Thriller 101

Send me a Text Message! Register for the free webinar! You’ve got an idea. Maybe it’s huge, with characters and twists and an ending you can already see. Or maybe it’s one unsettling image. So how do you know what it’s supposed to be? In this short solo episode, I talk about this question that's been nagging at me.  How big is your story?  So I'm hosting a free live webinar with literary...

Send me a Text Message! Can a thriller be scary and funny at the same time? In this episode, bestselling author Jason Rekulak talks about his new novel, Look What the Cat Dragged In , a supernatural story about a cartoonist, a very strange cat, and a comic strip that keeps getting darker. Jason explains how he built the rules for his demon, why he brings his illustrators in before the manuscript i...

Send me a Text Message! In this episode, Timothy Hedden shares why he self-published his debut, Dead Housewives of Philadelphia . He talks about the formatting mistake that pushed him to learn Vellum, why he cut the prologue agents kept passing on, and how he's marketing the book himself with local TV, a mailing list, and merch built from his characters' taglines. Perfect for thriller wr...

Send me a Text Message! Get the list of 125+ Literary Agents who rep Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, and Crime Fiction Study the Opening Paragraphs of the Top Authors Writing Thrillers Right Now

Send me a Text Message! What actually happens when you talk to an editor who has read your manuscript? In this episode, I talk to editor and author Demi Michelle Schwartz to go through the notes she gave me on my manuscript.  Demi shares what worked and where it needed work.  Then I share the three lessons I took from her feedback so you can apply it to your own writing. @demimschwartz on Instagra...

Send me a Text Message! Debut author Marisa Walz joins the show to talk about her psychological suspense novel Good Intentions. It's story about obsession, grief, and moral ambiguity that kept her up all night plotting after a single book inspired her to finally write it.  Marisa shares:  What the publishing journey really looks like How she balances writing unlikable protagonists The unexpec...

Send me a Text Message! What if the secret to writing unforgettable characters isn't interrogating them with questionnaires, but letting them reveal themselves organically?  In this episode, bestselling author Bianca Marais shares how she "pantsed" her way through writing her newest novel, A Most Puzzling Murder .  It’s especially impressive because this novel is a complex mystery w...

Send me a Text Message! New York Times bestselling author Chevy Stevens pulls back the curtain on what separates a good thriller from an unforgettable one.  And it might not be what you think.  In this episode, Chevy reveals her unconventional process for crafting antagonists that readers love to hate.  She also shares the exact mindset shift that helped her sustain an eight-book career. If you ar...

Send me a Text Message! Struggling with how to write a thriller that grabs readers immediately?  In this interview, writing expert Daniel David Wallace shares game-changing writing tips for crafting plots that keep readers hooked from page one.  Daniel, creator of the Character First Writing Approach and host of Escape the Plot Forest summit, reveals why traditional plotting advice often fails thr...

Send me a Text Message! What if the setting you choose could be as morally complex as your protagonist?  In this episode, USA Today bestselling author Aaron Philip Clark pulls back the curtain on how he crafts crime fiction that thrills and matters.  Aaron reveals: his process for weaving heavy themes into page-turners without slowing the pace why he writes from a place of frustration and injustic...

Send me a Text Message! What if the tropes you love are actually holding your thriller back?  In this episode, Charlene Wang reveals how she transformed the beloved campus novel into a feminist revenge thriller by strategically subverting genre expectations.  And the results landed her a major book deal.  You'll discover the counterintuitive truth about "wasted" drafts (spoiler: not...

Send me a Text Message! What does it actually take to stand out when a brand-new literary agent opens your thriller query? In this episode, Tommy Dean — associate literary agent at Rosecliff Literary, editor of Fractured Lit and Uncharted Magazine, and award-winning flash fiction writer — shares exactly what he's looking for when he reads your first 10 pages. Tommy brings something rare to ag...

