Carter Wilson's Making It Up

"I loved it... Cosmo was a fabulous job in every sense of the word. It was like being on a television show everyday... but I could start to see, wow, this is all collapsing... I'd already written eight of my thrillers and mysteries while I was at Cosmo. I thought I'm going to get out while I still have the chance." — Kate White 

Kate White is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of nineteen novels of suspense: 11 standalone psychological thrillers and eight Bailey Weggins mysteries. A former Glamour magazine Top Ten College Women Contest winner and cover girl, Kate had a long career in the media world, which included running five national magazines. For 14 years she was the editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan, which under her became the most successful magazine in single copy sales in the U.S. Kate’s first mystery, If Looks Could Kill, was a Kelly Ripa Book Club pick, a #1 bestseller on Amazon, and an instant New York Times bestseller. 

Among other things, Kate and Carter discuss why Kate left the magazine industry, being aware of market trends, and her research on grief for her novel. At the end of their conversation, they make up a dark story using a line from Emily Littlejohn’s Lost Lake. 

"I’ve really been able to lean into that Southern Gothic with a touch of horror... It’s that concept of… is it a ghost or is it the guy? There is always that element in my books. Is it real, is it not real, is it an unreliable narrator having psychosis or is it truly something supernatural?" — Emily Carpenter 

Emily Carpenter, a former actor, producer, screenwriter, and behind-the-scenes soap opera assistant, was born and raised in Alabama. After graduating from Auburn University, she moved to New York City and now lives in Georgia with her family. She is the author of Amazon bestselling Burying the Honeysuckle Girls and The Weight of Lies.

Among other things, Emily and Carter discuss Emily’s research on witchcraft and psychics for her novel, writing vague endings, and how a unique voice can elevate a generic plot. At the end of their conversation, they make up an intriguing story using a line from BJ Magnani’s We’ll Always Have Poison. 

“Writing is so personal. And when you're writing a character, things come out that I know most writers, including myself, are unaware of when they're writing it... they're writing about things you're trying to work out. It's so deeply personal if you're writing honestly.” — Jeffrey James Higgins 

Jeffrey James Higgins is a retired supervisory special agent who writes thrillers, short stories, creative nonfiction, and essays. He has wrestled a suicide bomber, fought the Taliban in combat, and chased terrorists across five continents. He received the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Heroism and the DEA Award of Valor. He’s appeared on CNN Declassified, National Geographic’s Narco Wars, and ABC News. Jeffrey is a #1 Amazon bestselling author who’s won the Claymore Award, PenCraft’s Best Fiction Book of the Year, and a Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal. 

Among other things, Jeffrey and Carter discuss their style of interviewing in their podcasts, overly descriptive writing, and balancing reader expectations with experimenting with genres. At the end of their conversation, they make up a funny story using a line from Cormac McCarthy’s The Passenger. 

“Almost anytime somebody gives you a generalization, there's about 17 other examples that break that rule. Some of the greatest books of all time break those rules.” — Dan Miller 

Daniel G. Miller is the USA Today bestselling author of the Orphanage By The Lake mystery-thriller series and the Tree of Knowledge adventure series. His books have been described as "irresistible" by thriller master James Patterson and as "a thrill ride with no seatbelt but what an incredible view," by Pulitzer Prize winner Junot Diaz. His novel, The Orphanage By The Lake, was selected as an Amazon Editor's Pick. His newest novel, Buried in the Woods Below, will be released in September 2026. 

Among other things, Dan and Carter discuss the business of self-publishing, writing effective violence, and giving readers credit for their imagination. At the end of their conversation, they make up a suspenseful story using a line from Lisa Matlin’s The Only One Who Knows. 

“I think that when you don't have an abundance of time, you cherish the time you have more. So that goes for my kids and for writing. I take it very seriously and I do cherish it. It doesn't feel like a job. It doesn't feel like work… But then the same with them, because I'm getting pulled in two different directions. I cherish the time when I can just focus on them more. I think it just helps me to be a better mom and a better writer.” — Marlee Bush 

Marlee Bush lives in Alabama with her husband and children. With degrees in Criminology and English, she’s obsessed with true crime and documentaries. Her favorite stories to tell are the kind that make you double check the locks on your door at night. When She Was Me is her debut novel, and her second novel Whispers of Dead Girls, came out last May. 

Among other things, Marlee and Carter discuss the identity shift that results from getting published, how Marlee started writing while working in a call center, and why making money from writing should not determine your status as a professional writer. At the end of their conversation, they make up a creepy story using a line from Elise Hart Kipness’s Dangerous Play. 

