Five Compelling Questions with Shawn

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Award-Winning Author and Editor Shawn Reilly Simmons gets to know her guests by asking Five Compelling Questions (plus a few bonus ones) about the writing life. Topics include finding inspiration, staying motivated, writing as a career, staying sane during the creative process, and balancing fictional and real life.

Shawn Reilly Simmons


    • Aug 19, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 30m AVG DURATION
    • 56 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Five Compelling Questions with Shawn

    EP56: 5CQ for Ashley Poston, author of The Dead Romantics

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2022 39:44


    Shawn chats with Ashley Poston about her book being named a Good Morning America book club pick, Fan Fiction and how it has influenced Ashley's life and career, finding your identity in someone else's writing, killing off loved ones in your stories, and being wise in your early years.

    EP55: 5CQ for Linda Norlander, author of the Cabin by the Lake Mystery Series

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2022 23:50


    Shawn chats with returning guest Linda Norlander about the newest book in her series, wanting to be a cowgirl, the importance of having an editor in your life, messy middles, New Yorkers, and snow-driving skills.

    EP54: 5CQ for Louise Hare, author of Miss Aldridge Regrets

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2022 21:53


    Shawn chats with British author Louise Hare about writing, mentoring and working with other writers, Black people in historical fiction, addressing racism in different forums, solving problems while drunk, and how boring office jobs can inspire creativity.

    EP53: 5CQ for Sunday Times bestselling author Lucy Clarke

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2022 25:12


    Shawn and Lucy chat about living near the sea, what makes a great thriller thrilling, turning books into movies, what movie sets are really like, and how it took Lucy only seventeen days to write the first draft of her newest novel.

    EP52: 5CQ for Nancy Cole Silverman

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2022 30:21


    Shawn chats with Nancy Cole Silverman, author of The Navigator's Daughter, the first book in the new Kat Larson historical mystery series about history inspiring current day and writing, being a military wife, the power of words, working in radio, and their mutual love of wine.

    EP51: 5CQ for Susan Van Kirk

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2022 27:12


    Shawn chats with Susan Van Kirk, author of the Art Center Mystery series, about her new series, art in everyday life, going from academic writing to fiction, being from the Midwest, banned books, and a special interaction with Kurt Vonnegut.

    Ep50: 5CQ with Don Bentley, NYT Bestselling Author of ZERO HOUR

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2022 38:35


    Shawn and Don chat about writing in the Tom Clancy/Jack Ryan Universe, juggling multiple jobs, writing more than one series, writing a new book every five months, creative sulking, comparing writing to giving birth, and the value of networking with other writers.

    EP49: 5CQ with Fabian Nicieza, Author of THE SELF-MADE WIDOW

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2022 37:56


    Shawn and Fabian chat about writing across mediums, anger & insecurity as motivating factors in careers, writing for yourself, doing your own thing, and the coffee habits of exhausted suburbanites. About the Author: Fabian Nicieza is best known as a comic book writer for Marvel and DC, and as the co-creator of Deadpool. He has also written X-Men, X-Force, New Warriors, Cable, Thunderbolts, and many more. He developed the story world and created the characters for the 2021 animated series, Stan Lee's Superhero Kindergarten. Suburban Dicks, Nicieza's debut novel, was published by Penguin Putnam in 2021. About the Book: After mother of five and former FBI profiler Andie Stern solved a murder—and unraveled a decades old conspiracy—in her New Jersey town, both her husband and the West Windsor police hoped that she would set aside crime-fighting and go back to carpools, changing diapers, and lunches with her group of mom-friends, who she secretly calls The Cellulitists. Even so, Andie can't help but get involved when the husband of Queen Bee Molly Goode is found dead. Though all signs point to natural causes, Andie begins to dig into the case and soon risks more than just the clique's wrath, because what she discovers might hit shockingly close to home. Meanwhile, journalist Kenny Lee is enjoying a rehabilitated image after his success as Andie's sidekick. But when an anonymous phone call tips him off that Molly Goode killed her husband, he's soon drawn back into the thicket of suburban scandals, uncovering secrets, affairs, and a huge sum of money. Hellbent on justice and hoping not to kill each other in the process, Andie and Kenny dust off their suburban sleuthing caps once again.

