After beginning his career in the entertainment industry in the New York at Gotham Entertainment Group, Michael moved to Los Angeles and has worked in feature film and television show development since 1995. Michael gives a sneak peek at the story behind his green-lighted ABC project, Still Star-Crossed, and shares the lessons that the T-Rex in Jurassic Park, and the story structure of The West Wing taught him about stellar storytelling.
Season 1 - Episode 35: C. E. Lawrence
Having written nine novels and six novellas, C.E. has received glowing reviews from The Library Journal, Kirkus, Booklist, Publishers Weekly, and many other publications for her gritty stories. Drawing from her background as an author, an actor, and a Steampunk fan, she delves into the story penning process and shares the core ingredients in the stories she tells.
Season 1 - Episode 34: Jerry B. Jenkins
As one of the most prolific and bestselling authors in the United States, Jerry B. Jenkins has penned twenty-one New York Times bestsellers, including the Left Behind series, which has sold more than 70 million copies worldwide. In this strikingly honest and intimate interview, Jerry talks craft, a simple strategy for shaping any story, and what to do with critics—no matter how harsh they might be. Don’t miss this interview with a true master storyteller.
Season 1 - Episode 33: Dolores Hydock
When she's not developing her acclaimed one-woman shows, Dolores travels and performs at national and international storytelling festivals and conferences across North America. With insights learned from many years onstage, she shares storytelling secrets that all public speakers, presenters, and storytellers will benefit from in this vibrant and moving interview.
Season 1 - Episode 32: Lane Shefter Bishop
Do you have a book or movie to pitch? Are you slaving over a logline that will grab the attention of an agent or producer? Known as “The Book Whisperer” of Hollywood, Hollywood writer and producer Lane Shefter Bishop specializes in helping to sell books to filmmakers. She has worked with Fox, ABC, Showtime, HBO and many others. Learn how to develop loglines that work.
Season 1 - Episode 31: David Corbett
David Corbett's book The Art of Character was named by Barnes and Noble as one of the five craft books every writer must have. As an acclaimed novelist and former private investigator, David brings a careful, analytical eye to helping authors shape better stories through building better characters. Have a pen ready to take notes when you listen to this incisive interview.
Season 1 - Episode 30: Grant Blackwood
Get the inside scoop on fiction writing from one of the country’s top techno-thriller authors. #1 New York Times bestselling author Grant Blackwood shares insights on research, penning books with Tom Clancy, writing action sequences, building suspense, and his “face mask” theory of point of view writing.
Season 1 - Episode 29: Lisa Cron
Lisa has worked in the publishing industry, served as a literary agent, and was a producer for Showtime and Court TV. As an expert on how our brains process and understand stories, she has also served as a story consultant for Warner Brothers and Village Roadshow. Tune in as she talks through some of the storytelling principles from her groundbreaking book Wired for Story.
Season 1 - Episode 28: Glen Erik Hamilton
As a powerful new noir talent, Glen shares practical advice to first-time authors on time management, working successfully in a writers group, and learning writing skills from well-established authors. Glen grew up on a sailboat in Seattle which helped teach him to not limit his creative boundaries. His debut novel, Past Crimes, is a 2016 Edgar Award nominee, and his second book, Hard Cold Winter, will be released this month.
Season 1 - Episode 27: Mark Alpert
Get ready for insect cyborgs, artificial intelligence, transhumanism, and aliens as we tap into the imagination and childlike wonder of astrophysicist and science thriller author Mark Alpert. Called “the heir to Michael Crichton,” Mark pens thrilling stories that merge cutting-edge science with edge-of-the-seat suspense. Mark shares his passion for writing, for life, and for ways to feed the creative juices.