In Episode 222, Sarah talks with authors Jennifer Marie Thorne and Lee Kelly about their latest co-written novel, The Midnight Show. Set in the world of 1980s late-night comedy, the book is told in a documentary / oral history format that traces the rise of a breakout star — and the mystery surrounding her disappearance. They talk about how they developed a cast of characters shaped by both real-life comedy figures and their own creative instincts, as well as the challenge of writing sketch comedy that actually lands on the page. They also get into the realities of writing as a duo and the novel's exploration of how women in comedy are perceived and defined. Plus, they share what they're working on next and their book recommendations.

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CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog.

Highlights

Books by Lee Kelly + Jennifer Thorne: The Antiquity Affair (2023), The Starlets (2024) and My Fair Frauds (2025)
By Lee Kelly: With Regrets (2023), A Criminal Magic (2016), and City Of Savages (2015)
By Jennifer Thorne: Diavola (2024), Lute (2022), and Newbourne Park(September 29, 2026)
A brief, spoiler-free overview of The Midnight Show
The inspiration behind the novel and how they created their characters using a mix of real-life performers and imagination
Writing sketch comedy for the page — and how they created it organically for the story
The evolution of their collaborative writing process
How society views funny women — and how they're allowed to be defined
What this author duo is working on next

Lee's + Jennifer's Book Recommendations [38:42]

Two OLD Books They Love

Jennifer : The Wonder State by Sara Flannery Murphy (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:07]
Lee : A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan (2010) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:24]
Other Books Mentioned
- The Magicians by Lev Grossman (2009) [39:34]
- The Candy House by Jennifer Egan (2022) [43:08]

Two NEW Books They Love

Jennifer : Cruelty Free by Caroline Glenn (2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:16]
Lee : The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead (2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:28]

Two NEW RELEASES They're Excited About

Jennifer : Exit Party by Emily St. John Mandel (September 15, 2026) | Amazon| Bookshop.org [48:02]
Lee : Death Was Not on the Guest List by Jenni L. Walsh (June 16, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [51:22]
Other Books Mentioned
- The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker (2012) [49:36]
- Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (2014) [50:04]
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1925) [51:53]

Books From the Discussion

Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld (2023) [6:37]
Live From New York by Tom Shales and James Andrew Miller (2014) [6:41]
The Chris Farley Show by Tom Farley Jr. and Tanner Colby (2008) [6:45]
Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2019) [23:43]
The Favorites by Layne Fargo (2025) [25:47]
Good People by Patmeena Sabit (2026) [38:20]