Authors Between the Covers: What It Takes to Write Your Heart Out

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March 15 2025

Authors Between the Covers: What It Takes to Write Your Heart Out
Authors Between the Covers: What It Takes to Write Your Heart Out
Meet the bestselling author behind Elaine's Literary Salon: Jeffrey James Higgins
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If you are a bibliophile, author, or have always dreamed of penning a book, you will love to meet Jeffrey James Higgins, host of Elaine’s Literary Salon. 

This new show — live from the popular bistro Elaine’s in Old Town, Alexandria VA. Our host is the restaurant’s owner, Jeffrey James Higgins, a #1 Amazon bestselling author on a mission to help fellow writers share their stories.

The author of The Forever Game, Furious and Unseen, Jeff has a reputation for high-stakes, no-frills drama with this taut thrillers that reviewers say do not contain an ounce of fat. Fans know every line of dialogue is a gut punch, and yet he can make a landscape come alive with a single high-impact sentence. Consider this one: “The pier was a mishmash of pulleys and taught metal lines, and it smelled of diesel fumes and saltwater.”

Jeff’s 2024 novel, Forever Technology, gives us characters that are so likable, and so on the ropes, that their day-to-day fight for survival is what makes this a page-turner. There’s no indication yet that Higgins is planning a series, but we would love to see one centered around this book’s main character, DEA Special Agent Adam Locke. As it stands, what separates Locke from the Jack Reachers of the literary landscape is his hearty, seemingly natural exploration of deeper themes. In this case, it’s nothing less than the future of immortality.

Jeff is a former reporter and retired supervisory special agent who has wrestled a suicide bomber, fought the Taliban in combat, and chased terrorists across five continents. He received both the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Heroism and the DEA Award of Valor.

Jeffrey has been interviewed by CNN, New York Times, Fox News, Investigation Discovery, Declassified, and USA Today, and has won numerous literary awards, including the PenCraft Book Awards Fiction Book of the Year and a Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal.

Today, Inkandescent Radio + TV producer and founder Hope Katz Gibbs, turns the mike to Jeff. We learn about his background, inspiration, and why he and his wife Cynthia (pictured above) opened a restaurant in the heart of Old Town. Don’t miss it!

Check out the live Literary Salon events here. And check back for new episodes of Elaine’s Literary Salon on Inkandescent.tv and listen to all the podcasts on InkandescentRadio.com.

Elaine’s Literary Salon

About Elaine’s: Elaine’s modern Mediterranean cuisine is based on exquisite food found in Alexandria, Egypt. The unique style is best described as Middle Eastern with French, Greek, and Italian influences. Elaine’s is located at 208 Queen Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314. The 1880 building, the previous home of Bilbo Baggins for 38 years, has been completely renovated with a new look and feel. The restaurant is located in the heart of Old Town’s Historic District within sight of the Potomac River. Founders Park, The Torpedo Factory Art Center, and Old Town Alexandria Waterfront are only blocks away. Elaine’s is named after the owner’s grandmother. When the owner was twelve years old in Cairo, Egypt, she promised her grandmother that one day she would own a restaurant and name it after her. The owner is proud to share her family’s recipes with the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Make a reservation today: elaines-restaurant.com.

Your Host: Journalist, author, and wine appreciator Hope Katz Gibbs

About the show: In “Authors Between The Covers,” we get the skinny from the professional writers who have made their dreams come true of publishing their books. Is it the fantasy they hoped it would be? For some, yes. For others, the reality of book publishing is an eye-opener that can be downright depressing. Always, it’s fascinating to hear their stories. Don’t miss it!

Learn more: To read about the dozens of authors we’ve profiled in BeInkandescent magazine, check out our Books of the Month.

Tune in every Thursday, for another episode of “Authors Between the Covers.”

Previous Episodes
Sunday, August 18th, 2024

This month on the Authors Between the Covers show: Gregory Maguire, author, “Wicked”

A Note from Hope Katz Gibbs, founder and producer, Inkandescent Radio — Odds are good that you have read Gregory Macguire’s bestseller, “Wicked,” seen the Broadway show (millions around the world have), and/or are anticipating the release of the film version this month. So, it is a great pleasure to share the interview I had the privilege of doing with him for The Costco Connection. Gregory allowed me to record and produce our conversation for our Authors Between the CoversClick here to listen to the podcast!

