Ep. 199: Get Thee to a Nunnery w/ Author Margot Douaihy

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EQ: How do you navigate the intersections of crime fiction, poetry, and identity to create stories that challenge genre conventions and expand the boundaries of storytelling?

We sit down with  Margot Douaihy, author of the Sister Holiday Crime Series (Scorched Grace, Blessed Water), Bandit/Queen: The Runaway Story of Belle Starr, and numerous poetry collections (Scranton Lace, Girls Like You) to explore storytelling as both a craft and a form of personal inquiry. Margot shares how growing up in a Maronite Christian household shaped her writing, how the Bible itself is full of crime stories, and why faith, redemption, and identity drive her work. We also discuss how dynamic, flawed characters reflect and refract society, providing readers with an opportunity for self examination and even entry points into perspectives they know very little about. By writing such characters, Margot gives readers a stake in larger conversations about morality, the tension between beauty and terror, and humanity’s search for answers. Additionally, we discuss LGBTQ+ representation in crime fiction, and why now more than ever we must support queer authors and stories that certain powers want to bury.

Do Your Fudging Homework:

  • Hope: Grab a copy of Scorched Grace or one of Margot’s poetry collections.

  • Annie: Support queer authors always, but especially now. Not only do we need queer voices in publishing, the political landscape is in shambles and those stories are critical to hold onto hope and joy and prepare for what’s next. If you can, buy physical media. We’ve seen enough digital things disappearing lately that this is your sign to buy the books you love and the books you’ll love soon, like Margot’s. 

  • Margot: Read legal thrillers, particularly Robyn Gigl’s Erin McGabe Mysteries Series

Ep. 188: Self Care For Social Change--How Women Are Leading w/ author Tiffany Bluhm

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EQ: How can a balanced  understanding of self-love, self-care, and identity help us navigate societal expectations and live authentically while serving others?

In this episode of IWL, Hope is joined by the inspiring Tiffany Bluhm, a speaker, writer, and author of The Women We’ve Been Waiting For, Prey Tell, and more. Tiffany brings over 15 years of experience in ministry and nonprofit leadership, and her work focuses on the intersection of faith, justice, and personal growth. Together, they explore how a balanced understanding of self-love, self-care, and identity can help us navigate societal expectations, live authentically, and push for meaningful change. Tiffany emphasizes that self-care isn't just about personal well-being—it’s also a vital component of social change and service to others. Tiffany also shares a sneak peek into her latest 40-day devotional, The Women We’ve Been Waiting For, and reflects on how her writing has evolved to meet the current moment of spiritual and social transformation.

  • Grab a copy of Tiffany’s devotional and join other women in reading every day leading up to the election.

Do Your Fudging Homework:

  • Hope: Get a copy or check out her writing The 5 Practices to Take Back Your Life–can you tell use 1 or 2? Then folks can go to your website to get the rest.

  • Tiffany: Take deep breathes! Sign up for two free chapters of my upcoming book!