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What does it really take to build a fictional universe that readers cannot get enough of?

This week on Here's What We Know, let’s welcome back bestselling author Shawn Inmon, the wildly prolific and deeply thoughtful author behind the Middle Falls series, to explore the discipline behind writing every single day, the emotional depth of the Middle Falls series, and the surprising origin of the Universal Life Center and “the machine” that connects his stories.

Shawn shares how he writes six to seven books a year, why he never waits for inspiration, and how internal dialogue became the secret weapon behind his most beloved characters.

We’ll dive into redemption arcs, writing action scenes, killing off favorite characters, franchising fiction across continents, and what happens when creativity is fueled by instinct rather than outlines.

If you are a writer, a creative, or simply someone fascinated by how stories shape us, this one is for you.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why he refuses to write multiple projects at once
• The secret behind writing powerful internal dialogue
• Killing off characters you love
• Why action scenes are actually the easy part
• The origin of the Universal Life Center and “the machine”
• Expanding Middle Falls beyond America
• What redemption really means when someone resists it

This episode is sponsored by:

Sterling Oak Cabinetry (Be sure to tell them Gary sent you!)

Bio:

Shawn Inmon is a small-town kid who dreamed of being a writer. Today, he is now a full-time author who lives in Tumwater, Washington, USA. He worked several dozen jobs - retail, real estate, traveling with the Unlimited Hydroplanes, crabbing in Alaska, morning disc jockey and station manager, and many others he can't remember to list. These jobs gave him a wonderful base to write what he knows because he knows a little about a lot.

He achieved his dream of becoming a full-time writer in 2016 and has never looked back. One reviewer called him "The King of Redemption stories." Shawn says he doesn't feel like a king of anything, but he does love a good tale of second chances.

He is the author of the ever-growing The Middle Falls Time Travel series, 18 books and counting, and The Alex Hawk Time Travel Adventure series. He is also the author of Feels Like the First Time, a bestselling memoir of growing up in a small town in the seventies, falling in love, and messing everything up.

He lives with his high school sweetheart - now wife -Dawn, two happy-go-lucky Chocolate Labs, and a slightly schizo cat named Georgie.

Website: https://www.shawn-inmon.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShawnInmonWriter/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawninmon/

X: https://twitter.com/ShawnInmon

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This week on Here’s What We Know, join us for an unforgettable conversation as we sit down with Mick Weinholt, a man who survived a catastrophic avalanche that should have taken his life. With a fractured skull, a broken jaw, and massive blood loss, Mick walked three miles back to his truck before collapsing into emergency brain surgery.

But that miracle was only the beginning.

Years later, Mick and his wife experienced the devastating stillbirth of their son, Luke, a loss that brought them to their knees and ultimately led them into a life-changing relationship with Christ. What followed was a story of redemption neither of them could have scripted.

This episode explores ego, survival, grief, faith, and the way God can redeem even the darkest chapters of our lives.

In This Episode:

• What really happened the day Mick triggered an avalanche in Colorado
• Walking three miles with a fractured skull
• The difference between surviving something… and being changed by it
• The grief of stillbirth and losing their son, Luke
• Hitting the emotional bottom and crying out to God
• Faith as a daily choice, not a family inheritance
• The redemption of January
• How twin boys were born seven years after a loss
• The difference between coincidence and God in action

This episode is sponsored by:

Mike Counsil Plumbing & Rooter (Use code “Gary” to get $89 off any service!)

License #: 679261

Bio:

Mick Weinholt is the host of the podcast When You Look, where everyday people share extraordinary stories of God’s presence in their lives. After surviving a catastrophic avalanche as a teenager and later experiencing the stillbirth of his firstborn son, Mick’s life took a dramatic turn. What began as a 25-year-faith-avoidant journey became a ministry rooted in redemption, raw testimony, and honest conversations about grief and grace. He is a redeemed son of Jesus Christ, grateful husband to an incredible wife, and father of four children, three of whom are living.

Website: https://www.whenyoulook.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whenyoulookshow/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whenyoulookshow/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WhenYouLookShow

Connect with Gary:

• Gary's Website
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Thank you for listening. Let us know what you think about this episode. Leave us a review!

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For 25 years, Phil Vassar has written and performed songs that defined an era of country music. But behind the hits like Just Another Day in Paradise, Carlene, and The Sound of a Million Dreams is a story of rejection, resilience, health scares, and hard-earned perspective.

This week on Here’s What We Know, Phil reflects on the roadblocks that nearly stopped him, the heart attack that changed his outlook, and why he believes songwriters are more like therapists than hitmakers. From owning his own bar in Nashville to outlasting the gatekeepers who said piano players would never work in country music, Phil opens up about what it really takes to build a lasting career.

This is a conversation about instinct, grit, healing, and the power of a song to carry you through the hardest seasons of life.

In This Episode:

• Writing Songs Is Therapy
• “They Said Piano Players Don’t Work in Nashville”
• Building a Following Before a Record Deal
• The Hits They Hated
• Knowing When You’ve Got Something
• Surviving a Heart Attack and Stroke
• Just Another Day in Paradise
• The Story Behind Carlene
• The Sound of a Million Dreams
• Bands, Egos, and Going Solo
• Toby Keith, Vince Gill, and Songwriting Brotherhood
• Slowing Down After 25 Years
• Ending with Piano Man

This episode is sponsored by:

Sterling Oak Cabinetry (Be sure to tell them Gary sent you!)

Bio:

Phil Vassar is a chart-topping country artist and acclaimed Nashville songwriter whose piano-driven sound helped redefine modern country music. Raised in a home filled with Motown, gospel, bluegrass, and classic rock, Vassar developed an eclectic musical foundation that blends heartfelt storytelling with unforgettable hooks. Influenced by artists like Billy Joel and Elton John, he found his true voice behind the piano, crafting songs that resonate across generations.

Over a 25-year career, Vassar has earned two ASCAP Songwriter of the Year awards, ACM’s Top New Male Vocalist honors, and scored 10 No. 1 hits including “Just Another Day in Paradise,” “Carlene,” and “Six-Pack Summer.” As a songwriter, he’s penned major hits for Tim McGraw, Alan Jackson, Jo Dee Messina, and others, cementing his reputation as one of Nashville’s most versatile hitmakers.

Now celebrating the 25th anniversary of his breakout success, Vassar continues to tour nationally, blending his classic hits with fresh interpretations and new music. After surviving a life-altering heart attack in 2023, he brings renewed gratitude and perspective to both his life and career. At his core, Phil Vassar remains a passionate storyteller dedicated to creating songs that move people and stand the test of time.

Website: https://www.philvassar.com/

Connect with Gary:

• Gary's Website
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Thank you for listening. Let us know what you think about this episode. Leave us a review!