Kellye Garrett knew at age 5 that she wanted to write.

That’s a big deal, guys. I think it took me until age 7 to know - so she was way ahead of me!

And she’s come a long way since then. Today, her crime fiction novels have been featured on the Today Show, won numerous awards, and named to Time Magazine’s 100 Best Mystery & Thrillers of All Time. The latest is Missing White Woman, which was an Apple Books Staff Pick, Amazon Editors’ Pick, Reader's Digest June 2024 Book Club selection and the CBS New York Club Calvi Spring Book Club pick.

In addition, Kellye is a co-founder of Crime Writers of Color, which received the 2023 Raven Award from MWA and Boucheron’s 2024 David Thompson Special Service Award.

Plus, she’s an overall amazing person and so much fun to talk to.

We talked about her road from screenwriter to novelist, including:

• What journalism taught her about writing

• How a billboard on the side of an LA freeway led to her first novel, Hollywood Homicide

• The everyday experiences that shape her writing practice

• How community has helped shape her career

And so much more.

Chapters:

03:00 Kellye's Journey to Crime Writing

06:12 Transition from Screenwriting to Novels

08:57 Finding an Agent and Getting Published

12:11 The Evolution of Kellye's Writing Career

15:09 Writing Process and Idea Generation

18:06 Research and Community in Writing

20:54 Diversity in Crime Fiction

24:07 Upcoming Projects and Future Plans

27:01 Advice for Aspiring Writers

You can find more about Kellye here: https://kellyegarrett.com/

Want more writing inspo? I have answers to all your burning questions about writing and

publishing. Download my Ultimate Guide to Writing and Publishing Your Mystery.

I’m on IG @lizmugavero - follow for info on the latest episodes!

Calvin Coolidge said: “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.”

Well, it’s all true. And my guest today has the tales to prove it.

I’m delighted to welcome my friend and fellow crime writer Daniel Palmer to the show today.

Daniel has a few iterations of names and brands, which we’ll get to in the conversation, but the headline is - he is the author of 22 novels. He’s written under Daniel Palmer, D.J. Palmer and as a duo with his dad, Michael Palmer, who was also a hugely successful medical thriller author. Daniel received his master’s degree from Boston University and after a career in e-commerce he shifted gears to writing full time.

I love talking to writers about their journeys because everyone’s is so unique. And the publishing journey is a whole other thing - also super unique to everyone and completely separate from the writing journey. Daniel and I talk a lot about that as he walks us through the twists and turns his career has taken - as many as any good suspense novel - and it serves as a reminder to us all that the path may not look the way we thought it would but if we stick with it, we’ll get to the right place.

We talked about his winding path to the career he has today, including:

• What to do when the writing journey doesn’t go the way you think it “should”

• What it was like growing up with a hugely successful novelist father, and how that

shaped his writing and his own career (surprisingly not in the way you might think!)

• Why you need to stick to the path, no matter how directionless it might seem in a

certain moment

• How a fictional dog salvaged his first novel

And so much more.

If you’re looking for inspiration to keep going when your writing career isn’t panning out the

way you hoped, come listen. Have we got stories for you.

You can connect with Daniel here: https://danielpalmerbooks.com/

Want more writing inspo? I have answers to all your burning questions about writing and

publishing. Download my Ultimate Guide to Writing and Publishing Your Mystery.

I’m on IG @lizmugavero - follow for info on the latest episodes!

I’m thrilled to welcome crime writer Delia Pitts to the podcast! Delia’s journey to becoming a mystery author is absolutely fascinating, shaped by an impressive and diverse career. We could have talked for hours about her background and how each stage of her life, from journalism to diplomacy, added layers to her fiction writing.

Delia is a proud board member of Sisters in Crime, serving as the DEIJB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Belonging) liaison. She’s passionate about representation in the crime writing world and is a valuable voice in our shared community of writers.

