Ever feel like there’s something you’ve forgotten to do — but you can’t quite name it? For Sulari Gentill, leaving the law and picking up a pen finally let her breathe.
In this episode of Outlaw Diaries, we talk to the incredible Sulari Gentill — a former corporate lawyer who swapped contracts for crime fiction, and found the thing she didn’t even know she was missing. From astrophysics to cow pregnancy tests to bestseller lists, her story is a beautiful, funny, and surprisingly relatable exploration of what happens when you finally listen to that quiet itch inside you.
She shares:
– Why being a lawyer never felt wrong, but never felt whole
– The moment writing made her feel like she was breathing properly for the first time
– The identity crisis that comes with leaving a high-status profession
– How leaving a stable, high-status profession can make you feel untethered — and why that’s part of it
– Why she “corporate-lawyered” her way into a sustainable creative career (yep, you can do that)
– How her legal background (and a bit of astrophysics) helps her write brilliant mysteries
– What happened when she tried to write literary fiction (spoiler: a body showed up)
If you’ve ever dreamed about writing a novel, leaving your profession, or just finding the thing that feels like breathing — this episode is a must-listen
💡 This episode is for you if:
– You’re stuck in the “shoulds” and wondering if it’s too late or too hard to start again
– You’re craving a more creative life but worried it’s impractical
– You’re torn between security and soul-sparking joy
– You’ve ever told yourself “I can’t afford to leave” and secretly hoped someone would prove you wrong
– You need permission (and a strategy) to make your leap
🔧 Resources & Links
📚 Explore Sulari Gentill’s books — including The Mystery Writer and the award-winning Crossing the Lines (due to be released in August) https://ultimopress.com.au/collections/sulari-gentill
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Hosted and produced by: Shayla Strapps and Kate Offer
🎧 Hosted on Podbean
Chapters
00:00 From Lawyer to Author: A Journey of Transition
07:30 The Search for Identity and Fulfillment
11:13 The Creative Awakening: Discovering Writing
16:18 The Leap of Faith: Embracing a New Career
18:56 Untethered Identity: The Transition from Lawyer to Writer
24:06 The Solitary Nature of Writing: Finding Community
27:20 The value of Sulari's legal education in her writing
29:42 Using Life Experience as Material for Writing
29:47 Redefining Success: A Writer's Journey
30:21 Navigating Financial Realities in Writing
31:40 The Shift to Contemporary Writing
33:03 Strategising for Success in a New Market
34:35 Preparing for Opportunities: The Importance of Readiness
35:07 Building a Supportive Community
37:40 Advice for Aspiring Writers: Planning and Community
Australia