Five Compelling Questions with Shawn: Recent Episodes
Shawn Reilly Simmons
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.
Shawn welcomes fellow podcaster Dan White to the show to discuss his podcasts, QUEER MAGNOLIAS and OUT WITH DAN, the importance of listening to diverse voices and points of view, finding your people, mutual friends, travel, eating and drinking, and Agatha Christie.
Shawn chats with Lynn Painter about her new novel, writing for adults and younger readers, weddings, blowing up weddings, writing rom-com male characters, the need for joy, and classic rom-com movies.
Shawn and Cindy chat about her debut novel, OBEY ALL LAWS, life as a parole officer, dogs, second chances, making mistakes, organic writing, and writing drunk and editing sober.
Shawn and Jackie chat about cozy mysteries, writing multiple series, flowers and what they mean to us, garden clubs, secret Pinterest boards, Texas, and how we want no sadness in some mysteries.
Shawn chats with NYT Bestselling Author C.J. Box about his 24th Joe Picket novel, THREE-INCH TEETH, writing a long-running and much-loved series, predator attack teams, Mama Bears, animal emotions, Mark Twain, and finding your own unique lane as a writer.
Shawn and Lynn chat about writing multiple series, finding a new publishing home, being from the South, True Crime, small town newspapers, breaking up with our characters, and French Bulldog puppies.
Shawn and Bruce chat about Bruce's new series, coauthored with LynDee Walker, the Byron series, his new series out next year, taking chances as a writer, Stephen King, non-writing spouses, the need for therapy, British television, and support from other writers in the community.
Shawn and Darlene chat about dogs, Bouchercon, meeting your people, support from librarians, indie vs. traditional publishing, Sisters in Crime, and connecting with readers.
Shawn and Leah chat about Leah's new novel, Alfred Hitchcock, STRANGERS ON A TRAIN, making friends as adults, women shouldering family responsibilities, and how new friends might not always be what they appear to be.
Shawn and Wendy chat about writing culinary mysteries, research through cooking, moms who read, finding your reading groove again, Wendy's brush with the law at a young age, connecting with readers, and how art is important to the human condition.
Shawn and Nick chat about his long-running Peter Ash series, how Nick's career began, grocery store conversations, PTSD, writing by hand, cool techniques for writers who get stuck, many drinks with friends at conferences, author rock stars, and finding your people.
Shawn and Erica chat about playing the violin, creepy opera houses, being keynote speakers, concert masters, sexism in both music and writing, and Agatha Christie.
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 and Marty chat about her new historical mystery series, The London Ladies' Murder Club, the Society of Useful Women, useful women, gardening, writing multiple series, the value of a critique group, and releasing two full-length books at one time.
Shawn and Paul chat about his cookbook for expectant mothers, writing cookbooks, testing recipes, nutrition and where we all go wrong, the beauty of women and childbirth, and helping others.
Shawn and Sharon chat about her new novel set in Bath in the UK, Sharon's love of England, teaching and writing, following your own lessons, brains of nineteen year olds, a chastity belt for your developing brain that keeps you from making big decisions, how warm is your oven, and the art of not giving up.
Shawn and Peter chat about his debut novel BLUE RIDGE, being inspired by your surroundings, twin brothers, pancakes, how acting can help writers, Sam Shepherd, and fun dinner guests.
Shawn and Edwin chat about his new novel, RASHOMON, writing from multiple POVs, birthday cakes, story structure, teaching, and walking the dog.
Shawn and Tom chat about the first book in The Divine Trilogy, living in New York, police in New York, SERPICO, why NYC is a great place for stories, and writing fiction inspired by true events.
Shawn and Lane chat about the second book in Lane's Big Picture Trilogy, art and antiquity theft, the importance of art in the world, art and religion, sudden cold air, likeable and unlikeable characters, and the strategy behind writing a trilogy.
Shawn and Linda chat about the newest book in her HOA Mystery series, deep fakes, the state of the world, how AI is everywhere, writers and actors dealing with AI, book store events, and writing multiple series.
Shawn and Virginia chat about her new book, which is a reimagining of THE WIZARD OF OZ, the male gaze, love and the darker side of love, if there really is no place like home, why Virginia writes the kinds of books she does, and life during lockdown.
