The Thriller Pitch Podcast

When the Mind Breaks: Jo Loveday on Addiction, Identity, and Psychological Horror

Jo Loveday joins me to discuss Campus of Shadows, a psychological horror thriller that follows a vulnerable mind as it begins to break. We talk about crafting a believable mental decline, how Jo’s nursing and psychiatric training informed Dave’s deterioration, and why portraying addiction felt personal.
Jo also opens up about living with dyscalculia and how it helped shape Dave’s character, the challenge of writing from a male POV, and the ten-year journey of learning story structure, rewriting, and cutting entire early chapters to sharpen the emotional core of the book.
It’s a thoughtful conversation about identity, vulnerability, and writing psychological darkness with care and realism.
Jo Loveday's book: https://a.co/d/gAgs2Al
Follow Jo Loveday online: https://joloveday.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.https://patreon.com/markpjnadon
Today's SponsorMark P.J. Nadon's novels including his psychological action tech thriller, The Genesis Project: https://mybook.to/marksthrillers
Authors: Want to be a guest?Apply here → https://markpjnadon.ca/the-thriller-pitch-podcast
Explore thrillers by Mark P.J. Nadon:• https://markpjnadon.ca/novels/
Follow on Social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markpjnadonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_pj_nadon/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_pj_nadon

Trust the Story: Mark Philbin on Writing Tense Plots and Characters with Agency

How do you build a high-stakes thriller without losing sight of character? In this episode, Mark Philbin joins me to talk about Kill Them All, a plot-driven thriller built around a twelve-city murder spree and a protagonist who sees patterns others miss.
We discuss where the idea began, how he shaped the “12 victims in 12 months” structure, and why grounding a twisty plot in character growth matters just as much as pacing. Mark shares how his radio background shaped his writing style, how he created a team of distinct FBI agents, and why trusting your outline — and your voice — is essential when you’re trying to stand out in a crowded thriller market.
If you’re interested in building tense plots, crafting characters with agency, or simply love hearing authors break down their creative decisions, this conversation is a great one.
Mark Philbin's book: https://a.co/d/gayzNd0
Follow Mark Philbin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mphilbinwriter/
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.https://patreon.com/markpjnadon
Today's SponsorMark P.J. Nadon's novels including the Armageddon Descendants trilogy bundle: https://mybook.to/marksthrillers
Authors: Want to be a guest?Apply here → https://markpjnadon.ca/the-thriller-pitch-podcast
Explore thrillers by Mark P.J. Nadon:• https://markpjnadon.ca/novels/
Follow on Social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markpjnadonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_pj_nadon/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_pj_nadon

How M.M. Deluca Builds Twisted Friendships in Multi-POV Psychological Thrillers | EP18

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/
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.https://patreon.com/markpjnadon
Today's SponsorMark P.J. Nadon's novels: https://mybook.to/marksthrillers
Authors: Want to be a guest?Apply here → https://markpjnadon.ca/the-thriller-pitch-podcast
Explore thrillers by Mark P.J. Nadon:• https://markpjnadon.ca/novels/
Follow on Social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markpjnadonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_pj_nadon/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_pj_nadon

How T.R. Hendricks Turns Real Military Experience into Authentic Action Thrillers | EP17

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.https://patreon.com/markpjnadon
Today's SponsorMark P.J. Nadon's novels: https://mybook.to/marksthrillers
Authors: Want to be a guest?Apply here → https://markpjnadon.ca/the-thriller-pitch-podcast
Explore thrillers by Mark P.J. Nadon:• https://markpjnadon.ca/novels/
Follow on Social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markpjnadonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_pj_nadon/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_pj_nadon

Writing 5,000 Words a Day and Staying Real | Maria Frankland on Psychological Thrillers | EP16

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/
Join the After Show on Patreon and get my free novella Cognitive Breach, bonus stories from guests, early access to episodes, and the chance to submit your own questions for future authors.https://patreon.com/markpjnadon
Today's SponsorMark P.J. Nadon's novels: https://mybook.to/marksthrillers
Authors: Want to be a guest?Apply here → https://markpjnadon.ca/the-thriller-pitch-podcast
Bonus question not shared anywhere else:• Subscribe to the newsletter → https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/1441401/156148451269150067/share
Explore thrillers by Mark P.J. Nadon:• https://markpjnadon.ca/novels/
Follow Mark on his Amazon Author Page:• https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mark-PJ-Nadon/author/B0D572CK4Y?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1753025997&sr=1-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=229df4e7-ebe3-47d8-b0dd-0a03704db684
Follow on Social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markpjnadonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_pj_nadon/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_pj_nadon

Thomas Stewart on Writing Without Rewrites | Deliberate Storytelling in Horror Thrillers | EP15

