Public Display of Imagination

The gracious and debonair, Tom Straw, takes us on today’s Adventure. He published his first mystery novel, The Trigger Episode, in 2007. Then, he got an opportunity to ghost write a series of books for a popular TV Series, featuring a best-selling crime novelist, who had been given permission by his friend, the mayor, to tag along with a police detective, so that he could research his next series of books. You may remember the series; it starred Stana Katic as detective Kate Beckett and Nathan Fillion as author, Richard Castle. Today’s guest authored seven Richard Castle / Nikki Heat novels, all of which became New York Times Bestsellers.
He’s also an Emmy – and Writer’s Guild of America – nominated TV writer and producer, having written and produced Night Court, Parker Lewis Can’t Lose, Dave’s World, Grace Under Fire, Cosby, Whoopi, and Nurse Jackie. We’ll talk about some of that during today’s conversation.
He’s a former board member of the Mystery Writers of America, New York Chapter, he lives in Connecticut, where his home is his castle.

Our Public Display of Imagination Resources For Writers segments are designed to bring helpful insight and inspiration to writers and aspiring writers.
We’ve been fortunate to talk with a host of talented and successful authors over the course of the podcast and in some cases, we’ve been able to schedule additional time with them to talk about specific topics connected to the art and the craft of writing.
These are the best of the best in a number of fields related to writing and publication. We’re thankful that they were willing to spend some additional time with us.
In this segment, we talk with a group of authors who write Crime Fiction and Military Thrillers. We asked about their initial impressions and thoughts regarding the worldwide pandemic experienced in the spring of 2020. In this conversation, well explore some of the challenges they have encountered, things they have observed, and thoughts as to what may or may not play well within the pages of a novel.

Our Public Display of Imagination Resources For Writers segments are designed to bring helpful insight and inspiration to writers and aspiring writers.
We’ve been fortunate to talk with a host of talented and successful authors over the course of the podcast and in some cases, we’ve been able to schedule additional time with them to talk about specific topics connected to the art and the craft of writing.
These are the best of the best in a number of fields related to writing and publication. We’re thankful that they were willing to spend some additional time with us.
In this segment, we talk with a group of thriller authors about their initial impressions and thoughts regarding the worldwide pandemic experienced in the spring of 2020. In this conversation, well explore some of the challenges they have encountered, things they have observed, and thoughts as to what may or may not play well within the pages of a novel.

She grew up in rural Kansas, but moved to Chicago in the mid-60’s to do community service work in the same neighborhood where Martin Luther King was inspiring residents to take a stand for civil rights.
In 1982, she introduced readers to a street-wise investigator who was willing to use force to get answers and wit to keep the challenges of life in perspective. Her strong-willed, sharp-tongued protagonist invaded the traditional detective boy’s club, openly challenging a genre in which women were customarily portrayed as either vamps or victims. Twenty volumes later and there are still stories to be told, including a collection of shorts that we’ll dig into along the way.
Our tour guide for today’s adventure is the imagination behind the indomitable V.I. Warshawski, please welcome the iconic, Sara Paretsky…

He’s a international bestselling author with a new series debut that’s already got more than 400 top reviews on Amazon. His 2017 standalone political thriller, THE CASTLE, was called, “Gripping, wholly credible, and frankly terrifying.” by bestselling Scottish crime writer, Ian Rankin.
His books in the popular Henry Parker thriller series, won him nominations for a host of prestigious awards. Three books in the series were named to “The Strand’s Best Books of the Year” list and one book, THE MARK has been optioned for feature film production. He has over 1.5 million copies in print worldwide. Please welcome our tour guide for today’s adventure, Jason Pinter…

Before she began penning captivating crime fiction, she was a journalist. She got her start as an intern at Harper’s Magazine in New York and then joined the staff of Canadian Living magazine in Toronto. After deciding that she’d rather write than edit, she left her day job to freelance full-time. That decision led to the composition of 18 nonfiction books (17 of them for Frommer’s Travel Guides) and articles for a number of publications including Discover, Martha Stewart Weddings, American Archaeology, Fitness, and Reader’s Digest.
Her debut novel, The Damage Done, won both the Anthony and the Crime-Spree Award for Best First Novel. Two more novels completed the trilogy, that I’m sure we’ll talk about at some point in our conversation today. Today’s guest has also written for several Anthology volumes. And… we’ll explore that as well.
We’re going to begin our adventure, however, talking about her latest release in the Shadows of New York series: Don’t Look Down. It’s hot off the presses, thanks to Thomas & Mercer Publishing and Amazon. Crime novelist, Hilary Davidson is our tour guide for today’s adventure…

He’s a critically acclaimed New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Amazon #1 Best Selling Author. His Tracy Crosswhite series of books has sold more than 2 million copies worldwide. Book 1 in the series, MY SISTER’S GRAVE, has been optioned for development as a television series.
Today’s guest is also the author of the best-selling, attorney, David Sloane series. His books are sold in more than 25 countries and have been translated into more than two dozen languages.
He has been nominated for, and won, numerous awards for his writing, included being a finalist for the 2017 Mystery Writers of America, Edgar Award for best novel and a two time finalist for the International Thriller Writers award.
Today, we’re going to crack open the pages of his latest release, Book #7 in the Tracy Crosswhite series, A COLD TRAIL. Please welcome our tour guide, Robert Dugoni…

She was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and acquired her PhD in Linguistics from Edinburgh University. She moved to Northern California in 2010, but still journeys home every year for a couple of months.
Her “proper” jobs have included banking (which she describes as hopeless) and a short stint in academia (which she labels, miserable). And, there was also that time when she immersed herself in library work and fine arts, a time that she remembers as “marvelous”.
When not writing, she’s reading, gardening, baking, or running through walnut orchards. She’s visited 43 states and counting. Today, Award-Winning, Bestselling author, Catriona McPherson walks us through the pages of her latest thriller, Strangers at the Gate…

He’s a former detective sergeant with more than twenty-seven years in law enforcement. At the time of his retirement, he supervised all homicide and violent crime investigations for Maine’s largest city – Portland.
Following the terror attacks of September 11th, he spent four years working counter-terrorism with the FBI and earned the “Director’s Award” – the highest honor a non-agent can receive.
Since his retirement from law enforcement, he’s been writing… his first published work, Among The Shadows, was a debut success in 2016. He produced additional thrillers in the Detective John Byron series in 2017 and 2018.
Today, author Bruce Robert Coffin is setting aside the time to walk us through his crime scenes…

He’s a New York Times bestselling author of 14 suspense thrillers, and counting. His novels HIGH CRIMES and PARANOIA were adapted as major motion pictures. GUILTY MINDS and COMPANY MAN won Barry Awards for Best Thriller Novels. KILLER INSTINCT won the International Thriller Writers’ Thriller Award for Best Novel. BURIED SECRETS won the Strand Critics Award for Best Novel.
In 2009, he introduced readers to “Private Spy,” Nick Heller in the runaway bestseller, VANISHED. Nick Heller’s story continued across the pages of the equally riveting thrillers, BURIED SECRETS and GUILTY MINDS.
Today’s tour guide is a master storyteller, who’s going to walk us into the pages of the most recent Nick Heller assignment, HOUSE ON FIRE. Founding member of the International Thriller Writers Association, Joseph Finder takes us on an adventure into the world of a billionaire pharmaceutical kingpin with plenty to hide…