In Conversation with Terry Shepherd

Liz Lazarus - Dawn Before Darkness

What happens when the person you once trusted most becomes the architect of your worst nightmare?  In this episode, award-winning broadcaster Terry Shepherd sits down with psychological thriller author Liz Lazarus to discuss her unsettling new novel, Dawn Before Darkness. Liz opens up about shifting from a "left-brain" career as a corporate engineering executive to crafting high-stakes, realistic suspense fiction. They dive deep into the terrifying reality behind her latest book—including Liz's personal 10-year battle with the probate court system , the meticulous research that went into portraying the real-world anxieties of stalking , and her highly structured "plotter" approach to writing using color-coded spreadsheets. It’s an eye-opening conversation about creative resilience, the flaws in our legal system, and why every family needs to have a difficult conversation about their future before it’s too late. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: * Fiction Rooted in Fact: How Liz’s real-life struggle to free her mother from a predatory guardianship inspired the legal nightmare in her new book. * The Anatomy of a Thriller: Why Liz structures her novels in Excel and her unconventional secret weapon for perfect chapter pacing. * Real-World Stalking: Insights from Liz's interviews with 10 stalking survivors and the shocking truth about the limitations of restraining orders. * A Cautionary Tale for Families: Why Dawn Before Darkness is a passionate plea for listeners to organize their wills, powers of attorney, and family affairs today. About the Guest: Liz Lazarus Liz Lazarus graduated from Georgia Tech with an engineering degree and spent 20 years at General Electric before answering her true calling to become a writer. She is the author of four gripping, socially-themed psychological thrillers, including Free of Malice, Shades of Silence, Plea for Justice, and her latest release, Dawn Before Darkness. * Connect with Liz: Learn more and find her books at LizLazarus.com [https://lizlazarus.com]. Support the Show! If you enjoyed this deep dive into the writer's craft, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! Your reviews and word-of-mouth referrals are the absolute best way to help new listeners discover the show and support our incredible authors. Follow Terry Shepherd on social media and subscribe so you never miss an episode!  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 [https://www.amazon.com/How-Be-Dynamic-Podcast-Guest/dp/1955171513]. Grab your copy today and sell mo

Peter Samuelson - Finding Happy

“The purpose of your life is to be happy, but the way you become happy is counterintuitive. It turns out that where happiness comes from is pushing out help for other people.” What if the secret to a meaningful life isn’t about what you can grab, but what you can give?  In this truly life-altering episode, award-winning broadcaster Terry Shepherd sits down with Peter Samuelson—film producer, pro-social entrepreneur, and the visionary force behind world-class nonprofits like the Starlight Children’s Foundation, Starbright World (co-founded with Steven Spielberg), First Star, and EDAR. Peter dives deep into his highly anticipated book, Finding Happy: A User’s Guide for Your Life with Lessons from Mine. Written as a no-holds-barred compass for Gen Z, millennials, and anyone looking to cut through the digital noise, the book blends jaw-dropping, hilarious Hollywood misadventures with deeply practical life lessons on risk, resilience, and ultimate fulfillment. In this episode, you’ll discover: * The Brain Chemistry of Risk: Why young adults operate on the amygdala (the reptilian fight-or-flight brain) and how to kickstart the prefrontal cortex to play the "chess game of life" safely. * The "Envelope & Pencil" Strategy: A powerful metaphor for navigating failure, exploring career tangents, and pushing past the dark spaces of uncertainty. * The 89% Miracle: How Peter’s organization, First Star, flips the script for foster youth, defying national statistics to send the vast majority of their scholars to higher education. * The Science of Random Acts of Kindness: A look inside Peter’s counterintuitive 2-class course funded by a generous Dallas donor, proving how agency and altruism fight life's natural "entropy". * Unconditional Love in Action: Heartwarming, real-world stories from the trenches of volunteering—including the moving UCLA talent show "scrum" and how Peter met his wife of 35 years inside a SeaWorld dolphin costume. * Classroom Hacks for Success: Why raising your hand to ask just one question per class—even a bad one—will fundamentally reprogram your education. This isn’t just a podcast episode; it’s a masterclass in mitigation of suffering and finding absolute clarity, courage, and joy in an overwhelming world. Hit play, get off your derriere, and learn how to start your own journey toward a good life. Connect with Peter: * Website: samuelson.la [https://samuelson.la] (Where you can read the first 20 pages of Finding Happy for free!)  * Buy the Book: Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Target in paperback, e-book, and audiobook formats. * Feedback: Peter actually wants to hear from you! Grab his direct email address right inside the book or via his website. About the Show: In Conversation with Terry Shepherd explores the writer’s craft, showcasing deep dives with the authors, narrators, and support systems who shape the stories we love. Enjoyed the episode? Don't forget to subscribe, leave a 5-star review, and share this episode with a young adult—or a parent/mentor—who needs a little extra guidance finding their happy today! 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 [https://www.amazon.com/How-Be-Dynamic-Podcast-Guest/dp/1955171513]. Grab your copy today and sell mo

