You may not know this about me, but I have a dark little heart. I love thrillers and psychological suspense and anything that keeps me on the edge of my seat wondering what’s going to happen next.

So of course I love Edwin Hill’s books. Edwin is the author of the critically-acclaimed Hester Thursby mystery series, which have been nominated for multiple awards, as well as the standalones The Secrets We Share and Who to Believe. His books are wild rides of twists, turns and surprises and if that’s your jam, you will definitely love them.

And of course, because we’re writers, we can’t help but talk about our processes—and of course, plotting or pantsing.

We cover:

• Writing character-driven mysteries

• When writing turns dark and it’s kind of a surprise

• How we as writers tend to overcomplicate stories - and what happens when we chill out

• The role animals play in his books

This was such a great conversation. If you’re a thriller fan or if you just love hearing writers talk about writing—because we all do it so differently—you don’t want to miss this episode. Tune in wherever you get your podcasts.

You can find Edwin at https://www.edwin-hill.com/

And on Instagram @edwinhillauthor.

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

What’s better than a writing career? Doing it with a group of besties, for sure. On the podcast this week, I have my OG writing friend - one of the first people I got connected with when my career started to take off - Edith Maxwell, also known as Maddie Day.

She is part of the Wicked Authors blog with me, there are six of us total, and we all got started roughly around the same time. We became blog mates, and most of all friends and 11 years later, here we are.

Edith and I started out with the same agent, same publisher, same dreams. I’ve lost count of how many books we have between the two of us all these years later. Maddie Day’s series have really taken off. She also writes historicals, and won an Agatha for one of her Edith

Maxwell books. And she’s a prolific short story writer.

We cover:

• Writing multiple series at the same time

• Pantsing vs. plotting (because when DON’T we talk about that?

• Our favorite research trip and how we almost got (mock) killed

• Traditional vs. self-publishing

It was so much fun to have a conversation with Edith/Maddie in this setting. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to have a tight-knit group of writers navigating life and publishing together, this episode is for you. Tune in wherever you get your podcasts.

You can find her at https://edithmaxwell.com/maddie-day/

And make sure you’re following me on IG @lizmugavero for the latest episodes!

I may sound like a broken record, but I’m going to keep saying it for everyone in the back:

Mindset is a critical tool that can make or break your success as a writer.

It almost doesn’t matter how talented you are if your mind is working against you. If every move you make is subverted by an inner critic that is just running amuck. And most of us come to the page with preconceived notions about the “right” way to write, what is and isn’t productive, how our process “should” look—even if we’ve been doing this a long time.

We have to stop that. Our brains all work differently, and that’s something to be celebrated and nurtured, not beaten down.

In this episode, Trisha and I break down some of the biggest mindset barriers to success and how to start coaching yourself in a kinder, more productive way.

We cover:

• Where mindset blocks come from and how to start shifting our thinking

• How each writer’s process is highly individualized and why we shouldn’t compare ourselves to anyone else

• The inner work and introspection necessary to understand yourself, which will help you understand your writing style

If you’ve been feeling down on yourself as a writer because you’re thinking you’re not as productive as other writers, or lost in processes that feel like a slog, this episode is for you.

Tune in wherever you get your podcasts.

If you’re not following Trisha yet, you can find her at https://www.trishajennreads.com/.

And make sure you’re following me on IG @lizmugavero for the latest episodes!

If you’re not sure which genre you want to write in—or you feel like your book doesn’t fit neatly into a specific genre—this episode is for you.

I have a lot of conversations with writers about rules, and what you are “supposed to do” and “not supposed to do.” A lot of people just starting out have heard there is absolutely a right and a wrong way to write a book, to tell a story, to fit into a genre.

I think we block ourselves from so many things if we approach writing in this way. We block ourselves from inspiration, from the actual magic that occurs when we just sit down and write something without putting it in a box, or putting ourselves in a box. Most importantly, we end up blocking our own voice - the voice that really wants to come out and be heard.

But here’s the good news: Genre-bending fiction is on the rise. And my guest today is going to tell you how she does it.

