In Conversation with Terry Shepherd

Terry Shepherd
  • 5.0 (2)
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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.

  1. Moderation with Cara Black and Michele Drier

    4H AGO

    Moderation with Cara Black and Michele Drier

    Sooner of later, if you attend an author conference, you may have the opportunity to moderate a panel. Two ace moderators discuss the key factors that make a great performance. Cara Black best known for the twenty-one novel mystery series featuring Aimée Leduc a female Paris-based private investigator, as well as the thrillers Three Hours in Paris, a national bestseller, and Night Flight to Paris. Her work has been translated into seven languages and she's included the 2nd edition of Great Women Writers curated by Elizabeth Lindsay. Michele Drier writes about strong women who find themselves in precarious situations they couldn't have predicted. Her worlds are filled with fascinating characters and immersive settings that hook your interest and never let go. 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

    21 min
  2. Dennis Palumbo - Panic Attack

    2D AGO

    Dennis Palumbo - Panic Attack

    The Psychology of Fear and the Art of the Thriller In this episode, Terry Shepherd sits down with Dennis Palumbo, a licensed psychotherapist and veteran Hollywood screenwriter whose credits include the Emmy-winning Welcome Back, Kotter and the classic film My Favorite Year. Palumbo discusses his dual life as a therapist for creative minds by day and a mystery novelist by night. Exploring Panic Attack The conversation focuses on the release of Panic Attack, the sixth installment in Palumbo's Daniel Rinaldi series. The Plot: The story begins with a shocking act of violence—a sniper opening fire during a college football game.The Protagonist: Daniel Rinaldi is a Pittsburgh Police consultant and trauma expert who treats victims of violent crime.The Motivation: Rinaldi's mission is driven by his own "survivor guilt" following a mugging that claimed the life of his wife.The Themes: The novel explores the "Age of Trauma," examining how modern culture, social media, and global instability fuel collective anxiety.Behind the Scenes: The Patient and Hollywood Palumbo shares fascinating insights into his work as a consulting producer on the Hulu series The Patient, starring Steve Carell. Real-Life Inspiration: Carell’s character, a kidnapped therapist, was visually and professionally modeled after Palumbo himself, right down to the salt-and-pepper beard.Clinical Accuracy: Palumbo provided the writers with the specific language and psychological reactions a therapist would use in such an extreme, "arcane" situation.Advice for Creatives Drawing from his experience in therapy and the arts, Palumbo offers wisdom for those trying to create in a "crazy time": Your Voice Matters: He emphasizes that every person has a story worth telling and that "all serious daring starts from within".The Joy of Process: Referencing research on happiness, he notes that fulfillment comes from the "successful pursuit of a goal," rather than just achieving the goal itself.Audio Release Information The audiobook for Panic Attack, narrated by Eric Sm, is scheduled for release on April 7th. Listeners can find Dennis Palumbo's work in hardcover, paperback, and eBook formats. 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

