Category

Suspense

Fiction, Suspense, Thriller, Writers on Writing, Young Adult Fiction

Apr 23: Hayley Krischer with You Belong to Me

April 23, 2025

What if living your most authentic life leaves you dead?

You Belong to Me with author Hayley Krischer

Hayley Krischer joins us to dive into You Belong to Me — a dark, atmospheric, emotionally charged YA novel that’s captivated teens and adults alike.

We discuss the underbelly of the wellness industry, a multi-trillion dollar economy encompassing many false claims and scams.

We look at character development and motivation. And why Hayley’s favorite characters were inspired by followers of an infamous cult (think Charles Manson). The challenges of pace in plot. And some of the themes at the heart of You Belong to Me such as the need for belonging, and what it means to trust yourself.

Meet Hayley Krischer

Hayley Krischer is an award-winning journalist who has written for the The New York Times, The Atlantic, Elle and more. She has an MFA from Lesley University. Her books include fiction and nonficiton. Find out more at her website.

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Fiction, Suspense, Writers on Writing

Dec 11: Rachel Kushner Introduces Creation Lake

December 11, 2024

“Brain-spinning tale of lies, greed, surveillance, crimes against nature, and ecowarriors…” Booklist Starred Review

Creation Lake with author Rachel Kushner

Rachel Kushner’s protagonist, Sadie Smith a former U.S. spy and ruthless observer of human behavior, has total faith in her ability to manipulate that behavior. She’s hired to infiltrate an anarchist commune in rural France and stir up trouble. Meanwhile, a radical from an earlier generation is living in a network of caves — a life that Sadie finds increasingly appealing.

Rachel Kushner joins us to talk about Creation Lake and its storyline. She shares insight into the character development of her protagonist, and why Sadie is the opposite of the author. How the story’s structure was inspired by noir fiction, yet Rachel says her book doesn’t exactly follow noir storytelling. And more.

Meet Novelist Rachel Kushner

Rachel Kushner is the author of the novels CREATION LAKE, THE MARS ROOM, THE FLAMETHROWERS, and TELEX FROM CUBA, a book of short stories, THE STRANGE CASE OF RACHEL K, and THE HARD CROWD: ESSAYS 2000-2020. She has won the Prix Médicis and been a finalist for the Booker Prize, the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Folio Prize, the James Tait Black Prize, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, and was twice a finalist for the National Book Award in Fiction. She is a Guggenheim Foundation Fellow and the recipient of the Harold D. Vursell Memorial Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Rachel’s books have been translated into 27 languages. Her fiction has been published in the New Yorker and the Paris Review, and her nonfiction in Harpers and the New York Times Magazine. 

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Suspense, Thriller, Writers on Writing

Aug 28: #1 NYT Bestselling Thriller Writer Lisa Gardner

August 28, 2024

Still See You Everywhere – A Novel 

Still See You Everywhere with author Lisa Gardner

The Beautiful Butcher serial killer faces execution in three weeks. She calls herself Death. They call her the Devil.

Following a year-long sabbatical, Lisa Gardner joins us to discuss her latest Frankie Elkin thriller. We explore character development, and how Lisa evolves her protagonist throughout a series. Lisa shares how the story sparked for her, and how as a thriller writer, she climbs into the minds of serial killers; the difference between male and female serial killers; and the research that surprised her. And, of course, we talk craft, storytelling, and some of the challenges presented in writing Still See You Everywhere.

Meet Lisa Gardner: Bestselling Thriller Novelist

A self-described research junkie, Lisa Gardner has transformed her interest in police procedure and criminal minds into a streak of internationally acclaimed novels, published across 30 countries. Four of Lisa’s books are TV movies (At the Midnight Hour; The Perfect Husband; The Survivors Club; Hide) and she’s made personal appearances on TruTV and CNN. Lisa’s books have received awards from across the globe. Her novel, The Neighbor, won Best Hardcover Novel from the International Thriller Writers, and the Grand Prix des Lectrices de Elle in France. More about Lisa Gardner.

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Fiction, Suspense, Thriller, Writers on Writing

Jul 17: The Haters with Bestselling Novelist Robyn Harding

July 10, 2024

A twisted tale of fame, obsession, and the dark recesses of social media.

The Haters with author Robyn Harding

Author Robyn Harding shares her frightening, real life story that inspired her latest novel, The Haters.

