The Author’s Mind takes you behind the scenes of bestselling fiction—one author at a time. From plotting secrets to productivity hacks, industry truths to creative breakthroughs, this show gives writers the tools, inspiration, and insider access you can’t find anywhere else.
No fluff. No surface-level chatter. Real conversations with real authors doing the work.
If you want to write better stories, stay motivated, and understand how successful writers think, you’re in the right place.
How to Write a Dangerous Hero Readers Still Root For | Jared Maxwell
A hero can be dangerous, damaged, and dangerously close to becoming the villain. The challenge for fiction writers is making readers care about him enough to keep turning pages.
Combat veteran and thriller author Jared Maxwell joins Shilo Creed on The Author's Mind to explore how to write flawed heroes, believable action scenes, and character arcs that connect emotionally with readers.
Jared spent nine years in the U.S. Army, including 35 months in combat, followed by 11 years in law enforcement. Now he draws on those experiences to create intense, character-driven fiction in The Last Gunfighter, Wolfhound Dawn, and Code of Vengeance.
We dig into the psychology of dangerous protagonists, the surprising appeal of competence, and the fine line between a troubled hero and a character readers can no longer root for.
IN THIS EPISODE
00:00 How to write a dangerous but genuine hero
04:29 Writing realistic action from combat experience
06:17 Building characters around emotional wounds
09:08 When your characters surprise you
11:03 Putting your hero through the worst possible situation
12:37 Why military thrillers can become too technical
14:48 The character trait readers find irresistible
15:53 Writing PTSD and psychological struggles
17:45 How to write strong, silent protagonists
19:32 Creating fictional characters from real people
22:21 Choosing character flaws before developing the plot
24:22 Balancing darkness with humor
26:13 Writing with your reader in mind
30:05 Keeping your flawed hero worth rooting for
ABOUT JARED MAXWELL
Jared Maxwell is a former Army paratrooper, combat veteran, law enforcement officer, and author of character-driven thrillers.
His books include The Last Gunfighter, a neo-Western exploring PTSD and the consequences of a life spent in conflict; Wolfhound Dawn, a military survival thriller set in Afghanistan; and Code of Vengeance, a darkly comedic crime novel set in Florida.
CONNECT WITH JARED MAXWELL
Amazon author page and books:
https://www.amazon.com/author/jaredmaxwell (https://www.amazon.com/author/jaredmaxwell)
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/authorJaredMaxwell (https://www.facebook.com/authorJaredMaxwell)
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7627956.Jared_Maxwell (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7627956.Jared_Maxwell)
GET CHAPTER ONE OF PLUNGED FREE
A Navy SEAL trained to survive anything is forced into a military experiment that sends him into a terrifying spiritual world.
Read Chapter One of Plunged by Shilo Creed:
https://shilocreed.kit.com/124edee192 (https://shilocreed.kit.com/124edee192)
LISTEN TO THE AUTHOR'S MIND
YouTube / YouTube Music:
https://www.youtube.com/@theauthorsmind-shilocreed (https://www.youtube.com/@theauthorsmind-shilocreed)
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-authors-mind/id1868039094 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-authors-mind/id1868039094)
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/1f1JTYxWUIMJZMwHGBxw9z (https://open.spotify.com/show/1f1JTYxWUIMJZMwHGBxw9z)
Connect with Shilo Creed:
https://shilocreed.com (https://shilocreed.com/)
Subscribe to The Author's Mind for conversations with working fiction authors about storytelling, character development, writing craft, and the creative decisions behind memorable novels.
#WritingTips #CharacterDevelopment #FictionWriting #CreativeWriting #WritingAdvice
12 Oct 2026
How to Write a Novel Readers Can't Put Down | Lana McAra
Why do readers abandon novels that are beautifully written? The problem may be your story's pacing, opening hook, or chapter endings.
In this episode of The Author's Mind, bestselling author Shilo Creed talks with Christy Award-winning author, ghostwriter, and fiction writing coach Lana McAra about how to write a novel readers can't put down.
With more than 40 published and ghostwritten books and over one million copies sold, Lana shares practical fiction writing techniques for creating compelling characters, stronger story openings, and page-turning chapter endings.
Discover why polishing every sentence can actually hurt your novel, how to keep readers turning pages, and the simple editing technique Lana uses to create irresistible cliffhangers.
IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN:
Why beautiful prose isn't enough to keep readers reading
How to write faster by separating drafting from editing
The chapter-ending technique that creates page-turning momentum
How to find the strongest opening hook in your manuscript
Why your novel might actually begin in Chapter Three
How personality tests can help you develop believable fictional characters
The difference between plot-driven and character-driven fiction
What makes a satisfying ending stay with readers
How to stop overediting and finally finish your novel
Whether you're writing your first book, editing a completed manuscript, or trying to improve your fiction writing skills, this conversation offers techniques you can put to work immediately.
ABOUT OUR GUEST: LANA McARA
Lana McAra is an award-winning bestselling author, ghostwriter, editor, and book coach. She won the Christy Award for Reaping the Whirlwind, published under her pen name Rosey Dow. Through her writing courses and live writing labs, she helps aspiring and experienced authors develop fiction readers love.
LINKS & RESOURCES
Lana McAra's official website:
https://www.lanamcara.com/ (https://www.lanamcara.com/)
How to Write a Novel That Sells, Lana's fiction writing course:
https://howtowriteanovelthatsells.com/ (https://howtowriteanovelthatsells.com/)
How to Write a Novel That Sells, writing guide:
https://ileanamcara.systeme.io/how-book (https://ileanamcara.systeme.io/how-book)
Free Novel Notebook: Visit Lana's website to find her free novel planning resource and newsletter signup.
5 Oct 2026
What Makes Fiction Feel Real? Writing Alternate History with Jeff Kildow
What makes a novel feel real when the history inside it never actually happened?
Jeff Kildow writes alternate-history thrillers where war, aviation, espionage, and technology collide with frighteningly believable possibilities. An Air Force veteran and retired aerospace engineer, Jeff brings firsthand knowledge, deep research, and a love of history to stories built around one of fiction’s most compelling questions: What if history had turned out just a little differently? Pasted text
In this episode of The Author’s Mind, Shilo Creed and Jeff dig into the craft behind believable fiction, including writing first person versus third person, creating characters who feel human, developing the right villain for your protagonist, writing clean thrillers, and knowing how much research actually needs to make it onto the page.
Jeff also explains why historical accuracy matters even when you are intentionally changing history. His research has included period road maps, wartime gasoline rationing, aircraft manuals, military technology, and the small everyday details that convince readers an author knows what he is talking about. Pasted text
They also talk about:
Why Jeff spent six years researching his first novel
How to keep technical knowledge from overwhelming the story
Building character biographies before writing
Carrying character arcs across an entire series
Plotters versus pantsers
Writing strong villains who are specifically suited to the hero
Researching military and aviation scenes accurately
Why content editing can be worth far more than basic proofreading
Jeff’s advice to new writers: write what you know Pasted text Pasted text Pasted text
If you want your fiction to feel convincing enough that readers stop questioning the world and simply enter the story, this conversation is packed with practical lessons from two experienced novelists.
Guest: Jeff Kildow
Author of the Joel Knight Menace series
Host: Shilo Creed
The Author’s Mind Podcast
If you enjoy conversations about writing stronger fiction, building unforgettable characters, publishing, and the working life of an author, subscribe to The Author’s Mind.
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