What makes a friendship unravel, and how do you show every side of it on the page?

In this episode, author M.M. Deluca joins me to talk about The Divorce Party, a psychological thriller set in Las Vegas that explores secrets, tension, and the fragile balance between loyalty and betrayal. We talk about writing from multiple perspectives, shaping believable relationships between flawed friends, and grounding suspense in realism drawn from real life.

For thriller writers, this conversation offers insight into how story structure and character perspective can heighten emotional tension, while readers get an inside look at what drives M.M. Deluca’s storytelling.

M.M. Deluca's book: https://a.co/d/c2u4aSn

Follow M.M. Deluca on her website: https://www.marjoriedeluca.com/

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How do you write action that feels real without losing your voice as a storyteller?

In this episode, author T.R. Hendricks joins me to talk about The Instructor, a military thriller shaped by his experience in the army. We discuss how real-world training translates to believable fiction, the discipline it takes to finish a manuscript, and how sixty rejections became part of his journey to publication.

For writers chasing authenticity and perseverance in their craft, this episode is a masterclass in turning experience into story.

T.R. Hendrick's book: https://trhendricksauthor.com/books/the-infiltrator/

Follow T.R. Hendricks on his website: https://trhendricksauthor.com/

Join the After Show on Patreon and get early access to episodes, bonus after-show segments with guests, and my free novella Cognitive Breach. You’ll also be able to support the show and help me keep bringing on great thriller authors.

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How do you write 5,000 words a day and still love what you do?

In this episode, author Maria Frankland joins me to talk about I Don’t Like Mondays, a psychological thriller that began with a single thought on a crowded Yorkshire train platform: what if someone was pushed in front of the train? Maria shares how that moment became her 22nd novel, how she built a full-time writing career, and the discipline that keeps her moving forward. We talk about creative routines, lingering self-doubt, and the determination it takes to turn writing into a life.

Maria Frankland's book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/8nwHk41

Follow Maria on her website: https://mariafrankland.co.uk/

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What happens when a horror-thriller author refuses to rewrite?

In this episode, Thomas Stewart joins host Mark P.J. Nadon to discuss his novel Allison’s Tears, a ghost story written in just three months — every sentence deliberate, every emotion intentional.

They talk about writing through instinct, finding empathy in fear, and why giving villains depth makes them even more terrifying.

The Thriller Pitch Podcast  is where bestselling, award-winning, and emerging authors share the craft, emotion, and real-world experiences behind today’s most gripping stories.

Thomas Stewart's book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/enasjBL

Follow Thomas on his website: https://www.corpsechildssanctuary.com/

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Author Melissa Roos joins me to talk about Tennessee Wishes — a romantic-suspense set in Nashville where a dream, a spark, and a shadowy crime wave collide. We get into how she writes from instinct as a self-described pantser, why the opening took several passes to finally “click,” how beta feedback shaped the book, and the choices behind a grumpy, coffee-fueled detective and a memorable K-9 who feels like a character of his own. We also touch on grounding the story in real places (Broadway, honky-tonks, a concrete silo), giving every character emotional weight (including Dorothea), and keeping the tension rising in short, fast chapters. If you like hearing how a story finds its shape through emotion, place, and revision, this one’s for you.

Melissa Roos' book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/9X6cIJZ

Follow Melissa on her website: https://www.melissaroosauthor.com/

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Spy Girls is a gripping spy thriller with assassins, pursuit and resilience. A CIA action officer is released from prison. A Chief Justice is murdered, and the Law Society is scrutinizing Jade Thyme’s conduct. Jade’s life can’t get much worse until she is coerced into finding an elusive double agent. Tangled in lies and political agendas, high speed chases and sticky bombs, can Jade outplay a dangerous Russian assassin before her own life is terminated?

In this episode of The Thriller Pitch Podcast, Joanna Vander Vlugt and I talk about how real cases in British Columbia and news events inspired Spy Girls, why she set the story in Canada, and how her background in the prosecutor’s office helped her get the details right. She explains using both first- and third-person narration, the challenges of writing dark scenes, and how an unexpected exchange with a former CIA operative shaped parts of her book.

Joanna's book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/99PmcSc

Follow Joanna on her website: https://www.joannavandervlugt.com/

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Caribbean Harvest is a high-stakes international thriller about drugs, politics, and pursuit. When El Chapo sets his sights on Cuba as the next hub for his empire, Wolf and Parker must use their mix of military and law enforcement skills to stop him before the island becomes another Afghanistan. With Mexican law enforcement, the U.S. president, and ruthless cartel forces all in play, the chase becomes a deadly game of cat and mouse.

In this episode of The Thriller Pitch Podcast, Steve Stratton and I talk about pacing Lance’s growth across the Shadow Tier series, why Cuba makes such a volatile backdrop for Caribbean Harvest, and how his own military and government experience shapes the authenticity of his thrillers.

Steve Stratton's book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/9G6OPLr

Follow Steve Stratton on his website: https://www.stevenstrattonusa.com/

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Cartel Hunter is a vigilante justice thriller about family, morality, and survival. When Air Force pararescueman Jason Mulder returns home after his brother’s murder, he’s forced to confront a ruthless cartel hiding in Arizona’s vast pine forests. With training, grit, and unlikely allies, Jason takes the fight to those who threaten his family, but always on his own moral terms.

In this episode of The Thriller Pitch Podcast, Robert Goluba and I talk about why he chose a pararescueman instead of a Navy SEAL or Green Beret, how Arizona’s rugged terrain inspired the setting, the research and training that shaped Jason’s skills, and the balance between realism, morality, and high-stakes action in the Jason Mulder series.

Robert Goluba's book on Amazon:

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Blunt Force is a high-octane action thriller about espionage, betrayal, and survival. When investigative journalists expose corruption on a global scale, the Trigger Man, Mark Pierce, is tasked with protecting them from elite kill teams sent by Syrian and Russian intelligence. From Spain to Luxembourg to Iceland’s frozen wilderness, Pierce battles assassins and uncovers a conspiracy that strikes closer to home than he ever imagined.

In this episode of The Thriller Pitch Podcast, Aiden Bailey and I talk about the real-world experiences that shaped the Trigger Man series, how he balances relentless action with character depth, and the global settings that bring his thrillers to life.

Aiden Bailey's book on Amazon:

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Every Fall is a chilling psychological thriller about police culture, family trauma, and the thin line between reality and haunting. After tragedy strikes on the job, Jake’s spiral of guilt and grief leaves Bree isolated and haunted in her own home. To protect her children, she must face the one person she thought would always keep them safe.

In this episode of The Thriller Pitch Podcast, Angela Douglas and I talk about the messy beginnings of creating Every Fall, the research that went into its creation, and she shares great advice for future authors.

Angela Douglas' book on Amazon

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