#1 Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Barbara Nickless promised her mother she’d be a novelist when she grew up. What could be safer than sitting at a desk all day? But a sense of adventure led her astray for a few decades. Now an award-winning author and creative writing instructor, she spends her free time snowshoeing, caving and hiking the Colorado Rockies. (Bio from BarbaraNickless.com).
Her latest book is GONE TO DARKNESS which is the fourth book in her bestselling Sydney Rose Parnell book series.
During this episode we chat about her books, her writing process, pick up artists, hobos, and my family connection to railway cops like her character Sydney Parnell.
 
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Show Notes
Mentions:
Late Bloomers by Malcolm Gladwell
The Game by Neil Strauss
Hobo by Eddy Joe Cotton
Joan Didion
Deborah Coonts
Dennis Lehane

MTTA 100: Barbara Nickless Interview

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Susan Elia MacNeal is the author of the New York Times, Washington Post, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today bestselling Maggie Hope mystery series. The series began with the Edgar Award-nominated and Barry Award-winning Mr. Churchill’s Secretary, which is now in its 23rd printing.



Susan graduated from Nardin Academy in Buffalo, New York, and cum laude with honors in English from Wellesley College. 



Her first job was as the assistant to novelist John Irving in Vermont. She then worked as an editorial assistant at Random House, assistant editor at Viking Penguin, and associate editor and staff writer at Dance Magazine in New York City. As a freelance writer, she authored two non-fiction books and wrote for the publications of New York City Ballet.



Susan is married to Noel MacNeal, a television performer, writer, and director. They live with their son in Park Slope, Brooklyn.



Her latest book, “The Last Hope,” brings readers along on Maggie’s final adventure.



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Show Notes and Transcript



Summary




* In this episode, I interviews Susan Elia MacNeal, a New York Times best-selling author known for her Maggie Hope mystery series set during World War II.



* Susan Elia MacNeal shares her experience working as an assistant for John Irving and the valuable lesson she learned about being a professional writer.



* She discusses her inspiration for choosing the World War II period for her books, mentioning a visit to the Cabinet War Rooms in London.



* We chat about Susan Elia MacNeal’s latest book in the Maggie Hope series titled “The Last Hope,” where Maggie is on a mission to assassinate Heisenberg.



* Historical figures like Winston Churchill, Coco Chanel, and Heisenberg are incorporated into the series based on documented facts.



* Susan Elia MacNeal talks about her writing process, research methods, and the challenges of balancing historical accuracy with creating an engaging mystery.



* Susan Elia MacNeal’s series has been optioned by Magnolia Hill Productions and Warner Brothers for television adaptation.



* Susan Elia MacNeal offers advice for aspiring mystery writers, emphasizing the importance of following one’s obsessions and finding a unique niche.




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Transcript



Note: This transcript was machine generated and subsequently reviewed and edited minimally by a human, Alan, for accuracy. Please be aware that there may still be errors and typos.



Click here for full transcript

[00:00:01.120] – Alan PetersenYou are listening to Meet the Thriller Author,

MTTA 202: Susan Elia MacNeal Author Interview



Ajay Chowdhury is a tech entrepreneur with a knack for storytelling and innovation. Ajay kicked off his journey in the literary world with his children’s book, ‘Ayesha and the Firefish,’ back in 2016. But it’s his crime fiction that’s really making waves. Starting with ‘The Waiter’ in 2021, which not only snagged a Sunday Times crime book of the month title but it has also been optioned for television.



The fourth book in his Kamil Rahman series ‘The Spy,’ was published on April 4, 2024



On the business front, Ajay has been the founder or CEO of several startups, including Shazam (sold to Apple), Seatwave (sold to Ticketmaster) and LineOne (sold to Tiscali). He has served on the boards of Lionhead, Department of Culture Media and Sport, Arts Council London, Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), and Historic Royal Palaces amongst others.  He is currently a Managing Director and Senior Partner at BCG Digital Ventures, globally responsible for their ‘deep tech’ businesses, and Chair of Cambridge Enterprise, Cambridge University’s spinout arm. He is a Trustee of the renowned Cheek by Jowl Theatre Company and is a board member of Enacte – a San Francisco based South Asian Theatre Company.  He was selected to be part of the Asian Power 100 – the 100 most influential and powerful Asians in the UK and was selected as one of 2016’s Sunday Times top 100 BAME business leaders in the UK.



