The Thriller Zone David Temple

On today’s 183rd episode of The Thriller Zone we’ve a special treat. If you’re a fan of Thriller & Crime Fiction, then you’ve no doubt heard of The Real Book Spy. Well, today we sit down with Ryan Steck to discuss his latest thriller OUT FOR BLOOD.

This latest entry picks up where the last Matthew Redd thriller left off…with one exception. Redd’s danger is deeper. And the read is not only longer, but richer in scope. Yeah, it’s a good one! 

On today's show Ryan and I discuss a whole plethora of items like OUT FOR BLOOD, plus his first two thrillers, you'll also hear Ryan and I discuss a few things about New York Times Bestselling Author Jack Carr. We discuss in depth the process of writing substantial thrillers, learn about Ryan’s home life which involves no less than 11 mouths to feed, we cover a bit of Thrillerfest, and we hear about how Ryan got his start as The Real Book Spy. All is all, it’s a fully-packed hour of all things Thriller Fiction, with Real Book Spy Ryan Steck.
Learn more about Ryan and his Real Book Spy World at RyanSteck.com
Last thing before I sign off: A reminder that this is our Anniversary Month, and how we're excited to also welcome New York Times Bestselling Author MEG GARDINER on June 10th, where we'll cover her latest in the UNSUB Series, SHADOWHEART!
Then, the following week, the 17th to be exact, I’ll let you in on a closely held secret. Recall my very first guest…the person who took a chance talking to a then-yet-mostly-unknown podcast host of a little-startup pod called The Thriller Zone? If not, it was May Cobb. Well, she’s promised to return to celebrate our THREE YEAR ANNIVERSARY, as we discuss her latest thriller THE HOLLYWOOD ASSISTANT. 
So, do yourself a favor, and add Meg Gardiner’s book SHADOWHEART and May Cobb’s HOLLYWOOD ASSISTANT to your Summer Reading lists, as you’ll want to devour both of them.

Join us again soon for another exciting edition of TheThrillerZone.com … Your Front Row Seat to the Best Thriller Writers in the World.

The Story Factory is an entertainment company representing some of the best authors in the business.

On today's 182nd episode of The Thriller Zone, host David Temple interviews #1 International bestselling author John Katzenbach about his book Jack's Boys. 
They discuss the nature of storytelling in thrillers and the importance of creating complete and psychologically attuned characters. Katzenbach also shares how his experience as a criminal court reporter influenced his fiction writing. John also talks about growing up in the shadow of his father, former US Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach, and how it shaped his perspective on government and history. 
The conversation touches on various topics, including the making of three of John's books that were made into the movies: THE MEAN SEASON, starring Kurt Russell and Mariel Hemingway, JUST CAUSE, starring Sean Connery, Laurence Fishburne and Ed Harris; and HART'S WAR, starring Bruce Willis and Colin Farrell.
David and John discuss other topics such as the impact of climate change in Miami, some of their favorite movies and movie stars, plus the inspiration behind the story, Jack's Boys, the importance of accuracy in thrillers, and the differences in reader reactions across different cultures.
Finally, the two men touch on the use of references to music and films in Katzenbach's writing, and their conversation ends with Katzenbach sharing his advice for writers.
Learn more at JohnKatzenbach.com, TheThrillerZone.com and be sure to subscribe to YouTube.com/thethrillerzone, as well as follow this podcast on X, Instagram and Facebook @thethrillerzone.


The Story Factory is an entertainment company representing some of the best authors in the business.

On today's 181st episode of The Thriller Zone, host David Temple interviews New York Times Bestselling author Eric Rickstad about his book "Lilith."
Lilith explores the theme of school shootings and the emotional impact on the victims and their families. Mr. Rickstad discusses his background as a writer and the influences that shaped his storytelling style. He also shares his thoughts on writing series versus standalone novels and the challenges of addressing previous events in a series.
The conversation delves into the inspiration behind Lilith and the societal issues it addresses, including gun violence and the politicization of tragedies.
In this episode, Temple talks to Eric about the themes of gun violence, mental health, and the role of women in society. Rickstad explains how the character of Lilith, the first wife of Adam, serves as a metaphor for women's struggle for autonomy and the myth of violence in America.
Rickstad wraps by sharing his writing advice, emphasizing the importance of consistency and trusting the creative process.
To order your copy of Lilith, and to learn more about Rick, visit: Rickstad.com
As always, be sure to join The Thriller Zone Podcast via our website: TheThrillerZone.com, FOLLOW us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook @thethrillerzone. You can also listen to the podcast on ALL Podcast Channels, as well as watch the show on YouTube.com/thethrillerzone

The Story Factory is an entertainment company representing some of the best authors in the business.

On today’s 180th episode of The Thriller Zone, host David Temple interviews film director and debut author James Cox about his breakout hit novel, Grand Theft AI. 

