Elena Meets the Author

• EP. 37 Unveiling the Feather Detective: A Journey into Forensic Ornithology with Author Chris Sweeney

  New episode out now! In episode 37 of Elena Meets the Author, I speak with award-winning journalist and debut biographer Chris Sweeney about his fascinating new book, The Feather Detective: Mystery, Mayhem, and the Magnificent Life of Roxie Laybourne.Chris’s book introduced me to a woman I had never heard of but now can’t stop thinking about: Roxie Collie Laybourne, the trailblazing scientist whose work quite literally changed aviation safety. Known as the world’s first forensic ornithologist, Roxie had an extraordinary ability to identify bird species from the tiniest fragment of feather, skills she developed during her decades at the Smithsonian Institution.Roxie’s expertise became essential to understanding bird strikes, a major risk to aircraft. Her feather-identification methods helped the FAA and aircraft manufacturers design safer planes, refine engine tests, and prevent accidents. Today, her techniques remain foundational in aviation forensics.While aviation made up the bulk of her career, Roxie’s feather work also touched the world of criminal investigations, including poaching cases and a KKK murder. The New York Times called her the Miss Marple of Eiderdown. Chris and I talk about what he uncovered in his research, what surprised him, and what it was like to piece together a life lived partly behind laboratory doors.We also dive into Chris’s writing process: how he first came to hear of Roxie, how he structured her biography, how he kept the science vivid and accessible, and how he grappled with portraying a woman who valued precision, privacy, and sometimes mischief. Roxie began her Smithsonian work long before “forensic ornithology” had a name, and she left an imprint on both science and safety that is still felt today.I loved this conversation, and I hope you come away admiring Roxie Laybourne’s genius as much as I now do.👉 Tap here to leave a quick star rating on Apple Podcasts — it takes 5 seconds!If you’re enjoying the Podcast, subscribe for free to receive new posts and support the show⏱ Episode Chapters00:00 Introduction00:16 Meeting Chris Sweeney and discovering Roxie Laybourne01:04 Roxie’s early life and path into natural science01:36 The feather-identification breakthrough02:41 Challenges, opportunities, and major achievements05:37 How Chris first stumbled onto Roxie’s story09:28 Aviation disasters and how feather forensics played a role12:51 The FAA and the history of bird-strike investigations14:40 Roxie’s long-term impact on aviation safety20:31 Her broader contributions to forensic science22:07 Feather evidence in wildlife and poaching cases25:15 Roxie as mentor and collaborator27:51 A significant family decision and how Roxie handled it28:51 How Chris approached writing an engaging biography30:33 Structuring a life story on the page32:39 Roxie’s legacy today33:46 How she navigated sexism in subtle—and not-so-subtle—ways35:59 Her deep commitment to her craft37:56 Creating the book cover for The Feather Detective40:13 Behind-the-scenes research surprises43:38 The emotional journey of writing a first book45:08 Future projects and inspirations46:46 Final thoughts and recommendations This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit elenabowes.substack.com

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• EP.36 Unveiling Hidden Histories: A Conversation with Fiona Davis on The Stolen Queen

  In this episode of Elena Meets the Author, I talk to the brilliant and bestselling author Fiona Davis about her new novel The Stolen Queen, a dual-timeline mystery that moves between 1936 Egypt and 1978 New York City.Fiona shares the real inspirations behind the story (thank you Kim Kardashian), as well as her fascination with antiquities and the stories behind them. She looks at the ways history can be reshaped or lost over time. We explore the novel’s two vividly drawn protagonists, a serious and studious curator and her arch opposite, a young, inexperienced over-eager assistant to the Met Ball who have to work together to recover a stolen artefact. We also talk about the lesser known women of history who spark Fiona’s imagination, the meticulous research that bring Fiona’s settings to life, the energy of NYC in the late 70’s and the busy world behind the scenes at the Met. Fiona likes to blend a good story with some fascinating history and page-turning mystery into her NYC-based novels. She also touches on her own career, from acting to journalism to writing historical fiction.This episode is a rich, thought-provoking conversation with one of today’s most beloved voices in historical fiction. If you love stories that uncover hidden histories and spotlight remarkable women, this episode is for youEpisode Guide:00:00 Welcome to Elena Meets the Author00:20 Introducing Fiona Davis and The Stolen Queen01:37 Inspiration Behind the Novel03:45 The Ancient Queen Who Sparked the Story06:15 Forgotten Women in History06:37 Diana Vreeland and the Met in the 1970s10:24 Building Atmospheric, Authentic Settings12:28 Research and Story Development15:30 Blending Mystery with Historical Fiction17:19 What Fiona Is Working on Next17:52 New York’s Hidden Corners18:18 A Storied Mansion and Its Remarkable Resident19:29 From Acting to Journalism21:46 The Path to Becoming an Author24:13 Research Rituals and Writing Process29:38 Fiona’s Book Recommendations & Final Thoughts This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit elenabowes.substack.com