Lale Davidson is an author and writing teacher who pushes the boundaries of magical realism in her novels. And we talk about how to do that in today’s episode.

We cover:

• How she created a world she wanted to work with before she had an actual plot—and why that worked for her

• Why it makes sense to write in “layers” or phases and write out of order if that makes sense to you

• The ONLY writing rule she follows

• How to bring readers along with you on any journey—even in a nontraditional genre

If you love pushing the envelope in your writing and creating something that is authentically YOU, this is the episode you don’t want to miss.

You can find out more about Lale and her work at https://laledavidson.com/

And make sure you’re following me on IG @lizmugavero for the latest episodes!

I’m coming to you solo this week to talk about writing conferences. It’s timely, since conference season is starting—April and May are always prime conference time, and I’m just back from my very first Left Coast Crime.

I love talking about conferences. I credit the way my writing career unfolded to getting started so early finding the right ones, networking and making connections. When I made the decision to focus my writing career on mysteries and crime, the first thing I did was go online and search mystery writing conferences.

And one popped up right in my backyard. The New England Crime Bake.

I’m going to tell you all about this one and more in the episode, and also my top three reasons why writers should make conferences a part of their strategy.

I cover:

• The top conferences for mystery writers and readers in the US

• How to think about which ones are right for you, at whatever stage of your writing career you’re in

• My personal favorites and why

If you’ve been wondering if conferences are something into which you should invest time and money, definitely tune in to this episode so you can make the decision that’s best for you.

And make sure you’re following me on IG @lizmugavero for the latest episodes!

Conferences I mention:

Left Coast Crime

Malice

The Edgars

ThrillerFest

Bouchercon

Killer Nashville

Sleuthfest

New England Crime Bake

Have you ever heard a story that just makes you feel all the feels?

When I met Max Friedman and heard his story, I knew I needed to bring it to all of you—for so many reasons.

Max Friedman’s parents were both Holocaust survivors who never spoke about that horrific time in their lives. He and his sister grew up understanding that something was different in their family, that there were stories under the surface that no one was telling, stories that were impacting their lives.

After his parents were gone, Max, who was a journalist his whole life, decided that it was time. He needed to find out his parents’ story, and the story of where he came from. So in his late sixties, he embarked on a journey to find out who his parents really were before that terrible time.

It took him five years and a lot of sleuthing, but he did it. And now the book, Painful Joy, is out in the world.

Max’s story is incredible. The story itself, of course, and also the proof that writing can heal you. Writing about emotional experiences has been scientifically proven to help mental health.

The Harvard Business Review reported that since 1986, more than 200 studies have been done that show “emotional writing” can improve not only emotional health but physical health.

In Max’s case, his book brought healing and closure to a family that had lived with ghosts for many years.

We talk about:

• Why he made the decision to investigate and tell his family’s story

• How his journalism training helped him navigate the research and have empathy for

himself as he faced his life story head on

• What he found out about his parents’ lives before the Holocaust

• What he learned about himself in the process

This is such a heart-wrenching story, but so beautiful to hear it finally be told. And we need to

tell—and hear—stories like this so we always remember the mistakes of the past.

You can find out more about Max and buy the book at https://maxfriedman.net/

And make sure you’re following me on IG @lizmugavero for the latest episodes!

Friends—I have such an inspiring episode for you today. My guest is so multidimensional that we need multiple podcasts to cover all the hats she wears and the creative work she brings to the world.

Veronica Kirin is a speaker, teacher, cultural anthropologist, entrepreneur, magazine publisher— and of course, a writer. She is the author of Stories of Elders, a compilation of interviews of the last living members of one of America’s final analog generations. It won two book awards and an award for the accompanying documentary. She’s also an essayist, a poet and a fiction writer. She also co-founded Anodyne magazine, an arts and lit magazine highlighting the intersectional health experience of the global FLINTA (Female, Lesbian, Intersex, Trans and Agender) community—a powerful publication.

Our conversation was so full—and she shared some real wisdom bombs to inspire you to live your best life as a creative.