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/
Join the After Show on Patreon and get my free novella Cognitive Breach, bonus stories from guests, early access to episodes, and the chance to submit your own questions for future authors.https://patreon.com/markpjnadon
Today's SponsorMark P.J. Nadon's novels: https://mybook.to/marksthrillers
Authors: Want to be a guest?Apply here → https://markpjnadon.ca/the-thriller-pitch-podcast
Bonus question not shared anywhere else:• Subscribe to the newsletter → https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/1441401/156148451269150067/share
Explore thrillers by Mark P.J. Nadon:• https://markpjnadon.ca/novels/
Follow on Social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markpjnadonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_pj_nadon/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_pj_nadon
 

Melissa Roos on Writing from Emotion and Instinct in Tennessee Wishes | EP14

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/
Join the After Show on Patreon and get my free novella Cognitive Breach, bonus stories from guests, early access to episodes, and the chance to submit your own questions for future authors.https://patreon.com/markpjnadon
Today's SponsorMark P.J. Nadon's novels: https://mybook.to/marksthrillers
Authors: Want to be a guest?Apply here → https://markpjnadon.ca/the-thriller-pitch-podcast
Bonus question not shared anywhere else:• Subscribe to the newsletter → https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/1441401/156148451269150067/share
Explore thrillers by Mark P.J. Nadon:• https://markpjnadon.ca/novels/
Follow Mark on his Amazon Author Page:• https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mark-PJ-Nadon/author/B0D572CK4Y?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1753025997&sr=1-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=229df4e7-ebe3-47d8-b0dd-0a03704db684
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Secrets, Justice, and a Double Agent | Spy Girls by Joanna Vander Vlugt | EP13

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/
Join the After Show on Patreon and get my free novella Cognitive Breach, bonus stories from guests, early access to episodes, and the chance to submit your own questions for future authors.https://patreon.com/markpjnadon
Today's SponsorMark P.J. Nadon's novels: https://mybook.to/marksthrillers
Authors: Want to be a guest?Apply here → https://markpjnadon.ca/the-thriller-pitch-podcast
Bonus question not shared anywhere else:• Subscribe to the newsletter → https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/1441401/156148451269150067/share
Explore thrillers by Mark P.J. Nadon:• https://markpjnadon.ca/novels/
Follow Mark on his Amazon Author Page:• https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mark-PJ-Nadon/author/B0D572CK4Y?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1753025997&sr=1-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=229df4e7-ebe3-47d8-b0dd-0a03704db684
Follow on Social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markpjnadonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_pj_nadon/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_pj_nadon

Covert Ops and Cartel Wars in Cuba | Caribbean Harvest by Steve Stratton | EP12

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/
Join the After Show on Patreon and get my free novella Cognitive Breach, bonus stories from guests, early access to episodes, and the chance to submit your own questions for future authors.https://patreon.com/markpjnadon
Today's SponsorMark P.J. Nadon's novels: https://mybook.to/marksthrillers
Authors: Want to be a guest?Apply here → https://markpjnadon.ca/the-thriller-pitch-podcast
Bonus question not shared anywhere else:• Subscribe to the newsletter → https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/1441401/156148451269150067/share
Explore thrillers by Mark P.J. Nadon:• https://markpjnadon.ca/novels/
Follow Mark on his Amazon Author Page:• https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mark-PJ-Nadon/author/B0D572CK4Y?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1753025997&sr=1-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=229df4e7-ebe3-47d8-b0dd-0a03704db684
Follow on Social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markpjnadonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_pj_nadon/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_pj_nadon

Vigilante Thriller Cartel Hunter by Robert Goluba | Thriller Pitch Ep 11

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: https://a.co/d/7QJ7Jrm
Follow Robert Goluba on his website:https://robertgoluba.com/
Join the After Show on Patreon and get my free novella Cognitive Breach, bonus stories from guests, early access to episodes, and the chance to submit your own questions for future authors.https://patreon.com/markpjnadon
Today's SponsorMark P.J. Nadon's novels: https://mybook.to/marksthrillers
Authors: Want to be a guest?Apply here → https://markpjnadon.ca/the-thriller-pitch-podcast
Bonus question not shared anywhere else:• Subscribe to the newsletter → https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/1441401/156148451269150067/share
Explore thrillers by Mark P.J. Nadon:• https://markpjnadon.ca/novels/
Follow Mark on his Amazon Author Page:• https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mark-PJ-Nadon/author/B0D572CK4Y?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1753025997&sr=1-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=229df4e7-ebe3-47d8-b0dd-0a03704db684
Follow on Social:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markpjnadonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark_pj_nadon/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mark_pj_nadon