    EP48: 5CQ with Debut Author Davida Breier

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2022 21:41


    Shawn chats with Debut Author Davida Breier about her new book SINKHOLE, surviving childhood in Florida during the 80s, power dynamics in friendships and in life, selfishness in younger years turning into malignant behavior when we get older, and unique aspects about Florida that tourists don't always see. About the Author: Davida G. Breier was born in Miami, FL. She's spent the last two decades in various roles within the book industry and currently works for Johns Hopkins University Press. Davida lives in Maryland with her family, a pack of wee rescue dogs, a rescue tortoise, and two companion chickens. About the Book: “The final showdown between them is destined to shock; the electric denouement more than justifies the tension throughout.” -NYT Book Review A mesmerizing, darkly comic coming-of-age novel immersed in 1980s central Florida. Lies from the past and a dangerous present collide when, after fifteen years in exile, Michelle Miller returns to her tiny hometown of Lorida, Florida. She's forced to confront the death of her best friend, but what if everything she remembers is a lie?

    5CQ with Fiona Barton, The Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author of LOCAL GONE MISSING

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2022 25:55


    Shawn chats with Fiona Barton about her new novel LOCAL GONE MISSING. They also discuss fresh starts, the unique perspectives of household staff, not panicking while writing, what writing isn't always, and the benefits of allowing your writing self to think. About the Author: Fiona Barton has been a journalist - senior writer at the Daily Mail, news editor at the Daily Telegraph, and chief reporter at The Mail on Sunday, where she won Reporter of the Year at the National Press Awards, gave up her job to volunteer in Sri Lanka and since 2008, has trained and worked with exiled and threatened journalists all over the world. But through it all, a story was cooking in her head. The worm of a book infected her long ago when, as a national newspaper journalist covering notorious crimes and trials, she found herself wondering what the wives of those accused really knew – or allowed themselves to know. It took the liberation of her career change to turn that fascination into a tale of a missing child, narrated by the wife of the man suspected of the crime, the detective leading the hunt, the journalist covering the case, and the mother of the victim. That book became The Widow, which went on to be a bestseller, garnering rave reviews around the globe. Fiona followed that book up with The Child, and now her most recent is Local Gone Missing. About the book: Elise King is a successful and ambitious detective—or she was before a medical leave left her unsure if she'd ever return to work. She now spends most days watching the growing tensions in her small seaside town of Ebbing—the weekenders renovating old bungalows into luxury homes, and the locals resentful of the changes. Elise can only guess what really happens behind closed doors. But Dee Eastwood, her house cleaner, often knows. She's an invisible presence in many of the houses in town, but she sees and hears everything. The conflicts boil over when a newcomer wants to put the town on the map with a weekend music festival, and two teenagers overdose on drugs. When a man disappears the first night of the festival, Elise starts digging for answers. Ebbing is a small town, but it's full of secrets and hidden connections that run deeper and darker than Elise could have ever imagined.

    EP46: 5CQ for Author Annabel Monaghan

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2022 21:53


    Shawn chats with Annabel about her first adult fiction novel: Nora Goes off Script, their mutual love of Steve Martin, the humorous absurdity of domestic life, magical tea houses, great places to write great books, and how Hallmark Channel movies are both addictive and inspirational.

    EP45: 5CQ for Author Lane Stone

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2022 21:28


    Shawn and Lane chat about her new book The Collector, the first in The Big Picture trilogy, art heists, the art of leaving clues, how long it takes to drink a beer, cheap dates, and upcoming author events. Recorded live from ThrillerFest in New York City!

    EP42: 5CQ for Author Teresa Trent

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2022 35:28


    Shawn and Teresa chat about women's roles throughout the years, writing a good series with believable characters, keeping things moving while writing that first draft, vomit drafts and Patrick Swayze, writing on the go, and transitioning from being a self pubbed author to being traditionally published.

    EP44: 5CQ for Debut Author M.A. Monnin

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2022 21:58


    Shawn and M.A. discuss being a debut author, the importance of not giving up, General Hospital, the movie Soapdish, and international travel as an inspiration for mystery writing.

    EP43: 5CQ for Annette Dashofy

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2022 34:56


    Shawn and Annette chat about the words they can't say, writing a long running series, smelling gross things for work, random passwords, the honor of being nominated for awards, and Annette's big interview with James Patterson.

    EP41: 5CQ for Author Tina deBellegarde

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2022 46:32


    Shawn and Tina discuss women's fiction and stories worth telling, being good enough to write, believing in your writing self, luxuriating in words and processes, memorable quotes from Shawn, their mutual love of film, and many random things they have in common.

    EP40: 5CQ for Author Mark Levenson

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2022 26:39


    Shawn chats with Mark Levenson, author of THE HIDDEN SAINT, about colorful family history, being shot at in South Florida early on in Mark's journalism career, Jewish folklore, wanting to be an astronaut, grandma magic, and regional coffee drinking championships.