We covered:

• What drove her to write Stories of Elders

• How to dismantle the systems in our minds that keep us from honoring and expressing our creativity

• How to treat your writing like a business, whether you're a traditionally published author or a self-published author

• How to overcome imposter syndrome

• Why it’s so important to avoid burnout - and how to overcome it if you're already there

Veronica’s vibe is pretty awesome—I think you're going to love her. Tune in to get a huge creativity boost. You need this!

You can find out more about Veronica and her work here.

And make sure you’re following me on IG @lizmugavero for the latest episodes!

Welcome back to the second of our two-part episode with investigator and author John Nardizzi.

Last week, you heard all about the real-life work of a private investigator when John talked about his day job as the founder of and investigator at Nardizzi & Assocs., Inc. It’s not surprising that, as a creative person, John was able to channel all that life experience into a second career as an author.

After all, truth is often stranger than fiction, so there’s a lot to work with here.

In this episode, John and I focus on his writing life. We talk about:

• His fictional PI, Ray Infantine and the cases he’s worked

• Crime fiction authors who inspired his own writing

• Mistakes writers make when writing about PIs and how to get it right

• What it’s like for writing and life to intersect meaningfully

We have such a great conversation about books and writing overall—and if you love crime fiction, definitely tune in to this one.

You can find out more about John’s firm here: https://www.nardizzi.com/

And his books here: https://www.johnnardizzi.com/

And make sure you’re following me on IG @lizmugavero for the latest episodes!

Ever wondered what a real life private investigator really does?

Me too! Well, get excited because today I’m answering that question for you with my guest, investigator, lawyer and author John Nardizzi.

And no—it has nothing to do with spying on cheating spouses. At least, not this investigative firm.

John Nardizzi is the founder of Nardizzi & Assocs., Inc., a private detective agency in Boston. His firm has been lauded for its unique, high-end approach to investigating everything from white collar crimes to cold cases to wrongful convictions. John’s work on innocence cases earned him the Arc of Justice Award from the New England Innocence Project. He was also named 2023 Investigator of the Year from the World Association of Detectives.

And of course, he channeled his day job into a second career as an author, writing a PI series that has also gained critical acclaim. More about that in part two—yes, this one’s a two parter!

In this episode, John and I focus on his PI work, including:

• The surprising experience he looks for when hiring investigators

• How the field has evolved over the years and what makes his work different

• His work on the New England Innocence Project and some of the cases that make it all worthwhile

• The intersection of justice and investigative work

There is so much great information in this episode, and John is so fun to talk to. If you’ve ever wanted a peek behind the curtains into what private investigators’ lives really look like, you don’t want to miss this episode.

You can find out more about John’s firm here: https://www.nardizzi.com/

And his books here: https://www.johnnardizzi.com/

And make sure you’re following me on IG @lizmugavero for the latest episodes!

Being able to write is about so much more than the technical ability to put a story together. It’s about having the confidence in yourself to sit down and write. And then it's about writing some more. Learning, improving your craft, trying again—and believing in yourself. And the environment you’re in is so important to your mindset.

My guest today knows this better than most. Teri Brown survived an emotionally abusive relationship and had the courage to keep putting her words on the page, but it wasn’t until she challenged herself with a cross-country tandem bike ride with her new husband that she finally found her voice.

Today she’s a published author who is living her passion.

She and I had the best conversation. We talked about:

• Her big bike adventure and her new love story

• How she got the idea for her first book about three generations of Ukrainian women

• How she handles her characters telling her what to do

• How to REALLY celebrate all your milestones.

Teri is such a delight—and I know you’ll feel inspired after this conversation.

You can find out more about Teri at https://www.terimbrown.com/

And follow her on Instagram @terimbrown_author

Connect with me on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/lizmugavero/ for updates.

If magical cozies are your thing, you’re going to be delighted by today’s show. I have my friend and fellow cozy author Jen Chow with me today. This is so fun because the first book in Jen’s new series, the Magical Fortune Cookie Mysteries, recently came out and it’s such a delight. Aside from yummy-sounding fortune cookies and magical bunnies, what is so great about Jen’s book is the way she takes us right into a brand new culture and makes us feel like we’re part of it.