Here’s a bit more about Delia: she was born and raised in Chicago, studied history at Oberlin College, and earned her Ph.D. in African history from the University of Chicago. She’s worked as a journalist, university administrator, and U.S. diplomat, bringing a unique perspective to her storytelling. This summer, she released her latest novel, Trouble in Queenstown, a private eye mystery published by Minotaur Books, and her short story The Killer was featured in *Best American Mystery and Suspense 2021. Delia is also the author of the Ross Agency Mysteries, which feature an unforgettable cast of characters.

Join me for this conversation as we dive into Delia’s unique journey to crime fiction, the inspiration behind her characters, and her thoughts on the evolution of the genre.

We covered:

• Delia’s unique career path, from journalist to U.S. diplomat to PI novelist.

• Insights into her DEIJB role with Sisters in Crime and the importance of diverse voices in crime fiction.

• The making of Trouble in Queenstown and what inspired her private eye protagonist.

• How Delia’s experiences in various fields inform her characters and settings.

• The concept of justice and how it manifests in her work.

And so much more.

Tune in for an engaging conversation that explores the intersections of life experience and fiction—and get inspired by Delia’s journey to becoming a standout voice in crime writing.

You can connect with Delia here: https://www.deliapitts.com/

Want more writing inspo? I have answers to all your burning questions about writing and

publishing. Download my Ultimate Guide to Writing and Publishing Your Mystery.

I’m on IG @lizmugavero - follow for info on the latest episodes!

How does the idea of a whole year of living an intentional, creative life sound to you creatives out there?

I think it sounds amazing and I’m totally up for the challenge. My guest today, Arden Coutts, decided that this year is their creative year—and is intentionally following that path with creative exercises, challenges and more.

I love this idea and I’m so here for it.

Arden is a trans, non-binary author who writes queer romantic suspense novels about finding yourself and love in your 30s and 40s. Arden grew up in rural Nebraska and now lives in North Carolina where they work in historic preservation and continue to pursue their creative endeavors in podcasting, writing, and art. They have a degree in Anthropology from Iowa State University. Fall Into Midnight is their debut novel. They have also published the prequel Before We Fall, which is a romance novella, and a book of poetry, Where We Once Existed.

Arden’s approach to nurturing their own creativity should inspire all of you.

We cover:

• Winning against imposter syndrome

• Processing emotions through writing

• The moment that began their writing career

• What it looks like to live intentionally and creatively

• How to tap into creative practices to jumpstart a new project

And so much more.

You can check out Arden’s work here: https://www.ardencoutts.com/free-novel

Want more writing inspo? I have answers to all your burning questions about writing and

publishing. Download my Ultimate Guide to Writing and Publishing Your Mystery.

I’m on IG @lizmugavero - follow for info on the latest episodes!

Sometimes living creatively in this world feels like living a double life—one where you have to deal with life’s normal responsibilities and then make the switch in your brain to the REAL you —the creative you.

And when you figure out how to do that and embrace your purpose, life just gets so much better. My guest today is such a great example of this—and she is someone who will make your nervous system just take a breath.

Anastasia Lindsey is a self-taught poet. Her work explores the ways in which relationships shape us in specific and universal ways. She is a writer, author, photographer, creative, healer, and poet. Her book, O C E A N has received much recognition across the U.S. Anastasia's work explores grief, loss, love, trauma, healing, self-empowerment, transformation, and much more.

We talk about poetry, vulnerability, creativity, and how writing heals you - which is a theme of this podcast simply because it’s so true.

I loved spending time with her—her vibe is just incredible.

We cover:

• Practices that help tap into the creative process

• How to approach writing poetry so it’s not overwhelming or scary

• Making writing in any genre fun

• How to make creativity your gravity center so you can keep coming back to it

And so much more.

You can find out more about Anastasia here: https://summersolacehealing.com/

Want more writing inspo? I have answers to all your burning questions about writing and

publishing. Download my Ultimate Guide to Writing and Publishing Your Mystery.

I’m on IG @lizmugavero - follow for info on the latest episodes!

Women taking their power back is definitely a theme these days—and my guest today is an OG at this, both in her own life and creating strong, independent female characters.

