Thriller 101

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Last week's episode with Kathy Reichs
Learn more about Liz Alterman
Listen to the last conversation I had with Liz
Eloise Corvo: How to Navigate a Book Contract 

Ever wondered how to master the intricate art of crafting multi-perspective thrillers? 

You're in for a treat with our latest episode of Thriller 101 featuring the brilliant Liz Alterman. Liz, the celebrated author behind the gripping novel "The House on Cold Creek Lane," unpacks her unique approach to writing from multiple viewpoints. We dive into the narrative structure and character dynamics that make her stories so compelling, with practical advice for both new and seasoned writers. Liz offers a treasure trove of insights into the challenges and rewards of maintaining timeline consistency and creating authentic voices for her characters.

Don't miss this chance to learn from one of the best in the business!

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Thriller 101 Newsletter
Learn more about Kathy Reichs
3 Story Elements You Need in Your Opening Paragraphs

EPISODE INFO:
How about some writing advice from an author who’s books inspired twelve seasons of an award winning television show? 

You know the show Bones? It’s is a drama series created for Fox and ran from 2005 to 2017, airing for 246 episodes over 12 seasons. It starred Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz. The woman who wrote those books, Kathy Reichs, is here to talk to us about writing. 

We're going to talk about how to effectively incorporate your expertise into your writing without overwhelming your readers. 

This is especially crucial for genres like police procedurals, legal thrillers, and medical thrillers, but it’s useful for anyone who does research on their novels and has wondered how much to keep and how much to cut…

BIO:
Kathy Reichs’s first novel Déjà Dead catapulted her to fame when it became a New York Times bestseller and won the 1997 Ellis Award for Best First Novel. Her other Temperance Brennan books include Death du Jour, Deadly Decisions, Fatal Voyage, Grave Secrets, Bare Bones, Monday Mourning, Cross Bones, Break No Bones, Bones to Ashes, Devil Bones, 206 Bones, Spider Bones, Flash and Bones, Bones Are Forever, Bones of the Lost, Bones Never Lie, Speaking in Bones and the Temperance Brennan short story collection, The Bone Collection.   In addition, Kathy co-authored the Virals young adult series with her son, Brendan Reichs. The best-selling titles are: Virals, Seizure, Code, Exposure, Terminal, and the novella collection Trace Evidence. The series follows the adventures of Temperance Brennan’s great niece, Tory Brennan.  Dr. Reichs’ latest novel, Two Nights, was released July 11 and features Sunday Night, a tough-talking, scarred heroine.  Dr. Reichs was also a producer of the hit Fox TV series, Bones, which is based on her work and her novels.

From teaching FBI agents how to detect and recover human remains, to separating and identifying commingled body parts in her Montreal lab, as a forensic anthropologist Kathy Reichs has brought her own dramatic work experience to her mesmerizing forensic thrillers. For years she consulted to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in North Carolina and to the Laboratoire de Sciences Judiciaires et de Médecine Légale for the province of Québec. Dr. Reichs has traveled to Rwanda to testify at the UN Tribunal on Genocide, and helped exhume a mass grave in Guatemala. As part of her work at JPAC (Formerly CILHI) she aided in the identification of war dead from World War II, Korea, and Southeast Asia. Dr. Reichs also assisted in the recovery of remains at the World Trade Center following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Dr. Reichs is one of only 100 forensic anthropologists ever certified by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology. She served on the Board of Directors and as Vice President of both the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and the American Board of Forensic Anthropology, and is currently a member of the National Police Services Advisory Council in Canada. She is a Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.

Dr. Reichs is a native of Chicago, where she received her Ph.D. at Northwestern. She now divides her time between Charlotte, NC and Montreal, Québec.

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Check out the Thriller Opening Data Tracker HERE

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Click here for more information about the pitching system that guarantees full requests or your money back.

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Thriller 101 Newsletter
Learn more about Lisa Kusel
Jessica Payne Episode
Heather Levy Episode
Lisa Unger Episode

EPISODE INFO:
Ever wondered how authors create those unforgettable characters that seem to linger in your mind after the last page? You know, those characters that feel like they’re living and breathing? Well, today, we’re talking to a master at character voice. Lisa is going to help us develop a process for character voice that can make your characters come alive for readers.

BIO:
Lisa Kusel was born in New Jersey and raised in California, Lisa Kusel lived in various exotic locales across the globe before she made a home in Vermont with her family. She is the author of a memoir, a short story collection, and the novel Hat Trick. Learn more about her at www.lisakusel.com.

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Thriller 101 Newsletter

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Thriller 101 Newsletter
Learn more about Jessica Payne
Previous episode with Jessica Payne
Jennifer Chevais Episode

EPISODE INFO:
You’re going to get insights into exactly how Jessica writes her books now that she’s a seasoned author. 

And then you’ll hear why she says you should, under no circumstances, copy her process. 

We’re going to talk about all that and more in today’s episode and you’ll walk away with a plan for how to better edit your novels. Because we all need that.

By the end of this episode, you'll have a better understanding of:

• How to edit your novel like a pro
• How to keep track of the lessons you learned
• What experienced writers like Jessica do to maintain their book writing pace

BIO:
Jessica Payne is a thriller author living in the Pacific Northwest where the mountains and Puget Sound are home. Beyond writing, she loves to run, rock climb, and explore the great outdoors with her daughter and husband. She is also an RN and host of #MomsWritersClub on YouTube. When holding still, which isn’t often, you’ll find a book in her hand and a cat /dog/small child in her lap.

Jessica is the author of MAKE ME DISAPPEAR, THE LUCKY ONE, THE GOOD DOCTOR, and NEVER TRUST THE HUSBAND.

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Thriller 101 Newsletter
Learn more about Jennifer Chevais
Dr. Leslie Dobson Episode
Read Roxie Key's Article
Connect with David on Twitter

EPISODE INFO:
If you ever find yourself wondering what agents think about while reading your submission, then you’re in the right place. 

If you ever find yourself wondering what agents think about while reading your submission, then you’re in the right place. 

By the end of this episode, you'll have a better understanding of:

• What agents are looking for in submissions
• How to hook an agent's attention
• Why subverting tropes can be a great way to grab an agent's attention
• And so much more!

BIO:
Jennifer Chevais is currently building her list of authors specialising in fantasy, science fiction, and horror, but she also has a soft spot for thrillers, upmarket fiction, memoir, graphic novels, and many more.

Jennifer’s experience includes freelance acquisition reading and translating for a French publisher as well as nearly a decade in advertising.

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