In conversation with
Terry Shepherd
It's with great pleasure that I welcome Terry Shepherd onto the website today. Terry was a broadcaster before he turned to writing fiction and for over four decades, his voice has been heard on radio, television and film in the US. Now, with five novels under his belt, he hosts his own writing podcast.
Alex: Terry, tell me a bit about yourself. Your background; where you were brought up; and when you first began writing.
Terry: I was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan into a family of readers and writers. I wrote my first short story in 6th grade, but never thought much about the art until a teacher in my high school English class encouraged me. After a stint as a broadcaster, I became a corporate guy for the bulk of my career, writing non-fiction / motivational messages to my team each week. That ultimately grew into three books and a public speaking side-hustle, which continued until my retirement about five years ago. My psychiatrist recommended fiction as a therapeutic way to feature my favorite characters: Women, people of color and the disabled, as stars. That was the genesis of my Jessica Ramirez series.
Alex: How would you describe your writing, and are there particular themes that you like to
explore?
Terry: As a corporate guy, I was very interested in leveraging my power and authority as a white male to open doors for women, minorities and the disadvantaged. In my fiction, they feature prominently as heroes in the hope that I might inspire readers to dream big. I enjoy detective fiction and thrillers, hence the four books (so far) in my Jessica Ramirez series. I have a number of short stories in circulation and am releasing an anthology of my short fiction this month.
Alex: Terry, tell me a bit about yourself. Your background; where you were brought up; and when you first began writing.
Terry: I was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan into a family of readers and writers. I wrote my first short story in 6th grade, but never thought much about the art until a teacher in my high school English class encouraged me. After a stint as a broadcaster, I became a corporate guy for the bulk of my career, writing non-fiction / motivational messages to my team each week. That ultimately grew into three books and a public speaking side-hustle, which continued until my retirement about five years ago. My psychiatrist recommended fiction as a therapeutic way to feature my favorite characters: Women, people of color and the disabled, as stars. That was the genesis of my Jessica Ramirez series.
Alex: How would you describe your writing, and are there particular themes that you like to
explore?
Terry: As a corporate guy, I was very interested in leveraging my power and authority as a white male to open doors for women, minorities and the disadvantaged. In my fiction, they feature prominently as heroes in the hope that I might inspire readers to dream big. I enjoy detective fiction and thrillers, hence the four books (so far) in my Jessica Ramirez series. I have a number of short stories in circulation and am releasing an anthology of my short fiction this month.
Alex: Are you a writer that plans a detailed synopsis or do you set out with a vague idea and let the story unfold as you write?
Terry: My books usually begin with a single scene. I’ll write an opening chapter or a short story to explore my main characters and the world around them. I get them talking to one another and let the story evolve from there. Sometimes, that requires going backwards in the book to set up a plot device for something I wrote later. I like letting the story write itself and try to give my cast enough leeway to have their own insights and build the book from there.
Alex: Tell us about your latest novel.
Terry: My latest is TRANSFERENCE. It deviates from the formula of my other Jess thrillers, taking place outside of her world with a different cast. Jess and her partner Ali show up in the second act to assist in an investigation that suggests attempted murder. They discover a much wider conspiracy connected to mind-altering drugs which program people to become killers. Like my other Jess thrillers, it moves fast and spans continents, starting with what looks like a simple crime, leading to a much deeper and darker situation.
Alex: What was the first book you read?
Terry: I was a Dr. Seuss fan as a kid. My wife and I ended up writing the first Covid picture book for children in the good doctor’s poetic style. Juliette and the Mystery Bug, became an unexpected hit on this side of the pond, released at the right time to get traction as a teaching tool to help kids cope with any “Mystery Bug."
Terry: My books usually begin with a single scene. I’ll write an opening chapter or a short story to explore my main characters and the world around them. I get them talking to one another and let the story evolve from there. Sometimes, that requires going backwards in the book to set up a plot device for something I wrote later. I like letting the story write itself and try to give my cast enough leeway to have their own insights and build the book from there.
Alex: Tell us about your latest novel.
Terry: My latest is TRANSFERENCE. It deviates from the formula of my other Jess thrillers, taking place outside of her world with a different cast. Jess and her partner Ali show up in the second act to assist in an investigation that suggests attempted murder. They discover a much wider conspiracy connected to mind-altering drugs which program people to become killers. Like my other Jess thrillers, it moves fast and spans continents, starting with what looks like a simple crime, leading to a much deeper and darker situation.
Alex: What was the first book you read?
Terry: I was a Dr. Seuss fan as a kid. My wife and I ended up writing the first Covid picture book for children in the good doctor’s poetic style. Juliette and the Mystery Bug, became an unexpected hit on this side of the pond, released at the right time to get traction as a teaching tool to help kids cope with any “Mystery Bug."
Alex: How much research do you do and what does it usually entail?
Terry: I do deep dives into the lives and experiences of real people who provide inspiration for my characters. This often includes spending time with their families and getting to know their stories in detail. I’m also a big fan of reading the best writers who create situations that happen in my stories. For chase scenes, I go to the library and read every Boyd Morrison chase scenario, and try to emulate his extraordinary gift for describing action. If I include a specific weapon in a story, I try to get my hands on it with an experienced teacher to understand how it works and what it feels like to operate it. The same goes for other plot devices like automobiles, aircraft and boats. I’ve been a pilot for over 30 years and have flown most of the aircraft I describe in the books.
