Welcome to the Dark & Stormy podcast, in which I speak – writer to writer – with authors of crime fiction, thrillers, and sci-fi.

And westerns! Why not? Frank Kidd is author of MEDICINE WOMAN and it has the pace, action, and attitude of a thriller. It’s definitely “dark & stormy” material and a whole lot of fun.

Frank talks about why he loves writing westerns – although he’s also got a contemporary military thriller coming up next – and the literary inspiration behind it. He discusses the themes that underpin the story. And he talks about how he’s approached his career as a novelist, including his focus on Substack as a platform to reach his audience.

TIMECODES:

0:00 - Frank Kidd

01:55 - Why westerns? And, who else is writing these?

4:25 - The genre in literature, film and TV

7:02 - Researching MEDICINE WOMAN and native Indian cultures, and writing as an outsider

12:23 - What aspect of Frank’s personality or experience is in the book?

14:59 - Writing about spirituality and superstition within a plot

17.26 - Writing surprise

18:36 - The individual versus the community

21:21 - Setting and time

25:03 - Frank’s current projects, his commercial approach as a writer, and Substack

30:03 - When to expect the next book

LINKS:

Frank Kidd’s Substack, “Pulp West”

“Medicine Woman” on Amazon

And don’t forget to check out my work here on Dark & Stormy!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jamiedibs.substack.com