A violin maker connects two lives, and that chance connection helps spark a spy thriller where music can give you away. I’m joined by Gerald Schoeltzel, a professional musician turned attorney and screenwriter whose résumé is as gripping as the fiction he writes. Gerald shares how he and co-author Leonid Prymak found each other through matching Italian instruments, then built Heard a Ghost: Love, Murder, and Revenge, a Russian espionage story set against Washington, DC power, opulence, romance, betrayal, and a spy hiding in plain sight.

We get into the real-life gravity behind the story, including Leonid’s Cold War escape from the Soviet Union and the family history that informs the book’s realism. Gerald also breaks down the craft side: why they started with an award-winning screenplay, how a writers retreat in Spain pushed him to adapt it into a novel, and what that change unlocks for character development, historical detail, and protecting your work in the film and TV world. Find the book here: https://link.amazon/B00LS7Mbv

One of my favorite moments is the twist only a lifelong musician could write: the idea that elite performers carry a recognizable musical signature, and that sound can become evidence. We also talk about writing strong female characters, creating a non-stereotypical woman spy, and what Gerald is working on next. If you love spy fiction, thriller writing, and behind-the-scenes author process, hit play, subscribe, share this with a writer friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find us.

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Elsa Kurt: You may know her for her uncanny, viral Kamala Harris impressions & conservative comedy skits, but she’s also a lifelong Patriot & longtime Police Wife. She has channeled her fierce love and passion for God, family, country, and those who serve as the creator, Executive Producer & Host of the Elsa Kurt Show with Clay Novak. Her show discusses today’s topics & news from a middle class/blue collar family & conservative perspective. The vocal LEOW’s career began as a multi-genre author who has penned over 25 books, including twelve contemporary women’s novels.

Clay Novak: Clay Novak was commissioned in 1995 as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry and served as an officer for twenty four years in Mechanized Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Cavalry units . He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2019. Clay is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and is a Master Rated Parachutist, serving for more tha...