Thriller 101

Send me a Text Message!Click here to rate and review the podcast!Find out more about Kathleen FoxxBrooke Robinson EpisodeCarleen Geisler EpisodeSign up to be notified when agent submissions reopen!Connect with Kathleen on TwitterConnect with David on TwitterEPISODE INFO:Today, we have another agent interview! I’m so excited to share this conversation with a brand new agent who has a resume that will make you take notice. She gives a masterclass on opening pages!Kathleen Foxx is a new agent at The Rights Factory. She shares some absolutely priceless information for writers.BIO:Kathleen is a new literary agent at The Rights Factory, representing clients from anywhere in the world. She’s also a freelance fiction editor, podcaster, and co-founder/host of #MoodPitch, helping connect writers with agents and publishers around the globe. Kat is most interested in thrillers/suspense, gothic/supernatural horror, light romance and romcom, pre-20th century historical fiction/fantasy, and select nonfiction topics. Her submission guidelines and detailed MSWL can be found at kathleenfoxxagent.com/mswl or on Manuscript Wishlist. 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 rate and review the podcast!Sign up to be notified when agent submissions reopen!Connect with Brooke on TwitterConnect with Brooke on Instagram Connect with David on TwitterEPISODE INFO:The opening of your story is something we talk about a lot on, through their one-on-one and that's because it's so important. It's not just important to get an agent's attention. It's also important to hook and hold on to readers.Luckily, we have a debut author who balanced her opening in a way that I personally think is genius. And she's going to talk all about how she pulled it off.BIO:Today’s guest is Brooke Robinson grew up in Sydney, Australia. She worked as a bookseller, university administrator and playwright in Australia and the UK. For a short time she wrote music reviews and interviewed rock musicians for streetpress magazines in Sydney, and for an even shorter time, considered a career in physics. The Interpreter is her first novel.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!Antagonist ChecklistSign up to be notified when agent submissions reopen!Connect with JM DonellanJM Donellan's YouTubeConnect with David on TwitterEPISODE INFO:In thrillers, (maybe more so than in any other genre) an antagonist has a lot of weight to carry. They have to be believable but ruthless. Dangerous and deadly but also sympathetic. I mean, how much time do we spend on our main characters? If you’re anything like me, you create entire backstories for them. You try to understand their goals, ambitions and needs. And of course you do. You should. But do you do the same for your antagonists? Today’s guest is going to share his 3 secrets for writing unique and memorable antagonists.BIO:J.M. DONELLAN is a writer, musician, poet, and teacher. He was almost devoured by a tiger in the jungles of Malaysia, nearly died of a lung collapse in the Nepalese Himalayas and fended off a pack of rabid dogs with a guitar in the mountains of India. He is the author of the novels A Beginner’s Guide to Dying in India and Killing Adonis (which was nominated for the Kirkus prize). His children’s fantasy novel Zeb and the Great Ruckus was described by one child as ‘the best book ever, but it should have had Dr Who in it.’ He has spoken/performed at the Brisbane Festival, the Sydney Opera House, TEDxBrisbane, World Science Festival, and some very distinguished basements.Aside from novels and poetry he has also written plays, video games, the internationally admired podcast series Six Cold Feet and the dance performance INTER. His latest novels are the gothic mystery Lenore’s Last Funeral and the surreal thriller Rumors of Her Death, the film version of the latter is currently in development with Continuance Pictures. He’s won numerous awards in a range of artistic fields but refuses to list them all here because no one likes a braggart. 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!BONUS: Carleen shares where to put your inciting incident & more!ArticleSign up to be notified when agent submissions reopen!Connect with Carleen on TwitterConnect with Carleen on InstagramConnect with David on TwitterEPISODE INFO:Are you wondering what agents are looking for in submissions? Well this agent is going to talk all about what to include in a summary of your novel AND what you need in those opening pages to catch an agent’s eye.Today’s guest is Carleen Geisler, an associate agent at ArtHouse Literary. She started her own author career as well as an agenting career at ArtHouse Literary. Carleen talks about balance and what to put in your opening pages. She also shares her thoughts on a little twist to your summary that can help grab an agent’s attention. You’re going to love this episode!BIO:Carleen is an associate agent actively building her list of adult fiction authors across contemporary genres. She's also open to nonfiction, and though her list mostly focuses on fiction, she would love to find some unique nonfiction projects to work on too. 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!The 5 Minute Writer Series is designed to help writers save time. James Byrne InterviewAllison Buccola InterviewIt’s a free weekly article that provides ~5 minute summaries of a longer articles, podcasts, videos, or courses. It’s designed to give you the highlights without the fluff so you can gain the knowledge without wasting time. So you can get back to writing! 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!5 Minute WriterArticleSign up to be notified when agent submissions reopen!Connect with JamesConnect with David on Twitter3 BIG TAKEAWAYSDon't get stuck on genre conventionsRevamp your writing routineWrite unique charactersEPISODE INFO:Character voice can make or break a manuscript. And a lot of times, as writers we’re trying to imitate what we see commonly in the genre. Maybe that means moody, angry, or short-tempered characters that fit the tone of our work, But it’s sometimes interesting to flip the script on readers as a way to provide a unique voice. That’s what James Byrne did in his Desmond Limerick novels. And I got the opportunity to ask him about how he develops unique character voices by ignoring common conventions.We talk about so much more than just unique character voice. He also shares about why a top editor told him he needed a prologue, and he gives us his a unique writing process for writing books really fast. All that plus more on this episode of Thriller 101.BIO: Today’s guest is James Byrne, the author of a dozen novels. And, most recently, the second novel in his Desmond Limerick series, which is called DEADLOCK.  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!Learn more about submitting to the Agent ContestListen to the episode about the Agent ContestLiz Alterman InterviewJosh Stallings InterviewBianca Marais InterviewGet 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!Listen to Wednesday's episode with big announcement here!Thriller 101Sinem Gunel: Full InterviewGet 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!Listen to yesterday's episode with big announcement here!Thriller 101Paula MunierLori GalvinThomas MullenWrite like Lisa JewellGet 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!Hey everyone! Today, I'm introducing Thriller 101, the new podcast that will take over for Writerly Lifestyle! Exciting things are happening and I can't wait to tell you all about it!Click here to submit!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