Claim OwnershipFive Compelling Questions with Shawn
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© Shawn Reilly Simmons
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Award-Winning Author and Editor Shawn Reilly Simmons gets to know her guests by asking Five Compelling Questions (plus a few bonus ones) about the writing life. Topics include finding inspiration, staying motivated, writing as a career, staying sane during the creative process, and balancing fictional and real life.
232 Episodes
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Shawn chats with Christopher Farnsworth about BURIED SECRETS, the 22nd book in Robert B. Parker's Jesse Stone series, journalism vs. novel writing, the enduring appeal of detective stories, the allure of vampires in literature, and valuable advice for aspiring writers.
Shawn chats with novelist Sean Tyler about his debut novel WHITE HELL, which explores the harrowing journey of the Donner Party through the lens of a love story, Sean's unique experiences as a writer, his influences, the challenges of the creative process, romance, historical fiction, Las Vegas, the end of days, turkey sandwiches, and the importance of remembering history in modern times.
Shawn chats with Charlotte Wood, the acclaimed Australian author, about the inspiration behind the latest novel, themes of goodness and forgiveness, how personal experiences shape writing, her journey through cancer and how it influenced her creative process, the importance of authenticity in storytelling, and the impact of literature and the joy of seeing her work adapted for the stage.
Shawn chats with Mark Greaney about the new Gray Man novel, MIDNIGHT BLACK, the evolution of his character, the importance of thorough research in writing, his writing process and work ethic, the surreal experience of seeing his work adapted into film, the challenges of writing, and personal anecdotes that shaped his journey as a writer.
Shawn chats with James T. Bartlett, a travel and lifestyle journalist turned True Crime author, his books THE ALASKAN BLONDE & GOURMET GHOSTS series, Bartlett's journey into writing, the appeal of true crime, surprising discoveries during research, the process of crafting compelling narratives, Los Angeles, a new True Crime book focused on Burbank, the importance of sensitivity in true crime writing and the responsibility authors feel towards the families affected by the stories they tell.
Shawn chats on Valentine's Day with professional wedding planner and author Mary Karnes about the most recent book in her cozy wedding planner mystery series, the inspiration behind her books, the challenges of balancing her writing career with her growing wedding planning business, the impact of being a published author on her life and family, her writing process, her multi-cultural roots, future plans for the series, and personal reflections on her role as a mother and a businesswoman.
Shawn chars with Rose Kerr about her debut novel, DEATH AT THE SCOTTISH BROCH, Rose's journey into writing, her character, archaeologist Maya Reed, the research process behind the book, the challenges of writing a mystery, inspirations, Agatha Christie, and the future of the series.
Shawn chats with AX Foster about his unique journey from a prosecutor to an author of legal thrillers, his debut novel GAVEL TO GAVEL, inspiration, justice, Foster's background in law and acting, societal fascination with legal dramas, Agatha Christie, John Grisham, James Patterson, and the importance of justice in the courtroom.
Shawn chats with Jeff Markowitz about his novel THE OTHER, social justice, the historical context of Nazi activity in New Jersey, the significance of storytelling, addressing uncomfortable truths, crafting dual timeline narratives, the importance of standing up against hate, and the power of fiction to evoke empathy and understanding.
Shawn chats with bestselling author Robert Crais about his latest novel, THE BIG EMPTY, which marks the 20th book featuring private investigator Elvis Cole, the evolution of his characters, internet influencers, family secrets, loyalty, betrayal, the nuances of plotting and character development, and the emotional stakes involved in Crais's storytelling.
Shawn chats with Daphne Silver about her Agatha Award-winning author Cozy Mystery series, rare books, museums, Edgar Allan Poe, communities in writing, the balance between character and setting, and valuable advice for aspiring authors.
Shawn chats with Brian Freeman about his latest novel, his creative process, the challenges of writing thrillers, the importance of collaboration with his wife, Marsha, his evolution as a writer, his experiences in different genres, and the literary influences that have shaped his storytelling.
Shawn chats with Tom Coffey about SPECIAL VICTIM, the second book in the Devine Trilogy, themes surrounding justice and media responsibility, New York City, character development, the Central Park jogger case, the challenges of writing from multiple perspectives, and the importance of withholding judgment in today's media landscape.
Shawn chats with D.M. Barr (Dawn Barclay) about her writing journey, her latest psychological thriller, DEADLY WHEN DISTURBED, the unique intersection of her real estate background with her fiction, her character development process, community among writers, the challenges of the creative process, her advice for aspiring writers, and an exciting project she and Shawn will be working on for many years to come.
Shawn chats with Lisa Williamson Rosenberg about her new novel, MIRROR ME, the themes of identity, belonging, the influence of psychology on writing, the significance of her characters, the challenges of crafting a compelling narrative, the importance of backstory, and the journey of self-discovery that her protagonist, Eddie, undergoes throughout the novel.
Shawn and Dr. Frank chat about his fiction and nonfiction writing career, a medical career and how it influences his writing, walking around as your character for a week, leaving good reviews, Stephen King, and Frank's great advice for writers and for life in general.
Shawn chats with award-winning author John Shepphird about his journey as a film director and writer, the nuances of writing novels versus short stories, the enduring appeal of crime fiction, John's newest novel, their experiences in the film industry, the importance of attending writing conferences, and their upcoming anthology collaboration TENNIS NOIR.
Shawn chats with returning guest Greg Stout about his writing journey, his new novel LONG TIME GONE, the Jackson Gamble series, Nashville, the intricacies of character development, plotting a long-running series, noir, realism, respectful representation of characters, Greg's new radio show, and the enduring appeal of detective fiction.
Shawn chats with Ellen Butler about her journey from traditional to independent publishing, experiences in the writing community, the creative process, inspirations, character development, and the importance of mentorship for aspiring writers.
Shawn chats with Julie Sampson about her middle-grade novel RUBY AND THE BOSS CRICKET, the creative process behind writing for children, the importance of inspiring young readers, friendship, self-discovery, writing fiction and non-fiction, personal experiences, and valuable advice for aspiring writers.
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