Stephen P Kiernan

In this episode of The Premise, Jennifer and Chad Thompson sit down with bestselling author Stephen P. Kiernan to discuss his forthcoming novel, Pollock’s Last Lover — a layered story about art, deception, power, and the women surrounding legendary painter Jackson Pollock.Stephen shares the surprising inspiration behind the novel, why he abandoned an early draft after 180 pages, and how the story ultimately became less about Pollock himself and more about the women navigating power, ambition, sexuality, and survival across two different eras.The conversation explores: The real-life inspiration behind Ruth Kligman  Writing complex female characters as a male author  The emotional intensity of Pollock’s art and legacy  Researching the New York art world and auction houses  How symbolism (including watch advertisements set to “10:10”) found its way into the novel  Stephen’s writing process, revision philosophy, and life as a former journalist turned novelist This episode is a thoughtful deep dive into creativity, historical fiction, gender dynamics, and the mysteries of artistic genius.