Alex: Do you ever base your characters on people you have encountered in real life?
Terry: Most of them carry traits of people I know. In the later Jess books, I actually include real people (with their permission), putting them into roles outside of their real lives. A hockey coach friend stars as an MI6 agent in Chasing the Captain, and Chasing Karma. Jess herself is based on a real-life Latina cop I know. Her partner is a compilation of several personalities I admire.
Alex: Which was the last book you read that blew you away?
Terry: I’m in the middle of digesting an advance copy of Tori Eldridge’s Kaua’i Storm. She’s an incredible story teller and her latest is especially addicting.
Terry: I do deep dives into the lives and experiences of real people who provide inspiration for my characters. This often includes spending time with their families and getting to know their stories in detail. I’m also a big fan of reading the best writers who create situations that happen in my stories. For chase scenes, I go to the library and read every Boyd Morrison chase scenario, and try to emulate his extraordinary gift for describing action. If I include a specific weapon in a story, I try to get my hands on it with an experienced teacher to understand how it works and what it feels like to operate it. The same goes for other plot devices like automobiles, aircraft and boats. I’ve been a pilot for over 30 years and have flown most of the aircraft I describe in the books.
Alex: Do you ever base your characters on people you have encountered in real life?
Terry: Most of them carry traits of people I know. In the later Jess books, I actually include real people (with their permission), putting them into roles outside of their real lives. A hockey coach friend stars as an MI6 agent in Chasing the Captain, and Chasing Karma. Jess herself is based on a real-life Latina cop I know. Her partner is a compilation of several personalities I admire.
Alex: Which was the last book you read that blew you away?
Terry: I’m in the middle of digesting an advance copy of Tori Eldridge’s Kaua’i Storm. She’s an incredible story teller and her latest is especially addicting.
Alex: How do you market your books?
Terry: I pick specific markets where I know my readers live and take a road show there, featuring Jess’ real-life counterpart. I also print pocket sized editions of my books, customized for airline flight attendants. I hand them out to people who like my genre and ask them to share the books if they enjoyed them. I have tracked a number of sales bumps to those two tactics. My author podcast also attracts new readers, which was a wonderful discovery, since I focus totally on my guests as an interviewer.
Alex: What are your interests aside from writing? And what do you do to unwind?
Terry: I’m a book narrator, have done sound design for movies and own a radio station that celebrates the city of Detroit and my home state of Michigan. After over 150 episodes, I still enjoy my regular In Conversation with Terry Shepherd, podcasts. You were a terrific guest! We have two grandkids and I’ll drop everything to spend time with them.
Alex: That's terribly kind of you, Terry. I felt most honoured and privileged to have been invited onto your brilliant podcast. But don't get me on the subject of grandchildren. We've just had our first and we are totally besotted with her. So I know exactly what you mean when you say you'd drop everything to spend time with them. It's a wonderful thing to be a grandparent, and I hadn't realised that until now. But to change the subject, which authors do you particularly admire and why?
Terry: I pick specific markets where I know my readers live and take a road show there, featuring Jess’ real-life counterpart. I also print pocket sized editions of my books, customized for airline flight attendants. I hand them out to people who like my genre and ask them to share the books if they enjoyed them. I have tracked a number of sales bumps to those two tactics. My author podcast also attracts new readers, which was a wonderful discovery, since I focus totally on my guests as an interviewer.
Alex: What are your interests aside from writing? And what do you do to unwind?
Terry: I’m a book narrator, have done sound design for movies and own a radio station that celebrates the city of Detroit and my home state of Michigan. After over 150 episodes, I still enjoy my regular In Conversation with Terry Shepherd, podcasts. You were a terrific guest! We have two grandkids and I’ll drop everything to spend time with them.
Alex: That's terribly kind of you, Terry. I felt most honoured and privileged to have been invited onto your brilliant podcast. But don't get me on the subject of grandchildren. We've just had our first and we are totally besotted with her. So I know exactly what you mean when you say you'd drop everything to spend time with them. It's a wonderful thing to be a grandparent, and I hadn't realised that until now. But to change the subject, which authors do you particularly admire and why?
Terry: Because of my interview program, I read over 60 books a year, which has had the side benefit of teaching me a lot about different writing styles. Raymond Chandler is my go-to for noir. Megan Abbott is the present-day queen of that genre and I love her stuff. I try to discover excellent storytellers who may not be as well known but write very well. Dänna Wilberg’s paranormal novels are terrific. I’m also a fan of D.P. Lyle, Marie Sutro, Richard Meredith, the aforementioned Boyd Morrison, historian Betty Kearse, Rachel Howzell-Hall and debut author Jennifer K. Morita. Each is very different from the other in style and genre. But the commonality is their affinity for creating enticing word pictures that grab hold of you and never let go until the end of the tale.
Alex: Thank you so much for sharing your motivations and working methods with us, Terry. It's been fascinating to hear. And good luck with those short stories. I look forward to reading your Jessica Ramirez series. They sound fantastic.
Terry: The pleasure is all mine, Alex.
Alex: Thank you so much for sharing your motivations and working methods with us, Terry. It's been fascinating to hear. And good luck with those short stories. I look forward to reading your Jessica Ramirez series. They sound fantastic.
Terry: The pleasure is all mine, Alex.