The Magical Fortune Cookie Mysteries take place in a Chinese bakery in California, and you get to see how a pro creates a world and allows people into it with just enough knowledge and understanding that they immediately feel at home.

And I think that’s the best part about cozies—when done well, like this book, they do such a great job of creating a sense of place and community and honestly make you feel like you’ve got a whole new set of friends when the book is over.

We’re talking today about:

• How she created this world and her delightful characters

• Her other books, including her Sassy Cat Mysteries, which also feature magical furries

• Her writing life and process

• The communities she’s found along the way and how they’ve influenced her career.

If you love cozies, magic and pets, you don't want to miss this one.

You can find out more about Jen here: https://jenniferjchow.com/

And follow her on Instagram @jenjchow

Connect with me on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/lizmugavero/ for updates.

For anyone who’s ever faced a challenge in their life—or if you’re facing one now—this episode is for you.

My guest today is a truly inspirational person who approaches her life with a can-do attitude, despite the challenges that have been put in her path. As a disabled Black woman, Tracee has had to navigate MANY different worlds. And she’s done it with humor, joy and positivity, always keeping her eyes on the future and the life she wants to create.

And it was when she found writing in college that everything started to click into place for her.

Writing became the thing that changed her life—from when she first realized she could do it well, to when she realized she could teach it, to when she realized she could coach other writers. Today, she's the author of 18 books, a speaker, writing coach, course creator and fierce disability advocate who speaks from her own experience. As someone living with muscular dystrophy, she loves to encourage others how to overcome their own personal barriers.

Tracee is really a force. We talk about:

• How she realized she was good at writing

• The magic of sharing creative energy with other writers

• Her experiences in both traditional and self-publishing

• The Author Life Fix

• Her work advocating for herself and other disabled people who face inaccessibility every single day

And so much more.

You can find out more about Tracee here: https://traceegarner.com/field-guide/

And follow her on Instagram @traceelydiagarner

Connect with me on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/lizmugavero/ for updates.

Today is ONE YEAR since the Get Writing Podcast launched.

One year. I kind of can’t believe it.

I’d been thinking about starting a podcast for a while. I’d created, launched and hosted a podcast at my last corporate job, and while the conversations were way more scripted than I liked, I really loved it. And I thought, talking about writing, with other writers, would be so fun.

I wasn’t wrong.

I have LOVED bringing the Get Writing Podcast to all of you over this past year. I’ve had so many amazing conversations with so many people—some of whom I know really well, and others who I just met because of the podcast, and some have become friends which is so cool.

When I started the show, I knew I wanted to cover all aspects of writing. As a mystery author myself, I knew the crime genre would be a big piece of it, along with process and publishing and deadlines and marketing and community and the highs and lows of being in this business.

I also knew I wanted to cover not just crime, but all kinds of writing. Over the past year I’ve talked to romance authors, fantasy authors, self-help authors, memoir authors and more. I love the spectrum of conversations, all held together by that one creative thread of putting words down on the page in some form that will touch or change someone’s life.

But something I realized a long time ago is that writing isn’t something that compartmentalizes well. What I mean by that is, if you’re not tending to yourself as a whole person, you’re probably not tending to your creative self very well. And to me that means establishing a writing practice that’s sustainable - which means finding the creative process that works for you. It means working every day on your mindset, because without a good mindset, you’re going to struggle and probably not get much accomplished. And it means celebrating the communities you find and make along the way.

So for this episode I wanted to highlight some of my favorites from each of those buckets - creative process, mindset and community.

Here are the links to the full show episodes:

How to plot even when it’s not your superpower with author Jessica Ellicott

Is writing a song really like writing a novel? With singer/songwriter Zach Comtois

How building your community helps you become a better writer with author Julie Hennrikus

From stand-up comedy to genre-bending fiction with author Dick Wybrow

How to mine your life for stories with memoir author Dave Singleton

How to be a self-publishing superstar with author Tonya Kappes

How to find your people with author Jessica Speer

I hope you enjoyed this look-back to this past year. More, I hope you’ve enjoyed the podcast so far. I can’t wait to bring you more episodes that help your writing life expand joyfully, productively and successfully.

