
76 episodes

Five Compelling Questions with Shawn Shawn Reilly Simmons
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- Arts
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5.0 • 4 Ratings
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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.
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EP109: 5CQ for Amy Young, Author of THE WATER TOWER
Shawn and Amy chat about comedy writing vs. novel writing, great dialogue, being Midwestern, debut novels, shifting careers, and the importance of supportive partners for creative people.
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EP108: 5CQ for Jane Loeb Rubin, Author of IN THE HANDS OF WOMEN
Shawn and Jane talk about surviving and thriving after a cancer diagnosis, healthcare for women over the years, the bandwagon effect, what history was actually like, and the magic of teamwork.
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EP107: 5CQ for Ali Hazelwood, NYT Bestselling Author of LOVE, THEORETICALLY
Shawn and Ali chat about Ali's Fan Fiction origins and her path to traditional publishing, the role that luck plays in our lives, the best writing advice you can give or get, how stories help us deal with difficult times, finding your community, and a billion-dollar idea.
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EP106: 5CQ for Libi Siporin, Author of IF TWO OF THEM ARE DEAD
Shawn and Libi chat about Ben Franklin quotes; professional storytelling; living and traveling in Italy IRL and in your mind; elegant murder; and beautiful book covers.
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EP105: 5CQ for Sidney Karger, Comedy Central, MTV and SNL writer, and author of BEST MEN
Shawn and Sidney chat about gay characters who aren’t just sidekicks, the lasting appeal of rom-coms, their mutual distrust of outlining stories, a roller-coaster of words, writers on strike, and being culture vultures.
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EP104: 5CQ for Ore Agbaje-Williams, author of THE THREE OF US
Shawn and Ore discuss her debut novel, THE THREE OF US, what it's like being a debut author, writing short and long fiction, pandemic novel writing, friendships and love, juggling on Zoom, and eavesdropping on someone's worst nightmare.