The Back Room - Superb Storytellers

Written By Natalie

I’m thrilled to have participated in my first The Back Room: Cocktails and Conversations with Your Favorite Authors event, hosted by authors Hank Phillippi Ryan and Karen Dionne in 2026! This March session featured the talented authors Meagan Church, Edwin Hill, Joshilyn Jackson, and Nikesha Elise Williams. I was particularly excited about this event because I was already familiar with each author through their book promotions and the positive reviews they received from other readers.

As with each event, the session began with an engaging “get to know you” game. Each author was presented with three questions to share some fascinating anecdotes about themselves. Additionally, each author enthusiastically recommended a book they had recently read. Attending The Back Room is a great way to expand your reading list!

In case you’re interested, here are each author’s book recommendations:

Meagan Church: Where the Wildflowers Grow by Terah Shelton Harris

Edwin Hill: To the End of Reckoning by Joseph Moldover

Joshilyn Jackson: Where You End by Abbott Kahlor‍ ‍

Nikesha Elise Williams: Night Wherever We Go by Tracey Rose Peyton

Next, the breakout rooms were set up, providing each author with an opportunity to delve into their latest book. Hank facilitated Q&A sessions with the participants, enabling them to ask questions and engage in meaningful discussions.

During the first breakout room session, I had the pleasure of meeting authors Edwin Hill and Meagan Church. Edwin is a newcomer to me. I recently discovered his latest book, What Happened Next, as it’s available as an Amazon First Reads pick for this month. I almost chose it as my free ebook of the month because it was receiving great ratings, but I ended up opting for a historical fiction novel instead. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Edwin explain the concept of his novel. I was particularly intrigued when he shared that the idea originated from a childhood experience of believing a statement his dad made until he realized as an adult that it was obviously false. This led to a unique conversation where people shared similar experiences. I appreciated meeting Edwin and look forward to reading his book.

Meagan Church’s latest novel, The Mad Wife, has been widely recommended, so I was eager to meet her and learn about her book. Meagan had her previous novels on display, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that she wrote The Last Carolina Girl, which is buried in my Audible library! So, I’ll definitely move that book up on my TBR pile. I was particularly drawn to Meagan, perhaps because she’s an animal lover and resides in North Carolina, a place that holds fond memories for me. I enjoyed learning about her latest novel and the conversations we had about various Jello recipes from the 1950s.

During the second breakout room session, I had the pleasure of meeting Nikesha Elise Williams and Joshilyn Jackson. I was thoroughly impressed by Nikesha’s eloquent style as she discussed her novel, The Seven Daughters of Dupree, and her writing process. Despite reading numerous books, I recognize the immense talent, patience, and wisdom required to craft compelling storytelling. I was captivated by Nikesha’s explanation of how the story evolved and how she listened to the characters’ desires to share their own narratives. Her profound connection to her characters and genuine gratitude for authoring their story were truly inspiring. I eagerly anticipate reading this book, which has also garnered popularity in my book recommendations.

The evening concluded with the wildly entertaining Joshilyn Jackson. I’m familiar with her thriller novels and have been wanting to read her books, as I believe I’d enjoy her storytelling. Joshilyn provided an intriguing and suspenseful introduction to her latest novel, Missing Sister. It was fascinating to learn about her background in acting, voice acting, and screenplay writing. Her exceptional narration skills are evident as she has narrated audiobooks for other authors as well as her own. Throughout her segment, Joshilyn had me laughing, and I thoroughly enjoyed her energetic personality.

Overall, this was another delightful evening at The Back Room. I am always grateful to the authors and everyone involved in organizing this event.

You can read my blog posts about my previous experiences with The Back Room below.

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Natalie
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