Thriller 101

Send me a Text Message!5 Minute WriterArticleEmmy's Manuscript Wish ListConnect with Emmy on Twitter!Connect with David on TwitterLast week on the interview series I talked to author, Josh Stallings. He shared how to write unique and three-dimensional characters by avoiding cliche's.Interview with Christopher Golden.3 BIG TAKEAWAYS Writing real charactersFinding people you trust to work withHow our life experiences can drive our fictionBIOemmy (they/them) holds a PhD in justice-oriented social work with a focus on critical animal studies. They are a member of the planning team for the Festival of Literary Diversity, a faculty member at the Manuscript Academy, and a literary agent at Westwood Creative Artists. They are a queer, trans, and non-binary colonizer based in Tkaronto (Toronto, Ontario). emmy lives with their partner, a Deaf Dalmatian named Pavot, two formerly feral Maine coon cats, Whisper and Willow, and their collection of plants, informally nicknamed The Leafy Bois. They keep busy with vegan cooking, thread painting embroidery, crochet, wholesome video games, snail mail, their sticker collection, and… obviously, reading. Get the list of 125+ Literary Agents who rep Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, and Crime FictionStudy the Opening Paragraphs of the Top Authors Writing Thrillers Right Now

Send me a Text Message!5 Minute WriterArticleJosh's WebsiteConnect with Josh on Twitter!Connect with David on TwitterLast week on the interview series I talked to Rob Hart, author of six novels. He shared how he develops suspense early in a novel to keep readers engaged. 3 BIG TAKEAWAYS Writing real charactersFinding people you trust to work withHow our life experiences can drive our fictionBIOJosh Stallings’ latest book TRICKY, was listed by Library Journal as one of the ten best crime books of 2021. YOUNG AMERICANS, a disco heist novel was nominated for the Lefty and Anthony awards. Born in Los Angeles, and raised by counter-culture activists in Northern California, he grew up an undiagnosed dyslexic and spent some time as a petty criminal and failed actor before becoming a movie trailer editor. He, his wife, and two wonderful mutts now live in Idyllwild. TRICKY, was written in honor of his son Dylan, who is intellectually disabled.  Get the list of 125+ Literary Agents who rep Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, and Crime FictionStudy the Opening Paragraphs of the Top Authors Writing Thrillers Right Now

Send me a Text Message!5 Minute WriterRob Hart Full InterviewLee Childs ArticleGet the list of 125+ Literary Agents who rep Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, and Crime FictionStudy the Opening Paragraphs of the Top Authors Writing Thrillers Right Now

Send me a Text Message!5 Minute WriterArticleRob Hart's WebsiteConnect with Rob on Twitter!Connect with David on TwitterLast week on the interview series I talked to Bianca Marias, author of the new release The Witches of Moonshyne Manor and host of the popular podcast, The Shit No One Tells You About Writing. She shared how she developed unique character voices in her novel3 BIG TAKEAWAYS Use a variety of ways to develop character voiceThe importance of a great agent-author relationshipWhere The Shit Noone Tells You About Writing podcast is headedToday's interview will help anyone who feels like their writing needs a little boost. Rob shares some really important and practical writing tips while giving a behind the scenes look at how he creates his fascinating and suspenseful novels. Let’s get to the interview!BIORob Hart  is the author of six novels, including The Paradox Hotel  and The Warehouse , as well as the short story collection Take-Out , Scott Free  with James Patterson, and a Star Wars short story. The Warehouse , sold in more than 20 countries and was optioned for film by Ron Howard! Get the list of 125+ Literary Agents who rep Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, and Crime FictionStudy the Opening Paragraphs of the Top Authors Writing Thrillers Right Now

Send me a Text Message!5 Minute WriterArticleBianca Marais WebsiteConnect with Bianca on Twitter!The Shit No One Tells You About Writing PodcastConnect with David on Twitter3 BIG TAKEAWAYS Use a variety of ways to develop character voiceThe importance of a great agent-author relationshipWhere The Shit Noone Tells You About Writing podcast is headedBIOIn this week's author interview, I'll be talking to Bianca Marais. She is the author of Hum If You Don't Know the Words and If You Want to Make God Laugh and most recently The Witches of Moonshyne Manor. She teaches at the University of Toronto's School of Continuing Studies where she was awarded an Excellence in Teaching Award for Creative Writing in 2021. She is the co-host of the popular podcast, The Shit No One Tells You About Writing, which is aimed at helping emerging writers become published.  Get the list of 125+ Literary Agents who rep Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, and Crime FictionStudy the Opening Paragraphs of the Top Authors Writing Thrillers Right Now