    33 min
  3. Karen Ann Phillips - A Deadly Hook

    MAR 26

    Karen Ann Phillips - A Deadly Hook

    In this episode of In Conversation with Terry Shepherd, Terry dives deep into the writer's craft with author and artist Karen Ann Phillips to celebrate the release of A Deadly Hook, the third and final installment in her popular Rocky Nelson series. What happens when a peaceful weekend in the Sierra Nevadas is interrupted by a Bigfoot sighting and a shocking murder? Karen shares how her protagonist, Raquel "Rocky" Nelson—a retired boxer with a soft heart and a knockout punch—navigates a sinister mystery that leaves one of her own friends as the prime suspect. Inside This Episode A Different Kind of Sleuth: Why Karen chose to make her protagonist a 55-year-old boxer instead of a traditional bakery owner to set her apart in the "cozy" genre.Art Imitating Life: The autobiographical elements behind Rocky, including Karen’s own boxing lessons and her "money pit" experience owning a vintage trailer.Handling Heavy Themes: How Karen weaves sensitive topics like suicide and sibling rivalry into a traditional mystery while maintaining a "heartfelt" tone and a happy ending.The Romantic Tussle: Rocky’s ultimate choice between the "hot firefighter" and the "handsome detective".The Writing Process: Karen’s transition from short stories to novels, her use of "sprints" for discipline, and the mentors who helped her along the way.About Karen Ann Phillips Karen Ann Phillips is a novelist and a professional cover designer. She is an active member of the writing community, including Sisters in Crime and Capital Crimes. While A Deadly Hook wraps up Rocky’s journey, Karen is already at work on her next project: The Mother Daughter Detective Agency. Connect with Karen: Website: karenaphillips.com Featured Book: A Deadly HookMentioned in this Episode Sisters in Crime & Capital Crimes (Sacramento Chapter) Eight Weeks to a Complete Book by Becky Clark Writing mentors: Cindy Sample and Penny Warner 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

    16 min
  4. Chad Boudreaux - Mob Justice

    MAR 17

    Chad Boudreaux - Mob Justice

    From DOJ Corridors to Chicago Syndicates: Chad Boudreaux on Crafting Mob Justice Imagine starting a high-stakes job at the Department of Justice on September 10, 2001. For our guest today, Chad Boudreaux, that was reality. After spending decades navigating the overlapping spheres of homeland security and defense leadership, Chad has channeled a world of classified briefings and calibrated language into a thrilling second vocation as an author. In this episode, Chad joins us to discuss his latest novel, Mob Justice, the highly anticipated follow-up to Scavenger Hunt. He takes us behind the scenes of his writing process and into the gray areas where the law’s formal architecture meets the improvisations of survival. We explore his protagonist, Blake Hudson—an earnest, tested DOJ attorney—who is dispatched to a Chicago still haunted by the lingering aura of the Prohibition-era Chicago Outfit. In this episode, we cover: A Trial by Fire: What it was like for Chad to start at the DOJ the day before 9/11 and how those decades in federal service shaped his fiction.The Anti-Action Hero: Why Chad chose to make Blake Hudson an earnest, naive protagonist navigating a system that rewards calculation, rather than a preloaded "marquee star."Authenticity Over Melodrama: How Chad consulted former FBI agents to master the true "vocabulary of surveillance" and ensure his wiretap scenes carried documentary restraint.The Ultimate Antagonist: A breakdown of the book's most arresting confrontation featuring Enzo—a former Supreme Court clerk who chillingly pivots into a mob consigliere.Institutions & Humanity: Exploring the novel's core themes of loyalty, betrayal, and finding the irreducibly human elements beneath the marble floors of Washington.Whether you love legal thrillers, organized crime history, or just want to hear how an insider translates real-world government experience into page-turning fiction, this episode is for you! Get the Book: Pick up your copy of Mob Justice and its predecessor, Scavenger Hunt, 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

    19 min

  5. MAR 9

    Gary Fields - The Book of Judges

    What if the secret to humanity's future was hidden inside a murdered judge's laptop? In this episode of In Conversation with Terry Shepherd, Terry sits down with debut thriller author Gary Fields to explore his globe-spanning, time-bending novel, The Book of Judges — already drawing comparisons to The Da Vinci Code. When a respected judge is killed, three unlikely heroes — a young lawyer, a theology doctoral candidate, and a quirky tech genius — have just 72 hours to decode the clues buried in his computer. What they uncover sends them on a desperate chase across Florida, hunted by a relentless killer, and ultimately face-to-face with a secret that could change the world. Gary shares the remarkable journey behind the book: from poetry and songwriting as a kid, to careers in tech and law, to 15 drafts over 20 years before finally publishing his debut. He talks about the spiritual concept of "the Words" — his belief that creativity connects us all — and why themes of human destiny, interconnectedness, and justice run through every page. You'll also hear his surprisingly chilling take on artificial intelligence, what Henry VIII has to do with the future of political freedom, and why Joshua Sutton — his protagonist — will be back for a sequel. In this episode: The origin of The Book of Judges and why it took two decades to writeHow Gary blends authentic legal history with modern thriller pacingThe three protagonists — and the real people who inspired themDreams, destiny, and the idea that we're all more connected than we knowGary's AI warning you won't soon forget📖 Learn more and read a free expanded chapter: garyfields.com In Conversation with Terry Shepherd — a deep dive into the writer's craft with the artists and support systems who create the stories we love. 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

