Critically acclaimed, bestselling novelist Nick Petrie, who is known for his propulsive action stories and suspenseful plots, joins me this week. He shares how to create suspense, what lies at the heart of a great story, the importance of surprise, insights into the writing process, and more. We also talk about his latest book in the popular Peter Ash series, THE DARK TIME. Don’t miss it!

New York Times bestselling novelist Jayne Ann Krentz joins me to talk about what romantic suspense actually is (and is not), how to identify your strengths in the stories you tell, true heroism, how a love story is different from a romance story, and the most interesting character in PARADISE LOST. We also chat about her latest romantic suspense novel THE SHOP ON HIDDEN LANE. Check it out!

This week, I caught up with screenwriter Bede Blake, one of my favorite instructors on the craft of writing and story, and the host of the YouTube channel PillarBoxer. On the channel, Bede shares ideas and insights into screenwriting—what works, what doesn’t, and why. He’s an expert at breaking down stories and has a fresh perspective you’re not going to get anywhere else. Listen in and be sure to subscribe to PillarBoxer on YouTube.

C.J. Box, the #1 New York Times bestselling author, joins me this week to talk about his iconic character, Joe Pickett, and his latest novel, THE CROSSROADS. Learn why he’s named “Joe,” what makes him so appealing, and how he has grown over the years. C.J. shares his thoughts about believability, authenticity, the importance of the West in his stories, and his personal advice to all aspiring authors. Check it out!

With the Olympics here this month, there’s no better time to check out a chilling, ice skating thriller. This week, bestselling author Wendy Walker, author of the critically acclaimed new novel BLADE, joins me to talk about her approach, how details matter, adding authenticity to stories, and what is more important—plotting or receptivity. As a former competitive ice skater, she tells a gripping story you won’t soon forget.

Legendary medical thriller author Robin Cook joins me this week. Author of more than forty books, he shares his origin story of how he wrote his first book while he was underwater for 75 days on a submarine, and once interviewed a Russian scientist who defected and whose team had hoarded enough anthrax to kill everyone on the planet. In addition, Robin shares his advice on writing and the inside scoop on his latest novel, SPASM. Check it out!

This week I caught up with comedian Karen Morgan to talk about humor, comedy, and how to be funny. Listen in for tips and advice on why you should never try to be funny and why only you can do comedy like you can do. Give it a listen and don’t forget to check out her latest special on Dry Bar Comedy!

Matthew Quirk—New York Times bestselling author of The Night Agent, Hour of the Assassin, and Inside Threat—joins the show. The Night Agent hit #1 in 77 countries and returns to Netflix for Season 3 in February.

We talk his latest novel The Method, writing believable thrillers, avoiding over-plotting, and how characters grow from page to screen. A must-listen for fans of spy fiction and intrigue.