Writers, Ink: Your backstage pass to the world's most prolific authors

One secret. Eight cryptic words. Lifetimes of ruin. In his latest novel, I Am Not Who You Think I Am , Eric Rickstad uses vivid personal memories and intentionally constructed settings to create a gripping thriller tale. Rickstad is a NYT and international bestseller well known for his Canaan series, which includes stories like The Names of Dead Girls and Lie in Wait . To order I Am Not Who You Th...

Nicholas Sparks has become one of the most prolific and successful authors of our generation. Beginning with The Notebook, Sparks has had multiple New York Times Bestsellers and countless film adaptations. He has generated legions of adoring fans who delight in his version of the modern love story, which he discusses in this bonus episode of Writers, Ink. From Amazon.com: Nicholas Sparks is one of...

Writing icon Kevin J Anderson creates his stories through a unique medium: dictation. By drafting through dictation instead of typing, he both produces ideas naturally without the stress of grammatically picking apart each sentence and easily comes up with casual, believable dialogue. Anderson has been in the writing industry for over thirty years and has written with all kinds of artistic legends...

In this monthly q & a session, the guys answer listener questions. Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business - editing, formatting,...

Father-and-son team Jon and Jesse Kellerman know a few things about the collaborative writing process. By discussing story ideas months in advance, creating long, detailed outlines, and regularly scheduling time to meet in-person or on Zoom, the two are able to work together to masterfully craft stories. The Kellermans are both bestselling authors who have been in the industry for many years. Jon...

Join returning guest Hugh Howey as he talks about the complex, multifaceted process of having his bestselling sci-fi novel, Wool , adapted for TV and addresses the concerns and realizations he’s had along the way. Hugh is a NYT bestselling author who has published his work in over 40 countries and has won critical acclaim for his three serialized works: Wool , Silo , and Sand . For news on the Woo...

Legendary writer Joyce Carol Oates is a master of blending the lines of genre. In her most recent anthology, Night Neon , she employs eerily multidimensional characters, elements of hallucination and memory loss, and a unique blend of literary and genre fiction to develop gripping, unsuspecting horror stories. Oates, a staple in the writing industry, released her first short story, Where Are You G...

In this monthly q & a session, the guys answer listener questions. Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business - editing, formatting,...

Adapted from Stephen King’s “Jerusalem’s Lot”, Chapelwaite is a true gothic horror tale. Throughout the television series, the Filardi brothers use elements of slow-burning suspense, specific dialogue choices, and world-changing decisions to bring Captain Charles Boone and the strange town of Preacher’s Corners, Maine to life. Peter and Jason Filardi are both accomplished screenwriters who’ve work...

A thrilling blend of fiction, true crime, and memoir-- in his latest novel, Chasing the Boogeyman , NYT bestseller Richard Chizmar utilizes real childhood memories, urban legends, and cleverly constructed add-ons and external media to craft a story so intense and believable it has readers thinking the crimes legitimately took place. Richard has been published in over fifteen languages and is well...

Whether he’s releasing a new book or a new blog post, bestseller Chuck Wendig pushes himself to “just do it.” By drafting each story using a different, unorthodox outlining process or resisting the urge to drop a current project to pursue a new one, he seeks to deviate away from what is most comfortable in favor of producing his best work. Chuck has been in the industry for over two decades and is...

A tale of two sisters rediscovering a troubled past-- in her latest novel, False Witness , international bestseller Karin Slaughter uses the real complexities of childhood trauma to develop rounder, more interesting characters while paying special attention to the accurate representation of traumatized individuals so that the story feels realistic and relatable. A bestseller of over 35 million cop...

In this monthly q & a session, the guys answer listener questions. Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business - editing, formatting,...

A girl, a killer, a car-- the premise for bestseller Riley Sager’s latest novel, Survive the Night , feels dauntingly simple, but by focusing on solid character development and intense dialogue while omitting needless setting changes and extra characters, he allows the simple brilliance of the story’s concept to shine through. Riley, a returning guest on the podcast, is the international bestselle...

NYT Bestseller Grady Hendrix is a master of voicing his comedic ideas in an unexpected genre: horror. By focusing on timing and relevancy and making sure to meticulously revise, he’s able to write jokes that are appropriately placed and contribute to the feel of the story instead of subtracting from it. Hendrix is best known for Horrorstör , a thrilling haunted house story which is currently being...

Bestseller T.J. Newman has proven that you can write in any situation given enough dedication. Not only did she write her debut novel, Falling , on a notepad while working long hours as a flight attendant, but also pushed through over forty rejections before landing a publishing deal. Falling , Newman’s first and only novel about a perilous mid-flight decision, has won critical acclaim from the li...

In this monthly q & a session, the guys answer listener questions. Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business - editing, formatting,...

Bestseller Jasmin Darznik knows there are few things more important to an author than finding the right group of people to bounce ideas off of. Especially for newer writers, finding a good writing workshop is one of the quickest and most productive ways to uncover self confidence, improve story structure, and build a strong, supportive writing community. Jasmin has been a published author for over...

All-time great James Patterson knows how to make readers stop and think about what he’s put on the page. Whether he’s writing with former president Bill Clinton or JD, he uses personal experiences, relatable conflicts, and characters who are misunderstood or overlooked to turn ideas into stories that excite and challenge perspectives. Patterson is the bestselling author with 147 published novels,...

Dana Kaye knows the importance of building your public image as an author. By maintaining a balance between publicity and marketing, presenting a consistent brand or persona, and making an effort to establish oneself in their local community, authors can see a sizable increase in interested readers and new writing opportunities and connections. Dana has been in the industry for over a decade, work...

Kathrin Hutson is a master ghost writer. By sticking to a set writing schedule, learning to be comfortable with less creative control, and negotiating deals with clients and publishers, she’s able to pump out four books a month, earning income and valuable writing experience all while publishing her own books on the side. Kathrin has been in the industry for over two decades and is well known for...

In this monthly q & a session, the guys answer listener questions. Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business - editing, formatting,...

Justine Bateman has done it all and doesn’t plan on slowing down anytime soon. In her new book, Face: One Square Inch of Skin , she addresses irrational fear cycles, like the aging of one’s face leading to missed friendships or job opportunities, and instead introduces a healthy way of deconstructing and understanding these fears. Justine first gained popularity for her role as Mallory Keaton on 8...

Josh Malerman makes his second appearance on the show to talk about writing his new novella collection, Goblin . With this format, he’s been able to focus on exploring multiple tones and characterizing the setting itself through different characters while sticking to a central theme throughout the novellas. Malerman is a bestselling author who won international acclaim with his debut novel, Bird B...

Bestseller Andy Weir has made a special effort to make the characters in his latest release, Project Hail Mary , as rounded out as possible. By working off of past criticism, like the need to avoid writing characters based on his own personality and focus on relatability while including reasonable flaws, he has both increased the depth of his characters and consequently strengthened his story arc....