Thriller 101

David
  • 4.9 (26)
  • BOOKS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

A podcast for readers and writers of thriller, mystery, suspense, and crime fiction. 

  1. FEB 24

    151 Unhinged Characters and the Truth About Getting Published with Marisa Walz

    Send me a Text Message! Debut author Marisa Walz joins the show to talk about her psychological suspense novel Good Intentions. It's story about obsession, grief, and moral ambiguity that kept her up all night plotting after a single book inspired her to finally write it.  Marisa shares:  What the publishing journey really looks likeHow she balances writing unlikable protagonistsThe unexpected challenges that come after you finally land that book dealBio: Marisa Walz is the author of Good Intentions, her debut psychological suspense novel. She lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband and two young children. Learn more about Marisa here: https://www.marisawalz.com/ Connect with Marisa here: https://www.instagram.com/marisacwalz/ Episodes I think You'll Love:  150 Writing a Complex Mystery Novel with Bianca Marais What Editors Really Want Right Now with Chantelle Aimée Osman, Who Provides a Sneak Peek Inside Simon & Schuster's Newest Imprint 141 Literary Agent Vicky Weber on Why Most Writers Aren't Agent-Ready (And How to Fix It) 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

    23 min

  2. 10/29/2025

    150 Writing a Complex Mystery Novel with Bianca Marais

    Send me a Text Message! What if the secret to writing unforgettable characters isn't interrogating them with questionnaires, but letting them reveal themselves organically?  In this episode, bestselling author Bianca Marais shares how she "pantsed" her way through writing her newest novel, A Most Puzzling Murder.  It’s especially impressive because this novel is a complex mystery with 12+ POVs, choose-your-own-adventure chapters, interactive puzzles, and a character who emails readers back.  If you've ever wondered how to build three-dimensional characters that feel alive, balance ambitious storytelling mechanics without losing narrative control then this conversation is perfect for you!  Bianca reveals the unique writing techniques that allowed her to juggle multiple perspectives while maintaining emotional depth, and why giving up control might be the key to unlocking your best work. Bianca's Instagram Bianca's Website The Art of Dual POV & Crafting Psychological Thrillers with Liz AltermanWriting Character Backstory with Author Liz AltermanLiterary Agent and Author Jenna Satterthwaite on Making it in the Publishing IndustryGet 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

    21 min

  3. 10/22/2025

    149 How to Write a Thriller that Gets Attention: Character and Plot Advice from Chevy Stevens

    Send me a Text Message! New York Times bestselling author Chevy Stevens pulls back the curtain on what separates a good thriller from an unforgettable one.  And it might not be what you think.  In this episode, Chevy reveals her unconventional process for crafting antagonists that readers love to hate.  She also shares the exact mindset shift that helped her sustain an eight-book career. If you are...  struggling to create believable villainsfeeling stuck in your thriller's plotwondering how to build a lasting writing career in today's marketThis conversation will give you the tools to break through.  What Listeners Will Learn: • How to create antagonists that traditional publishers love • The "enough juice" test for evaluating thriller concepts • Why your second book matters more than your first Connect with Chevy: Website Twitter Instagram Chevy Stevens lives on Vancouver Island with her husband and daughter. When she isn’t working on her next book, she’s spending time with her family and their two dogs. Her books, including Still Missing, a New York Times bestseller and winner of the International Thriller Writers Award for Best First Novel, have been published in more than thirty countries. Episodes I think You'll Love: Author Liz Alterman Reveals Her Weekly Writing Ritual That Transforms First Drafts Into Gold And How to Know When Your Story Idea Is Worth WritingLiterary Agent Amy Nielsen on How to Fix Your Opening Pages Literary Agent Jessica Berg Shares How to Catch an Agent's EyeHow to Write an Opening Chapter that Keeps Readers Reading with Author David McCloskey 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

