The Thriller Zone Podcast Episode Synopsis

On this exciting episode of The Thriller Zone, host David Temple welcomes author Todd Goldberg to discuss his latest novel, "Gangsters Don't Die." David introduces Todd as one of the funniest, most engaging, and educated authors to ever grace the podcast. They dive into a variety of topics, including Todd's prolific writing career, his fascination with gangsters, and the inspiration behind his characters.

Todd shares that his interest in organized crime stems from growing up in Palm Springs, a city with a history of mob activity. He talks about the influence of his family's storytelling tradition and the cultural appreciation for reading and writing. Todd also reveals that he has received emails from people who have just gotten out of prison, expressing their appreciation for his book.

The conversation takes an interesting turn as Todd discusses the moral ambiguity of his characters and the appeal of gangster stories. He believes that Americans are fascinated by organized crime because it represents the idea of getting away with breaking the rules. Todd also emphasizes the importance of character development and creating complex, multi-dimensional protagonists.

David praises Todd's latest book, "Gangsters Don't Die," and highlights the gripping prologue and the morally conflicted protagonist, Sal Cupertine. He expresses his admiration for Todd's ability to make readers both despise and love the main character simultaneously.

The discussion then shifts to Todd's career as a professor and his role in directing the low-residency MFA program at UC Riverside. Todd shares his philosophy of teaching and his goal of positioning his students for success in the writing business. He emphasizes the importance of treating writing as commerce and not settling for struggling as an artist.

David and Todd briefly touch on Todd's previous podcast, Literary Disco, which was highly regarded in the literary world. They mention that the podcast is currently on hiatus but may return in the future.

The episode concludes with David asking Todd for his best piece of writing advice. Todd shares a valuable lesson he learned from author Donald Westlake: a story is over when the reader could write the next page. He explains that this advice has shaped his approach to writing and has led him to constantly surprise readers and avoid predictability.

Overall, this episode of The Thriller Zone provides listeners with an engaging and insightful conversation about Todd Goldberg's writing career, his fascination with gangsters, and his approach to storytelling.

To learn more about Tod visit his website: TodGoldberg.com and purchase his book on Amazon here. Who knows, maybe Tod will give you a bonus prize when you mention you heard about his book while listening to The Thriller Zone Podcast.

Listen: TheThrillerZone.com and ALL Podcast Channels. Watch: YouTube.com/thethrillerzone

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TIMESTAMPS:

00:00:00 - Introduction and appreciation for the book from people who have just gotten out of prison

00:01:25 - Todd Goldberg's head cold and his role as a director of a low residency MFA program

00:02:07 - Todd Goldberg's surprise at not being on the podcast earlier

00:03:13 - Todd Goldberg's thoughts on the talent of his family and the influence of his parents

00:04:50 - Todd Goldberg's hope that his parents are proud

00:05:40 - Todd Goldberg's excitement about being featured on Rising Stars month

00:06:43 - Todd Goldberg's thoughts on the fascination with gangster stories and the appeal of getting away with it

00:08:10 - Todd Goldberg's personal connection to the desert and his research on organized crime

00:10:49 - Todd Goldberg's encounter with an actual gangster at a book signing

00:14:57 - Todd Goldberg's reflection on the impact of his books and the changes in his career

00:17:12 - Todd Goldberg's appreciation for the prologue and the significance of the first and last lines

00:25:27 - Todd Goldberg's personal story about a friend with cancer and its influence on the character development in the book

00:26:28 - Todd Goldberg's perspective on happy endings and the ambiguity of right and wrong

00:27:48 - Todd Goldberg's belief in leaving endings open and allowing readers to create their own resolution

00:29:30 - Todd Goldberg's discussion on the fascination with the dark side of human nature and the influence of cultural upbringing

00:30:44 - Todd Goldberg's emphasis on resilience and fighting for what you love

00:34:42 - Todd Goldberg's experience as a professor and his philosophy of treating writing as a business

00:36:50 - Todd Goldberg's plans for the adaptation of "Gangsters Don't Die" into a screen project

00:40:19 - Todd Goldberg's mention of the hiatus of the "Literary Disco" podcast and the continued friendship with co-hosts

00:42:58 - Todd Goldberg's advice on writing endings from Donald Westlake

00:48:54 - Closing remarks and gratitude from Todd Goldberg

The Thriller Zone promises to wrap 2024 in a BIG way...Stay Tuned! Questions? Just write us at "[email protected]"

Mentioned in this episode:

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THE STORY FACTORY

Today's episode of The Thriller Zone with Dave Temple is sponsored by The Story Factory, an entertainment company representing many of the biggest fiction and non-fiction authors in the world.