We discuss The Haters storyline and how Robyn created a novel within a novel. How she develops her characters. Her favorite scenes to write. Why tension is important to moving the story forward, and how screenwriting helped develop her writing skills.

Robyn also shares why she was thrilled, as a Canadian author, to use Vancouver BC as the book’s key location. And why she dedicated The Haters to ” … everyone with the courage to put their work – and themselves – out into the world.”

Meet Robyn Harding

Robyn Harding is the bestselling author of several novels including The Haters, The Drowning Woman, The Perfect Family, The Arrangement, Her Pretty Face, and The Party, which was a finalist for the Arthur Ellis Award for best crime novel. Her novel, The Swap, debuted at #1 on the Globe and Mail and Toronto Star Canadian bestsellers lists. She is also the screenwriter and executive producer of the independent film, The Steps. She lives in Vancouver, BC, with her family and two cute but deadly rescue chihuahuas.

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Fiction, Suspense, Thriller, Writers on Writing

Apr 10: Lisa Gardner #1 NYT Bestselling Novelist on the Craft of Writing, Why She Took a Sabbatical, Her Latest Thriller

April 10, 2024

She Called Herself Death, But People Called Her The Devil  

Still See You Everywhere with author Lisa Gardner

Lisa Gardner joins us with her latest novel and third book in the Frankie Elkin series, Still See You Everywhere. Frankie Elkin is an expert at finding missing persons that the rest of the world has forgotten. But even she couldn’t have anticipated this latest request—to locate the long-lost sister of The Beautiful Butcher, a female serial killer facing execution in just three weeks.

We discuss everything from story concept to character development and how Lisa gets into the mind of a serial killer. How she keeps Frankie Elkin’s character evolving throughout a series. The difference between male and female serial killers, and some of the research Lisa dove into for this story. What it was like to return ‘to the chair’ after a year-long sabbatical. The easy bits, the not so so easy bits, of writing for this author. And, of course, craft … from a master storyteller.

Meet Lisa Gardner #1 NYT Bestselling Thriller Author

A self-described research junkie, Lisa Gardner has transformed her interest in police procedure and criminal minds into a streak of internationally acclaimed novels, published across 30 countries. She’s had four books become TV movies (At the Midnight Hour; The Perfect Husband; The Survivors Club; Hide) and has made personal appearances on TruTV and CNN. Lisa’s books have received awards from across the globe. Her novel, The Neighbor, won Best Hardcover Novel from the International Thriller Writers, and the Grand Prix des Lectrices de Elle in France. More about Lisa Gardner.

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Fiction, Suspense, Thriller, Writers on Writing

PJ McIlvaine Introduces The Good Man

October 2, 2023

New Psychological Mystery Thriller – He Wants to Remember, He’ll Wish He Could Forget

A Good Man with author PJ McIlvaine

PJ McIlvaine has successfully jumped genres more than once — from screenplay to children’s books, young adult, and now her debut thriller A Good Man.

How did this author do what many say you can’t or shouldn’t? Today we discuss her writing journey and PJ’s publishing experiences. She also shares personal details of how her brother’s death helped inspire her protagonist.

We discuss character development, some of PJ’s research. The types of scenes that thrill and challenge her as a writer. And how PJ juggles multiple projects, since she just had two books published within two months!

About PJ McIlvaine

PJ McILVAINE is the author of A GOOD MAN and THE CONUNDRUM OF CHARLEMAGNE CROSSE. Her Showtime original movie My Horrible Year was nominated for a Daytime Emmy. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, Newsday, and elsewhere. She lives on Eastern Long Island with her family and Luna, a pampered French Bulldog. Find PJ online at pjmacwriter.com.

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Fiction, Suspense, Thriller, Writers on Writing

Best Selling Author Robert Dugoni: Her Deadly Game

September 27, 2023
Her Deadly Game with Author Robert Dugoni

Seattle Author Introduces New Protagonist, Prosecutor Keera Duggan

Robert Dugoni’s new character, Keera Duggan, worked hard to build an impressive reputation as Seattle prosecutor. When she makes a major life change, she gets more than she bargained for, and is immediately thrown into the middle of mayhem.

We discuss why and how Robert developed a host of new characters for Her Deadly Game. What the author did to ensure realism in his tense courtroom drama, and how he uses dialogue to develop the story. Robert shares his favorite type of scenes to write, and why he keeps sex scenes to a minimum. We also learn his elixir for managing stress and keeping life balanced in these crazy times.