Kay Oliver worked as a writer in Hollywood and then moved into novels in order to retain creative control over her work. She’s got some fascinating stories about what

Hollywood is really like - hint, it’s maybe not as great as we all like to imagine it is - and also what that transition to novel writing was like.

Kay holds degrees in Radio/TV/Film from California State University, Fullerton, and an MBA in Business. With over 3 decades in entertainment, spanning studios and TV stations, she produced, wrote and directed films. Defying gender biases and the notion that female-centric stories lack marketability in Hollywood, she took the leap and became an author, championing women's resilience in her novels.

Her experience and advice is applicable to all of us—and a reminder to make sure we’re power keeping our own lives.

We talk about:

• How an illness led to her decision to seek creative control over her work
• What it’s like writing for some of the greats in Hollywood
• Whether fiction or screenwriting is “easier” to write
• How to keep the ideas flowing

And so much more.

You can find more about Kay at https://kayaoliver.com/

Want more writing inspo? I have answers to all your burning questions about writing and publishing. Download my Ultimate Guide to Writing and Publishing Your Mystery.

I’m on IG @lizmugavero - follow for info on the latest episodes!

You all know I love talking to journalists, right?

As a former journalist, I know that we never really give it up. It’s who we are, something that’s in our blood. It feels like a society of sorts, which is so juicy.

My guest today, Peter Sacks, has a long, impressive career as a journalist and nonfiction author, and now he’s writing fiction - as we do. His first novel, Libertyland, is a political thriller that is as much cultural commentary as it is action packed - and I just love talking to journalists who’ve seen so much of the world and then turn those experiences into fiction.

Peter has been nominated twice for the Pulitzer Prize, including one for his book, Tearing Down the Gates, an examination of the role that social class plays in American education and society.

It also won Book of the Year from the Association of American Colleges and Universities. Peter has worked as a newspaper journalist on both coasts, as an economist, and as a college instructor in English and Journalism. His essays have appeared in many national publications, including The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and The Nation. He’s been a keynote speaker at colleges and universities around the United States.

Libertyland is his first fiction novel.

We talk about:

• Journalism as a calling - and life training

• Exploring bigger societal themes through fiction writing

• Taking on capitalism in his thriller

• Using fiction to expose what’s happening in the real world, in real time

And so much more.

You can check out Libertyland here: https://www.amazon.com/Libertyland-Peter-Sacks/dp/1922329576/

Want more writing inspo? I have answers to all your burning questions about writing and

publishing. Download my Ultimate Guide to Writing and Publishing Your Mystery.

I’m on IG @lizmugavero - follow for info on the latest episodes!

You may know that in my “other” life I’m a marketing and communications leader. I’ve been working in this field for nearly two decades after leaving journalism. And there’s nothing I love more than when my author world and my corporate world collide and I find a novelist.

That’s the case with today’s guest. In my latest role as a consultant for a healthcare system, I have been working with a fierce leader in this field. Gina Calder is now the first Black female regional president at Hartford Healthcare, overseeing the system’s central region.

She is a tireless advocate for equity in healthcare and an unrelenting champion for women of color. Her leadership style is both generous and badass.

And she’s turned that advocacy into a book of affirmations called She Looks Like Me!, aimed at young girls to, in her own words, “help them have their own vocabulary and language to describe how spectacular and remarkable they are and and are becoming.”

So I had to have her on the show to talk about her second career as an author and how her desire to lift up young women and girls intersects with the work she’s doing for the healthcare industry.

We talk about:

• Her mother’s influence on her confidence and creativity

• Why she focused on affirmations in her book and what she hopes young girls will take away

• Why it’s so important for young girls to see themselves reflected back to them in today’s leaders

• How she made the time to get the book written and published with such a demanding career

And so much more.

You can get in touch with Gina on IG @thexenexec

Want more writing inspo? I have answers to all your burning questions about writing and

publishing. Download my Ultimate Guide to Writing and Publishing Your Mystery.

I’m on IG @lizmugavero - follow for info on the latest episodes!