The conversation covers Cox's background in directing, his influences, and the process of writing the book. They discuss the cyberpunk landscape of the story, the immersive technology called Wetwire, and the future history of the world. 

Cox also shares his passion for detail and authenticity in science fiction and the blending of reality and fiction in his work, and shares how he explores the themes of artificial intelligence (AI), human-machine interaction, the impact of AI on labor, and the ownership and control of AI technology. 

David and James discuss the novel, which focuses on people trying to navigate a world that has been accelerated by AI, and emphasize how the fear of AI rising up and the idea of machines becoming self-aware and human-like are intriguing. 

The conversation concludes with the importance of relationships in thrillers, the role of music in storytelling, and the challenges of building an online presence as a writer.
Thank you for following TheThrillerZone.com and for subscribing to our YouTube.com/thethrillerzone

(00:03) - Introduction
(06:34) - Meeting Shane Salerno
(18:20) - Inspiration for Grand Theft AI
(21:54) - The Process of Writing
(25:30) - Evolution into a Novel
(26:35) - Screenplay to Prose Transformation
(28:04) - Painting Future History
(29:30) - Reality and Accelerated Innovation
(34:09) - Technology: Good and Harm Perspectives
(35:07) - Impacts of AI on Employment
(37:48) - Ownership and Control of AI
(41:42) - Writing Advice and Process
(43:02) - Future History and Genre Preferences
(45:40) - Directing and Collaborating in the Industry
(48:57) - Serialization and Story Structure
(50:52) - Relationship Dynamics and Technology
(56:27) - Influence of Music and Soundtracks
(58:06) - Online Presence and Branding
(59:53) - Book Pre-order Details and Release Date

The Story Factory is an entertainment company representing some of the best authors in the business.

In this 179th episode of The Thriller Zone, host David Temple interviews thriller writer Joe Reid, also known as Parker Adams, about his latest book, The Lock Box.
The conversation covers various topics, including the inspiration behind the book, the use of pen names, and Reid's background as a marine biologist and patent lawyer. He discusses the process of writing fiction and how it relates to his work as a litigator.
The discussion also delves into the character of Monna Locke, a female army vet turned safecracker, and the possibility of a sequel, plus Joe discusses his writing journey and the influences that have shaped his career.
Joe (aka Parker) talks about the importance of accumulating experiences and listening to your instincts as a writer, and also emphasizes the need to finish what you start and not be afraid of criticism.
Some highlights include the themes of complex characters, the influence of personal backgrounds on writing, and the importance of starting a story in the right place.
The interview concludes with a discussion about the impact of COVID-19 on storytelling plus an upcoming speaking event at the Carlsbad library with Christopher Reich on May 17th at Noon.
Learn more at JosephReidBooks.com, and as always, be sure to visit us at TheThrillerZone.com, follow us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook  @TheThrillerZone and you can catch us on all the podcast channels, like @applepodcasts  @Spotify  @iHeartRadio and more.

The Story Factory is an entertainment company representing some of the best authors in the business.

On today’s 178th episode of The Thriller Zone, David Temple and Scott Carson, author of Lost Man's Lane, discusses his writing process and the importance of voice in storytelling. He shares his experience working with a private investigator and how it influenced his latest novel.
Carson also talks about the power of face-to-face interviews and the impact of feedback on the writing process.
Scott offers advice to aspiring writers, emphasizing the importance of reading widely and keeping goals close to the vest. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the magic of voice and the thrill of having respected authors read and praise your work.
Takeaways
Using a pen name can help differentiate between different genres and target specific readerships.Supernatural stories can be challenging to write well and appeal to skeptics, but the satisfaction of success is greater.Readers often have preferences for certain genres and may be more open to different types of stories within those genres.As a writer, it's important to challenge yourself and try new things to continue growing and producing your best work.Building a connection with readers is crucial, and they will follow you across genres if they enjoy your writing style and storytelling. The importance of having fun and taking risks in life and artThe power of voice in writing and the uniqueness each writer bringsThe value of reading widely to improve writing skillsThe benefits of keeping writing goals private and avoiding early feedbackSound Bites
"If people like your prose, be whatever flavor it is, they're going to follow you wherever you go.""The supernatural stories are by far the more difficult ones for me. But the satisfaction of sticking the landing is maybe a little bit greater.""I don't think you're ever going to get your best work by staying in the familiar. It's going out there and getting a little bit dangerous.""We only get one crack at this life. So why don't we just have fun with it?""The thing that makes your heart beat a little faster, whatever your emotional cues and triggers are, those are going to still be there no matter how different the story world might be.""Write the first draft with the door shut.”"Voice is the magic, the thing that makes it work.""Read widely because it's all grist for the mill.""Keep your goals close to the vest for as long as possible."Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Face-to-Face Interviews05:15 The Impact of Face-to-Face Interviews09:33 Advice for Aspiring Writers14:45 The Magic of Having Respected Authors Read Your Work

The Story Factory is an entertainment company representing some of the best authors in the business.