#55: How Taylor Swift Inspired Molly Fader's 'Lady X'

This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with author Molly Fader, who's written more than 50 books under various pen names - including one that made its way into Suicide Squad. They talk about her latest release, Lady X, a vigilante girl gang story set in 1977 New York City that was partly sparked by Taylor Swift's "Vigilante Shit." Molly opens up about switching literary agents after 25 years, the research that shaped the book, and what keeps her chasing that "lightning strike" feeling after six decades' worth of stories.

CHAPTERS: 

00:00 Intro & Welcome

02:38 Publishing Her First Book at 25

04:05 Toronto, Harlequin & Learning the Craft

04:37 The Cowgirl Phase

06:20 From Harlequin to Single-Title Books

08:52 The Pen Name Universe

12:34 How Many Books, Really?

17:00 The Suicide Squad Mystery

22:38 Introducing Lady X

24:29 The Spark Behind the Story

27:38 Writing Female Rage & Friendship

28:27 Plotter vs. Pantser

29:52 Researching 1977 New York City

31:18 Her Writing Space, Then and Now

32:24 A New Agent, After 25 Years

34:22 Selling Lady X & Canadian Rights

34:48 What She Wants Readers to Take Away

37:01 What's Next: 1980s Nashville

37:35 The Lightning Strike Feeling

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Molly Fader

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Find her books at Indigo: https://www.indigo.ca/products/lady-x

Find her books at Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/search?attributes.contributorId=20010981&contributorName=Molly%20Fader

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Hosted by: Morgann Book

Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston 

Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston 

Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi

Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes

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