Writing Strong Women: Thriller Writer Nanette Potter’s Journey with Blade Broussard

In this captivating episode of Painterly Life, host Shannon Grissom sits down with award-winning author Nanette Potter to explore the creative journey behind the Blade Broussard thriller series. Discover how a chance encounter with a circus poster and the desire to create a strong female protagonist led to the birth of Blade Broussard. Nanette shares her process of character development, the influence of her travels, and her mission to inspire her granddaughters and readers alike. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about creativity, courage, and the power of storytelling!

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction to Nannette Potter
• 2:15 Early Inspiration
• 5:30 Birth of Blade Broussard
• 10:45 Character Development Process
• 15:00 Travel and Writing
• 20:30 Writing Routine and Overcoming Challenges
• 25:45 Advice for Aspiring Writers
• 30:00 Future Projects and Dreams

Transcript

Shannon Grissom (00:05)
Hi, I'm Shannon Grissom. Are you looking to ignite your creativity? Or how about be inspired by a steady stream of muses? Welcome to Painterly Life, the podcast that celebrates those who create, inspire, and innovate. So whether you're looking to spark your next big idea, reignite your passion, or simply soak in some creative energy,

This is the place for you. Painterly life, where every guest is a new muse, just for you.

Welcome to the Painterly Life podcast. I'm your host, Shannon Grissom. Today we are joined by Nanette Potter. Nanette is an award-winning author of the Blade Broussard thriller series. And when she's not writing, she's traveling the world and dreaming up her next adventure. Welcome, Nanette.

Nannette Potter (01:11)
Thank you, Shannon. Thank you so much for having me. ⁓

Shannon Grissom (01:14)
you're welcome. Hey, so were you were you writing coming out of the womb as a child? What was your childhood like creatively?

Nannette Potter (01:23)
You know, I have always wanted to be a writer. It's such a funny story. My mom, thankfully, ⁓ she gave me my love of reading. She started, ⁓ you know, getting me books at an early age. Loved, I love to read. And my brother, it's a funny story. My brother's seven years older. So when he graduated from high school, he asked my parents for a typewriter. Now, my brother has

I don't even know why he asked for a typewriter. He never used it. But I can remember at 10 years old trying to write my first story on his typewriter. So I've always wanted to do something like that.

Shannon Grissom (02:14)
So that's amazing at 10 years old to be doing that. That's just awesome. And so did he just give you the typewriter or how did you?

Nannette Potter (02:24)
He never did

give me that typewriter. I don't even know what happened to that typewriter. It was such a bizarre gift to ask for because he's more of the racing car type. He's more, you know, outdoorsy. I don't know. Maybe it was Providence. I have no idea. But even at that young age, was...

It was amazing to know at that age that I always had a little editor on my shoulder. And I never thought I was a great writer. I mean, even from that early age. so it's just been something I've had to conquer.

Shannon Grissom (03:09)
Well, you sure did. I mean, you're very prolific, wonderful work. mean, award-winning work. So let's start with Blade Broussard. How did Blade get started? How did that evolve?

Nannette Potter (03:23)
doing some research for a historical book I was going to write and I came across a poster, circus, Barnum and Bailey circus poster of knife throwers. ⁓

thought this is interesting so I kept it and then when 50 Shades of Grey came out and everybody was talking about 50 Shades of Grey and I just thought why can't I write a woman thriller a woman who is strong and capable in the thriller genre that women are going to love and I and then Blade started you know I started imagining

what Blade might look like, different scenarios. ⁓ that's kind of how she was born.

Shannon Grissom (04:19)
Was that your first thriller?

Nannette Potter (04:22)
Yes, yes. So, Pierce the Darkness is my first book, Deceptions Edge is my second book coming out. But ⁓ I'm very character driven. ⁓ It took me a few years. So, I didn't start writing until I retired. I guess I didn't think I could write a novel until I was retired. So, I had a couple of years to

really think about what the characters look like. I mean, I really get into it. I look for their pictures. I do character outlines. ⁓ And I just started working on Blade. And I thought, what kind of woman would I like to be? She's kind of like the woman I wished I could be. Impetuous, spontaneous, fearless, ⁓ talented. Just all those things rolled up into one.

