Don, as you may know, is a renowned thriller author with decades of experience as a veteran writer, creating one hit after another. Today, Don talks about his journey as an author and the challenges he's faced in the publishing industry.
Despite initial rejections and being labeled a cult writer, Winslow persevered and ultimately succeeded. He credits his partnership with agent Shane Salerno as a turning point in his career. Together, they launched a rebellion against the limitations imposed by publishers and Hollywood.
In our in-depth conversation, Winslow reflects on the impact of his mother, a librarian, who instilled in him a love of books and the belief that he could achieve anything. He also shares his thoughts on retirement and the future of the publishing industry.
Digging deeper and opening up, Don reveals the evolution of storytelling and the impact of technology and AI on the industry. It emphasizes the authenticity of human communication and the importance of bringing body and soul to writing.
As our show begins to wind down, Don gives us an inside look, as he shares advice for aspiring writers, encouraging them to never give up and to set achievable writing goals. He reflects on the emotional impact of his City trilogy, which includes City On Fire, City Of Dreams and City In Ruins, as well as the upcoming film adaptation, and concludes by discussing his future plans, including his commitment to fighting against neo-fascism. and, on a much lighter note, spending more time with his wife, Jean.
Overall, this will stand out as one of the best episodes of The Thriller Zone since I started the podcast almost three years ago. I'm your host, David Temple (https://linktr.ee/davidtemple), now let's meet the man of the moment, my friend Don Winslow here at TheThrillerZone.com (https://TheThrillerZone.com)
To learn more, visit: DonWinslow.com (https://DonWinslow.com) and buy his book #CityInRuins wherever you buy your books!
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Chapters
00:00 Introduction and context
02:22 Beginnings and challenges
06:03 The turning point
09:25 Dealing with rejection
1:19 p.m. Meeting with Shane Salerno
10:57 p.m. The moment of trust
26:41 Retirement and future plans
32:13 The publishing industry today
35:13 The evolution of storytelling
36:10 The impact of technology and AI
37:31 The authenticity of human communication
38:29 Advice for aspiring writers
40:57 Setting achievable writing goals
45:12 The emotional impact of the urban trilogy
47:09 Film adaptation of the City trilogy
49:32 Austin Butler as Danny in the film adaptation
52:51 Urban Trilogy Preview
56:13 The emotional impact of the epilogue
59:05 Reflection on gratitude and the writing journey
01:04:35 Opening line and takeaways for a writing class
01:08:10 Future plans and priorities
Takeaways
• Don’t give up on your dreams, even in the face of rejection and setbacks.
• Success often comes after years of hard work and perseverance.
• Having a supportive partner or mentor can make a significant difference in your career.
• The publishing industry is evolving, but books and stories will always have their place in society.
• The storytelling industry has evolved throughout history, with changes in platforms and technology, but the desire for stories remains constant.
• Artificial intelligence may never be able to replicate the authenticity and emotional impact of human communication in storytelling.
• Aspiring writers should never give up and set achievable writing goals to progress.
• Don Winslow's City trilogy, which includes City On Fire, City Of Dreams and City In Ruins, explores timeless themes from classic literature in a modern setting, with an emphasis on character development and emotional depth.
• (00:00) –
• (00:18) – Chapter 2
• (00:18) – Introduction and background
• (02:40) – Beginnings and challenges
• (06:21) – The turning point
• (09:43) – Dealing with rejection
• (1:37 p.m.) – Meeting with Shane Salerno
• (23:15) – The moment of trust
• (26:59) – Retirement and future plans
• (33:22) – The publishing industry today
• (36:22) – The evolution of storytelling
• (37:19) – The impact of technology and AI
• (38:40) – The authenticity of human communication
• (39:38) – Advice for aspiring writers
• (42:06) – Setting Achievable Writing Goals
• (46:21) – The emotional impact…
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