Thriller 101

Send me a Text Message!Click here to submit to the Thriller 101 Pitch ContestThriller 101 NewsletterLearn more about Carey Blankenship-KramerConnect with Carey on Twitter (X)Mel Mattison EpisodeConnect with David on TwitterEPISODE INFO:Should you include a theme in your summary? How do agents read queries anyway? And what do you need in your opening to catch an agent’s attention? All this and more on this episode of Thriller 101 where Belcastro literary agent shares all her top tips for hooking a literary agent. BIO:After growing up surrounded by books and people who loved to read them, Carey debut novel, GHOST SCOUTS HONOR, is being published by Scholastic January 2025. And yes, she does have experience with how ghosts have zero respect for personal space. She is currently repped by Sheyla Knigge at High Line Literary Collective.​Carey graduated from Berry College with a dual degree in English and Creative Writing. She later received her master’s in Writing and Digital Communications from Agnes Scott College. She has experience working with both publishing houses and literary agencies and loves her role as Junior Agent at Belcastro Agency. Outside of work and writing, you can usually find Carey spending time with her small zoo and husband, getting way too competitive on the tennis court, gardening, playing video games, or eating candy.  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 Mel MattisonConnect with Mel on Twitter (X)Ash Clifton EpisodeConnect with David on TwitterEPISODE INFO:If you want to learn how to effectively introduce characters to your readers, you’re going to love today’s guest.Mattison talks about finding a big idea that will carry you through a novel. And often those ideas come from two or three ideas mashed together. You'll hear that in Mattison's story of how he came up with the idea for his novel, QUOZ.Writers often talk about how best to introduce a character but in a lot of ways less is more. In today's episode, we hear how to create concise character descriptions to keep readers engaged without overloading them with character descriptionBIO:Mel Mattison is a writer and financial services veteran. Leveraging over twenty years’ experience in the realm of high finance, he brings real-world authenticity to his fictional narratives. Mel holds an MBA from Duke University and studied creative writing at Loyola University Chicago.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 Ash CliftonConnect with Ash on Twitter (X)Lisa Unger EpisodeConnect with David on TwitterEPISODE INFO:How much backstory is too much backstory? Can there be any backstory at all? I mean, your characters have to have something going on…right? But what does that look like? Luckily, Ash Clifton is here to help us with that and so much more!BIO:Ash Clifton was raised in Gainesville, Florida, where he attended the university and got a B.A. in English. He then earned an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Arizona. His short fiction has appeared in The Missouri Review, The Massachusetts Review, Cutthroat: A Journal of the Arts, and StepAway Magazine. His debut novel, Twice the Trouble, is forthcoming from Crooked Lane Books on March 5, 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!Click here to submit to the Thriller 101 Pitch ContestThriller 101 NewsletterLearn more about Lisa UngerConnect with Lisa on Twitter (X)Sandy Lu EpisodeConnect with David on TwitterEPISODE INFO:Do you want to write characters with as much depth as a New York Times and international bestselling author? Today, we’re going to hear how Lisa Unger writes the kinds of characters that feel so incredibly real. This episode contains advice and a mindset around character development that I’ve never heard before. It might change how you think about writing your characters.BIO:LISA UNGER is a New York Times and internationally bestselling author of twenty novels, including Confessions on the 7:45and Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six. An award-winning and acclaimed writer with millions of readers worldwide, Lisa is widely regarded as a master of suspense. Her books are published in thirty-three languages and have been voted "Best of the Year" or top picks by the Today show, Good Morning America, Entertainment Weekly, Amazon, IndieBound and many others. In 2019, her novel Under My Skin and her short story "The Sleep Tight Motel" were both nominated for the prestigious Edgar Award. Her nonfiction work has appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NPR and Travel + Leisure. Lisa lives on the west coast of Florida with her family. 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 Sandy LuConnect with Sandy on Twitter (X)Vera Kurian EpisodeConnect with David on TwitterEPISODE INFO:If you’re hoping to sign with your agent this year, you’re going to love this episode today. We’re going to dive deep into a fantastic submission to the Thriller 101 podcast! And my guest is going to share so many tips you’re going to want to pay close attention with this one. If your goal is to land a literary agent as soon as possible, then this will be one of the most valuable things you do for your writing career this week.BIO:Sandy Lu founded Book Wyrm Literary Agency in 2020 after working as a literary agent for more than a decade at other boutique agencies, most recently the L. Perkins Agency. Her client list includes Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Publishers Weekly, USA Today, and The New York Times bestsellers, Anthony Award, Hammett Prize, and Stoker Award nominees, Goodreads Choice Awards finalists, and New York Times Best of the Year recipient.Born and raised in Taiwan, Sandy immigrated to the United States when she was sixteen and has lived in New York ever since. She holds BAs in psychology and sociology from Queens College, with minors in music, business, and Japanese.  