Murder, Mystery and Mayhem Laced with Morality

Murder, Mystery, & Mayhem Laced with Morality is a gripping learning and networking hub for writers who dare to explore the shadows—without losing sight of the light.Rooted in suspense, thriller, mystery, and crime, this podcast features powerful conversations with authors, publishing professionals, and experts in law enforcement, psychology, forensics, editing, marketing, and storytelling craft. Each episode pulls back the curtain on what it takes to write stories that are authentic, compelling, and unforgettable.Whether you’re crafting a high-stakes thriller, a redemptive romance, a memoir born from lived experience, or faith-based nonfiction, you’ll gain practical insight on character development, research, storytelling structure, and navigating the publishing journey—where truth matters, justice has a voice, and light pierces through the darkness with the spoken and written word.

Murder, Mystery and Mayhem Laced with Morality is a arts podcast hosted by Dr. Katherine Hutchinson Hayes, with 305 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Dr. Katherine Hutchinson Hayes hosts Murder, Mystery and Mayhem Laced with Morality, a arts show with 305 episodes published.

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  Episode #29

  Diana Peterfreund—Secrets, Suspense & Stories That Refuse to Stay in One Genre

  Oct 3, 202638 minS17

  What do secret societies, killer unicorns, Jane Austen, underground cities, classic board-game murder mysteries, and the ghostly legacy of Edgar Allan Poe have in common? Diana Peterfreund. On this episode of Murder, Mystery & Mayhem Laced with Morality , Dr. Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes sits down with acclaimed author Diana Peterfreund for a fascinating conversation about writing across genres, creating unforgettable worlds, reimagining beloved stories, and crafting mysteries and adventures that keep readers turning pages. Diana has written novels for adults, teens, and younger readers, including the four-book Secret Society Girl series; the killer-unicorn novels Rampant and Ascendant ; For Darkness Shows the Stars , her post-apocalyptic reimagining of Jane Austen’s Persuasion ; and Across a Star-Swept Sea , inspired by The Scarlet Pimpernel . Her Omega City trilogy sends middle-grade readers beneath modern Maryland into a mysterious hidden bunker city, while her CLUE mysteries , written in partnership with Hasbro, bring the iconic board game’s murder, motives, and suspects to life for a new generation. Her newest series, Ellen Poe , ventures into paranormal mystery and adventure, following a contemporary heroine connected to the haunting legacy of Edgar Allan Poe—a perfect choice for readers who enjoy the clever sleuthing of Enola Holmes and the puzzle-filled adventure of National Treasure . Diana Peterfreund Diana’s work has been translated into fourteen languages and recognized by the New York Public Library’s Books for the Teen Age list, Capitol Choices, the Texas Lone Star Reading List, the Sunshine State Young Readers Award list, and Amazon’s Best Books of the Year. She has also written dozens of critically acclaimed short stories and nonfiction essays exploring children’s and popular literature. Diana Peterfreund Join us as we talk about where Diana finds her wonderfully unexpected ideas, what it takes to move successfully between age groups and genres, how familiar stories can inspire something entirely new, and why mystery, imagination, danger, and morality make such compelling companions. Discover Diana’s books and learn more about her work: DianaPeterfreund.com ️ Listen, subscribe, share the episode, and tell us: Which Diana Peterfreund world would you most like to step into—Secret Society Girl, Killer Unicorns, Omega City, CLUE, or Ellen Poe? #DianaPeterfreund #MurderMysteryAndMayhem #LacedWithMorality #DrKatherineHutchinsonHayes #EllenPoe #MysteryBooks #YABooks #MiddleGradeBooks #BookPodcast #AuthorInterview #MysteryAuthors #ParanormalMystery #WritingCommunity #WritersOfInstagram #Bookstagram #AmReading #ReadersOfInstagram #PodcastInterview #BooksAndAuthors #Storytelling

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  Episode #28

  TK BUSH—The Author of Unveiled Discusses Her Process of Developing a Pyschological Suspense