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• EP.35 Exploring Comic Tragedies with Debut Author Katie Yee

  In this episode of Elena Meets the Author, I had such a fun and fascinating chat with Katie Yee, the debut author of Maggie; or, A Man and a Woman Walk Into a Bar. Her novel has been compared to Nora Ephron’s Heartburn, it’s witty, warm, and full of heart, finding humour even in the hardest moments.We talk about where the story came from, how Katie created her wonderfully observant narrator, and why she chose to leave her protagonist nameless. We also dive into friendship, love, identity, and the surprising ways storytelling can help us heal.Katie’s energy is infectious, we even got into her writing process, what she’s been reading lately, and a sneak peek at her next project. I absolutely loved this conversation and I think you will too!Timestamps00:00 – Introduction00:17 – Meet Katie Yee and her debut novel01:55 – Themes of humour, heartbreak, and identity03:01 – Writing through personal experience12:01 – Exploring race and motherhood22:26 – The role of women and friendship25:45 – Writing as healing26:04 – Craft and structure29:17 – Advice for aspiring authors31:13 – Hopes for readers and future projects33:50 – Book recommendations and closing thoughts This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit elenabowes.substack.com

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• EP.34 Exploring Humor in Tragedy with Annie Hartnett

  In this episode, I sit down with Annie Hartnett, the bestselling author of The Road to Tender Hearts, to talk about finding humour in heartbreak and the power of storytelling to carry us through difficult times. Annie shares how moments of adversity have shaped her voice as a writer and how she balances grief, chaos, and laughter in her latest novel, a darkly funny, deeply tender story about family, loss, and connection.We talk about her unforgettable characters, including PJ Halliday, his adult daughter Sophie, two orphaned children, and Pancakes, a clairvoyant cat who can predict death and how the book’s strange mix of tragedy and magic reveals what it means to love and keep going. Annie also opens up about her writing process, her love of storytelling, and offers thoughtful advice for anyone working on their own creative projects.It’s an honest, warm, and funny conversation about the beauty in life’s messier moments. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:25 Meet Annie Hartnett & The Road to Tender Hearts02:04 Inspiration Behind the Book06:33 Writing Through Adversity07:39 Reading from Chapter One10:23 Character Inspirations & Family Ties21:43 Omniscient Voice & Magical Elements26:39 The Randomness of Road Stops28:56 Real-Life Inspirations41:25 Writing Tips & Support43:46 Upcoming Projects & Book Recommendations This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit elenabowes.substack.com

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• EP.33 Letters, Life, and Literary Magic with Virginia Evans

  This week I’m joined by the wonderful Virginia Evans, whose debut novel The Correspondent captured my heart. And I don’t say that lightly. Her main character 73-year-old Sybil Van Antwerp is the best! We dive into the joy of epistolary storytelling, explore the wide world of the smart, snappy and funny Sybil, and talk about how letters can hold so much power in today’s digital world.Virginia shares the wisdom she’s gained from her mentor, the superstar author Claire Keegan, the challenges she faced on her long road to publication, and the magic moments that kept her going. Along the way we laugh about family, gush over favourite books, and celebrate the perseverance it takes to follow your creative dreams.If you love heartfelt, character-driven fiction or simply need a reminder of why storytelling matters, you’ll adore this conversation. 💌Highlights:00:00 – Meeting Virginia Evans02:50 – Why epistolary novels still shine05:34 – Lessons from Claire Keegan11:10 – Crafting Sybil’s world24:00 – The magic of letter writing28:43 – A touching family moment29:43 – Favourite books32:05 – Advice for aspiring authors35:09 – The journey to success37:40 – Overcoming writer’s block40:43 – Upcoming projects45:16 – Closing thoughts This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit elenabowes.substack.com

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