    31 min

  4. 10/15/2025

    148 Developing Better Plots Using a Character-Driven Approach with Daniel David Wallace

    Send me a Text Message! Struggling with how to write a thriller that grabs readers immediately?  In this interview, writing expert Daniel David Wallace shares game-changing writing tips for crafting plots that keep readers hooked from page one.  Daniel, creator of the Character First Writing Approach and host of Escape the Plot Forest summit, reveals why traditional plotting advice often fails thriller writers. And he offers three essential strategies for developing compelling, character-driven narratives.  Whether you're working on your first manuscript or polishing a novel for traditional publishing, these writing techniques will help you avoid the common pitfalls that cause readers to abandon your story.  Learn how to create protagonists with immediate momentum, maintain emotional connection through plot twists, and structure midpoints that trap both your characters and your readers in the story. Learn more about Daniel here... Daniel David Wallace is the host of Escape the Plot Forest, an annual online conference for writers. He spent four years of a PhD researching new ways to help writers tell a great story. His stories, reviews, and essays have been published in great magazines like Tampa Review, McSweeney's Internet Tendency, Air Schooner, and his writing has won him awards like the Toni Brown scholarship and the Hodges prizes. Daniel designed a way of teaching plot, the "character-first" approach that aims to return writers to their original love of storytelling (because it teaches you to write according to how your ideal readers will experience your book). This approach has resonated with so many people: more than 13,000 writers read his newsletter each week. Literary Agent and Author Jenna Satterthwaite on Making it in the Publishing IndustryFirst Page Formula: Author and Writing Coach April Davila on What Agents & Readers Want to See in Your Thriller Manuscript OpeningHow to Edit Your Own Writing with Author & Editor Chantelle Aimée Osman 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

    28 min

  5. 10/09/2025

    147 How to Write Thrillers That Actually Matter with Aaron Philip Clark

    Send me a Text Message! What if the setting you choose could be as morally complex as your protagonist?  In this episode, USA Today bestselling author Aaron Philip Clark pulls back the curtain on how he crafts crime fiction that thrills and matters.  Aaron reveals: his process for weaving heavy themes into page-turners without slowing the pacewhy he writes from a place of frustration and injusticehow to make every setting choice deliberate and loaded with meaning. If you're tired of writing surface-level thrillers or struggling to add depth without killing your momentum, this conversation will change how you approach your craft.  Aaron's insights on creating "literary humans" instead of plot devices alone are worth the listen, but his framework for balancing suspense with substance is something I personally will be implementing in my work. https://www.aaronphilipclark.com/ https://x.com/RealAPCBooks https://www.instagram.com/realapcbooks/ Episodes I think you'll love... How to Develop Characters and Themes with Author Aaron Philip Clark Writing Action Scenes with Author Aaron Philip Clark Literary Agent and Author Jenna Satterthwaite on Making it in the Publishing Industry First Page Formula: Author and Writing Coach April Davila on What Agents & Readers Want to See in Your Thriller Manuscript Opening 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

    33 min

  6. 10/01/2025

    146 How to turn 'wasted' drafts and subverted tropes into your writing superpower with Charlene Wang

    Send me a Text Message! What if the tropes you love are actually holding your thriller back?  In this episode, Charlene Wang reveals how she transformed the beloved campus novel into a feminist revenge thriller by strategically subverting genre expectations.  And the results landed her a major book deal.  You'll discover the counterintuitive truth about "wasted" drafts (spoiler: nothing is ever wasted), learn how to weaponize social media as a character psychology tool rather than just a plot device, and understand why the most compelling morally gray characters make us root for their goals while questioning their methods.  If you're struggling to make your thriller feel fresh or your contemporary setting feel authentic, this conversation will fundamentally change how you approach revision and might just save you years of trial and error. Learn more about Charlene Bio:  Charlene Wang was born in Beijing and, after immigrating to the US when she was three, has lived in seven different cities from Los Angeles to Rockville to Biloxi. Graduating with a B.A. in English from Dartmouth College and a J.D. from University of Virginia School of Law, she worked as a litigator for six years before quitting to pursue her childhood dream of becoming an author. She now lives in Brooklyn, NY, with her fiancé and their dog Winky. Episodes I think you'll love... Agent Carleen Geisler Reads a Submission & Shares How Agents Evaluate Opening PagesWriting Your Opening Scene with Thomas MullenWriting Unique Openings to Grab Literary Agent Attention: Jason Powell AuthorGet 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