Shawn and Gregory chat about the newest novel in the Jackson Gamble PI series set in Nashville, how Nashville is a great place to visit and set a series in, winning the Shamus Award then judging the Shamus Award, having enough time to read, hate mail, and never giving up.
Shawn and Clementine chat about her debut novel, the feeling of excited dread, coming-of-age love stories, writing stories we want to read, why everyone is so raw, and their fascination with both poetry and apples.
Shawn and Marlie chat about fires, old New York, the richer and poorer classes living together in the city, how people react in emergencies, and how there can be several truths true at the same time.
Shawn and Mary chat about East and West Coast living, keeping a series fresh, building characters, cozy vs. detective fiction and related body counts, being busy women, and collaborating on a short story together.
Shawn and Joe chat about perseverance in writing, getting through the hard times, living with no regrets, Ted Baxter, making up stories about strangers on the street, putting words in the bank, meeting Julia Child and having a child in Hollywood, dealing with the writers' strike and oddball projects.
Shawn and Alan chat about his new novel SANCTUARY MOTEL, life in Florida, police ride-alongs, Fish Kitchen, off-brand motels, upcoming anthology projects, and their mutual love of Stephen King.
Shawn and Rachel chat about uncovering our origins, library borrowing limits, spending time with writers, MFA programs, and being a teacher of creative writing.
Shawn and Matt discuss Siskel and Ebert and Matt's new book about the legendary film critics and their impact on movie watching through the years.
Shawn and Edward chat about books and art, finding inspiration during the pandemic, Edward creating a drawing a day, theater and politics.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Edward Carey is a novelist, visual artist, and playwright. His previous novels include The Swallowed Man, Little, Alva & Irva, and Observatory Mansions, and an acclaimed series for young adults, the Iremonger Trilogy. His writing for the stage includes an adaptation of Robert Coover’s Pinocchio in Venice, a continuation of the Pinocchio story. Born in England, he now teaches at the University of Texas in Austin, where he lives with his wife, the author Elizabeth McCracken, and their family.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
The witty and entrancing story of a young woman trapped in a ramshackle English playhouse—and the mysterious figure who threatens the theater’s very survival.
Shawn and Dale talk about traditional vs. indie publishing, writing inspirations, Stephen King, their mutual appreciation for the Writing Life, and finding your community in the world of writing.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dale T Phillips is a New England writer and actor who spent his formative years in Maine, and has lived and worked in a number of different places. He graduated from the University of Maine at Orono, studied writing with Stephen King, and has worked for over thirty years as a Technical Writer in a number of major industries, translating the work of software developers into clear instructions for using computer software.
ABOUT THE BOOK: 87 WAYS TO SELL MORE BOOKS
Most writers want to sell more books, but with over 20 million books on the market, you need to adopt techniques and methods that help do that. Here are a number of things to do that will move you further along your goal of more book sales. Some are quick and easy, some are more difficult and long-term, but the more you do, the better your chances of sales improvement.
Shawn and Lauren discuss her new novel MEDUSA'S SISTERS, how no one is born evil, shaping young minds, the allure of myths and mythical stories, the roles of siblings, sisters, and birth order, the unfortunate timelessness of blaming the victim, feminism, and the importance of compassion in all things.
Shawn and Tim discuss growing up in the 80s, how comments made during our school years stay with us into adulthood, small-t trauma, speech writing and fiction writing, speech team vs. drama club, and the emotional well-being of Gen-Xers.
Shawn and Sandra chat about writing for younger readers, hard endings, plotting vs. organic writing, Stephen King, having rogues in the family, Chloris Leachman, and their love of music.
Shawn and Kerri chat about The Jane Collective, how you have to keep fighting for your rights, great girlfriends and having a ride-or-die set of friends, accidentally topical books, listening to the universe, and hanging in there through rejection in a writing career.
Shawn and her co-host Kate KB Jackson chat with Lisa chat about her business The Writing Retreat Directory and Writing Retreat Sampler, her deep dive into Ancestry.com, and finding inspiration when starting or maintaining a writing journey.
Shawn chats with returning guest Don Bentley about the newest book in the Tom Clancy world of novels, what SWAT stands for, what it's like on the bestseller lists, writing multiple books and series a year, Tom Cruise, writing sprints, and having either a Stephen King or Mark Greaney kind of day.