About Robert Dugoni

Robert Dugoni is the critically acclaimed New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and #1 Amazon bestselling author of the Tracy Crosswhite police series set in Seattle, which has sold more than 8 million books worldwide. He is also the author of The Charles Jenkins espionage series, the David Sloane legal thriller series, and several stand-alone novels. Dugoni is the recipient of the Nancy Pearl Award for Fiction and a three-time winner of the Friends of Mystery Spotted Owl Award for best novel set in the Pacific Northwest.

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Fiction, Suspense, Writers on Writing

Jul 05: Author’s Love of Wildlife Inspired Alex Carter Suspense Series

July 5, 2023

Alex Henderson joins us with A Ghost of Caribou

Alice Henderson’s strong, female protagonist is a wildlife biologist with a twist — she can’t seem to keep out of murder and mayhem. In A Ghost of Caribou Alex Carter arrives in the Selkirk mountains of NE Washington, and what begins as a search for an elusive caribou, leads along a trail of mystery and suspense.

In addition to sharing snippets from her book and writing adventures, Alice shares insight into the plight of caribou and how climate change impacts them. We also discuss why reframing the way we look at climate change, may help us create a better future for our children.

About Alice Henderson

A Ghost of Caribou is the 3rd in the Alex Carter series. In addition to being a prolific writer, Alice Henderson is a sanctuary monitor for the Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust, where she checks remote cameras, documents mapping, and delivers wildlife surveys to determine what species are present and that there’s no evidence of poaching. Alice has surveyed grizzlies, wolves, wolverines, jaguars, endangered bats, and more. Alice Henderson has written media tie-in novels, including official novels for the TV shows Supernatural and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. While working at LucasArts, she wrote content for Star Wars video games.

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Fiction, Suspense, Thriller, Writers on Writing

Apr 19: Elle Marr with The Family Bones

April 19, 2023

#1 Amazon Charts Bestselling Novelist + A Family of Psychopaths with Dark Family Secrets = A Suspenseful New Thriller

The Family Bones with author Elle Marr

Elle Marr‘s fourth thriller takes us on a wild ride with a mysterious murder and a chilling climax. Protagonist, Olivia, has spent most of her life questioning if her family legacy of psychopathy, spanning many generations, “is nature or nurture?”

Today Elle Marr shares how she developed her key characters for The Family Bones – a psychology student and a true crime podcaster. What she learned during her research about psychopaths. How she creates credible dialogue, and why and how Elle uses multimedia to tell her story. Elle also shares her point of view on “nature or nurture.”

About Elle Marr

Elle Marr is the #1 Amazon Charts bestselling author of Strangers We Know, Lies We Bury, and The Missing Sister. She graduated from UC San Diego, before moving to France, where she earned a master’s degree from the Sorbonne University in Paris. The author now lives and writes in Oregon with her family. 

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Fiction, Suspense, Thriller, Writers on Writing

Apr 05: Seattle Author Robert Dugoni with Her Deadly Game

April 5, 2023
Her Deadly Game with Author Robert Dugoni

Keera Duggan, Seattle defense attorney is prepared to play. But is she a pawn in a master’s deadly match?

We welcome Robert Dugoni back to the show with his latest twisting novel of suspense and a new protagonist. Keera Duggan has built a solid reputation as a Seattle prosecutor, when she makes a life-changing move, and is immediately thrown into the middle of … well, you’ll have to join us to find out!

We discuss why and how Robert developed a host of new characters for Her Deadly Game. How he approached research for this courtroom drama to ensure realism. How and when he writes dialogue to keep the story moving, his favorite scenes to write, and why he keeps sex scenes to a minimum. Robert also shares his elixir for managing stress and keeping life balanced in these crazy times.

About Robert Dugoni

Robert Dugoni is the critically acclaimed New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and #1 Amazon bestselling author of the Tracy Crosswhite police series set in Seattle, which has sold more than 8 million books worldwide. He is also the author of The Charles Jenkins espionage series, the David Sloane legal thriller series, and several stand-alone novels. Dugoni is the recipient of the Nancy Pearl Award for Fiction and a three-time winner of the Friends of Mystery Spotted Owl Award for best novel set in the Pacific Northwest.

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