Suspense, Pacing, and Plot Twists with New York Times Bestselling Thriller Author Andrea Bartz

My guest today on CREATIVE. INSPIRED. HAPPY is Andrea Bartz, New York Times Bestselling thriller author. Her books have been a Reese’s Book Club pick, a Good Morning America Bonus Buzz pick, and a Marie Claire book club pick; one of them was optioned by Mila Kunis and another is in production at Netflix.

Andi’s latest thriller, The Last Ferry Out, is out next week.

Today, we talk about:

* who Andi considers the “greats” of thriller writing

* what she learned from being a Reese’s Book Club pick and how it changed the trajectory of her career

* understanding the market and how reader feedback might affect what to write

* tricks for building suspense and managing pacing, in any kind of fiction

* clear definitions of a “reveal” and a “twist” and why they're different,

* using Substack as a way to connect with other writers,

* and so much more.

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Want more of Andi?

You can find Andi on Substack, Instagram, and her website.

The Last Ferry Out will be out next week (May 20, 2025) and available in bookstores everywhere or from your favorite online retailer!

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