The Thriller Writer Lab

What happens when a horror-thriller author refuses to rewrite? In this episode, Thomas Stewart joins host Mark P.J. Nadon to discuss his novel Allison’s Tears, a ghost story written in just three months — every sentence deliberate, every emotion intentional. They talk about writing through instinct, finding empathy in fear, and why giving villains depth makes them even more terrifying. The Thrille...

Author Melissa Roos joins me to talk about Tennessee Wishes — a romantic-suspense set in Nashville where a dream, a spark, and a shadowy crime wave collide. We get into how she writes from instinct as a self-described pantser, why the opening took several passes to finally “click,” how beta feedback shaped the book, and the choices behind a grumpy, coffee-fueled detective and a memorable K-9 who f...

Spy Girls is a gripping spy thriller with assassins, pursuit and resilience. A CIA action officer is released from prison. A Chief Justice is murdered, and the Law Society is scrutinizing Jade Thyme’s conduct. Jade’s life can’t get much worse until she is coerced into finding an elusive double agent. Tangled in lies and political agendas, high speed chases and sticky bombs, can Jade outplay a dang...

Caribbean Harvest is a high-stakes international thriller about drugs, politics, and pursuit. When El Chapo sets his sights on Cuba as the next hub for his empire, Wolf and Parker must use their mix of military and law enforcement skills to stop him before the island becomes another Afghanistan. With Mexican law enforcement, the U.S. president, and ruthless cartel forces all in play, the chase bec...

Cartel Hunter is a vigilante justice thriller about family, morality, and survival. When Air Force pararescueman Jason Mulder returns home after his brother’s murder, he’s forced to confront a ruthless cartel hiding in Arizona’s vast pine forests. With training, grit, and unlikely allies, Jason takes the fight to those who threaten his family, but always on his own moral terms. In this episode of...

Blunt Force is a high-octane action thriller about espionage, betrayal, and survival. When investigative journalists expose corruption on a global scale, the Trigger Man, Mark Pierce, is tasked with protecting them from elite kill teams sent by Syrian and Russian intelligence. From Spain to Luxembourg to Iceland’s frozen wilderness, Pierce battles assassins and uncovers a conspiracy that strikes c...

Every Fall is a chilling psychological thriller about police culture, family trauma, and the thin line between reality and haunting. After tragedy strikes on the job, Jake’s spiral of guilt and grief leaves Bree isolated and haunted in her own home. To protect her children, she must face the one person she thought would always keep them safe. In this episode of The Thriller Pitch Podcast, Angela D...

The Award winning novel Deadly Vision is a medical thriller about Dr. Taylor Abrahms, a pioneer in medical virtual reality whose groundbreaking Virtual Heart Project becomes the target of political sabotage, scientific rivalry, and murder as a presidential election looms. In this episode of The Thriller Pitch Podcast, T.D. Severin and I talk about how the idea first came to him in 1994 while resea...

The Devil’s Eye is an adventure thriller about a lost alchemist’s notebook that surfaces at a London auction and sparks a high-stakes race across Europe. CIA operatives Ridley Samaras and Booker Douglas must decipher its codes and track down a mystical relic before a ruthless billionaire uses it to seize ultimate power. In this episode of The Thriller Pitch Podcast, Ox Devere and I talk about how...

Power Surge is a vigilante thriller about CC Crane, a 52-year-old ad executive who targets sexual predators, only to draw the attention of a violent male-supremacist group that threatens her daughter and her own survival. In this episode of The Thriller Pitch Podcast, Lizzie and I talk about how the story idea grew out of a male-supremacist hate group targeting her daughter’s work, the different c...

The Dollhouse is a dark psychological thriller about siblings Angel and Bud, captives in a place where a madman’s cruel games decide who lives and who dies. In this episode of The Thriller Pitch Podcast, author Sara Ennis shares the inspiration behind The Dollhouse and its connection to an Idaho abduction, her lifelong love of storytelling, and how she comes up with her plot ideas. Sara Ennis' boo...

Inside Outside is a tense domestic thriller about two women—Leslie and Selena—trapped by secrets, obligation, and the pressure to appear fine when nothing really is. In this episode of The Thriller Pitch Podcast, author Fay Arcand talks about the her experience with the muse and how it shaped this novel, the joy of writing by the seat of your pants, and her background in criminal justice. Faye Arc...

Metal Spies is a fast-moving action-thriller about a conman fronting a metal band—and getting blackmailed into stopping a billionaire’s plot against the U.S. In this episode of The Thriller Pitch Podcast, author Cole Chase talks about where the idea came from, how his tech background influences his storytelling, and some of the research involved in his books. We talk about: - His daughters influen...

Tokyo Black is an action thriller about a betrayed CIA operative forced into a dangerous new mission in Japan. In this episode of The Thriller Pitch Podcast, international bestselling author Andrew Warren shares the inspiration behind Thomas Caine, how he explored Tokyo virtually and on foot to build the setting, and the surprising bit of pop culture that sparked a key plot device. We talk about:...

The Cemetery Spot is a psychological thriller about two sisters bound by blood—and a secret that could destroy them both. In this episode of The Thriller Pitch Podcast, author Jenna Moquin shares how the story took shape from a NaNoWriMo draft, why she chose to center it on two sisters, and how she tightened the plot by cutting scenes that slowed the pace. We talk about: Writing sibling dynamics i...

Welcome to The Thriller Pitch Podcast, where thriller authors pitch their stories and we dig into the why behind the words. Each episode starts with a sharp, compelling pitch from a thriller author, followed by a relaxed conversation about the characters, themes, and what inspired the book. It’s fast, honest, and designed to help readers find their next great read. Support the show & get a fre...