Spies, Sex and Powerful Families – Thomas Maier Artwork

Paid by the Word: Conversations with Writers and Editors

Award-winning journalist and prolific author Mike Barlow interviews writers and editors. "Our conversations focus mostly on work habits and career advice. The interviews typically run 25-30 minutes. I try to keep them light and breezy, but when the topic veers into deeper waters, I'm not afraid to go there with the guest,” says Mike.

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Paid by the Word: Conversations with Writers and Editors

Spies, Sex and Powerful Families – Thomas Maier

March 07, 2021 • Mike Barlow • Season 1 • Episode 11

Newspaper journalist Thomas Maier is the author of five highly successful non-fiction books. His topics include the Newhouse publishing empire, the life of Dr. Benjamin Spock, and the intertwined relationships of two famous families, the Churchills and the Kennedys.

His newest book, Mafia Spies, shows how the CIA recruited two gangsters to assassinate Fidel Castro during the Cold War. In a starred review, Booklist called it "brilliant" and "enormous fun" … A paperback version of Mafia Spies has just been published, and it’s a great read!

Tom is probably best known as the author of Masters of Sex: The Life and Times of William Masters and Virginia Johnson, the Couple Who Taught America How to Love. He also served as a producer of the Emmy Award-winning Showtime series based on the book.

In this episode, Tom talks about his adventures as a biographer, and shares how his investigative reporting skills led him to astonishing stories about his subjects.