Shawn and Amy chat about comedy writing vs. novel writing, great dialogue, being Midwestern, debut novels, shifting careers, and the importance of supportive partners for creative people.
Shawn and Jane talk about surviving and thriving after a cancer diagnosis, healthcare for women over the years, the bandwagon effect, what history was actually like, and the magic of teamwork.
Shawn and Ali chat about Ali's Fan Fiction origins and her path to traditional publishing, the role that luck plays in our lives, the best writing advice you can give or get, how stories help us deal with difficult times, finding your community, and a billion-dollar idea.
Shawn and returning guest Katherine Ramsland discuss crime-solving teams, horse dentists, teamwork and brainstorming, Mother Nature and the weather, the DC Snipers, saying yes to opportunities, Dostoevsky, and philosophy.
Shawn and Libi chat about Ben Franklin quotes; professional storytelling; living and traveling in Italy IRL and in your mind; elegant murder; and beautiful book covers.
Shawn and Shelley chat about Shelley being a Ph.D. and Edgar-nominated writer, finding power in words and how they impact others as well as ourselves, how to write mysteries, Mark Twain, and food, of course.
Shawn and Sidney chat about gay characters who aren’t just sidekicks, the lasting appeal of rom-coms, their mutual distrust of outlining stories, a roller-coaster of words, writers on strike, and being culture vultures.
Shawn and Genevive chat about The Viking Age, pantsers/discovery writing vs. plotting, faking it till you're making it, content warnings on novels, Viking women, and how women fight.
Shawn and Ore discuss her debut novel, THE THREE OF US, what it's like being a debut author, writing short and long fiction, pandemic novel writing, friendships and love, juggling on Zoom, and eavesdropping on someone's worst nightmare.
Shawn and Lauryn chat about Millenials vs Gen-X experiences, The Interestings, the financial crisis of 2008 and how it impacted a generation, growing up with social media, pantsers, restructuring a book post editorial review, multiple POVs, and hard writing math.
In a very Florida episode, Shawn and Sarah discuss her new book BURNING EDEN, the state they’ve both called home, the ability to listen well, falling oak trees, how we’re all a bunch of weirdos post-pandemic, and murdery comedy.
Shawn and Brian chat about continuing the Jason Bourne series, Lennon vs. Lenin, Richard Chamberlain cred, maintaining your own voice while writing another author's series, sharing ownership of a character, writing action effectively, and finishing what you start.
Shawn and Buzzy chat about her new book, TO DIE BEAUTIFUL, on being 52, writing fiction based on real people and events, writing non-fiction vs. fiction, Murderino Nation, the importance of hope, cool first names, and the impact of history on our current day lives.
Shawn and Andrew chat about HOPE and hope, Picasso quotes, having a way forward, invisible guardrails, what to do when hope doesn't pan out, the best cover image story ever, learning comedy, the brilliance of Steve Martin, and once again, having hope.
Shawn and Juan chat about how lives are shaped by revolution and ideology, writing novels as opposed to non-fiction when dealing with true life events, working with a map vs. a compass while writing, the novelist Javier Marías, idolizing writers and aspiring to greatness.
Shawn and Laura chat about "Jolly" Jane Toppan, female serial killers, inadvertat feminism, Patricia Highsmith and Shirley Jackson as influences, Japanese fiction, and poetry vs. prose for a writer who is expert in both disciplines.
Shawn and Laura chat about falling off of treadmills, 1990s nostalgia, how scandal impacts men and women differently, writing strong dialogue, and the art of the twist.
Shawn and Kerry chat about having an iron will, always looking for the good side of a bad situation, online dating, being a child of a military family, survival, giving up sugar, and writing standalone vs. series books.
Shawn and Paige chat about Paige's American debut, Indiana, Paige being the daughter of an INDY 500 driver, immersing yourself in your work, method acting to develop characters, a love of dialogue, finding the sweet spot, and how everyone loves pie.
Shawn and Mary chat about wedding planning, being a debut author, personal drama, being tenatious in life, real life drama, changing the murderer, taking shady revenge, the weirdest wedding experiences, being nosy and also calm.