If you have ideas on topics you want to hear about, send them to me. You can find me on IG @lizmugavero or at my website, cateconte.com

As always, thanks for tuning in, and keep writing, keep creating and keep sharing your words with the world.

If you’ve ever beat yourself up for not being “productive enough” during your writing sessions, this episode is for you.

Too often as writers we only think that the time spent pounding out actual words on the keyboard can be considered our writing time. And that’s the message we often get from the world, too, when we share what we’re doing. The first question I always get asked is, “Do you write every day?” Followed up by, “How many words per day do you write?”

These questions are perfectly valid, and truth be told I do try to write every day, especially when I am knee-deep in a book. But it’s also true that the best ideas often arrive when I’m doing something else—like showering or driving. I believe it’s because we’re not trying to force the muse to bestow a magical idea on us during a specific time period. It’s usually when we give our minds a break and let them work on things subconsciously that we find a resolution.

My guest today backs me up on this completely. In fact, the whole first chapter of her latest book is about the benefits of daydreaming as writers.

Emily Winslow is the author of a series of crime novels and a memoir, as well as Time to Write, a how-to guide for writers of all genres. We had the best time talking about all things writing, including:

• How a job creating puzzles led to her first crime novel

• Figuring out YOUR writing process—and then not only accepting it, but embracing it

• Why every writer needs daydreaming time just as much as actual fingers-on-keyboard time

• Owning how much of our writing is done in our heads when we’re doing other things

And so much more.

You can find out more about Emily and buy Time to Write here: https://emilywinslow.com/

And follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emilywinslow.author

Connect with me on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/lizmugavero/ for updates.

Happy Valentine’s week! It’s easy as a mystery writer who is, by all accounts, way better at murder than love to ignore the romance in the air this week. But that would be missing a huge opportunity to talk about the intricacies of writing intimacy between characters, regardless of genre and, more importantly, genre expectations.

You may remember my guest today from Episode 16, The Real Value of Romance Novels.

Trisha Loehr is a romance writer and book coach, and she’s my resident expert on all things love and romance—because let’s face it, that is NOT my forte! Just being honest :)

We had some fun with this conversation.

We talk about:

• “Spice level” branding of romance novels

• Expectations in the romance genre and the overlap into the traditional and cozy mystery genres

• How to create and show intimacy between characters, even those unromantically involved

• How to know in which genre you REALLY want to write

And so much more.

If you missed my first episode with Trisha, you can find it here.

You can find out more about Trisha here: https://www.trishajennreads.com/

And follow her on Instagram @trishajennreads.

Connect with me on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/lizmugavero/ for updates.

If you need some inspiration to get your butt in the chair and write today, you’ve come to the right place.

This is for all of us who live on the procrastination train, and take daily rides on the excuse train, and are still putting off writing that book or that other project we got an idea for a decade ago.

My guest today is 16 years old, and she’s already written more than 26 books.

No, that wasn’t a typo.

Not only has she written 26 books, she’s figured out self-publishing, creates her own marketing plans, and even has a marketing budget. And in her spare time, she’s an anti-bullying advocate. Not too shabby for someone who literally can’t even vote yet, right?

Shanti Hershenson says that ever since she could hold a pencil, marker, or crayon, she was creating stories. They started from pictures, mere scribbles, and eventually, turned into captivating tales.

I often say I knew I would be a writer ever since I could hold a pen. But it took me until I was in my late twenties to write my first book! I am in awe—and I think you will be too.

Shanti and I talk about:

• How she taught herself to write

• How she approaches a book

• Her TikTok strategy that sells books

• What inspired her to start writing seriously so young

And so much more. Shanti is an absolute delight—I know you’re going to love her.

Find out more about her at https://www.shantihershenson.com/

Connect with me on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/lizmugavero/ for updates.

And if you’re looking for a community and some accountability to get you writing, get more info on The Creativity Lab here.

I truly believe community is at the center of all things creativity. As a writer who spends a lot of time in my own head, having other writers to talk to, brainstorm, commiserate and plot with and generally experience that feeling of being with “my people,” community is incredibly important to me. And it inspires creativity much more than any of us realize.

