USA Today bestselling author Melonie Johnson―aka #thewritinglush―enjoys cheap wine, expensive beer, and sipping cocktails that start with the letter m. Declared a “writer to watch” by Kirkus and a “fizzy, engrossing new voice” by Entertainment Weekly, her smart funny contemporary romances include Too Good to Be Real and her award-winning Sometimes in Love debut series: Getting Hot with the Scot, Smitten by the Brit, and Once Upon a Bad Boy. A former high school English and Theatre teacher, she spends her days in her Star Wars office, dreaming up meet-cutes. She lives in Chicagoland with her husband, their two redhead daughters, and one very large dog. Meloniejohnson.com Melonie's Readings: Too Good to be Real – 13:52 Getting Hot with the Scot – 27:05 Smitten by the Brit – 44:44 Michael’s Beer Pairings: Sea Quench Ale, Dogfish Head Brewery (paired to Too Good to be Real) – 11:05 Old Chub, Oskar Blues Brewery (paired to Getting Hot with the Scot) – 24:53 Lager, Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Beer Americano Cocktail (paired to Smitten by the Brit) – 39:23 Beer Americano Recipe 5 oz. Campari 5 oz. Sweet Vermouth 3 oz. Lager Beer Fill a collins glass with ice. Add the Campari and vermouth. Froth the beer using an Aerolatteor immersion blender and pour into the glass. Garnish with an orange peel. Interview Highlights: Easter Eggs vs Tropes – 21:20 Boozy Book Broads – 22:42 Winks & Nods – 36:34 The author in the characters – 52:54 COMING NEXT MONTH: Eugenia Fain, poet UPCOMING EVENTS: Gabriel's Horn is accepting submissions for its anthology. Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.