
Host & Guest
Guest
Duane Swierczynski
Host
Kathleen Kaiser &
Adanna Moriarty
About This Episode
On Screenwriting and Mystery Writing with Duane Swierczynski
In this episode of Talking Book Publishing, your hosts Kathleen Kaiser and Adanna Moriarty, both seasoned professionals in the publishing industry, invite you into a fascinating conversation with renowned crime novelist and screenwriter Duane Swierczynski. From his early dreams of writing horror to becoming a celebrated mystery author, Duane shares the emotional rollercoaster of his journey—filled with ambition, setbacks, and unexpected successes. He opens up about what it’s like to see your stories optioned for Hollywood, only to have them linger in the uncertain world of “development hell.” Yet, with grit and humor, Duane reveals how he stays creative amidst it all.
Listeners will not only get an insider’s look at the Hollywood machine but also practical advice on how to navigate it. Duane shares the delicate art of crafting a pitch that balances creativity and commerce and reflects on the joys and challenges of writing comic books. His diverse background influences his storytelling, and he shares how this can be a source of inspiration for other writers. It’s a conversation about passion, persistence, and practical tips to help you stay resilient in the ever-changing landscape of books and film.
About our guest

Duane Swierczynski
Duane Swierczynski is the New York Times bestselling and two-time Edgar-nominated author of eleven novels including his latest, California Bear (currently being developed as a feature for 20th Century Studios), as well as the graphic novels Breakneck and Redhead. Along with James Patterson, Duane co-created The Guilty, an Audible Original starring John Lithgow and Bryce Dallas Howard, and co-wrote the bestselling private eye thriller Lion & Lamb. His first short story collection, Lush & Other Tales of Boozy Mayhem, was recently published by Cimarron Street Books. A native Philadelphian, Duane now lives in Southern California with his family

California Bear
KILLER: Jack Queen has been exonerated and freed from prison thanks to retired LAPD officer Cato Hightower. But when guilt gnaws at Jack, he admits: “I actually did it.” To which Hightower responds: “Yeah, no kidding.” You see, the ex-cop has a special job in mind for the ex-con…
THE GIRL DETECTIVE: Fifteen-year-old Matilda Finnerty has been handed a potential death sentence in the form of a leukemia diagnosis. But that’s not going to stop her from tackling the most important mystery of her life: Is her father guilty of murder?
GENE JEANIE: Jeanie Hightower mends family trees for a living, but the genealogist is unable to repair her own marriage. And her soon-to-be ex may have entangled her in a scheme that has drawn the bloody wrath of…
THE BEAR: A prolific serial killer who disappeared forty years ago, who is only now emerging from hibernation when the conditions are just right. And this time, the California Bear is not content to hunt in the shadows…
From two-time Edgar nominee Duane Swierczynski, California Bear is clever, moving, and surprising as it takes aim at the true crime industry, Hollywood, justice, and the killers inside us all.
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