Musicians and writers aren’t so different. That sense of community and camaraderie is a common thread in today’s conversation.

My guest Gabe Bolkosky is a musician who also creates community and accountability for other musicians through online practice support, resources and workshops—so he’s a kindred spirit.

We talk about:

• How we approach our own creative work with the influence of community behind us

• How we really get to a place of peace and ease that helps our processes

• How we nurture our own communities—and what we’re always learning from them

• Why creatives need each other

And so much more. Gabe is such a kind and talented soul who takes so much pleasure in music and the musicians around him. There’s a lot to learn, so don’t miss our talk.

Find out more about Gabe at www.educationforhappiness.org

Connect with me on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/lizmugavero/ for updates.

And if you’re looking for a community and some accountability to get you writing, get more info on The Creativity Lab here.

The most important tool a writer has is their mindset.

If you’ve been in my world you’ve heard me say this before, but I’m going to keep saying it until we ALL get it. Mindset can mean the difference between starting a book and actually finishing it. It can mean the difference between a published author and someone who says, “I always wanted to write a book, but…”

I know this to be true from personal experience, so I love talking to people who live by the same ideas. My guest today is SO one of those people.

Stephanie Cansian is a copywriter, email marketer, and owner of the marketing agency Say It Simply. She loves trying new restaurants with excellent coffee, reading good books in comfortable chairs, and breaking a sweat everyday.

Her first book, “Change the World in $10 or Less” is available on Amazon.

And she is such an inspiration when it comes to how mindset can make a difference in the life you have—and get you to the life you want.

We talk about:

• How burpees played a role in changing her life

• How she stays motivated to write, run a business and pitch new clients—daily

• Mindset tricks to get what you want out of your brain—and your life

And so much more.

If you find yourself constantly battling with your own thoughts, you want to upgrade your life or you simply want to feel better every day, you can’t miss this episode.

Find out more about Stephanie at http://www.stephaniecansian.com/

Connect with me on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/lizmugavero/ for updates.

And if you’re looking for a community and some accountability to get you writing, get more info on The Creativity Lab here.

If you think writing a book is scary, try getting up on stage in front of an audience and trying out your idea first.

That’s what author Dick Wybrow did when he was just starting out to counteract the wait between agent and editor queries and response time. Using stand-up comedy as a platform, he tested out not only story ideas, but pacing, his approach to humor and overall storytelling presence.

Fast forward to today—he’s a best-selling author of more than a dozen humorous supernatural thrillers. His latest novel, Kane, has been atop Amazon's best-seller list since its publication.

His books cross genres and break ALL the rules, which if you know me at all, you know I love.

Like I always say, there are no rules in writing.

We talk about:

• How his former careers, from stand-up to radio host to TV news, helped him find his writing voice

• His approach to crossing genres

• His reverse approach to the traditional werewolf story (hint - it involves a wolf turning human)

• His unique writing superpower

And so much more.

This conversation was a blast - you don’t want to miss it.

Find out more about Dick at https://www.dickwybrow.com/ and find links to his books.

Connect with me on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/lizmugavero/ for updates.

And if you’re looking for a community and some accountability to get you writing, get more info on The Creativity Lab here.

Have you always known you wanted to be a writer, but you changed course because you needed to find a more “realistic” way to live your life?

Well, don't worry, friend - it’s never too late. My guest today, Steph Katzovi, knew she wanted to be a writer in the third grade, but she traded that dream in for law school and later, a career as a communications consultant.

But eventually, she came back to that dream and picked it up with both hands, becoming a children’s author and putting positive messages for tweens out into the world.

We talk about:

• What it felt like to remember how much she loved writing

• The process of writing her first book

• How she keeps herself motivated and inspired

And so much more.

We had such a fun talk - you don't want to miss this one. If you’re feeling that urge to come back to your writing, or explore a desire to write, make sure you tune in.

Find out more about Steph at https://stephkatzovi.com/ and find links to her books.

Connect with me on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/lizmugavero/ for updates.

And if you’re looking for a community and some accountability to get you writing, get more info on The Creativity Lab here.