Thriller 101

Send me a Text Message!Thriller 101 NewsletterLearn more about Dr. Leslie Dobson Alex Kenna EpisodeConnect with David on TwitterEPISODE INFO:Dr. Leslie Dobson is not my typical guest on Thriller 101. But when I say she delivered for the writing community, I mean it. By the end of this episode you’ll have a better sense of how to build character motivation—and why it might be just as important to think about your audience as about your character, how to navigate themes of mental illness, and so much more!BIO:Dr. Leslie Dobson is a licensed clinical and forensic psychologist in California. She has over 20 years of psychology experience. She has worked in maximum security settings with individuals who committed violent felonies and were found to have a severe mental illness. Over the past three years, Dr. Dobson has primarily focused on civil law. She is an expert in psychological evaluations to determine the truth. Through a variety of assessment measures, she determines the truthfulness of claims regarding emotional distress, especially sexual abuse allegations. In her clinical practice, she focuses on trauma, and also empowering clients to set interpersonal boundaries. Dr. Leslie spent years with psychopaths, and she is passionate about educating and empowering clients, especially women, to live their best life and set boundaries with toxic people, preserving their energy. Dr. Dobson’s first book, The Friend Cleanse: How to identify energy vampires, set boundaries & balance your glass of life, will be published on January 1, 2024. 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!Thriller 101 NewsletterPitch Your Article to Thriller 101Learn more about Alex Kenna Roxie Key EpisodeViviana Vasiu's article: 3 Agent Offers in 48 DaysConnect with David on TwitterEPISODE INFO:I firmly believe that quality thrillers, mystery, suspense, and crime fiction use this technique where there’s tension in the main plot (or what I call the professional plot). This is the dead body or missing person plot line that is omnipresent in these genres.But the thing that differentiates really great stories is that there’s also this running tension in the main character’s personal life that makes them feel more real. This has to be done well, though. And that’s what we’re talking about today.In this episode, you’ll learn about how Alex balanced the personal and professional tension in her story, and how she developed the kind of backstory necessary to keep that tension high and keep readers on the edge of their seats throughout the entirety of her novel. That way you’ll be able to apply it to your story.BIO:Alex Kenna is a mystery writer, prosecutor, and amateur painter based in Los Angeles.  Her first novel, WHAT MEETS THE EYE, was a 2023 Shamus Award Finalist for best first P.I. novel. Her second novel, BURN THIS NIGHT, is coming November 2024.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!Thriller 101 NewsletterPitch Your Article to Thriller 101Learn more about Roxie KeyDaniel Hurst EpisodeEloise Corvo's article: Turning a Standalone Mystery into the First in a SeriesConnect with David on TwitterEPISODE INFO:How should you start your novel? Should you have a prologue? Should you jump right into the action? Or spend time with the characters? Today’s guest is going to talk us through the how and why she started her novel the way she did. And I have to tell you, it might be her debut novel, but she knocked this out of the park. BIO:Roxie Key lives in Northampton, UK, with her wife and daughter. Currently working as a creative copywriter for a global brand, Roxie has a degree in creative writing and an unhealthy obsession with crime thrillers. Roxie’s debut thriller, The Deadly Spark, is a dark, compelling crime novel about the fallout after a deadly house fire, perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Jane Casey and Clare Mackintosh. Published by HQ, an imprint of HarperCollins, it's available in paperback, ebook and audiobook.