One little ball.

Shannon Grissom (05:21)
Well, speaking of character, are you a panster or a plotter or how do you write?

Nannette Potter (05:28)
in between. So I use as my process, guess you could say, Alexandra Sokoloff's screenwriting for writers. so I do the three act structure, ⁓ but in her way of doing it, it's actually four acts. know, the act two is actually divided into two. But anyway,

I kind of go through that process, but I leave my, I'm just using sticky Post-It notes. Okay. And very loose, you know, like Blades going to, you know, she's performing in New Orleans and then she takes a job in Mallorca, for instance. I give myself plenty of room to change. If, if something needs to go in another direction, I can simply take off the Post-It notes, start, you know,

another another leg of her journey. And it doesn't bother me. I don't want to stick to a. You know, fast and I mean a hard rule.

Shannon Grissom (06:41)
That makes sense. I had a painting teacher that said you can't fall in love with your painting too early. You know, got to... Because if you do, then you get stuck on this one place and you try to work around it and it's like stifles the whole thing.

Nannette Potter (06:57)
It does. I didn't want to be stifled. I didn't want to be stuck on an outline that... And it's very... My outline is very loose. You know, I'll put maybe 11 chapters in You know, in an act. But there's so much more that goes into that. So, yeah, I give myself a lot of wiggle room.

Shannon Grissom (07:20)
That's good.

That's awesome. So I know you're a world traveler. How does that weave into your writing?

Nannette Potter (07:32)
My husband and I love traveling. We've always loved it. We couldn't always afford it. And so what we try to do is, and I have to say, I don't write according to what I've seen. ⁓ For instance, Pierce the Darkness was already written when I went to Italy.

But I was still ⁓ adjusting editing. And so when we went to Italy, I walked and we stayed near the embassy in Florence where Blade would visit eventually. And I walked the same walk that Blade would walk, going from one place to another.

I visited the places that Blade visited and it really gave me, think, a sense of ⁓ what she was seeing, what she was experiencing, smelling, touching, the church that she visited. We got to see that. And so when I came home, I made adjustments. I added all of that, all of that sensory description.

into the book. So that's what I like to do. I like to write first and then go visit later rather than the other way around.

Shannon Grissom (09:10)
I love that. So it is a good combination of plotting, panster. Yeah, how fun. So I know that you live vicariously through your characters. What's the one thing that, let's pick one thing that Blade does that you wish you could do or that you haven't done yet.

Nannette Potter (09:17)
Yes.

Well, I wish I could look great in a leather jumpsuit throwing knives at people. I mean, just the whole persona of Blade. mean, I just want to be her. The long, gorgeous hair, you know, the whole thing, the whole act, the whole

Shannon Grissom (09:36)
courageous and daring.

Ha ha ha!

Nannette Potter (10:02)
her friendship with Joe Mancini, the magician. I just love her. Going back a little bit, I think I wrote Blade partly for my granddaughters too. have four granddaughters. I wanted them to just know that the thriller genre isn't just for males and guys. Women can be action figures too. ⁓

a person that they could root for and I don't know if that'll happen or not but we'll see.

Shannon Grissom (10:40)
You have plenty of people rooting for Blade, so I think you're onto something there. Do you have a regular writing routine? Do you do it daily or are you a binge writer? How do you do that?

Nannette Potter (10:54)
I am an everyday writer. In fact, I'm doing something with writing every single day, whether it's marketing, writing, ⁓ writing copy, sales copy. Right at this point in time, ⁓ my energies are directed toward getting Deception's Edge up for pre-order, which it is, and then doing marketing.

and starting to think about book three. I've got seeds So I'll give a little. So my husband and I went to Washington, D.C. recently. So I'm pretty sure Washington, D.C. is going to be in the book. But I'm definitely an everyday kind of writer or doing something with with my writing.

Shannon Grissom (11:40)
⁓ God.

I love that as you're finishing something else or in a different process, something else is gestating. That's really cool. Do you ever get writer's block? Do you ever get stuck?

Nannette Potter (12:02)
No, and I've just been very fortunate. I mean, there are times when I am more inspired and that the words flow easily. And those are just precious moments where the words are just tumbling out and they're perfect. That doesn't always happen. So what normally happens is I'm writing and it requires editing.