Luke Preston and Alice Waddington - Anonymous Jane

Breaking the Spy Movie Mold with "Anonymous Jane" There are stories that whisper, and stories that kick the door off its hinges. Anonymous Jane does the latter. In this episode, host Terry Shepherd sits down with two incredible creators approaching the exact same explosive story from very different artistic worlds: hard-edged crime novelist Luke Preston (writing as Jack Quade) and visionary director Alice Waddington. Together, they are adapting Preston’s fast-moving novel into a visceral, cinematic experience. At the heart of the story is Jane—a non-traditional spy, weapon, and shadow fixer who suddenly faces the ultimate personal ticking clock: learning she is both pregnant and terminally ill. Suddenly, the mission isn't just about saving the world; it’s a desperate gamble for survival and redemption. What We Dive Into in This Episode: * The Anti-Bond Blueprint: Luke discusses why he wanted to strip away the traditional, detached "James Bond" archetype to create a protagonist driven by deeply personal stakes. * The Nice Guys Meets Hong Kong Cinema: Alice shares how she connected with the book's propulsion and her plans to inject dark humor, '70s action cinema vibes, and high-fashion aesthetics into a brutalist visual world. * Action That Dictates Character: A look behind the curtain at collaborating with legendary action coordinator Phil Silvera (Deadpool, Daredevil) to ensure every punch, throw, and blade movement tells an emotional story. * The Blue-Collar Creative Grind: Both Luke and Alice get incredibly candid about their paths from working-class backgrounds to Hollywood, offering powerhouse advice for indie authors and first-time filmmakers trying to break through the noise today. Whether you're a fan of gritty crime thrillers, high-octane filmmaking, or the raw mechanics of script adaptation, this conversation moves just as fast as the story on the page. Hit play and get a front-row seat to the collaboration! Connect with the Guests: * Luke Preston: Learn more about his books at jackquaidbooks.com [https://www.google.com/search?q=http://jackquaidbooks.com]. * Alice Waddington: Explore her visual portfolio at alicewaddington.com [https://www.google.com/search?q=http://alicewaddington.com]. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast platform! 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 [https://www.amazon.com/How-Be-Dynamic-Podcast-Guest/dp/1955171513]. Grab your copy today and sell mo

Tori Eldridge - Hawaii Rage

Unburying Family Secrets in the Paniolo Country with Tori Eldridge There is a particular kind of suspense that settles into the land, into families, and into histories that refuse to stay buried. In this episode, award-winning broadcaster, narrator, and author Terry Shepherd takes a deep dive into the writer's craft with one of his favorite authors—and best friends—Tori Eldridge. Tori joins the show to discuss her gripping seventh novel, Hawaii Rage, a multi-layered mystery that trades the typical tourist backdrops for the lush, complicated, and dangerous terrain of the Big Island's North Kohala. The story follows Mekalani, a highly overqualified seasonal interpretive ranger who gets pulled into a seemingly tragic ranching accident involving a grieving family and a deadly bull. But as the breadcrumbs unravel, a single death begins to expose generations of hidden secrets. Terry and Tori explore: * The Rich History of the Paniolo: Discover Hawaii’s deep, historic cowboy traditions that pre-date the United States. * Writing Place as a Character: How Tori uses visceral details—from trade winds to the sound of horse hooves—to ground her complex plots. * The High-Wire Act of Audio Narration: Tori shares her experience stepping back into the studio with Brilliance Audio to personally narrate her diverse cast of characters, dialects, and Olelo Hawaii. * Stepping Into the Unknown: A sneak peek into Tori’s next project—a standalone, first-person, present-tense psychological domestic suspense novel. Whether you are a fan of classic thrillers, rich cultural history, or the fine mechanics of storytelling, this deeply personal conversation offers an invigorating look behind the curtain of a master novelist at the height of her craft. About the Guest Tori Eldridge is the author of the Ranger Makalani Pahukula mystery series and the Lily Wong series. A former actor, singer, dancer, and martial artist, she has expanded her repertoire to audio narration, bringing her own complex, multi-generational characters to life. She currently lives in Portland, where she balances her writing life with being a proud tutu (grandmother). * Connect with Tori: Learn more about her books, background, and upcoming projects at ToriEldridge.com [https://torieldridge.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 [https://www.amazon.com/How-Be-Dynamic-Podcast-Guest/dp/1955171513]. Grab your copy today and sell mo

Martha Conway - We Meet Apart We Meet Apart

Writing Across Realities with Martha Conway What happens when an unsettling, real-life moment completely reshapes a creative journey? In this episode, host Terry Shepherd sits down with acclaimed novelist Martha Conway to explore her deeply moving and speculative new novel, We Meet Apart. Set in 1990s Ireland, the book follows two grieving sisters, Gabby and Sabine, navigating a dual reality: one rooted in the world we know, and another shaped by an alternate history where Nazi Germany has invaded Ireland. Separated across these parallel timelines, they are able to meet for a limited time at twilight—a narrative mechanic beautifully inspired by 17th-century Irish folklore. It is a quietly devastating exploration of love, sisterhood, and how we handle loss. In this conversation, Terry and Martha dive deep into the writing process, discussing: * The Flight That Changed Everything: How a terrifying emergency landing during a transatlantic flight served as the creative sign Martha needed to write a novel set in her ancestral homeland. * Unlocking the Title: The Emily Dickinson poem that provided the perfect, bone-chilling title after endless lists of options fell short. * Balancing the Tension: Martha's tactical approach to pacing a dual-timeline narrative, ensuring the emotional weight of grief matches the high stakes of a wartime occupation. * The Power of Sisterhood: How growing up in a large family with six sisters shapes Martha's frequent exploration of complex sibling bonds. * A Sneak Peek at What's Next: A look into her upcoming novel, which takes place in a dangerous 1820 New Hampshire factory town. Whether you are a fan of historical fiction, magical realism, or powerful family dramas, this episode offers a fascinating look inside a master storyteller's process. About the Guest: Martha Conway is an acclaimed author known for weaving richly detailed historical worlds with deeply human stories. Her work frequently centers on the unbreakable ties, loyalties, and losses that define us. Discover more about her books, research trips, and upcoming projects by visiting her official website at marthaconway.com [https://marthaconway.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 [https://www.amazon.com/How-Be-Dynamic-Podcast-Guest/dp/1955171513]. Grab your copy today and sell mo