TOM HOWE + RICK MOFINA
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Bestselling thriller author Rick Mofina reveals how his career as a crime reporter—interviewing death row inmates, riding with the LAPD, and patrolling with the RCMP—became the emotional and narrative foundation for his novels. He explains that journalism taught him to write multi-perspective stories with journalistic precision, while also instilling a deep respect for truth and reader trust. His latest novel, *One Second Away*, is a high-octane thriller born from real-world anxieties: the vulnerability of children on unaccompanied flights, the fragility of institutional trust, and the terrifying potential of cyberattacks on mass transit systems. Mofina emphasizes that he plans his stories meticulously with detailed outlines, but remains flexible, using a 'rope' metaphor to keep multiple character arcs aligned. He also shares the joy of seeing his books in foreign languages, from Greek to Turkish, and reveals he just finished a new novel that he’s shipping to a fan at FedEx. Meanwhile, composer Tom Howe discusses how jazz improvisation shaped his fearless approach to scoring, including a pivotal moment at Abbey Road Studios where he had to re-record a 20-second cue on the spot after a producer changed their mind. Howe’s work on *Ted Lasso* and *American Classic* showcases his ability to find the emotional core of any story—whether it’s a comedy, a musical, or a drama—using thematic melodies and genre-blending sounds.
Trust is the central pillar of *One Second Away*—both personal and institutional, from airline safety to cyber resilience.
Mofina uses a 60-page outline but remains flexible, treating the story like a rope with multiple characters hanging on it.
Jazz improvisation taught Howe to embrace on-the-spot problem-solving and view mistakes as creative detours.
Abbey Road Studios’ legacy creates an atmosphere where 'anything’s possible'—a spiritual energy that fuels creativity.
The best music doesn’t compete with the story—it supports it, only stepping forward in montages or emotional peaks.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Welcome & Introductions
Host Richard Krauss welcomes listeners and introduces Rick Mofina, bestselling crime thriller author, and Tom Howe, acclaimed film and TV composer.
Rick Mofina’s Early Passion & Journalism Roots
Mofina traces his love for storytelling to childhood family storytellers and a kindergarten writing exercise. He details how discovering *The Writer* magazine and selling his first short story at 15 launched his career path.
From Journalist to Fiction Writer
Mofina discusses how his journalism training shaped his multi-perspective approach to fiction, while also revealing the emotional toll of interviewing grieving families and death row inmates.
The Art of the Standalone Thriller
“This story was kind of a hurricane of different ideas all at once. I guess the pillar of it is trust.”
Outlining vs. Pantsing: Mofina’s Story Process
“I used to use the analogy of like when you see little kids at a daycare, all cute little kids and they all hang on to the rope and the rope is the overall plot.”
“there's just this feeling when you're in these kind of spaces of anything's possible and aren't I so lucky to be here you know I mean that really is it really and everybody's so again”
“The main title was done, which is a really unusual thing. I mean, normally I do the main title in the maximum I'll do it is halfway through when I've got enough content to vaguely know what I want to say.”
“This story was kind of a hurricane of different ideas all at once. I guess the pillar of it is trust.”
Host
Guests
Rick Mofina
person
Tom Howe
person
Ted Lasso
other
One Second Away
book
Abbey Road Studios
place
Bill Lawrence
person
American Classic
other
Jazz improvisation
other
Richard Krauss
person
The Great British Bake Off
other
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