Thriller 101

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

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