In Conversation with Terry Shepherd

Terry Shepherd

In Conversation with Terry Shepherd, award-winning broadcaster and author of the Jessica Ramirez Thrillers. A deep dive into the people and support systems behind the stories we love.

  1. 12h ago

    CB Wilson - The Ice Diamond

    In this episode, host Terry Shepherd sits down with gemologist and mystery author C.B. Wilson to discuss her latest novel, The Ice Diamond. The book follows gem recovery specialist Taylor Hunter and her diamond-sniffing dachshund, Glimmer, as they investigate a stolen jewel, murder, and an Olympic ice princess at a glittering gala inside a locked room made of ice. Wilson shares the chilling real-life research behind the setting, recounting her rushed March trip to a melting ice hotel in Quebec City where she slept on a block of ice in a minus-30-degree mummy bag. The conversation also delves into Taylor Hunter's complex character arc, exploring her kidnaping in Africa, her struggles with her past, and the lingering shadow of her notorious jewel-thief father. Episode Highlights Canine Detectives: Wilson explains how real-world "diamond dogs" in Africa inspired Glimmer's scent-tracking abilities. She also shares that a dachshund makes the perfect fictional sidekick because the breed is small enough to fit safely under an aircraft seat.Gemological Secrets: Drawing from her education at the Gemological Institute of America, Wilson reveals her fascination with the origins, history, and "inner fire" of diamonds rather than just their surface sparkle.Writing on the Fly: Wilson discusses balancing her day job in the pet food packaging industry with her life as an author. She shares how she utilizes her business travel, writing her chapters on airplanes and in hotel rooms.Future Adventures: Listeners get a sneak peek at upcoming projects, including The Desert Diamond, a Las Vegas mystery inspired by the SuperZoo trade show. She also previews The Christmas Diamond, a collaborative novella set during the immersive Christmas Traditions event in St. Charles, Missouri.Connect with C.B. Wilson Discover more about the Gem Hunter series and connect with the author at cbwilsonauthor.com. We all inevitably become the brand. And that's why I wrote, "How to Become a Dynamic Podcast Guest and Sell Stuff." It's a sweet and short primer that teaches you about the gear, the appearance and the messaging that can grab and hold today's micro-attention spans and motivate your listeners to take action. It's Just a dollar ninety nine at Amazon. Grab your copy today and sell mo

    CB Wilson - The Ice Diamond

  2. Oct 26

    Kathleen Reidy - Engineering a Love Story

    What happens when the life you were supposed to want falls apart, and the life you never dared to imagine starts calling? In this episode of In Conversation, host Terry Shepherd sits down with debut novelist Kathleen Reidy to discuss her compelling book, Engineering: A Love Story. Set against the backdrop of the year 2000 dot-com boom, the conversation explores ambition, independence, the realities of being a woman in tech, and what it takes to start a brand-new creative chapter later in life. Episode Highlights A Late-in-Life Literary Debut: Kathleen shares her personal pivot from working in tech and raising a family to returning to her love of writing, working as an adult reference librarian, and publishing her first novel at age 55.Navigating Women in Tech: Drawing from her own background in the tech industry, Kathleen discusses the corporate engineering environments, traditional misogyny, and the ongoing challenges faced by women in STEM fields.Redefining Success and Security: An exploration of the novel's protagonist, Chelsea LaFave, as she breaks away from a safe marriage and societal expectations to figure out what a truly fulfilling life looks like.The Creative Process: Insights into Kathleen's multi-year journey from ideation and rigorous revision to traditional publication with Sibylline Press, alongside her sharp perspective on AI as both a former tech worker and a librarian.Looking Ahead: A sneak peek into Kathleen's writing future, including her second standalone novel slated for publication in fall 2028.Connect with Kathleen Reidy & Order the Book Website: kathleenreidy.comBook: Find Engineering: A Love Story online or at your favorite local bookstore.We all inevitably become the brand. And that's why I wrote, "How to Become a Dynamic Podcast Guest and Sell Stuff." It's a sweet and short primer that teaches you about the gear, the appearance and the messaging that can grab and hold today's micro-attention spans and motivate your listeners to take action. It's Just a dollar ninety nine at Amazon. Grab your copy today and sell mo