    16 min
  6. Mimi Nichter - HOSTAGE: A Memoir of Terrorism, Trauma, and Resilience

    MAR 3

    Mimi Nichter - HOSTAGE: A Memoir of Terrorism, Trauma, and Resilience

    We recently sat down with celebrated anthropologist Dr. Mimi Nichter to discuss her gripping new memoir, "Hostage: A Memoir of Terrorism, Trauma, and Resilience." In 1970, Mimi was a college senior whose flight home from Tel Aviv was hijacked by the PFLP. What followed were six days on a sweltering plane in the Jordanian desert and weeks of captivity in Amman. But this isn't just a historical recount—it’s a deeply personal exploration of: The "Hidden Box": How she carried the weight of trauma for decades in a world that didn't yet have the language to understand it.Human Complexity: Her unique perspective as an anthropologist, finding moments of shared humanity even with her captors.True Resilience: The realization that healing isn't about forgetting, but "resizing" fear so it no longer consumes the present.Dr. Nichter’s story is a profound reminder that even in the most polarized times, nuance and empathy are our most necessary tools. Check out the full interview to hear more about her journey from the desert sands to finding her voice. 👇 #HostageMemoir #MimiNichter #NewBook #Resilience #MustRead #History #TraumaRecovery #Anthropology 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

    27 min
  7. Michael Yang - Coming Alive on the Ride

    MAR 2

    Michael Yang - Coming Alive on the Ride

    What happens when a Silicon Valley pioneer trades the boardroom for the open road? 🏍️✨ I recently sat down with Michael Yang, the founder of MySimon, to talk about his incredible new memoir, "Coming Alive on the Ride." Michael reached the "Silicon Valley summit" early, but he discovered that the view from the top can be surprisingly isolating. From arriving in San Jose as a teenager with no English to navigating the unpredictable world of tech and eventually riding a motorcycle to the tip of Patagonia, Michael’s story is about much more than business—it’s about "shin-na-geh" (a state of joyful immersion). Here are a few takeaways from our conversation: Adaptability is everything: Whether it’s a broken shifter in a Patagonia storm or being pushed out of a company you built, how you pivot defines your success.The "Personal Exit": The most important exit isn't financial; it’s stepping beyond your comfort zone to rediscover yourself.Confidence is balance: Much like riding a motorcycle or standing up to a bully, confidence is a skill that must be practiced daily.If you’ve ever felt "stalled" despite hitting your goals, Michael’s journey is a powerful reminder that reinvention is always possible if you just keep moving. 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

    26 min
  8. Peter Fedorenko - Among the Living

    MAR 1

    Peter Fedorenko - Among the Living

    From Hollywood "Ghost" to Literary Powerhouse ✍️ For 35 years, Peter Fedorenko was the "script doctor" who fixed Hollywood’s biggest stories from the shadows. Then, in 2020, his own heart stopped. Having returned from the brink, Peter has finally stepped into the light with his debut novel, Among the Living. It’s not just a book; it’s a reckoning. Following a German Jewish medic from the trenches of WWI to the rise of Nazi Berlin, it explores a haunting truth: Patriotism is not armor. In our interview, we discuss: How a near-death experience fueled his transition from film to prose.The forgotten history of Jewish medics on the Western Front.Why survival isn’t the ultimate goal—memory is.Don’t miss this conversation with a man who spent a lifetime refining fantasies, only to deliver a masterpiece of reality. 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

    19 min
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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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