In Conversation with Terry Shepherd

August Norman - Sins of the Mother

• Terry Shepherd

Share episode

Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.

0:00 | 30:09

Sins of the Mother: Overcoming Cults, Chaos, and the Fear of Rejection with Author August Norman

What happens when a professional creator transitions from Hollywood sketch comedy to writing high-stakes mystery thrillers? In this episode, host Terry Shepherd sits down with renaissance man August Norman to dissect his gripping sophomore novel, Sins of the Mother. Discover how August channels real-world anxieties regarding internet echo chambers and cognitive dissonance into his fierce, flawed journalist protagonist, Kaitlin Bergman. From building a bulletproof network of 25 beta readers to overcoming the universal artist roadblock of self-doubt, August shares invaluable industry wisdom on why you must let the world tell you "no" instead of telling it to yourself.

Key Takeaways & Show Notes:

In this deep-dive conversation, Terry and August explore the structural boundaries between screenplays and novels, the mechanics of authentic character development, and the gritty realities of the modern publishing market.

  • The Origin of Kaitlin Bergman: How a moral foil from an unproduced hard-boiled LA noir screenplay evolved into a standout, fiercely intelligent protagonist who balances an inner moral compass with human flaws.
  • Writing the Opposite Gender: August pulls back the curtain on using empathy, extensive research, and a targeted panel of 25 diverse beta readers (including 20 women across multiple generations) to craft a genuine female lead.
  • Screenplay vs. Novelization: The unique craft breakthrough of utilizing a 100-page screenplay as a narrative roadmap, and how reverse-engineering a draft into structural story beats helped cut 85,000 words of clutter.
  • The Reality of Writing on Contract: A candid look at the creative pivots required when a publisher asks for a total thematic shift, leading to a high-speed five-month sprint to write a thriller centered around an Oregon cult and a mass grave.
  • Confronting Cognitive Dissonance: The underlying societal themes driving Sins of the Mother, exploring why individuals cling to disproven claims, and comparing the psychological dynamics of historical cults to modern online platforms like 4chan and 8chan.
  • The Ultimate Lesson on Rejection: Why beginning authors must face their fear of feedback, accept that rejection "doesn't hurt that bad," and actively study the business, contracts, and marketing algorithms of the publishing industry.

Chapter Markers & Timestamps:

  • [00:00] – Hollywood Forever: Terry reads a dramatic passage from Chapter 1 of Sins of the Mother.
  • [02:10] – The Ghostly Compass: Analyzing the enduring psychological influence of Matt Bergman on his adoptive daughter.
  • [03:30] – From Foil to Hero: Re-engineering an LA noir screenplay into the debut novel Come and Get Me.
  • [04:55] – The Beta Reader Strategy: The methodology of sourcing 25 diverse beta readers to validate perspective.
  • [06:00] – An Indiana Boy in LA: From playing the saxophone and doing sketch comedy to pitching sitcoms in Hollywood.
  • [07:45] – The Screenplay Blueprint: Sifting through notes, studying Michael Connelly, and finding an agent by chance.
  • [12:20] – The Two-Book Deal Pivot: Sprints, word-count constraints, and turning 10 emergency pitches into a novel about a cult.
  • [17:30] – Algorithmic Reviews & Accountability: Navigating Goodreads, handling a disgruntled Clancy fan, and sending a $30 refund check.
  • [21:30] – The Chosen Family: Addressing white supremacy, climate denial, and the core message behind the thriller.
  • [24:50] – Advice to My 16-Year-Old Self: Learning about contracts and overcoming the paralyzing fear of feedback.

Guest & Resources Directory:

  • Connect with August Norman: Visit his official website at augustnorman.com. Catch up with his latest updates on Instagram (his favorite platform) and Facebook.
  • Featured Books Mentioned: * Sins of the Mother (2020) by August Norman 
  • Come and Get Me (2019) by August Norman 
  • Recommended Craft Reading: The Essentials of Style and Stein on Writing 

We all inevitably become the brand. And that's why I wrote, "How to Become a Dynamic Podcast Guest and Sell Stuff." It's a sweet and short primer that teaches you about the gear, the appearance and the messaging that can grab and hold today's micro-attention spans and motivate your listeners to take action. It's Just a dollar ninety nine at Amazon. Grab your copy today and sell mo