Power, Greed, and the Dark Side of Utopia: Zac Canon's Stillwater Trace

In this episode, I chat with Zac Cannon about his new speculative thriller Stillwater Trace!

Listen to hear about:

• How a "dad action movie" premise transformed into a layered thriller exploring faith, power, surveillance, and belonging—and why Zac let the story evolve far beyond his original concept.
• The real-world inspirations behind Stillwater Trace, from corporate master-planned communities and culture wars to religious deconstruction, and how current events shaped the novel without making it feel tied to one moment in time.
• The craft of writing cinematic suspense, including how Zac's screenwriting background influences his novels, why he physically acts out action scenes, and how character—not spectacle—ultimately drives the story.

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Gare Billings @gareindeedreads

Steph Lauer @books.in.badgerland

Halley Sutton @halleysutton25

Brian Watson @readingwithbrian

MacKenzie Green @missusa2mba

Erin Ashley @bellametaphor