Here is the optimized, high-conversion Buzzsprout episode description based on the interview transcript.

What happens when a crime writer decides to take back total creative control of their work? In this episode, host Terry Shepherd sits down with Heather J. Fitt, an accomplished author, editor, and the General Coordinator for the Crime Writers’ Association, to explore her journey from the motor trade to the heart of the crime writing world. Together, they dive into the realities of traditional versus self-publishing, the deep research required to write unsettling thrillers, and why a sense of belonging is the quiet theme connecting all of her stories.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

🗺️ The Power of Reinvention: How a passing teenage dream of journalism was crushed by a classmate, only for Heather to reclaim her voice and write her first novel at age 38.
📈 Taking Books Back: The strategic decision to transition her three successful crime novels—Open Your Eyes, The Flight, and The Boat Trip—from traditional publishing to self-publishing on KDP to reclaim her royalties and control her marketing.
🔍 The 10% Rule of Research: Why deep-diving into the dark corners of the internet, interviewing pilots, and learning Atlantic seafaring protocols makes her fiction undeniably accurate (even if she only uses a fraction of what she learns).
🧛 Blending Crime with Horror: A sneak peek into her upcoming novel, Day Walker, a dark crime thriller with a sharp horror twist set in the historic streets of Edinburgh.

About the Guest:

Heather J. Fitt is an author, editor, and publishing professional who spent six years as a commissioning advisor for Bloodhound Books before taking on her current role as General Coordinator for the Crime Writers’ Association. She is the author of three gripping crime novels: Open Your Eyes, The Flight, and The Boat Trip. When she isn't managing prestigious literary events like the Dagger Awards, she can be found writing from the south coast of England or holidaying in Barbados.

About Terry Shepherd:

Terry Shepherd is the host of the In Conversation podcast series, where he interviews leading voices in the literary and creative spaces, exploring the triumphs, trials, and trade secrets of successful authors.

Links & Resources:

Visit the Author's Website: Heather J. Fitt Official Website
Buy Heather's Books: Heather J. Fitt on Amazon
Connect with the Host: Terry Shepherd Official Website

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