    15 min

  7. 09/25/2025

    145 How to Stand Out in the Query Trenches with Literary Agent Tommy Dean

    Send me a Text Message! What does it actually take to stand out when a brand-new literary agent opens your thriller query? In this episode, Tommy Dean — associate literary agent at Rosecliff Literary, editor of Fractured Lit and Uncharted Magazine, and award-winning flash fiction writer — shares exactly what he's looking for when he reads your first 10 pages. Tommy brings something rare to agenting: a writer's instinct. He knows the manuscript struggle personally, which makes him both deeply discerning and genuinely invested in his clients' long game. If you've ever wondered what's going through an agent's mind as they read your opening pages, whether a newer agent might actually be the right fit for your career, or how to show up as the kind of writer agents want to work with — this episode is for you. Tommy reveals why character activity beats backstory every time, what story structure signals he's watching for, and why the most prepared querying writers are already clearing hurdles that most submissions never do. Tommy Dean's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tommydeantommydean/ Tommy Dean's Website: https://tommydeanwriter.com Episodes I Think You'll Love: First Page Formula — April Davila on What Agents Want in Your Opening: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1841589/17377745 Literary Agent Lori Galvin on Going From Query to Deal: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1841589/17716414 Literary Agent Vicky Weber on Why Most Writers Aren't Agent-Ready: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1841589/17716392 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

    20 min

  8. 09/16/2025

    What Editors Really Want Right Now with Chantelle Aimée Osman, Who Provides a Sneak Peek Inside Simon & Schuster's Newest Imprint

    Send me a Text Message! You’re going to love this exclusive conversation with Chantelle Aimée Osman, Senior Editor at Simon & Schuster's new imprint, Simon Maverick.  Chantelle reveals how the publishing industry is evolving to meet indie and hybrid authors where they are.  And why audio is becoming the new frontier that could transform your writing career.  Discover the submission strategies that actually work, learn why your biggest strength might be the one thing editors can't fix, and find out how to reframe rejection in a way that accelerates rather than derails your publishing journey.  Whether you're traditionally published, indie, or still figuring out your path, this conversation offers insider insights that could change everything about how you approach your writing career. Past Episodes with Chantelle - How to Edit Your Own Writing with Author & Editor Chantelle Aimée Osman - Chantelle Aimée Osman Interview Series: An Editor's Advice for Writers - Rethinking Rejection & How to Form a Team for Your Work with Chantelle Aimée Osman What You'll Learn: Why audio publishing is the new gold rush opportunityThe one manuscript element editors absolutely cannot fixHow to reframe rejection as progress toward your goalClick here to learn more about Chantelle Aimee Osman  Guest Bio: Chantelle Aimée Osman (she/her) is senior editor at Simon & Schuster's newest imprint, Simon Maverick. Prior to joining Simon & Schuster, Chantelle Aimée Osman was an acquiring editor at Amazon Publishing, where she worked with bestselling authors such as Robert Dugoni, Mark Sullivan, Suzanne Redfearn, Megan Chance, Victoria Helen Stone, and Simon Tolkien. Previously, she helped found Agora Books, an imprint of independent press Polis Books, focusing on crime fiction and horror with unique social and cultural voices—themes which still hold a special place in her heart. She's online at chantelleaimee.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

    28 min
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4.9
out of 5
26 Ratings

About

A podcast for readers and writers of thriller, mystery, suspense, and crime fiction. 

Information

  • Creator
    David
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    151
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Thriller 101
  • Show Website
    Thriller 101

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