Ajay has been honest and outspoken about his embracing Artifical Intelligence as a fiction writer. He’s been invited on several television shows on the BBC discussing the use of AI in Crime Writing. And even debated the legendary debating thriller author, Frederick Forsyth on the use of AI in writing. So I was delighted Ajay accepted my invitation to be on ‘Meet the Thriller Author’ to discuss his crime trillers, writing process, and about AI for writers, which is a contentious subject in the writer and publishing community.



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Show notes and Transcript



In this episode…




* Ajay Chaudry discusses his writing process, including how his background in technology influences his crime novels.



* He talks about using artificial intelligence (AI) as a writing tool and the controversy surrounding AI in writing and publishing.



* Ajay emphasizes that AI is used as an editor on demand and for generating ideas, but not for actual writing due to its limitations in character development.



* The conversation touches on the evolving role of AI in the publishing industry, potential copyright issues,

MTTA 201: Ajay Chowdhury



Brian J. Morra has spent his career in intelligence and national security beginning with his time as a decorated Air Force Intelligence officer and through his many years as a senior executive in the aerospace and defense industry. Brian was encouraged to write the story of The Able Archers by many friends who convinced him that his unique, personal insight could bring the story to life of how humanity narrowly avoided extinction in the fall of 1983. His writing is based on first-hand experience and the stories of the many intriguing people he’s encountered over the years



Brian grew up in Virginia and is married to Tracy, who is an outstanding story editor. They split their time between homes in Virginia and Florida. When Brian isn’t writing, he is a corporate board member, enjoys cycling, playing guitar and piano, and visiting with his two grandchildren.



The second installment of The Able Archer series, “The Righteous Arrows” will be published on April 16, 2024.



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Show Notes & Transcripts



In this episode:




* Morra’s debut novel, “The Able Archers,” won awards for military fiction and delves into the 1983 nuclear war crisis.



* He discusses his approach to balancing real-world experiences with fictional storytelling, drawing from his background in intelligence work.



* The conversation covers Morra’s involvement in a Netflix documentary on the Cold War and the importance of arms control in today’s nuclear landscape.



* Morra gives a sneak peek into his upcoming novel, “The Righteous Arrows,” focusing on the Soviet war in Afghanistan, and shares insights on writing processes and advice for aspiring writers.




Transcript (Click here for fulltranscript)

Please note that a machine generated this transcript, and a human made only minimal edits, so there may be errors/typos.




[00:00:03.280] – Alan PetersenYou are listening to Meet the Thriller Author, the podcast where I interview writers of mysteries, thrillers, and suspense books. I’m Alan Petersen, an author of mysteries and thrillers myself, and it’s been a privilege to interview amazing authors in the genre that I love to write and read. So far, I’ve interviewed over 200 authors, including thriller icons like Dean Koontz, Walter Moseley, Tess Gerritsen, Lee Child, and many, many more. You can find an archive of all my interviews with show notes, resources, book reviews, and a lot more over at my website at ThrillerAuthors.com. From there, you can also join my Thrilling Reads newsletter for book deals on great thriller and mystery books. So head on over to thrillerauthors.com. And check all that out.



[00:00:47.960]In this episode of the podcast, Number 200, you’ll be meeting Brian J. Morra. Brian is a former United States intelligence officer and a retired senior aerospace executive. He helped lead the American intelligence team in Japan that uncovered the true story behind the Soviet Union’s shoot down of K...

