From PR to Publishing: How John David Became a Novelist

In this episode, I sit down with John David, a debut novelist whose first book The Bystander is already making waves in the thriller world. John shares what his career looked like long before fiction: spending decades in public relations, crisis communications, and ghostwriting and how writing has always been a thread running through his life.We talk about what it really takes to write a novel (spoiler: it’s a lot of words and a lot of persistence), and how one real-life news story sparked the idea for his book. John walks us through his unique writing process, the challenges of staying motivated, and why pushing through self-doubt is one of the most important things a writer can do.He also gives an honest look at the publishing world—what it’s like to face rejection, how hard it can be to get your work seen, and why he believes the industry is due for change. Whether you’re a reader, an aspiring writer, or just someone who loves hearing how people step into something new, this conversation is full of insight and encouragement.To connect with John, visit https://byjohndavid.substack.com/Want to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast? Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/lifestoriespodcast