    Kathleen Reidy - Engineering a Love Story

  3. Oct 25

    J. Brian Turk - Boston Psychiatric

    In this episode of "In Conversation," host Terry Shepherd sits down with author, filmmaker, and former Air Force intelligence officer J. Brian Turk to discuss his novel Boston Psychiatric. They explore the redemptive journey of Raj, a disgraced former pharmaceutical CEO working at a struggling Boston free clinic, and Turk's eclectic personal and professional background. Key Discussion Points The Premise of Boston Psychiatric: Raj transitions from a high-flying pharmaceutical executive and a prison cell to a chaotic, eccentric Boston free clinic. The story originally evolved from an independent film project Turk created in 2009.The Nature of Redemption: Turk explores whether people are defined by the worst things they have done. He draws a distinct line between passive forgiveness, which can be given, and active redemption, which requires genuine work and restitution.The "Yes, And" Philosophy: Drawing from his experience with improv comedy at Boston's Improv Asylum, Turk applies the theatrical "Yes, and" concept to how Raj connects with and understands his patients beyond basic medication.An Uncommon Background: Turk shares highlights from his winding life path, which spans an Air Force intelligence career, security consulting, stand-up comedy, filmmaking, and growing up around his father's human-interest storytelling.Balancing Humor and Heavy Themes: Turk explains why incorporating situational humor is critical to maintaining dignity and keeping stories about mental health, guilt, and suffering from becoming overly depressing.Connect with J. Brian Turk Website: backbaystories.comFeatured Book: Boston PsychiatricWe all inevitably become the brand. And that's why I wrote, "How to Become a Dynamic Podcast Guest and Sell Stuff." It's a sweet and short primer that teaches you about the gear, the appearance and the messaging that can grab and hold today's micro-attention spans and motivate your listeners to take action. It's Just a dollar ninety nine at Amazon. Grab your copy today and sell mo

    J. Brian Turk - Boston Psychiatric

  4. Oct 24

    Parker Garrett - Adverse Events

    In this episode of "In Conversation," host Terry Shepherd sits down with author Parker Garrett to discuss his debut medical thriller, Adverse Events. Drawing from over two decades of experience in healthcare compliance, research ethics, and institutional oversight—alongside a doctorate in bioethics—Garrett explores the dark intersections of institutional power, grief, and medical ethics. Key Discussion Points The Premise of Adverse Events: Grieving widower and healthcare compliance professional Ethan Maris leaves New York to start over at a prestigious Washington hospital, where he uncovers cryptic clues and dangerous secrets left by his predecessor.Real-World Foundations: Garrett shares how his career dealing with institutional oversight failures, unconsented device implantations, and federal violations inspired the core of the story.A Post-Oversight America: The novel explores a fictional America struggling to rebuild its healthcare system following the dismantling of federal oversight, combined with the pressures of private equity and closing rural hospitals.Artificial Intelligence and Ethics: Discussion centers on "George," an AI regional hub in the book's universe designed to assist physicians and provide a neutral, binary check and balance for ethical decision-making.Unapologetically Queer Storytelling: Garrett emphasizes the importance of authentic queer representation in media, where a character's sexuality is incidental to telling a fully human story.The Writing and Editing Process: Insights into balancing dry medical complexity with fast thriller pacing, utilizing editing software like Autocrit, and achieving publication after 191 agent rejections.Connect with Parker Garrett Website: parkergarrett.netFeatured Book: Adverse Events (Book 1 in the Ethan Maris series)We all inevitably become the brand. And that's why I wrote, "How to Become a Dynamic Podcast Guest and Sell Stuff." It's a sweet and short primer that teaches you about the gear, the appearance and the messaging that can grab and hold today's micro-attention spans and motivate your listeners to take action. It's Just a dollar ninety nine at Amazon. Grab your copy today and sell mo

