteran suicide. She is a proud supporter of our nation's military veterans and survivors of suicide loss.

To learn more about Amily, go to https://amilydnas.com/