  Sep 26, 202629 minS17

  T.K. Bush on Writing Unveiled While Working in Healthcare What does it take to write a psychological thriller while working full-time in healthcare? On this episode of Murder Mystery and Mayhem Laced with Morality , I talk with T.K. Bush, author of Unveiled , about her writing process. We discuss how she balances writing with her work as a radiographic and cardiovascular technologist, and how that experience shapes her stories. In Unveiled , Tessa Brooks has rebuilt her life after an accident stole her memories. When a man from her past returns, buried truths threaten the life she has made. Listen to our conversation, follow the podcast for more mystery and suspense with purpose, and visit T.K. Bush at tkbush.com ⁠. #TKBush #Unveiled #AuthorInterview #WritingProcess #WritingLife #PsychologicalThriller #SuspenseBooks #BookPodcast

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  Episode #27

  Duncan Ritchie— What happens when truth itself becomes a weapon?

  Sep 19, 202651 minS17

  When technology can manipulate information faster than we can verify it, who—or what—do we trust to tell us the truth? Join us for a thought-provoking conversation where murder, mystery, mayhem, technology, politics, and morality collide. Duncan spent thirty years advising governments and companies on energy, infrastructure, transactions, and policy. He has also written nonfiction for international organizations, including the Asian Development Bank and the United Nations Environment Program, advocating for policy changes and investment related to climate change. Now, he has turned his experience with governments, policy, finance, and global affairs toward fiction. The Truth Chamber began with a series of “what if?” questions Duncan started exploring in 2022. What might happen if outside forces attempted to exploit America’s political divisions? How could artificial intelligence change the battle over information? And what happens when people trying to protect democratic institutions begin questioning how far they themselves should go? The resulting novel combines political intrigue, artificial intelligence, assassination attempts, foreign influence, disinformation, and moral dilemmas in a high-stakes story about the increasingly complicated relationship between truth and power. At the center of the novel is Admiral Liam Driscoll, a grieving man drawn into presidential candidate Anna Hoffman’s campaign as political violence escalates. Their team recruits a Stanford Ph.D. student developing an AI technology known as the Truth Chamber , hoping it can help uncover who is behind the violence. But the conspiracy extends far beyond one campaign. As domestic turmoil collides with international ambitions, Liam and his team confront an unsettling question: How much can you compromise the principles you are trying to protect before you become part of the problem? Dr. Katherine and Duncan explore: Duncan’s journey from investment banking and international policy work to political thriller author The real-world concerns and “what if?” questions that inspired The Truth Chamber How he created a fictional American presidential race while separating speculation from reality The Truth Chamber itself and the possibilities and dangers of AI in determining what is true Disinformation, propaganda, foreign influence, and the manipulation of public perception The global power struggles operating behind the novel’s domestic political conflict Liam Driscoll’s central moral dilemma: how far can someone go to protect democratic institutions without compromising the principles behind them? The challenges of writing politically charged fiction for readers who may bring very different perspectives to the story How Duncan’s career and international experiences informed the novel’s geopolitical world Why thriller fiction offers a compelling space for exploring uncomfortable questions about truth, technology, morality, and power What Duncan is writing next Duncan Ritchie is a former—he jokingly says “recovering”—investment banker who grew up on a plantation in North Borneo and graduated from the University of Western Australia. During a thirty-year career, he advised governments and companies on major energy and infrastructure transactions and policy. He has also written persuasive nonfiction for multilateral organizations, including ADB and UNEP, focusing on climate-related policy and investment. Concerned by international conflict, political extremism, and growing questions surrounding misinformation, Duncan began developing speculative “what if?” scenarios in 2022. Those ideas eventually became his political thriller, The Truth Chamber . Duncan now lives in Tasmania with his Malinois pup, Aletheia—Alé for short—who, thinks he is slightly mad. The Truth Chamber is a speculative political thriller examining AI, disinformation, foreign influence, political violence, power, morality, and the fragile boundary between protecting principles and violating them.