MTTA 200: Brian J. Morra



Dana Perry is an award-winning author of crime fiction and a journalist in New York City where he has had a long career as a top editor at the New York Post, New York Daily News, Star magazine and NBC News. 



As R. G. Belsky, he is a contributing writer for The Big Thrill magazine and has published 20 novels—all set in the New York city media world



The first three novels in his new Nikki Cassidy series, starting with THE NOWHERE GIRLS, will be published on April 2.



Dana Perry’s latest series, starting with “The Nowhere Girls,” introduces readers to the intriguing character of Nikki Cassidy, an FBI agent with a troubled past. Set in a small town in Southeastern Ohio, the story unfolds as Nikki delves into a new case, uncovering secrets that lead her to revisit the unsolved mystery of her sister’s abduction and murder. Perry’s skillful storytelling weaves together a tale of suspense, intrigue, and unexpected twists that will keep readers eagerly turning the pages.



What sets Dana Perry’s writing apart is his ability to draw inspiration from real-life events and infuse them into his fictional narratives. With a knack for creating strong, kick-ass female characters like Nikki Cassidy, Perry brings a fresh and dynamic energy to the thriller genre. His background as a journalist covering high-profile cases such as the Son of Sam serial killer adds a layer of authenticity to his storytelling, making his novels both captivating and thought-provoking. If you’re looking for a thrilling escape into a world of mystery and suspense, Dana Perry’s books are a must-read for any fan of the genre.



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Show Notes and Transcript




* Dana Perry, an award-winning author of crime fiction and journalist, was interviewed in this episode.



* Dana Perry has had a long career as a top editor at the New York Post, New York Daily News, Star magazine, and NBC News.



* Dana Perry also writes under the name R. G. Belsky and has published over 20 mystery novels, all set in the New York City media world.



* Dana Perry discusses his writing process and transition from journalism to full-time authorship.



* He talks about his experience writing under pressure and meeting deadlines due to his background in journalism.



* Dana Perry does not outline his novels and enjoys letting the characters surprise him as he writes.



* He shares insights into his new book series featuring FBI agent Nikki Cassidy,

MTTA 199: Dana Perry



Ron Corbett author interview.



Ron Corbett is a former radio host and newspaper columnist, his first book of fiction was Ragged Lake, the debut novel in the Frank Yakabuski mystery series, and an Edgar Award nominee for Best Original Paperback.



His latest novel, CAPE RAGE (Berkley Hardcover; on sale March 19, 2024) is a follow-up to his “dynamite new series debut” (New York Times Book Review) The Sweet Goodbye featuring undercover agent, Danny Barrett who is in the rugged landscape of the Pacific Northwest, where he is caught between a family of criminals and the psychopath who is tracking them down. 



The father of four, Ron is married to award-winning photo-journalist Julie Oliver and still lives in his hometown of Ottawa, Canada, where he writes his novels from the study of a century-old house, “not far from a good river.”



In this episode, author Ron Corbett discusses his background as a journalist and how it influenced his transition into writing mystery and thriller novels. He shares insights into his writing process, mentioning how he often starts with scenes and then strings them together to form the narrative. Ron also talks about the inspiration behind his Danny Barrett series, where the protagonist is an undercover police officer who moves around different locations for each novel, adding a unique dynamic to the storytelling.



Furthermore, Ron delves into his latest novel, “Cape Rage,” the second book in the Danny Barrett series, where he introduces a powerful family and a psychopathic character to create suspense and intrigue in the story. He talks about the setting of the novel on an island and the challenges faced by the protagonist as he investigates a bank robbery while dealing with suspicion from the family. Ron also mentions his upcoming project set in Florida with a circus theme, highlighting his interest in circus performers and the unique history of Gibsonton, known for its association with the circus community.



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Show Notes & Resources




* Ron Corbett talks about his two mystery series, the Frank Yakabuski mysteries and the Danny Barrett Thriller series.



* Ron Corbett’s latest novel, “<a href="https://amzn.

MTTA 100: Barbara Nickless Interview

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