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!Thriller 101 NewsletterThriller 101 Agent Pitch ContestLearn more about Daniel Hurst Michelle Jackson EpisodeJody Wenner's "On Brand "articleConnect with David on TwitterEPISODE INFO:By the end of today’s episode you’ll understand Why Daniel decided to go from self-publishing to working with an independent pressHis writing processYou’ll have a better understanding of how he writes the kinds of clear, compelling hooks that make readers buy his novels. He shares the biggest reasoning behind his decision to sign with a publisher.BIO:Daniel Hurst was born in the northwest of England, a part of the world famous for its comedians, pasties and terrible weather. He has been employed in several glamorous roles in his lifetime, including bartending, shelf stacking and procurement administration, all while based in some of the most exotic places on the planet, like Bolton, Preston and South London. Since following his lifelong passion for writing in 2020, he has amassed a loyal and devoted set of readers, and regularly has several books in the top 100 of the Psychological Thriller Charts on Amazon. His title The Passenger became the #1 selling psychological thriller in the UK in October 2021, and his bestselling book to date is his title The Doctor’s Wife, which topped the Amazon UK Kindle Chart on February 16th 2023. He remembers that date because he stayed up all night celebrating. 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!Thriller 101 NewsletterThriller 101 Agent Pitch ContestLearn more about Michelle Z. Jackson as an agentLearn more about Michelle Z. Jackson as an author Heather Levy EpisodeConnect with David on TwitterEPISODE INFO:If you’re hoping to land an agent this year, you’re going to love this conversation with Michelle. We talk about:Connecting your pitch to your openingHow to maintain tensionThe benefits of active voice,What agents look for in a submissionAnd what makes them pass on a project.BIO:Michelle Z. Jackson represents books that evoke heartfelt emotions and fervent conversations among its readers. Her mission is to mentor and develop authors, particularly those from underrepresented communities, and help them build a brand of quality and authentic reads.Originally from Jamaica, West Indies, she is now a literary agent with LCS Literary. She began her agenting career as an intern and then a Literary Associate with Olswanger Literary.  She is also a published author and has earned educational degrees from New York University, SUNY at StonyBrook, Teachers College Columbia University and Argosy University. She is a member of AALA and SCBWI. 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!Thriller 101 NewsletterWant to Hear More about a Thriller Community? Learn more about Heather LevyCatherine Mack EpisodeConnect with David on TwitterEPISODE INFO:Should you be writing characters first? Or maybe you should develop your plot? How do you write books with multiple timelines? Do you write them chronologically? Or linearly in relation to the thread of the story? Heather Levy is going to cover all this and more!Plus, she struck up a really interesting debate and I’m curious about your take!BIO:Heather Levy is a born and bred Oklahoman and graduate of Oklahoma City University’s Red Earth MFA program for creative writing. The New York Times called her Anthony-nominated debut Walking Through Needles “a spellbinding novel at the nexus of power, desire, and abuse that portends a bright future” and the L.A. Times called it “a standout for its frank but sensitive exploration of trauma and desire.” Publisher’s Weekly says her thriller Hurt for Me “delivers both heat and heart.” Her novels focus on kink-positive stories centered around badass women. She lives in Oklahoma with her husband, two kids, and three murderous cats. Readers can follow her on X and IG @heatherllevy or on her website at www.heatherlevywriter.com  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!Thriller 101 NewsletterSubmit an Article to Thriller 101Learn more about Catherine MackMatt Shao EpisodeConnect with David on TwitterEPISODE INFO:We’ve all had those moments where we wonder if it’s time to take on something new with our writing. Something bolder or more daring. Maybe it’s a new genre, new point of view, different structure or something else entirely. Well imagine if, by making that brave choice, you absolutely nail it. My guest today did just that. And she pulled it off so well that the NYT reviewed her book.BIO:CATHERINE MACK (she/her) is the pseudonym for the USA Today and Globe & Mail bestselling author of over a dozen novels. Her books are approaching two million copies sold worldwide and have been translated into multiple languages including French, German, Portuguese, and Polish. Television rights to Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies and its forthcoming sequels sold in a major auction to Fox TV for development into a series, with Mack writing the pilot script. A dual Canadian and US citizen, she splits her time between Canada and various warmer locations in the US. 