Send me a Text Message! You’re going to love this exclusive conversation with Chantelle Aimée Osman, Senior Editor at Simon & Schuster's new imprint, Simon Maverick.  Chantelle reveals how the publishing industry is evolving to meet indie and hybrid authors where they are.  And why audio is becoming the new frontier that could transform your writing career.  Discover the submission strate...

Send me a Text Message! Tamara Miller's debut thriller INTO THE FALL has launched her career with a two-book publishing contract.  But her path from government policy analyst to published author wasn't built on talent alone.  It was strategic business thinking that made the difference.  In this episode, Tamara Miller reveals the approach that got her agent's immediate attention and...

Send me a Text Message! Literary agent Lori Galvin reveals exactly what makes a query letter irresistible.  She breaks down the specific elements that make agents request materials, and the common mistakes that lead to instant rejections.  Whether you're crafting your first query or your fiftieth, this episode delivers the agent perspective that every fiction writer needs to hear. What You&ap...

Send me a Text Message! Ever wondered why it feels nearly impossible to land a literary agent these days?  In this episode, I had a chat with Vicky Weber, a literary agent, bestselling children's author, and marketing strategist, who pulls back the curtain on the harsh realities facing today's publishing industry.  Vicky reveals why the bar for getting agented has skyrocketed, how agents...

Send me a Text Message! Developmental editor and former literary agent Mary Kole breaks down the exact process that transforms manuscripts from "just okay" to "must-read."  In this episode, you'll learn why most writers approach feedback and revision completely wrong. You’ll discover the important difference between revision and editing.  And you’ll master the "boring...

Send me a Text Message! Former Scholastic editor Shelly Romero just made the leap to literary agent.  And she's spilling the industry secrets most writers never hear.  After eight years of editorial experience and now with an agent's perspective, Shelly reveals… What really happens when agents read your opening pages Why manuscripts need to be more polished than ever The submission mista...

Send me a Text Message! Every thriller, mystery, suspense, and crime writer faces the same dilemma… How do you craft a story that keeps readers turning pages?  In this episode, Julie Tyler Ruiz reveals a simple framework that separates forgettable genre fiction from the stories readers obsess over for years.  You'll discover… How to identify the one central question that must drive your entir...

Send me a Text Message! Liz Alterman joins the podcast to discuss her latest novel, "You Shouldn't Have Done That", and reveals the unconventional strategies that have shaped her successful writing career.  From her unique character development process involving weekly read-aloud sessions to her bold decision to switch from traditional publishing to a nimble indie press offering 99-...

Send me a Text Message! Ever wondered what it's really like behind the scenes of being a literary agent? What You'll Learn in this episode: • Why agents prioritize story over polished prose • The brutal financial reality of the publishing industry • What makes manuscripts stand out in queries Jenna's honesty about the industry might just shift how you approach your writing career. ...

Send me a Text Message! Writing coach April Davila reveals the non-negotiable elements that make first pages irresistible to readers and agents.  Learn why most manuscripts fail in the opening paragraph, discover the strategic approach to character revelation that transforms boring descriptions into magnetic hooks.  Then find out which common opening mistakes instantly kill reader interest.  Plus,...

Send me a Text Message! Storyteller's Society Sneak Peek: This Creative Silos method can make you way more efficient in your writing practice. Creativity coach Cindy Cisneros reveals why traditional productivity advice fails creative writers, her game-changing "Silos" method that stops the destructive cycle of switching between writing and querying, and the "cross-modality&quot...

Send me a Text Message! Your opening page has 30 seconds to hook an agent or it's as good as a rejection. Literary agent Amy Nielsen reveals the cliché openings that kill manuscripts, the scene structure 90% of authors get wrong, and her "General-Specific-Personal" formula that eliminates info-dumping while building irresistible voice. What You'll Learn:   - How to avoid cliché...

Send me a Text Message! Find out more about Eloise here. In this interview, I talk to author Eloise Corvo about her debut novel OFF THE BEATEN PATH. Eloise reveals her practical three-part framework for crafting effective red herrings, which is a vital skill for any thriller, mystery, suspense, or crime fiction writer. You’ll discover essential writing tips for balancing misdirection with reader s...