Shawn chats with one of her idols, Lisa Scottoline, about her new book LOYALTY, the concept of justice, being Italian American, the mafia, historicalfiction and thrillers, what kinds of people pantsers are, how food is everything, and important advice for writers, especially women.
Shawn and Elizabeth chat about the Supreme Court, motherhood and career, the "inferior lives" of powerful women, legal studies as they relate to fiction, RBG and her legacy, hydrating your fiction, and surviving cancer.
Shawn and Marcy chat at about attention spans, fiction vs. memoirs, hurricanes, water as a metaphor, movies about writers, not being psychiatrists, and staying positive.
Shawn and Julia chat about mathing things out, reality TV, how we find ideas, mining our normal lives for entertainment content, statistics as it relates to fictionwriting, social media and the role it has in our lives, and more math tips.
Shawn and Chanel chat about choosing fiction writing as a career, Chanel’s Cuban-American experience and intergenerational family stories and how that influences her writing, choosing favorite characters, and not persevering through rejection in your writing career.
Shawn and Kate chat about her new novel, writing multiple books a year in different genres, how long it takes to write, family dynamics, sisters, being on a cleanse, and going viral on TikTok.
Shawn and Ramona chat about the concept of de-extinction, writing realistic youthful voices, grief and loss as it relates to hope, taking a while to write a novel, writing short vs. long fiction, and inspiring words from an expert crafter of words.
Shawn and Rocky chat about books for younger readers, writing YA vs writing for adults, the importance of reading, how being derivative isn't always a bad thing, not wanting to practice violin, and writing into the future.
Shawn and Nick chat about musicians who become writers, the past its impact on the present, content warnings in novels, working closely with editors, and debut author excitement.
Shawn and Anissa chat about the concept of someone disappearing and the resulting emotions for those left behind, following up a blockbuster novel with the next book, having goals at a young age to write, having to pay for rent and food, and a joyful rapid-fire quiz where we learn so much more than we thought we knew about Anissa.
Shawn and Colleen chat about her newest novel, grandmothers, gender-neutral names, how far we've come as women and how far we still need to go, Thelma and Louise, and having family members live on in our memories forever.
Shawn and Becky chat about what it’s like to be a quadruplet married to a twin, beach reads, high school sweethearts, the work that goes into life, how film development work has influenced Becky’s writing, weddings and wedding drama, and being extroverts in the writing community who found each other.
Shawn and Jenny chat about her debut novel, plotting with Post-It notes, being on the other side of the editorial desk, not tracking serial killers, life in Brooklyn, living in someone else's home, thinking in different ways to solve problems, and kind stalking.
Shawn and Ling Ling chat about musicians turned writers, nameless main characters, Starbucks names, the concept of beauty as self-care, discovering love, and having a very busy creative schedule.
Shawn and Kristin chat about her debut novel, her dad and his martial arts skills, beautiful book covers, readers in Bulgaria, Russia and current affairs, and the sweetest answer given to a regular question asked on the show.
Shawn and Jill chat about Italy, Italian families, the power of love, how being an editor helps your own writing, how writing is always fun, even when it's hard, and having a chef pair a menu to your book.
Shawn and Lynn chat about being from Indiana, connections and being connected, the Polio crisis, the hard work of healthcare workers and those who work tirelessly to help save us all, what it was like for women in the past and today, kindness, the black plague, and pandemics.
Shawn and Cheryl chat about her novel that was inspired by a family tragedy, her grandfather's murder, social justice, racial reckoning in our country, George Floyd, writing for all audiences, standalones vs. an established series, editorial notes that make you LOL, seizing opportunities, and how writing what you know is BS.
Shawn and Gabriel chat about writing historical fiction in the iconic town of Boston, being compared to the greats, characters and how to define them, classic noir mysteries, upcoming projects, and Insta-famous writing partner kitty Munchkin.
Shawn and Rachel chat about her debut novel, screenwriting and writing novels, her movie TORN HEARTS, Katy Segal, being salespeople, dealing with the one percent, being drawn to a strong point of view, weird jobs, casting for Naked and Afraid, and loving writing.
Shawn and Greg chat about Greg's Shamus win, and getting to be a judge for the competition afterwards, teachers, plotting and dialogue, Wallander, Nordic crime fiction, keeping a series fresh, and writing characters that everyone loves.
