Five Compelling Questions with Shawn

Shawn chats with Tom Coffey about SPECIAL VICTIM, the second book in the Devine Trilogy, themes surrounding justice and media responsibility, New York City, character development, the Central Park jogger case, the challenges of writing from multiple perspectives, and the importance of withholding judgment in today's media landscape.

Shawn chats with D.M. Barr (Dawn Barclay) about her writing journey, her latest psychological thriller, DEADLY WHEN DISTURBED, the unique intersection of her real estate background with her fiction, her character development process, community among writers, the challenges of the creative process, her advice for aspiring writers, and an exciting project she and Shawn will be working on for many ye...

Shawn chats with Lisa Williamson Rosenberg about her new novel, MIRROR ME, the themes of identity, belonging, the influence of psychology on writing, the significance of her characters, the challenges of crafting a compelling narrative, the importance of backstory, and the journey of self-discovery that her protagonist, Eddie, undergoes throughout the novel.

Shawn chats with award-winning author John Shepphird about his journey as a film director and writer, the nuances of writing novels versus short stories, the enduring appeal of crime fiction, John's newest novel, their experiences in the film industry, the importance of attending writing conferences, and their upcoming anthology collaboration TENNIS NOIR.

Shawn chats with returning guest Greg Stout about his writing journey, his new novel LONG TIME GONE, the Jackson Gamble series, Nashville, the intricacies of character development, plotting a long-running series, noir, realism, respectful representation of characters, Greg's new radio show, and the enduring appeal of detective fiction.

Shawn chats with Ellen Butler about her journey from traditional to independent publishing, experiences in the writing community, the creative process, inspirations, character development, and the importance of mentorship for aspiring writers.

Shawn chats with Julie Sampson about her middle-grade novel RUBY AND THE BOSS CRICKET, the creative process behind writing for children, the importance of inspiring young readers, friendship, self-discovery, writing fiction and non-fiction, personal experiences, and valuable advice for aspiring writers.

Shawn chats with the writing duo of Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson about their latest book, DEFENSE PROTOCOL, their collaborative writing process, the themes in their work, the character development of Katie Ryan, the importance of honoring military traditions, adapting their stories for film and television, the excitement of releasing new books, and their commitment to providing readers with a...

Shawn chats with Kevin Kleesner about his writing journey, his latest novel, THE KILLERS' TERMS, the importance of community among authors, societal issues woven into Kevin's thrillers, authenticity of settings, character development, the creative process, the challenges of publishing, resilience, personal growth, innovative marketing strategies for authors, family, the joy of artistic collaborati...

Shawn chats with Robin Cook, renowned physician and #1 NYT and international bestselling author of over 40 novels, about his most recent book, BELLEVUE, the historical significance of Bellevue Hospital, medical science, the supernatural, the evolution of medical thrillers, film and television adaptations of his work, the impact of COMA (book and film) on his career, the challenges posed by the US...

Shawn chats with bestselling and prolific author Brett Battles about his newest book, STUART WOODS' GOLDEN HOUR, his collaboration with the late author, European settings, travel, research, the dynamics of co-authoring, the discipline of a writing routine, inspiration or the lack thereof and not allowing it to impact the work, challenges writers face, their mutual love of Stephen King, and valuabl...

Shawn chats with Tracy Clark, a celebrated crime fiction author, about her latest book, Echo, Tracy's journey to becoming a writer, the creative process, the inspiration she finds in everyday life, the power of words, the challenges and joys of writing, and the importance of community involvement in the writing world.

Shawn chats with return guest Kerry Peresta about her latest psychological suspense novel, he Crushing, the process of writing, character development, the importance of titles, Kerry's journey from advertising to writing, her inspirations, and the challenges of creating suspenseful narratives.

Shawn chats with #1 NYT Bestselling author Graham Brown about his various careers and his latest book, Desolation Code, the themes of technology and villainy, his collaboration with the late Clive Cussler, his writing process, and the importance of maintaining one's voice in co-authorship.

The 200th Episode of Five Compelling Questions!! In this inspiring discussion, Shawn chats with Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestselling author Barbara Nickless about her latest book, The Drowning Game, her adventurous travels, the inspiration behind her espionage novel, female friendships, and the complexities of sibling relationships.

Shawn chats with short story author Chris Bagley about her journey as a writer, her latest collection, The Madness of Ida May, the nuances of writing short stories, self-doubt, validation, influences, and the appeal of short stories in today's fast-paced world.

Shawn chats with Henry Hunsicker about his most recent novel, The Life and Death of Rose Doucette, his influences and writing style, Texas, writing after multiple other jobs, and elaborate bookshelves.

Shawn chats with Charles Philipp Martin about his latest book, 'Rented Grave,' his journey as a writer, the influence of Hong Kong on Martin's writing, character development, focusing on craft, the joy of storytelling, and his unique approach to crime fiction.

Shawn chats with KL Murphy about her journey from high school journalism to writing fiction, her experiences in creating strong female protagonists, her unique writing process that emphasizes discovery over outlining, valuable advice for aspiring writers, and the importance of community in the writing world.

Shawn chats with MP Woodward about the Handler CIA espionage series and the latest installment in the Tom Clancy Jack Ryan series, Shadow State, his background as a Naval Intelligence Officer, the influence of Tom Clancy on his writing, and the key elements that make a compelling political thriller.

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 Viet...

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.