Solid Gold Podcasts #BeHeard The Hidden Lives of Writers

S06 E05 Tony Park

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Tony Park is the bestselling author of multiple series and standalone novels set in southern Africa. DIE BY THE SWORD is out right now, published by Pan Macmillan.

Tony joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about the origin of his special relationship with the southern African bush. He discusses his interest in conservation, and gives great tips on how to keep track of a large cast of recurring characters across a sprawling fictional universe.

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Chapters
  • 00:30 Writing challenges and career uncertainties
  • 04:30 Recent reading and watching experiences
  • 10:05 Introduction to Tony Park
  • 13:52 Tony's writing routine and discipline
  • 16:19 Tony's origin story as a writer
  • 18:44 Tony's connection to Africa
  • 28:04 Tony's approach to plotting thrillers
  • 30:01 Writing female protagonists
  • 34:43 Tony's military background
  • 43:58 Writing about military characters
  • 48:39 Challenges of writing series
  • 53:01 Managing an interconnected fictional world
  • 56:41 Finding ideas for new books ‎
  • 59:16 Die by the Sword
  • 01:07:30 Tony's non-fiction writing career ‎
  • 01:11:39 Making a living as a full-time writer
  • 01:14:16 Tony's recent reading recommendations
  • 01:18:04 Closing thoughts on finding fun in writing
6 Oct 2025 English South Africa Books · Arts

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