The Story Blender

On this episode of The Story Blender Podcast, I sit down with legendary literary agent Donald Maass during my time at ThrillerFest in New York City. With more than 40 years in the publishing industry, Donald shares invaluable insights on storytelling, publishing, and what truly makes fiction resonate with readers.

We discuss writing immersive point of view, creating emotional connections that stay with readers long after the final page, the changing landscape of publishing, and practical wisdom for storytellers at every level. Whether you’re pursuing traditional publishing or simply striving to tell better stories, this conversation is packed with inspiration and hard-earned advice from one of the industry’s most respected voices.

This week, viral comedy sensation Josh Mancuso joins me to talk about football mascots, why you shouldn’t make ambition an idol, what makes something funny, insider secrets on emceeing, and two comedians you haven’t heard of that you need to check out.

This week, multi-genre author Cleo Ballard joins me to talk about storytelling principles that apply to whatever story you might tell—whether it’s true or not. We dive into characterization and the importance of being able to pivot into new directions as your career develops rather than always writing in a predictable way. We also chat about her latest domestic suspense thriller, THIS IS A LIE. Don’t miss it.

Emily Carpenter, who is known as the master of southern gothic suspense, joins me to chat about why we like scary stories, what a gothic story is, how setting and atmosphere contribute to her stories, and what motivated her to write her latest book, A SPELL FOR SAINTS AND SINNERS. (We somehow also talk about Bigfoot, voodoo, ghosts, the Loch Ness monster, and more.) Check it out.

This week, internationally known psychologist Dr. John-Paul Abner joins me to talk about the psychology of story, its power to draw people together, and how stories help us share our values and build bridges between people. If you’ve ever wondered about the impact of your stories on others or how to reframe the stories you tell to yourself, give it a listen. See the show notes for a free PDF of story sparks to ignite your memories and share stories of your own with the next generation.
FREE “A Month of Memories” PDF
https://stevenjames.net/resources

My guest this week is bestselling, award-winning author, poet, screenwriter, and playwright Clay Stafford. With millions of books sold, he’s also the founder of the annual Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference. We talk crime writing, how improv can help authors, and how I almost ended up a prisoner of the infamous Ministry of Tolerance. Check it out!

This week, horror author, actor, and playwright Nat Cassidy joins me to talk all things horror. You may have seen him playing a villain on the TV shows Quantico, FBI, or Law & Order: SVU, or read one of his acclaimed novels. Listen as he shares insights into why people love scary stories, what draws us in (and what drives us out), how they honor the human experience, and what Shakespeare has to do with horror. We also chat about his forthcoming collection of short stories, I KNOW A PLACE. If you’re a fan of horror, don’t miss this episode.

This week, I catch up with veteran Hollywood actor Jon Lindstrom, who has appeared in thousands of hours of television over the last three decades. He’s also a bestselling author with a new book out, a Los Angeles crime novel, Hollywood Payback. Join us as we talk about what actors can teach writers, the difference between ambiguity and moral complexity, and why it’s easier to write villains than heroes. Also, you’ll learn Jon’s movie recommendations, which might surprise you.

For decades, Jane Friedman has been keeping her finger on the pulse of the writing industry. Each month she shares her insights with tens of thousands of writers through her newsletter The Bottom Line. This week she joins me to talk about some of the most prickly topics in publishing: whether or not to use a prologue, whether or not to outline, how many points of view to include, and the pet peeves of editors and agents. Tune in this week to get an insider’s scoop on the publishing industry.

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!