Inspirational Indie Author Interview: Phillip Mottaz. Writing Mysteries with a Punk Rock Attitude and Real-Life Rock Stars

August 18, 2024

My ALLi author guest this episode is Phillip Mottaz, a mystery author based in Los Angeles. Phillip has a unique journey from a small town in Illinois to the sketch comedy scene in Chicago and now to writing indie mystery novels in L.A. His latest book, Deadly Maybe, coming out this month, reunites the famous Gallagher brothers from the band Oasis to solve a murder. We'll talk about how Phillip's love for storytelling began, his transition from improv to mystery writing, and what drives his independent approach to publishing.

Sponsor

Inspirational Indie Authors is proudly sponsored by Bookvault. Sell high-quality, print-on-demand books directly to readers worldwide and earn maximum royalties selling directly. Automate fulfillment and create stunning special editions with BookvaultBespoke. Visit Bookvault.app today for an instant quote.

Thoughts or further questions on this post or any self-publishing issue?

If you’re an ALLi member, head over to the SelfPubConnect forum for support from our experienced community of indie authors, advisors, and team. Simply create an account (if you haven’t already) to request to join the forum and get going.

Non-members looking for more information can search our extensive archive of blog posts and podcast episodes packed with tips and advice at ALLi's Self-Publishing Advice Center. And if you haven’t already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally.

Listen to the Inspirational Indie Author Interview: Phillip Mottaz

On the Inspirational Indie Authors podcast with @howard_lovy, discover how @PhillipMottaz blends improv comedy and a punk rock attitude to create mysteries with real-life rock stars. Share on X

Don't Miss an #AskALLi Broadcast

Subscribe to our Ask ALLi podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Player.FM, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify or via our RSS feed:

Inspirational Indie Author Interview: Phillip Mottaz. About the Author

After growing up in Illinois’ smallest city, Phillip Mottaz studied improv and sketch comedy in Chicago. Since moving to Los Angeles, he has written for YouTube stars, film, television and music videos. He has also produced podcasts, including “Ramones of the Day” which examined every single track released by the seminal punk band, alphabetically. His first mystery series (The Psychic Barber Mysteries) was met with great acclaim while his new series (The Gallagher Brother Mysteries) is set to debut in August 2024. He lives with his wife and son in the San Fernando Valley. You can find Phillip on his website or Instagram, Threads, Letterboxd, Goodreads and Mighty: @phillipmottaz

About the Host

Howard Lovy has been a journalist for more than 35 years, and now amplifies the voices of independent author-publishers and works with authors as a developmental editor. Find Howard at howardlovy.com, LinkedIn and X.

If you’re a published indie author who would like to be interviewed by Howard for the Inspirational Indie Authors podcast, you need to be a member of the Alliance of Independent Authors.

Then contact Howard, including your membership number, explaining why you’re an inspirational indie author and what inspires you.

If you haven’t already, we invite you to join our organization.

Author: Howard Lovy

Howard Lovy is an author, book editor, and journalist. He is also the Content and Communications Manager for the Alliance of Independent Authors, where he hosts and produces podcasts and keeps the blog updated. You can find more of his work at https://howardlovy.com/

Latest advice, news, ratings, tools and trends.

Survey Finds Young People Think Bookshops Are Cool: The Self-Publishing News Podcast with Dan Holloway

On this episode of the Self-Publishing News Podcast, Dan Holloway dives into why "bookshops are cool" according to a recent survey, exploring the unique appeal of browsing shelves and finding new reads in person. He also discusses South Korean author Han Kang's Nobel Prize win and asks whether AI might soon compete with humans in literature and science. Dan rounds out the show with insights on AI rights and metadata protections for authors.

New AI Tools for Advertising on Amazon: Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway

As I have reported many times, when it comes to using AI tools, the author community is divided—both within itself and, individually, when it comes to what kind of AI we are talking about. Assistive tools are consistently seen as more acceptable and are more readily used than generative ones.

Creating a Compelling Author Website with Pauline Wiles: The Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast

On the Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast’s Branding, Marketing, and Promotion stream, Dale L. Roberts speaks with Pauline Wiles, an indie author and website designer, about the importance of branding and creating a compelling author website. They discuss the evolution of web design, common mistakes authors make, and the significance of building an email list. Pauline shares insights on budgeting for a website, SEO best practices, and the role of an author’s website in their overall marketing strategy.

View all articles