    Parker Garrett - Adverse Events

  5. Oct 16

    Babette Fraser Hale - Narcissi

    Desire, Consequences, and the Art of Listening: Babette Fraser Hale on Narcissi What happens when a man’s greatest gift is making women feel truly seen—even when being seen isn't the same as being safe? In this episode, host Terry Shepherd sits down with author Babette Fraser Hale to discuss her interconnected novel in stories, Narcissi. Set across the sprawling Texas landscape during the pivotal early 1980s, the book follows Cole Burnett—a dangerously magnetic writer whose lanky Western charm, restless movement, and rare ability to listen draw women into an orbit fraught with unintended harm, self-love, and midlife vulnerability. Babette opens up about: The Architecture of Narcissi: Why telling Cole’s trajectory through interconnected short stories allowed her to explore the perspective of the women in his wake.Listening as Seduction: Whether Cole’s attentive ear is sincere, manipulative, or a novelist's natural compulsion.The 1980s Backdrop: How a transitional era of sexual freedom, evolving feminism, and midlife reckonings shaped the characters' choices and relationships.Crafting Texas Dialogue & Landscape: Eavesdropping as a writer’s tool, overcoming early creative blocks, and how the vast Texas backroads mirror the freedom and escapes of "Slow Travel."The Core Takeaway: Why the book ultimately asks readers for tolerance and empathy toward deeply flawed, self-involved human beings.About the Guest: Babette Fraser Hale is a fiction writer, former journalist, and author of Narcissi and This Familiar Heart. To learn more about her work and pick up your copy of Narcissi, visit Winedale Books. We all inevitably become the brand. And that's why I wrote, "How to Become a Dynamic Podcast Guest and Sell Stuff." It's a sweet and short primer that teaches you about the gear, the appearance and the messaging that can grab and hold today's micro-attention spans and motivate your listeners to take action. It's Just a dollar ninety nine at Amazon. Grab your copy today and sell mo

    Babette Fraser Hale - Narcissi

  6. Oct 16

    Steena Holmes - When You Tell

    What happens when an 18-year-old secret resurfaces under the unforgiving glare of the public eye? In this episode, host Terry Shepherd sits down with New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Steena Holmes to dive into her gripping psychological suspense novel, When You Tell. With over 3 million books sold and more than 55 thrillers to her name, Steena takes us into the volatile intersection of fractured friendship, influencer culture, buried trauma, and the brutal reality of cancel culture.  Steena pulls back the curtain on the contrasting dynamics between her protagonists: Brie, a traumatized ghostwriter determined to stay completely invisible, and Miranda (known to millions online as Randy F. Alexander), a larger-than-life lifestyle influencer who needs Brie's help writing her next book. Together, Terry and Steena explore what lives behind our curated online personas, how quickly a reputation can unravel, and why dark secrets make the best thrillers.  In this episode, we discuss: The Inspiration Behind When You Tell: Contrasting an invisible ghostwriter with a vivacious, Instagram-famous personality.The Illusion of Influencer Culture: How Steena’s background in ministry shaped her fascination with curated public images versus private truth.Setting the Scene: Why the winding canals and historic brown cafés of Amsterdam provided the perfect backdrop for secrets.The Craft of Suspense: How Steena evolved from an instinct-driven "pantser" into a dedicated "plotter" over the course of 60+ novels.The Reality of Imposter Syndrome: Why even bestselling authors with millions of readers still worry that people will hate their work.Writing as Therapy: Channeling personal fears, motherly instincts, and difficult realities into emotionally charged fiction.Connect with Steena Holmes: Website: steenaholmes.comBook: When You Tell (Available wherever books are sold)We all inevitably become the brand. And that's why I wrote, "How to Become a Dynamic Podcast Guest and Sell Stuff." It's a sweet and short primer that teaches you about the gear, the appearance and the messaging that can grab and hold today's micro-attention spans and motivate your listeners to take action. It's Just a dollar ninety nine at Amazon. Grab your copy today and sell mo

