The Story Blender

With books sold in 150 countries, author J.D. Barker has become a name synonymous with suspense. He joins me to talk about his writing process, the economy of language, how to start scenes (and how not to), and why the emotional impact of stories matters so much. We also talk about Bram Stoker’s novel, Dracula, how he actually believed in vampires, the missing 102 pages, and J.D.’s latest thriller, THE FIRST SCARLET DOOR.

This week on The Story Blender, international bestselling author Douglas Preston and his coauthor (and daughter), Aletheia Preston, join me to discuss their latest novel, PARADOX.

We explore what makes characters truly resonate, why believability matters—even when you're writing stories with extraordinary or unbelievable elements—and how to keep readers invested from beginning to end. We also dive into the rights of Neanderthals, moral choices, and the importance of finding the danger in every story.

Give it a listen!

Martial arts expert and author Carla Hoch joins me to talk about writing fight scenes that actually work. How do you write a knife fight scene? What do you need to remember? What would (or should) your character do? Is it better to fight on the ground or standing up? Does adrenaline cloud or sharpen your vision? We also chat about situational awareness and using unique objects of opportunity. Fighting is physics and Carla teaches us how to use it in our books. 

This week on The Story Blender, I’m joined by screenwriter and storytelling consultant Zena Dell Lowe for a provocative conversation about writing redemptive stories that aren’t agenda-driven, why consequences matter and how they reveal character, the importance of a story’s moral fabric, the difference between moral ambiguity and moral complexity, and the secrets to writing heroic characters. We also question the classic advice, “Show, don’t tell,” and explore its impact on the stories we tell. If you’re interested in what really makes a story tick, check it out.

In a special Father’s Day episode, author and essayist Mark Phillips joins me to talk about telling personal stories, writing memoirs, and how much truth lives in the “true” stories we tell. We also chat about his book MY FATHER’S CABIN, which explores the complexities of a father-son relationship and the forgiveness that sometimes needs to go both ways. Check it out!

This week, screenwriter and novelist Gregory Poirier joins me to discuss how to create characters that readers and viewers are immediately drawn to, identify with, and care about. We explore the differences between writing a novel and writing a screenplay, how important structure is (or isn't), and why the economy of language matters. (We also examine why tigers tracking you through the jungle might work better in a novel than in a movie.) Check it out!

This week, horror author T.J. Payne joins me to discuss what makes us frightened, the role of horror in art, and the moral fabric of scary stories—and what (if anything) they have in common with romance stories. We explore why they appeal to us, the importance of facing our fears, and how scary stories can bring people together. We also discuss his latest chilling novel, INTERCEPTS.

Author and literary agent Bethany Jett joins me for a lively discussion about what agents look for and what turns them off. She explains how to approach an agent, the different ways to pitch a novel and a nonfiction book, and secrets to getting discovered. Listen in for a rare glimpse into an agent’s mindset and perspective on publishing.

Author Carol Snow joins me to chat about her process of writing, how to write in different genres, how much you should try to be cool when you write for teens, and how much planning is helpful before you start to write a book. We also talk about her latest thriller THE GIRL ON THE BEACH and the best and worst writing advice we’ve ever been given. Check it out!

Author Tori Eldridge hops on this week to chat about her latest book HAWAI’I RAGE. We talk about writing ninja fight scenes, making pizzas on volcanos, the origin of Hawaiian ranchers, the importance of musicality in stories, and how to create authentic characters in your writing.