In today’s episode, we meet New York Times bestselling novelist and playwright Charlie Lovett, whose latest novel is Escaping Dreamland, published by Blackstone Publishers.

Much of the book is set in the early 20th century in New York City, and explores historic New York and the lives of three young people writing series books for children (think The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew). The book is an homage to the books of our childhood, to New York City, and above all to love and friendship.

Liza Nash Taylor, author of Etiquette for Runaways says that “Lovett navigates skillfully between centuries while exploring interwoven themes of regret, unrequited love, loyalty, and ambition. Not since E. L. Doctorow’s Ragtime has this era in New York been so beautifully captured.”

Charlie starts the show with a reading from early in the book, where we learn that Robert, the modern-day protagonist, is a writer with a secret, one with a direct line to his love for the Hardy Boys, Tom Swift and the Tremendous Trio.