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  Episode #26

  Lou Pugliese Returns— Author of "The Portal" takes us through the thrill of life after death in his latest suspense

  Sep 12, 202642 minS17

  ️ What happens when the extraordinary enters an ordinary life—and certainty gives way to mystery? We welcome back author Lou Pugliese, whose new thriller, The Portal, has just been released! From an international career with Toyota to teaching business in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, Lou brings a wealth of experience, extensive travel, and a love of obscure research to his fiction. His stories weave subtle paranormal elements into realistic relationships, exploring the emotional consequences of events that defy explanation. Now settled in Green Cove Springs, Florida, with his wife Kathy and their dog Mitch, Lou also hosts the Florida Writers Association’s monthly Clay County chapter.Stay in touch with Lou: https://loupuglieseauthor.com/ ✨ Tune in, follow the podcast so you never miss an episode, and share this post with a friend who loves a mystery! #MurderMysteryAndMayhemLacedWithMorality #LouPugliese #ThePortal #AuthorInterview #MysteryReaders #ThrillerBooks #Bookstagram #WritingCommunity #FloridaAuthors #SuspenseMeetsSubstance

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  Episode #25

  Kelly Borjas—The Author of High Exposure Discusses Love, Hope & Adventure

  Sep 5, 202639 minS17

  HIGH EXPOSURE: Romance, Danger & Faith with Debut Author Kelly Borjas What happens when a travel blogger running from her past—and from God—stumbles across a dead body in a snow-covered Colorado town? On this episode of Murder, Mystery & Mayhem Laced with Morality , Dr. Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes welcomes debut romantic suspense author Kelly Borjas for a conversation about faith, fiction, danger, romance, and the journey from aspiring writer to published novelist. Kelly’s debut novel, High Exposure , launches an adventure-driven romantic suspense series from Kregel Publications. Travel blogger Julia Stevens arrives in snowy Silverberg, Colorado, determined to complete one final assignment before beginning a new career in journalism. But Silverberg forces Julia to confront more than she bargained for—including the sport connected to her sister’s death, the God she’s been running from, and a dead body that may be connected to something far more dangerous. Enter Cade Haskins, a former DEA agent who has returned home after a failed mission to help care for his father. When Julia’s curiosity leads her dangerously close to a meth ring, Cade finds himself drawn back into the kind of danger he hoped he’d left behind—and increasingly drawn to Julia. Kelly joins us to talk about the inspiration behind High Exposure , creating suspense and romance against the breathtaking—and unforgiving—backdrop of Colorado, writing characters wrestling with faith and loss, and the long road to becoming a traditionally published author. We also explore Kelly’s own story. A love of inspirational fiction that began when an eighth-grade teacher handed her a Janette Oke novel eventually grew into a passion for writing stories filled with adventure, escape, unforgettable love, grace, and hope . Kelly grew up in Southwest Colorado and earned her degree in Communication Studies from Biola University and a master’s degree in Leadership and Organizational Studies from Azusa Pacific University. She now lives on California’s Central Coast with her husband and three boys. When she isn’t writing romantic suspense, she enjoys boating, camping, running, spending time outdoors, and podcasting with The Lit Ladies Podcast . Kelly is represented by Lynette Eason of The Steve Laube Agency. High Exposure releases September 15, 2026, from Kregel Publications. Learn more about Kelly, High Exposure , and her upcoming books at KellyBorjas.com . Website: KellyBorjas.com #KellyBorjas #HighExposure #RomanticSuspense #ChristianRomanticSuspense #ChristianFiction #InspirationalFiction #SuspenseBooks #FaithAndFiction #ChristianAuthors #DebutAuthor #KregelPublications #BookPodcast #AuthorInterview #MysteryAndSuspense #RomanceReaders #FaithHopeAndLove #BooksWithHope #TheLitLadies #MurderMysteryAndMayhem #MurderMysteryMayhemLacedWithMorality

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