Episode 93: “Writing is a marathon, not a race,” and more inspo from author Kellye Garrett

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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.

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