    Steena Holmes - When You Tell

  7. Oct 15

    Jerome Loving - After the Good War A Vietnam Memoir

    In 1966, 24-year-old Jerome Loving arrived in Vietnam as a commissioned officer, spending nearly nine months between Saigon and Cam Ranh Bay. Returning home to an indifferent and often hostile America, he put the war behind him to build a distinguished academic career as a scholar of Walt Whitman and Mark Twain. Decades later, Loving revisits his service in his newly published book, After the Good War: A Vietnam Memoir. Host Terry Shepherd sits down with Professor Emeritus Loving to discuss his deeply personal reckoning with the Vietnam War, the lasting trauma borne by returning veterans, and how his career studying American literature helped him process his own history. Loving explains why he considers his memoir a "lament" for the nearly 60,000 young men lost and the ongoing struggles of those who survived, including his own brother-in-law.  Episode Highlights: The Reality of a Combat Zone: Loving shares the constant tension of serving as a commissioned officer in Saigon, detailing how he slept with a .38 and a .25 caliber weapon under his pillow and stacked glasses by his hotel door as a makeshift alarm.The Distance Between Wars: Loving contrasts the Vietnam experience—and the poor reception veterans received back home—with the patriotic legacy of World War II, noting the high suicide rates and enduring struggles of surviving veterans.A "Civil War at Home": Loving draws striking parallels between the deep domestic divisions during the Vietnam War and his extensive scholarly research into the American Civil War era.A Scholar's Journey: Learn how a veteran who utilized the GI Bill transitioned into a highly respected academic, eventually taking his family to teach in Leningrad in 1978 and at the Sorbonne in Paris.Echoes of History: Loving reflects on the cyclical nature of geopolitical conflicts, comparing the escalating quagmire of Vietnam—where troop levels rapidly surged from 125,000 to over half a million—to subsequent wars and modern international tensions.We all inevitably become the brand. And that's why I wrote, "How to Become a Dynamic Podcast Guest and Sell Stuff." It's a sweet and short primer that teaches you about the gear, the appearance and the messaging that can grab and hold today's micro-attention spans and motivate your listeners to take action. It's Just a dollar ninety nine at Amazon. Grab your copy today and sell mo

    Jerome Loving - After the Good War A Vietnam Memoir

  8. Oct 14

    Todd Brown - Anna So Knows ‘Ya

    What happens when a man whose entire life is built around separating fact from fiction can no longer tell the difference? In this episode, host Terry Shepherd interviews sociologist-turned-fiction-author Todd Brown about his newest psychological thriller, Anna So Knows 'Ya. Brown discusses his transition from writing nonfiction to exploring the terrifying, uncertain territory of the human mind. The novel follows John Simmons, a crime reporter whose reality destabilizes when a mysterious man in a dark hat begins appearing at the edges of his life, leaving John to wonder if he is uncovering a story or disappearing inside one. Topics discussed in this episode include: The Anatomy of Paranoia: How human discomfort with randomness and the compulsion to invent patterns out of fear drive the story's psychological dread.Neurodivergence and Interpretation: Brown shares his personal experience living on the autism spectrum, which inspired his exploration of intent versus literal interpretation in the dynamic between characters John and Anna.Grief as a Lens: How the gray, unpredictable nature of grief alters John's perception of reality and dictates his responses to the world around him.The Craft of Writing: Brown explains his character-driven approach to plotting, the challenge of writing a structurally opposite book to his debut novel, When Shadows Burn, and how his wife acts as his most brutally honest daily editor.Balancing Horror and Humor: Why psychological horror provides the leeway to explore the liminal space between reality and the unknown, and why injecting humor is essential for balancing tension.Brown intentionally wrote Anna So Knows 'Ya as a broader commentary on society, hoping to challenge readers to reflect on how labels, words, and actions ripple outward to affect how we treat one another. Discover more about Todd Brown's work and his novels at toddbrownwrites.com.  We all inevitably become the brand. And that's why I wrote, "How to Become a Dynamic Podcast Guest and Sell Stuff." It's a sweet and short primer that teaches you about the gear, the appearance and the messaging that can grab and hold today's micro-attention spans and motivate your listeners to take action. It's Just a dollar ninety nine at Amazon. Grab your copy today and sell mo

    Todd Brown - Anna So Knows ‘Ya
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In Conversation with Terry Shepherd, award-winning broadcaster and author of the Jessica Ramirez Thrillers. A deep dive into the people and support systems behind the stories we love.

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