Shawn and Deepti chat about Portugal, what being a human being feels like, working on screenplays, writing trilogies, being less anxious, and loving all of your characters, even the bad ones.
Shawn and Iris chat about her screenwriting experience, writing the 2006 film LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA for Clint Eastwood, Alice in Wonderland as inspiration, writing in different disciplines, great advice for beginning writers, and loving going to bed early.
Shawn and Leah chat about common and uncommon knowledge, being broke in NYC, believing in yourself, finding free things to do, being inspired in bookstores, taking five or ten years to write a novel, and not loving chocolate.
Shawn and Heather chat about Christmas shops on the beach, when Christmas decorations go up and come down, talking about murder at the dinner table, finding things in your house to kill with, Law & Order TV, and writing multiple series.
Shawn and Lynn chat about Canada, ski resorts and skiing, writing millennial mysteries, 1950s housewives, reimagining goals after life's twists and turns, gorgeous actors and actresses, and the enduring appeal of cozy mysteries.
Shawn and Jenny chat about her debut novel, awkward beginnings, being human, finding the right agent, being midwestern, feeling like an outsider, trailer parks, and making new friends in the best way possible.
Shawn and Julie chat about historical mysteries, representing historical time periods accurately, writing short and long fiction, dogs and cats living together, and very hot peppers.
Shawn and Erica chat about playing violin at the Met, musicians turned authors, Charlotte Bronte, finding a publishing home for your series, and kindness.
Shawn and Marilyn chat about writing for adults and younger readers, Level Elevate, controlled chaos, eavesdropping in coffee shops, and coffee entrepreneurs/enthusiasts.
Shawn and Leah chat about her debut adult mystery novel, finding a location for a mystery series on a family trip, summers of our youth, finding time in the day, having young children, and their love of libraries.
Shawn and Des chat about his career in law enforcement and how it informs his fiction writing, writing multiple series, parents, comments on websites, and being told real experiences you've had wouldn't ever happen.
Shawn and Skye chat about historical mysteries, astrology, Skye founding Level Best Books, having characters speak to you while driving home, when heroin was legal, and writing both fiction and nonfiction works.
Shawn and Jeff chat about his storied career, writing close to fifty books, writing short stories for Amazon, how there are no writing prodigies, Quentin Tarantino and Dashiel Hammet, not playing well with others, an editing hack to improve your own writing, and great advice for students of writing from a master of the genre.
Shawn and Don chat about writing in the Tom Clancy/Jack Ryan Universe, juggling multiple jobs, writing more than one series, writing a new book every five months, creative sulking, comparing writing to giving birth, and the value of networking with other writers.
Shawn and Fabian chat about writing across mediums, anger & insecurity as motivating factors in careers, writing for yourself, doing your own thing, and the coffee habits of exhausted suburbanites.
About the Author:
Fabian Nicieza is best known as a comic book writer for Marvel and DC, and as the co-creator of Deadpool. He has also written X-Men, X-Force, New Warriors, Cable, Thunderbolts, and many more. He developed the story world and created the characters for the 2021 animated series, Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten. Suburban Dicks, Nicieza’s debut novel, was published by Penguin Putnam in 2021.
About the Book:
After mother of five and former FBI profiler Andie Stern solved a murder—and unraveled a decades old conspiracy—in her New Jersey town, both her husband and the West Windsor police hoped that she would set aside crime-fighting and go back to carpools, changing diapers, and lunches with her group of mom-friends, who she secretly calls The Cellulitists. Even so, Andie can’t help but get involved when the husband of Queen Bee Molly Goode is found dead. Though all signs point to natural causes, Andie begins to dig into the case and soon risks more than just the clique’s wrath, because what she discovers might hit shockingly close to home.
Meanwhile, journalist Kenny Lee is enjoying a rehabilitated image after his success as Andie’s sidekick. But when an anonymous phone call tips him off that Molly Goode killed her husband, he’s soon drawn back into the thicket of suburban scandals, uncovering secrets, affairs, and a huge sum of money. Hellbent on justice and hoping not to kill each other in the process, Andie and Kenny dust off their suburban sleuthing caps once again.
Shawn chats with Debut Author Davida Breier about her new book SINKHOLE, surviving childhood in Florida during the 80s, power dynamics in friendships and in life, selfishness in younger years turning into malignant behavior when we get older, and unique aspects about Florida that tourists don't always see.
