“What we want is people in extreme situations. We enjoy watching people pushed to their emotional limits.” - L.D. Smithson

Have you ever watched a reality TV show and thought ‘I could do that’? It’s one thing watching the events unfold on-screen. It’s another thing entirely being in the thick of it, watching the essence of your personality unravel under the pressure. Now imagine the stakes were much higher. A game where death is a very real threat.

The Escape Room is the latest novel from Leona Deakin, writing under the pseudonym L.D. Smithson. The novel follows a cast of 8 characters through the eyes of Bonnie, our protagonist, as they compete for cash in a reality TV show of puzzles and games. But when the first contestant winds up dead, they soon realise the only way out alive… is to win.

Hear how L.D. Smithson drew inspiration from our fascination and love of reality shows like The Traitors and Big Brother. Discover how she leans into her background as a psychologist to give us an insight into the human psyche under pressure. And learn how she used a mixed-media narrative to bring this story to life in many unique ways.

In this episode, you will learn:

• How to use podcasts as a narrative vehicle within a novel.
• The confidence you can gain from a pseudonym.
• And the importance of a good editor.

Find out more about L.D. Smithson here.

Your host is inkjockey founder Mark Heywood.

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You can view the full transcript here.

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