    EP39: 5CQ with Author J.C. Kenney

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2022 36:10


    Shawn and J.C. chat about what it's like to be from Indiana, surviving rejection, their love of music, High Fidelity, and J.C.'s new web series TheBookishHour.com

    EP38: 5CQ with Author Sarah E. Burr

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2022 42:16


    Shawn and Sarah chat about writing multiple series, their mutual love of editing, celebrating progress, the art of the perfect witty comeback, a John Cena and Miranda Priestly character mashup, and Sarah's new venture TheBookishHour.com

    EP37: 5CQ for Author Jeff Houlahan

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2022 41:52


    In the Season Two opener, Shawn chats with debut novelist Jeff Houlahan about the writing life, if in fact writers are different than other human beings, listening as an art form from a musical perspective, not being a sociopath, and baseball.

    EP36: FQC with Debut Author Jennifer Bee

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2021 23:09


    In the season one finale, Shawn and Jen talk about Holiday Mysteries, Christmas music, Planet of the Apes, negative reviews, dealing with the jitters that come along with knowing others are reading your work.

    EP35: 5CQ with Author Libi Siporin

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2021 30:47


    Shawn and Libi chat about travel, finding time for creative pursuits, the joys of being an early riser, and the power of the word "cougar."

    EP34: 5CQ for Author Clea Simon

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2021 46:16


    Shawn and Clea talk about Clea's new book HOLD ME DOWN, their mutual love of Rock and Roll, the joys and challenges of writing a series and of writing as a career in general, believing in yourself, how being a reporter makes you very good at meeting deadlines, how reading and writing helped both Clea and Shawn "escape" tumultuous households growing up, and criticism as a conversation starter. The author of 29 books (and counting), Clea Simon is a regular contributor to the Boston Globe, and her writing pops up occasionally in such publications as American Prospect, Ms., the San Francisco Chronicle, and Salon.com.

    EP33: 5CQ with Playwright and Thriller Writer Lynn-Steven Johanson

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2021 44:30


    Shawn and Lynn chat about being from I states (Iowa and Indiana...not Idaho!), raising dogs, writing prequels and sequels, staying safe in crowds, maintaining creativity, and a good partner who supports your writing career.

    EP32: 5CQ for Returning Guest Mystery Author Lori Robbins

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2021 37:22


    Lori and Shawn chat about writing, catering, what not to eat when you're a professional dancer or actor, spending time with characters, and maintaining a mystery series with an amateur sleuth who is not too stupid to live.

    EP31: 5CQ with Historical Author Paul Martin

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2021 39:09


    Shawn and Paul chat about their shared love of music, wine, and books, and how the music of the sixties has influenced them both.

    EP30: 5CQ for Returning Guest Author Cathi Stoler

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2021 21:28


    Shawn and Cathi chat about things they have in common including writing radio commercials, living and working in New York City, working in the bar-restaurant world, and writing culinary mystery series.

    EP29: 5CQ with Author Carol Pouliot

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2021 51:50


    In a very spooky episode, Shawn and Carol chat about spirits, crazy exes, wine, how the French get it right, how different people process things in different ways, and the ghostly encounter that inspired Carol's time travel mystery series.

    EP28: 5CQ with Debut Mystery Author Gregory Stout

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2021 32:38


    Shawn and Greg chat about writing a mystery after writing over twenty non-fiction books about trains, how everyone has a book in them, the joys and challenges of being a night owl, and finding time to write while working other jobs.

    EP27: 5CQ with Debut Author Judy L. Murray

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2021 30:49


    Shawn and Judy chat about real estate as a career and inspiration for murder mysteries, famous fictional detectives, sharing a name with a famous person, talking to ourselves, and the unique joy of seeing your books on library shelves.

    EP26: 5CQ for Historical Mystery Author Jennifer Berg

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2021 43:54


    Shawn and Jennifer talk about big life changes, and dig into different types of mysteries and subgenres, figuring out what they write in the process, the business of writing and publishing, cows, and how to create fictional worlds and characters that are true to life.

    EP25: FCQ for Author Heather Weidner

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2021 20:01


    Shawn and Heather chat about growing up a cop's daughter, keeping a character bible (and remembering little details), finding inspiration for a new series, and the love of dogs.

    EP24: FCQ for Debut Author Marlie Parker Wasserman

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2021 25:27


    Shawn and Marlie talk about true crime and fiction, Marlie's unique road to becoming a published author, animals, why we have three names, and finding your voice at any stage of your career.

    Ep23: FCQ for Author James L'Etoile

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2021 25:14


    Shawn and Jim chat about dogs, cats, and squirrels, the power of words, keester stashes, meth marrow, and how having a career in the criminal justice system influences Jim's writing.