About the Author:
Davida G. Breier was born in Miami, FL. She's spent the last two decades in various roles within the book industry and currently works for Johns Hopkins University Press. Davida lives in Maryland with her family, a pack of wee rescue dogs, a rescue tortoise, and two companion chickens.
About the Book:
“The final showdown between them is destined to shock; the electric denouement more than justifies the tension throughout.” -NYT Book Review
A mesmerizing, darkly comic coming-of-age novel immersed in 1980s central Florida. Lies from the past and a dangerous present collide when, after fifteen years in exile, Michelle Miller returns to her tiny hometown of Lorida, Florida. She’s forced to confront the death of her best friend, but what if everything she remembers is a lie?
Shawn chats with Fiona Barton about her new novel LOCAL GONE MISSING. They also discuss fresh starts, the unique perspectives of household staff, not panicking while writing, what writing isn't always, and the benefits of allowing your writing self to think.
About the Author:
Fiona Barton has been a journalist - senior writer at the Daily Mail, news editor at the Daily Telegraph, and chief reporter at The Mail on Sunday, where she won Reporter of the Year at the National Press Awards, gave up her job to volunteer in Sri Lanka and since 2008, has trained and worked with exiled and threatened journalists all over the world.
But through it all, a story was cooking in her head.
The worm of a book infected her long ago when, as a national newspaper journalist covering notorious crimes and trials, she found herself wondering what the wives of those accused really knew – or allowed themselves to know.
It took the liberation of her career change to turn that fascination into a tale of a missing child, narrated by the wife of the man suspected of the crime, the detective leading the hunt, the journalist covering the case, and the mother of the victim. That book became The Widow, which went on to be a bestseller, garnering rave reviews around the globe. Fiona followed that book up with The Child, and now her most recent is Local Gone Missing.
About the book:
Elise King is a successful and ambitious detective—or she was before a medical leave left her unsure if she'd ever return to work. She now spends most days watching the growing tensions in her small seaside town of Ebbing—the weekenders renovating old bungalows into luxury homes, and the locals resentful of the changes.
Elise can only guess what really happens behind closed doors. But Dee Eastwood, her house cleaner, often knows. She’s an invisible presence in many of the houses in town, but she sees and hears everything.
The conflicts boil over when a newcomer wants to put the town on the map with a weekend music festival, and two teenagers overdose on drugs. When a man disappears the first night of the festival, Elise starts digging for answers. Ebbing is a small town, but it's full of secrets and hidden connections that run deeper and darker than Elise could have ever imagined.
Shawn chats with Annabel about her first adult fiction novel: Nora Goes off Script, their mutual love of Steve Martin, the humorous absurdity of domestic life, magical tea houses, great places to write great books, and how Hallmark Channel movies are both addictive and inspirational.
Shawn and Lane chat about her new book The Collector, the first in The Big Picture trilogy, art heists, the art of leaving clues, how long it takes to drink a beer, cheap dates, and upcoming author events. Recorded live from ThrillerFest in New York City!
Shawn and Teresa chat about women's roles throughout the years, writing a good series with believable characters, keeping things moving while writing that first draft, vomit drafts and Patrick Swayze, writing on the go, and transitioning from being a self pubbed author to being traditionally published.
Shawn and Tina discuss women's fiction and stories worth telling, being good enough to write, believing in your writing self, luxuriating in words and processes, memorable quotes from Shawn, their mutual love of film, and many random things they have in common.
Shawn chats with Mark Levenson, author of THE HIDDEN SAINT, about colorful family history, being shot at in South Florida early on in Mark's journalism career, Jewish folklore, wanting to be an astronaut, grandma magic, and regional coffee drinking championships.
Shawn and J.C. chat about what it's like to be from Indiana, surviving rejection, their love of music, High Fidelity, and J.C.'s new web series TheBookishHour.com
Shawn and Sarah chat about writing multiple series, their mutual love of editing, celebrating progress, the art of the perfect witty comeback, a John Cena and Miranda Priestly character mashup, and Sarah's new venture TheBookishHour.com
In the Season Two opener, Shawn chats with debut novelist Jeff Houlahan about the writing life, if in fact writers are different than other human beings, listening as an art form from a musical perspective, not being a sociopath, and baseball.
