Uncorking a Story Podcast

Uncorking a Story

Hosted ByMike Carlon

Stories influence, teach and inspire us, but what about the storytellers who create them? Uncorking a Story profiles storytellers to uncover how their background and life experiences influence the stories they create. We learn what motivates them, their path to success, and what fuels them to keep creating. It all starts by asking one simple question, where does your story begin? Welcome to uncorking a story. All of the books promoted on Uncorking a Story can be viewed and purchased here: https://bookshop.org/shop/UncorkingaStory

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From Real Estate to Real Suspense: How Kaira Rouda Found Her Voice

July 29, 2025 MPN Uncorking a Story 0 Comments
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“I realized I couldn’t write sex scenes, so I went darker. Turns out, murder is more my thing.” — Kaira Rouda

Bestselling author Kaira Rouda returns to Uncorking a Story to talk about her latest psychological thriller Jill Is Not Happy—a twisted, funny, and disturbing journey through a seemingly normal marriage gone off the rails. Kaira shares her journey from marketing executive to novelist, her struggles with writing romance (spoiler: no sex scenes), and how she found her true voice writing deeply flawed characters with secrets they’d kill to protect.

Key Takeaways:

  1. From Biz to Books: Kaira’s writing journey began in childhood but was reignited after years in marketing, real estate, and publishing a business book for women entrepreneurs.
  2. Finding Her Genre: After an awkward foray into romance, she found her true voice writing domestic thrillers—starting with Best Day Ever.
  3. Jill’s Not Happy… and It Shows: Her latest book, Jill Is Not Happy, follows a couple on a National Parks road trip where shared secrets—and suppressed rage—drive the tension.
  4. Why We Love Marriage Thrillers: Rouda believes dark fiction lets us laugh at the dysfunction and say, “At least we’re not that bad.”
  5. Behind the Scenes in D.C.: She offers insight into congressional life from her time as a lawmaker’s spouse—and how that inspired The Widow.
  6. Cheddar Cheese Cravings and Cracker Barrel Confusion: Yes, there’s a cheese tangent. Yes, it’s delightful.
  7. Family of Creatives: Her son is a music producer and her daughter a screenwriter—both of whom keep her on her toes when adapting her own work for screen.

Buy Jill is Not Happy

Amazon: https://amzn.to/447n1s8

Bookshop.org https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9798885281249

Connect with KAira

Website: https://kairarouda.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KairaRoudaBooks/

X: https://x.com/KairaRouda

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kairarouda/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kairaroudabooks

Connect with Mike

Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory

Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/

If you liked this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

#UncorkingAStory #KairaRouda #JillIsNotHappy #DomesticThriller #MarriageThrillers #AuthorLife #WritersOfInstagram #SuspenseFiction #WomenWriters #PsychologicalThriller

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