Episode Description
On this episode of the STL Bucket List Show, we sit down with St. Louis author, columnist, and novelist Debbie Baldwin to discuss her latest thriller, The Architect of Deception, a high-society murder mystery filled with secrets, privilege, and unexpected twists.
Debbie shares her journey from growing up in St. Louis and attending Princeton and law school to building a career as a novelist. She reflects on her background as a speechwriter, television writer, marketing executive, and newspaper columnist, and explains how a passion project during the pandemic turned into an eight-book publishing career.
The conversation explores the creative process behind writing suspense novels, the challenges of constructing a compelling mystery, and why plotting a thriller often means deleting as much as you write. Debbie also discusses the inspiration behind The Architect of Deception, her love of classic mystery writers like Agatha Christie, the future of storytelling in the age of AI, and the surprising resurgence of physical books and independent bookstores.
From publishing and creativity to reading, storytelling, and the enduring appeal of St. Louis, this episode is an engaging conversation about following your passion and building a creative life on your own terms.
They discuss:
• Debbie's journey from St. Louis to Princeton, law school, and professional writing
• How a pandemic passion project became an eight-book career
• The creation and success of the Bishop Security series
• The inspiration behind The Architect of Deception
• Writing compelling mysteries, twists, and suspenseful storylines
• The difference between "plotters" and "pantsers" in the writing world
• Why word-of-mouth remains the most powerful form of book marketing
• The role of AI in creative writing and storytelling
• Building disciplined writing habits and routines
• Classic thriller influences including Agatha Christie and Dan Brown
• The resurgence of physical books, bookstores, and reading culture
• Debbie's favorite St. Louis coffee shops, restaurants, and bookstores
• Why St. Louis continues to inspire her work and creativity
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube
📍 Recorded at Bucket List Podcast Studio, St. Louis, MO