In the season one finale, Shawn and Jen talk about Holiday Mysteries, Christmas music, Planet of the Apes, negative reviews, dealing with the jitters that come along with knowing others are reading your work.
Shawn and Libi chat about travel, finding time for creative pursuits, the joys of being an early riser, and the power of the word "cougar."
Shawn and Clea talk about Clea's new book HOLD ME DOWN, their mutual love of Rock and Roll, the joys and challenges of writing a series and of writing as a career in general, believing in yourself, how being a reporter makes you very good at meeting deadlines, how reading and writing helped both Clea and Shawn "escape" tumultuous households growing up, and criticism as a conversation starter.
The author of 29 books (and counting), Clea Simon is a regular contributor to the Boston Globe, and her writing pops up occasionally in such publications as American Prospect, Ms., the San Francisco Chronicle, and Salon.com.
Shawn and Lynn chat about being from I states (Iowa and Indiana...not Idaho!), raising dogs, writing prequels and sequels, staying safe in crowds, maintaining creativity, and a good partner who supports your writing career.
Lori and Shawn chat about writing, catering, what not to eat when you're a professional dancer or actor, spending time with characters, and maintaining a mystery series with an amateur sleuth who is not too stupid to live.
Shawn and Paul chat about their shared love of music, wine, and books, and how the music of the sixties has influenced them both.
Shawn and Cathi chat about things they have in common including writing radio commercials, living and working in New York City, working in the bar-restaurant world, and writing culinary mystery series.
In a very spooky episode, Shawn and Carol chat about spirits, crazy exes, wine, how the French get it right, how different people process things in different ways, and the ghostly encounter that inspired Carol's time travel mystery series.
Shawn and Greg chat about writing a mystery after writing over twenty non-fiction books about trains, how everyone has a book in them, the joys and challenges of being a night owl, and finding time to write while working other jobs.
Shawn and Judy chat about real estate as a career and inspiration for murder mysteries, famous fictional detectives, sharing a name with a famous person, talking to ourselves, and the unique joy of seeing your books on library shelves.
Shawn and Jennifer talk about big life changes, and dig into different types of mysteries and subgenres, figuring out what they write in the process, the business of writing and publishing, cows, and how to create fictional worlds and characters that are true to life.
Shawn and Heather chat about growing up a cop's daughter, keeping a character bible (and remembering little details), finding inspiration for a new series, and the love of dogs.
Shawn and Marlie talk about true crime and fiction, Marlie's unique road to becoming a published author, animals, why we have three names, and finding your voice at any stage of your career.
Shawn and Jim chat about dogs, cats, and squirrels, the power of words, keester stashes, meth marrow, and how having a career in the criminal justice system influences Jim's writing.
Shawn and Linda chat about how HOAs can inspire murderous thoughts, the theory that goat yoga is really devil worship, and how a young woman with the surnames Lovely Hooker went from her childhood career inspiration, Perry Mason, to journalism and crime fiction writing.
Shawn chats with debut crime fiction author Mark Leichliter about how professional eavesdropping has developed their writing skills, being free-spirited rule breakers, and which are easier to make fun of, cats or dogs.
Debut novelist William Ade turns the tables on the podcast's host by asking Shawn the questions this week. Shawn and Bill discuss what role gender plays in writing compelling fiction, and things they've learned as writers through their careers.
Linda and Shawn chat about advice for writers just starting out, Writer's High, the importance of reading when writing, and more things they'd tell their younger writing selves.
Shawn chats with Author and Professor Christopher Chambers about writing in multiple genres, superpowers we'd like to have, what we should tell our younger selves, and navigating landmines. Real ones.
Shawn chats with Lori about finding inspiration through real-life events, the value of patience, Mom Guilt, raising identical twins, and writing as therapy.
Shawn chats with Author and Musician Jonathan Brown about writing, music, things we don't want our moms to read or see, arson in real life, and how to make friends at mystery conventions.
Shawn chats with Lida about meeting characters, writers and the movie business, the ups and downs of teleportation, and pigs as murder suspects.
Shawn chats with Marco about his debut novel BLACKOUT, thinking in two different languages, their mutual love of music, setting great scenery, and what would be on Marco's life's playlist.