I have never experienced a writer's block where I'm not writing for weeks on end or even a week and I can't think of anything to say. think I've ⁓ you know in my early you know years ago I read a lot of how to books how to write you know Elizabeth George, Stephen King, James Frey you know all the

you who I would consider writers and masters in their own, in their own right, of course. And I think I learned that you can have, you can choose to have writer's block or you can just, you know, like they say, sit your booty down in the chair and eventually just start writing. Yeah. Or how I've, what I also do is I do, ⁓

I mean, if I'm really stuck, like let's say I'm stuck on an action sequence and I don't know what the heck I'm going to be doing, I'll just start doing a timed writing and just start writing and before long, you know, my mind is, my creative spirit like comes back and I'm able to kind of work myself out of that through a timed writing. I also use that kind of technique.

Shannon Grissom (13:57)
That's a great technique. I've used that for songwriting and I find with painting is my dominant ⁓ mode of expression. I find that so even when stuff's hitting the fan and life is just not that good, I show up every day. And so what I produce may not, you know, varies from day to day, but

I don't get stuck. might have kind of a brown out where things aren't flowing as well, but I really feel like ⁓ I'm with it. You show up and something's going to come out and some days are more prolific than others. So I love that.

Nannette Potter (14:39)
Thank

Shannon Grissom (14:40)
Okay, so you got a mango margarita in your hand. What's your dream writing destination?

Nannette Potter (14:50)
Cancun by far.

Shannon Grissom (14:52)
Okay, so why Cancun? What's so wonderful about that?

Nannette Potter (14:56)
my gosh, it's kind of like our place. ⁓ It's our place where we can just go and chill out. ⁓

actually outlined a whole book on a five day vacation there and just by the poolside. I mean just like very, you know, very brief outline, not a whole. But I don't know, there's just something about the place, the beach, the waves, the beauty. ⁓ We just love it. We went and I looked it up before.

I just thought I looked it up recently because in 2001 we visited Cancun with our children and we were able to walk up the pyramid for Chichen Itza. That was when they still allowed people to walk on the pyramid and we walked all the way to the top. And I'll never forget that was our first visit and it was immediate love of that area of Mexico.

I don't know. There's just something about it that just makes me want to just create. I don't know if you ever feel that way about a place or not, but that's my place.

Shannon Grissom (16:20)
I do. you know, it's funny because when I first started, I didn't think it should matter where you create, but it really does. And ⁓ I know it's important to bloom where you grow. You're not always in the in the best situation and you make the best of it. But there are other there are certain places that just ⁓ help you.

Just whoosh. I'm in a definitely in in this new move. I'm definitely in a creative in the in a creative flow. So, yeah. So. Along those lines. ⁓ Is there a book that you that you've read recently that you just couldn't put down or or.

either a book that you couldn't put down or an author that every time they've got something, you're just chomping it a bit for the next one to come out.

Nannette Potter (17:24)
So I have to, ⁓ well, James Rollins, who is the author of the Sigma Force series, ⁓ I read every book of his. I mean, he was kind of my inspiration. He was the, I started reading his books and I just thought, I think I could do that. so there's James, but recently I did read for the very first time Tess Gerritsen and

It was the bone garden. was ⁓ I fell in love with that book and it it goes between present-day and historical so it goes back and forth and I loved the characters. I loved all the history. She made it interesting. I just thought wow.

I have found a new author to read and listen to. I normally listen to audiobooks for new authors that I'm not sure if I'm going to like them or not. guess I use audiobooks as experimental, I guess. And then of course I buy, you know, because I love

paper. I love hardbacks. My library is full of hardback books. I just love holding it at night. But if I'm trying out new authors, I use audiobooks for some reason. I don't know. I used to commute ⁓ and I'd use audiobooks to, like I said, experiment and just see if I liked them.

Shannon Grissom (19:14)
That's a good idea.

Nannette Potter (19:17)
Yeah, because I don't want to read strictly thriller genre. mean, I want to read other things that, wouldn't like Tess Gerritsen. I would consider her more mystery. I don't know. ⁓ I love ⁓ Anne Cleaves, for instance, her Vera and Shetland series. ⁓ So there's a lot of authors that I love, absolutely love.

that are in other genres. And that's how I find them is through audio.