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!Click here to submit to the Thriller 101 Pitch ContestThriller 101 NewsletterLearn more about M.E. ShaoEllie Monago EpisodeConnect with David on TwitterEPISODE INFO:On the Thriller 101 podcast, we hear a lot from authors who are published. I also get the opportunity to share writers who are submitting to agents through the Thriller 101 pitch contest.However, it's rare that we get to hear from someone who's in the middle of that publishing process.. My guest today has signed with an indie press and his book comes out in 2024, but he's in the process of editing and revising before the book can go to publication.  This is an interesting perspective that, honestly, as writers, we can learn a lot from and we don't hear enough about.BIO:Born in Baltimore, MD, Matt Shao, who writes under the pen name M.E. Shao, grew up in a suburb of Music City in what was then a very small town called Mount Juliet, TN. He attended the local public high school before being recruited to play baseball at nearby Nashville’s Vanderbilt University. Graduating in Spring of 2009 with a degree in Economics and Corporate Strategy, he still carries the life lessons and influence inspired by legendary college ball coach Tim Corbin. Matt first began writing in August of 2015, immediately following the loss of his beloved mother, Elizabeth Louise. His debut work, a science fiction novel entitled "Continuity", was published in April 2016, and was followed by a sequel called “Continuity: Coalescence” two years later. The two books have since been compiled into one installment as the first in what will become a series, and is scheduled for release in December of 2024 care of Wild Ink Publishing, LLC.Matt’s writing portfolio includes columns & short stories for newspapers, published poetry, business copy, and more. His freely available content can be found on his website, howtheworldshouldwork. 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!Click here to submit to the Thriller 101 Pitch ContestThriller 101 NewsletterLearn more about Ellie MonagoMichelle Glogovac EpisodeConnect with David on TwitterEPISODE INFO:There are more avenues to publication now than there have ever been. Whether it’s publishing by partnering with a literary agent, or small or independent publishers, or even self-publishing, there’s so many ways to get your book out there. Which way is the best? Well, today we’re going to hear from an author with a variety of publishing backgrounds. That way you can decide what’s right for you.BIO:Ellie Monago is a novelist and practicing therapist. She moved from California to Canada three years ago with her family. Her novel, THE CUSTODY BATTLE, was just released, and a related novel called THE DIVORCE LAWYER is available for pre-order now and comes out in May. Ellie also writes under the name Holly BrownGet 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!Click here to submit to the Thriller 101 Pitch ContestThriller 101 NewsletterLearn more about Michelle GlogovacConnect with Michelle on Twitter (X)Connect with Michelle on InstagramLearn more about the MLG CollectiveCarey Blankenship-Kramer EpisodeConnect with David on TwitterEPISODE INFO:Have you ever thought about being a guest on a podcast? It’s never to early to build your author platform. And in today’s episode my guest is going to talk about why you should want to be on a podcast as a writer and author, and how to do it.Today’s guest is something a little bit different than my normal interviews but I had the chance to talk to Michelle and I couldn’t be more excited.So whether you’re planning on being on podcasts this year or it’s in the future plans to happen for you at some point, you’re going to love this episode.BIO:Michelle Glogovac is THE Podcast MatchmakerTM, an award- winning publicist, host of the My Simplified Life podcast and author of How To Get On Podcasts (McGraw Hill, 2024). Michelle is working with clients who make an impact by defining their stories and matching them with the perfect podcasts. She has helped entrepreneurs, authors, nonprofits and advocates hone their storytelling abilities, grow their businesses, and elevate themselves as thought leaders on over 1,000 podcasts. Michelle is a sought-after speaker in this niche and has presented to thousands of publicists and groups on how to not only perfectly pitch a podcast but to create marketing content from every interview. She has coached 14,000 authors through the process of creating and launching a podcast book tour through the Nonfiction Writers Association.Michelle is a wife, mom of two, stepmom of two, and a fur mom. She has her B.A. and M.S. in Law, and is the Founder + CEO of The MLG Collective®. Michelle resides in the Bay Area and is a sushi lover. 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