Songs: "Love Has Fallen on Me" by Chaka Khan; "Simplify" by Omar; "New York Bars" by Brenda Russell
Find the BLACKOUT playlist on Spotify: https://soundcloud.com/marco-carocari/sets/blackout-playlist
Shawn chats with Kerry K. Cox about writing what you know, different kinds of markets to sell your work (men's magazines!), advocating for animals, and creating informative fiction while staying entertaining.
Shawn chats with former television producer and current travel crime writer about early inspirations in writing, which is crazier, TV or publishing (spoiler alert, it's hard to tell!), the world's worst teacher, and which actors should be cast in fictional roles.
Shawn and Tina discuss writing, life on the beach and in the mountains, the many benefits of writing short fiction, what it's like to have your book be mentioned in the same breath as Louise Penny's, and the similar parallels they shared growing up and becoming writers.
Shawn chats with first time author Mally Becker about cocktails, writing in different time periods, dealing with a world of ideas, and which famous writer would be wonderful to have dinner with.
Shawn chats with Justin M. Kiska, writer, producer, and director of over one hundred stage productions about his debut novel, life in a charming small town (while still keeping murder on your mind), the differences between writing for stage and writing novels, and why everyone loves a mystery.
Shawn talks with Author Kerry Peresta about the power of words, creating worlds, Kerry's unique path to her writing career, and their mutual love of Sue Grafton.
Shawn talks with C.L. Tolbert about researching a novel during a pandemic, social justice, the strength of working moms, and how rage can fuel creativity.
Shawn chats (and laughs) with author Liz Milliron about writing, ultimate revenge, and the most entertaining answer to the question "coffee or tea?" ever given.
Gabriel Valjan, the Agatha and Anthony Award nominated author of the Roma and Shane Cleary Mystery Series, joins Shawn to talk about juggling multiple series, short story writing and what he wanted to be when he grew up.
Shawn talks with Lori Robbins, ballet dancer turned award-winning author, most recently of Murder in First Position, An On Pointe Mystery.
Cathi Stoler is the author of three mystery series and a three-time finalist, and winner of the 2015 Derringer Award for Best Short Story. Bar None and Last Call are the first two books in her Murder On The Rocks Mystery series. Cathi is a board member of Sisters In Crime New York/Tri-State, Mystery Writers of America, and International Thriller Writers. She lives in New York City with her husband, Paul.
Gerald Elias leads a double life as a world class musician and critically acclaimed author.
His award-winning Daniel Jacobus mystery series takes place in the dark corners of the classical music world. Devil’s Trill, his debut novel, was a Barnes & Noble Discover: Great New Writers selection. Elias’s prize-winning essay, War & Peace. And Music, excerpted from his memoir, Symphonies & Scorpions, was the subject of his TEDxSaltLakeCity2019 presentation. Many of his short stories and essays have appeared in prestigious journals ranging from Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine to The Strad.
A former violinist with the Boston Symphony and associate concertmaster of the Utah Symphony, Elias has performed on five continents and has been music director of Salt Lake City’s popular Vivaldi by Candlelight chamber orchestra series since 2004. He divides his time between Salt Lake City and West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, maintaining a vibrant concert career while continuing to expand his literary horizons.
Join Award-Winning Author and Editor Shawn Reilly Simmons as she gets to know her guests by asking 5 Compelling Questions.
Shawn's very first guest is Author Peter W. J. Hayes
Peter was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, and lived in Paris and Taipei before settling in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He worked as a journalist, advertising copywriter and marketing executive—including six years as Chief Marketing Officer for a multinational corporation—before turning to mystery and crime writing. He is the author of the Vic Lenoski police procedural series, and is a Derringer-nominated author of short stories. He is also a past finalist for the Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Debut Dagger award. He can be found at www.peterwjhayes.com.
Shawn Reilly Simmons is an Award-Winning Author and Editor. She's published seven novels in her Red Carpet Catering mystery series as well as twenty short stories which have been published in various anthologies. Her story The Last Word, which appeared in Malice Domestic 14: Mystery Most Edible, won the Agatha Award for Best Short Story of 2019. Shawn, with co-editors Verena Rose and Rita Owen, also won the Anthony Award for Best Anthology or Collection for the same anthology.