Prior to becoming an agent, she worked in various business positions in the theater industry. Her areas of study and work experience greatly inform her interest in submissions.  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 Vera KurianVera Kurian SubstackJason Powell EpisodeConnect with David on TwitterEPISODE INFO:You know when people say that the setting became like it’s own character? And you sit there thinking…how do I make readers feel like that?Well Vera Kurian is going to give us some advice on how she absolutely crushed the setting of her new novel A STEP PAST DARKNESS out now. I read an advanced reader copy for this one and, seriously, this is going to be one of those books people talk about for years to come..Go grab a copy. You won’t be disappointed. But before you go buy her book, she’s going to teach us how to write a setting as epic and all-encompassing as hers.BIO:Vera Kurian is a writer and scientist based in Washington DC. Her debut novel, NEVER SAW ME COMING (Park Row Books, 2021) was an Edgar Award nominee, was named one of the New York Times’ Best Thrillers of 2021, and has sold in 15 countries. A STEP PAST DARKNESS, is out now. She has a PhD in Social Psychology, where she studied intergroup relations, ideology, and quantitative methods. You can find her on Substack or InstagramGet 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 Jason PowellElle Grawl EpisodeConnect with David on TwitterEPISODE INFO: If you want the kind of opening that gets an agent's attention, you'll want to listen to what Jason Powell has to say.The opening for his novel, No Man's Ghost opening might be the most unique one I’ve covered on the podcast and Jason will share why he thinks it works so well. Plus, the slight change he made with his agent to make it even stronger.BIO:Jason Powell is an Author and New York City Firefighter. When he isn't at the firehouse or at a desk, he can be found in the city with his back pack filled with snacks, water, a notebook and a novel. Born the youngest of 9 kids, his household of eleven people taught him to appreciate alone time and sweet escapes. He has found there is no better place to escape to than in between the covers of a book. 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 ContestConnect with Elle GrawlLast time I talked to Elle GrawlTori Westminster EpisodeConnect with David on TwitterEPISODE INFO:If all you’re doing is writing a thriller the way they used to be written, you might be missing out on some untapped potential. I’ve been reading a lot of thrillers recently that have some extra, added elements that work toward building tension. My guest today is going to share the two she used in her most recent novel and why she chose them.If you want to level-up your writing and stand out in your query, you're going to love this interview today.BIO:Elle Grawl is a lawyer and author of ONE OF THOSE FACES and WHAT STILL BURNS. After obtaining her B.A. in English Literature, she took a detour into law before returning to her love of writing. Her lifelong interest in true crime and experiences as an attorney have provided her with plenty of writing material. Elle enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband and their two dogs.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!Download the Official Thriller 101 Hook Checklist HereGet 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!Refer 3 Friends for Query Letter and Pages FeedbackConnect with T.C. Westminster Grab your copy of THE HOSTNatasha C. Sass EpisodeConnect with David on TwitterEPISODE INFO:The words “author platform” can make any writer roll their eyes. However, it’s also one of those important aspects of being a writer that isn’t much about actually being a writer. Luckily, today’s guest makes author platforms fun! So if you want to improve the quality and quantity of your author platform this year, there’s a simple framework my guest today used to get more than 20k followers on social media. And honestly, it’s way simpler than I expected it to be.Tori’s new novel, THE HOST, is out now. It’s a phenomenal thriller that I’ll let her talk about, but it’s one of those books that gets under your skin and you just can’t seem to get it out. She also shares the harrowing story of how the book came to be, and her method of finding the right kind of followers on social media.BIO:Some of Tori Westminster’s closest author friends joke that she lives in a bunker, much like the one in her book, THE HOST. She doesn't often leave the house because she lives with chronic illness and a neurological disorder that involve extended periods of intense pain. During those periods, she has learned to distract herself with stories. These stories and characters have kept her spirits up when her body failed her.Outside of writing, she’s homeschooled her gifted children and do her best to keep up with her adventuring family despite her physical limitations. They're even willing to cart her around the wilderness in a wheelchair when necessary, so she doesn’t miss out. They go the extra mile for an experience.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