In this episode of My Simplified Life, host Michelle Glogovac and co-host Stephanie Hockersmith interview author Stephanie Wrobel about her latest novel, The Hitchcock Hotel. The conversation delves into the influence of Alfred Hitchcock on Wrobel's writing, the complexities of artistic admiration, and the exploration of unlikable characters in psychological thrillers. Wrobel shares her journey to becoming an author, her thoughts on the future of her writing, and the delicate balance between reading and writing. The episode concludes with reflections on the nature of storytelling and the intricacies of human behavior.

What We're Talking About

• The Hitchcock Hotel is a thrilling homage to Hitchcock's films.
• Wrobel's journey into Hitchcock's filmography was a deep dive.
• The book explores the duality of Hitchcock's legacy.
• Artistic admiration can be complicated by an artist's personal flaws.
• Unlikable characters are essential in psychological thrillers.
• Wrobel's writing journey began with an MFA program.
• The future of her writing may include speculative fiction.
• Reading widely influences a writer's craft.
• The balance between reading and writing is crucial for authors.
• Understanding human motivations is a central theme in Wrobel's work.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Authors and Their Work 04:15 Diving into The Hitchcock Hotel 07:11 Exploring Hitchcock's Influence and Legacy 10:15 The Dichotomy of Art and Artist 13:15 Understanding Unlikable Characters in Thrillers 18:35 The Journey to Writing Thrillers 21:14 Understanding Human Motivations 25:21 Career Path and Writing Journey 27:09 Exploring New Genres 31:15 The Writing Process and Idea Generation 36:21 Exploring The Hitchcock Hotel 36:49 Interview with Stephanie: The Author's Perspective

Links Mentioned

Stephanie Wrobel’s Website

www.stephaniewrobel.com

The Hitchcock Hotel by Stephanie Wrobel

https://bookshop.org/a/99223/9780593547113

Stephanie Wrobel’s Instagram

https://instagram.com/stephaniewrobel