What happens when a writer discovers stories that sound too extraordinary to document as nonfiction?

On this episode of Bold Book with Dr. Denise Nicholson, author, former attorney, educator, and investigative-minded writer Kent Heckenlively joins the conversation to discuss his new novel, This Never Happened: A Call Girl in D.C.

Known for his nonfiction writing on big tech, the pharmaceutical industry, government agencies, and controversial subjects, Kent takes a different approach with this novel. Inspired by strange and unverifiable stories encountered during his research, he transforms elements surrounding the Watergate era into a fictional thriller.

At the center of the story is Heidi, a call girl who has little interest in politics but finds herself moving through a world of secrets, power, corruption, and dangerous connections.

Kent explains why fiction gave him the freedom to explore stories that couldn't meet the evidentiary standards required for nonfiction—and why the title This Never Happened perfectly captures that tension.

In This Episode, You'll Discover:

🔥 The inspiration behind This Never Happened: A Call Girl in D.C.
🔥 How Kent's nonfiction research led him into historical fiction
🔥 The Watergate-era mysteries that sparked the novel
🔥 The fictional character of Heidi and why she became the perfect narrator
🔥 How Kent blends history, mystery, sensuality, and political intrigue
🔥 Why he wanted the book to be entertaining and escapist
🔥 His comparison of the novel's tone to writers like Elmore Leonard
🔥 How Kent transitioned from attorney and science teacher to thriller author
🔥 His disciplined 1,000–2,000 words-a-day writing routine
🔥 Why writers sometimes have to let their characters take over
🔥 The importance of curiosity and genuinely listening to other people's stories
🔥 How human connection can bridge seemingly enormous social divides
🔥 Kent's plans for a four-volume series of fictionalized historical stories

The conversation also explores Kent's philosophy about community, connection, and the importance of looking beyond political labels to discover the things people have in common.

Whether you're fascinated by Watergate, political thrillers, historical fiction, espionage, corruption, conspiracy mysteries, or the creative process behind writing fiction, this episode offers a fascinating look at how real-world questions can inspire fictional worlds.

📚 Watch the full episode and discover the story behind This Never Happened: A Call Girl in D.C. by Kent Heckenlively.

Connect with Kent and get the book - https://kentheckenlivelybooks.com/

Connect with Dr. Denise Nicholson go to www.denisenicholson.com or email her at authordnicholson@gmail.com

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