Send me a Text Message!5 Minute Writer Christopher Golden: Full InterviewDwyer Murphy's articleGet the list of 125+ Literary Agents who rep Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, and Crime FictionStudy the Opening Paragraphs of the Top Authors Writing Thrillers Right Now

Send me a Text Message!5 Minute Writer Newsletter (Grab Your 1st Edition Here)ArticleBrower Literary & Management Connect with Kimberly on Twitter!Connect with David on Twitter3 BIG TAKEAWAYSHow to edit your bookIntangibles that will help you find an agentWhat agents are looking for in debut authorsEPISODE INFO:In today's episode, Kimberly and I discuss finding the RIGHT literary agent for you. What agents are looking for in a writer. Plus, she shares some of the editing advice she gives her own clients. Last time on the interview series I talked to book coach, Megan Clancy about how to edit your own work. Don't miss it! BIO:Kimberly fell in love with reading when she picked up her first Babysitter’s Club book at the age of seven (Super Special editions were her favorites) and hasn’t been able to get her nose out of a book since. She holds a BS in Business Administration from California State University, Northridge and received her JD from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. After spending a decade in the business world, it was kismet that she found herself in publishing. She previously worked for over two years at a boutique literary agency before starting her own. When not providing individual attention to her clients, Kimberly manages all of the day-to-day operations of the agency. This includes overseeing the management of the foreign, audio and all other subsidiary rights for all the authors in the agency.  Get the list of 125+ Literary Agents who rep Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, and Crime FictionStudy the Opening Paragraphs of the Top Authors Writing Thrillers Right Now

Send me a Text Message!Sign up to get the 5 Minute Writer Series sent straight to your inbox!Stranger Things became a national phenomenon this summer. So I dug in to this series to try and find out what made it such a powerful example of storytelling.Listen to the entire Jessica Payne InterviewListen to the entire Christopher Golden InterviewGet the list of 125+ Literary Agents who rep Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, and Crime FictionStudy the Opening Paragraphs of the Top Authors Writing Thrillers Right Now

Send me a Text Message!5 Minute Writer Newsletter (Grab Your 1st Edition Here)2 FREE Downloads: 6 Things to Think About When Hiring and Editor & Discover the Heart of Your Story ArticleMegan's WebsiteConnect with Megan on Twitter!Connect with David on Twitter3 BIG TAKEAWAYSAre MFA's worth it?Managing guilt and resentmentWhat is book coaching and how do you find the right one?EPISODE INFO:Last time on the interview series I talked to Chantelle Aimée Osman about how to edit your own work. Don't miss it!BIO:Megan Clancy is a published author and Author Accelerator certified book coach. As The Book Coach for Moms, she coaches women who lost their creative spark in the days of early motherhood and are struggling to find a way back to it, moms who had never thought of writing a book before and something in becoming a mother brought out that creative desire, and moms whose kids are now in school and finally have time to write the book they've always wanted. She coaches moms at and through all points of their novel-writing journey. She has a BA in English & Creative Writing from Colorado College, an MFA from the University of Melbourne, has lived and worked in Australia and the United States, and was a high school English teacher before becoming a full-time writer and book coach. She now lives with her husband and two young children in California. Get the list of 125+ Literary Agents who rep Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, and Crime FictionStudy the Opening Paragraphs of the Top Authors Writing Thrillers Right Now

Send me a Text Message!FREE 5 Minute Writer Newsletter (Grab Your 1st Edition Here)50 Editing Mistakes Authors MakeArticleChantelle's WebsiteConnect with Chantelle on Twitter!Connect with David on TwitterPREVIOUS EPISODES FEATURING CHANTELLEHow to Become an EditorRethinking Rejection3 BIG TAKEAWAYSWriting graphic novelsEditing your manuscriptHow to get into the writing zoneEPISODE INFO:Last time on the interview series I talked to Rachel May and Emily Golden of Golden May Editing about the 6 Things You Should Think About BEFORE Hiring and Editor. I learned so much about the editing process by talking to them so definitely check that out if you haven't already!Also, if you're in the revision stage, you'll really enjoy this interview with Paula Munier. As a best selling author and literary agent, she shares what keeps good writers from becoming published authors!BIO:Chantelle is the editor of Agora Books. Agora focuses on "socially and culturally unique crime fiction and horror from award-winning publisher Polis Books."She was named to Publisher's Weekly Rising Star honoree list in 2020. She's been a freelance editor for over 10 years. She is an instructor at the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing, Authors at Large and LitReactor. She is the author of  The Quick and Dirty Guides To…, which is a non-fiction series on writing that I recommend checking out.Chantelle hosts Words of Prey podcast through the Pipeline Artists Network. Get the list of 125+ Literary Agents who rep Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, and Crime FictionStudy the Opening Paragraphs of the Top Authors Writing Thrillers Right Now