Shannon Grissom (19:52)
So are these authors that are touching your soul, are there any elements that they do that are working their way into your own work?

Nannette Potter (20:02)
I do love a good love story or a good love triangle. I do love ⁓ that kind of interaction in a story. ⁓

I write a lot about family. ⁓ For instance, Blade Broussard is adopted and I'm adopted. So I think a little bit of myself goes into that writing, her journey. ⁓ So I like all that interpersonal relationship. I love all that. So I really try to add that.

have to emotion at the end because I'm so action-oriented and that's my weakness. My emotion, the emotional is my weakness. And so I have to really try hard to make sure that I'm connecting with the reader more than just action-packed and, know, Blade is running here and there and, you know, what else is going on with her in her life?

So I think that's what I really try to try to give, you know, my readers more than just action.

Shannon Grissom (21:25)
So when you're, sounds like you're an action person. So are you always busy in your, when you're not writing, what are you doing?

Nannette Potter (21:37)
usually doing something with the grandkids ⁓ to be with friends. Yeah, that's action. They're getting older now, so they don't want to hang out with me as much. But I try to do something. you know, do pilates. I am always busy, always doing something. ⁓ In the evening around 530 is kind of like, okay, you know, my husband and I need to start, you know, ⁓

relaxing, so we'll sit in front of the tv but even then i have my laptop in front of me until like nine o'clock. I just love it so it's not like it's a chore. It's something that i choose to do, i love to do, i can't imagine myself doing anything else so i mean i'm happiest when i've got my laptop in front of me.

Shannon Grissom (22:31)
Yeah, that makes sense. know, even when we're watching TV, I'll see a scene on and I'm like, my God, that's a painting there. mean, so I'll start either sketching or taking a snapshot of it. And so, yeah, I don't think it never really gets turned off when you're in a certain mode. It's always running. It's like a background app.

Nannette Potter (22:56)
Yes, it is.

Which doesn't help with sleeping at night.

Shannon Grissom (23:04)
now. I'm thinking back to Blade. What if Blade, well, wouldn't it be cool if Blade got a movie deal? Who would play who would play?

Nannette Potter (23:04)
That's it.

hands down, Ana de Armas. Hands down. Okay, so I'm so happy that you asked me that because I just sent her my book. Now she doesn't have to read it. I mean, I sent it to the address where, ⁓ you know, she gets mail. Whether she ever gets the book or not, I don't know. But I've put it out there. I've put it out there, Anna.

Please, read the book.

Shannon Grissom (23:48)
I'm going to just start visualizing that as a done deal and see you at the premiere and all that good stuff when that

Nannette Potter (23:50)
Well, I think.

That's what I do. I visualize, I can just see her playing her and I just think, wow. ⁓ Yeah, that's what I think. She would be a wow Blade Broussard.

Shannon Grissom (24:14)
So what's next for you? You're releasing one right now, right? You're in middle of a list.

Nannette Potter (24:19)
Deceptions Edge, I'm releasing it. It's on pre-order like I said, like I mentioned. ⁓ There's still lots to do, you know, before the book launch, but ⁓ cover design's done. Trailer is, I just think I just received it yesterday, the book trailer. ⁓ I love everything about it.

And so now I'm giving myself permission to start thinking about book three. I really don't start thinking about the next book until what I'm currently working on is almost done. I I know I went to Washington, DC. did a, the cliffhanger at the end is, you know, in Deception's Edge. I think everyone will know she's going to Washington, DC. You know, so.

So that's just one of the locales that she'll be at. I'm just now starting to think, ⁓ OK, now what? That's one little seed. Now maybe the flower can start to bloom. That's kind of like maybe how I can say it.

Shannon Grissom (25:31)
Do you have any advice for people who are thinking about writing but they haven't started yet?

