Five Compelling Questions with Shawn

Shawn chats with Claire M Johnson about her journey from being a secretary to becoming a published author, exploring the cultural landscape of California, particularly San Francisco, in the 1930s, her writing process, the influence of historical context and cinema on her work, and the challenges of navigating the publishing world.

Shawn chats with Nancy Cole Silverman, accomplished author and former radio journalist, about her latest book, Murder on the Med, featuring her protagonist, Kat Lawson, in a Mediterranean setting, the importance of storytelling, the unique aspects of writing for audio, the balance between writing and community involvement, the writing process, and her experiences as a military wife during the Vietnam War.

Shawn chats with Micki Bare about her newest book, Omega Crag, the creative process behind her writing, the importance of themes such as family and the environment, the accolades her books have received, targeting an audience, the significance of writing for middle-grade readers, and advice for aspiring young writers.

Shawn chats with debut author Jenny Dandy about her journey into writing at the age of 65, discussing her debut novel 'The Brownstone on East 83rd', which features a con artist navigating the complexities of life in New York City, the significance of setting, character development, and the writing process.

Shawn chats with bestselling and Edgar Award-winning author David Ellis, an accomplished judge and author, about his latest book, The Best Lies, the complexities of character development, the writing process, the importance of reader connection, navigating cultural sensitivity in writing, David's journey from lawyer to author, the power of storytelling, and the joy of writing.

Shawn chats with Connie Berry about her latest novel, A Collection of Lies, the latest in the Kate Hamilton series, Connie's journey into writing, the intricacies of crafting plots and characters, and the challenges of maintaining a long-running series, her writing process, the importance of research, and her personal preferences in reading and writing.

Shawn chats with Bryan E Robinson, a multifaceted writer and psychologist, about his journey from a dysfunctional childhood to becoming a successful author of both fiction and non-fiction, the inspiration behind his latest novel, Way Dead Upon the Suwannee River, how his background in psychology informs his character development, insights on maintaining a work-life balance as a writer, the power of words, and his future projects, including a musical adaptation of his work.

Shawn chats with return guest Brian Freeman about his latest novel, The Bourne Shadow, the evolution of the Bourne series, character development, the writing process, the intricacies of crafting plot twists, his approach to writing, the challenges of taking over a legacy character, and his daily writing routine.

Shawn chats with David Winner about his latest book, Master Lovers, and Winner's discovery of hidden love letters from his great aunt, which inspired the narrative of the book, research, the challenges of writing historical fiction, and the unexpected connections between love, deception, and historical figures.

Shawn chats with Portugal-based author Tess Amy, about her novel The Confidence Games, a contemporary heist novel featuring two strong female protagonists, the inspiration for the characters and the story, research into the psychology of con artists, a writing process focused on pacing, Tess's unexpected journey from a career in healthcare to becoming a full-time writer and her desire to encourage aspiring writers through her writing course.