“I think people think that the first publishing contract is a windfall... But for most of us, it's the beginning of the story. All it is, is an open door to the writing life. And if you want to succeed... you're going to roll up your sleeves and get to work like everybody else who wants to do anything well in this life.” — Lisa Unger 

Lisa Unger is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of twenty-three novels. Her critically acclaimed novels have been featured on “Best Book” lists from the Today Show, Good Morning America, Entertainment Weekly, and many others. She has been nominated for, or won, numerous awards including the Strand Critics, ITW Thriller, and Goodreads Choice. In 2019, she received two Edgar Award nominations in the same year. Her non-fiction has appeared in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and others. Lisa is the current co-President of the International Thriller Writers organization. 

Among other things, Lisa and Carter discuss pushing yourself out of your comfort zone by attending writing conferences, why increasing your own visibility is critical for both debut and legacy authors, and learning to let go when writing. At the end of their conversation, they make up an interesting story using a line from Chris Pavone’s The Doorman. 

“What I noticed was that I started writing stories and just doing things like, ‘oh, wait, when I write, I don't need other guys. And I don't need a sound man. And I don't need a stage. And I don't need gear.’ It was so nice to be able to make something without all the crap associated with it.” — Michael Kardos 

Michael Kardos is the author of the novels Fun City Heist, Bluff, Before He Finds Her, and The Three-Day Affair. His story collection Quick Change and One Last Good Time won the Mississippi Institute of Arts & Letters Award, and his short stories have appeared in many magazines and anthologies, and have won two Pushcart Prizes. He is also the author of The Art and Craft of Fiction: A Writer’s Guide, which is taught at universities across the country, and he co-directed the creative writing program at Mississippi State University for 15 years.

Among other things, Michael and Carter discuss how Michael went from a career in music to getting his MFA, their thoughts on craft books for new writers, and feeling uneasy most of the time while you’re writing a book. At the end of their conversation, they make up a strange story using a line from Kristen Perrin’s How To Solve Your Own Murder. 

“What I’ve always been really focused on is trying to figure out what is it in any book—and it's different in different genres—that makes you keep turning the page. That's always been my goal: to get people to keep turning.” — Amy Meyerson 

Amy Meyerson is the acclaimed author of the internationally bestselling books The Bookshop of Yesterdays, The Imperfects, and The Love Scribe. Her books are frequently chosen for best-of lists, including lists from Good Morning America, People Magazine, Publishers Weekly, among others. Meyerson completed her graduate work in creative writing at the University of Southern California, where she now teaches in the writing department. Her new novel The Water Lies--her first work of psychological suspense--was released in January.

Among other things, Amy and Carter discuss listening to audiobooks to improve your writing, using profanity selectively, and Amy’s shift to writing thrillers/psychological suspense novels. At the end of their conversation, they make up a fascinating story using a line from Stephen Graham Jones’s Mongrels. 

“The biggest thing you have to be able to do with someone is step back, leave your ego at the door and just really both have the same mindset of like, 'Hey, we're in business together... every decision we make has got to be for the readers.” — Ryan Steck 

 “I get excited every time he sends me new material, then I take over and I do a little bit and he reads it and he said, 'Oh my god, this is so good.' ... It's the new stuff that gets you excited even more often, because you discover what your partner is writing almost in real time. So it's really cool.” — Simon Gervais 

Ryan Steck is a freelance editor, an author, and the founder and editor in chief of The Real Book Spy. Ryan has been named an “Online Influencer” by Amazon and is a regular columnist at CrimeReads. Steck has “quickly established himself as the authority on mysteries and thrillers” (Author A.J. Tata) on his way to being endorsed by numerous #1 New York Times bestselling authors.

Simon Gervais is a former Canadian federal agent specializing in protective operations and counterterrorism. He's the New York Times and #1 Amazon bestselling author of 17 exciting thrillers. His Clayton White series is presently being adapted for TV by CBS Studios with Jerry Bruckheimer TV attached to produce. The Second Son, which was co-written with Ryan Steck, spent two consecutive months in the Kindle top 100 overall bestsellers. 

Among other things, Ryan, Simon, and Carter discuss their different views on the outlining process, how their distinct writing voices come together when co-writing, and how Simon writes in his second language. At the end of their conversation, they make up a dark story using a line from Matt Goldman’s The Murder Show. 

“From the time that I started publishing, my goal was to be able to do it full-time... it took 10 years to get there, but you know, slow and steady wins the race.”— Jen J. Danna 

After over thirty years in infectious diseases research, Jen hung up her lab coat to concentrate on writing thrillers. She is the coauthor of the Abbott and Lowell Forensic Mysteries with Ann Vanderlaan, a series of suspenseful crime fiction with a realistic scientific edge. As Sara Driscoll, she writes the FBI K-9s thriller series, starring search-and-rescue team Meg Jennings and her black lab, Hawk. She also writes the NYPD Negotiators series. The first of her new standalone thrillers, ECHOES OF MEMORY, released in 2024. 

Among other things, Jen and Carter discuss how Jen writes 3 books a year, AI in the writing industry, and Jen’s decision to re-edit five of her old novels. At the end of their conversation, they make up a descriptive story using a line from John Jakes’s Love and War.