    Ep22: FCQ for Author Linda Lovely

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2021 20:29


    Shawn and Linda chat about how HOAs can inspire murderous thoughts, the theory that goat yoga is really devil worship, and how a young woman with the surnames Lovely Hooker went from her childhood career inspiration, Perry Mason, to journalism and crime fiction writing.

    Ep21: FCQ for Author Mark Leichliter

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2021 37:50


    Shawn chats with debut crime fiction author Mark Leichliter about how professional eavesdropping has developed their writing skills, being free-spirited rule breakers, and which is easier to make fun of, cats or dogs.

    Ep20: FCQ for Shawn Reilly Simmons by Author William Ade

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2021 33:59


    Debut novelist William Ade turns the tables on the podcast's host by asking Shawn the questions this week. Shawn and Bill discuss what role gender plays in writing compelling fiction, and things they've learned as writers through their careers.

    Ep19: FCQ for Author Linda Norlander

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2021 23:31


    Linda and Shawn chat about advice for writers just starting out, Writer's High, the importance of reading when writing, and more things they'd tell their younger writing selves.

    Ep18: FCQ for Author Christopher Chambers

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2021 49:30


    Shawn chats with Author and Professor Christopher Chambers about writing in multiple genres, superpowers we'd like to have, what we should tell our younger selves, and navigating landmines. Real ones.

    EP17: FCQ for Author and (former) Crime Reporter Lori Duffy Foster

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2021 26:30


    Shawn chats with Lori about finding inspiration through real-life events, the value of patience, Mom Guilt, raising identical twins, and writing as therapy.

    Ep16: FCQ for Author and Musician Jonathan Brown

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2021 50:25


    Shawn chats with Author and Musician Jonathan Brown about writing, music, things we don't want our moms to read or see, arson in real life, and how to make friends at mystery conventions.

    EP15: FCQ for Author Lida Sideris

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2021 29:58


    Shawn chats with Lida about meeting characters, writers and the movie business, the ups and downs of teleportation, and pigs as murder suspects.

    EP14: FCQ for Author Marco Carocari

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2021 33:42


    Shawn chats with Marco about his debut novel BLACKOUT, thinking in two different languages, their mutual love of music, setting great scenery, and what would be on Marco's life's playlist. Songs: "Love Has Fallen on Me" by Chaka Khan; "Simplify" by Omar; "New York Bars" by Brenda Russell Find the BLACKOUT playlist on Spotify: https://soundcloud.com/marco-carocari/sets/blackout-playlist

    FCQ with Author and Wildlife and Marine Rescue Volunteer Kerry K. Cox

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2021 30:34


    Shawn chats with Kerry K. Cox about writing what you know, different kinds of markets to sell your work (men's magazines!), advocating for animals, and creating informative fiction while staying entertaining.

    FCQ for Canadian Author Jay Forman

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2021 26:19


    Shawn chats with former television producer and current travel crime writer about early inspirations in writing, which is crazier, TV or publishing (spoiler alert, it's hard to tell!), the world's worst teacher, and which actors should be cast in fictional roles.

    FCQ for Debut Author Tina deBellegarde

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2021 33:56


    Shawn and Tina discuss writing, life on the beach and in the mountains, the many benefits of writing short fiction, what it's like to have your book be mentioned in the same breath as Louise Penny's, and the similar parallels they shared growing up and becoming writers.

    FCQ for Debut Author Mally Becker

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2021 15:56


    Shawn chats with first time author Mally Becker about cocktails, writing in different time periods, dealing with a world of ideas, and which famous writer would be wonderful to have dinner with.

    FCQ for Writer, Producer, Director, and Debut (novel) Author Justin M. Kiska

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2021 24:09


    Shawn chats with Justin M. Kiska, writer, producer, and director of over one hundred stage productions about his debut novel, life in a charming small town (while still keeping murder on your mind), the differences between writing for stage and writing novels, and why everyone loves a mystery.

    FCQ for Author Kerry Peresta

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2021 22:20


    Shawn talks with Author Kerry Peresta about the power of words, creating worlds, Kerry's unique path to her writing career, and their mutual love of Sue Grafton.

    FCQ for Author C.L. Tolbert

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2021 26:21


    Shawn talks with C.L. Tolbert about researching a novel during a pandemic, social justice, the strength of working moms, and how rage can fuel creativity.

    FCQ for Author Liz Milliron

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2021 30:16


    Shawn chats (and laughs) with author Liz Milliron about writing, ultimate revenge, and the most entertaining answer to the question "coffee or tea?" ever given.

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