Friday, March 1st, 2024

Romance is Redefined in Rebecca Serle’s newest book “Expiration Dates” — available this month!

March 2024: A Note from Hope Katz Gibbs, publisher, Inkandescent Women magazine — “Being single is like playing the lottery — always the chance that with one piece of paper, you could win it all,” says New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Serle about the theme of her newest novel, Expiration Dates, available this month. Promoted as a romance that will define a generation, this is Rebecca’s 8th book — and after reading it, and crying during my 9-hour planeClick here to listen to the podcast!

Sunday, October 1st, 2023

Here Be Dragons — and Griffins and Vampires and Puppies in the newest book by Tui Sutherland, “Wings of Fire: A Guide to the Dragon World”

October 2023: A Note from Hope Katz Gibbs, founder, Inkandescent® PR & Publishing Co. — If you haven’t already been sucked into Tui Sutherland’s epic Wings of Fire dragon fantasy, dive into the backstories of the ten tribes on two continents with three moons in A Guide to the Dragon World. In this title, we learn the dragons of Pyrrhia and Pantala are on a mission to develop a definitive guide to the lives and history of each tribe toldClick here to listen to the podcast!

Thursday, June 1st, 2023

Meet New York Times Bestselling Author Lisa See and discover her newest historical novel: “Lady Tan’s Circle of Women”

June 2023: A Note from Hope Katz Gibbs, founder, Inkandescent PR + Publishing Co. — Hello, and welcome to this month’s episode of Authors Between the Covers Show on the Inkandescent Radio Network and Inkandescent.tv. I’m deeply honored to be here with today’s guest, Lisa See; I was introduced to this New York Times bestselling author when my longtime freelance client, Costco magazine, assigned me to write about her latest book for the June 2023 issue of The Costco Connection.Click here to listen to the podcast!

Monday, May 29th, 2023

This month on Authors Between the Covers: Meet the kids raised by the author of “The Earthbound Parent”

August 2023: A Note from Hope Katz Gibbs, founder, Inkandescent® PR + Publishing Co. — Are you a parent tired of the persistent belief that your child’s moral values, ethical principles, and ability to distinguish between what is right and wrong must come from religion? Do you wonder how you can ever teach your child to think for herself in a culture that values uncritical obedience over critical consideration? Or do you fear what the future holds for your childClick here to listen to the podcast!

Wednesday, February 1st, 2023

February 2023: This month on Authors Between the Covers we explore Jay Shetty’s 8 Rules of Love: How to find it, keep it, and let it go

A Note from Hope Katz Gibbs, host, Authors Between the Covers show — We begin a month of celebrating love (why reserve it for just one day?) in an interview with #1 New York Times bestselling author Jay Shetty, author of the new book: The 8 Rules of Love. “During the Coronavirus pandemic, I spent a lot of time thinking about love,” shares the award-winning storyteller, a former monk whose viral videos about peace and purpose have been viewed more thanClick here to listen to the podcast!

Friday, August 12th, 2022

Today on Authors Between the Covers: Meet award-winning teacher and author Phillip Done and learn about his new book, “The Art of Teaching Children”

A Note from Hope Katz Gibbs, founder, InkandescentRadio.com: Hello and welcome to this month’s episode of the Authors Between the Covers show on the Inkandescent Radio Network. I’m Hope Katz Gibbs, host of the show and creator of the Inkandescent PR + Publishing Co., thrilled to be here with the amazing award-winning teacher and author Phillip Done! Phil is coming to us from Budapest, Hungary, and I know that you will enjoy today’s podcast interview, where he’ll share insights intoClick here to listen to the podcast!

Tuesday, March 1st, 2022

Celebrate International Women’s Month with the “Authors Between the Covers” show: Meet Olivia Campbell and learn about “Women in White Coats: How the first women doctors changed the world of medicine”

A Note from Hope Katz Gibbs, producer and founder, Inkandescent Radio — What an honor it is to interview Olivia Campbell, a journalist and author specializing in medicine and women. Her work has appeared in The Guardian, The Washington Post, New York Magazine, The Cut, and many others.  Her new book is Women in White Coats: How the First Women Doctors Changed the World of Medicine. It is featured in the March 2022 issue of The Costco Connection. I have been writing for this monthly magazine sinceClick here to listen to the podcast!

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