Issue 32: A novelist who can change course on a dime, and just may be the next step in human evolution

Welcome, Sheila Young!

Author

John Lim
October 04, 2024

Yep, you read that correctly!

“It’s a very large cast of characters and they’re all back.” -Sheila Young

Forget AI, I have the next step in human evolution on this week’s podcast. Sheila Young is a talented author whose debut novel MAC* came out despite the centripetal force of interruptions that made writing the manuscript a near Sisyphean task. You can check out that convo on episode 374. This week, Sheila returns to talk about her follow-up to MAC*, and reveals a quirk that had me briefly consider retiring the question altogether. In light of that, I was going to ask Sheila to pen this week’s newsletter but it turns she’s busy solving quantum physics equations on napkins; cracking the code to time travel so she can sample the new Coke Classic III formula in 2029.

-John

*[Affiliate disclosure: these are affiliate links to Amazon through which I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.]

Moving Forward 481: Inspiring individuals: Sheila Young

For a homosapien superior evolutionis Sheila is a pretty down to earth person. We first connected on Twitter (yes, still calling it that), and she was nice enough to take time out of her busy schedule to come on my podcast for the 2022 writers series. At the time, she had recently finished her debut novel, MAC*, a thriller blending political intrigue and romance, set across the globe. We had a great chat and if you need inspiration to finish your first book while juggling life, listen to Sheila’s story of how she managed to chip away at her novel from her dining room table while dealing with noisy kids, a needy dog, and more.

This week, we get to catch up and you, intrepid reader, get an update on Sheila’s anticipated follow-up to MAC*. True to her penchant for storytelling, Sheila shares why she scrapped her original plan for the sequel despite having written a large chunk of it. You’ll discover the value of having a trusted group of beta readers, and why it’s sometimes necessary, albeit painful, to put your ego aside in service of story, your characters, and your audience.

Sheila also lifts the curtain on what it’s really like being an author. Spoilers: it’s not all beachfront daydreams, sipping coffee while leisurely pecking away at your magnum opus. The reality is a lot harder with starts and stops, swallowing oversized pills that set you back to square one. If you ever had any doubt that writer’s block is real, Sheila quickly and resolutely ends that debate.

Finally, you’ll learn the quirkiest quirk I have ever heard from a guest in 481 episodes, one that sets an impossibly high bar to cross (I’m curious to see if anyone does so in the remaining 19 episodes). Trust me, you’ll never see this one coming. But that’s part and parcel of who Sheila is as a person, and as a writer. She’s someone who isn’t afraid to be bold, take big leaps, and dive headfirst in the fantastical, whether on page or IRL.

*[Affiliate disclosure: these are affiliate links to Amazon through which I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.]

Sheila Young

❝

I always know where it’s going to end. When I’m starting out, I know the ending, I know how I want it to end. It’s just getting there, it’s a mystery.

-Sheila Young

Some things I learned about Sheila:

  • What it took to delete 20,000 words from the first pass at her second novel, and why she did it (on purpose).

  • How a road trip with Sheila’s husband got her unstuck from writer’s block.

  • How Keifer Sutherland saved her from an embarrassing moment on an episode of Designated Survivor.

  • The special reason she decided to narrate her first book and publish it on YouTube.

Fun quirk:

  • Sheila was born missing nine permanent teeth. As a result she grew up with baby teeth on the bottom row into her mid-twenties, which were eventually replaced with dentures. Sheila explains this runs her in her family such that they have been spotlighted at dental conventions. Moreover, this condition could be a step forward in human evolution. See, I wasn’t kidding with that headline!

Connect with Sheila

Check out MAC

  • MAC by Sheila Young. (affiliate paid link).*

*[Affiliate disclosure: these are affiliate links to Amazon through which I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.]

Available now at my bookstore on Pangobooks

Did you catch the Easter Egg from this film in the introduction to this week’s guest?

Good Will Hunting by Ben Affleck; Matt Damon; Gus Van Sant, Paperback | Pangobooks

Save 70% or more on Good Will Hunting by Ben Affleck; Matt Damon; Gus Van Sant buying from fellow readers on Pango. Explore new and used inventory or list your own books today!

pangobooks.com/books/00dac889-dca0-4fca-82ac-4139df0d0ebb-CTy0cvJNOZgXlCopDUy87CB1Evl2

Quirky reads 📚

Speaking of books, here are some titles I’ve been reading lately.

[Affiliate disclosure: these are affiliate links to Amazon through which I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.]

Follow me on Goodreads for book recommendations and to see what else I’m reading.

Upcoming (Fall 2025)

Check out these great courses, taught by experts in their respective fields.

Fall 2025

Incredible courses being offered this fall at Johns Hopkins Odyssey.

linktr.ee/bemovingforward

Resources

Teach a man to fish, you know the rest (if you don’t, check these out).

  • Book a coaching call with me on Clarity.

  • Follow me on Goodreads for book recommendations.

  • Check out one of my favorite daily newsletters Morning Brew (affiliate referral link).

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Affiliate disclosure

Note: Links to Amazon and Audible products are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.