What do Blockbuster cards, Duke basketball, and a lifelong dream of writing a novel have in common? Somehow they all end up in this episode! This week, Penn and I are joined by #1 New York Times bestselling author Emily Giffin, whose books have defined the modern "beach read" for millions of readers. (And I love a beach read, y'all.) Her latest book, Love You More, just came out this month. Emily shares the path that took her from practicing law to becoming a beloved novelist, and how she creates the messy, relatable characters we can't stop rooting for. Along the way, Emily joins Penn in encouraging me to write my own novel and we explore why there are no truly original ideas - only original voices. Of course, this wouldn't be Laugh Lines without a healthy dose of Gen X nostalgia. We reminisce about Encyclopedia Brown, Blockbuster late fees, and play a game called "Plot Twist," where Emily turns the most ordinary situations into bestselling novels on the spot. We also answer your Laugh Line questions about pickleball etiquette, marriage with ADHD, and the mottos that have shaped our lives. If you learned something from our conversation with Emily, share it with an aspiring writer or somebody who just has a dream that they have wanted to chase. You can learn more about her and her new book here: https://www.emilygiffin.com/ We love to hear from you! Leave us a message at 323-364-3929 or write the show at podcast@theholdernessfamily.com. You can also listen to this show wherever you get podcasts. #podcast #author #books ___ Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/theholdernessfamily/ https://www.tiktok.com/@theholdernessfamily https://www.facebook.com/TheHoldernessfamily Shop our merch: https://shopholderness.com/ Laugh with us at https://www.youtube.com/@holdernessfamilylaughs?sub_confirmation=1 Sing along at https://www.youtube.com/@theholdernessfamily?sub_confirmation=1 We try our best to respond to comments. XO 00:00 Welcome to Laugh Lines 3:!4 Welcome Emily! 7:01 Law School Origins 12:44 What Is A Beach Read? 16:45 The Writing Process 26:36 The Pressure of Success 30:07 Learning From Fiction 35:18 Plot Twist Game 41:13 Gen X Is The Best 46:15 Calls from the Laugh Line