Nannette Potter (25:39)
I ⁓ would say to people who are thinking about writing or any creative endeavor, ⁓ whether it's painting, writing music, writing books, whatever, don't wait until the perfect time. Don't wait. Start. Whether you have five minutes to devote to it or 15 minutes. ⁓ Because what people will find is that if they can just

even like if you're doing it on a work break or a lunch hour. Devote 15 minutes of whatever during the day to it and you'll find that you're going to actually put in more time than what you allotted for it. Like I mentioned, I retired early so I could write full time. And I retired on a Friday and on that next Monday, my mom started to get ill. And so,

I think she had been waiting for me to retire to start.

going down that journey through doctor visits and that kind of thing. so, and then COVID hit. then, you know, my littlest granddaughter was in first grade on Zoom. So I was watching her. I was there when she was on Zoom doing her schoolwork, you know, her school to make sure that, you know, she was listening.

So I mean, I never had the eight hours between my parents and my grandchildren, which was great because I realized what was I waiting for all those years. I hope that I could, through that, hope that I could encourage anyone who's waiting to retire or waiting for whatever it is they're waiting for, don't wait.

because it's never going to work out for you. Life happens. Life happens and it's not fair. It's not fair, but it is. I don't know.

So that's my advice to people. Just get your dream. Just do it.

Shannon Grissom (28:05)
Yeah.

Nannette Potter (28:07)
And I also think that age should not be a detriment to anyone's creative spirit or drive or ambition, whether you're young, whether you're middle-aged or elderly or whatever. Whatever age you are, it does not matter. If I could encourage young people to do something that they love, that's kind of like

but I see myself trying to do for people through my writing, through my journey.

Shannon Grissom (28:46)
Well, you've been incredibly inspiring. I agree. ⁓ My dad started playing piano in his eighties. so it's it's never too late unless you think it's too late. so just do it. And like, really love what you said about ⁓ the perfect time. Right now I'm a caregiver for my husband. So I I crank out. I mean, I have

Nannette Potter (29:02)
Hey, she was right.

Shannon Grissom (29:15)
certain amount of time that I'm dedicated to this and the rest of day is that. But I'm really productive because there's just I know I have that time I get in there and do it and and if I get extra time that's awesome but I don't expect it and so but just keep plodding along so yeah that's great advice. So how can people you know find more about you find more about your books what's your website?

Nannette Potter (29:35)
Yes.

My website is www.nanetpotter.com. I'm on Amazon. I'm on all retailers practically. You can find my book anywhere, hopefully. I have not done audio, so that's possibly my next hurdle is trying to get an audio done for the books.

Shannon Grissom (30:13)
Yeah, it's a lot. It would be great to have peeps to help us with all of this. I know. I don't think people realize is that whether you're published with a publisher or whether you self-publish either way, there's a tremendous amount of marketing and the business end of it that needs to be done. There is. off to you.

Nannette Potter (30:14)
My sigh.

There is so much and I know people think that if you get a traditional publisher that it's all going to be done for you. But it is not. I mean maybe for the you know.

I mean, ⁓ James Patterson, they were doing commercials, TV commercials for him when he was working with Dolly Parton when he co-wrote his book. I saw a couple of his commercials. I thought there's no way anybody else probably would get that kind of advertising. So yeah, there's a lot of work and as you know.

There's a lot of work in creative. My friend gave me as on my wallet says creativity takes courage. And I like to think that that's true because there's so much. But I do have to say that creativity takes courage. But it also encourages me to learn more about different things. Yes. I you know.

I have learned so much during this process and I wouldn't change it for the world.

Shannon Grissom (31:58)
Well, you've been incredibly inspiring. Do you have any parting shots or parting words for people who are listening?

Nannette Potter (32:07)
No, just think ⁓ if you've got a story inside of you, start writing it. Get a journal. It doesn't even matter. You don't even need a journal. can just, as back to school is coming up, back to school shopping, go buy yourself a couple of cute little ⁓ spiral notepads. Let's get to work. Let's get that story written.

Shannon Grissom (32:36)
you've been awesome. That's a good one. Well, thank you for being here, Nedette.

Nannette Potter (32:42)
Thank you. Thank you, Shannon. This has been such a pleasure. Thank you.

Shannon Grissom (32:46)
It's just great to share your story. Well, thanks everybody for tuning in again for another episode of Painterly Life. We will put all of Nanette's information in the show notes so you can find her. Please make sure to like, subscribe and share. That's a wrap. We'll see you next

Nannette Potter (33:04)
Thank

you.